19: Under construction

I set out this morning from Ald-ruhn. Lord Hlaren Ramoran, another member of the council, has dispatched me to Gnisis to collect taxes. For some reason the regular packet has not arrived, and with Ald-ruhn and the council in chaos he cannot go himself. I'm concerned that there may be more to this delay than just disruption in delivery. With all the Redoran's attention turned to Red Mountain the outlying areas may be thinking they can assert themselves for some reason. I hope that I can convince the hetman that things are normal, and he and the collection of taxes need to be also.

Before I get to Lord Ramoran's territory though, I am inspecting my own. Strange to write those words. Not long ago I was a pauper, and a prisoner; now I am a titled landholder. A manor house. Remarkable.

Actually, it is just the shell of a manor house so far, but I am certainly appreciating the shelter it provides tonight as the ashstorm rages outside. Bugdul gro-Kharbush, the foreman, assures me that it will be completed as scheduled even though they are a bit behind right now. The early stages of the construction went a bit slowly. Even the great strength of the orcs on gro-Karbush's crew could not progress quickly against the blowing ash that seems to get more and more frequent. Now that they are mostly working inside he is driving them hard.

Because of the storm I did not have much opportunity to assess my domain. Not much assessment required, really. The sand, the tangles of trama vine, the spires of ancient rock carved into eerie shapes by the ceaseless wind; it is the ashlands. My time with the Urshilaku has brought me into a communion with this vast wilderness, and I will be an honorable steward of this region.

That stewardship is yet to be approved by Bolvyn Venim. Though his specific approval is not required, as the head of the council he is the one who actually signs the title orders. According to Sarethi this will be the first time he will be signing an order by direction of the council that he himself did not initiate, or at least strongly support. He could refuse. By house law the council will then have to face the question of whether to install a new head of the council or reverse their decision on the issue.

Sarethi would opt for stripping Venim of his position, no question, but the others who support me would probably not go that far. They wouldn't yet. Lady Morvayn perhaps. I still have much to do, and this is only the first step. Hlaalu, Telvanni, the four tribes; building the storm against Red Mountain is a long trial. I must endure, like the rocky spires of my newfound lands.

Waxing philosophical must be cut short. The construction crew is setting aside their tools. It is always a shock to see the reverence Orcs have for their tools, be they armor and warhammer or saw and chisel. But once the tools are carefully set for the night, in the way of Orcs the sujamma will flow, and there will be no more to write...or no sense to write it at least.