The bells
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 12:53 pm
Abaddon stood on the top of the tower closest to the outer wall, watching the work being done. More than a half dozen teenagers and peasant refugees rolled two great ovals of clay out. Ovals more than twelve hands on a side and more than 10 hands wide.
These two giant ovals, weight hundreds of pounds each, and made a little crunch in the settling snow. The ground was hard, so they did not need to be put up on logs and rolled.
Ingram stood on the porch of the House of Chance as his students rolled the two giant clay ovals into place.
Two young men, armed with hammers began pounding one side of one of the clay ovals. They used large swings, gaining momentum and slamming into the ovals with as much force as they could muster. BAM.BAM.BAM.
Clay fell away in sheets, and soon enough gleaming bronze was revealed on one corner. The metal was dull from the casting process, but compared to the drab colors of fall, it was like a torch light.
More pounding, and the shape of clay fell away, revealing an BELL. Taller than a man, and as wide as a dwarf, the bell was revealed in the clay. Dozens of arms pushed the bell upright, onto it’s base.
They moved to the other oval, as an old craftsman came up and began to polish the bell. The old man carefully polishes the bell to an amazing gleam as bright as the sun on a summer day.
He lovingly taps the bell with a hammer, and it calls out. The bell rings out in multiple harmonics, a perfect tone.
When the next bell is clean, he does the same. The two bells, identical in appearance have contrasting tones. To those of a musical bend it as like having many different instruments.
Chains attach to the cannons of the bells. That is to say the cast loops on the top. With a Heave and a pull, the bells are pulled through the house chance, and up to the top of the bell tower. There they are secured to the pulleys and ropes that held the Dragon bell.
The old craftsman installs large stone clappers in the bell, dangling from the bottom, with a thick hard wood on the outside.
This takes all day, and into the night. The House bring food out to those working so hard in the courtyard.
When it’s done, Abaddon pulls the cords, and the twin bells ring, alternating, sounding off. The sound is felt like a wave pushing on the body for miles. Crisp, clean tones announce that the bell towers are once again filled.
These two giant ovals, weight hundreds of pounds each, and made a little crunch in the settling snow. The ground was hard, so they did not need to be put up on logs and rolled.
Ingram stood on the porch of the House of Chance as his students rolled the two giant clay ovals into place.
Two young men, armed with hammers began pounding one side of one of the clay ovals. They used large swings, gaining momentum and slamming into the ovals with as much force as they could muster. BAM.BAM.BAM.
Clay fell away in sheets, and soon enough gleaming bronze was revealed on one corner. The metal was dull from the casting process, but compared to the drab colors of fall, it was like a torch light.
More pounding, and the shape of clay fell away, revealing an BELL. Taller than a man, and as wide as a dwarf, the bell was revealed in the clay. Dozens of arms pushed the bell upright, onto it’s base.
They moved to the other oval, as an old craftsman came up and began to polish the bell. The old man carefully polishes the bell to an amazing gleam as bright as the sun on a summer day.
He lovingly taps the bell with a hammer, and it calls out. The bell rings out in multiple harmonics, a perfect tone.
When the next bell is clean, he does the same. The two bells, identical in appearance have contrasting tones. To those of a musical bend it as like having many different instruments.
Chains attach to the cannons of the bells. That is to say the cast loops on the top. With a Heave and a pull, the bells are pulled through the house chance, and up to the top of the bell tower. There they are secured to the pulleys and ropes that held the Dragon bell.
The old craftsman installs large stone clappers in the bell, dangling from the bottom, with a thick hard wood on the outside.
This takes all day, and into the night. The House bring food out to those working so hard in the courtyard.
When it’s done, Abaddon pulls the cords, and the twin bells ring, alternating, sounding off. The sound is felt like a wave pushing on the body for miles. Crisp, clean tones announce that the bell towers are once again filled.