by Dan Raxor
I went onto The Dauntless while I had to hire a captain to sail the Montana - what I named the captured ship - south with us. For the next week we sailed without squall or storm. The voyage was fairly bland beside me getting some time to improve as a person, mage, and warrior.
Each day I worked on my poison spells with Siofra and my arcane with Audry. There was a difference between electrical spells and arcane spells.
Arcane was a spell grouping that was emotionless in nature and instead sensation based. The thought of tingling was pulled to mind. Focusing on that was what finally allowed me to be able to produce a small zap. Unlocking even that trickle of an ability was praised.
Seeing Libby again had me spending my free time with her for two full days. I had her read aloud the letters she wrote to me - shirtless of course. She always lost her pants shortly after she’d tell me how much she loved me.
I cycled in Siofra, Susanna, and Rivinia to aid in the fun. Which left me feeling a bit down. I actually still missed Gabriella and Ryleigh. I only told Libby and Rivinia about my internal struggles of missing them. The reality was, they were on my list of things to do when I could. Maybe I would find them in the north one day.
Rivinia was there with me for more than a few fun occasions. We continued to be sleeping partners and closer than ever. Audry stuck to being a meticulous guard. She refused to join in on the group sex, or even explore a private relationship. The woman was completely devoted to her cause of protecting and training me.
By day three of sailing I slowed down on the sex and invested my free time to training in fighting. I threw daggers and crossed wooden swords. While I sucked at swords, I never pouted or cried about it.
I tried to shoot a bow but my aim was always off. In the end, it had me just wanting to throw daggers instead.
Which, spoiler, don’t get near me when I’m recklessly flinging sharp knives. I could land them in the right area; getting them to stick was the trick.
I learned melee combat, and close hand dagger fighting up to a point. Everything taught on the ship was the basics of the basics. I had to start somewhere, and I enjoyed improving my abilities.
Rickon, the bookworm guard on the ship I had spared, survived. I eventually found out he had joined us and assigned him to Audry as a helper. He had no magical talents, unfortunately. For now he was writing down everything Audry told him to about Arcane magic. This left him with only a few opportunities to teach me Lornian history regarding the sea.
There was a real chance we might be fleeing land and knowing the water was something I desired. As time progressed, Rickon fit in naturally as a lower team member.
Alexander, who preferred to be called Alexi, was a mixed bag. He brought his wives, and was cordial with me. Much like Nathanael, he never hid that he was using me to help out his own status. We were… business partners in a way. Based on his abilities and the fact it was me also using his skills I was fine with the exchange.
He asked to sit in on meetings and be nearby in case of an attack. His wives he won in tournaments became attendants, offending Susanna when they would serve me too.
“Master,” Rivinia hissed, tugging on my boots.
I’d forgotten I was leading an army.
Arranged before me was an old man that was so ancient he sat strapped into a small hand cart. He seemed... lost. No, he was here, but not here. His outfit was crisp and neat with a cane for him to zone out on.
His family surrounded him in varying ages from tiny babies, to children, to young parents, to grandparents, and finally his spouse who was just as wrinkled as he was. They all smiled proudly and yet, I could sense their concern.
I had a lot of time to reflect on this Count and his family. The King only cared that I ruled them and so it shall be.
I stuck out my ring, walking to press the back of my hand against the ancient man’s lips.
He gave a senile smile, quickly returning to zoning out on his cane.
“Okay formality is completed. Who rules in his stead?” I asked the group of greeters.
An elderly man with a grandchild on his hip smiled at me. “I’m the last son of Count Kirt, Sir Lind. We welcome you to Arenia Harbor,” Lind said tensely.
“You’re all on edge.” I paused, ensuring I had their attention.
This was the point where I could exile them, imprison them for some tax crime, or just be a power tripping noble. I saw a happy family in front of a city I wanted to live in, leaving me to want to play nice for now.
“Fret not. You all keep your status and privilege…” I mentioned. A collective sigh of relief escaped the group. “Assuming we stay cordial and work together. However, as you can see behind me,” I said, spinning over my shoulder to gesture at the two big ships unloading people and supplies.
“You brought an army and we have no housing for an army,” Lind said.
“Ah, but we brought big ships. Ships with mages that can sail them up and downriver quickly. I expect Farlake to be sending a hundred mages to help move, break, and bind stone,” I said with a pleasant smile.
“Let me give you a tour, Prince,” Lind said, handing off a grandchild.
He quickly mounted a horse and the entourage that was the nobility of Arenia Harbor dispersed so we could follow him. I waved back at the little ones who stared at Tsar in awe.
They seemed relieved. Very relieved. Yet again reminding me Lornia was a harsh place.
“Lovely family you have,” I said.
He hungrily eyed Tsar. “So… I hear there are more of them.”
Siofra snickered, sticking her horse on my left while Susanna flanked my right. “A few hundred are on the way with the dwarven caravan that should be here tomorrow.”
“Are we invading the north or something?” he asked skeptically.
I wanted to point out that I just brought a purchased army from the north, but bit my tongue.
“This town is so clean,” I said happily.
