by Jeremy Dwyer
“We will accept his resignation upon his return,” Governor Sullivan said.
“First, determine if he has learned something else during his investigation. Only if he has nothing new should you terminate him – his life, I mean,” Duchess Uliana said.
Governors Sullivan and Parry looked at each other, sensing that the threat was meant to intimidate them, as well. It worked, as they were both more fearful now than before.
“You are to monitor this construction directly, and report back anything else you observe,” Duchess Uliana said to the informant, who then went to Baradaxa directly, rather than waiting to hear of it secondhand in Emeth.
~~~
At the end of four (4) months of work, all twelve (12) pillars had been constructed and capped with the specially cut diamonds that Fantine had prepared under Cassius’ direction.
After placing the diamond cap on the last of these – on the southeastern corner of the outer hexagonal arrangement, Cassius said: “The constructor is now ready.”
“Does it work in the same way?” Sebastian asked.
“Essentially, yes,” Cassius said.
At this, Cassius held up the small metal rod in his hand – the same rod from before which was capped with a small blue diamond that was five (5) inches in diameter. Like before with the smaller model constructor, he twisted the lower and upper portions of the rod in opposite directions and the blue diamond began to glow. However, this time, twelve (12) beams of light shone from the diamond on the rod that Cassius held, with a beam going to each of the larger blue diamonds atop the two (2) sets of pillars – to those of the outer hexagon and to those of the inner hexagon, as well – hundreds of miles away. The blue diamonds atop the pillars became bright and the diamond atop the rod that Cassius held turned dark.
After a moment, beams of light formed between the diamonds atop the outer pillars, forming every diagonal between the outer hexagonal arrangement of pillars, for a total of nine (9) beams. Then, the nine (9) diagonal beams between the inner hexagonal arrangement of pillars formed as well. Soon, the eighteen (18) beams began to – or appeared to – rotate. The waters from three (3) of the surrounding oceans – the Ikkith Tar Ocean in the northwest, the Elanatin Ocean in the northeast and the Dead Waters Ocean in the southeast – were soon drawn up from the oceans’ surfaces and turned into a mist and this mist was caught in the rotation of the beams.
As a result of the drawing of the waters in great quantities, the sky turned to a haze over the interior of the continent, and some people noticed this, especially when the beams began rotating. Many thought the tempest had returned when the waters rose from the oceans’ surfaces on the three (3) coasts and a panic ensued. However, it was not long lived.
Within four (4) minutes, the apparent tempest ended and six (6) enormous walls had formed from the crystallized waters. They were each three hundred fifty (350) miles long, two hundred forty (240) feet high and two hundred (200) feet thick. They were arranged as the sides of a hexagon, with the outer set of pillars as its corners. The inner set of pillars – and the beams their crystal caps had generated – had only served to distribute the mist of the waters, but did not cause the formation of their own walls.
The walls were a brightly glowing blue, but opaque in one (1) direction, such that no person on the outside could see into the interior of the hexagonal wall, but those on the inside could see through the wall to the exterior.
Cassius, Sebastian and Fantine stood on the ground near the southeastern outer pillar and looked out through the blue crystal wall.
“We can see the outside, but no person on the outside can see in. The crystal admits light in one (1) direction, and obscures it in the other,” Cassius said.
“The geometry of the crystal bending would not have done that,” Fantine said after thinking about it for a moment.
“Not of its own, but in conjunction with the other design elements of the constructor, it produced that effect,” Cassius said.
“The walls are giving off light. This will inspire people to come here, now that the skies are dark,” Sebastian said.
“That is yet another benefit of the design elements of the constructor,” Cassius said.
“It’s time to test the stability of the walls,” Fantine said.
“Go right ahead,” Cassius said.
“Please do,” Sebastian said.
Fantine drank anew of the waters of the Kazofen Ocean from her vial and was energized. She began to inspect the low-level crystal structure of the southern wall, and found it to have a stable structure when she examined it minutely.
“It appears stable, but we should inspect several areas of each of the walls,” Fantine said.
“Yes, and I can help you select key points, with proper sampling methods,” Cassius said.
“And we should be quick about it,” Sebastian said.
The trio returned to Sebastian’s ship and spent the next six (6) days examining each of the crystal walls. While on the airship, they could travel quickly around the walls, and safely up to an altitude of one hundred twenty (120) feet. The darkness in the skies was not sufficient to convince them that they could safely travel higher, despite the diminished intensity of the light of the many suns.
~~~
At the area near the southwestern wall, the Chronicler, Silvius, had observed the sudden mist in the sky and the sudden appearance of a great wall before him. He was startled by the event, and recorded all that he saw. Silvius then booked passage on an airship – which he received freely – and made a journey for two (2) days around the wall to measure its full size and record all that he saw. He had a scope with him and was able to estimate angles and length using it. The captain of the ship did the same, marveling at the size of the wall, and wondering where it came from.
After taking these measurements, Silvius returned to Emeth once again with a report containing great detail, including the luminescence of the walls themselves.
After making his report, Silvius returned to Baradaxa, looking to record the unfolding events of history around this massive new structure in the interior of the continent.
