Ruin & Reliance

by Jeremy Dwyer

  “How, my lord? The few irrigation canals they have only go three (3) miles inland,” Consolata asked.

  “Calm yourself, Consolata. You are too excited. I hear it in your voice,” Grand Duke Braden said.

  “My apologies, my lord. I am eager to learn of your plan,” Consolata said.

  “I will tell you how. What you see inside that cargo crate are the pillars for a constructor, which I personally designed and built. This one is easier to operate than the one used by the architect, Fantine. I molded the control crystals according to a rather clever pattern, devised using my expertise, which far exceeds hers. Because she worked hastily, lacking the calmness and self-control that I could teach her, the design she used was necessarily inferior. Fantine is famous for her work, but she does not have anywhere near my skill, or my discipline,” Grand Duke Braden said.

  “How does it work, my lord?” Consolata asked.

  “In just a few moments, my carefully-crafted sapphires atop each pillar of the constructor will emit and bend beams of light, thereby assembling the new city while we watch. There is nothing for us to do. The control crystals are charged with the necessary solar energy. Now that they are no longer in the darkness of the crate, they will release the energy,” Grand Duke Braden said.

  “My father’s designs are exquisite. You will need to contain your joy when you see them work,” Duke Rowan said.

  “I can’t contain my joy at seeing you,” Consolata said, smiling lustfully at Duke Rowan.

  “Nor can I, my loving lord,” Allegria said.

  “You shall know that joy tonight, Allegria. For now, just watch. Something amazing will soon happen,” Duke Rowan said. He played with Allegria’s hair and massaged her shoulders.

  “I’m looking forward to someone amazing,” Consolata said.

  The sapphires atop the eighteen (18) pillars inside the open-faced crate turned bright blue and emanated beams of blue light between them, forming all one hundred thirty-five (135) geometric diagonals. They began to rotate and then draw up the mists of the Gradaken Ocean water around them. The mists began to swirl and then congeal, forming crystal structures in the port town ahead of them – six thousand eight hundred four (6804) buildings, some as tall as ninety (90) feet; seventeen (17) irrigation canals, each thirty-one (31) feet wide and extending twenty-seven (27) miles inland. All the structures had a bright blue sparkle to them. The new city, not counting the irrigation canals, spanned six (6) miles from north to south along the coast and three (3) miles eastward inland.

  “That was very impressive, my lord. Your constructor built an entire city, with irrigation canals, in less than three (3) minutes,” Consolata said.

  “Your work is truly brilliant, my lord,” Allegria said.

  “My father exceeds all expectations with his design genius,” Duke Rowan said.

  “Soon, a great many people will come to live and work here, and they will be safe, protected from the deception and death brought by religion,” Grand Duke Braden said.

  “Mythology ruins the mind. It is the worst disease, and women are especially susceptible to believing in its lies. They rely on it to give them freedom,” Duke Rowan said.

