Ruin & Reliance

by Jeremy Dwyer

  “Don’t strain yourself. Save your breath,” Niven said.

  “Doesn’t prove anything? It proves that whoever wrote the message was delusional, to say the least,” Commissioner Wallace said.

  “Not really. I’ve studied architecture most of my life. More than a few brilliant architects were inspired by their religious beliefs. Their designs were innovative, even if their motivations were dubious. Some of these architects molded crystals in ways that were based on some sort of faith symbols, but they turned out to be efficient designs for the low-level structures of gems. I deny the religion, but I can’t deny the alchemy or the geometry,” Fantine said. She coughed into her hands and a small amount of blood came up.

  “That doesn’t change the fact that Cinder Valley is a volcanic wasteland. Going there is almost certainly a waste of time and very dangerous. You know that Waderav is ruled by robber barons. We could come under attack!” Commissioner Wallace said. He held his wrist up and coughed into it. A bit of blood came up with the mucus, smearing his arm.

  “We’re already under attack. The poison is in our bodies. Look at yourself,” Commissioner Hannah said. She coughed and tasted blood on her lips.

  Romey coughed up a small amount of blood and spat it out onto the deck. “I’m not waiting around to die. We at least have to try something,” she said.

  “Something useful, I hope,” Commissioner Wallace said.

  “I’ve only heard one plan. It isn’t great, but it’s something. I say we go and plant the seeds,” Captain Arata said. He coughed up blood and spat it onto the deck.

  “Into bad soil in a volcanic valley? That’s not a plan!” Commissioner Wallace said.

  “Standing around debating isn’t a plan, either. Or do you just want to be a useless bureaucrat all your life and talk when work needs to be done?” Captain Gijsbert said. He coughed into his hands and saw a trace amount of blood.

  “I’m ready now. We’re going,” Romey said.

  “This is madness!” Commissioner Wallace said.

  “This is my ship. You can help me navigate,” Captain Arata said.

  “Whatever gets us there,” Romey said.

  “You all need to keep moving, even a little. You’re still sick,” Niven said. He escorted Fantine as she walked back and forth. Niven drank anew of the waters of the Trerada Ocean from his vial to be energized with the power of vitality. This protected him, and only him, from the effects of any amount of the poisonous red mist that might have entered his body, although there was no sign of it in the air nearby.

  “I’m getting tired of this. I need you to be strong for me,” Fantine said.

  “I’ll be strong with you. Just keep walking, even slowly,” Niven said. He placed his right arm around her to help ease her fatigue as they walked together.

  ~~~

  Captain Arata walked across the deck of the Sandstone Cutter and entered the wheelhouse. Romey followed. Inside, they each drank anew of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean from their vials to be energized with the power to listen to the sounds of the stars.

  “Check the maps and chart a course to Waderav. When we arrive, we’ll have to map the river network. I’ve got some maps of that, too,” Captain Arata said. He pulled levers to retract the boarding ramp and raise the anchor.

  Romey opened the atlas on the table and then concentrated to listen to the stars. She learned their paths and positions and used the information to chart a course. She took the wheel of the ship and sailed it westward across the Gradaken Ocean until reaching the eastern coast of the continent of Waderav. At that point, she pulled levers to pivot the masts and the sails to the sides of the ship and elevated the vessel to fifty-seven (57) feet of altitude. She steered the ship over land for a short distance until bringing it down into a river.

  “The rivers are a maze. Go out on deck and move around a bit so you don’t get sicker. I’ll get us to Cinder Valley,” Captain Arata said. He consulted a chapter of the atlas that had partial maps of the network of rivers flowing across Waderav. He then concentrated to listen to the stars and learn their paths and positions. He used the information to chart a course and sailed the Sandstone Cutter westward along the river.

  ~~~

  Romey went back out on deck and paced back and forth. Commissioner Hannah and Commissioner Wallace walked around on deck, occasionally crossing paths with Romey. The twenty (20) armed guards who protected Commissioner Wallace also paced around, to maintain their own wellbeing and resist the progress of the poison.

