CHAPTER 06

Lÿarah headed hastily to the Shaman's house. A crowd of curious onlookers was already hovering around his home.

She hurried inside, first into the unheated room, then into the main room.

“I am grateful to you for receiving me again, Shaman,” she greeted the host respectfully.

“Welcome, daughter; come into the next room, please.”

“Yes.”

As she walked to the next room, Lÿarah saw Siegfried stretched out on blankets, being treated by the Shaman's wife.

“Siegfried. How are your wounds?”

“Lÿarah... they hurt less than my pride. After such humiliation, why didn't you show mercy and end my misery right there? Why subject me to public scrutiny? Was defeating me not enough?”

“I do not kill our own people. And I am pragmatic. You are a strong, trained warrior, and I don't like waste. I neither like nor dislike you, but I recognize that you are more useful alive than dead.”

“But I challenged you; it is not our people's custom to spare the discontented.”

“I am in no position to give up any force that might fight in our favor, not with the dark days looming over us.”

“So, you want me as a warrior? Even after everything?”

“Even after everything. Tend to your wounds. That is the first order I give you. If you have any honor, comply with the laws of our people and swear loyalty to me.”

“Right... I used tradition to challenge you. If I respect the laws in victory, I shall respect them in defeat.”

Siegfried made a monumental effort to prostrate himself before Lÿarah.

“But I beg you, Ice Rose. Teach me your wordless conjuration technique.”

“Not just with you, but I have decided to share this knowledge with every skilled warrior of our people. You have my word.”

“Then my sword is yours.”

“And I accept it. Now, if you'll excuse me.” With that, she left the room and went to meet the newly awakened man.

Behind curtains, stretched out on pelts on the floor, the young citizen of the walled city wore an expression of surprise upon seeing Lÿarah.

Lÿarah stood silent for a few moments, studying him and analyzing his expression. At first, she did not like what she saw much.

A slender young man, he lacked a warrior's build and was likely not given to manual labor. He was not strong and probably incapable of protecting himself, let alone others.

In the frozen wastelands, he would be useless.

What kind of privileges, conveniences, and comforts must exist in that city to allow its citizens to have such a physique? Despite his seemingly frail appearance, he showed signs of good health and nutrition. That is, food was abundant even for men like him.

And if he was like that, it was certain that a good part of the city was too.

Lÿarah had heard of those so-called automatons. She had even seen one that day inside the crashed ship. Men of steel who must perform all tasks requiring strength, thus sparing the city's inhabitants from activities that might expose them to danger and inconvenience.

But that boy must have had another function, an activity that exercised the mind and not the muscles; he likely held a position or status of relative importance, given that he was on an explorer ship. The concept of strength inside that city must have been different. The warrior imagined that perhaps true power in there, the real display of strength, must be through status, appearances, or riches. Very different from what mattered to her and her people.

“Your name, what is your name?” Lÿarah asked.

“Pardon?” The young man wasn't sure he had understood her. Although they apparently spoke the same language, they pronounced and intoned the words very differently. That is, those ice people had a strong, distinct accent.

“Your name? Do you not understand what I am saying?”

“No... I understand... I'm sorry, but it seems each of us has a very peculiar way of speaking the same language.”

“I can understand you. It doesn't seem that complex to me. Now answer, tell me your name.”

“Alex. Alex D'Abietarii.”

“A pleasure. My name is Lÿarah.”

“Lÿarah of what?”

“What do you mean, 'Lÿarah of what'? Lÿarah of Lÿarah, for crying out loud,” the woman said, irritated.

“Yes... of course, sorry. I am Alex.”

“I got that the first time. Now tell me, what were you doing on that ship?”

“I think he is still confused, Lÿarah. Shall we give him some time to organize his thoughts?” said the Shaman's wife, who was tending to his bandages.

“He can speak. I imagined he would be worse; these wounds will heal soon.”

“First... excuse me... but could you explain to me what happened?”

“What are you apologizing for? You apologize too much.”

“I am so sorry... It's just that I am in a strange place... with strange people... and I don't know what your intentions are.”

“My intentions depend on your answers. But I think you should have already realized that we do not intend to harm you in the first place; after all, if that were the case, why would we waste our time bringing you here and treating your wounds?”

“Yes, that makes sense. I apologize...”

Lÿarah rolled her eyes when he apologized yet again.

