15th July 1574"We will have to leave our troops here. I don"t want them to misunderstand the reason behind our visit."
After everything that happened during our travel on the Vistula river, I wasn"t stupid enough to leave the land under my direct control without a proper guard. With fifteen carriages in total, an entire contingent of sixty-four men picked from the first unit that managed to finish its entire training was summoned from the mining town to accompany me and Elia on our way to Zamosc.
"Should we tell them to set camp outside of the city?"
Standing in front of the steering wheel for the first automobile that appeared on the face of the earth in this timeline, Elia didn"t dare to turn her head away from the road. Even though its quality was far better than what one could find in almost any other corner of the country warranting a far smoother ride than what we experienced so far, this fact was also connected to way more people present on the said road!
With how slow we had to move, despite there still being a few kilometres (few miles) before we would reach the city itself, I had to put a man to lift and lower the rod that connected the axis of the powering wheel to the steam engine.
As for the vehicle itself, it proved to work surprisingly well. Obviously, we had to make entire four stops on the way to fix some minor problems on the way, but when considering the fact that it was its virgin journey, it still fared far better than I a.s.sumed it would.
"Well, I think it would be better to just send someone to announce our arrival first, and then just ask them to tell us what they want us to do. Elemo!"
Shouting from the bottom of my lungs, it didn"t take long for one of the few riders that accompanied my caravan to reach the side of the steam-powered vehicle.
"Yes, sir?"
Leisurely saluting to me by raising his hand in what others would consider nothing more than a simple greeting, I could see that his usual negative and silent demeanour s.h.i.+fted to more pa.s.sive-positive one. Maybe due to the constant challenges connected to developing the country and seeing the fruits that my projects were bringing, maybe due to his constantly increasing pay that would soon overcome what most of the minor n.o.bles could make from their land, or maybe due to the fact that the situation around my family was slowly heating up with my looming clash with Ostros, but Elemo seemed to find a new source of energy that powered his vitality.
"Go to the city and announce our arrival to the Zamoyski family. Ask them whether we should enter the city with our troops or let them camp outside while announcing that we will be bringing several carriages full of gifts."
After explaining the content of the message, I saw Elemo take off, instantly jumping from a simple trod to a gallop. Considering how our company could be easily taken as the invading force of some haughty n.o.ble with some kind of stupid beef with Zamoyski family, it was no wonder that he realised how important the matter of announcing was.
Yet just as I lost my track of his figure, I realised how I forgot to ask him to pa.s.s yet another message to the city. That there would be quite an unusual craft appearing and most likely scaring people off!
After all, this automated carriage was yet another gift that I prepared for the meeting with my possible new allies. As long as they could see the inherent value in using pure machinery to power the movement of a vessel like that, be it in terms of economic gains when those machines could replace the expensive horses, or even in the military, with how it could easily be developed into a mobile fortress of sorts!
As my thoughts and worried continued to shroud my mind, we finally appeared before the gates of the city. With Elemo awaiting us there, it took only a few moments before my troops left their firearms on the carriages and were moved to one of the emptied-out taverns within the city itself.
In any other scenario, if a great n.o.ble were to visit another great n.o.ble and met with such treatment, it would be a proper basis for a clan war between the two of them, yet with how I appeared in this city unannounced with a strong force behind me, it was given that the city owners would take proper precautions if my real intentions were not what I claimed them to be!
Yet as my troops disappeared inside one of the nearby buildings, I could feel how the attention of all the citizens and the guards that lead the way towards the palace in the middle of the entire city was drawn towards this vehicle, that by throwing continuous clouds of black smoke into the air, was apparently offering some kind of sacrifice to G.o.d so that he was sending the angels to push it towards its destination!
By the time we arrived at the central square, it would be hard to say whether people were more interested in the vehicle or the group that actually brough it to the city!
"Just what kind of monstrosity is this, sir brother!"
To my surprise, one of the owners of this place, madam Kristine, actually went outside of the palace and greeted me from the steps leading to the main entrance!
Seeing this great honour, I quickly helped Elia out of the carriage while making sure that the connecting axis was pulled out of the mechanism and the flames below the steam horse extinguished.
Approaching the steps with my wife by my side, I lowered my head to the respectable level before stepping forward, grabbing the extended hand of the madam and placing a courteous kiss on top of its palm.
"Dear sister, seeing how you came to greet us outside, I can only a.s.sume that your dear to our heart husband still remains at the Capital, helping our wise senators to save this country from ruin. As such, I brought those few, unworthy gifts, as to break the boredom of your daily routine, while hoping that I could find you in mood great enough to listen to my troubles."
While it was rather uncommon for a n.o.ble to explain the reasons for his visit so quickly, I didn"t have any other choice. With no proper announcement prior to the visit, the wife of the current Commonwealth chancellor had no way of judging what my intentions were. That"s why, rather than creating a fertile ground for suspicion and wariness to grow, I broke the etiquette and instantly explained the real reasons behind my visit.
"Oh, sir brother, your galant manners are embarra.s.sing me. If you wouldn"t mind, let me guide you and your beautiful wife towards the guests" room, so that you could take on some rest, while I will prepare the suitable place for us to have a proper discussion about the topics that you brough with yourself today!"