The Lone Wanderer 1

    Chapter 1: The Iron Baron

    The morning sky of deep reds and oranges cast long shadows along the fields that extended into the horizon. Unus Solum's ring shined purple, arcing across the sky, as far as the eye could see. I walked slowly across the porch of my family home, selecting each step with care, aiming to make as little noise as possible. I picked up my bike, which was leaning against the far end of the deck, and retraced my path back to the steps which led down to the walkway. I placed the bike on the ground, fixed my backpacks straps, stepped on the bike, and kicked off. My heart raced, the handlebars became loose under my sweaty hands. I wobbled along the dirt walkway onto the equally uncomfortable road.

I was actually doing it. I fought looking back at my childhood home, out of fear that I would lose my courage if I saw it. I blocked out the thoughts of home, both good and bad, and focused on moving forward. I gained speed, exploding down the road. A smile made its way onto my face, the wind whistling in my ears. The trees and farming fields became blurs as I shot down the road. No, I wasn't going back.

After over an hour of biking, the sun had begun to rise and the planets ring was losing it's purple hue, slowly becoming a white cut across the sky. As I reached the outskirts of the city, the road became paved, running parallel to the train tracks. I was almost there. With new found determination, I pushed myself to go faster. My throat felt raw as I breathed heavily on the cold morning air.

Then I saw it. The train station had never been something that I considered magnificent, being a simple wooden structure, but this time I became tense as I finally pulled in front of it. I did not stop, but jumped off my bike and continued running, even as I carried by bike up the stairs into the terminal. It was only when I tripped that I slowed down. The train station was a small building, consisting of one room with a single round desk to buy tickets at near the far doors. The rest of the building was benches and chairs, with various adds for restaurants and hotels within the city of Hearth lining the walls. Despite being empty, it was an inviting building, with the sun breathing life into the room. I sat down on one of the benches to catch my breath.

“Good morning sir”, I jumped, I hadn't noticed the man behind the desk. I quickly stood up, and in almost a single motion found myself before him. He was an average sized, dark skinned man, several years my elder. He had greying hair, but he looked confident and strong all the same. He wore a dark blue suit, with what I assumed was his sun hat lying to his left on the desk.

“Top of the morning to you as well” I said still panting.


“You look like you just ran a race,” then he noticed my vehicle, “or biked one from the looks of things.”

“When's the next train coming?” I asked. I was too focused on my goal to get entangled in conversation. I never knew when my uncle would come looking for me.

“Well, let's see” he said picking up a book from under the counter. He turned a few pages, and then looked up at me, “not for another seven hours I'm afraid.”

“No, no, no, I can't wait that long!” I said walking back to a bench and slumping in it. Failure.

“What, are you in trouble with the law?” he asked, giving me an inquisitive eye.

I jumped, “Me? No! It's not like that at all... it's just...” I didn't want to explain my plight to this man.

“Well,” he paused, and then sighed. “You look like a good kid.” He picked up his book again and began searching through the pages.

“We have a train coming in from Kingshome in a twenty minutes. They aren't supposed to be taking on any passengers... but, I think I can make an exception for you.”

“Yes!” I yelled joyfully. “I'll take the seat, how much is it?”

“Aren't you interested in where the train is headed?” He asked.

“No, anywhere but here is fine.” I replied fumbling through my breast wallet for money.

“You don't enjoy my company?” he asked, faking offence.

“You're a fine fellow,” I replied, “But I can't stay in Hearth”

“Your loss,” he replied sarcastically, “and considering the circumstance” he handed me a ticket, “don't worry about paying. I think you are going to need every piece of currency you have.”

I picked up the ticket, and wheeled by bike out the building onto the platform. I stood there in both fear and excitement. When the train arrived, I got on board as fast as I could. An attendant lead me down the train through several cars, through an extravagant dining hall, fully stocked bar, and several passenger cars before we reached my cabin. She closed the door behind me, and I fell onto the bench on my side of the room as the train began moving again.

It was over, no turning back.

I laid down on the bench and rested. I was tired, and as the adrenaline from my morning commute began to fade, I noticed how sore my legs felt from the hour long ride. I closed my eyes and began to daze off, day dreaming of a time long ago...

“I do say!” I was jolted back to life, surprised by the figure standing above me. “How did you get into my car? What is this foolishness? Out, out, out!”

“Hold on friend! I'm going to be bunking with you from here on in.” I replied, sitting up.

“Well, I'll see about that!” he stormed off, only to return a few moments later, embarrassed. “I'm sorry, I thought you were some sort of... unsavoury fellow out to take advantage of me. But I was wrong. Andries von Cameron.” He extended his hand, and I accepted it it standing up to meet him. He was a round man, balding, wearing an expensive suit. He was at least a head shorter than me.

“Cale McCrae” I replied.