Hell, I even went so far as to sniff in the mid-morning air that the southern breeze blew in. Of all the cities, this was the one that smelt like civilization.
Sure the people needed baths, and the horses were dirty, but there was no sewage or rubbish in the streets. A few older children were scrubbing a street off to my left. Maybe they had taken extra steps to make it cleaner for me. Either way, I was impressed.
Our horses clomped along a mostly flat road. We passed homes that were granite with a clay roofing. The exteriors were in need of a cleaning while doors were hung properly, shutters worked, and there was snow cleared off doorsteps.
Piles of wood rested at almost every corner with small fires burning to keep the vendors warm. Teenagers hauled wood and servants disposed of sewages in waterfall cisterns. The clothing was less tattered here and I had no idea why.
“We employ a lot of our less fortunate residents to manage the city's upkeep. Using the tax garnered by trade. The city is allowed to tax all goods that move along the river. Yeah, some skirt it and haul over land, but the small fee adds up for us and you move more by water. That money goes into roads, cleaning, and improvements,” Lind said with a proud tone.
“How do you stay wealthy if you invest the funds?” I asked.
It might seem like a silly question, but there were prime examples of other nobles lacking the coin to keep their cities nice. That or they were cheap.
“Easy. Investments, immigration, and trading with the elves. We’re the only city Yirendale trades with. We move all the elven bows and fine wool you see on the citizens. They in turn wish for ocean fish, news on their kin like that one following behind us, and spices,” Lind said, thumbing Rivinia.
“So you spend in the hopes of that fueling the isolated economy here,” I said and he nodded. “Why do the elves want spices?”
I left out asking about Rivinia, she made it very clear that her kind wished her back.
“They like food, like a lot. Not in excess, but in its uniqueness,” he told me with a shrug. “We get oth
er requests but those are the main three. Then the quarry crews pay for dragon protection. That silver and gold cycles back to us for…”
“Food, spices, and news. Interesting. Glad you don’t hoard the wealth,” I said.
“So does the King. Our dues go straight to Crimm. Rather nice to be treated like a Viscount tax wise, and a Count for ruling,” Lind said and I was starting to understand.
“You liked your autonomy.”
Lind chuckled, “Who wouldn’t? There is a lot of history here. My father transformed this port city. We’re walking horses through what used to be mud huts, rat infested streets, and a city filled with those wanting to kill themselves.”
“I… respect what you’ve created. I’m here to defend this place, not turn it to ruin. However, I can’t repel the troll-kin if I don’t make changes,” I said, ensuring he understood my position too.
“We have a harbor full of boats, Prince. We have the largest shipyard outside of Ling Port. Our ability to flee, if you allow, is easy,” he said, leading us outside a ten foot, thin wall.
“Do you wish to stay or go?” I asked.
“If the prophecy is true… then stay. I do not wish to build a new home on Pirate Island,” Lind said.
That was the island in the middle of the sea, and for all we knew it could get portals all on its own. When we discussed fallback options that was one of them.
Exiting the city revealed something new. Something that was not here ten days ago when I did a fly over.
Farm fields had been converted into rows of debarked trees sticking out of the ground every five feet or so until they created a box formation. Lind diverted for the first open framed pen.
It dawned on me then. They knew we were coming and this was the most they got done to help house my arrivals. These would need work, but what I saw was the start of framing. In time, these would be barracks for my new residents.
“I was just going to have them sleep on the dock and ships,” I muttered.
“Well, you need those ships to collect trees by water. That way they can help build new walls,” Lind said with a finger wave and a very valid point.
Susanna, who’d been quiet up to this point, grunted. “You want to expand the city?”
“Kinda have to,” Lind said and I agreed.
“Alright, I’ll send Norlan with most of the army up here. If we start pushing back the forest will the elves go to war with us?” I asked.
He chuckled. “Lornia is a very big place, my Prince. The elves never meddle in human affairs. Even if the troll-king does spawn his vile kind into our realm, I expect them to win in their forests and leave the rest to us.”
I bobbed my head. “If we expand this right, another wall, then a kill zone, and a big wall even further out.”
“Master, even if Farlake sends help… A mage can only do so much earth and stone magic before becoming depleted,” Siofra said, trying to sound positive.
She failed to convince me, but I appreciated the effort. “Then we need to focus on me learning how to connect stone here, and break it at the quarry. Make all the fish that get caught kept alive until they reach the docks. I’ll be run ragged but… I… this is why I’m here. This is my purpose.”
“And you're not alone,” Rivinia said loudly from behind us.
“Yeah, we’ll help how we can,” Libby mentioned.
I ingested the sight of my loyal friends and lovers. They too saw what I did. Empty fields and trees that would one day become something to rival Crimm. With magic, teamwork, and tireless effort we were going to build a southern capital.
CHAPTER 53
Lornia - Arenia Harbor
57th day of the 2nd year of King Partel’s Reign
“I feel like I should hiss,” I said, craning my neck to see the sun crashing in through the open balcony doors.
“T, are you even listening to me?” my Dad asked.
Forty days… It had been the longest stretch of peace in Lornia yet. Even assassins were quiet. My father though… he was raising a ruckus at the moment.
