CHAPTER 20: CHAPTER 20: IRONHOLD’S MISS EVELYN

"So much water and food..."

Mr. Hartwell rubbed his eyes unconsciously, muttering beneath his breath as he looked at the stash.

Lucy and Nathan were standing next to him, wide-eyed and amazed.

Now they realized at last why Alex had to have such a huge warehouse if it was any smaller, there wouldn’t be room to store this heap of crates.

But Alex didn’t bring them here to shock them. He spun around, his voice warm but authoritative.

"After you assist me in selling all of this water off the books, we’ll share the profit as I said ninety percent to me, ten percent to you."

Nathan’s eyes went wide. He knew what this amount of water was worth. Even that small share would be a fortune for their family.

Alex was no fool. He did not want to battle all of them for crumbs he preferred to share the revenue so they could all be rich together and remain loyal.

They did not know the black market channels or the local fixers yet but the Hartwells did. And he trusted them, particularly after tonight’s dinner revealed to him that their hearts were pure.

But Mr. Hartwell was taken aback by the division. He shook his head hastily.

"No, Alex. That water could supply half of Ironhold. If you allow us to retain that much profit, it would not be fair. You take ninety-five, we take five."

Alex merely laughed.

"It’s not sold yet, Mr. Hartwell. Perhaps no one will want to drink bottled water. Let’s discuss it after the gold’s on hand."

Mr. Hartwell could only smile helplessly. He’d tasted that clean water. He knew the truth: in a city where brackish wells cost a small fortune, Alex’s water would sell itself.

Alex turned to Nathan, who was already brimming with ideas.

"To move this much fast, you’ll need help five or six more hands at least.

Got any friends who’d stand with you?"

Nathan grinned wide.

"Sure thing! Tommy and Rory from the street over they grew up fighting alongside me. If I need them, they’ll arrive in a flash."

Alex laughed, raising an eyebrow.

"You always go around brawling with them?"

Nathan smiled, scratching the back of his head.

"Sometimes they’re with me, sometimes it’s just me. But when it counts, they’ve got my back. Alex, will you show me how to fight better? How to defend Lucy and Father — and to deal with whoever wants to take our water?"

Alex’s smile grew wider. Nathan was like him at that age — feisty, gutsy, honest.

"Do you know any more lads like you, ones who dislike bullies?

"Plenty," Nathan replied, his eyes shining. "There’s Rick Blackwell and his crew down in the south he hangs with ten or fifteen tough ones. We get along fine. If I whistle, they’ll come running."

Alex’s expression grew pointed but encouraging.

"And why do they look up to you so much?"

Nathan puffed out a bit, half embarrassed, half proud.

"Because I never back down from a fight."

Alex snarled a quick laugh. He punched Nathan on the back.

"That’s okay for street fights but if you’re serious about guarding your people, you can’t get by on fists alone. You must organize. One solid crew. If you’re by yourself, you’re easy to break. But if you’re together, nobody will touch you."

Nathan’s face cleared, comprehension breaking through.

"So we stick together and run the black market water business as one?"

Alex nodded.

"Just so. Make it neat and tight. You bring in your closest friends ones you’d trust your life to. Give them each a job: watch the shipments, sell the water, take the coins. If anyone doesn’t want to fall in line..."

Nathan laughed, quick on the uptake.

"Then I remind them why they respect me in the first place!"

Mr. Hartwell and Lucy looked at each other this was risky language, perhaps lunatic. But they could see it too: in a city so desperate, power required both muscle and brains.

Alex’s voice fell, steady but with threat.

"Begin on the south side. You get that, then you do the west, then you do the east, then the north. Eventually, no one pushes you around. You control the black market in your hands and when I bring more goods in to sell, your people move them for you. You will never go hungry again.

Nathan’s heart was racing. He saw it all now: a future in which no one could beat him down or starve his family out again.

He knelt to one knee, fist over heart.

"Alex — you have my word. Whatever you need, I’m your man."

"Don’t get so worked up just yet."

Alex laughed as he witnessed Nathan’s eyes gleam, his ambition burning bright. "It sounds easy enough, but making it happen is something else altogether. How far you’ll get will be up to your own brains and courage."