Before I could sit down, Andries asked, “And where is a young Rostefian like you headed? One of the Ironworks in Sudfell?”

“No” I replied, almost laughing at the idea of working at an Ironworks, “Nowhere in particular really. I guess you could same I'm adventuring, or wandering aimlessly.”

“Really now.” He replied.

After as few moments of silence, I asked “and what is a businessman from Sudfell doing in Rostef?”

His eyes lit up, “I'm glad you asked! Just a second,” he pulled out a briefcase from a drawer under his bunk, which produced a map of Arcea and a seperate map of the Hoffnung Republics. “I'm one of those 'iron barons' as most people put it. I have factories from Grubenderfeld to Focail” he said, “all under the name Cameron Ironworks. I'm looking to expand into Rostef so that I can begin selling into Corinth.”

“Impressive” I replied, trying to find a way to keep the man entertained, “And what do you make at Cameron Ironworks?”

“What do we make? Have never heard of Cameron Ironworks? I guess I have to put more money into advertising!” he replied with a reserved chuckle, “We make all sorts of things like radios, difference engines, even electric torches. How could you have never heard of us?”

“I've never had any of those things I guess,” I replied, “growing up on a farm an all.”

“Not even electric torches?” he replied, seemingly in terror at the thought.

“No,” I replied. Andries cringed.

“Well, I can certainly understand why you left that third rate, poorly lit hole you once called home!” he stood up. “Come on, lets make use of that dining car. It's on me!”

It wasn't until then that I remembered that I hadn't eaten all morning. I stood up and smiled, “I guess I'll have to take you up on that offer.”

All that day Andries and I enjoyed the train and everything it had to offer. He chatted with other passengers, getting into long winded conversations about his company and its success's. (which he seemed to never want to stop talking about) He would always find a way to slip away from those who wanted to talk about themselves. He came to like me quite a bit, as I made sure to always seem interested in him repeating how great his ironworks was.

Finally night came, and I dragged the drunken Andries back to our shared cabin, “You're a good kid Cale, good kid.” he said as I laid him down.

“G'night” said lying down on my own bunk.

“yeah...” Andries was soon asleep, snoring loudly. I did my best to sleep, but I couldn't. I was sick with excitement and fear. To be honest, I really didn't know where I was going. I didn't even manage to pick up where this train was going. In a sense, I was lost, and my only friend was a self obsessed, drunken iron baron. Seconds turned into minutes, minutes into hours, and soon Unus Solums ring was back to shining a bright purple across the night sky. The only sound being that of the train, and Andries occasional snores, which kept the time like the ticking of a clock counting down the minutes.

Then the cabins sliding doors were forced open. I fell stiff with dread.

Excellent, and now I'm going to be stabbed by bandits.

“There's the bastard” one of the voices whispered.

“His throats mine” another replied.

How did my uncle get assassins on this train? How could he afford assassins to begin with?

“What do we do about this other fellow? I was sure the target was meant to be alone”

“That actually works in our favour. We can frame him with the kill, and no one will be looking for us!”

I slowly rolled my head, being careful not to disturb the springs of the bunk and make a sound. That's when I realized that I wasn't the target, my companion was. The two assassin, dressed in black suits with white trimmed tricorns stood before Andries. In his drunken slumber, the breaking in of the assassins had failed to wake him.

I was determined not to lose my only friend, no matter how certain I was that these men probably had legitimate grievances.  Iron baron was not a commendable title, as the men often had to trample on many people to build their industrial empires. Considering how selfish Andries seemed, I was sure that he was no different.

I began quietly moving my hand around looking for a weapon, anything to arm myself. I picked up the first thing I could find.

The Book of the Ancients? My father used to say that a book is a powerful weapon in the hands of the right man, but I'm sure this wasn't what he meant.

Finding nothing else, I decided to use the holy book as my weapon. I jumped from my bed, surprising the assassins. With as much force as I could muster, I smashed the weighty book across the nearest assailants face. He fell to the floor, dropping his knife. His partner pulled produced a nearly identical weapon from his pocket in response, and stabbed, missing my chest by a hair. I then moved in to hit him, but having lost my balance dodging his attack, it was a slow swing which he easily blocked. The force of which he pushed me caused me to fall onto his partner. I quickly rolled back to my feet, managing to pick up the dropped knife in the process. This time the attacker did a lunging slash, which I once again dodged, and managing to get behind him.

“Surrender boy!” the attacker that I had hit earlier stood behind me, gun in hand. I dropped my weapon and raised my hands in surrender. “Didn't think that von Cameron would hire a body guard, but it's good that you aren't too good at your job.” The two of them laughed. The attacker armed with a knife opened up the cabin door leading outside. The room was filled by a rush of frigid night air.

“Hey Cale, what's going on?” Andries was awake. I certainly could have used his help a few moments earlier.

