by Jeremy Dwyer
“It may not be the result of mixing the waters – it may simply be another water unto itself,” Prince Trahaearn said.
“One of the Chroniclers’ reports also said that the king claimed he had been here many times before, and that he lived in the first age. Is it possible that his knowledge is accurate and that a unified water did truly exist?” General Joshua asked.
“If he truly was from the first age – but not ancient in the sense of those who drink the Ursegan waters – then there is likely some power to bring his spirit into a new body. That is an extremely difficult and dangerous thing to do. Most who attempt it lose their own spirits,” Prince Trahaearn said.
“If the powers of spirit enable him, we have tactics against that, as well. This king will be difficult, but not impossible, to destroy,” General Joshua said.
“Agreed, as long as he does not obtain these supposed unified waters. Again, I do not believe they exist; yet, they would give him a substantial advantage if they did,” Nathan said.
“Water – at least the waters we know – cannot be destroyed. If the unified water ever existed, what then became of it?” Prince Trahaearn asked.
“Assuming that it existed – which is quite a large assumption – an interesting possibility is that the water’s own powers worked against it. Much like the confusion of light that is created between the Ikkith Tar and Lujladia Oceans and casts the shadows over the Wandering of Shadows land bridge, this unified ocean’s waters may have caused large scale distortions and concealed the ocean from sight,” Nathan said.
“That’s speculation on top of speculation, and gives me little confidence,” Prince Trahaearn said.
“I have my own considerable doubts. Of course, if the unified water was actually the result of alchemy using the existing oceans, the knowledge of how to produce it would likely be kept secret,” Nathan said.
“Yet, the king claims he knew of it, and he still seeks it, so its existence – if true – was no secret at the time. That suggests that the unified water – if it existed at all – was not an alchemical secret, but something that had its own separate nature. Still, it is possible that the king himself was fooled by some trickery,” Prince Trahaearn said.
“A group of people acting in concert – each having the power of one (1) ocean – could be concealed by the power of darkness. Then, they could pose as a single person and demonstrate every power, assisted by music and illusions. Of course, they would have no such singular water to give the same abilities. Some might be fooled, especially if the telepathic powers were used to sway them,” Nathan said.
“Such a ruse is possible. However, another point of evidence against it is that King Xander admitted to searching for these unified waters. If they were true, he would be motivated to keep their existence a secret, because of their tactical value. Instead, he is telling of them, which suggests that they are a false promise to lure and motivate people into serving him,” Prince Trahaearn said.
“This unified water is in question. However, this king’s existence is not. If he has been brought back by spirit powers, then those same powers may be used against us. We need to protect against an assault using the powers of the Zovvin waters, as well,” General Joshua said.
“Caution, General. Calling spirits – even against other spirits – has its own dangers. Do not forget Admiral Gabrielle Ramalaxis. She was one of our own citizens before she joined the Ihalik Empire. She had a brilliant mind and was the greatest strategist as well as a world grandmaster player at the War of the Treasury game. Yet, her logic led her into a trap. She commanded her lieutenants to call out to spirits to fight her war for her, and those same spirits assaulted her. No, General. This is not the way to fight King Xander,” Prince Trahaearn said.
“Should we not defend against every tactic that King Xander is likely to use?” General Joshua asked.
“We do not fight fire by drowning ourselves in water – it is just a different way to die, General,” Prince Trahaearn said.
“I will direct the divisions of the military specifically to prepare for an assault against our coasts, to slow or stop their advances, according to the resource allocations that are made available to me,” General Joshua said.
“If we are ready, I will begin scheduling the early waterbinding trials and positioning our personnel – both citizens and military of all skillsets – to be most effective,” Nathan said.
“We are ready. Dismissed,” Prince Trahaearn said.
General Joshua and Nathan both left Prince Trahaearn’s office and began their assignments.
~~~
Within the Trading Center Five building, Counselor Daciana went into another office and met with one (1) of her financial analysts – a thirty-one (31) year old female mathematician who drank the Medathero Ocean waters – and said: “Garland, I need you to accompany me on a business trip. We have to leave at once.”
Garland was a quiet, intelligent and portly woman – she was youthful, but more interested in mathematical functions than in men, mostly because she was never rejected by math and could easily understand it. The few dates she ever had found her too serious, and she felt that she deserved better. Being lonely, she threw herself into her work as a financial analyst for the central bank. It was a road to self-sufficiency, even though she never found herself to be sufficient company and hoped to start a family.
“Where are we going, Counselor?” Garland asked.
“I’ll tell you on the way,” Counselor Daciana said. She drank anew of the waters of the Elanatin Ocean from her vial and was energized, ready to telepathically probe anyone she met on the journey.
They exited the Trading Center Five building and, after a brief walk to the docks, met with a pair of men who seemed to recognize Counselor Daciana, even though she did not know them. The men began approaching, and both appeared to be dangerous, albeit in different ways. She sensed the thoughts of another man, who was hiding in the darkness nearby.
“Counselor Daciana,” another man said, suddenly emerging from the darkness. He held several daggers on his belt – and likely in other places.
