Architecture & Adversity

by Jeremy Dwyer

  Romana and Judith arrived in northeastern Revod and went to the castle that was the military academy. There, Romana entered the office of the resource coordinator, Nathan. Judith followed her in, and Romana closed the door for private discussion.

  “Romana, I trust you have brought the signed contract with a decision – acceptance or rejection – regarding the port city that is to be constructed in eastern Meridianus,” Nathan said.

  “Governor Lux agreed to share ten (10) percent of profits and costs, also adding liabilities, which was a stipulation added and signed by him. The city is the Port of Reliance, and its construction is complete,” Romana said, handing the signed contract over to Nathan.

  “Fantine moves quickly. Even the central bank takes more time than this,” Nathan said as he reviewed the contract.

  “Yes, that she does. There’s no time for anything else – or anyone else – in her life,” Romana said.

  “This is not about her personal life. Fantine is a dedicated professional like I have never seen. She is known for quality and innovation that surpasses everyone else. Whereas I would admittedly prefer more proven and conventional designs – which are essential for our needs here according to the resource allocation models – she is inclined toward experimental work. We can all learn from that approach, even if it produces occasional failures,” Nathan said. He remembered Fantine having saved his life during the tempest, when the Sail to Me song called so many into the storm. The woman was admirable in many ways, and would forever have his respect and gratitude, even if she did not conform to the Jenaldej Empire’s strict rules about architectural standards.

  “Her true failure is her empty heart and soul. She credits herself with all accomplishments,” Romana said.

  “Whom else should she credit? Did someone assist her with the design?” Nathan asked.

  “We all have talents from God. Even the ocean water, which multiplies our abilities, is a gift from God. Admitting that is the first step to confronting our own weaknesses,” Romana said.

  “Religion is not a governing principle. If you wish to believe in it, you still need to focus on the ordinary laws of mathematics, of nature and of the oceans,” Nathan said. He didn’t want to give himself over to superstition, especially belief in a deity that was unreliable and willful, which only interfered with predictable models of managing the Jenaldej Empire’s resources.

  “We need to admit our own flaws, Nathan. Even Fantine can make mistakes,” Romana said.

  “Yes, I believe that. It’s part of the experimental process. Governor Lux seems especially concerned by it, given this stipulation of liability, separate from expenses. He seems concerned about the structural integrity of the port city. Apparently, it has an unconventional triple level pier and the entire city was assembled using a significant modification to the constructor,” Nathan said.

  “Do you no longer wish to invest in the city?” Romana asked.

  “I accept a certain level of risk, especially at the ten (10) percent level. Let me analyze this, however,” Nathan said. He drank anew of the waters of the Medathero Ocean from his vial and was energized. He began making mental calculations and found the risk to be within tolerance, because he had built in additional tolerance to the conditional contract to begin with.

  After a minute, Nathan singed the contract, accepting Governor Lux’s stipulation. He transcribed the contract into his own books and handed the contract back to Romana. “Return to this to the central bank, so that we can be official investors. You should remain in the Port of Reliance to monitor it. The city’s performance – including any adverse events – should be reported at your discretion. That will affect our decisions about future investments in projects of this type and at this elevated risk level. While this is still within our risk tolerance, it is at the high end,” Nathan said.

  “Thank you, Nathan,” Romana said.

  Judith recorded all of this into her book, including a copy of the signed contract, and followed Romana as she left the office and headed for a riverboat to take her to a port. From there, she booked transport on another ship, sailing southwest across the Medathero Ocean toward Emeth. Romana paid one (1) platinum coin, and Judith traveled for free as a Chronicler.

  In their cabin on board the ship, Judith turned to Romana and asked: “Why does Nathan have no faith? You work with him; yet, he still has not come to believe.”

  “Mathematics is everything to him. I see it only as a tool – the greatest tool of all, after the oceans – but not as a replacement for God. For him, it leads you to more economic efficiencies and reduced risks. For me, it leads to correct measurement of the worth of things and actions – how they bring us closer to God. He’s not a man of emotion, and reaching him is difficult. I have tried, many times,” Romana said.