“Remember us?” one of the attackers said turning to the drunken man, removing his hat with his free hand.

“Yeah, you closed down our factory, moved all of our jobs to the UHR.” added the assailant with the gun, turning to his former employer.

That's when I attacked, kicking the assassin with the gun in the groin. He keeled over. His friend who had opened the door tried to kill me then, charging at me. Before he could strike, I managed to get the gun and bring it around to face him before.

“Damn you!” he yelled, dropping his knife and raising his hands in defeat. “Do you have any idea what this man has done? Not only did his factory force all of the other ironworks in our town to close, but then he closed his as well. Their's no work, and my family is barely making it by. He deserves to die!”

“Get out!” I replied, being as loud as I could to defeat the sound of the train and the wind. “This is hardly that time for a philosophical debate.

“Yes it is!” he cried, “Don't you at all understand what he is doing? Can't you see why it's wrong?”

“Perhaps” I replied, “But Arcea is a Democracy. Their is a much better way to take action than this. Now once again, get out!”

“Are you crazy?” he cried, “I'm going to break my legs if I jump now, moving this fast.

“Or I can shoot you, your call.”

“Curse you!” he yelled, jumping out the door.

I picked up the last attacker and through him out the door behind his partner. Then, with great effort, I closed the cabin. It became seemingly silent immediately. I turned to Andries and we stared at each other uncomfortably for a few minutes, taking in what had just happened.

“What, in the name of Nikea just happened?” he said, clearly still drunk.

“I'm not sure” I replied. Immediately dropped the gun in disgust, opened the door again and kicked outside with the remaining knife.

“Well, g'night then” he said, falling asleep almost immediately.

I laughed, and then lied back down on my bunk. Perhaps I was better equipped to face the world than I thought.

* * *

The next morning we arrived in Eboracum, the first stop in Arcea Proper. It was cloudy, and rain seemed certain. Despite some minor protest, Andries, understandably demanded that the train stop so that he could leave, and take an airship the rest of the way to his destination. The other passengers used the moment to stretch out and take in some fresh air. Andries and I  stood together on the terminal for a few minutes, without much to say to each other.

“Still have a headache?” I said, trying to start a conversation. I knew that once you got Andries talking, he could could entertain both of us.

“Still have a headache,” he replied with a chuckle.

Surprisingly, he had nothing more to add. A cold wind picked up, causing the nearby trees to rustle and howl.

“You're a good kid, Cale” Andries said, placing his hand on my shoulder.

“Umm, thanks” I replied.

“You saved my life, I hope you know that,” he said, looking at me more seriously than I knew he could manage.

“Yes, I know” I said shrugging.
“
I'm a powerful man Cale” he said “It's not easy to impress people like me.”

I almost laughed at the statement. He was self obsessed to the end.

“It's true he said, no sense in dancing around the point.” he handed me a card, “If you need anything, and I mean anything, you know where to find me, or my people.” I took the card and looked up at him. “Best you get on that train and get going.”

I nodded my head and turned to get back on the train. But I stopped. The story of the attackers on the train still bothered me. “Why?”

“Because you don't want to miss your train...” Andries replied confused.

“You know what I mean” I shouted, “the ironworks those men were from”

“Sometimes a product doesn't catch on in one region. Other times the cost of  producing and shipping goods from the UHR or Enshaw is actually cheaper than just building it hear. I don't know which factory those men were from, so I'm not really sure what the scenario was in their specific case”

“But they need those jobs!” I said in protest.

“So do the people of the UHR.” he sighed, “I run an Ironworks company. Companies and corporations are amoral machines. They do what is profitable and legal. I know most people are uncomfortable with the idea of something operating in a way that Nikea would be unhappy with, and that's why we have laws around ironworks.” He walked up to me and rustled my hair, “do you want me to close down a factory in the Enshaw so that someone in Arcea Proper can have that job? Is that fair to the workers in Enshaw?”

“I guess you're right” I replied. "But I still think that you aren't amoral. And as long as you run Cameron Ironworks, you can't say it is amoral without admitting that you are."

“As I always am” he laughed, "but I guess you are right as well. Still, no no one has jobs if the ironworks always acts morally but can't make enough money to operate"

Half way up the steps into the passenger car my cabin was in, I realized I had forgot to ask a very important question. “Where is the train headed?”

“You'll have to figure that out yourself!” Andries replied putting on his top hat.

“Are you trying to be poetic? Seriously, where is the train headed?” I shouted. The engine whistled, marking that it would be leaving momentarily.

“Good bye,” Andries disappeared into the station. Before I could press him any further, the train was moving, and I watched as the building on the outskirts of Eboracum fainted off into the distance.

I walked into the train and looked down the empty hall of the car. I was left to wander aimlessly alone.