Architecture & Adversity

by Jeremy Dwyer

  Polyxene molded the modified diamonds to construct a cylindrical flask that was fourteen (14) inches tall and twenty-two (22) inches wide on the inside, with two (2) inch thick walls, so that it was eighteen (18) inches tall and twenty-six (26) inches wide on the outside. She placed twenty (20) yellow-green gems from among the one hundred twenty-seven (127) such gems she had acquired into a receptacle in this flask. She then made an identical flask, with an equal sized receptacle, and filled it with Dead Waters from her supply. She molded a cylindrical diamond frame to surround both flasks, allowing them to rotate inside of the frame, although they were locked in place with a pair of small diamond pegs, each six (6) inches long and two (2) inches thick, which fit through the frame and entered notches on the sides of the flasks it held. She had placed the Dead Waters flask on the bottom of the frame and the flask containing the yellow-green gems on top. Their receptacles were purposely misaligned. After removing the pair of pegs, their receptacles could be made to align, so that the yellow-green gems would fall in to the Dead Waters.

  She held this diamond apparatus and glided across the crystal floor of her fortress toward the Dusk Breaker where Captain Sjaak waited on the deck.

  “Take this device to the nearest island and release the diamond pegs in its sides. Return it to me as soon as you are able,” Polyxene said.

  As the captain was still under the directions of a spirit, who was under the authority of the demon named Evethixomar, who was under the command of Polyxene, he loaded the diamond apparatus onto the ship.

  Polyxene then touched the wall of the fortress, modifying its structure so that it opened.

  Captain Sjaak steered the Dusk Breaker over the water channel leading out of the fortress and onto the Kazofen Ocean.

  Polyxene then touched the wall of the fortress again, sealing the opening she had created. After this, she touched the wall in a different location, modifying its low-level structure to form a lens, through which she looked out onto the Kazofen Ocean. The optical properties of the lens were such that it could bend light and allow her to see around the nearby mountains and watch the voyage of the Dusk Breaker.

  ~~~

  Governor Lux returned to his office in the Trading Center Five building and called a pair of older men from their offices to follow him into his own.

  “Counselor Edison, you are to represent the interests of the central bank in our constructed city on Yihartec Island in the Kazofen Ocean by setting the fee schedules for commercial activities and real estate transactions,” Governor Lux said.

  “Yes, Governor. I will need enforcement officers of the bank, of course,” Counselor Edison, a man of sixty-three (63) years, said.

  “Indeed, and you will have them, as well as a clerk, a courier and a ship. You are to remain there on a medium term basis, for two (2) years, returning monthly with reports and payments. Set the rates at six point five (6.5) percent above our standard,” Governor Lux said. He opened a page in a book on his desk and wrote out the orders authorizing two hundred sixteen (216) guards, a clerk, a courier and a ship to be assigned to Counselor Edison. He removed the page and handed it over to the counselor.

  “Now, Counselor Teague, you are to represent the interests of the central bank in the Port of Reliance, our constructed city in eastern Meridianus, facing the Pirovalen Ocean. There, you will set the fee schedules for commercial activities and real estate transactions. Set these at nine point one (9.1) percent above our standard. Yes, you will also be assigned enforcement officers, a clerk, a courier and a ship. Your term will also be for two (2) years, returning monthly with reports and payments,” Governor Lux said.

  “Yes, Governor,” Counselor Teague, a man of fifty-nine (59) years said.

  Governor Lux opened another page in a book on his desk and wrote out the orders authorizing two hundred sixteen (216) guards, a clerk, a courier and a ship to be assigned to Counselor Teague. He removed the page and handed it over to the counselor.

  “Assume your responsibilities at once,” Governor Lux said.

