Luminaries & Lies

by Jeremy Dwyer

  “This is an ambitious project. Do you really think it needs to be this large? If we could scale it down, that could reduce the costs, and allow us to complete it sooner,” Fantine said.

  “This is a dangerous world, Fantine. Yes, we need to create the largest possible protected area, and move people into it. I just don’t want the banks to own the land or the protective structures. They’ve been trying to own me – and control my investment decisions – for years. We’ve had a difficult relationship at times,” Sebastian said. He remembered the difficulties all too clearly, and he even recalled the names of several bank governors with whom he had particularly bad disagreements: the manipulative and greedy Governor Lux was his least favorite banker of all.

  “If we build smaller structures, one (1) at a time, we can get the benefits incrementally. A walled city half (1/2) of the perimeter is only a quarter (1/4) of the area to survey and construct. It can be surveyed in less time, and construction can begin earlier, and be done more quickly,” Fantine said.

  “That’s not what I want. Truly worthy goals shouldn’t be made less great. That’s how we end up settling for less, and helping fewer people. The good and honest people of the world need a safe place to work and live, away from storms and thieves and every other adversary that might come along,” Sebastian said. He thought of the danger – of the woman who created the storms that devastated the coastlines, and who called out with her mind to tell people to end their own lives. He thought of how this walled city could be their shield against anyone like that ever striking again. Sebastian saw himself, if necessary, standing guard at the gates to prevent evil from entering. He then drank anew of the waters of the Elanatin Ocean in his vial. He was energized and planned to use that energy to find answers: he thought of how he would use the powers of thought to convince the bankers to give him even more money.

  By the telepathic powers that the waters gave him, Sebastian found other answers. Nearby, there was a trio of new arrivals by way of a riverboat, and he learned their thoughts.

  Among them was a young couple – a woman named Liora, who believed herself to be pregnant by her companion, a man named Ryan, who could hear the stars and had recently suffered a great deal of pain because of the darkness he found in the skies. They were looking for a safe place to live and to work, and to raise a family. Sebastian hoped for people like them to stay here – they, and those like them, were the reasons he planned this walled city.

  The other new arrival was an older man whose name was Cassius, and he carried tremendous knowledge as well as twisted secrets of manipulation.

  Sebastian learned that Cassius had been manipulating the twisted Ihalik prince Octavian, playing to his vanity by giving him finely cut gems in which to see his own handsome appearance. All the while, Cassius had been drawing from the imperial treasury to build new castles with which to conquer nearby territories.

  He probed Cassius’ thoughts deeper and learned that he was the very man who had designed the castle constructor, a machine that could turn crystals – sand, ice, even volcanic glass – into structures within mere minutes. This, Sebastian realized, was his answer. All he had to do was employ this Cassius to build another such constructor, on a much larger scale.

  Sebastian began walking briskly toward the new arrivals and Fantine walked along with him.

  “You suddenly seem like you have something specific in mind,” Fantine said.

  “We don’t need the banks, after all. I have something much better in mind,” Sebastian said.

  Fantine waited for his explanation, but Sebastian kept walking.

  Sebastian, accompanied by Fantine, approached the young couple and the older man and said to them: “I welcome you and your family. If you are looking for work opportunities, you’ve come to the right place. My name is Sebastian. I am the owner of this land, as well as other territory, and there’s a great deal of work to do,” Sebastian said.

  “We’re looking to find a place to work and live, near a farm,” Ryan said.

  “And raise a family,” Liora said.

  “You will find that here,” Sebastian said, smiling warmly toward the young couple. He was overjoyed at the thought of helping these people, anticipating their appreciation in return.

  “And I have use for your talents and knowledge, as well,” Sebastian said to Cassius.