He stopped, noticing that the young man was grasping each word. "Keep this in mind, Nathan: a good fighter knows when to throw his punches, but a good leader knows when to throw his head. If you get into some kind of trouble that you can’t solve, you come to me I’ll have your back."

Since arriving in this world, Alex felt more liberated than he had in years. Perhaps it was the regulations back home that had him locked away for so long perhaps he’d simply grown weary of wearing his familiar shackles. Here, nothing held him down anymore.

Nathan caught on right away. He punched his chest with a fist and smiled broadly. "Don’t worry about it, Alex. Starting today, you’re not only my partner you’re my big brother. If I’m in trouble, you’ll be the first one I come running to."

The manner in which he uttered big brother shedding all formality caused Alex to smile as well. The seeds were sown now. Eventually, Nathan would have gone down this path anyway; Alex just pushed him to do it earlier and wiser.

He knew enough history to understand gangs and crews had always been around in towns like this just little street gangs fighting over bread. But actual power required order and muscle both an underground element that could hold its own against anyone. Nathan had the passion for it, and now the concept too.

Already hot under the collar, Nathan wasted no time. He sprinted out to gather up Tommy, Rory, and Rick Blackwell.

Mr. Hartwell moved forward and offered Alex a courteous nod, his hands pressed together in appreciation. "Alex, my son’s life is in your care now. See that he comes to no harm, would you?"

The old man had heard in silence, but he saw the truth more clearly than Nathan did with Alex as his guide, his oldest son would become something Ironhold’s streets hadn’t seen in years. Perhaps something dangerous, perhaps something needed as well.

Alex smiled wryly. "Don’t worry, Mr. Hartwell. Nathan’s got the guts for this. I just tossed some ideas at him — the rest is his. But if he gets in trouble, I’ll be there.

At the moment, he saw Lucy over to the side, crouched over a wooden plank with a piece of charcoal clutched in her hand, her brow wrinkled in concentration. She was listing the water prices in large, easy-to-read letters: A Jug of Water — Half a Tael of Silver.

Alex strayed over, intrigued. Her script was lovely clean, beautiful, readable from across a yard. He caught himself giving a silent nod of approval.

Lucy looked up and reddened, pushing a wandering strand of hair behind her ear. "Is... is it okay? Did I get something spelled wrong?" She inquired anxiously.

Alex smiled. She really did sell herself short. "Wrong? Not on your life. It’s perfect. Clean, clear, intelligent anyone walking by will know precisely what they’re purchasing."

She brimmed with shy pride. "Really? I practiced with Miss Evelyn the merchant’s daughter in the grand house in the north quarter. She’s smart and nice. she used to invite me to study with her when she had no one else to speak to."

"Miss Evelyn?" Alex arched a brow.

Lucy described hastily. "Yes her father’s the large spice and grain merchant in Ironhold. She has no lack of men suitors pursuing her around, but she always preferred books to boys.

As soon as she began discussing Evelyn, she could not cease. Her eyes sparkled. "She instructed me how to read and write correctly. She told me a woman’s intellect should not go to waste. I only hope she gets someone good enough to be equal to her..." Lucy fell silent, then asked the question again shyly. "Alex, what do you think? Do you believe a good fellow should care if a woman is smart?"

Alex laughed. "If a man’s worth anything at all, he should admire it. And as for me I’ve got no complaints about clever girls. Especially clever girls who know how to get things done."

Lucy’s cheeks turned pinker than before, and she ducked her head, unable to hide her pleased smile.

Mr. Hartwell produced an embarrassed cough behind them, clearing his throat as he caught sight of Alex standing so close. Alex returned to his normal stance, scrubbing the back of his neck. He’d gotten caught red-handed teasing the old man’s daughter but he was too shameless to look guilty for very long.

He used the moment as a teaching experience instead. His voice became serious. "Mr. Hartwell, Lucy remember something for me. A man may lose his gold and power, but if he loses faith in himself, he’s done. If you don’t stand tall, nobody will treat you like you count. Face is bestowed by others, but dignity is hammered out by your own hands."

Lucy’s eyes lighted up at that it seemed like a reality she’d had to hear for years. "I see, Alex."

Mr. Hartwell nodded slowly, his face grateful. "I wouldn’t have thought to expect a young man such as yourself to understand so well. I’ve learned something tonight myself.