Dragon's Archon - Ch. 17 - Decisions Decisions - Alpha (Patreon)

Once my escort left me at the edge of the village, I raced up the incline to the tower. I bounced on my toes as I waited for the doors to open.

“Come on, come on,” I muttered. Once they cracked open far enough, I squeezed through. “Ophelia, did you see her?” I shouted.

“A moment, Your Holiness,” the sorceress said, her hands hovering over the crystal ball.

When the doors shut behind me, I approached Yda’s side, and wathced the events unfold. Lady Florence held the coin bag. I assumed she was located in her brothel, given the gaudy decor and sounds of pleasure that emanated all around her. All went quiet when she passed into a room.

It looked expansive and tidier than the place she’d come from. She passed a single desk that rested in the middle next to two chairs before venturing to a roaring fireplace. After taking a quick glance about the room, she pressed something that suppressed the fire and retracted the bricks.

“Is that a hidden door?” I asked.

“It looks like it,” Yda said.

Lady Florence grabbed a lit torch that glowed with an already lit blue flame before descending a spiral staircase. The stairs opened up into a long hall with another sealed door with multiple locks. She pulled out a keyring and unlocked each of the locks in sequence. When the final lock clicked, mechanical grinding resonated from the door before it swung open.

The next room was dimly lit except for the brothel proprietor’s torch. Several chests sat on the floor next to a pedestal with an open book. Lady Florence retrieved an ink pen and scribbled as she muttered, “One thousand gold.”

With the entry complete, she returned the quill pen to the inkwell before opening the closest chest. My eyes widened at the mix of copper, silver, gold, and platinum coins inside. The chest was nearly full and there were at least two more in the room that I could see. After she dumped the bag of coins inside, Ophelia released the spell and the crystal returned to a murky white.

“Looks like Lady Florence has a hidden stash like we expected,” Ophelia said with a smug grin.

“How much do you think she’s got in there?” I asked.

“Tens of thousands, at least. Potentially hundreds. She could be the one who handles the money for Liberty’s Trinity.”

“That would certainly be enough to jumpstart a kingdom.”

“It would certainly be a good start, but depending on your grand plans, we’d need a strong income to supplement it. But we’ve got time before we get to that point. What was it that you were asking me about when you first came in?”

“Did you see the princess?”

Ophelia’s smile faded. “No, by the time I cast the spell, the meeting had already started. It was hard to tell who was who.”

“The princess wasn’t kidnapped. She planned this. She was with Liberty’s Trinity as an equal.”

Ophelia’s hand shot to her mouth. “No… Are you certain it was her?”

“I’m almost a hundred percent positive. Golden snakes for hair. Looks like a young Queen Sekhet. I’m pretty sure she was using a fake name, though. Lady Florence called her Nyla Amasi.”

Ophelia deflated as she stared off into the distance. “Amasi is an ancient nubian name. One of her ancestors. Nyla is her first name… This just can’t be… Why would she do this?”

I took a seat at the table. “Queen Sekhet told me in private that she’d been hard on Nyla all her life. Over time, she said that her daughter even grew to hate her. More than anyone, given your conflict with your mother, I would have assumed you’d relate.”

Ophelia’s head popped up, and she scowled. “It’s not the same.”

“I didn’t mean any offense,” I said, raising my hands. “I know I can relate somewhat. When I was younger, I was hateful towards my parents for what they put me through. Once I turned eighteen, I tried cutting them completely out of my life. But for the two years prior, I’m sure I made their lives miserable.”

“How did I not see this?”

“Maybe it’s not so clear,” Yda said. “Maybe she’s putting on a facade to protect herself? Or maybe she is still in danger?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “When the deliberations started, she seemed like an equal part of the team. They seemed to trust her, well, all except the Butcher. If she is playing a role, she’s a trained actress worthy, but… if her life is on the line, that would be good motivation.”

Ophelia stood from her chair and said, “If she isn’t a captive and can move freely, I should go to her and speak with her.”

“Woah, woah, woah,” I said, holding up my hand. “Let’s slow down. That’s not a good idea.”

“And why not?”

“Because if you go down there and someone sees you, they could assume the worst. The other leaders already know this is your tower, because Nyla told them. If they find out you’re associated with the queen, they could arrest you, her, or worse. Right now, the leaders think I’m here to claim part of the island to set up my own kingdom. They want me to build them a lighthouse and clear out some land for them. By doing so, they’re willing to pay me to protect them with an army I don’t have.”

