CHAPTER 127: HOLDING THE LINE

One day passed since the attack at Drakmoor and Sara was trying to stitch the pieces of everything together. Literally everything.

The company was going to fall to pieces without Aldric and his supplier connections. Marcus's family was in disarray after losing their two sons. And the city was on the verge of famine. Sara had to act quick and take control.

She stood in the secondary warehouse, the morning light filtering through gaps in the wooden slats. Dust motes danced in the air. The smell of earth and grain filled her nostrils. Before her sat rows of clay jars, each one containing what Marcus had called mushroom spawn.

Sara went to check on the mushroom seeds. The seeds were nothing like she knew. They were growing in barley, white threads spreading through the grain like frost on a window. Marcus's notes, strange as they were, explained everything in detail. When she saw the spawn was white and had no green inside she let out a breath of relief and retreated to the shop.

The walk back felt longer than usual. Her legs ached. When was the last time she had slept more than two hours?

Now it was time to comfort Palwin. Her mind was fragile and required special attention. But who was going to help Sara? She was one person trying to hold so many lines. She washed her face with cold water at the pump outside, took a deep sigh, and pushed all those anxieties trying to corner her back into their cages.

The shop was quiet when she entered. Too quiet. Palwin sat in the corner, knees drawn to her chest, staring at nothing.

"Palwin I brought you breakfast. Please have some." Sara set down the plate of bread and cheese. "I am sure we are gonna get some information about Tom and Marcus."

Even while saying this she was in doubt. How was it possible they had vanished? If they had died Palwin could have somehow known. But other than Aldric the two had just vanished.

You better turn up safe in this country you idiots, Sara thought.

She went to check on the machines, making sure they were safe and steady for when they ever decided to open production again. The looms sat silent. The spinning wheels collected dust. It felt wrong seeing them still.

When she entered the main workshop she saw Marcus's father.

The middle aged man looked like he had aged ten years overnight. His shoulders slumped. His eyes were red-rimmed. He was running his weathered hands over one of the machines Marcus had built, touching it like he could somehow touch his son through it.

"Sir, are you okay? What are you doing here?"

He looked up. His face crumpled for a moment before he composed himself. "I just wanted to come back to see if there is any news."

"I am afraid there isn't any. It would be best we wait before doing anything harsh."

"You sure Tom and Marcus..." He looked down at his hands. "My Marcus went to attack Malachar's lair. I mean I cannot understand it. Yeah they accomplish impossible things but attacking the most powerful man." He shook his head slowly. "Crazy."

"I know sir but he wanted to do things. Important things for his planet and took action." Without spilling many things she could only say that much. The weight of all the secrets she carried pressed down on her chest.

A clatter of hooves outside drew her attention. When she saw the royal carriage through the window she immediately understood the invitation. Sister Korra had mentioned that a critique of the battle would be held today and it would be good if Sara attended to explain Marcus's side.

Sara took a deep breath and grabbed one of the slices of bread Palwin had left. She walked back to the corner where Palwin still sat motionless.

"Let's go Palwin. King doesn't wait."

"Do I have to come as well?" Palwin asked. Her voice was hollow. She still hadn't looked up.

Sara took a bite of the bread. When was the last time she ate? This stale bread tasted better than a prime steak right now. "I can't leave you alone with my cousins when there is no work. God knows what they would ask of you." She turned and saw her cousins whispering and laughing in the corner. Their eyes kept darting to Palwin with hungry curiosity.

The carriage ride to the palace was quiet other than the bumps on the road. The city passed by the window like a painting of despair. Streets that should have been bustling with merchants sat empty. The market stalls were shuttered.

The city was like a machine shutdown with a power button. Most people had relatives among the military and cut their squabbles for a day. But life was moving on and life threatening crises would go on like always. They would attack each other when they remembered food was getting scarce. And if Malachar tried to attack a second time who knows how they would react.

Palwin pulled Sara on the arm, showing they had arrived. Sara woke from her deep thoughts. The palace loomed above them, its stone walls a reminder of power and fragility all at once.

Lord Hammond's man took Sara where the small council had gathered. Other than the king most had already arrived. Sister Korra thanked the young man for bringing Sara and Palwin to council.

The council's name was small but recent circumstances had made it impossible to keep it that way. Commander Garop of the army and Lord Hammond's heroic commander Cain were there. Alongside them sat the head of the city guard. Among province owners only Lord Hammond was present but their representatives were also trying to find suitable places to sit. The room buzzed with whispered conversations.

Sara nodded to Aluro when she noticed the Defenders' leader across the room. The fierce woman walked their way, excusing herself from small talk with another province representative Sara had no idea who was. She greeted Sara and asked about any news from Marcus.