~~~
The informant sent on behalf of the bank had also witnessed the sudden completion of the massive crystal wall and returned with this report to Trading Center One on Haza’Kedro’Maral Island in the Pirovalen Ocean.
“The construction of the wall is complete,” the informant said.
“Complete?” Duchess Uliana asked.
“Yes. Once the pillars were constructed, the wall itself stood up in a mere moment, after a strange event in the air above,” the informant said.
“A strange event? What of it?” Duchess Uliana asked.
“A watery mist filled the sky, and after a few minutes, the wall appeared before me, forming out of the watery mist, standing not less than two hundred (200) feet in height, and many miles – hundreds of miles – in length, as best I can tell,” the informant said.
“How could this be?” Governor Parry interrupted, shocked that a construction process could take place so rapidly. Such a power had enormous implications for all industries, as money had value over time.
“What else did you see? We need details?” Governor Sullivan asked.
“The wall that I first saw form had a blue glow to it. On my return journey via airship, I saw that another section of wall with a similar size also had a bright blue glow to it, enough that ships could steer by its light,” the informant said.
“The ability to construct something so large so quickly has great importance, and soon others will seek this advantage for themselves. We must have it,” Duchess Uliana said, and she stormed out of the Trading Center One building.
Blazer Luken followed Duchess Uliana and they then proceeded to the construction site of the new Temple of the Sky’s Nine (9) Kings in the center of the island. All the towers – nine (9) blue topaz, twenty-four (24) yellow citrine and thirty-seven (37) red ruby – had their foundations set and were perhaps o
ne half (1/2) done at sixty (60) feet tall for the blue towers, forty-five (45) feet tall for the yellow towers and thirty (30) feet tall for the red towers.
“It took four and a half (4.5) months for these half-built towers. And Sebastian built a city wall over two hundred (200) feet in height and hundreds of miles long in just a few minutes! What is wrong here?” Duchess Uliana said.
“These towers are no mere barriers. Their design is intricate, for their power is great,” Blazer Luken said.
“We’re only half done, which means they’re no good to us yet!” Duchess Uliana said.
“Our diligence will be rewarded. The design is correct, and clever,” Blazer Luken said.
“I want whatever tools that Sebastian had, so that we can study them for ourselves. Immediacy has its own power,” Duchess Uliana said.
~~~
Word of the sudden construction of the city wall in Baradaxa spread from Emeth to other continents. Even King Xander came to hear of it.
“If this wall is true, it is because the rich man in the north intends to resist our conquest. He will fail, of course. Yet, in due time, we will take his walled city and make it our own, and build more such walls, as quickly as did he, to encompass each of our holdings,” King Xander said while standing in his palace throne room, attended by his closest heralds, Aura and Rivka.
“Will we take the walled city next?” Aura asked.
“No. Each land shall be brought into the kingdom at the proper time, determined by me alone,” King Xander said.
~~~
Danielle had been watching all the latest events while lost in the crowd of bankers and traders in Trading Center One, the whole time reading the mind of Duchess Uliana.
This unusual report of a great city wall appearing from the watery mist was not without significance, but she decided against returning to Tanith Orenda and giving a report at this time. It was more significant that the construction of the Temple of the Sky’s Nine (9) Kings was halfway completed, and that this was something that would serve the interests of the sun-worshippers. Danielle thought it might be worthwhile to oversee that, and to ensure that it did not give them too much power, as they were the primary enemy. These sun-worshippers were utterly revolting to the Ahitan Empire, who knew the truth: that the waters were greater than the suns, and those who worshipped lesser things were insufferable and bringers of ruin and death.
~~~
Sebastian, Fantine and Cassius returned to the mansion in Sebastian’s northern estate after their careful inspection of portions of each of the six (6) walls.
Soon after they arrived, Persephone gave birth to a healthy boy, and Sebastian spent a few days alone with them.
A few days later, however, Sebastian decided that it was time to begin building the economy within his walled city. He gathered Fantine and Cassius as well as Persephone into the study with him and said: “Now that the city is safely behind a wall, the economy within needs to grow. The land within consists of every type of terrain, and the soil is exceptionally fertile and readily irrigated by the rivers that pass through it. Now, we need the people to arrive, in great numbers,” Sebastian said.
“The wall itself – without properly positioned gateways – may interfere with the functioning of the economy, if nothing can be bought or sold across the boundary. A barrier against danger is also a barrier against trade,” Fantine said.
“All of this was built in secrecy, and suddenly. Many will think that this is a posture for war, you realize, and they will not come in peace,” Cassius said.
“We will tell them why we built it, and welcome them here. We need farmers and carpenters, stone cutters and crystal benders, alchemists, gardeners, captains and miners, animal herders and architects, sail weavers and sculptors, and every kind of artisan, with every kind of skill,” Sebastian said.
“And if they come, then what?” Persephone asked.
“They will live here. Always,” Sebastian said.