“Hold on,” Ophelia said, raising her hand before crossing her arms. “I understand your concerns about me not meeting with Nyla. But what’s this about building structures for Liberty Bay? But what about the queen’s orders to destroy it?”

“I’m not completely sold on their idea, but I have to consider it. They asked me why I was here and I just rattled off some things so it wouldn’t seem weird for us to be here. Also, I agreed to their request to give us more time here so we could plan our next moves. But the more that I was thinking about their offer, the more I could see a benefit.”

I scooted my chair back and pointed to the map. “This is what was going through my head. The islands have benefits to them. They’re secluded. If we cleared the land and put up some walls, it would make for a good, defensible location. We’d also have over a thousand inhabitants that we could spread Heluna’s message to. The Liberty’s Trinity leaders would also be paying us to keep them protected, meaning an immediate revenue stream for us. While we wouldn’t be collecting a tithe from those two, I’m sure we could squeeze it from the locals.”

Ophelia opened her mouth before closing it. After a few seconds, she leaned on the table. Her low cut dress made it hard to concentrate. “Logically, it could be a path forward. There is no denying the Isles of Marta could be a good place for a kingdom. However, we would be separated from the main continent, where all the other kingdoms are. It would limit our trade routes to be by sea. Doing so would also make Queen Sekhet an enemy instead of a powerful ally. Given her connection with the Sect of Ikkala, it could make it difficult to acquire funding legitimately.

“Is Ikkala like the bank?”

“Yes, their temples act as such. They offer deposits and withdrawals, loans, and more.”

“I didn’t know that. That’s good info.”

Ophelia straightened and sighed. “Queen Sekhet also has her own enemies which we could leverage if she were to attack us, but most favor gods and goddesses that would love nothing more than to see your sect burn. The gain would be immediate, but I’d be concerned about the long-term consequences of going down this path.”

“This is why I love having you around,” I said with a wide smile. “This wasn’t a decision I was leaning hard toward, but one of consideration. It’s good to have everything on the table so we can make these kinds of decisions. I appreciate your council.”

Ophelia beamed, and she gave a slight bow before pointing a finger at our companion. “If you are considering us establishing a kingdom here, I think you should speak to Yda first. She’s been hard at work finding locales to establish a kingdom. I think you might really like one in particular.”

“Oh yeah?” I said, placing my hand on the back of the bushy-tailed priestess.

Yda’s ears perked up. “I haven’t quite completed my study, but I’d be more than happy to share what I have so far.”

“Please do. I’m excited to see what you’ve found.”

Yda folded her legs under her bottom and pushed herself up onto the table as she pointed at the map. “Before I get into the locations, I have a strong recommendation.”

“What’s that?”

“I think it would be wise of us to start our sect in Nubia. Establishing a temple there will not only provide us with protection, but with our relationship hopefully well established with the queen, it will provide us with a solid foundation for us to grow. We’ll have access to the city’s resources, trade, and a city of hundreds of thousands to pull our followers. We also won’t have to worry so much about the other sects because of the queen’s rules of religious freedom. If we were to get attacked by a rival, we would have the authority to retaliate, not to mention the political pressure from the queen herself.”

“As long as we can figure out what to do about the princess and get her back to Queen Sekhet, I think that’s a grand idea. However, in case things go wrong, I don’t want us to put all of our eggs in one basket.”

Yda frowned. “Where do the eggs come from? I’m sorry I think I missed something, Your Holiness.”

“Sorry,” I chuckled. “That’s an old idiom. I just meant that I don’t want us solely focusing on that as our entire plan, in case things go wrong. We should be prepared for the second option without anyone's support.”

“Oh okay!” Yda shouted before scribbling something down on a spare piece of a parchment. “This would be the ideal first phase. If we can’t do it, then we’ll move on to phase two, which is establishing the kingdom.”

“Sounds good.”

Yda scooted the map closer to me as she leaned over. “Now I have four locations picked out. One that I think is the best, but I won’t tell you which one so you can have an unbiased opinion.”

“Makes sense.”

“The first option relies on us having good will with the queen. I figured since you’ve stipulated your cost was high with rescuing the princess, you could request the queen give up some of her land to allow us to settle in her territory. The Southern Deserts are vast, giving us plenty of room to grow. However, the desert leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to resources.”

