81 Gremurr Mines
On the ship's hull, the overlapping new armor plates looked like the polished scales of a sea serpent. Tukar had to shade his eyes from the reflected sunlight. “Workmaster Zadar, you have done a fine job, and Soldan-Shah Omra will be proud as well. The Golden Fern is going to be the most powerful warship in the Uraban navy.”
The burly workmaster was not accustomed to excessive compliments. He had pressed the Aidenist slaves hard, but after so many years he was good at controlling them. “I simply did as the job required.” However, Zadar could not hide the fact that he too was pleased. His new smelters and rollers had produced iron sheets that made the ship virtually indestructible. Her hull could not be smashed by reef or ramming vessel.
Feeling a sting of tears in his eyes, Tukar drew a deep breath, coughed, and turned away to cover his emotion. Yes, now he deserved his brother's forgiveness. All past crimes, suspicions, and questions would be washed away when the Golden Fern arrived in Olabar harbor. “The wind must have caught the fumes from the smelters.” He wiped his eyes. He and his family would be going home as soon as the other ships were finished.
At first, when the Aidenist slaves learned that their work was to armor a Middlesea vessel, they laughed, knowing there was no passage to the Oceansea. The battleship would be a magnificent juggernaut, but it seemed ludicrous for Tukar and his men to waste so much metal and effort on a ship trapped on the wrong side of the isthmus.
But when new Tierran captives from Ishalem spread the news about Kel Unwar's great canal, the rest of the slaves understood what their enemies intended. The Aidenist workers resisted, and a few even tried to sabotage the rolling mills. Though it was not Zadar's policy to waste manpower, the point needed to be made, and he executed the three ringleaders and increased guards in the factories. Soon enough, the work routine returned to normal.
Omra had dispatched seven more ships to Gremurr, which were now tied up to special docks. As soon as the Golden Fern was finished, Tukar would begin work armoring the other vessels. And after that, he, Shetia, and Ulan would sleep in the palace, eat fine foods, visit the markets and the souks. He could raise his boy with all the advantages he deserved, and Ulan could have as many puppies as he wanted.
Tukar walked the deck of the Golden Fern, pretending to inspect the joints and bolts. He rapped the iron cladding with his knuckles and listened to the pleasant ringing sound. Much heavier than before, the vessel rode low in the water, but she had been designed for hauling metals and ores.
When he pronounced the vessel fit for launch, Tukar summoned the mine workers to celebrate its completion. The slaves dutifully complied, but their cheers were not as enthusiastic as Tukar would have liked. How these Aidenist captives must hate what they had been forced to do! At least the Urecari guards applauded sincerely.
Tukar brought his wife and son to the docks so they could watch the final touches to the first ironclad ship. Shetia and Ulan stared with wide eyes as the crews used ropes and pulleys to align a jagged attachment of cast iron, like a saw blade, along the prow.
“It looks like the teeth in a sea monster's jaw,” Ulan cried. “That ship will cut through an Aidenist vessel like a gutting knife cuts a fish!”
“That's the reason for the design, son.” Tukar regarded the other seven vessels ready to receive similar plating. “Before long, the soldan-shah will have a fleet of invincible ships.”
“Does that mean the Aidenists will all die soon?” Unlike Tukar, the boy did not long to go to Olabar; Ulan had never known any life other than here at Gremurr.
“I don't like all this talk about death and killing.” Tukar's wife tugged the boy's arm. “However, if these ships end the war sooner, I'll be happy enough to go home to Olabar.”
When the sails were hoisted, the Eye of Urec stared out from blood-red silk. The crew stood at the rails and waved as they departed for the capital city, where the Golden Fern would inspire all Urabans. As soon as the Ishalem canal was completed, this vessel would lead the Uraban fleet on a decisive strike.
Tukar touched his wife's shoulder. “Once the other ships are completed, we can sail away from Gremurr, and we'll let Zadar have this place. He can rule here as long as he likes, even in peacetime. Uraba will always need the metals from these mines.”
The bald workmaster chuckled. “Why would I want to leave my home? I'd rather smell the forge than perfumes and incense.”