  “They must forget their deities and fables and rely on me,” Grand Duke Braden said.

  ~~~

  Deep within the swamps of the Crypt Trail land bridge, General Gratien and Lieutenant Plamen stood outside a circle of thirty-nine (39) stone pillars, each standing forty-two (42) feet in height and tipped with a sapphire.

  Nearby, a four hundred fifteen (415) foot long airship was docked on the ground. Three hundred thirty (330) soldiers, each brandishing swords, and seventy-five (75) archers, each carrying crossbows, surrounded the commanding officers.

  “Have you checked all of your calculations, Lieutenant Plamen? Are you certain this will scale to full size? Your earlier experiments had some unrefined features, and did not stand for long. Have you corrected these errors?” General Gratien asked.

  “Yes, General. I was able to mold the sapphires more reliably, so that they were nearly uniform in their low-level structures,” Lieutenant Plamen said.

  “Nearly uniform?” General Gratien asked.

  “The variations are necessary to prevent a uniformity of the material produced. We are not building a civilian structure, but a fortress that must withstand impact with unpredictable speed, strength and dispersion. Evenly arranged low-level structures split quickly and cleanly along all their fault lines. Uneven low-level structures resist collapse because the impact force is scattered,” Lieutenant Plamen said.

  “I understand the general principle, Lieutenant. But a carelessly arranged pile of junk will topple in a breeze, and a wall with random gaps will allow scattered enemy fire to enter at odd angles and cause chaos, so you need to construct something reliable,” General Gratien said.

  “This is a much more stable design than earlier, General,” Lieutenant Plamen said.

  “Are you ready to activate the constructor, Lieutenant?” General Gratien asked.

  “Yes, General,” Lieutenant Plamen said.

  General Gratien drank anew of the waters of the Ursegan Ocean from his vial and was energized with the power to slow the passage of time. “Proceed, Lieutenant,” he said and then exerted his temporal powers, slowing time around him and through him, thus both extending his long life and giving him ample opportunity to react and avoid any mode of failure in this dubious constructor.

  Lieutenant Plamen drank anew of the waters of the Kazofen Ocean from his vial to be energized with the power to manipulate crystal and stone. He removed a sapphire from a pocket in his coat and began to manipulate its low-level structure. When he altered the sapphire into the desired configuration, beams of bright, blue light were emitted from it and these reached the sapphires atop each of the thirty-nine (39) constructor pillars. Those sapphires each became bright blue and emitted beams of light toward the others, forming all seven hundred two (702) geometric diagonals between them. The beams began to rotate and to draw up mist from the waters in the swamp around them, as well as from the Dead Waters Ocean on the eastern coast of the land bridge, from the Nabavodel Ocean on the southwestern coast and from the Medathero Ocean on the northwestern coast. The mists swirled and then congealed, forming a glimmering blue-and-yellow cylindrical crystal structure, sixty-three (63) feet high, fifteen (15) feet thick and six hundred fifty-seven (657) feet in diameter. The southernmost point of the structure was one hundred fifty-eight (158) feet to the north of the pillars.

  “Why is the structure both blue and yellow in color, Lieutenant?” General Gratien asked.

  “Likely from impurities in the swamp waters, General,” Lieutenant Plamen said.

  “I need a definite answer, Lieutenant. And I need to know if the structure is durable enough to stand against enemy fire,” General Gratien said.

  Lieutenant Plamen approached the blue-and-yellow cylindrical structure and touched its outer wall to sense its low-level structure. “The material is nearly as hard as quartz, General,” he said.

  “Will that be enough, Lieutenant?” General Gratien asked.

  “I believe so, General,” Lieutenant Plamen said.

  “We’re going to test that belief, Lieutenant,” General Gratien said. He turned to his soldiers and archers and said: “Drink up!”

  The three hundred thirty (330) soldiers each drank anew of the waters of the Nabavodel Ocean from their vials to be energized with the powers of strength and speed. The seventy-five (75) archers each drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from their vials to be energized with the powers of light and far sight. They used this to set their sights and aim true.

  “Attack!” General Gratien said.

  The soldiers stormed the southern section of the blue-and-yellow cylindrical crystal structure, slashing it with their swords. The archers fired volley after volley of arrows at the cylindrical structure, some of which scratched and dented it. A man sized chunk broke away, revealing the inte
rior.

  “The structure was breached all too easily, Lieutenant Plamen. I am disappointed. We cannot use the constructor until you fix that flaw so it assembles something durable,” General Gratien said.

  “The nearby waters impact the quality of the structure. For the mission, we plan to construct near the Gradaken and Ursegan Oceans, and not near the Dead Waters Ocean, so its low energy waters won’t dilute the strength of the fortress,” Lieutenant Plamen said.