  CHAPTER 50: Laying the Foundations of New Kingdoms

  On Haza’Kedro’Maral Island in the Pirovalen Ocean, Duchess Uliana was alone in a private room in the Trading Center One building. She drank anew of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean and concentrated. She felt awful pain and heard horrid screams from the suns. A terrible thing was happening in the skies above, and even the blue suns were affected. There was fear and darkness in the suns and Uliana suffered for hours from the sounds of their pain – she was only accustomed to hearing the melodic sounds of guidance from the suns.

  As the powers of the water faded within her – when she would have to drink again to renew her energy – the connection she had to the suns was diminished, as was the pain. Rather than drinking, she chose another course of action. She knew what she had to do next.

  ~~~

  In the Wandering of Shadows land bridge, Blazer Endrit could not find the man who had the luminaries, despite his power to create fire and thereby illuminate the area around him. However, Endrit knew that he was also responsible for the defense of the Duchess, so he used his power of turning water into fire to travel quickly across lands and oceans. He thereby returned to Haza’Kedro’Maral Island and entered the building known as Trading Center One.

  Blazer Endrit approached Duchess Uliana and said to her: “I must speak with you, in private.”

  Duchess Uliana led Blazer Endrit into a private room and asked: “What is it?”

  “I have learned of the source of the darkness. These candles, when lit, bring darkness,” Blazer Endrit said, holding out the single black onyx luminary that he held.

  “They are known as the luminaries, and a man has been gathering and lighting them. He escaped with four (4) more such candles, but I was able to capture this, and two (2) of his servants were slain,” Blazer Endrit said.

  “How many of these luminaries exist?” Duchess Uliana asked.

  “That I do not know. I do know that they can be unlit to end the darkness, but they cannot be destroyed,” Blazer Endrit said.

  “Have you tried to destroy it?” Duchess Uliana asked.

  “No. A spirit revealed its whereabouts, so that I was able to arrive in time to capture even this. The spirit also said that it could not be destroyed,” Blazer Endrit said.

  “What matters first is finding these luminaries, of course. Whether they are to be destroyed or have their dark flames merely extinguished remains to be seen. The other Torches of Majesty should be at your service in this matter. There is another concern to which I must attend, and in this I will need your assistance, for the moment,” Duchess Uliana said.

  Uliana left the room – accompanied by Blazer Endrit – and she called to Governor Sullivan and Governor Parry, summoning them to meet with her.

  When the bank governors saw the Duchess gesturing toward them – as if she was their queen and they were mere attendants – they dutifully approached. They saw the man with blue skin – and blue flames on his hands – and his power made them subservient to her. The governors both knew what this man who controlled blue fire could do to anyone who opposed the Duchess.

  “What is it, Duchess?” Governor Sullivan asked.

  “Prepare for me a secured box of various bank assets – coins, deeds and finely cut diamonds – worth no less than twenty-five hundred million (2500000000) platinum coins,” Duchess Uliana said.

  “We will do this at once. This is a payment, no doubt. Where would you have us deliver it?” Governor Parry asked.

  “To Meridianus. There, we shall hire workers, and they shall come here, to build a new structure, in a location of my choosing. Send your various clerks and agen
ts to hire the workers, and pay for their transport in addition to all available citrine, ruby and blue topaz, as well as steel and silver,” Duchess Uliana said.

  Governor Sullivan and Governor Parry then prepared a large secured box containing the required assets, not knowing what it was that the Duchess wanted to have built. They dispatched their clerks and agents – some of whom were collectors of unpaid debts – and sent them to Meridianus to hire workers.

  During the time they waited, Duchess Uliana prepared instructions, including a drawing, which she had Blazer Endrit inspect.

  “The design is correct, Duchess,” Blazer Endrit said.

  They summoned two (2) of the bank’s clerks, who then copied the design onto twenty (20) large parchment scrolls, while Duchess Uliana and Blazer Endrit watched.

  Within ten (10) days, thirteen hundred (1300) eager workers had arrived by five (5) ships along with the materials in twenty-two (22) more ships.

  Duchess Uliana and Blazer Endrit met the newly arrived workers and led them to a large open area on the island, in the center of the many banking and trading buildings. It was an area nine hundred (900) feet wide.

  She spoke to the workers, saying: “You shall build for us a new Temple of the Sky’s Nine (9) Kings – the blue suns. In the blue topaz of the temple they will be honored. Also, to the lesser red and yellow suns you will give mention, in red ruby and yellow citrine. The frame shall be of steel and there shall be a silver-plating to the frame. The design that you shall follow is here, and construction shall begin at once.”

  Duchess Uliana then handed over many copies of the construction plans to the eldest and most experienced among the workers, so that they could guide their charges to follow the design.

  The various workers were eager to receive the promised payment, though all but three hundred thousand (300000) platinum coins worth of the initial payment went to materials and not to labor. They were each due to receive two hundred thirty (230) platinum coins for their labor. Most of them were skilled in crystal bending – they were drinkers of the waters of the Kazofen Ocean – so they could readily manipulate the topaz, ruby and citrine. The immediately got busy studying the plans and one (1) of the foremen among the workers then said: “This will take us ten (10) months and no less.”

  “And no more. I shall be monitoring your progress,” Duchess Uliana said.

  Duchess Uliana then stepped discreetly away from the crowd and spoke to Blazer Endrit quietly. In private, she said: “Meet with the other Torches of Majesty. One (1) of them you shall send back here to watch over the temple construction; and at least one (1) shall assist you in finding the man with the luminaries and ending the darkness.”

  Blazer Endrit walked toward the coast of the island. There, he drank anew of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean from his vial and was energized. He reached out and called a stream of water toward him, turning it into blue fire in his hands. By this, he traveled through the air in search of the others.

