by Eric Vall
“What if there’s debris in the water?” Leon grimaced as he glanced back at me. “Dead animals and things like that? Won’t that contaminate the water and make us sick?”
“That’s where the filters come in,” I explained with a smile. “There’s going to be layers of filters within the aqueducts, and those will clean out the water.”
“How?” Leon tilted his head to the side as he looked back at the rebuilt portion of the aqueduct.
“There’s going to be a screen made out of stone in the container where the water is collected,” I said as I created a miniature version of the filters with my power so Leon could see what I was talking about. “That way, any of the larger bits of debris won’t get into the water. There’ll be more filters too, a layer of rocks and sand that’ll clean the water as it travels through the aqueduct.”
“Even if there’s blood from a dead animal?” Leon furrowed his brow, and there was more than a bit of concern in his voice.
“That’s where Alyona’s enchantments are going to come in handy,” I said with a shrug. “There’s only so much all the filters will be able to do, and I don’t want to risk any diseases getting into our water.”
Leon nodded and sat down to watch me as I drew on my power to continue rebuilding the aqueducts.
I kept the image of the bluestone and concrete mix in my mind and allowed my power to flow out around me. Slowly, the composition of both the sand and the bluestone changed. Then stone, almost in a liquid form, flew out of the ground and merged onto the broken pieces of the waterway in front of me. Then the malleable rock mixture lifted into the air, and it was like playing with clay. I controlled it with my mind, and the stone pieces merged seamlessly with the addition of the concrete mix.
As awesome as it looked, it was slow going work. I had to focus on small sections at a time as I pulled forth the bluestone and concrete mix from the ground. But it was more than worth it. The walls of this section of aqueducts were now perfectly smooth, and there were no cracks or crevices along the stone face of the waterways.
An exhausted grin spread across my face. No one was ever going to bring these aqueducts down again.
My mind ran away with me as I settled into a decent rhythm while rebuilding the aqueducts. I imagined a sprawling, underground complex that spanned the length of the river and the desert. It connected the river and waterfalls to the many oases in the desert and formed a system capable of storing more than enough water for several cities.
It would look a lot like the water system underneath Iran’s desert back on Earth. It was a painstakingly difficult task for the workers to accomplish that kind of system, though. There was the danger of suffocating since they were too far down from the surface, or the walls of the underground tunnels could collapse at any moment.
But I wouldn’t have that issue thanks to my control over earth.
If I planned and built this underground network, we would be able to conquer the desert and change it from a world of sand to lush vegetation. Instead of being a scorching and unforgiving land, Hatra’s desert would be full of life and new opportunities. We could fill it with farms, villages to look over mining operations, or even create a resort.
And if I did that, then we’d build roads linking all the villages back to Hatra so there would be safe passage. Maybe even set up guard houses or way stations every so often for people to be able to rest and in case those areas needed to be defended. We’d already fought the desert serpents, and I didn’t know what else was waiting inside of the desert.
So, I would need to go out into the sands and wipe out every single threat.
Those thoughts and plans continued to reverberate inside of my head as I rebuilt the aqueducts bit by bit. And just like that, before I realized it, I’d finished, and we could head back into the city.
The aqueducts now looked like they’d been created from one solid piece of bluestone. Flecks of pale crystal caught the light of the stars in the night sky and made the waterways glimmer. It was a beautiful sight, and I knew the aqueducts were now stronger than steel.
“Now, that’s what I’m talking about,” I murmured with a grin as I stared triumphantly at my work.
It was morning by the time we’d made it back to the city after fixing the aqueducts and dealing with the remains of the giant vipers. None of us were injured, but some of the clothing of the less lucky had been burned by the viper’s poison. It really would have been a mess if they’d somehow gotten into the city.
A table was set up in the town square when we returned, and the Elders and other citizens sat around it. Breakfast had obviously been set up while they waited for us.