  “Let’s pray for him,” Judith said and held out her hands.

  Romana smiled, took Judith’s hands and began praying: “I pray to Thee, One True God, to open the spirit of Nathan to your truth. He is a man of numbers, so let those numbers help him to measure Your Greatness in his life, and to know that the world could not be created other than by Your Wisdom, Your Grace and Your Love.”

  “A lot of people need prayer,” Judith said.

  “You are so right. So, so right,” Romana said.

  “It’s time to return to Emeth and submit my book,” Judith said.

  The ship soon arrived in Emeth and Judith submitted her book to one of the Verifiers of the Oath. After waiting outside the Library of Tedorik for approval, with Romana standing by her side, Judith received a new book and the pair set off for the southern docks.

  Romana and Judith booked transport sailing southeast across the Pirovalen Ocean, heading toward Haza’Kedro’Maral Island. Again, Romana had to pay (1) platinum coin, but Judith received free transport. Once there, they went to the Trading Center One Building, and met with Governor Lux and Duchess Uliana, who were waiting at the head table, overlooking the many bankers and traders negotiating market prices. They were surrounded by the men with blue skin – the Torches of Majesty: Blazer Luken, Blazer Endrit and Blazer Darakizar.

  “Governor Lux, we bring you the signed contract for the Port of Reliance from the Jenaldej Empire. They have accepted the liability stipulation you added, at a level of ten (10) percent, along with profits and costs,” Romana said. She then handed the signed contract over to Governor Lux.

  Governor Lux looked for the signature, and verified that the contract was still in the form as he had modified it. “Excellent. Now I must be back to business,” he said when he was satisfied.

  “As must we. I have been assigned to monitor the Port of Reliance personally, and report back to the Jenaldej Empire on its performance as well as any adverse events,” Romana said.

  “I assure you, the central bank is also monitoring the situation. Good day,” Governor Lux said.

  Romana and Judith left the Trading Center One building, and Judith recorded this part of their journey – the transfer of the signed contract to Governor Lux – into her book.

  From there, they booked transport on a ship heading westward across the Pirovalen Ocean toward eastern Meridianus. The sea level docks were crowded, so the ship changed to its airship configuration and docked in one of the third level piers of the Port of Reliance, at ninety-two (92) feet above the ocean waters. They disembarked from the ship and walked out onto the pier.

  Judith looked down at the Pirovalen Ocean waters and marveled at the city. “It is stunning – I’ve been in airships traveling at the one hundred twenty (120) foot altitude, but I’ve never walked along a pier at this level. It feels different,” Judith said.

  “She is quite the architect…I hope. And these captains know how to steer their ships carefully along these narrow passageways, and above other ships. At least they are supposed to know: that’s what has everyone concerned,” Romana said.

  Judith looked at Romana, thinking her to be suddenly and uncharacteristically afraid. Her facial exp
ression said it all.

  “No. I’m not worried for me. I’m concerned about everyone else, over time,” Romana said.

  Romana then walked along the elevated pier toward the city, followed by Judith. There was a staircase that led them down to the ground level. From there, they headed toward the city’s center, where they expected to find the most activity.

