“It seems we are at an impasse,” he said.
“So, it would seem.”
He fired a lighting ball at me. I caught it, let it circle me, added speed and power, and sent it back at him. It exploded on his shields.
“You are at least competent,” he said, smiling.
Then he started firing lightning balls, fireballs, and ice shards at me. I let them circle me, combined the like ones together, added power and speed to them, and sent them back at him. There were multiple explosions on his shield, and it pushed him back. He reached into his robe, pulled out his staff, and started chanting. At once, a wide band of red lightning shot from his staff at me.
I reached out, caught it, and wrapped it around me like a wide silk ribbon. I added some purple to it and sent it back at him. His staff caught the lightning strike. It blew through the staff, impacted him in the chest, and threw him into the wall. He slid down the wall and didn't get up. I walked over to him; he was hurt bad. He had a big, black hole in his chest. I looked inside him and healed him, and he started to get up.
"Easy, I healed you, but you took a hard hit. Just sit for a bit." He looked down at his scorched clothes.
"You healed me?" I nodded. "Why?"
"You needed it; you would have died if I had not."
"Isn't that the point of battle?"
"Sometimes, but you were just doing your job, nothing personal. Sorry about your staff."
He looked at it. “Yeah, that took me a while to make, and buying a stone for it was expensive.”
I picked up the pieces and concentrated on them. “Restore,” and it went back together.
"That should hold you until you can do better," I said, handing it to him.
He took it and looked closely. “It's better than before.”
I nodded, smiling. “Take care of yourself, Sir Wizard.” And with that, I ported back to Midway.
I viewed that Pam was still in the Royal Apartment alone, so I joined her.
"Your Highness," I said, bowing. "All has been recovered plus some for the trouble they caused us."
"What did he say?" she asked.
"Oh, he doesn't know about it yet; it will come as a shock when he finds out."
“You got everything back?”
“Yes, money, supplies, and grain.” I ported us down to the treasury vault. It was full. “We should be all right now,” I said, smiling.
“We should,” she chuckled.
***
The Queen saw her stepbrother, the King, placed in the Royal Crypt. It was a short, uneventful ceremony, and no one would miss him. The Queen declared her time of mourning would start the next day and was to last for a year. She hoped to have a year before anyone bothered her with the duties of the Kingdom.
“We have a lot of work to do, so where should we start?” she asked.
“We now have our grain and siege supplies back and a full treasury. I think we need to look to our defenses, both the castle and our military's. I can take care of the castle, but the military may be more of a challenge."
“You can repair the castle?”
I nodded: "Repair and improve."
“You are kind of handy to have around,” she said, smiling.
“I try to earn my keep, Your Majesty.”
Over the next few days, I surveyed the castle walls, foundation, castle proper, housing, stabling, and defenses. Since its original building, it had been enlarged and added to. It was now too small for what we needed. They had built the castle to protect the seaport. The city had grown up around it. There were only three ways to enlarge the castle—tear down some of the city, build out into the sea, or build up.
Everyone had said it could not be done. Some suggested building a new castle, and once it was complete, we could move into it. I decided to build both out into the sea and up. The defensive curtain wall was barely twenty feet tall, with some places only fifteen feet in height.
“What made Midway a place to settle?” I asked the Queen.
She thought a moment and said, “We have a partially protected harbor, which allows us to have a fleet of cargo ships. The cliffs that protect the harbor also protect Midway Castle and the city.”
“Farmland?”
“I wish we had more, but we do all right. Admittedly, a lot of what we have is rocky soil.”
“Who owns the land?” I asked.
“The Crown,” she answered.
“The farmer's work the land on shares?” She nodded. “Let's go to the library and look at some maps,” I suggested, and she led the way.
We laid out several maps of Midway, the surrounding countryside, and neighboring Kingdoms. Looking them over, we started familiarizing ourselves with their layouts.
“We have quite a bit of unused land,” I said.
She nodded. “Rocky soil. Father used to say if we could get rid of those rocks, we'd have five times the usable farmland.”
“What about water for more farms and crops?”
“We get a good amount of rain, but we also have drought years. We have a few small rivers, but they are low sometimes depending on the amount of snowfall in the mountains.”
“So, we need to get rid of the rocks from the land, and we need more water.”
She was looking at me, smiling, “While you're at it, make our harbor a deep-water harbor, and make a breakwater across the mouth of the harbor to stop the heavy winter storms from wreaking havoc on our inner shores.” She laughed.
“I was thinking the same things.”
“Wait, what? You can do that?”
“Sure, I just need to be mindful of where I'm putting things and what I’m growing.”
“Putting and growing things?” She was inquisitive.
“Yeah, if I move all the rocks from our farms, I have to do something with them. Say for instance, make a breakwater across our harbor mouth.”
“You are serious; you could do that?”
“Yeah,” I nodded.
“Can all wizards do it?”
“No, it takes a certain type—an elemental wizard—that can manipulate earth.”
“How long will it take to do?”