“Ice dragons attacked the ship you were traveling in... I mean, dragon hatchlings, but no less dangerous for it. Anyway, you crashed, and against all odds, you survived.”

“Dragons? Real, actual dragons?”

“Yes, dragons... which part did you not understand?”

“And what happened to them? How did you rescue me with those dragons attacking?”

“Oh, I killed them. At least two of them.”

Alex didn't know what disturbed him more: that this girl had killed two dragons, or the nonchalance with which she said it, as if it were a mundane thing to do there.

“What is it? Did I say something wrong?”

“No... you didn't... I just... I mean... Wow, you killed two dragons.”

“Yeah, yes... I did.” Lÿarah shrugged.

“Do you do a lot of that around here?”

“Sometimes. Just the other day I hunted an ice bear; it was actually pretty smooth, you know?”

“Yes, of course... I imagine.” Alex gave a forced smile.

“Now answer my question; you beat around the bush too much.”

“What was the question again?”

“What were you doing on the ship?”

“Oh, yes... right. Well, I... I was a stowaway.”

“Come again?” Lÿarah arched an eyebrow.

“Well... how can I explain this... I received my designs as I do every morning, and that day I received very clear orders. A wife had been chosen for me, and I was to take her as my fiancée that very same day.”

“What do you mean, orders to get engaged? And who was this girl?”

“That's the thing, I don't know,” he said, trying to open his arms as if in lament. “I... I had never seen her before; I don't know what she looks like. I don't know who she is.”

“I don't understand... and why did you accept getting engaged to someone other people chose for you? You could refuse if you didn't agree. After all, you are a man, aren't you? In your land, aren't it the men who choose their wives?”

“Wait... I'm the one who doesn't understand. What do you mean 'choose'? Since when can you decide what to do? How can a man choose a woman? How can anyone choose anything?”

“No... I am the one not understanding you. What do you mean you let someone choose things for you? Where is your mettle? How do you allow them to boss you around?”

“Because they are the designs; they are laws... everyone has to obey. Otherwise...”

“Otherwise?”

“Those who disobey are exiled. Cast into the wastelands to freeze to death.”

At that instant, the words her father had spoken to her moments ago made perfect sense to Lÿarah. “Originally, the inhabitants of the wastelands were those who were exiled from the city...”

In other words, every inhabitant of the wastelands is, in practice, a rebel.

“I'm starting to understand... And then you probably refused to marry and, fearing exile, beat them to the punch and tried to run away. Is that it?”

“Yes... I... I knew I'd have a better chance if I went to the northern tribes. I would try to live among them. I heard they accept dissidents from the city, provided they are willing to pay.”

“And what were you planning to pay with?”

“With my collar and these bracelets I wear. They have very precious gems.”

Lÿarah paid attention to his ornaments. Useless things, purely aesthetic, with no practical utility. A waste of material and crafting time.

“I see... so that means as soon as you were attacked, the ship tried to return to the city, but then it was too late. Was that it?”

“It seems that was it, yes.”

“And now?”

“And now what?” Alex returned the question, confused.

“What do you want to do with your life? Are you going to try to stay here, or do you intend to find a way back? From what I gathered, you haven't even stood trial yet, right?”

“What am I going to do with my life? What do you mean? I do not have authorization to decide what I am going to do with my life. That is not for me to decide... I received no designs... I don't know what to decide... how can I decide? And, more importantly, is there a way for me to get back to the city?”

“But... didn't you run away precisely so you could have the power to decide what you want for your life?”

“I... I was wrong... deciding is wrong, having desires is wrong... freedom is a sin. The designs lead us down the right path, without mistakes. I decided on my own, and look what happened? I had an accident; I almost died... I was wrong; the Mathematician and the Physicists were right... That's it. Maybe... maybe I should go back and marry the girl they chose for me...”

Lÿarah sighed in disappointment. But she understood that that young man's reality was just that. A prison without bars. He had been educated like that, conditioned like that. Their lifestyles were clearly so different.

“Right then... if you are not going to decide, I will decide for you. I will think about what I will do with you. But, in the meantime, you are our guest. Eat, drink, and rest.”

“I have no way to thank you; I have no way to pay for this...”

“When you are better, you will pay by working. Like everyone here does.”

“Working? On what?”