“That and I don’t think I could stand living in the heat day in and day out,” I said, letting out a short laugh. “It also makes it difficult to travel through. We’d need to have access to fresh water, so we’d have to find an oasis somewhere, too. But I like where your heads at. Having a place with a lot of room to expand would be ideal.”

“Then let us discuss the second option.”

“And that’s?”

“Here. The Isles of Marta offer plenty of space for expansion, and it’s secluded away from everything, providing us with natural protection. However, as you’ve already experienced, the island is one big jungle with fierce beasts. We’d have to go through the process of clearing it which could take time and coin. Also, it being separated from the major continent means we will be limited to trade by sea. Since this is untamed territory, we also don’t know what kind of resources the island has. If we find out we’re limited on natural resources like iron, it would make it difficult to equip an army.”

“Not only that, but to move a military the size I’m envisioning, we’d have to invest heavily into transport ships to move them. The more I think about it, the more I think it’s a bad idea.”

“That’s okay, because we have other options,” Yda said, pointing to the next location. “To the north there are the Corrupted Plains.”

I raised my brow and tilted my head. “That sounds… ominous.”

“True, but the reason I’m suggesting this is due to your affinity for Death and Light Magic. While everything around this area is dead and full of swamps, it offers a lot of potential. The pockets of Death Magic that linger mean that it has wonderful protection from intruders. It also takes up a sizable portion of the continent. All of this space here.”

“Wow, that entire area?”

“Uh huh. Barely anyone travels through there because of the dangers that lurk in it. Much like the Isles of Marta, living dead beasts, spirits, and other abominations linger.”

“How did the corrupted plains become… well corrupted?”

“I guess you could blame your predecessors,” Yda said, shrugging. “Before Ninazu and Abetha’s imprisonment, there were two kingdoms: Salaria and Morgus, the kingdoms of light and death, respectively.”

“Master!” Malice shouted. “That’s where my remaining shards are.”

“Salaria and Morgus?” I asked.

“Yes. The boots were left with the Archons in Salaria and the scythe with the Archons of Morgus.”

“That’s a problem,” Yda said.

“How so?” I asked.

“Both kingdoms are gone. When Abetha and Ninazu were imprisoned, their magic faded from Talis. Smelling weakness, Bismarck, Amonduin and Azera forces marched on the two kingdoms to claim them for their own divine and glory. For eighty-four days, they held out, but it was only a matter of time before they fell. Their greatest defenders, their Archons, grew weaker with each passing minute. In a last act of defiance, they gathered together and performed a ritual that caused the destruction of this entire area. Armies were devastated. Hundreds of thousands killed in an instant. And a permanent scar left upon Talis.”

I whistled. “Magic like that is almost unimaginable.”

“Magic is in everything,” Ophelia said. “Imagine igniting a spark that spreads from rock, to water, to air. That’s what those Archons did. It was completely reckless and abhorrent. We should all be thankful it didn’t spread further.”

“I can see why your initiates spend so much time training their control.”

“Yes. I hope you can see why I was so adamant about it to you.”

I nodded my head before turning to Yda. “There’s one more, right?”

“Yes, right here,” she said, pointing to the top of the map. “This little strip of land is another spot.”

“Why there?” I asked, leaning back.

“That war that we were just talking about, the Eighty-Four Day War? Before it broke out there was a massive wall and outpost known as the Bulwark. It was dually manned by Salaria and Morgus forces. This prevented western threats from flanking north and surrounding the two kingdoms. Because it’s built into a mountainside, the area is tough to traverse, but it’s traveled by merchants and settlers because the corrupted plains are even more of a concern than the strong winds and icy paths.”

“What about this giant body of water to the south of it? Can’t they just take a boat across?”

“While technically, yes. That’s Lake Vaymar. Its currents are more likely to topple your boat than make it across.”

“And if by some miracle you don’t drown, the monsters that inhabit it will ensure you don’t last long,” Ophelia added.

“It does provide the location with an enormous source of freshwater,” Yda said.

“And fishing?” I asked.

“That too. But most fishing is done from the sea side given the dangers.”

“So, if I’m understanding you correctly, by having such a narrow passage we could limit travel, forcing travelers to be taxed coming and going, and have the potential of new settlers?”

“Precisely!”

I leaned forward and rubbed my chin. It seemed like a suitable spot. Having opportunities for coin was also beneficial. Although, the thin area left little room for expansion.

