Sparnas

Water and Sunshine

"Mother, why are there eight BlueWings soldiers with black armbands at Grandmother's place?" Arriving home, Liath went to her mother's drawing room. Grisa was on her desk, writing a letter.

"Oh they are extra guards, given by the BlueWings for all the GrayWing clans and some of the RedWings, I hear. How is your grandmother?" Grisa put her quill down, stood up and kissed Liath on the cheeks.

"Yes, but why, and why are they all Brothers?" Liath placed a box of torte on the table and sat on the chair facing her mother.

"I don't know, dear. A BlueWing admiral even told me to do inventory for our vaults. That got on your father's nerve. You know how possessive and private your father is. And it's not just our vault, even my old Cinza vault needed to be declared. He is at a meeting with that guy, denying any rights to declare anything in the vault. Breach of privacy he said. He agreed to the guards as long as their wages don't have to come out of his purse strings. And that our loyal house guards and bodyguards are all above them in authority. I didn't notice if they were all brothers. They look different to me, some are quite good looking." Grisa finally looked up from her book to look at her daughter. "You look positively out of breath! Did you speed all the way from Grandmother's?"

Liath sat down and poured herself a glass of mead. "Yes, well no, not exactly. Zwarte is a great driver, don't worry, mother. Grandmother said they've been there since morning, immersing with the house guards, going on patrols with them. She wasn't the bit perturbed over them being there. She's fine. She also gave me a basket of tangerines, it's in the dining room. Anyway, mother, I meant Brothers, not brothers. They all wear black armbands even if some were BlueWings with only black spots."

"Why should she? There's nothing to it, Liath. It's just a ruse to keep us GrayWings in check. I don't like it so I hope your father put a stop to this. I heard that the Dowager Pilkas was fuming she might as well breathe fire on the BlueWing. I think the poor admiral will have to get himself a new pair of ears after your father and the Dowager has done roasting him." Grisa took a torte from the box. "You've been rather different lately."

Liath almost spilled her drink. "What, mother?"

"Different. Sure I still don't see you home that much. But now, instead of being all gloomy, you almost walk on air every time you come back." Grisa closed her book and leaned towards Liath. "Tell me, is it a boy? Don't tell me it's Rosso because I don't think he'll be that fun to spend an hour with let alone the whole day."

Liath remembered her lunch conversation with Grandmother Cinza. It took almost all of her restraint not to strangle the old yenta. She had to feign an emergency so that she could be interrupted and spirited way fast without telling her anything. Zwarte, Blau, and Glas were always alert to her signals. She would cross her fingers and pretend to run her fingers through her hair. As soon as any of them saw it, Blau or Glas would come over and remind her of some urgencies or if Zwarte was around, he would run to her and make up an emergency.

She had no more strength to play her mother's game. She inhaled deeply and let it out slowly. "I found someone who treats me the same way he treats everyone else. And I feel safe around him, I feel happy."

"He doesn't sound like a GrayWing...or maybe it's one of the Boz boys. Is he Boz or Sery? Or any of your distant cousins from Cinza or Atavus forbids Harmaa side?"

"He's a BlackWing, mother."

Grisa let out a wild laugh and uncharacteristically slapped her knee. "Oh, my, not even a RedWing! You sure know how to give your father a heart attack" She laughed. "For all the talk I've given you for Connection. The only Connection you get from this Brother will be a welded rivet." She took a napkin and dabbed at the corner of her eyes.

"Are you angry at me, mother?"

"Angry? Me? No! Why would I? Why should I? Whoever you spend time with is your business. Well as long as he's not a Pilkas or the Roois, I would accept any gentleman who can make my bored to death daughter live her life as she should."

"Thank you, mother! I like him a lot, and you and father both will like him too" Liath stood up and embraced Grisa, still wracked with mirth.

"You don't have to thank me so soon. You have to think of how to tell your father. He might suddenly decide to be snobby. Bring this young man to see us, before your father finds out from someone else. I for one will not tell him for you. I like my neck," Grisa wiped the tears from her eyes. "I always know you'd find some otherWings to take fancy on. If I was you, I couldn't find myself falling for any of the GrayWings or RedWings of your age either."

"Oh before I forget, you're to accompany your father for the Senate anniversary or whatever ball in two weeks, I went last year so this year it's your turn. I've scheduled a fitting for a few new dresses this evening. So stay at home, please."

Lord Harmaa left the meeting feeling accomplished. Most of the mine owners had been meeting for a few times with Admiral Modry, the Admiral in Charge of Morsterra.

The mine situation was getting out of control with miners stopping work to strike. The Wingless had learned of the Cinza-Harmaa's accommodation and various work benefits and wanted the same. Lord Harmaa managed to convince the GrayWings wholly owned mines to upgrade their barracks but he reached another dead end with otherWings shareholders.

The RedWings especially were not to keen on spending more money than necessary. The echoed Lord Rooi sentiment. Miners were expendable. Some BlackWings wanted to check their ledgers and analyze if they can bear the extra costs.

Lord Harmaa assured them that it was worth it. He had reduced his employee turnover by more than half since the last decades. His miners were experienced and sought after by other mines. It had better the lives of Wingless who worked for him. They, in turn, worked passionately and his production rose each year. The Wingless seemed to have a renewed zeal for life, they had no mining experience but was willing to learn. Lord Harmaa make it a point to visit at least to one mine every moon.

His unannounced checks kept his managers on their toes. He did not tolerate abuse. The Cinza - Harmaa mines had comfortable sleeping arrangements, eight to a room, no more. Healers and cooks were provided free for the miners' health and wellbeing. There were concrete walls and barbed fences and BlueWings to ensure the safety of the miners.

Paved roads and carriages were available if the settlement was far from the mines. The mercantile in the settlement were subsidized so the miners pay less. They did not want for much. Lord Harmaa could see the difference it made to his miners. At first, there were a lot of fights but as their living condition improved, they began to be more relaxed. Lord Harmaa even learned some of their cant, he could speak like a Wingless now.

Admiral Modry assured the mine owners that in case of a riot the BlueWings would send additional guards to supplement the mine security, for an agreed fee. The otherWings mine owners kept grumbling about the costs of maintaining a mine. Lord Harmaa kept silent while they whined. He had spoken of the same things over and over again since their first meeting.

The rest really could not agree on whether to implement Lord Harmaa's suggestion fully or only a part of it. Lord Harmaa thought that he should not even be there for later meetings. It was up to the mine owners and their shareholders from then on. But Admiral Modry wanted him to sit in the meetings to answer any questions that might arise.

Lord Harmaa talked with Admiral Modry before he left. He would send his accountants and mine executives in his stead. They could answer all the inquiries. Some of his executives were Wingless, so that could be an eye-opener for the rest of the mine owners.

He arrived at Huvila not long before dusk. He had a nice dinner with Grisa and Liath. Liath was not too eager to accompany him to the Senate Peace Anniversary Ball. They were typical GrayWings, they prefer to stay home with their loved ones rather than party with sparnas they did not like.