  Romey also watched as Niven escorted Fantine, coaxing her to walk back and forth. His affection for the woman was obvious, and she hoped to find a man for herself who was anywhere near as devoted.

  Captain Gijsbert also paced back and forth, but he was lost in his own thoughts. He knew that the plan was terrible, but it was better than no plan at all.

  ~~~

  Inside the wheelhouse of the Sky Lion, Uzoma drank anew of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean from his vial to be energized with the power to listen to the sounds of the stars. He concentrated to learn their paths and positions and used the information to chart a course. He pulled levers to retract the boarding ramp and raise the anchor. He then sailed the ship westward across the Gradaken Ocean.

  Captain Lusala stood and watched the sea through the window. “Munroe, keep watching for pirates or any more sea serpents. That’s the last thing we need,” he said.

  Munroe drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from his vial to be energized with the powers of light and far sight. He gazed out into the distance and scanned for danger. “I don’t see any pirates around us. But if we go to Waderav, won’t there be even worse problems?” he asked.

  “Probably, so you’ll need to keep watching when we get there,” Captain Lusala said.

  “What do you want me to do? And what should I do with him?” Captain Duvall asked. He still held Goyo bound.

  “When we get there, let him go. There’s no sense in holding onto a prisoner. Despite his attempt to kill the king, the crime was committed by someone else. Besides, we don’t have a king or a country to give him a trial. The feudal system in Waderav can give him what he deserves, just by living there,” Captain Lusala said.

  “I was born in Waderav. That’s how I started working for Baron Amidio. I know how rough that place is. I can find a way to help you. Please, let me help you,” Goyo said.

  “Let me think about it. Don’t expect much. You don’t deserve a second chance,” Captain Duvall said.

  When the Sky Lion reached the eastern coast of Waderav, Uzoma pulled levers to pivot the masts and the sails to the sides of the ship and elevated the vessel to fifty-seven (57) feet of altitude. He steered the ship over land until he could bring it down into a river. At that point, he consulted the atlas for a map of the continent’s river networks. Again, he concentrated to listen to the sounds of the stars and used the path and position information to chart a new course. Uzoma then steered the ship westward along the river.

  “Now you need to really pay attention, Munroe. This continent has earned its reputation for being a brutal place to live. It’s a vast land ruled by thieves and murderers, corrupt in every way,” Captain Lusala said.

  “I can keep watch, but I can’t help plant those seeds. That woman, Romana, will have to do it,” Munroe said.

  “I know. Just keep watch. I don’t think this is going to go smoothly. We might need to give her some cover,” Captain Lusala said.

  “If you can use the darkness for cover, maybe we still have some purpose for you, after all,” Captain Duvall said.

  “I’ll protect anyone you need,” Goyo said.

  “Why couldn’t you think like that before attempting to assassinate King Hamza Bazavador?” Captain Duvall asked. He slapped Goyo across the face.

  “Because I’m a fool. I worked for a fool and followed his orders,” Goyo said.

  “That makes you an even bigger fool,” Captain Lusala said.

  “Now you’re going
to follow our orders,” Captain Duvall said.

  ~~~

  Grand Duke Braden, Duke Rowan, Allegria and Consolata returned to the Plenteous.

  “We will not be played for fools by this religious cult,” Grand Duke Braden said.

  “We will help them to find the cure for the poison, father, will we not?” Duke Rowan asked.

  “Of course we will, but not by depending on any sort of religious fables. We’ll go to help plant the seeds, which that foolish woman won’t be able to plant on her own. The soil in Cinder Valley is notoriously poor or absent, but that is almost certainly a surface condition. The volcanic activity over the ages will have deposited rocks and buried the fertile layers. We can release just a small quantity of it to expose the good soil that is undoubtedly beneath the stones,” Grand Duke Braden said.

  “I trust your thinking, father,” Duke Rowan said.