“That depends on how deep I take rocks out of the fields. I would think six feet would be enough.”
She thought for a moment: "Six feet should be plenty."
I looked at the map of the harbor and pointed. “I was thinking a break water from here to here; we would need it wide and tall. I was thinking fifty feet thick and fifteen feet high. If we need more, I can put more up. I'll also put up a lighthouse to keep ships from crashing into it.”
“And what will you do with all the sand you take out of the harbor bottom?”
“Spread it along the coast against the cliffs facing the seas. How deep would you like the harbor?”
“Father always said he'd like to have thirty feet at the docks.”
I thought a moment and looked at the map. “Okay, we'll make it thirty feet deep along here and here,” I said, pointing at the map. “Then, we'll gradually slope it up to a beach all along this area. That should give us the most use of our harbor. We will have to rebuild the docks and piers to handle the new depth.”
“If we are going to do that, can you rebuild the whole dock area?”
I nodded, "Sure, we will have enough building material. Draw me what you want, and I'll build it.”
She found a map of the city wharfs and docks, took a charcoal piece, and drew out what she wanted. “Let's extend the wharfs from here to here twenty feet wide. Extend the piers out from the wharf one hundred, no, two hundred feet, every one hundred feet on the way down to here.”
I smiled. “Anything else my Queen?”
She smiled back. “Let's see what you can do with this, and then we'll talk.”
“Before I do that let me repair the castle walls.”
I closed my eyes and felt the castle all the way to the foundations through my feet. “Restore, straighten.” We felt a small vibration and heard groaning. I o
pened my eyes; she was staring at me.
“Done,” I said.
“I thought it would be more exciting,” she replied, smiling.
“I'll try to be more dramatic in the future,” I chuckled.
Chapter 17
“I have a thought; why don't you send for your Harbor Master and see if he has any suggestions about our project,” I said.
She nodded: “An excellent idea.”
Two hours later, our Harbor Master arrived. He was unsure of why he had been called. He bowed, “My Queen.”
“Harbor Master, we are looking at a building project in and for the harbor and wanted to get your insight on the subject. Step over here and look at these maps and drawings.”
He looked them over, frowning, then looked up at us. Then he looked back at the drawings, studying them. He finally looked back at us: “Ambitious. You realize it will take years to finish, right?”
“Let's forget about time for the moment,” I said. “Look at the placement of the breakwater, wharfs, and piers. Do you know of any reason not to put them there? You know more than we do about the currents and tides. That is why we called on you.”
He bowed. “My apologies, Sir Wizard, I don't wish to offend.”
“No offense taken, Harbor Master. We simply want the best for our harbor and port.”
He nodded once more. “The wharfs and piers are fine, but the placement of the breakwater should be over here and somewhat curved. There is a strong current that runs through that area. If we place the breakwater there, it may cause ships to be pushed toward and even into it.” I nodded.
While we were all looking at the drawings, “Give me all the knowledge I want, and then forget I asked.” I now knew exactly where to place the breakwater and better place the piers. There were also currents in the harbor that I could take care of.
“Thank you for your input, Harbor Master. If we have questions, we will call on you,” the Queen said.
He bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty,” and he left us.
“So, do you know what we need to do now?”
I nodded, “We can start tonight, but wait for midnight,” I said.
“Is that when you are the most powerful?”
“No, I'm going for theatrics,” I said, smiling.
She shook her head. “I hope you are a better wizard than you are a jester.”
That made me laugh.
***
At midnight, I ported us to a high point on the cliffs overlooking the harbor. “Are you ready to build our new Kingdom, Your Majesty?”
She smiled, “Yes, Sir Wizard, I am."
I felt down into the stone cliffs and stretched my feelings out over our farmlands. I found the stones that plagued our farmlands and grasped them.
“Raise up and build our breakwater.” I concentrated on the rocks and their placement for our breakwater.
As we watched, rocks flew by us from inland and splashed into the sea. It started slowly at first, but then their numbers increased by hundreds, then thousands. We watched as our breakwater grew faster and faster. Finally, it was long enough, thick enough, and almost tall enough.
I had used all the rocks from our farmlands, so I shifted my concentration to the harbor bottom and felt for rocks.
“Rise and build our breakwater.” Rocks rose from the harbor waters and moved to the breakwater wall.
With the breakwater wall complete, I moved on to forming the wharfs. I used sand from the harbor bottom and compressed it into huge sandstone blocks; I hardened them.
The process continued until I had finished building the wharfs, piers, and reinforcing the breakwater. I added a lighthouse and a Harbor Master’s building at the harbor entrance. Everything was on a solid foundation of hardened sandstone blocks.
I had plenty of sand left, so I reinforced the breakwater with sandstone blocks, dredged out the harbor to our desired depth, and put all the sand out against the cliffs on the seaward side. I set a charm across the mouth of the harbor so no large predators could enter the harbor. Then everyone could swim and fish without fear of them.