“So... that will be a problem. Finding something you can do around here. But do not worry about that now. I will think of something. Just heal your wounds.”

“Right... I am very grateful.”

“I hope you truly are grateful. I will take my leave; I need to attend to other matters. I will come see you soon.”

“Agreed. Thank you.”

Lÿarah nodded. She greeted the Shaman's wife and then withdrew.

She would return to her father's house to seek his advice on what to do with that very strange boy.

•••

Lÿarah returned to Igor's house. After eating a meal of herbs and small pickled tubers, accompanied by strips of ice hare meat, father and daughter sat on the floor on several animal pelts in the center of the house's heated room. The fireplace crackled, and from time to time Igor's wife tended the fire.

“Interesting.” That was what Igor said upon hearing Lÿarah's account of Alex.

“You think so? In what sense?”

“In the sense that some things remain the same. Your reasoning about the inhabitants of Mu is correct; they are surrounded by privileges and conveniences in their routines, which makes them weaker, at least physically. But that does not make them any less dangerous.”

“And how can weak men like them be dangerous?”

“They are more dangerous than all the beasts of the wastelands put together.”

“Explain.”

“The reasoning is simple. They are weak, fragile, and unskilled because they were not exposed to the harsh weather, hostilities, and privations we were raised with. What for us is just another challenge, for them is an insurmountable obstacle; but look, we have to deal with nature every day; they don't; they have tamed it.”

“Exactly, isn't that a contradiction?”

“Yes, and no. Precisely because they have their needs met and possess abundant resources, they enjoy good health and have more time to perfect the mind. The mind is the human being's most important muscle. We are weaker than the ice beasts, but even so, we prevail. Why?”

“Because we are smarter, right?”

“Exactly. Brute force does not prevail over wisdom or technique. We are living proof of that. Likewise, if they can perfect themselves in the sciences, arts, philosophy, and all branches of knowledge, they have learned how to take advantage of the chaotic world we live in. If they can sleep peacefully, it is because they built tools and weapons and developed means to defend themselves. Even being so fragile.”

“I think I understand. Unlike us, who spend all our time merely surviving, they expend that same time creating ways to live better. In the end, their strength is different, different from ours.”

“They are lethal, believe me. They developed automatons, weapons, and unlike us, they have resources that can counter any opposing phenomenon. They certainly have a contingency plan for everything. We do not.”

“Yes, I understand. I will never underestimate them.”

“You will show wisdom if you carry yourself like that.”

“Yes, sir. But what about the boy? Will he be useful to us?”

“He will. No matter what action we decide to take from now on, before doing anything, we must study, learn, and plan well. This is only possible with reconnaissance. He said he longs to go back, didn't he?”

“At this moment he is, but I believe he can't do so. The walls are inviolable. At least as far as I know.”

“There is a way. Through the boilers and pipes of Muspelheim, far to the south, exhaust vents discharge boiler residue into the air, but far from the city. It is dangerous because I don't know the state of the traps and security measures there nowadays. It is necessary to do reconnaissance, study routes, and ways to bypass the defenses.”

“And you have this information? This knowledge of how to enter?”

“I know many things, but the information might be outdated. It is not enough to pass through the pipes of Muspelheim; you must infiltrate the city to enter the Temple of Exactness. You, as a leader, need to know what awaits you inside and how the city is functioning.”

“I understand that Alex will be useful to us on this point; am I right?”

“Exactly, he will certainly know how to guide you and introduce you to the city if you take him back. Make a deal with him. Take him and make him collaborate, with a lot of information.”

“So this would be an espionage mission?”

“Exactly. I firmly believe that you need to go to Hvergelmir, the most important machine in that city, understand its secrets, and then, only then, make the necessary decision regarding the future of our people.”

“And what do I need to discover in this Hvergelmir?”

“That is the kind of thing you will only be able to know once you are there. Anything I tell you now will only be a part, a small fraction of the whole, biased from my point of view. I have to trust in your wisdom.”

Lÿarah was bothered by that evasive answer, but above all else, she trusted her father unquestioningly. If he said it that way, it was because he had a reason.

“Do you believe this is a mission I should go on without others from our tribe?”

“Discretion, as I said, will be the only way to enter the city. Its defenses haven't been breached in ages. A mob of ice warriors will be an easy target for the traps, weapons, and automatons of the walled ones.”