  “I am not entirely convinced you understand how to solve the problem, Lieutenant,” General Gratien said.

  “This version of the constructor is much more reliable than before, General. I will make the additional improvements so that it meets all of our needs,” Lieutenant Plamen said.

  “It needs to keep out any and all interference, Lieutenant. Thorough testing will be required. I will be waiting on the Bullshark while you determine what went wrong and make corrections,” General Gratien said. He approached the nearby airship and walked up the boarding ramp onto the deck. A series of loud shrieks startled him and he turned quickly to see the cause. Gratien looked out over the swamp below and observed his company of soldiers and archers lying on the ground. Lieutenant Plamen was among the fallen. General Gratien ran across the deck, hurried into the wheelhouse and said: “Zamir, sail the ship away, now!”

  Zamir pulled levers to elevate the Bullshark to one hundred twenty (120) feet of altitude and then he steered the vessel northwest across the Crypt Trail land bridge. He returned the ship to sea level in the Medathero Ocean.

  “Four hundred five (405) properly trained and waterbound combatants were incapacitated in a mere moment. There is no good cause for that to have occurred, Zamir,” General Gratien said.

  “I cannot explain what happened, General. Should I chart a course back to our headquarters or remain here for now?” Zamir asked.

  “There’s nothing more we can do in this location, Zamir. We need to return to headquarters so I can plan my next move,” General Gratien said.

  Zamir 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 this information to chart the return course. Zamir then began sailing the Bullshark northwestward across the Medathero Ocean.

  CHAPTER 36: Increase of Knowledge and Danger

  Inside of her crystal fortress, Polyxene flexed her new powers. She pricked the flesh of her left hand with a sharp-edged diamond and watched the wound heal instantly, as if she were a drinker of the Trerada waters. Encouraged, she slit her left wrist with the sharp-edged diamond, only to have it heal a moment later. Convinced that she could recover quickly, she held the sharp-edged diamond to her throat and then pulled it away, suddenly worried that the unfamiliar power could fade before healing what would be a lethal wound. She resealed the diamond armor around her body, for fear of loss of the protection against the flow of time.

  Polyxene glided across the fortress floor toward the first ruby spire and said: “Evethixomar, summon your minions.”

  The swirling blackness within the first ruby spire came to a standstill in response to her words.

  “What commands would you have me give to them?” the voice of Evethixomar asked, vibrating through the structure of the first ruby spire.

  “Bring them here, to me,” Polyxene said.

  “I will command my spirit minions to carry out your orders. Just tell me what battle you wish for them to wage, and they will fight on your behalf,” the voice of Evethixomar said, vibrating through the structure of the first ruby spire.

  “No, I want them to come here,” Polyxene said.

  “Why? They will not answer to you, because you are not a master of spirits, unless you plan to encase them in ruby like you did to me. However, if you do that, they will be unable to serve you at all, because they do not have authority to command other spirits to act,” the voice of Evethixomar said, vibrating through the structure of the first ruby spire.

  “Do as I say, pathetic demon,” Polyxene said.

  “I have legions of minions. I doubt you want them all,” the voice of Evethixomar said, vibrating through the structure of the first ruby spire.

  “Bring me two (2) spirits,” Polyxene said.

  “Very well,” the voice of Evethixomar said, vibrating through the structure of the first ruby spire.

  Two (2) spirits appeared inside the crystal fortress and waited.

  “Now, command these two (2) spirits to stay here,” Polyxene said.

  “It is done. They will remain in place,” the voice of Evethixomar said, vibrating through the structure of the first ruby spire.

  “Bring me seven (7) more,” Polyxene said.

  “If it pleases you,” the voice of Evethixomar said, vibrating through the structure of the first ruby spire.

  Seven (7) more spirits appeared inside the crystal fortress and waited.

  “Now, command these seven (7) spirits to stay here,” Polyxene said.

  “It is done. All nine (9) of the spirits are now under my command to stay here,” the voice of Evethixomar said, vibrating through the structure of the first ruby spire.

  “Go forth! Attack the ships you meet near these mountains and surrounding islands! Haunt their crew until they crash their ships!” Polyxene said.

  The nine (9) spirits went forth, exited the mountain fortress and sought out ships to haunt.

  “You have become powerful enough to steal my minions from me,” the voice of Evethixomar said, vibrating through the structure of the first ruby spire.

  “Do not doubt my power in any way, ever, pathetic demon,” Polyxene said.

  “I doubt you still need me. You might as well set me free,” the voice of Evethixomar said, vibrating through the structure of the first ruby spire.

  “Do not take me for a fool, Evethixomar. Your service to me will not end,” Polyxene said.