  “Good. I was worried about you. When you joined hands in prayer with those women, I feared they had seduced you. No woman’s body is so desirable that it is worth sacrificing your good senses. Allegria is nearly ready to be yours to enjoy as you please, after a correction. Consolata will be ready some time later. They should listen to you, but you must ignore their religious nonsense. Much of that folklore was invented by men eons ago to control headstrong women, and they fell for it, being the fools they are. Some of the myths were invented by rebellious or unattractive women who wished to gain control of men. No sensible man trusts in myth, or finds the answers to life’s mysteries by trusting in women,” Grand Duke Braden said.

  “Are we ready to go?” Duke Rowan asked.

  “First, we must reestablish order and understanding. Consolata, Allegria, kneel down and receive my instructions,” Grand Duke Braden said.

  “Yes, my lord, I await your commands,” Allegria said and she knelt down on the deck of the ship.

  “Yes, my lord, as you wish,” Consolata said and she knelt down on the deck of the ship.

  “You know that I do not allow prayer. You were foolish to join hands with those headstrong women in their cult. You tempted my son into prayer and, because of that, I am greatly upset with both of you. I should find other women that are more obedient to my lessons and reward them with the pleasure of satisfying my son’s physical passions. Neither of you fools deserves to lie with him. Why should I not cast you both overboard now? Why? I’ll tell you why. Because I know you are too foolish to understand the world. I will forgive you because you are just lacking in intelligence. Never pray again, either of you. Never believe in any kind of God. That is all folklore,” Grand Duke Braden said.

  “Please don’t send me away! I love Duke Rowan! I don’t ever want to lose him!” Allegria said.

  “I do look forward to pleasing Duke Rowan. Accept my apology. I deny any God or religion,” Consolata said.

  “Good, Consolata. Now, Allegria, tell me what you believe,” Grand Duke Braden said.

  “I believe what you say, that there is no God and I must not pray,” Allegria said.

  “Good, Allegria. Now, while still on your knees, go into the wheelhouse and chart a course to Cinder Valley in Waderav. Consolata will accompany you. I need to see a change in behavior before I allow either of you to carry my son’s seed. I want to see perfect obedience,” Grand Duke Braden said.

  Consolata and Allegria both crawled on their knees, moving slowly across the deck of the Plenteous, until they reached the lighthouse. Their knees were scraped and left bleeding in the process. Grand Duke Braden and Duke Rowan followed them.

  “Allegria, chart a course to Cinder Valley,” Grand Duke Braden said.

  “Yes, my lord,” Allegria said. She opened an atlas and consulted the maps within, so that she could find her way to Waderav, and then a path into its center via the river networks. She drank anew of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean from her vial to be energized with the power to listen to the sounds of the stars. She concentrated to learn their paths and positions and then used the information to chart a course. She pulled levers to retract the boarding ramp and raise the anchor. She then sailed the Plenteous westward across the Gradaken Ocean.

  Duke Rowan massaged Allegria’s head to comfort her. “I love you, my sweet Allegria. Soon, we will be together,” he said.

  “Only when I give my approval. I need to be sure that she is not rebellious or religious,” Grand Duke Braden said.

  “My lord, I wish to serve,” Consolata said.

  “Gaze into the distance and watch the sea around us, Consolata. Remain aware at all times. Be on your guard for pirates, for serpents, or for the false promises of religion. You still need to prove yourself before my son will get close to you,” Grand Duke Braden said.

  “Yes, my lord,” Consolata said. She drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from her vial to be energized with the powers of light and far sight. She looked out to sea and watched the waters for signs of pirates or for sea serpents. She saw nothing dangerous, so she imagined something pleasurable, which was to have Duke Rowan become intimate with her.

  Allegria sailed the Plenteous until reaching the eastern coast of the continent of Waderav. At that point, she pulled levers to pivot the masts and the sails to the sides of the ship and elevated it to fifty-seven (57) feet of altitude. She steered the vessel over land a short distance until bringing it down into a river. She then consulted maps in the atlas to give directions over the river network. She again drank of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean from her vial and listened to the stars for their most recent paths and positions. With this information, she sailed the ship westward along the river.