“You fought what?” Ruslan choked on his water and fell into a coughing fit after we reported our night. “Desert vipers? But they’ve never been that close to the city before. I don’t think we’ve ever even seen them along the river.”
“Yeah,” I replied dryly as I thumped him on the back, “that’s what Leon told me after we’d killed them. Also, the Crimson Dragon appeared. The fight drew her attention, and she was a bit curious about what we were doing out by the aqueducts. She wasn’t that bad this time around since none of us were inside of the canyons. She even invited me back to talk to her.”
“How many were there?” Julia tilted her head as she set down her ceramic cup. “You said vipers, which is quite odd. They’re usually solitary creatures.” Then she paused and blinked owlishly at me. “Wait, you spoke to the Crimson Dragon? And she invited you back to speak to her?”
“There were about twenty of the vipers,” I sighed as I sat down at the table. “They were pretty coordinated too, like they were being controlled by someone else who was watching us fight. As for the Crimson Dragon, I guess the canyons can get kind of boring when you kill everyone who goes in.”
“Getting on the Crimson Dragon’s good side is a feat in itself. You might even be able to convince her to fight for Hatra in the future.” Ruslan wiped the dribbling water from his mouth and frowned. “But back to the vipers. You said you suspect they were being controlled? What led you to that conclusion? ”
“They’re a desert species,” I said as I leaned back in my chair and thought back to the fight. “There’s oases in the desert for them to get their water from, why would they travel all the way to the river right when we were out there? That can’t just be a coincidence. Then there’s the fact they were bigger than they’re supposed to be, more than twice their size.”
I didn’t have any sure idea of who or what could have been controlling the vipers, but I knew they’d made an enemy out of me. For that, they would pay, and I would tear them apart, just like I’d done to those desert serpents.
“It seems someone doesn’t want Hatra to succeed,” Ruslan murmured as he rested his chin in his hand.
“There has to be a reason why.” I frowned as I tapped my hand on the table. “I need to know more about Hatra. The reason why Hatra was attacked in the past and is still being attacked is somewhere in its history. I just have to find it. Maybe there are answers to why we’re still being targeted now.”
Julia grinned as she snapped open her fan and fluttered it before her face. “A history lesson? I thought you would never ask, dear Evan.”
Chapter 7
“Genealogies and the history of Hatra,” Julia began as she dropped another immense pile of books in front of me, “are the first order of business. One must know the past in order to prevent making the same mistakes, after all. These also have information about trade agreements and treaties with neighboring cities. A thousand years may have passed, but these agreements should still be valid.”
The moment after I had mentioned wanting to know more about the city, the Keeper of Knowledge dragged me down to the underground library beneath Hatra. Now, I was currently being held as a willing hostage by the Elder in one of the library’s luxurious study rooms.
Dragging my gaze away from the pile of books was more difficult than I thought. The idea of new knowled
ge sent a thrill through me, and I couldn’t help the greedy smile that crossed my face. I hadn’t pulled hundreds of all nighters as a college student and an EMT for no reason.
This was going to be a piece of cake.
Add in my increased dragon stamina with my photographic memory thrown in, and I was sure I’d be able to push myself further than I would have ever been able to back on Earth.
A loud thunk drew me out of my thoughts, and I blinked at the pile of books in front of me.
“Did you already read all of these?” I asked with more than a bit of surprise in my voice. “I didn’t think anyone would have time to read through that much. It hasn’t even been a month since we found this place. Hey, don’t tell me you were reading instead of sleeping.”
I narrowed my eyes at Julia and studied her face. There weren’t any bags underneath her eyes, so that meant she was still getting a decent amount of sleep. Or so I hoped. The bodies of cultivators were still a mystery to me until I managed to consume all of the knowledge in the library.
“My,” Julia mused with a sly grin, “is the young heir worried about an old woman such as me?”