  ~~~

  Inside the castle of the slain King Hamza Bazavador, Erikkos and Kastor reviewed the lightkeeper crystals in the library. The Chronicler Judith observed them and gazed over their shoulders into the same crystals. What she saw disturbed her greatly, because the attention of both men was fixated on a crystal whose facets contained images of pages of a book about deadly poisons.

  “We should travel to the Crypt Trail. The first ingredient is the nerium oleander, and we can find the flower in the swamps there,” Erikkos said.

  “Assuming we are successful in formulating this poison, on whom will it be used. What will we gain?” Kastor asked.

  “We can leverage it as a threat against those who refuse to share their knowledge. We need only to demonstrate its power, and they will surrender,” Erikkos said.

  “This poison is purported to be extremely powerful and fast-acting, such that only a Trerada water drinker could ever hope to recover from its effects. We must be especially careful in handling it. Even skin contact will be deadly. The Ursegan waters enable me to slow time and thus delay the effects of poison, but I must concentrate perpetually to do so. That is not the same as healing,” Kastor said.

  “I carry gloves to protect myself when needed, so we can handle the poison and its ingredients easily enough,” Erikkos said.

  “Being a fellow Explorer of the Quiet Sea, I also carry supplies and equipment. That is not the point, Erikkos. Your songs are immensely powerful, as you have already demonstrated. You can control the music, making it tear down walls, to gain access to any knowledge you seek. I would prefer that we not be too hasty about making something as dangerous as this poison. We don’t even have a Gradaken water drinker who is a trained herbalist, working with us to manipulate the plant and animal toxins involved,” Kastor said.

  “Kastor, why do you worry about things that are not even problems? The world has many Gradaken water drinkers. There is a surplus of them. Your violet eyes will compel them to serve us,” Erikkos said.

  “I can command a person. That is true. Howev
er, they need to be extremely capable, with a high potential for using those waters, to be helpful to us. Considering the danger, we ought to work with the finest herbalists in the world. We will need to travel to the Provincial Isles to find them,” Kastor said.

  “Then that is where we will travel. You’ve already answered your own question. With all your millennia of experience, you should not be so anxious. Time is on your side. Take the time to calm yourself, think through each challenge, and you will find the solution,” Erikkos said.

  “With eight hundred ninety-two (892) millennia of experience, I’ve learned that danger increases when fear decreases. I don’t mean panic, of course, but a healthy trepidation and reluctance to take extreme risks,” Kastor said.

  “My time is short. If I want to obtain great knowledge, I need to be willing to take great risks,” Erikkos said.

  “I share your desire for knowledge, but we must practice an abundance of caution before proceeding. I suggest that we do not directly mix ingredients or handle this poison. Instead, we should compel our servant, whoever that might be, to prepare and test it,” Kastor said.

  “That’s fair enough. I can agree with that. Let’s get going,” Erikkos said.

  Judith recorded all that she saw and heard into her book, fearing that death was fast approaching for a great many people. She followed Erikkos and Kastor as they left the library, went down the stairs, walked along the hallways and exited the castle through a breach in the wall made by the destructive music.

  Erikkos and Kastor hiked across the circular forest clearing, with Judith following close behind them, and returned to the port town along the river where they first arrived. At that point, they booked passage on a riverboat heading back to the southwestern coast of the Bazavadoran Isthmus. Once they arrived in the port city, they walked back to the docks, where the Cypress Advantage was waiting.