  ~~~

  Governor Parry and Governor Sullivan heard of what was ordered by Duchess Uliana and were troubled. They went together to Trading Center Five, which was a smaller building at which additional banking and trade was conducted. There, they met with Governor Lux in his private office.

  “The Duchess, as you know, has control of our finances – our interest rates and taxes – enforced by the strength of the man of blue fire. She now wishes to build a sun temple, and has brought workers from Meridianus here to begin construction. Even worse, she has taken our wealth to do this. This is a frivolous waste of our money, all for their religion,” Governor Sullivan said.

  “It is a serious matter, indeed,” Governor Lux said. He was sixty-three (63) years old and had a full head of gray hair and no facial hair. He had a gravelly voice, along with forty (40) years of experience in banking and a calculating mind. This was despite the fact that the Medathero Ocean waters never touched his lips – only his neck as part of the waterbinding trials in Revod. After his waterbinding at age twenty-three (23) – to the Zovvin Ocean waters – he surprised his colleagues by entering the banking industry.

  “We would need a military force to end this. Yet, how could we summon a power against her – and against the man of blue fire?” Governor Parry said.

  “If that is necessary, then it shall be done. Yet, do not jump to conclusions,” Governor Lux said.

  “Our wealth will be squandered on her religious practices. This is not a high risk loan that might yield profits to balance the risk. It is a guaranteed total loss and waste,” Governor Sullivan said.

  “We shall recover our wealth and more when the larger loan is extended. Soon, Sebastian will be ours, along with his land and his assets,” Governor Lux said.

  “The duchess will tax that wealth. We will not profit by it,” Governor Sullivan said.

  “Your worries are unfounded, Governor Sullivan. Yet, a man who is worried is in need of knowledge to overcome his fears, as well as to overcome that of which he is afraid,” Governor Lux said.

  “I am most certainly right to be worried. She is still in power,” Governor Sullivan said.

  “Ease your mind. Answers are nearby. Open your mind, and meditate with me,” Governor Lux said.

  The trio of governors sat on the floor of the office – which was a strangely curving room, unlike any other in any other building on the island, and that Lux had personally designed – and they waited.

  “Close your eyes and be at peace. Allow only rational thoughts, but not fears, to enter,” Governor Lux said.

