War Mage (Crystals of Memory Book 4), page 38
There was no real reason to bring people in for that part of things. He knew how to build a working kitchen, after all. The woman just deserved some rest, on occasion. As for the Alchemist, he’d been up late the day before, so sitting in the sunlight for a while might be good for him. The man wasn’t exactly youthful, any longer.
The King simply held a hand up, gesturing to one of the messengers.
“Please request Master Seness, and Senna Grace from the kitchens attend the raising of the new college facilities today at... When will you begin, do you think, Anders?”
He had to think about that for a moment, then shrugged.
“If they can be there by about an hour after half morning? Or, really, meet us at the front gate and we’ll all walk over together.” It wasn’t a hard walk after all. Not much worse than going to some locations inside the castle wall, really.
When the King repeated the words, so that they’d come from his lips, directly, the messenger trotted off. The official messengers of the King were the only ones allowed to truly run inside the castle, without being scolded. Unless a true emergency arose, of course. Then everyone did their best that way, nobles or not.
The food came then, and while very good, it was a simple plate of poached eggs, warm bread and some lightly fried pork. He ate with care, the portions a bit scant to truly fuel him for the day. Which wasn’t a problem, since he could eat more than twice, not being on a journey, at the moment. He could even have sweets or other treats, if he ever had time to get into the town and purchase things like that.
The meal lasted a bit less than an hour, meaning that Anders at least needed to walk directly to the front of the castle, to see who wanted to go with him down the stone road, to the site of the new college. It was, he had to admit, kind of an interesting idea. A thing that left him feeling just a bit excited, to be honest. That, feeling as if something good was about to happen was a thing that he hadn’t really noticed for some time. When most of his life had become filled with a quiet sort of dread, expecting negative things constantly had come about, he wasn’t certain.
For some reason he’d expected there to be a few people there, waiting to go to the site. Senna Grace, perhaps, and Tag Seness, since the King had asked for them specifically. Maybe Princess Salina, since she’d actually seemed eager to try out some of her personal ideas. So, it was a bit shocking to find nearly a hundred people, standing with baskets and sacks, ready to go and sit, waiting for him and the others to do something.
Which didn’t seem right to him. Then, he’d seen buildings going up hundreds of times or more. To him it wasn’t that special at all. He didn’t make any sort of announcement that he was leaving however, simply finding the Princesses, who all had followed him to the door, including Jasmin, and for some reason Sulana Meegan and the Queen.
No one came with a carriage for them even, which felt a bit off. Then, there was nothing like that for Prince Robarts, his wife or the King, himself.
Everyone simply walked, following him as if he knew where he was going. That was true, of course. He was familiar with the large clearing, having played there many times, as a child. A time no more than a year and a half before, in fact. It hadn’t happened each day, but it had been a location he’d hidden from work in, more than once.
Before Farad had merged with him, from that damned crystal. Then, after that, doing things like sitting and dreaming of what he’d be in the future had gone away, almost instantly. He’d dreamed of being a fighter back then. Of gaining accolades in war, and being admired by people, who would call his name as he passed.
Now he’d been to war. He’d taken lives. So many of them. He’d gained skills and powers that hadn’t even been in his dreams, back then. More, he’d learned things that no one else could have taught him. Only Farad, the old historian. How to school his mind and tame his anger and will. Compassion for others, which, without that influence, he didn’t think he would have had. Things that were better to have than not.
His life was, he knew, better for having become part of Farad. He wasn’t certain the same was true, the other way around.
They didn’t travel fast, since it would be rude to push the pace, with people who were carrying burdens when he wasn’t. That was, of course, due to him having forgotten to bring food, which doubtless showed a level of brilliance that gave the lie to him having learned much at all. Magical work was much easier to manage if you had enough to eat, after all.
Even moving at a sedate pace, they were at the field, some ten minutes later. He could have made the trip in two minutes, if he’d been alone, of course. Still, when he looked at the cleared space, it was a bit larger than he recalled it having been. Enough that he could have put a copy of the palace there, complete with wall and courtyard. Doing that would be more than a bit showy, of course, though he wanted enough space for several hundred students at one time. That meant making rooms for them and having multiple levels. Also, he decided, separate places to learn and sleep. A large complex to practice fighting and magic, as well.
Princess Salina pointed toward the back.
“We need to build a large, raised cistern. Can you make one of those pumps that does that from flowing water?”
Anders did that first, using several large stones, turning them into smaller pieces, with chambers and tight, but smooth valves. At the same time Salina built a water tower, that was nearly twelve feet high at the bottom of the tank. Nearing twenty, at the top. It wouldn’t allow for total water flow, on a third level or above, but the second level could have that kind of thing, which was better than nothing.
Then, as boring as it sounded, he had to create a large underground seep, for waste and fluids, that was in the right place to not flow into their water supply. It didn’t take long, about half an hour, to have all that finished, but it didn’t seem like they were doing much, as of yet. Except that everyone was acting as if the whole process was riveting.