“Please don’t do that,” Counselor Daciana said, annoyed but unsurprised.
Garland backed away, startled. None of these men – neither the lone man who appeared out of the darkness nor the pair they saw approaching – looked to be safe company.
“Governor Lux said you’d be here,” the man who emerged from the darkness said.
“You are?” Counselor Daciana asked, knowing the answer from reading his thoughts, but hoping to disarm him with questions. She sensed that he had dangerous intentions and did not want the man to move too quickly.
“Call me Roscoe,” he said. The man was sickeningly thin and tall, forty (40) years old and given the powers of darkness by the Ikkith Tar Ocean waters that he drank.
One (1) of the other men – short and thin and considerably younger at twenty-nine (29) years – approached. He was ruggedly handsome with a disarmingly sweet smile and caught Garland’s eye, although she was slightly intimidated by the weapons he carried, including a curved blade.
“And what is your name?” Counselor Daciana asked.
“Porter. You are?” the younger man said, looking to the plump woman. He had designs on her, and didn’t much care if she agreed. Business had to come first, of course. Once he did what the central bank wanted, they wouldn’t worry too much about his behavior.
“Garland,” the woman said. She didn’t know if he was flirting, and wasn’t sure if he was attractive. This was not the time for a flirt, anyway, and he was armed to kill – or to protect – which suggested that this was a dangerous business trip.
Of the first men they saw, the other walked behind Porter, and he was older – looking to be in his fifties. He had wild gray hair and dirty robes. “I am Tikva, and we have little time,” the older man said.
“Here’s the ship we booked – Lux booked it,” Roscoe said, and the five (5) of them – Counselor Daciana, Garland, R
oscoe, Porter and Tikva – all climbed up the boarding ramp of an eighty-five (85) foot long transport ship with two (2) pairs of double-masted pivot-enabled sails.
Once on board, they all went to their assigned cabin and Roscoe said to them: “You’re here to make a deal, and we’re here to protect you, in case they forget their manners.”
“Why are you here?” Porter asked Garland.
“She’s here to validate the quantitative terms of any dealings,” Counselor Daciana said.
“Quantitative – so that means you spend a lot of time with numbers, right?” Porter asked.
“Yes, I’m a mathematician,” Garland said.
“Is that all you do? I mean, you don’t work all the time, do you?” Porter asked, and his eyes probed the girl.
“I’m usually busy. When I’m not busy, I’m really busy,” Garland said, feeling very uncomfortable.
“Keep focused. There is much work to be done,” Tikva said.
“We’ll talk more later,” Porter said, smiling and still running his eyes over Garland’s plump figure.
Soon, the ship set sail, heading west over the Pirovalen Ocean, briefly converting to an airship to travel over the Farmer’s Road land bridge and then it returned to sea level in the Trerada Ocean. It sailed northwest until reaching the Glivoran Trail land bridge, again converting to an airship to cross over that and it returned to sea level in the Kazofen Ocean. From there, the ship sailed west to the Road of Kovoxotu land bridge. Owing to the darkness making navigation more difficult, the voyage took eight (8) days.
While on their voyage, Counselor Daciana drank anew of the waters of the Elanatin Ocean from her vial and probed the minds of the men who accompanied them. Porter, she realized, was a liar and a filthy pit of a man who had desire to abuse Garland for his own pleasure – he drank the Lujladia Ocean waters and was actually hiding his true and unkempt appearance. She would have to keep him away from the young woman, just for decency’s sake. Porter was supposed to provide support to Roscoe, who was a killer, and planned on assassinating the independent bankers if they didn’t accede to Governor Lux’s demands. Roscoe was also supposed to kill both Daciana and Garland if she tried to run away or didn’t go along with the story, just in case she read their thoughts, which Lux figured that she would. Tikva was hard to read, much as Governor Lux was, and she did not know why.
Once they arrived at the eastern port of the Road of Kovoxotu land bridge, they headed into the mountains – partly on foot and partly on inland riverboats – and Porter provided light to illuminate their way under the dark skies. He considered – for a moment – taking away the light and having his way with the plump girl, but he knew that he would get in trouble for not waiting until the job was done. Porter held himself back, planning on making his move later. For the moment, he committed himself to exercising the powers of the Lujladia waters within him to enable the group to see and make their way along the mountain roads. They approached a large stone building where there were many traders coming, bartering and going.
Before they entered, Roscoe drank anew of the waters of the Ikkith Tar Ocean from his vial and was energized with the powers of darkness. Porter drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from his vial and was energized with the powers of light. Tikva drank anew of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean from his vial and was energized with the powers of spirit, and he kept spirits of confusion and distraction around him, so that his mind could not be easily read.
Counselor Daciana drank anew of the waters of the Elanatin Ocean from her own vial and was once again energized with the powers of telepathy. She was more worried about Porter doing some harm to Garland than about this deal. She planted the thought in Garland’s mind to watch herself, and kept watching Porter’s thoughts to know when he might act.
Also, Garland drank anew of the waters of the Medathero Ocean from her vial and was energized with the powers of calm and rational thought. Her mathematical skills were ready, despite the fact that she sensed she was in danger from Porter. She could calculate proficiently, and she could also scream and run, and planned on doing all of these things at the proper time.
