Deadman Chapter 16: The Iron Horde

It was easy to tell when you were getting close to the seat of the Iron Horde. The air begins to taste more like smog, and the rumbling of engines becos more and more frequent. Patrols began passing us as we continued along the road to Fette. We were mostly ignored, undertaker business was sanctioned by the Khan himself after all. Those tis when I had the reins of the wagon, I tried to keep track of what types of convoys were coming and going. I noted the usual influx of young n and won, likely those with jobs like soldier and cop, along with more heavily guarded convoys with those I assud were chanics. Choosing those jobs was the quickest way into the Khans service, but that service was not optional. Id seen more than a few chanics drawn and quartered for trying to stay in the settlents theyd be born in. That was the way of the horde. You do what youre supposed to, pay tribute and follow the laws, and you were pretty much left to your own devices. Break those laws though, and the punishnt would be swift and unforgiving.

Id heard that the STARS to the west were different. They had a hand in every settlent, and managed every aspect of their people that they could. I wasnt sure I cared much for that either.

By late afternoon, Fette ca into sight. Aside from Potts, this was the only settlent Id ever seen that could actually be called a city. Old shattered buildings had been covered with tarps to make them usable again, and those tarps were decorated with intricate patterns that were painted in oil. Massive tal buildings had been erected to be used as forges and slters, all dedicated to keeping the hordes vehicles running. Next to them were garages and fuel stations. Between the stations ran tubes that had been filled with oil, pumped from their drilling station, the source of their strength. n and won covered in tattoos of gears and flas and wearing thick leather walked around the streets patrolling, and other n and won, with lugnuts for earrings, and screws in their noses, carried fuel and tools to and from the different production buildings.

Our wagons rode directly toward the center of the city. No group could go about their business until theyd presented themselves to the Khan. He lived in the center of all that production, in the only building that wasnt built atop a ruin. It was a massive structure of steel, roofed in leather, and covered with decorations of all kinds. n wearing thick tal and decorated with both the tattoos of the guards and the screws and bolts of the workn, stood guard at the entrance, which was wide enough for multiple trucks to pass through.We rode our wagons directly inside. Deux needed to coax the horse a little bit, the smog was bothering him, but a small bribe of at helped to coax him through.

The inside of the building was almost like a miniature version of the outside. There was a fueling station, a small fleet of vehicles, and a workshop. Though these were all better appointed and maintained than the ones outside had been. In the center of the building, through all the other work, was a podium with a massive table at which sat a man, and roughly a dozen won.

The man was massive, taller even than , and covered in thick muscle. He had a well trimd beard that was broken up by a scar that ran from the middle of his chin up across the side of his face in a wicked curve. He was eating and drinking while a woman read from a stack of papers. After she finished reading a docunt, he would gesture left or right, and she would sort the papers into different piles.

We pulled up our wagons and all. Everyone but the caretakers filed out. A few Undertakers stayed with the horses, a few more gathered the bikes wed retrieved from the raiders, and Deux, myself, and the rest, went and stood before the Khan.

He didnt acknowledge us for quite so ti. Instead, focusing on his food and the docunts being read to him. Eventually his eyes drifted to us, our wagons, and finally the bikes. He stood abruptly, lifting a cloth to wipe his face, and holding up a hand to stop the woman who was reading.

He leapt down from the podium and approached the bikes directly. Deux said nothing, instead staying still, so I followed his example. The Khan examined the bikes closely, eventually actually turning one on and revving it. He looked over all of us.

Where did you get these? he asked. His voice was booming, and easily carried over the maintenance being done.

Now that wed been addressed, Deux spoke. We were attacked by raiders riding these. Wed hoped to treat it as tribute to you.

Raiders he ran his finger along his scar. These were originally a part of the horde. One of the lesser warriors stole them. Have all the raiders been killed?

Deux nodded.

Good. But this is not a tribute. They were mine, and now are returned to . What else do you offer?

I squeezed my hands into a fist, and was grateful my scowl was hidden under my bandana.

Deux however, didnt miss a beat. Of course. He gestured and a few of the deadn that had brought the bikes went back in and returned with boxes full of a number of different items. Food, electronics, processed cloth, and other sundries. Things that had been made in Potts or traded for along the way here.

The Khan looked at them and grunted approvingly, gesturing at the table of won. Several of them left, and I could hear conversation behind the podium where theyd gone. The Khan himself leapt back onto it, and started to go back toward his food.

I stepped forward, about to introduce myself, when a woman approached the Khan and whispered in his ear for a long ti. He stopped, and turned, looking directly at .

You, he said, pointing. Step forward.

I took another step toward him.

He looked up and down, sizing up. Remove your face coverings.

I hesitated, but complied, pulling down the bandana and goggles from my face. The Khans expression didnt shift..

My wife tells you match the description of soone who's been causing trouble on the fringes of my territory.

I looked him in the eyes. Sounds like .

She tells this man, a courier, killed more than thirty raiders near Boon and freed their slaves. She also ntions a similar man, a marshall, who killed the mayor of Kind.

Sa man, I said.

A deadman marshall strange.

Im as surprised as you.

He let out a barking laugh. I dont like any law in my territory other than my own.

I took off my hat. Thats why Im here. To present myself, and make sure Im doing my job properly.

Hmmm. You will stay. The rest of the undertakers may leave. He snapped his fingers and a number of carts were moved into the room, pushed by won Id just seen at the table with the Khan. Inside the carts were baby deadn. All of them seed well fed and cared for, I counted almost a dozen. The Khan pointed at two of them.Two of those are mine. Raise them strong.

Deux nodded at the Khan and as the babies were loaded up he walked over to . Good luck. Dont offend him. We always pick up quite a few of the newly dead from Fette, and theyre always well taken care of.

Does he always have two of his own in the mix?

Deux nodded. Sotis more. I think thats why hes always dealt with us so fairly. He clasped on the shoulder. Take care of yourself. Return to Potts soti. I cant cover for you forever.

I nodded to him, and he smiled and climbed back onto his wagon. Once they were fully loaded up, they went on their way. I saw Rhea peek out of the back of the last wagon, holding one of the young. She gave a little wave, which I found myself returning in spite of myself.

I returned my attention to the table. The Khan and his won were all seated at it once again. Looking at the won again I noticed that they were all what normal humans would consider attractive, though each of them in a different way. The Khan himself was picking at his teeth with a chipped piece of bone. So, a courier and a marshall?

Yes.

Im giving you a job.

I noted that he said, giving, and not, offering, this was not optional. I just nodded.

Ive lost more than twenty n recently. n patrolling along the black woods.

Why? I asked. The entirety of the black woods was a deadzone. No one who entered it ever left. I hadnt explored it myself, but by all accounts even the outskirts of it were incredibly dangerous.

The why is not important. You will travel there under guard, and then you will determine exactly what happened to them. Bringing any who survive back to report to .

I had an answer already. They were almost certainly dead.

Do this, and I will grant you authority to act within my territory. Refuse, and I will have you quartered for the trouble youve caused .

I accept. This was probably the easiest decision Id had to make in a long ti.