“I am worried that we will outgrow such a small foothill. The other kingdoms sprawl across the continent.”

“True, but let me direct your eyes to the northeast,” Yda said, circling her finger over the location. “This area is open territory. It’s mostly inhabited by small towns and fishing settlements. The Azera Monarchy mainly inhabits the Itzan Mountains to the east. But they end just shy of this large pocket in between them and the Bulwark. I’m sure, technically, the Azera Monarchy would claim authority over these lands but if you’re willing, we’d have plenty of room to expand eastward and stake our own claim.”

“But would put us in contention with Azera… Hmm… What else are the pitfalls of this location? What about resources?”

“An additional pitfall would be Eimalon would most likely claim the Bulwark being in their territory. However, as far as both Ophelia and I are aware, they do not maintain their claim with troops.”

“The snow elves don’t travel that far east,” the sorceress said. “Their territory extends south, where it meets with Harkwood. But as you can see, the path to the Bulwark ventures to the northeast.”

“So we could have potential trouble with two kingdoms?” I asked.

“That’s correct, Your Holiness,” Yda said. “Eimalon by seizing the Bulwark and the Azera Monarchy when we expand eastward. While our information on the Bulwark is lacking, it’s rumored that the Bulwark is infested with bandits and raiders. So, if we were to seize it, that’s something we have to contend with. Also, the western side of the Bulwark was damaged in the Eight-Four Day War. It will need to be repaired.”

“I assume that’s how the travelers are getting through now?”

“I’m not completely certain, but that would be my assumption,” Yda said before glancing over at Ophelia.

“Don’t look at me,” the sorceress said, shaking her head. “The last time I was there, the walls were standing.”

“That shouldn’t be too big of a problem,” I said. “Neither should clearing out the bandits. But what about the resources?”

“The mountains have been unmined, so we do not know what’s available there. But we’ll have access to fresh water and plenty of food. The settlements to the east are mostly composed of ranches and farms, which would also contribute food for our growth.”

“So we would have food, water, potential to earn coin through the tolls, and immediate defenses.”

“Not to mention the existing structures within the Bulwark,” Ophelia said. “If they weren’t destroyed in the war, there was an entire city there supporting thousands of soldiers and civilians. That included docks, a keep, food stores, and the like.”

“That would come in handy. That way I wouldn’t have to spend the days building structures. Is there anything else I should know?”

Yda glanced back at Ophelia one last time, who shook her head. Yda followed and said, “No, that's everything, Your Holiness.”

I stood from my seat and hovered over the map. “So we’ve got the Southern Sands, the Isles of Marta, the Corrupted Plains, and the Bulwark. The Southern Sands and the Corrupted Plains are immediately out. They are basically inhabitable. The other two both have their bonuses. I’m not sure if the island has fresh water, but they both have food through fishing. The island we would have to clear, and while large, there is a finite space available among the islands. We’re already clearing the locals. We have Werea to the north, and Azera is rumored to be pushing south, which would put us immediately into conflict with them.”

“Is that all?” Ophelia smirked.

I snorted before continuing. “The Bulwark gives us immediate defenses, potentially shelters, and access to the same resources. However, given it’s on the major continent, we have much more space for growth. Even if we pushed east, there’s nothing preventing us from pushing south into the Corrupted Plains as well. But we’d have to be concerned with two empires instead of one…. Decisions, decisions.”

After a minute of mulling my options, I pointed at both of my companions. Which one would you two choose between those two options?”

Yda and Ophelia glanced at each other before the red-eyed priestess said, “Well, we didn’t want to suggest anything so as not to influence your decision.”

“Don’t worry about that,” I said, waving my hand. “Good leaders take counsel from his advisors. That’s you two. I want to hear your thoughts.”

“We both believe the Bulwark is the best option,” Ophelia said. “One thing to consider is that Azera won’t be an issue until we’re ready to expand, and Eimalon may not be as big of an issue if we’re strategic about it?”

I sat up. “How so?”

“Eimalon is going to have all of their eyes on the impending invasion from Ossein Island. They will not want to fight a war from the north and south. Should they come knocking and we perform a grand show of force, they’ll think twice about trying to take it back the hard way. With Queen Sekhet as a potential political connection, we could also force a meeting with King and Queen Freyjer.”

“Huh. You make a good point.” I slapped my thighs. “Well, I’m sold.”

“Are you sure?” Yda asked.

