landbeastnovel Chapter 212: "Bread and Circuses"
Chapter 212: "Bread and Circuses"
Henry’s day didn’t end with the Sun God Company. He still had an infinite number of issues to address. Building the foundation of his kingdom meant addressing more than just the economy. There were other pressing matters, things equally, if not more, important than trade and only mining.
After finishing his meeting with the agents, Henry headed toward the Northern Gate. The streets were alive with activity, but quieted as he passed. Snow workers had done their jobs well, clearing the endless layers of frost from the avenues and narrow streets. People paused in their work or conversations, lowering their heads in respect as he walked by. Even the barbarians, who were still adjusting to their new roles in this structured society, mimicked the gesture. Henry could see more and more of them as he walked north, few of the original residents mingled between them.
"How is their situation?" Henry asked, his voice cutting through the silence of the avenue. He didn’t slow his stride, his eyes scanning the figures around him. Luke, the small midget, was nearly jogging to keep up. His arms were full, clutching an unwieldy stack of parchments to his chest. His short legs struggled to match the king’s pace, leaving him slightly out of breath, but he managed to respond.
Luke glanced at the barbarians gathered along the avenue, their heads bowed in silence as Henry passed. Some of them still had blood on their knuckles, while others had blood dripping from their nose or teeth missing. Their huge and muscular frames, coupled with a long hair, set them apart from most citizens of Stahl. And, because they had ample access to the fur within the Frozen Forest, their clothes were even better then most merchants within the capital. If you looked at their clothes only, outsiders might think that they were rich merchants or nobles.
"The other residents are still acting with prejudice" - Luke said, adjusting the stack of parchments he clutched tightly, struggling to keep them balanced - "But it has lessened over the last few months. The trade initiatives and Gedhe’s role as the Frozen Agent have allowed some sort of communication between them" - He shifted the papers again, regretting not bringing someone to help him carrying these documents - "However, their habits... they still unsettle people. They are brutal."
At Luke’s words, Henry’s eyes shifted to a nearby group of barbarians, also noticing the blood and the broken teeth and swollen jaws. It wasn’t just men either, even the women carried all sorts of injuries. Despite that, they all seemed to move without an ounce of pain.
Luke tried to keep his eyes forward, somewhat uneasy to keep staring at them. He leaned closer to Henry, speaking in a hushed tone, just loud enough for the king to hear - "They fight all the time," he said, his voice tinged with frustration. "Once, I came out around midnight to inspect a problem near North Avenue. And, they were gathered in a circle, yelling and cheering. I saw this young guy, he didn’t even have an arm, beating another man to a pulp."
"They should at least do something like this in the training grounds," Luke muttered, his voice low as he adjusted again the stack of parchments in his arms. "Or at least somewhere more appropriate. It is unsettling to think that someone might find a body in these streets one morning because things got out of hand."
At Luke’s words, Henry’s eyes flickered with sudden inspiration. A memory from Earth flashed vividly in his mind, a Roman amphitheater, its grand arches towering above a cheering crowd, where people gathered to watch combat and revel in spectacle - "Bread and circuses" - he thought, the philosophy of keeping the masses entertained while maintaining order.
He looked back at the barbarians but quickly shook his head. "Having them perform these traditions in the open... for everyone to see. It could work. It might even provide a form of entertainment in this harsh region. Something to lighten the monotony..." His voice trailed off, his thoughts deepening. Then, as if struck by lightning, he halted abruptly.
Luke, walking too close behind and struggling with the weight of the parchments, bumped into Henry’s back, nearly dropping his entire stack - "Apologies, my liege" - Luke muttered, scrambling to steady the documents. Yes, he was having trouble with it. He should have ordered someone to carry it.
Henry waved off the apology, his mind clearly elsewhere. Without looking back, he asked, "How many conquered soldiers refused to yield and are still locked up in the castle’s prison?"
Luke paused, blinking at the unexpected question. "Around five hundred, my king. It could be slightly more or less."
A slow, calculating smile spread across Henry’s face, his gaze sharpening as a plan began to take shape in his mind. "Good," he said softly, more to himself than to Luke - "Let’s meet Luna first."