by Jeremy Dwyer
“Those have their allure – travel can teach you many things. Mathematics was a secondary choice for me, mostly geometry. Crystal bending involves lots of geometry,” Fantine said.
“Never saw myself as a spy or a lookout or a soldier for hire,” Niven said.
“I definitely don’t see you as a soldier, no,” Fantine said, smiling at the ridiculous thought, forgetting for a moment serious business. She was tired from the work, and even she needed a moment’s rest. All the while, she looked forward to her next project with excitement.
“Being a Chronicler didn’t sound too good, either. Living ten thousand (10000) years, and traveling all over, seeing everything and watching other people live their lives, and seeing all the problems, can be hard,” Niven said.
“You can live a long time and do something else, you realize? Drinking the Ursegan waters doesn’t require you to be a Chronicler. The amount of information you could gather during that long life could be inspiring – you would see so many different designs and structures all over the world. That was not at the top of my list, but not at the bottom, either,” Fantine said.
“Then I would long outlive everyone I love,” Niven said.
“Don’t let anyone else hold you back by making your waterbinding choice for you. It’s difficult enough to regret your own choice. It’s worse to regret someone else’s choice,” Fantine said.
“No, I made my own choice. I hoped it would be for the best,” Niven said.
Fantine looked at him and saw the vial on the chain around his neck. She read the classical symbol carved into it, denoting the Trerada Ocean waters. “Why that one? It’s not good for much,” Fantine asked.
“I don’t want to worry about getting sick, or hurt. And I wanted to be presentable. Appearances matter, especially in business,” Niven said.
“Whether you’re attractive or not, I’ll buy the high quality lightkeeper crystals you’re selling. I’m very practical that way, remember?” Fantine said.
“Appearances still matter. You know it’s true,” Niven said.
“For some people, I know it’s true. Not for me. I appreciate structure, and I learn from it. What the people look like doesn’t mean anything, anyway. I’m not looking for a relationship,” Fantine said.
“You are looking for a relationship; just not a romantic one. You want to trust the people that you work with, right?” Niven asked.
“Yes, I do want to trust them – trust that they’re selling a product that is of the promised quality. You’re changing the subject. That’s something I don’t trust,” Fantine said.
“I’m sorry. That’s not what I intended to say. Relationships matter to you – you want people to trust you, and you can trust them, so that work can be done. Imagine if no one trusted me – for whatever reason – and I couldn’t sell these lightkeepers, no matter how good they were. Some people have that problem. They’re not physically attractive, so they can’t form other kinds of relationships, even if the other kinds have nothing to do with attractiveness,” Niven said.
“Like I said, I don’t think that way. How you look means nothing to me. I’m still not looking for a date, and you’re still not getting one with me. Good evening, Niven,” Fantine said.
“I would do anything for you,” Niven said.
“Except for one thing: leave me to be me, alone with my work. We’ll work together as it makes sense for the business opportunity. Don’t take me the wrong way, and don’t assume that one thing will lead to another. I’m serious,” Fantine said.
“Good evening,” Niven said.
“We will likely meet again in a few days. About business,” Fantine said.
They both returned to their workshops and rested in their private rooms.
~~~
Governor Lux entered the Trading Center One building, followed closely by Silvius. Duchess Uliana met the governor as he arrived. She was flanked by the Torches of Majesty: Blazer Endrit, Blazer Luken and Blazer Darakizar.
“Come into my office, Governor, and give me your report,” Duchess Uliana said.
Governor Lux followed Duchess Uliana as she and the Torches of Majesty entered her private office.
“Under the authority of the Chronicler’s Oath, I will follow you,” Silvius said, and he followed them in.
After closing and locking the door for privacy, Duchess Uliana asked: “Well? Was this construction project another success?”
“Indeed it was, Duchess. I have the proof. He then produced a set of lightkeeper crystals and handed them over to Duchess Uliana.
The Duchess looked into them and gazed at the images, one after another and asked: “How long did the port take to construct?”
“Three (3) minutes of operation of the constructor. There was some initial setup, a couple of hours, and not counting the time to travel to the island, or the time to cut the crystals that controlled it, although even that was brief,” Governor Lux said.
“Is the port operational?” Duchess Uliana asked.
“Yes, ships can begin sailing to it immediately, and traders can establish residences and businesses upon arriving,” Governor Lux said.
“You said that crystals had to be cut. The architect, Fantine, did this, correct?” Duchess Uliana asked.
“Yes, of course. She is the expert, although I have hired observers to record her work. Not just to make these lightkeeper crystals of the finished product, but to watch from the darkness how she molds the control crystals. They are Kazofen water drinkers, of course, and the Ikkith Tar water drinkers give them cover,” Governor Lux said.
“Is that all, Governor?” Duchess Uliana asked.
“No, of course not. I have hired an architect to copy the constructor itself, based on her designs. Soon, we will be able to manufacture cities and structures as we please, without her assistance, saving the expense of hiring her for routine construction projects. We will only need to consult her for exceptionally complicated design work,” Governor Lux said.