  Judith drank anew of the water of the Ursegan Ocean from her vial and was energized. As time slowed around her, selectively, she was able to quickly count out thirty-six thousand nine hundred twenty-eight (36928) people on their walk. She recorded various notes into her book using the Chronicler’s shorthand.

  ~~~

  In the Trading Center One building, Duchess Uliana took Governor Lux back into her private office, along with the Torches of Majesty, where she closed and locked the door.

  “We will be constructing another city, here, surrounding this island, Governor. I want you to begin making preparations. If you can do this without Fantine’s assistance, that would be for the best,” Duchess Uliana said.

  “We are almost done with Fantine, Duchess. After she delivers the lightkeeper crystals with the city’s images recorded, we will not be working with her much longer. Her design talent is not so unique anymore,” Governor Lux said.

  “Good. Just know that I don’t need anything with an exotic design that might be unreliable. A very basic, yet very large-scale city will meet our needs. It should be nine (9) times the area of the Port of Reliance,” Duchess Uliana said.

  “That larger scale will carry considerable extra expenses, Duchess. Remember that if the Port of Reliance eventually collapses due to design or operational error, that will be an expensive loss for the central bank, as ninety (90) percent of the liability will be upon us. We must be careful to control our risk exposure,” Governor Lux said.

  “We can accept some losses, Governor. A collapse there may even benefit us by discrediting Fantine and redirecting everyone else to the city we build here,” Duchess Uliana said.

  “There’s little profit in catastrophe, Duchess,” Governor Lux said.

  “That depends on who dies. In some cases, there is,” Duchess Uliana said.

  ~~~

  Taesa was awakened from her nap by a voice and the feeling of someone shaking her arm. When she opened her eyes, she saw Caroline, who was urging her on, saying: “Taesa! We have to go! Now!”

  “What is it?” Taesa asked, frightened but fatigued. She was tired in a familiar way.

  A tall figure, dressed in armor and holding a curved sword, stood in the room near the door. “They’re still coming for you…for revenge. There’s no time,” the armored figure said. It was a familiar sight – like the Hidden Paladin who had come to rescue them before, in Meridianus.

  Emerond held Trent in his left arm and packed up some of the boy’s clothes into a bag with his right hand. He then hurried over to the armored figure.

  Caroline pulled Taesa up from her chair because she wasn’t moving quickly enough.

  “Stand by my side. I will take you somewhere else…safer,” the armored figure said.

  When Caroline, Taesa and Emerond – who was holding Trent and a bag of his clothing – stood next to the armored figure, he drank anew of the waters of the Ikkith Tar Ocean from his vial and was energized. He created a cloak of darkness and extended it over them. When they all disappeared from sight, he guided them out of the cottage, across the village and onto a ship. They were taken into a darkened cabin, and remained there while the ship sailed across an ocean, over a land bridge and then across another ocean, then over a second land bridge and across a third ocean. They did not realize that the ship sailed east across the Kazofen Ocean, then over the Glivoran Trail land bridge, then southeast across the Trerada Ocean, then across the Farmer’s Road land bridge, then southeast across the Pirovalen Ocean, toward the eastern coast of Meridianus.

  After two (2) days of travel, the armored figure came into their cabin, placed them under a cloak of darkness and took them off of the ship. They were escorted into a glimmering, blue crystal city, wherein the cloak of darkness was lifted.

  “This is the Port of Reliance. Remain here until I, or another Hidden Paladin, comes for you again. We are under orders to protect you. Yet, you must remain quiet,” the armored figure said. He disappeared again under a cloak of darkness.

  “We’re safe here…for now, I guess,” Emerond said. He held Trent in his arms, as well as the bag of the boy’s clothing.

  “That was all too fast,” Taesa said.

  “Yes. A calm, quiet family life is what we need. Even you’re starting to understand that. Let’s find somewhere safe,” Caroline said.

  ~~~

  Judith and Romana soon arrived in the center of the Port of Reliance, where they saw Lady Onora. The Chronicler Ximenez stood nearby.

  Fantine and Niven were also there, and Romana was hoping to have the opportunity to talk to her again.

  “Romana, good to have you back,” Lady Onora said.

  “We delivered the contract to the resource coordinator, Nathan. He analyzed and signed it. After that, we went to Emeth for Judith to submit her book. Then, we went to the central bank where we delivered the contract to Governor Lux, and still managed to get back here,” Romana said.

  “Good to hear that the contract is signed. We have the lightkeeper crystals, and so does this Chronicler. We’re heading back to the central bank so I can get paid for the construction of this city and then move on to my next project,” Fantine said.

  “We prayed for you,” Romana said.

  “Don’t waste your breath. If you care about me, at least do what she did and arrange another design and construction project for me. Then we can talk about something real,” Fantine said.

  “Let’s get to work and not argue about these philosophies,” Niven said.