“Yeah, it seems like the best option. We’ll plan to travel to the Bulwark once we’ve finished everything here and established ourselves in Nubia.”

We all shared smiles before the button-nosed priestess let out an enormous yawn. “Oh, excuse me. I seem to be a bit exhausted.”

“Why don’t I show you both the sleeping quarters?” Ophelia said.

Yda groggily nodded and stood from her seat. I followed the pair to an arch where Ophelia shifted the color to blue. When we passed through it, we stood in a long hallway. A red rug extended down its length. Ten door-sized arches that glowed a similar hue lined the corridor. Elaborate paintings of the Chalice of Thorns members were mounted in the space in between each door, except for a single one.

“Feel free to choose any, Yda.” Ophelia said, extending her hand down the hall. “They are all furnished with an enormous bed, armoire, chests, and a voidprivy. Should you require anything else, just ask.”

“And what of you two?” Yda asked, twisting her dress flap in her hands.

“His Holiness will get the master bedroom. It’s accessed through the larger portals instead of these. I will take one of these rooms alongside you shortly.”

“And how do I lock the door?”

“Using your crystal, just think it. The portal will close on your command.”

“Thank you, Ophelia. I hope you both sleep well. May Heluna bless our dreams.” Yda bowed slightly before raising her crystal and disappearing inside.

“Come, Your Holiness,” Ophelia said, curling her finger. “I’ll show you to your chambers.”

We turned around and went through the archway, stepping into another room. The interior of this room felt a lot more homey. The walls were smooth with plaster and had a ceiling made of a wooden dome.

The room was decorated in red and gold that matched Ophelia’s dress. Ornate patterns of the sun and stars lined the lush rugs and tapestries. A bed large enough to fit myself and ten others took up most of the room. Red curtains strewn across a top frame. Black lingerie hung from a foldable dressing screen. A lounge chair, plush pillows, and stacks of books sat in a corner. A dining table covered in fresh fruit and empty wine bottles sat across from the bed. Rows of hutches and chests covered the far wall.

“This looks lived in,” I said, pointing inside. “Is this your room?”

“It was, but now it’s yours,” Ophelia said entering the room. As she walked through the room, everything she touched disappeared. It made a comical popping noise, like they were all illusions made from balloons.

“You don’t have to do this. I can take another room.”

“Nonsense. You are the master of the tower now. You deserve the best room.” After finishing clearing out her personal things, she gasped. “I just realized you haven’t eaten dinner. How foolish of me. I humbling apologize, Your Holiness. I will make you something right away.”

I laughed and waved my hand from side to side. “I’m actually fine. No need.”

“But you have to eat. You must maintain your strength.”

“Actually, I don’t. One of Heluna’s benefits.”

Ophelia froze and her mouth fell open. “But… I’ve seen you eat?”

“I can choose to, if I want. But it’s not required. Same thing with sleeping.”

The sorceress rested her hands on her hips. “You don’t have to sleep either?”

I shook my head. “Nope, but I can if I choose to.”

“How does that work?”

“Don’t know,” I said, chuckling. “I haven’t done it yet.”

“Then perhaps a warm bath to relax? You’ve been on the go ever since arriving in Nubia.”

I nodded my head side-to-side. “Yeah, I wouldn’t mind one. Is there a bathroom in the tower?”

“There is, but allow me to assist.”

Ophelia raised her thumb in front of me as if trying to measure my size. In a clearing on one side of the room, the sorceress said an incantation and slapped her hand to the floor. A wide tub rose from the floor, composed of the same black stone as the rest of the tower.

Once it settled, Ophelia summoned her pocket dimension and pulled out a pitcher. When she tipped it over, steaming hot water poured from it. It continued beyond what was capable of the object’s volume until the tub was full.

After she finished, Ophelia set the pitcher on a nearby table and turned to me with her hands clasped forward. “It’s ready for you, Your Holiness.”

“Great,” I said. “What about towels, shampoo, soap, and a washcloth?”

“I’m not sure what shampoo is,” Ophelia said tilting her head.

“Like soap for your hair.”

Ophelia smiled and raised a finger. “Ah, I have a hair elixir to clean it as well as a cologne for you, post bath. I’ll grab those when you’re ready.”

I smiled and nodded. But when she didn’t move, I pointed down. “So, are you just going to stand there and watch?”

“Oh gods, no,” Ophelia said with a short laugh. “I’m going to clean you.”