I put marker lights at the ends of the breakwater and all along the wharf and piers. I then lit them and charmed them to light at dusk and go out at dawn, unless there was a fog. They stayed on all the time when there was fog. It was an impressive site—all those lights over the water of Midway Harbor.
“What do you think?” I asked.
“It's beautiful. I am in awe that you can do such a thing; it is amazing.”
“Wait until you see it during the day; it is really a wonder to behold. For now, I need to rest, so let's get some sleep.”
I was up at dawn, dancing. It had been a few nights, so I felt like I needed to. I danced until I worked up a good sweat, and I felt better. I took a shower under sanctum's swimming pool's waterfall and then ate breakfast. I walked the battlements, looking over the work I had done on the harbor. The new wharf and port facilities looked impressive.
I felt when the Queen got up, so I ported down to the Royal balcony and stood there watching the people. Everyone was excited about the new wharf and harbor. The Queen joined me on the balcony.
I turned and bowed to her. “Good morning, Your Majesty.”
“Good Morning, Sir Wizard.” She walked to the railing and looked at the harbor. “Oh my, it's beautiful.”
“I'm glad you like it.”
“The people seem to like it too,” she said.
“Would you like to go down and see it?” I asked.
“Will we need a royal escort?”
I smiled, “I’ll be your escort; you will be perfectly safe. Let your people see their Queen and know that she has this built for them.”
“I'm not dressed to go out in public.”
“I'll dress you in an illusion, and you'll look wonderful.”
She smiled, “Let's do it.” I put an illusion over her and offered her my arm. She took it, and we ported down to the wharf.
As soon as everyone saw her, they bowed.
°Make it so everyone can hear me.°
°Done.°
“Good people of Midway, I hope you enjoy the new wharf. May it bring joy and prosperity to us all.”
Everyone cheered and started shouting, “God save Queen Pamala!”
We walked the wharf so everyone could see their Queen.
Our Harbor Master approached us. “Your Majesty,” he bowed.
“Harbor Master.”
“This is wonderful, Your Majesty. When you asked me about it, I didn't expect to see it in my lifetime.”
“Our wizard is very good,” she said, smiling at me.
“He is indeed; thank you for the new office.” He bowed toward me, and I nodded.
“Let me through; let me through!” someone was shouting from the rear of the crowd.
“Oh God,” the Harbor Master said.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I have a question, and the people demand an answer!"
I levitated him into the air. “Shall I feed him to the sharks, Your Majesty?”
“The sharks have to eat too, Sir Wizard,” the Harbor Master said.
“That they do.” I moved him toward the water.
“Wait! You can't do this!”
“Why not, Mr. Mayor?” the Queen asked.
“I have done nothing,” he cried.
“You ran at the Queen, demanding! I should just explode you and be done with it,” I said.
“But she's the good Queen.”
“That part is true, but what are you demanding an answer for from the Queen?" I asked.
“Who will pay for all of this?”
“All of what?” I asked.
“The new wharf, piers, breakwater, everything,” he said.
“Why would you think anyone would have to pay for any of this?” The Queen asked.
“The King always charged the people through higher taxes anytime he did anything.”
Her eyes grew hard. “Do I look like the King?” she demanded.
“No, Your Majesty,” he said, lowering his head.
“What did you do before you were Mayor?” the Queen asked.
“I was a merchant, Your Majesty.”
“Were you any good at it?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Good, because you are fired,” she said.
“Can you swim?” I asked.
“What?” he panicked.
I threw him into the harbor, and he screamed all the way until he hit the water. Everyone on the wharf laughed, and the celebration continued.
***
It didn't take long for the news to get out that we had removed all the rocks from our farmland and needed farmers. They were already lining up for a chance to sharecrop with the Crown. I was in the map room, looking through old maps for the oldest one we had.
I finally found what I was looking for. In the oldest map on record, I found rivers and a lake. At some point in our past, rivers ran from the mountains and formed a lake. I needed to find out why those rivers had stopped flowing.
“Shadow Wraith.” I levitated high into the air and flew out to where the maps said the lake had been.
There was nothing there. From this height, I could see the outline of where it had once been and the paths of the rivers that had once filled it. I followed one of the old river paths to the mountains.
“View.” I looked inside the mountain and saw that a cave-in had changed the course of the underground river.
“Hold.” That held the surrounding rock in place.
“Be removed, and add to the breakwater.” I cleared its path, and the river started flowing again.
I followed the now flowing river back to the dry lakebed and watched it begin to refill the lake. I followed the second dry river path back to its mountain and did the same thing there. We now had two rivers and a lake in our Kingdom. Once the lake was full, it would start a river or a large stream to the harbor.
I lowered the lake bottom another fifteen feet, called rock from the mountains, and build a dam and spillway. I cleared out the old river path to the harbor and lined it with stone. We now had a reservoir and a clear canal to the harbor. Soon there would be freshwater fish.
Out of curiosity, I flew over the mountain. There I found a valley that had to be least five hundred square miles. Mountains completely surrounded it. It had vast forests, rivers, and a huge lake.
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