  ~~~

  Counselor Teague and Counselor Edison left the office of Governor Lux and then presented their documentation to other high ranking bank authorities in the Trading Center Five building, so that the necessary enforcement officers – all hired for strength, drinking the waters of the Nabavodel Ocean – accompanied them. They were also given available clerks and couriers who would be responsible for record keeping and message delivery back to the central bank, as needed.

  ~~~

  Counselor Edison led his subordinates to the docks where they boarded a ship: the one hundred eighty-two (182) foot long galleon, Distant Concern. Its captain set sail, heading northwest across the Pirovalen Ocean until reaching the Farmer’s Road land bridge. The ship was converted to its airship configuration and ascended to one hundred twenty (120) feet of altitude to travel over the land bridge, returning to sea level in the Trerada Ocean. The ship then sailed north until reaching the Glivoran Trail land bridge. There, it was converted to its airship configuration and ascended to one hundred twenty (120) feet of altitude to travel over the land bridge, returning to sea level in the Kazofen Ocean. Then, it sailed west to Yihartec Island.

  When the Distant Concern arrived at Yihartec Island, Counselor Edison was impressed with the brilliance of the crystal city, but more interested by the sight of the congested docks, which meant that the city was frequented by cargo ships and highly populated. He was an ambitious man, and pleased with the assignment, planning to extract the greatest possible profit from the transactions that took place. He drank anew of the waters of the Medathero Ocean from his vial and was energized. He began calculating estimates of what the proper fees should be, because ‘standard’ was not a particular number, but a set of formulae that determined the fees to charge based on cost of operations, potential profits, bulk discounts, the time between arrivals, average shipment sizes and risk adjustments. The fees had to be high enough to be profitable for the central bank, but not so high as to deter usage of the city’s facilities; otherwise, cargo captains and commodities traders would find another island, owned by a private corporation or a government, at which to do business. Charging six point five (6.5) percent above standard was unwise in his estimation, and he did not intend to apply that inflation immediately. He had worked in this position for nineteen (19) years and was expert in calculating the proper price, and in making adjustments according to market conditions, based on various branches of mathematics in which he was well-versed.

  While Governor Lux was a superior officer in the bank, Counselor Edison knew that Lux was not a true mathematician – he was a bit of an eccentric that no one trusted, and he did not drink the Medathero waters. Since Edison did not intend to directly adhere to the inflationary price adjustment prescribed by the governor, he might encounter a difficulty when the courier reported this back to the governor, and the clerk would record exactly what prices were charged. Rather than have Governor Lux summon him back to Haza’Kedro’Maral Island to admonish him for pricing improprieties, he would have to lower his determination of ‘standard price’ to accommodate for the six point five (6.5) percent increase. In fact, he would charge only ninety-three point eight nine six seven (93.8967) percent of whatever his standard calculation would be – merely by downward adjustment of the discretionary risk coefficient – and then that would compensate for the six point five (6.5) percent increase.

  Counselor Edison soon took up residence in a building near the docks and asserted his authority, based on the central bank’s documented ownership of the constructed city. The enforcement officers accompanied him at all times, in case of any disputes about payment. However, financial matters proceeded smoothly, and he priced things similarly to what the cargo captains and traders were already accustomed to having to pay at other ports. His clerk recorded all that occurred into a book and the courier stood at the ready to deliver reports to the central bank.

  ~~~

  Counselor Teague led his own
subordinates onto to the Capital Voyager. The captain set sail west across the Pirovalen Ocean until reaching the Port of Reliance in eastern Meridianus. He was impressed by the glimmering crystal city, but he was not impressed by the financial acumen of Governor Lux, who merely used mathematics to set prices, and he wasn’t even a true mathematician. Based on his experience, Teague set prices based on what the market could bear, and that varied by market, and by client, and by circumstance. Counselor Teague set up shop in an office of a crowded building near the city’s center. There, he drank anew of the waters of the Elanatin Ocean from his vial and was energized.

  He probed the minds of the traders and cargo captains and everyone else who worked or lived in the city’s center, as he wanted to know what each was willing and able to pay, and he would charge them accordingly. To the poor, he gave one price; to the mid-level earners, he gave a range of higher prices; to the richest, he charged even more. The fee schedule was as high or as low as he pleased. Whatever the ‘standard’ price of the bank, he made a point of charging as much above that as he could, and keeping the difference for himself. His clerk would record whatever price he wished, because he knew of the clerk’s embezzlement from the central bank to pay for gambling debts.

  Counselor Teague did not hesitate to learn the criminal secrets of those who came in to his office looking to pay for residency in the city, or to pay for usage of the city to make trades in gems, gold and other precious metals, goods of other kinds and all kinds of services. While most of them had nothing of interest, a few were murderers or guilty of other insidious deeds, and he probed their minds for details. He then threatened them with exposure if they didn’t pay whatever he demanded. This was something he reserved for those who could afford it – a poor murderer was worth little more than a poor kind person.

  ~~~

  Aura was impressed when she saw the glimmering crystal blue city as the ship she was on approached. When it entered the gateway, she got a sense of its size – a vast, circular structure, filled with people and tall crystal buildings and bustling with activity. She held Arik in her arms and looked for opportunity in her surroundings. Walking through the vast city, she saw – and heard – that many of the people were cargo captains, commodities traders, bankers, alchemists, sell-swords, deckhands, likely a few extortionists and many other professions. Finding her way here would not be easy, and there was plenty of competition for the kind of work she wanted – being close to money and power. She had to be careful about using songs, however: if anyone, however unlikely, recognized her voice or her appearance from the time she was in service to King Xander, she would have to fight for survival. Also, using music to enchant people who weren’t all that useful to her wasn’t…all that useful.

  It was time to listen and to learn, and to find a place for her and Arik to rest. The boy needed a home, and this crystal city just might be it for a while.

  ~~~

  Taesa, Emerond and Caroline – who was now carrying Trent and his bag of clothes in her arms – looked for and found the office of the city’s administrator. A sign was posted outside the office listing prices for different rooms – some costing one (1) platinum coin per sixty (60) days, others costing that much per twenty (20) days – all depending on the size of the room and where the building was located. Other prices were listed regarding docking ships, taxes on alchemy work, platinum coin to diamond exchange rates, purified water supplies, clothing fabrics of various qualities, taxes on tailoring of clothes, taxes on fishing, interest rates on loans, taxes on meats, fruits, vegetables, as well as standard prices to pay farmers, rates of life insurance, cargo and passenger insurance and every other concern.