It wasn’t until he walked the outer wall of the structure he intended to make, that anyone else seemed to get the scope of the project, though. It was a different shape, but going to be nearly as large as the castle, in the near distance. Not visible from there, except a single tower, through the treetops.
Then he started to work, focusing only on what he was doing, calling out the needed spells, as others, Depak Sona and Princess Lissa, brought him food and water every half hour or so. At the same time Princess Mathia worked on the combat practice structure, which was large, but not as big as what he was putting up. For one thing, it was only a single level, though the ceiling was going to be nearly thirty feet up. Both of those places had windows, since, as soon as they were done, Prince Erold and Princess Javina both started using sand from the stream to make glass for them. Thin sheets that were smooth and allowed light in, but which were a soft tan in color, not allowing anyone to see in or out. They could be opened though, to allow for that, as well as letting air in at need.
The work went quickly, but still took most of the day. Though, the truth was that it took longer, due to Anders not being cautious enough about his words. As they nearly finished, in the midafternoon, Depak Sona walked up and directed alterations to the buildings, both inside and out, for decoration. Thankfully he was fine with patterns that they all had names for, instead of insisting on novel work being done in stone, as they built.
Doing the picky work on that took nearly as long as making the place had. In the end, they had large structures, but no beds for the students, in their barracks, or other furnishings in the learning rooms. He was willing to start on that immediately, when the King stood and started to clap his hands, as if at the end of a particularly well performed entertainment. The rest of the crowd joined in then. It went on for some minutes, until Princess Salina, wisely, bowed to them.
He did that as well, which meant that everyone else working on the buildings did, and the crowd did it back, in various forms. It stopped the noise from being made, which had the King standing and walking over to him.
“Brilliant work, all of you! I’d toured the small place you made in the woods, but this... Simply amazing! Making a gift such as this for Duke Lister as a wedding gift from both Barquea and the Modroc is a true sign of friendship. You all plan to leave in the next days, to travel to Lister? I was told that it would take you two weeks of work to see to that? This seems faster than that? Unless you plan something truly vast, perhaps?”
Princess Salina moved forward then, knowing the plans for the work.
“Not this large, for either dwelling, but two of them. One for the cold months and another for the warm. It won’t take that long, but...”
Anders smiled, scrambling for a reason that he’d said it would take that long.
“We’re expecting Duke Lister and his wife, Princess Jasmin, to want furnishings as well? Also defensive fortifications. That will take longer, as we might need to learn new patterns and woodworking skills, to make all that’s needed. I have to do this for these places still as well, but I can see that everyone wishes to skip that boring detail. It could take a bit to see to that. Days, possibly?” He grinned at the idea, as if seeing beds formed from sticks and trees would be worse than a building being put up.
The King laughed, as if Anders were making a jest, of course. Everyone followed suit, which he did as well. After all, the man was the King, and clearly trying to get everyone there out of his hair.
Chapter twenty-six
Anders felt tired as they finally set out toward Duchy Lister. The previous days had been busy, after a fashion, but also boring. Instead of working with the servants and Lissa on new skills, or creating a text for them to work from, he’d spent almost the entire time seeing to coin and shopping for goods that would be needed for the trip. Duke Lister, who had been in the Army before becoming a castle Guard, one of the Fenris, had figured on picking up some basic supplies for the trip and simply going, riding on horseback the whole way.
The Queen, however had different ideas, and had suggested, rather sternly that they would not be placing Princess Sweyn on the back of a horse for the journey. The plans for the new palace were hers in part and she was still early in her pregnancy, not even truly showing yet, so she’d be traveling in a fine carriage, not riding like a commoner.
That idea had left Anders fighting a rolling of his eyes in her presence. After all, commoners didn’t ride horses. They walked. At best they found a place in the back of a rough wagon. The issue there was that, if one princess was supposed to ride in a carriage and be pampered, then they needed to do that with the others, as well. The covered boxes on wheels and horses were being provided by the King, from his own stable and stock, but in the direction they were traveling there wouldn’t be a lot of fine accommodations.
So, instead of trying to argue with a Queen, Anders had simply smiled, nodded and spent a double handful of gold and silver making certain that everything would be as fine as possible for the trip. At least for Princess Jasmin, Princess Sweyn and Eltha Tennet, as well as Princess Javina. They were in two different carriages, both made of polished wood, with ample pillows for sitting inside. They also had a full wagon, being pulled by Poke and Crook, the second massive ox being new to him, his other having died of old age in the last month. No one had told Anders about that, until he’d gone to collect them.
It was a shame, because he could have actually done something about that, had he thought of it. Instead, an animal that he owned had lacked for treatments he could provide and died because of it.
The rest of them were on horseback, which seemed to surprise a few of them. Queen Maura had tried to insist that Princess Mathia be set to riding inside a carriage as well, but Anders had, carefully, refused that idea.
After all, he was promoting the idea that she, along with Prince Erold were supposed to be stronger than that. It was one thing to treat visitors as special, but another to put their own people, mages, who needed to be able to protect themselves and others, into such a situation.