“Don’t come crying to me when you’ve got wrinkles underneath your eyes,” I joked as I leaned back in my chair. “You’ll just make Ruslan cry if you overwork yourself and start looking like a hag.”
“Such cheekiness,” Julia muttered and sat down across from me, “you’d think Ruslan had raised you from birth. I suppose that cheekiness and arrogance of yours is exactly what Hatra needs.”
I blinked at Julia for a moment as she leaned back in her chair. I wasn’t really sure what I should call her since I was now Ruslan’s son. By that same logic, I was now her son, too.
“I promise you I won’t disappoint you.” I clenched my hands tightly as I thought of everything Julia and Ruslan must have given up in order to ensure Hatra’s survival. “I will bring Hatra back to its former glory, I made that promise to our people, to you, and to Father.”
“I know.” A soft smile crossed Julia’s face as she rested her face in one of her hands. “You’ve kept every promise you’ve made so far and, truly, I couldn’t have asked for a better heir.”
A warm pride grew inside my chest at her words. My dragon instincts wanted me to show her I would be a perfect heir, that I would be able to provide for and protect our pack.
Wait, pack?
I half frowned as I felt the dragon part inside me rear its head in curiosity at my confusion. There hadn’t been time for me to get to know the part of me that was a dragon. Hopefully, I would soon be able to learn and get to know my draconic side better.
There were instincts my dragon side had, and those instincts had helped me out several times and were right on the nose about people and events. From using my power to heal, changing from my dragon form to my human form, and even knowing Olivier was an enemy. The dragon that slept in me was to be trusted, and I needed to find the dragon in my spiritual sea the next time I was in the River Moonstone House.
Suddenly, the door to the study room opened and Alyona stepped inside. She was still dressed in the same outfit from the previous day’s ceremony, but, somehow, tiredness seemed to seep from her body. Her gemstone eyes had lost their luster, as if they’d gone completely dead.
“I’m sorry for my tardiness, Elder Julia,” Alyona apologized with a graceful curtsey. “There was an additional ritual for me to complete after the adoption ceremony finished. It ended up taking far longer than I thought it would.”
“An additional ceremony?” I asked with a furrowed brow.
She hadn’t mentioned any additional ceremonies when she’d first explained the adoption process to me. Could it have been involved with the appearance of the Dark Lady instead of the Hearth God?
“It was a sending off for the gods.” Alyona smiled sweetly as she stood in front of the table. “I needed to thank them for their continued blessings and the success of the adoption ceremony. As well as praying for Hatra’s good fortune.”
There were faint tremors in her hands that she tried to hide by clasping them tightly, but I was able to notice it quickly.
I frowned as I looked at Alyona. “Is that why you look so tired?”
I quickly summoned the words to let me know the extent of her condition, but the result didn’t help me understand why she seemed so exhausted.
Classification: Divinity.
Condition: Fatigued.
Priority: Sufficient rest will aid recovery.
Danger: None.
Status: Fatigued.
Could it have been summoning the Dark Lady instead of the Hearth God that caused her to be like this?
Even though I’d gotten used to the immense displays of power from Alyona, I needed to remember her spiritual sea was still delicate, and anything could tip the scales and cause the fire of madness to burn her. I’d already seen her fall into deviation once, and it was something I’d never allow to happen again, no matter what.
“What would you prefer?” Alyona suddenly asked, and she tilted her head as she tapped her lips in thought. “A ring or perhaps an earring?”
“Um, what are you talking about?” I blinked at the sudden change in topic and berated myself for spacing out.
“Oh dear, I’ve gotten ahead of myself,” Alyona laughed lightly as she pushed back a stray strand of hair from her face. “I want to give you a gift.”
“A gift?” A slow smile spread across my face as I propped my chin in my hand.
I couldn’t help the thoughts of Alyona moaning as she writhed naked on top of me, and my eyes travelled the planes of her bare hips. Every time she moved, the fabric shifted and revealed tempting hints of her delicious body.
