The Fire and The Storm - The Nexus of Kellaran #2 novel Chapter 76

Part 13

The four governors looked like they were simply still, relaxed, and waiting. In reality, they were communicating psionicly, and they were a bit nervous.

“They look pretty enough, I suppose.” Helemia mused as she considered the ranks of Sylvan. “I wish we’d had time to make up some uniforms though.”

“Bah! I can’t believe how much time and trouble it was just to retrieve the clothes and possessions they already own!” Valentia complained. “Who’d have thought that people living like fugitives in the forest could accumulate so much stuff?! I thought we’d never get it done in time.”

“But you did.” Reggie acknowledged. “And it’s made a big difference. Now that they’re all moved into their own rooms, they’re a lot more accepting of the situation.”

“The organization helped too.” Helemia commented. “The lieutenants generally picked the packs they’d run with before as the core of their new platoons, so there’s continuity of the social lives they had before. Forming squads and assigning sergeants seems to have helped a lot too.”

“Yah, that was good thinking, letting the lieutenants pick the troops for their own platoons.” Karzog added. “They’re showing some real camaraderie and pride in their platoons and squads now.”

“I’m surprised you let them form platoons of such different sizes.” Valentia noted.

“Yes, well we’d told them that the platoons would have up to a hundred soldiers each,” Helemia explained, “And some of them wanted the full hundred. But with the two hundred and twenty-one lieutenants we ended up with, there’s only enough soldiers for about sixty per lieutenant. We’d only set a limit of a hundred per platoon to accommodate future population growth. But then Shebiteve, our youngest lieutenant, said she only wanted thirty-seven. She was shrewd too, she picked all the most promising fourteen-year-old and youngers. So we let those who wanted less than sixty pick first, which gave them smaller but generally more talented platoons. Those who wanted the full hundred picked last, and after some bargaining and mediation, almost everyone was completely satisfied. We’ll let the lieutenants make trades on Firstdays if they want to.”

Reggie laughed. “A lot of Sylvan were upset that they hadn’t been picked to be lieutenants. They argued that the best and most vicious warriors should’ve been made officers, and when we told them that we’d picked on the basis of intelligence, emotional stability, and pragmatism, they were disgusted. Their spokesman declared; ‘Well that’s just stupid!’, and walked away in a huff.”

They all got a silent chuckle from the thought.

Mandri appeared on the platform beside them. “Hi kids! Most of us are ready to come over now, and the rest’ll be ready before noon, which is about eleven minutes from now. Alilia insists that Mark and Talia arrive last, and precisely at noon. Everyone’s got the Tongues For Blezogeth spell that Povon made up, so you won’t have to worry about translation.

“I’m surprised we were able to come up with a fancy feast for twenty thousand on such short notice, but we did. We can bring it over anytime you want.”

“Thanks Mandri.” Reggie nodded, and outlined an area of beach between the platform and the sea with a line of blue light. “Everyone can come by now; that area there is reserved for Homesteaders.”

“All right.” Mandri acknowledged, and disappeared.

A moment later the Homesteaders began appearing on the beach in family groups. They called and waved their greetings to the four young governors as they chose places for themselves on the sand, and their greetings were cheerfully returned.