Roscoe disappeared into the darkness and then extended his powers of darkness over Porter and Tikva.
Only Counselor Daciana and Garland were seen entering the building.
~~~
In the mountains of the Road of Kovoxotu, a middle-aged woman and man appeared out of the darkness in front of a large stone building – five hundred twenty (520) feet on a side and fifty-four (54) feet tall – with thirteen (13) pillars on each face.
Many merchants streamed into and out of the building, carrying their wares and exchanging them for others or for coins.
“They’re busy – we’ll have to pay just to have some of their time,” the middle-aged woman said, drinking anew from her vial of water. She was thirty-nine (39) years old and the vial was filled with the Medathero Ocean waters, energizing her. She was preparing to make calculations, assuming she found the information she wanted in this building before her – the Gemcutter’s Land Exchange. It was a well-known trading depot and held title to much of the land of the Road of Kovoxotu land bridge. She, however, was not well known and planned to keep it that way. Her actual name was Kassia, but she seldom shared that information, because she was presumed dead, just like the thirty-six (36) year old man beside her, whose name was Daley.
“But you think they’ll have it?” Daley asked.
“They used to keep good records,” Kassia said.
“Who are we today?” Daley asked.
“We’re not planning on being here long enough for names to matter,” Kassia said.
“You hope,” Daley said.
The pair of them entered the building, where they saw and heard hundreds of merchants bartering over animals, gems, coins, land deeds and even ships.
~~~
In a side room of the building was an old man named Wayra – with long, gray hair and wearing nineteen (19) medals emblazoned with the symbol of a mountain – each corresponding to five (5) millennia of his life. He drank of the Ursegan Ocean waters from a bowl made of granite sitting on his desk, and he was thereby energized.
The door to his office was opened and two (2) women entered.
“If you wish to speak to Elder Chief Wayra, you must give your name, and present an offering,” the old man said, while sitting calmly in a stone chair and counting coins, barely looking up.
“I am Counselor Daciana of the central bank from Haza’Kedro’Maral Island,” the first woman said.
“I am Garland, mathematician and financial analyst from the central bank,” the other woman said.
“Where is Elder Chief Wayra?” Counselor Daciana asked.
“I am he – leader of this land and goods exchange. Where, then, is your offering?” Elder Chief Wayra asked.
“Our offering is information. King Xander, we believe, intends to deny your access to trade. He has taken the continents of Ihalik, Meridianus and Waderav, and most likely intends to take Revod next. You may or may not be attacked, but you will suffer economically, because you will be surrounded, and your trading partners will be ruined,” Counselor Daciana said.
“I do not fear this King Xander. We can trade with the islands, and travel over the oceans, if not over the land. He cannot rule the seas,” Elder Chief Wayra said.
“It is possible that he will attack you directly. What will you do then?” Counselor Daciana asked.
“We will hide, and he will not find us,” Elder Chief Wayra said.
“There is considerable danger. This king is immensely powerful, and no one can assume they are safe. We can help you and provide assistance. The central bank has a great deal of power, but only to protect its holdings. If you were willing to consider joining your financial strength to ours, we would offer our protective services to you,” Counselor Daciana said.
“Our trading is done our way, and not by the laws of the banks. I have seen them over the years – ni
nety-five thousand seven hundred thirty-eight (95738) years have I lived in this land, and they come again and again looking to buy what we have. The answer is always no: you waste my time coming here, and you insult me by using this king as a threat,” Elder Chief Wayra said.
“This king is a great danger, and the skies are darkened, so you may not see his assault until too late. He calls upon the powers of song, illusions and control of the mind to subjugate people,” Counselor Daciana said. As she was saying this, she actually felt herself coming to agree with the words, which were originally inspired by Governor Lux, although she did not trust him.
Elder Chief Wayra stood up with his hands on the desk, leaned in and said: “You are afraid, child, but I am not. I cannot be intimidated by any king or any banker. Leave me. Trade here if you will, but do not ever trouble me again on this matter. We will not join with your bank of lies.”
From the darkness, Roscoe suddenly struck out with a dagger and sent daggers at the throat and eyes of Elder Chief Wayra. However, the powers of the Ursegan Ocean gave him his long years by slowing down the flow of time within and around him. Thus, he saw the daggers moving slowly and had time to think and react.
Porter projected light toward Elder Chief Wayra’s eyes and was able to distract the man by blinding him, but the old man closed his eyes too quickly to be permanently blinded.
Instead, Elder Chief Wayra moved out of the way and left the room, opening his eyes and looking away and shouting to the other merchants: “Look into the darkness! The true thieves are hiding there!”
While hundreds of merchants and traders were present, most of them were not versed in combat, for the waters they drank were Kazofen, to work with crystal, and Medathero, to work with numbers. However, a few were capable of dealing with the threat.
Roscoe pursued Elder Chief Wayra, moving quickly on his own. He no longer extended the cloak of darkness over Porter or Tikva, so that they emerged from the darkness to be seen by all.