  Duke Rowan continued massaging her hair, then her shoulders, then her back and thighs. He wanted to comfort her, because he loved her. He felt nothing for Consolata, who he suspected his father intended as a spare concubine. Allegria, however, was a delight to him. She moaned with expectant pleasure as he massaged her body, yet she continued steering the Plenteous westward along the river toward Cinder Valley.

  “Do not be too eager, Allegria. My son will not be intimate with you until I see an improvement in your behavior and attitude. If your desire for him is strong, then let that motivate you to dismiss any thoughts of religion or prayer or any sort of deity. I won’t allow my bloodline to be contaminated by grandchildren whose minds have been weakened by folklore and mythology. They need to be rational thinkers and skillful builders. They will take the only proper waterbinding in this family of architects, which is to the Kazofen waters. They will also know the proper place for a woman, which is on her knees,” Grand Duke Braden said.

  “I will do whatever it takes to please my lord to have my beloved. I believe only what you tell me to believe, nothing less or more,” Allegria said.

  “There is hope for you, Allegria. You may soon have the privilege and honor of intimate relations with my son,” Grand Duke Braden said.

  “I also desire Duke Rowan, my lord,” Consolata said.

  “You must wait until it is your time, Consolata. You have further to go. Your disciplinary lessons are not complete,” Grand Duke Braden said.

  CHAPTER 59: Power of Prayer and Fear

  At the center of Cinder Valley stood Mount Rurik, measuring one (1) mile wide and three thousand six hundred ninety-two (3692) feet in height. At an elevation of five hundred seventy-four (574) feet, a series of jagged cave mouths dotted the sides of the small mountain. Within the maze of caves, an ancient sailor stood, looking through his telescope at the new arrivals in the valley below. He opened a book – his most recent journal after eons of patient observation – to a blank page. The title on the cover of the book was ‘Witness to Ancient Sins and the Continuing Desolation of Cinder Valley, Volume Four Hundred Fifty-Nine, by Talmai Hathus.’

  The ancient sailor had wrinkled skin which was typical for that of a sixty-five (65) year old man, except that Talmai Hathus was four million four hundred fifty-eight thousand six hundred twenty-seven (4458627) years of age. The arthritis in his hands was painful but he endured w
hile writing succinct notes describing the incoming ships – including a vessel that sank into the corrosive gray-blue lake – and the armies that marched into the enclosure of Cinder Valley. The surrounding mountain range was twice as tall as Mount Rurik.

  Talmai Hathus drank anew of the waters of the Ursegan Ocean from a stone jug to be energized with the power to slow the passage of time. He exerted this power to preserve his own long life and to slow the progression of the arthritis. He walked through the caverns and pointed his telescope to different parts of the valley, but he saw no sign of his wife, Anena Hathus. When he was convinced that she was not anywhere in the valley below, he returned to the eastern side of the mountain caves and resumed his observations.

  ~~~

  Akantha stood on the deck of the Resolute Traverser and drank anew of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean from her vial to renew her energy to connect to the spirit world. An immeasurably powerful spirit made contact with her and spoke into her spirit, saying: “Leave this harbor and return to the Port of Reliance. Lady Onora will be waiting for you. Take her to Cinder Valley in Waderav.”

  “You believe the spirit is good?” Jolene asked. She was standing nearby and knew Akantha’s thoughts in response to the spiritual encounter, but she couldn’t sense the spirit itself.

  “What spirit?” Captain Pradrock asked.

  “I don’t know, but it was far too powerful to ignore. This was no ghost, but something on a much, much higher level,” Akantha said.

  “Like an angel?” Akylas asked.

  “Or a demon?” Torin asked.

  “Why would a demon contact me? That’s insane! They only go after people they can corrupt,” Akantha said.

  “What did the spirit say?” Captain Pradrock asked.

  “It told me to leave this harbor and go to the Port of Reliance. Lady Onora will be waiting there. We have to take her to Cinder Valley in Waderav,” Akantha said.

  “That makes no sense. Cinder Valley is a barren wasteland because of the volcanic activity. Even the robber barons in Waderav – who are always looking for profit without regard to ethics – don’t try to occupy it. The land has no market value,” Captain Pradrock said.