  Governor Lux drank anew of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean from the vial around his neck and was energized. He concentrated and reached out to the spirit world, speaking only in spirit so that the others could not hear: “Havatissa, I call to thee. What course shall I take in this time of the building of the sun temple, paid for with the great wealth that is yours?”

  A voice spoke into the spirit of Governor Lux – such that only he could hear – saying: “Allow the temple of the sssunsss to be completed. Do not interfere without inssstruction from me. In time, there will be battlesss for control of thisss placcce, and the temple will come under attack, by another of our enemiesss, and both will be dessstroyed.”

  Governor Lux stood up and said: “We will be patient. Our problems will soon have solutions.”

  Governor Parry and Governor Sullivan looked to him, awaiting further explanation, as they did not hear either side of Governor Lux’s conversation with the spirit world, or even know that it had occurred.

  ~~~

  Under a cloak of darkness provided to Halina by the Ikkith Tar Ocean waters that she drank, she watched the many workers who had recently arrived. She extended the darkness over Roxanne and Marzia, who stood by her side, also watching, as the construction began on a new Temple of the Sky’s Nine (9) Kings on Haza’Kedro’Maral Island.

  Marzia knew that this was an ill course of events: like all of the Ahitan Empire, she was a water-worshipper and did not want anyone to pay tribute to the suns. She began considering what must be done. Her first thought was to manipulate the mind of Duchess Uliana and have her end the construction. However, she remembered that this was all part of Tanith Orenda’s plan – to allow the sun-worshippers to be built up and come into conflict with other enemies, and then they will be destroyed. She telepathically signaled to both Roxanne and Halina that they were not to take any hostile action against the temple or the construction workers, because this was part of the plan.

  Danielle was mixed in with the crowd, watching all of these things, and she knew without a doubt that this sun-worshipper’s temple was in accordance with Tanith Orenda’s plan. She savored the thought of seeing it come under attack and collapse in the near future, crushing and killing the sun-worshippers. Danielle began devising ways to facilitate that course of events.

  ~~~

  In the continent of Ihalik, a small group of thirty one (31) finely-dressed men and women arrived at the port of Lahavinik. They each wo
re a ten (10)-sided medallion with gold coins at the corners and a carving of a key in the center.

  They looked about them and saw the many soldiers and sailors, merchants and travelers, farmers and paupers.

  One of the finely-dressed men spoke up and said to the crowd around: “Each of you is set in his ways, and is not truly free. You are captive to the laws about you. You are forced to fight in wars, rather than being given peace. You are forced to travel, rather than being given rest at home. You are forced to pay high taxes on your trade, rather being able to keep your profits. You are forced to beg, rather than being given food and shelter. You are forced to toil in the fields owned by others, rather than being holders of your own land. You are not free, because your leaders and laws and even your money are all false.”

  Another of the finely-dressed men said: “We know the way to freedom, and we will show it to you. We know the laws by which to live, and we will tell them to you.”

  One of the merchants in the crowd asked: “Why should we believe you? You dress like royalty – the ones who tax those of us who work.”

  Another merchant in the crowd asked: “Yet, none of the royals have ever promised us better, have they? Should we not listen?”

  One of the soldiers in the crowd asked: “How can your words be trusted? You don’t have battle scars. You don’t know what we go up against or how we fight to stop enemies from attacking. If we didn’t, rich people like you would be dead in the streets and your fine clothes taken and your chests of coins emptied and your land seized.”

  Another soldier in the crowed asked: “Yet, we do not choose to fight. We are compelled by law, our lives are harsh, dangerous and empty. Peace would be much better, would it not?”

  One of the travelers in the crowd asked: “Do you not know how the world works or where things are? If we didn’t travel, then we couldn’t buy the things we want and need, or bring in knowledge from places like Emeth. Thanks to those of us who travel, others can stay in one place and have what they want and need.”