  ~~~

  “This is a city of sinners! Liars who reject the call to repentance, so they will be condemned to Divine Wrath!” a man could be heard shouting. He was part of a large crowd – one thousand two hundred ninety-eight (1298) including him – traveled through the city. They all wore hooded robes with splotches of black and red.

  ~~~

  From under the cover of darkness, Kassia and Daley watched this shouting man with the hooded black-and-red robes, wondering who he was and what kind of principles he stood for. Kassia agreed that the world was indeed sinful, and that there was truly a God who would hold people to account, but this man disturbed her. Daley drank anew of the waters of the Ikkith Tar Ocean from his vial to be energized further, so as to continue cloaking them in darkness. He sensed grave danger. Yet, he and Kassia shadowed the shouting man and watched as the large crowd, likewise attired in hooded black-and-red robes, all followed. When they realized the size of this crowd – a cult, they came to conclude – they became more afraid.

  ~~~

  The leading man in the hooded, black-and-red robes moved toward the center of the city and continued shouting, repeatedly, for many to hear: “You are all sinners, each of you! God has a Divine Plan that you have transgressed. You did not heed His Sacred Laws. You must repent of your thefts, your adulteries, your lending at interest and unjust buying and selling. You must repent of your sacrifices to demons. You must repent of your worship of elements, even the ocean waters. You must repent of joy. You must repent of pleasure. You must repent of hope in yourselves. You must be purified by walking along the one road that leads to the Kingdom of God…the road that passes through fire. You must be burned to be saved. Repent now or Divine Wrath is coming soon!”

  ~~~

  Caroline, Taesa, and Emerond – still carrying Trent and a bag of his clothes – approached the center of the city, looking to blend in with the crowd.

  Emerond knew that the risk of a telepath was still real, but the Hidden Paladin had to know that before bringing them here – he wondered what was so special about this place, anyway. Emerond whispered into Taesa’s ear, saying: “Think about
us. Not music. Not anything you’ve seen or done. Just us. Clear your mind.”

  ~~~

  Lady Onora heard a voice in the distance and her face turned solemn – the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean still flowed through her, and she could make out the words being said, and they were dangerous words indeed.

  “What is it?” Romana asked, suddenly afraid.

  “They’ve come to judge…the false judges,” Lady Onora said.

  “Who?” Romana asked.

  “What are you talking about?” Judith asked.

  “The Pilgrims of the Burning Road. They are in this city, over a thousand of them, shouting their lies. They are coming this way,” Lady Onora said.

  “They destroyed the archways in the Port of Kemalorin during the inferno. I remember that. They think they have authority to judge,” Romana said.

  “Their religion in false,” Lady Onora said.

  “As is every religion,” Fantine said.

  “No. There is One True God. But there are false religions designed to mislead people. Listen to their words and look at their actions, and you’ll know the difference,” Lady Onora said.

  “You lied to get this city built. How does that make you any better?” Fantine asked.

  “I didn’t lie. I got everyone to agree. And did I bring people here to hurt them?” Lady Onora asked.

  “Isn’t your religion about judgment? How is it different from theirs?” Fantine asked.

  “I tell people a challenging truth – they need to depend on God, who created them, who gives them gifts and who judges their actions. Selfish people – thieves and murderers, egotists and tyrants who want to rule the world – all need to hear that message and change. Sparing the people the difficult truth by telling an easy lie is what hurts. I want honest prosperity. The Pilgrims only plan to judge and kill,” Lady Onora said.

  “We have to get them out of here, before they kill and destroy again,” Romana said.

  “How? You’ll need an army. She said there’s more than a thousand of them,” Fantine asked.

  “We don’t have an army,” Niven said.