“How soon will we be independent of her? I do not trust that woman,” Duchess Uliana asked.
“No one trusts Fantine completely. She is clearly brilliant, but she cannot be controlled or understood, not even telepathically. We have tried. I don’t know why it doesn’t work, but no one can reach into her mind and influence her. At best, we can read her thoughts,” Governor Lux said.
“To have such resistance to telepathic control makes her even more dangerous,” Duchess Uliana said.
“She hasn’t acted against us, so I don’t yet consider her dangerous. However, her research work is quite expensive, and my governorship of the central bank requires that I work to minimize our costs,” Governor Lux said.
“Money is a concern, but not the only one, Governor. You know this, otherwise you wouldn’t have tried to control her,” Duchess Uliana said.
“I tried to influence her to make her work more affordable. The ability to construct cities and structures rapidly is partially offset by the large upfront fees for research and design into the control crystals, which are specific for each new project,” Governor Lux said. He had considered even other things, such as summoning spirits against Fantine, but that risked killing her, which would have been wasteful. Those techniques were helpful when dealing with expendable people, but Fantine was uniquely valuable.
“While she cannot be telepathically controlled, she can be deceived, or paid, to construct something for our enemies, be it another bank, or another cause. Her name is known the world over by now. She is nearly as famous as the oceans themselves, if that can be said of anyone, and people admire her,” Duchess Uliana said.
“She is resistant to flattery or romantic propositions – that much I have seen, so no one can seduce her into service, however. If you are worried about her pride leading to great ambitions against us or an attempt to usurp the central bank’s control of the construction industry, it seems unlikely, given her readiness to cooperate, for the right price,” Governor Lux said.
; “Since when does the risk-averse central bank accept something by calling it ‘unlikely’? Especially considering what could go wrong if her talents and her constructor come under the influence of adverse powers. There are other wealthy entities, you know, and they could hire her to build nearly anything. Could the constructor be used to build a fleet of warships and attack? Could it be used to build a temple where our enemies could make blasphemous sacrifices? These things concern me, Governor, and they should concern you,” Duchess Uliana said.
“Fantine is a strange woman, but she does not demonstrate any malevolent intent. She is obsessed with architecture and design to the exclusion of all else. The money she is paid goes into the precious gems needed for her extensive research, not an opulent lifestyle or even a comfortable retirement. This surprises even me. Yet, I must work with the opportunities I have while they exist, and maximize the central bank’s returns, by contracting for her services as appropriate, until we no longer need her,” Governor Lux said.
“I do not share your placid assessment of her, Governor. When will this copy of the constructor be ready? I want to put it to use, and separate ourselves from Fantine, so that we do not further enrich her,” Duchess Uliana said.
“I will consult my architect, and we will conduct a test, to learn if the constructor is operational and adequate. However, if we no longer hire Fantine for her architectural service, someone else well. It is best that we at least keep her occupied for our purposes, and learn more of her clever techniques while she works,” Governor Lux said.
“When the new constructor is ready, and our architect is equally capable of designing and producing large structures according to our requirements, we will find a new way to keep her occupied,” Duchess Uliana said.
“Adequacy – not equality – is our goal, Duchess. I doubt that Fantine has any equal, or will for some time to come. Her performance has earned her my professional respect and admiration for her architectural abilities,” Governor Lux said.
“Then you are a fool, Governor. Never admire the architect of your own destruction,” Duchess Uliana said.
Silvius was still with them and recorded all of this private conversation into his book. He was genuinely curious to see whether anyone could come close to copying the constructor and assembling the architectural works as skillfully as Fantine. The results would be of great historical interest, however successful they were or were not, so he intended to have a close look if the opportunity presented itself.
CHAPTER 22: Plans for Marriage and Business
Duchess Sarita was a nineteen (19) year old woman who had not yet taken a waterbinding. She lived in one of the eleven (11) towers of the castle of King Hamza Bazavador and was under strict orders to await his command as to which ocean water to drink. She had her own ideas regarding the matter, but she was under the king’s authority, as were all other residents of the castle. Sarita personally resented the fact that the king would have any say over that most personal of decisions – the most appropriate water to drink depended upon a person’s innate potential and interests. From her youth, she had read a number of books filled with transcriptions of some of the vast knowledge contained in Emeth, although she had never visited. The books gave accounts of the powers of the different oceans, and noteworthy accomplishments of the people who drank of them. As a result, she had a growing curiosity regarding the waters of the Kazofen Ocean: the idea of being able to manipulate diamonds or other gemstones into intricate shapes fascinated her. If she could alter the crystal structure, Sarita realized, she could construct anything she pleased, be it art or architecture, to the limit of her imagination, and using only her hands. The other waters held little interest, least of all the Trerada waters: they gave health, and hers was fine, as well as outer beauty, and hers was adequate as far as she was concerned. Yet, King Hamza Bazavador had the final say in the matter.