Igor gave his daughter the pendant that was previously in the box.

“Take this; it will be necessary to enter the city via the route I will detail for you. I will make you a map.”

“I understand. I will take the young man with me and make him my guide once we are inside the city.”

“Yes, I am counting on you, my daughter.”

•••

Lÿarah returned to the Shaman's house. The huntress told the elder her next steps and explained to the guest what she had decided to do with him.

“I understand... quite risky indeed, but less reckless than sacrificing our warriors on an incursion in the dark, without information,” the Shaman said.

“Do you think the boy could do it? Does he have the capacity to keep up with me in this?”

“Him? Right now, the way he is, hardly.”

“They will soon miss him inside; if we lose this window of opportunity, it will be much harder for us to get in and infiltrate their society. This seems to be a unique chance.”

“No haste, child. Even if you wanted to, there is no way he could survive in his current state until he reaches the walls. You will need patience.”

Lÿarah sighed in disappointment.

The Shaman's wife came over to call them to eat.

The lady of the house set out bowls of food for everyone, except Lÿarah, who said she had already eaten. Alex and Siegfried sat on the animal pelts to eat with them.

“Please, help yourselves, eat. Eat. We have plenty today; there is meat for everyone.”

“I thank you, my lady. Thank you for the meal,” Siegfried said gratefully.

While everyone ate, Alex stared at his bowl in astonishment.

“Aren't you going to eat?” Lÿarah wanted to know. “If you don't feed yourself, you won't heal your wounds.”

“Yes... but...” said Alex, breaking into a cold sweat.

“But?” Lÿarah looked at him, very curious.

“What is this?” he pointed at his food.

“Well, what do you think it is? Food. Now eat.”

“Food?” the young man said, unable to believe what his eyes were showing him.

“Yeah! Food!” Lÿarah said, confused by his questions. “The kind you put in your mouth, chew, and swallow. Are you familiar? Don't people eat in your city?”

“Well, we eat, but this food is...”

“Is?” The lady of the house looked worried.

“Frozen... and raw. How do you eat this?”

“Like this.” Siegfried picked up a strip of frozen meat, brought it to his mouth, and ate it. “What's the difficulty?”

“But it's frozen and raw,” Alex insisted.

“And you don't eat it like this? How do you eat?” Siegfried asked a genuine question.

“Normally the meat comes roasted or boiled... and it comes warm.”

“Warm?” Lÿarah and Siegfried said in unison.

“Yeah. Food is served warm.”

The two warriors burst into laughter.

“Did you hear that? They eat their food warm!” Siegfried guffawed. He had to regain his composure as his stitches threatened to tear open.

Lÿarah, however, did not; she nearly rolled on the floor from laughing so hard.

“That's a good one, but stop, come on. Tell the truth. How do you eat?” she said, wiping away tears from laughing so much.

“I told the truth,” Alex said resolutely.

“No... wait a minute... you're messing with me... is it true?”

“Yeah, after all, Muspelheim heats our homes and allows us to use ovens to cook.”

That seemed absurd to Lÿarah. She struggled to believe it.

“Warm food? Why would you heat the food if it's just going to freeze again moments later?”

“But in the city it won't freeze. In our homes, we don't run that risk.”

Siegfried and Lÿarah looked at each other, their expressions saying this bordered on absurdity.

“This raw food could be contaminated, full of microbes.”

“Full of what?” the offended lady of the house asked. “Listen here, young man, we may be ‘barbarians’, but we have a sense of hygiene, you hear?”

“It might be, but hygiene becomes very precarious when there is no running water, doesn't it?” Alex stated.

“Running water?”

“Yeah, when we open our faucets and water flows into our basins.”

“Faucets?” Siegfried asked, confused.

“Yeah, they are connected to pipes that bring us water.”

“Wake up to reality, boy,” Lÿarah said, irritated. “If we brought water from the frozen river here in pipes, wouldn't you agree that the liquid would freeze before even entering our homes?”

“Oh... I, I just meant that...”

“Eat,” Lÿarah ordered, visibly impatient.

Alex made a disgusted face and hesitated to eat.

“Eat. Otherwise, the next meat in these bowls will be yours.”

Alex took the threat very seriously and practically swallowed a frozen strip almost without chewing.

“Well?” Lÿarah wanted to know, staring at him.

“De... delicious...” Alex lied.