“I hear you, and I’m not ignoring you,” I told him.
He huffed, pacing the audience chamber in my throne room. After what felt like endless gloomy weather I was fixated by the sun crashing through. That and his prattle was boring me. If he wasn’t my father I’d have already tossed him out.
I could see him biting the inside of his cheek in frustration, expecting something more from me. When I huffed it was clear he was bothered that I wasn’t jolted into sudden action by his news. He repeated himself.
“The troll-kin are embedded in many places around the world, but they are contained… At least in America. People drive again, planes are flying, and there’s a… a new… way of living that is working,” he said in a pleading tone.
“Dad… you flew all the way out here from Trimi. I appreciate you coming to say goodbye,” I said from my perch. I honestly meant that too. I still loved my father even if he didn’t love Lornia.
“You’re supposed to come home with me,” he said, and behind him, near the door my mother fidgeted.
Mom was a control freak. It wasn’t uncommon for her to use my father as her speaking tool.
“Bring her to me,” I said, pointing to my mother.
Her eyes widened and she walked forward before the guards could snatch her. “Trevor Berns. I’m ashamed of you,” my mother said.
“If you keep talking that way it’s going to make an awkward Christmas. I take it the fact Lidia and Hanna are not with you that you failed to convince them too?” I asked.
My father winced. “Hanna is at home on Earth. Like you should be.”
“Really?” I was surprised. Hanna loved Lornia.
“Yes you fool,” Mom said in a scolding tone. “She got mixed up with these alien boys and is pregnant. Your sixteen year old sister!”
Okay, things were adding up now. They tricked her home. On Earth she was still a minor and honestly, it was best if she was safe there. “And Lidia?”
“Do you not care!?” Mom exclaimed.
Her anger told me what I needed to know. Lidia was in Trimi as expected. She’d have rubbed it in if she wasn't.
“Out! Both of you. This instant,” I said with a flippant wave of my hand.
My mom went ballistic, and honestly, I didn’t care. Yes, I was worried for Hanna, but she was safe. Screaming at our mother wouldn’t help. She came here for ammunition against me in her coming battle to control her last daughter.
Father wrapped her up, and teleported a moment later for Earth. Watching people vanish to go to another world always was fascinating. The swirl of purple then a bright blast of light and… gone.
I’d been reading the reports that my father had been sending. The vast majority of the refugees were going back to Earth now that slime was helping win the war. Based on the intel I’d received, America indeed was winning.
Soldiers in synthetic suits that could counter gremlin acid were pushing back the invaders. They had new laser weapons to deal with the big monsters and victory was going to happen in due time.
While the news was fascinating, I’d been too busy here to care much. Earth was no longer my home. Lornia was.
“Next,” I said.
The doors burst open and a crier smacked a cane against the floor. “I present Ambassador Leafin of the Yirendale Den.”
A male elf walked in with long flowing white hair. He wore silk robes with a cinched waist point. The coloration was a striking white and blue. His eyes shone orange, and his long ears were barely poking out of his hair.
“Family troubles?” he asked, showing off that he could hear through closed doors.
“Indeed. Ambassador Leafin, what can I do for you?” I asked the man who frequented my court to ask for Rivinia to come home.
Every ten days, I forced myself to come sit in this chair, and let my body recharge from the magical exertions. I needed to hold court anyway, and as evident by the long list of problems I’d fixed today,
it was needed. Also, that meant a visit for Rivinia, each time.
“I’m not here to pester you about Rivinia. I actually bring a private message. Come, daughter of the forest. Deliver this to your Lord,” Leafin said, waving Rivinia to him.
Elves were pretentious. Well, this one was anyway. I watched Rivinia head over to grab a roll of parchment. The message concerned me, because so far, there had been no secrets from the elves.
Dear King Trevor,
I write to inform you that your aid will be required in a personal matter. Our elven kin, the wood elves of Veno, are sailing into your waters. They will arrive tomorrow and require passage up the Mist River.
If you obstruct them, which you have no reason to, our relationship will be strained. Severely. My spies of the forest tell me the invasion has started in Veno already, and even a den of the southern elves has fallen in the Yiren Range.
The war is here. I ask, with great trepidation, for you to keep an open door if my kind are cut off from our fortifications. The elves endure. We always have. Not all survive or can safely arrive. Please take those in need of a temporary shelter in.
Rivinia has written to me, explaining that you’re truly Arenia’s son. We too worship the flame even as residents of the forest. It is my everlasting hope that as the war intensifies, you remain strong. We value our human partners in life even if we are reclusive and quiet in our natural nature.
Our prophecies are based on history. This is not the first time a Troll-King has unleashed an invasion on Lornia. The records we have, state that they are here to colonize.
There are brief wars in the mountains even to this day. Those are remnants of ancient invasions that still linger upon the land.
In this coming war, expect for the foe to have champions, just like we do. The only advantage Lornia has, is its harsh winters. The troll-kin hate snow and water. Use those facts to your advantage as we will certainly do so.
As the seasons change to warmer weather, expect additional portals to spawn. Humanity is better with you at its helm. Even with a steward as powerful as you to herd the south, there will be many deaths.