But when the King entered, even those who sat stood and greeted the young monarch.

He looked different. The smugness from his face had left, replaced by worry. In just a few weeks Sara noticed the king had aged like ten years like everyone else. Lines had appeared around his eyes. His jaw was set tight. The king forced a smile and gestured everyone to sit.

Sara sat between Aluro and Sister Korra. Palwin sat behind them, still silent as a ghost.

"First thing first," the king started. His voice carried despite its weariness. "I wanted to congratulate our victory against Malachar's forces. First victory against him when he led the army..." Some council members started clapping but the king stopped them with a raised hand. "...but we also lost more than seven thousand young patriots. And we don't know if he will attack with bigger forces. So we cannot celebrate more than a second. We must act to strengthen our defenses, call aid. We will do whatever is necessary."

"Your highness.." Lord Hammond got up. His armor clinked. "..If I may. What we need is to investigate how we drove off Malachar. Because let's admit it, that is how we defeated his remaining army."

"That is correct.." Now Commander Garop took the speech. His scarred face was grim. "When he was present he was capturing our soldiers' minds and if he had stayed we had no chance."

The squabble continued. Non-army representatives pleaded there must be a way to defeat the army. Commanders asked for investigation. Voices overlapped. Sara couldn't wait her turn and raised her hand to speak but no one was giving her any chance.

"Excuse me... sorry excuse me... can I intervene?"

With that all heads stopped and turned to Sara. The sudden silence was deafening.

"And who is this person Sister Korra?" The king asked, directing his gaze toward Sister Korra.

"Your highness Sara is chief engineer and partner of Marcus of Millhaven," she explained.

"I respect Marcus and his ideas but why do we also..."

Commander Cain cut the King. "Your highness, respectfully I am told she also manufactured the explosives our south wall archers used and she assisted with many other explosives in our battle."

The king raised his eyebrow. Interest sparked in his tired eyes. "Interesting. An engineer at what, nineteen, twenty? Also where is Marcus? Is he dead?" His voice softened on the last question.

"Eighteen sir. I mean your highness." Sara felt heat rise to her cheeks at her mistake. "And I am not an actual engineer but my father was a miller and I have been helping Marcus with his inventions. I have knowledge solely on those parts. For Marcus, my friend..." she pointed to Palwin "...has a different kind of magic. She says she lost the voice of Tom and Marcus. We believe they somehow vanished and are hoping they are still alive somewhere."

"What does that mean?"

"We don't know sir. I mean your highness." She blushed again at making mistakes.

"Is every member of Marcus's group some sort of prodigy? I am impressed. I do hope he is alive." The king leaned forward. "You also manufactured explosives. Can you do more?"

"Before that I want to point out Marcus's and for that matter Tom and Aldric's sacrifice made Malachar leave the battlefield. He tried to raid Malachar's most protected facility. That's when we lost them. Your highness I can create gunpowder but apparently ever since we shut down the mines, finding saltpeter and sulfur is getting harder and harder and more expensive."

"For what purpose did he go to raid his facility when Malachar was here?"

"I don't know every detail but he made a deal to steal something from Malachar in exchange for a way to stop his mind magic."

"That kid..." The king sat back in his throne. A ghost of a smile crossed his face. "He better come back. But we need to act assumptions of loss. Also write down what is needed. If we need to open mines we will open them. Converse with my new right hand man Lord Hammond. He has full control and power from now on. And for calling foreign aid and food..."

The situation in the room grew into more continental matters and grew beyond Sara's understanding. But one thing was clear. Food scarcity was going to be a problem until foreign aid came with tons of grain and soldiers.

Sara again tried to get a speaking turn. The king noticed her raised hand.

"Yes Miller's daughter, what is it?"

"Sara Miller, your highness. About scarcity, Marcus left jars of mushroom spawn in our secondary warehouse and extensive instructions on how to make more."

Lord Hammond intervened with a surprised laugh. "He did? That kid is something else."

"Good good. What other topic remained?" The king asked, turning to his advisors.

The committee continued for more than an hour. Endless problems of the city were tried to be solved at the table but the real work would start after that. Mines were going to open again, this time not for Malachar's secret projects. Hoping the old volcanic mountain that the city was built on would give them the necessary items to defeat Malachar or hurt him at least.

On the way out Aluro fell into step beside Sara. "I am sure they are okay and alive." Her voice was low, meant only for Sara. "And for a young woman representing nearly every peasant, you made us proud."

Sara thanked her with a nod. She collected Palwin and took the carriage that had brought them back to the shop.

Now she had to do Marcus's job, Aldric's job, and help the Kingdom alone.

She let out a deep sigh. The weight of it all pressed down on her small shoulders. But she had held lines before. She would hold them again.