I could definitely think of a gift she could give me.
“An enchantment for you,” Alyona clarified as she leaned on the edge of the table and rearranged the fabric of her dress. “I was hoping you’d be pleased with it, since it’s something you’ve mentioned before.”
“But you’ve already enchanted me,” I laughed.
“Perhaps I want to keep you under more and more enchantments,” Alyona murmured as she placed her hand on her cheek. “So all you can think of is me.”
Alyona would always blush so prettily almost every time I flirted with her, but sometimes there would be a change in her countenance, and it would be like she’d gone from a naive priestess to a seductive princess. Sometimes the shift was subtle, just the teasing tone her voice would take on, but other times there would be a fire in her amethyst eyes that burned me up.
And I loved it.
“Ahem.” Julia let a book drop onto the table with such force the wooden legs of the table vibrated. “And this is why the lessons are so important.”
I coughed and gave the Elder an apologetic smile. Julia had just become my new mother, and now I was behaving unlike a proper heir.
Not that behaving like a proper heir was going to stop me from flirting with Alyona, though. I mean, I was still a badass dragon, and I could do whatever I wanted.
“Alyona, you were saying about a ring or an earring?” I asked as I steered the conversation back into safer territory and kept my eyes strictly on the books in front of me.
“Hmm?” The princess’s tone had taken on a teasing sort of lilt as she leaned closer to me. “Oh yes. What sort of gift would you prefer from me? A ring on your finger or perhaps for me to stake a claim on your ear with an earring?”
“Now, now, Milady,” Julia interrupted with a sigh. “There’s no need to tease him so.”
“Yes, yes, you have a point,” Alyona laughed lightly as she moved to sit down next to Julia. “The enchantment is to grant you the Allspeak, at least, a version of it, so you may read the languages of Inati with ease. Though I am not as powerful as His Eminence or as wise as the sages, it will allow you to read and speak every mortal language in this world of ours. If we had more time, I would have gone to the nearest city with a resident sage and commanded them to craft the gift so
you would be blessed with the true extent of Allspeak. But we don’t have the luxury of waiting for such a creation. I hope you can accept such a fact as an excuse.”
“Whatever gift you give me will always be perfect,” I said as I reached across the table and placed my hand on her clasped ones. “I’m confident in your abilities to enchant something amazing and wonderful for me to use.”
“Then, ring or earring?” Alyona tilted her head in thought again. “Either will serve perfectly for the enchantment, unless you’d prefer a bracelet or a necklace.”
“Probably an earring.” I glanced down at my hands and frowned. “A ring might fall off when I change shape, and I could forget about it if I took it off, but not an earring.”
“I find myself agreeing with Evan.” Julia tapped her fan against one of the piles of books thoughtfully. “It wouldn’t do for him to have any fine jewelry either when we’re a fallen city, nor would it help our case if it was obvious you so greatly favored him.”
“Or that I’m not from Inati.” I grimaced as I remembered how the Green Glass Sect had labeled me as a blasphemous existence. “That would honestly not help our case at all.”
“Thankfully,” smugness crept into Julia’s voice as an ironic smile crossed her face, “there’s no way anyone in Hatra would have grown up with any knowledge of the outside world.”
I couldn’t help the bitter laugh that left me at those words. Who would have thought Hatra’s misfortune would turn out to be a potential get out of jail free card for us?
“So, what do I need to start studying first?” I smirked as I propped my chin in my hand. “You’re looking at one of the top students from my world, you know?”
“First, the matter of the earring,” Julia said as she tapped her fan on the table between us. “Milady, if you would?”
Alyona’s face lit up as she nodded and lifted her hand in the air. She slipped it through the fabric of reality and pulled out a small gemstone that matched both my eye color and Alyona’s. It was half the size of a penny, and I couldn’t help but wonder how she would attach it to my ear since I didn’t even have a piercing and the gemstone didn’t appear to have a stud.