Her noble rank was through the marriage of her now-deceased mother to Duke Braith, her absent father. On the few occasions she saw him, he expressed little interest in her other than to arrange a marriage and be done with the girl. She had a brother, Duke Mercher, some five (5) years older, who drank the Lujladia waters, enabling him to work as a spy for King Hamza Bazavador at one point. She didn’t know much more than that, and hadn’t seen her brother in four (4) years. Sarita occupied herself by reading everything that she could while waiting for the inevitable arranged marriage. While the king was a gentle – if authoritarian – ruler, she feared that a future husband may not be so pleasant a man, and would deny her the opportunity to read by burdening her with other tasks, and demanding that she take a waterbinding that was completely unsuited to her interests.
~~~
Count Terzo was a ruggedly handsome thirty (30) year old man from central western Waderav. He drank the waters of the Nabavodel Ocean to receive the powers of speed and strength. It was not out of any inherent aggression that he preferred them. Rather, they were widely available and heavily consumed by other nobles and their militiamen. He needed these benefits of the same water to defend himself and to command his own troops. Combat was to be avoided if he could, and he generally did.
He sat upon the throne of his castle, counting the platinum coins in a large chest that was situated next to him, pondering the meaning of it all. The coins were cold, heartless and almost pointless. He owned the castle – there was no debt to any bank for which he needed these coins. His militia was well fed by the farmers in the surrounding villages, who were treated well enough and taxed very little. He wondered why his own parents saw the need to collect so many coins through the warfare they waged while he was young. Terzo dreaded dealing with the enemies his parents had created, because he inherited the wrath that was due to them. As if that weren’t enough, some of the other barons were aggressive to begin with, without needing to avenge the wrongs committed by his parents upon him. And there was one not-quite-nobleman – Baron Thurston – who was generally regarded as being insane, even by the worst of the other barons, counts and dukes.
Count Terzo didn’t care to be in the middle of all of this, and he knew that, soon, he would have to deal with these threats again. He hoped that his evasiveness and bluffing would win the day.
~~~
Baron Thurston thought about just how he would bring about a dazzling light display and decided that he would mold crystals for that purpose. He drank anew of the waters of the Kazofen Ocean from his vial and was energized. He then stood up from his throne, approached a chest of diamonds he kept nearby, opened it and took some of the gems into his hand. He molded the low-level crystal structure of the diamonds as if they were clay, manipulating them at a fine level, so that their cut and clarity changed and they had particular angles that suited his intended purpose.
“Hamblin, these diamonds are not like the others. Not at all,” Baron Thurston said.
“I believe you, my lord, that they are different,” Hamblin said, wondering what new horror the baron was planning. He had been watching, but could not see the actual changes to the low-level crystal structure that were being made.
“Do you know what I mean by ‘different’, Hamblin? Do you?” Baron Thurston asked.
“No, my lord. I do not possess your abilities with crystal, so I cannot look into them to see how they are different,” Hamblin said.
“Follow me,” Baron Thurston said. He then led the way toward the main entrance leading out of his castle and Hamblin followed.
“Open the gate,” Baron Thurston said to the guards standing around it. The guards lifted the castle gate, revealing a narrow bridge leading over a swamp. Several guards went ahead onto the bridge, to protect the baron.
“Now, we shall go outside,” Baron Thurston said.
“Yes, my lord,” Hamblin said, fearing the worst.
~~~
From under the cover of false light, Stafford and Gisella continued to watch, wondering just what this maniacal baron had in mind. Gisella was recording all of the baron’s words and d
eeds into her book. Stafford was making plans against the baron, but he was not prepared to act on them just yet. They followed Baron Thurston and Hamblin, anticipating evil and not wanting to be caught unaware.
~~~
Baron Thurston stepped through the castle gate and walked to the end of the bridge, to where it met the land on the far side of the swamp, which was surrounded by a circle of trees. “Beyond these trees are the farms. The farmers go about their work, planting seeds, harvesting, and generally being boring. This upsets me, Hamblin. They are very boring, indeed,” Baron Thurston said.
“The food they grow is pleasing, is it not, my lord?” Hamblin asked.
“Food only feeds the body. What feeds the soul? Do you know, Hamblin?” Baron Thurston asked.
“Laughter and merriment, my lord?” Hamblin asked.
“That’s almost right, Hamblin. But what brings laughter and merriment?” Baron Thurston asked.
“Dancing. Singing. Theater,” Hamblin said, trying to lead the baron away from whatever madness he had planned.
“Light. Bright and dazzling displays of light, Hamblin,” Baron Thurston said.
“Yes, my lord,” Hamblin said.
Baron Thurston then threw the diamonds he had modified out toward the trees and waited. The many suns overhead shone down upon them, and their crystal structures focused the light. First came smoke, then fire and within minutes, most of the circle of trees was ablaze.
“Impressive, I must say. When the fire spreads out to the nearby farms, the farmers will see the dazzling display of lights, and they, too, will be impressed,” Baron Thurston said.
Hamblin was speechless at the horror he was witnessing. If the farms burned, there would be no food to eat. He no longer felt safe – no longer felt like playing along to protect his own neck. Yet, where would he go?
~~~
From under the cover of false light, Stafford and Gisella saw this act of insane evil. Gisella recorded it into her book and Stafford began to head toward the fire.