CHAPTER 8: Expectations and Intentions for New Life to Come
The blizzard still raged in the land bridge known as the Wandering of Shadows, yet the storm wandered about the region. Inside a dark and strangely curved building, Taesa and her mother – Caroline – were still taking refuge. Prince Emerond was with them as well, and Zoe and Brant remained as their hired protectors. The Chronicler Judith remained with them, as they had been in hiding for five (5) months now.
Emerond drank anew of the waters of the Kazofen Ocean from one (1) of his many vials. He was energized with the power to manipulate stone and crystal, and applied this power to another one (1) of the diamonds he kept with him, molding it fluidly as if it were clay. “This should provide longer lasting heat, more than the last time. The angle will conserve the energy more efficiently, and radiate the heat for a longer period of time,” Emerond said.
Judith looked at the crystal he held and asked: “What specific angle are you referring to?”
Emerond pointed to the wide compound angle in the diamond he had cut, and Judith began sketching it in her book. He rotated the diamond afterwards and showed her how the diamond was not uniform, and the angle diametrically opposite was narrow and the gem was convex.
Judith noted the other angle as well, struggling to render the perspective. She remembered the architectural drawing lessons her father had given her but realized that she was still not good at it.
Emerond looked at her sketch and saw that she was struggling, and felt bad for her, given that it was a Chronicler’s job to capture every detail possible, and she wasn’t doing a good job with the rendering of his diamond. He didn’t wish to insult her intelligence by pointing out the flaws in the drawing, so he whispered to her: “I’ll make another one later so you can watch the process from a different perspective.”
Judith felt slightly embarrassed at her bad drawing skills, but appreciated his attempt at tact. Still, she realized it was a shortcoming she hadn’t overcome in twelve (12) centuries, and wasn’t too optimistic about her prospects of ever becoming an artist…or of ever becoming a mother or a wife or even a long term romantic partner. “Thank you. I’ll watch carefully,” Judith said, turning her gaze from Emerond to Taesa.
“We need to be able to move on. I don’t know how much longer we can stay in hiding. How far along is she, anyway?” Zoe asked.
“I’m four (4) months,” Taesa said. It had only taken her one (1) month in this place – with nowhere to go – in order to grow close to Emerond, realizing that he had the intelligence she wanted, and the maturity. Then it happened, in the dark of the night, when she realized it was time to commit, and affection turned to a hug, and then a kiss, and then a passionate embrace that awakened desire in both of them. They only made love twice – that night and then two (2) nights later. The night in between, she had feelings of uncertainty, and even regret. They barely spoke to each other the day in between, but then she warmed to him again, sure of herself, and more passionate. That was all it took, and conception followed quickly.
Caroline held her hands over Taesa’s belly and said: “I feel a lot of fluttering.”
Zoe held back her tongue – she knew that Emerond never had time for relationships with all of his responsibilities of leadership. But this was hardly the time or place to start a family. Taesa was only twenty-one (21), or maybe close to twenty-two (22) as far as Zoe knew – which was way too young to be a mother, in Zoe’s estimation. She figured the girl would do well to settle down: Taesa had been on more misadventures that led to more trouble than Zoe – or even the world – could handle. But when Taesa did something, it seemed, she went to extremes. Settling down apparently meant getting pregnant right away, and Zoe thought that she could have at least waited out the storm.
“The bigger you get, the harder it’s going to be to walk,” Brant said.
“He’s right. Storm or no storm, even with another one of your songs to help us through, this is some rough terrain, and it plays tricks on the eyes…even mine,” Zoe said.
“Which means we have to get out of this storm…and find another place for you to take cover,” Zoe said.
“The crystal is ready. I’ll go with you this time,” Emerond said.
“No. She needs you, and the kid will too,” Zoe said.
“Just make a second diamond, and we can stay out longer. Besides, we’re a pair,” Brant said.
“A pair of icicles if we’re not fast,” Zoe said.
“Alright, here we go,” Emerond said. He held up another uncut diamond, gesturing toward Judith to watch him, which she did. He hoped no one else noticed, as he was trying to spare the woman’s self-respect.
Judith drank anew of the waters of the Ursegan Ocean from her vial and was energized, able to slow time and observe every detail closely.
“What exactly are you doing?” Taesa asked.
“In order to trap heat, the diamond has to be bent such that it does not give off a clear beam of light. That would be visible. Instead, the light that is inside needs to interfere with itself, reflect around inside the diamond, and then accumulate until it has so much energy that it needs to be emitted. Except, because it’s scattered, it comes out as heat,” Emerond said.
“That is interesting. But how does it work?” Taesa asked.
“Watch it bend,” Emerond said, while molding the diamond – all the while, making sure his hands were positioned so that the diamond faced Judith and she could see the essential angles – and he created an indentation on one (1) side of the crystal.
Judith drew a diagram into her book as Emerond spoke and was able to capture it a bit more accurately. She exercised her power to slow time around her and focused intently on the directions in which Emerond’s hands moved, and the angles he formed in the diamond that he was molding. She started to understand drawing in perspective as he did this, and she was happy about it.
Zoe also observed intently, as did Taesa.
“Is there some upper limit to how good it gets?” Zoe asked.
“Theoretically, I don’t know. Practically, yes,” Emerond said.