  “This city belongs, in large part, to the central bank. They’re the ones setting the rates for everyone who lives or works here,” Emerond said.

  “Can we afford this?” Caroline asked.

  “Yes, for now. But the bank is charging higher taxes than even the Jenaldej Empire did, and they were a bit…demanding,” Emerond said.

  “Didn’t you have something to do with that? Weren’t you in a position of authority?” Caroline asked.

  “The resource coordinators were the ones who set the rates, according to mathematical formulae. I had no authority to change that unless there was an emergency. Even then, that didn’t mean the rates would go down for everything,” Emerond said.

  “You’re not in charge, here. You’re like the rest of us,” Caroline said.

  “That’s how I like it. I’d rather have family and ordinary expenses than that kind of responsibility. Enough is enough. Too much excitement – too much conflict, stress and danger,” Emerond said.

  “Good. I felt the same way without ever having that kind of job. Now, let’s find out where we can stay and make the payment,” Caroline said.

  ~~~

  Counselor Teague was busy in his office, speaking to a wealthy cargo captain about taxation on shipments of iron and wood.

  “Captain Melbourne, while I agree that volume discounts are a part of doing business, I can only give you a three point seven (3.7) percent rate reduction. Remember, there are certain expenses with administering this city, and making future investments. That’s the best I can do, and it is very generous,” Counselor Teague said.

  “You’re charging nineteen point five (19.5) percent fees on shipments of wood and iron. Even with that reduction, we’re still at fifteen point eight (15.8) percent. It’s not worth my time. The Jenaldej Empire will let me deliver to Revod at only fourteen point one (14.1) percent.

  The waters of the Elanatin Ocean flowed through Teague and he sensed Captain Melbourne’s thoughts, knowing that this man cheated the timber cutters and the iron workers in the eastern villages of the Solkidian Trail, paying them well below market rates – he even organized an embargo against them for a while, refusing to transport wheat or corn, letting hundreds of them starve to death until the rest agreed to lower prices. Not only did this man not deserve a discount, he had something coming to him. It wasn’t that Teague cared about the victims; rather, he knew that he could slander or destroy this captain with reports of his cruel manipulations to vigilantes who would finish him off at the proper moment.

  “Your tactics are effective, captain, but the central bank is different from a small village of poor timber cutters and iron workers. Whereas you hold sway over their lives, and can easily eliminate them if they don’t cooperate with your pricing schemes, you will find that the central bank is not so easily swayed. In fact, you may have to reconsider your previous business arrangements. There are no doubt those who would be interested in speaking with you about the three hundred ninety-seven (379) fatalities. Everything has a price, captain. All lives have a monetary value – even yours,” Counselor Teague said.

  “I thought we were talking about timber and iron, Counselor,” Captain Melbourne said.

  “We’re talking about pricing everything, Captain. Think about whether you’d like to continue to do business,” Counselor Teague said.

  “Are you threatening me, Counselor?” Captain Melbourne asked.

  Suddenly, something became clear – thoughts of someone entirely different, and much more important were nearby, and he lost interest in this man…at least for the moment.

  “Let’s talk another time, Captain, and we can come to an agreement about the proper rates. I certainly want for you to do business, and to do it here. If you can be reasonable, so can I, and we can both make a profit. Please leave for now. Something has come up, so you’ll need to come back tomorrow,” Counselor Teague said. He opened the door to his office and gestured for Captain Melbourne to leave.

  “I’ll be back, Counselor,” Captain Melbourne said and he left Counselor Teague’s office, where many other men and women were waiting in line to speak to the counselor about their own business. He exited the building and returned to the docks. There, he boarded his ship – the Trader’s Journey – a three hundred thirty-eight (338) foot long cargo ship with six (6) pairs of d
ouble-masted pivoting sails. He inspected his cargo and what was left of his crew: the tough ones survived their last encounter.

  ~~~

  Captain Sjaak drank the waters of the Atrejan Ocean from his vial and was energized. He listened to the sounds of the stars and learned their positions and movements. He used that to find his way to the nearest known island – Yihartec Island, four hundred fifty (450) miles away to the northeast – and he steered the Dusk Breaker over the waters of the Kazofen Ocean toward it.

  When the Dusk Breaker arrived at the coast of the island, he saw that there was a new port – made of glimmering blue crystal, and significant in size. He docked the ship there and then took the cylindrical device he had been given and followed the instructions that the diamond-covered figure had spoken to him, because he was compelled by the spirits which she commanded. Captain Sjaak thus removed the diamonds pegs.

  ~~~

  Counselor Edison felt a momentary but horrific pain as shards of crystal pierced his body, tearing him to shreds. Then, he was dead: ripped to bloody pieces like every other person on Yihartec Island, which was covered with tens of millions of shards of blue crystals from the city that stood a moment ago.

  Captain Sjaak, along with his crew, were dead before they could feel pain, and the Dusk Breaker was torn to wood pulp, like all other ships docked at the port city at that time and even ships (3) miles out in every direction.