Chapter 47: Foundation

Chapter 47: Foundation

After the disappearance of their Archmage, followed shortly by their Champion, the Empire faltered. The turns of fate were presenting them with challenges aplenty. Eventually, a formidable enemy, an unwise Emperor, and a rebellion sealed the fate of the formerly dominant power once and for all. It wasn’t long before the Fallen General earned his first victory using the same tactics that had felled him. His victory would go on to light the first spark in the conflagration that would splinter the Empire.

A History of The Fall, Moralia Kid

Lucan closed the history book and laid it on the table after a persistent round of knocking came from his door. “Enter.”

Ryder stepped inside. “It’s him again. He’s waiting at the lake.”

Lucan sighed and got to his feet. As he walked out of his small study, he heard Ryder muttering something unintelligible under his breath. “Something the matter?”

“Yes, Master,” Ryder said. “This is the third time he’s called for your presence. Wouldn’t it be more proper for you to summon him?”

“Yes,” Lucan said. “That would be proper. Only, he can’t bring the lake along with him, can he?”

Ryder huffed and shrugged in one smooth movement, falling into step behind him.

They found their way to the stables and rode out to the lake. The engineer had certainly taken more than ‘a few days’ in his venture to find a solution to their dilemma, but he had assured him two days ago that he was close.

It had been a while since the silver mine incident, and the two knights had already summoned experienced men from outside of their lands to oversee the construction of the mine, and laborers were already crowding the site. Lucan was reconsidering his decision to wait on the matter of the jeweler. The Wildermen had been awfully quiet, and he didn’t know when they might strike again. And his father was, of course, adamant in his refusal to send any of their men to Arpague. Lucan found himself considering Thomas for the task. The steward was old, but he was wise and shrewd enough to fulfill their purpose. The only worry Lucan had was whether the old man would be capable of suffering the journey and whether he and his father would accept the proposition.

They soon reached the lake to find Sawyer along with the laborers carrying his wooden equipment. Lucan assumed that most of them were tools of measurement, but he couldn’t say for certain.

The engineer greeted them with a holler and a wave.

Lucan responded with a more level greeting before dismounting. As Sawyer approached him, Lucan said, “Got something good for me to hear?”

“Yes!” Sawyer said, leading him to the edge of the crater where they looked down on the lake. “I’ve found the way.” He pointed at the edge of the water. “The lake is too deep and its walls too steep. Any attempts to dry it in the summer for rim harvesting would go amiss since the water goes down instead of receding. I’ve been thinking about something that would take a considerable amount of work, but I believe it would fulfill our purposes.” He pointed to a small stony plateau a third of the way up from the water. It had been uncovered during previous attempts to clear land around the lake. The rest of the crater’s walls were still covered in soil and loose stone. “There, that will be our height.”

“Our height for what?”

“We will gather enough earth to fill up a large part of the lake to that height,” Sawyer said. Upon seeing Lucan’s incredulous look, he pressed on, “That high, there’s more breadth for us to spread a small, flat pan where we can dry the lake’s water.”

Lucan’s countenance was still unmoved as was his mind. He wasn’t truly convinced of this...idea. Lucan hadn’t had cause to doubt the engineer’s expertise, but now that he came to think about it, Sawyer was young in a profession where the masters were often old; and this plan of his made Lucan wary.

They rode back to the keep under the sun of early noon, and Lucan headed to his study upon arrival, sending Ryder to discreetly summon Thomas.

When the steward arrived, Lucan apprised him of their new arrangements before he drove into the main matter he wanted to discuss.

They were standing together near his desk, looking out of the small window. “Circumstances at the border aren’t clear,” Lucan said. “And it won’t be long before the silver mine begins coughing up its bounty. Sir Wolfe and Sir Upton seem to be contending with each other for who can be more hasty.”

“Indeed,” Thomas said, glancing at him curiously. “It won’t be long.”

“I can’t send any of our men to Arpague.” Lucan gave him a meaningful glance. “And we need that jeweler soon.”

Thomas gave him a knowing smile. “You want me to go instead?”

“I’m sorry,” Lucan said. “I know it would be a tiresome journey for you, but–”

“It won’t be,” Thomas interrupted him. “Your reasoning is sound, and I find myself in agreement with you on the matter of the jeweler. We must make the best of our neighbors’ discovery. Since we’ve already begun on the path of attracting trade, then let us commit fully.”

“You will go?” Lucan said, astounded. He had been ready to have a prolonged conversation on the matter.

“Yes.”

A bit of weight fell off his shoulder, but just a bit. “Now I only have to persuade Father.”

Thomas chuckled. “Leave that to me.”

Lucan raised a brow.

“I will leave in a few days,” the steward continued, unperturbed.

Lucan nodded slowly, still perplexed, as the old man left him. This had gone easier than expected.

Well, he’d been working hard. The coveted saltworks would begin promptly, the waterworks would continue with better oversight, and the hamlet the refugees had built near the lake was coming along nicely. The farmers would be–

Huh. The idea struck him out of nowhere. I wonder if it’s truly feasible. And I hope Father doesn’t imprison me in our empty treasury.