When Princess Salina was led to a horse, one she was used to riding, the woman had merely snorted and gave a nod. Princess Lissa, it turned out, could ride as well, since all the Barquean Princesses had lessons in such things, but didn’t get the correct idea at first. Even having had recent practice, on the road, from some months before.
As he yawned, feeling as if he might drift back off to sleep, the girl nudged her rather fine courser beside Chestnut. Brownie was on the other side, having to carry the pack this time.
“Prince Anders?” The girl didn’t seem upset, but her young face was baffled. “Not that I mind riding, but why wasn’t I put in a carriage, as well? I’m a Princess...”
He nodded, but didn’t have to answer, thankfully. Not that the girl would have been rude about his answer. She wasn’t that sort of person, being easy to get along with, for a Princess. It was her older sister, Salina, who did that part. Kindly, which was good to see, early in the trip.
“Because you may be called on to be a Great One, one day, Lissa. That... If it comes to it, you have to be willing to give your life, to protect our people. That means we, both of us, can’t be as soft as we once were. I didn’t really understand what it meant, until I saw the war. What was needed there...” She rode in silence for a moment, though it was clear that Captain Ford was listening. That wasn’t hard, since Salina was speaking in Istlan, which was, of course, not for Lissa at all. It was, no doubt, for Princess Mathia. Possibly Prince Erold.
When she spoke again, she seemed a bit sad.
“When the battles came, the Istlan Great One, Sir Brolly, put himself out front, each time. He led each charge, fought personally each time and shared every risk. There... He had to kill the enemy of his people on a level that... Well, it won the war, didn’t it? I had to kill as well. We all did, who were there, but I saw what might be required of a Great One. It isn’t about the praise heaped upon them, later, at all. There is a weight to be carried, and in brief moments almost everything in the world might need to be on your shoulders. Mine, as well. So, we ride on a horse, rain or shine and guard these others, even if it doesn’t make much sense to have an eleven-year-old doing that!”
The younger Princess nodded.
“Twelve, now. I didn’t know I was going to be protecting anyone. How do I do that?”
Duke Lister nodded, and spoke then.
“Ready your magics and hold them in preparation, if you can. You don’t have a bow... Can you throw magics any distance?”
The girl hunched a bit, but looked at the man boldly enough, after sighing.
“About... Thirty paces? I’m not accurate that way, but I’ve done it. I can actually hit things at about five paces? Grandfather Depak had me practice that a few times, after he came back.”
Rather than seem disgruntled at the lack of range, the Duke smiled.
“For now, ride near the middle. Any attacks will come at the head or the tail of the line. We aren’t a huge group, so that could happen. Bandits and all that. We have only two guards, as far as anyone will be able to see. That and a lot of young people. It might be tempting for some. If anyone comes for you, shield first, then start throwing magic at them. Don’t waste yourself on throwing things too far if you can’t possibly hit yet. Hold to closer moves, and stay calm.”
The man looked around, and barked a bit then, so his words would carry.
“Gull! How are you with ranged magics?”
The man eased his horse over, instead of yelling about his prowess.
“Not too bad? I’ve worked with a bow more, of late, so can use that to carry spells. I’m a little limited in what I can put out that way. Explosions, zones of freezing and fire. A few other things, but most won’t do much in battle. I have a horn bow with me, for use from horseback.”
Anders had one of those as well, but the truth was, he’d never used one from the back of an animal, so didn’t mention the idea. Not that it mattered. The Duke simply assigned people from that point, as if he already understood their skills.
“So, guards in the front, Princess Lissa and Princess Mathia in the middle, behind the carriages, with myself and Gull taking up the rear. What do you have for yourself, Prince Erold and Princess Salina, Anders?” The man seemed almost teasing, as if he thought he was placing Anders into a location where doing nothing would happen.
That wasn’t his plan.
“We’ll be seeing to the road, as we ride, so will do that part. I also want at least one person using wizardry at all times, checking the road ahead. Check for possible attack, but also other problems. Everything you can think of, including coming weather. When we stop for the day, I want a travel waystation put up, wherever possible. Maybe an inn? I’ll do the first one, tonight. As soon as we leave the mettled road, I want that work to be done. We’ll be moving at ox speed anyway, so we can do that and not lose any time.”
Prince Erold, riding a bit away, but inside earshot, lifted a hand.
“I gather I’m up first for the road work? I hate doing that, you do understand that, don’t you, Anders?” He grinned though, as if not really complaining.
Anders laughed, not meaning it, but striving to put some effort into the sound.
“It isn’t the most interesting thing to do, is it? Still, we need to improve all the roads in Istlan, over time, and probably the ones in Yanse, as well, so we might as well start here. Just wait until we go to Barquea and Modroc and do the roads there, as well...” He grinned, putting some effort into it.
Salina made a face, but didn’t strike out at the idea of helping a former enemy.
“We have food for that kind of work?”
He nodded, since they had more than enough for the trip, in the wagon being driven by a hired man. Svenson. Anders had scanned his mind on a level that was probably improper and found him a little simple, but a good sort, for all that. He was skilled with animals and actually cared for them and could sit on a wagon seat, driving, all day long with little discomfort. Especially if the rest of them could keep the road smooth.
