NOVEL NEXT Chapter One | Book 3
The construction site stretched across a cleared plot on Everspring's western edge. Wooden beams lay stacked beside piles of stone blocks, and workers moved between sawhorses and tool stations. The foundation outline marked where our future home would stand, fifty feet back from the main road.
Fields of lavender freely waved thanks to a gentle breeze on one side of us, while the burgeoning city of Everspring sat on the other. The town had grown considerably since I'd first arrived. A few new shops lined the main thoroughfare, featuring freshly painted signs that advertised everything from fresh-baked bread and imported silks. The old market square seemed to grow by the week. Cobblestones and tightly packed dirt roads extended another thirty feet in each direction to accommodate the growing number of merchants. It was a boon, as it brought in new types of produce, meats, spices, and alchemical ingredients.
The Green Griffin, formerly a public house, had been expanding. The owner had purchased a residence next door, and the buildings were under construction to create a larger inn capable of accommodating more visitors. A proper town hall was under construction near the center. Roland was excited. The baron was excited. I'd been pre-invited to meetings, and I was less than excited.
The streets bustled with more activity than I'd ever seen. Carts rolled past, loaded with goods from Tidewater Harbor. Crates came in by hand from Crownforge through the portal, though a fair few of those went straight to Eartheart—the name the ferrokin had named their city, after the heart of their city.
Children ran between the buildings, their laughter mixing with the calls of vendors and the general, exciting chatter of a thriving community. Smoke rose from at least a dozen chimneys, including the familiar plume from The Shadow's Respite, a dozen streets away.
It was strange to think how much had changed in such a short time. When I'd first stumbled into Everspring, it had been little more than a large village. Now it was well on its way to becoming a proper town, maybe even a small city if the growth continued at this pace.
A small business was beginning to brew, and I mean that literally. Lavender tea had always been popular here, but Princess Elowen, bride to King Alister, had taken an interest. Once word began to spread, lavender tea was now being sold in nearby cities, as well as Crownforge. Now the drink had grown in popularity to such an extent that more than one business was springing up around nearby fields to dry and sell the flower buds.
Wild roses, their petals an unusual mix of red and emerald, twisted up an old fence post at our property line. A pair of oak trees cast shadows across the space that would become the back garden. I already had plans for a large spice garden that would provide for both of my businesses in town. In my old life, I'd had a pretty small one on my balcony. This would be like four balconies filled with herbs and spices. Assuming I had time to grow and keep the garden in adequate shape. Time: what a precious commodity that had become.
The construction crew, comprising three dwarves and a few burly humans, had brought in several wagonloads of rocks, stone slabs, and hand-carved bricks to form the foundation. A pair of workers walked over it, flattening the pile and moving it to create a more level surface. They had hand-cut bricks to lay around the base next, and slabs to put on top once a layer of sand had been added.
Seraphina and I sat on a blanket beneath one of the oaks, our picnic basket open between us. Fresh bread, cheese, and sliced fruit made for a simple but satisfying lunch. She pointed toward the foundation with her half-eaten apple.
"The kitchen window should face east," she said. "Morning sun while we cook breakfast."
"While I cook breakfast."
"Don't get lost in the details," Seraphina said.
I sputtered with laughter.
"And a big window in the front room." I traced the outline in the air. "One of those bay windows that sticks out a bit. We can put a reading chair there."
"With built-in bookshelves on either side."
"Bay windows and built-in bookshelves might be overkill, and they might raise a few eyebrows."
"True. It wouldn't look like the other houses around here."
"To be fair, some of those have dirt floors."
"More reason to keep things simple," Seraphina replied.
"Master Corvin wants to add a root cellar," I said. "Claims every proper house needs one. He got very passionate about proper ventilation systems. Spent twenty minutes explaining air flow patterns."
Seraphina laughed. "Yesterday, he cornered me about the benefits of double-thick walls. Something about thermal mass and temperature regulation. I just nodded along, not because I wasn't interested, but because that's his field. Not mine."
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"At least he's thorough." Off to the side, two workers argue about the proper angle for a support beam. "Unlike those two. They've been at it for fifteen minutes."
"The tall one insists the plans are upside down," Seraphina said. "The short one keeps rotating them and declaring they make perfect sense."
"They're both wrong. The plans are for the Ory place next door." I'd discovered that mistake earlier, but hadn't had the heart to interrupt their debate because what did I know about construction? "Nothing!" as one of the older dwarves had informed me. I was sure they would figure it out before much longer.
She leaned against my shoulder. "I can't wait to share a home with you."
"I'm looking forward to the same."
Since we had gotten engaged, we had spent as much time together as possible, but we were both busy people. Seraphina was not only running her shop and fulfilling special orders, but she also had a budding apprentice program. Princess Eloween regularly attended in private.
Seraphina had informed me that the princess would soon assume the title of queen (about time, if you ask me). I didn't know the ins and outs of the royal court, but it seemed to involve a waiting period. A custom that dated back centuries. Apparently, there had been more than a few assassinations when the two royal houses joined.
According to Seraphina, Queen Elowen was a fast study. She came in at pre-set times, but these times were based on an algorithm she and Seraphina had devised. The queen always arrived dressed in plain clothes, wearing a dark hat with a lace veil hanging around her head. She was always accompanied by a companion dressed in a similar manner, who served as her bodyguard.
With the portal being outside of The Shadow's Respite, she was able to quickly duck inside and take to the stairs. A room had been set aside just for her to change into different clothes. I kept out of it and as far away from royal business, for that matter, as I could. The room had previously been occupied by the bard Kieran. I hadn't seen him in weeks.
He had quietly cleared out one night and left a note thanking me for letting him stay and entertain Everspring. He claimed the road was calling, and it was time to move on to other places so he could share his gifted voice with others. I knew the real reason he'd left, and it had been due to a certain ice dragon named Frostfire. After he left, she hadn't been around as much. She'd mentioned going off in search of others of her kind.
Since Triolux, the ferrokin had started opening portals all over the place, movement between faraway cities had become easier than ever. It was bringing new business opportunities from around the realm, and I was all for it. At the same time, I knew I would soon miss this quaint and cozy village that had become my home almost a year ago.
"A new and interesting student has come to the shop."
"Oh?"
Seraphina nodded. "She's a ferrokin named Tinara. She's young, by ferrokin standards, and wishes to learn the art of gem enchanting."
"I'm surprised they don't already possess the ability to enchant gems."
"Me too. They have many other magical abilities. I hope to learn a few. They can craft and meld any metal with ease. They also possess a machine that can create things. At least that's the rumor."
"The Shapers' Forge. I've seen one in action. It created the large saddle we used to fly to Crownforge. Triolux brought one to the surface. I'm assuming that's how they've been able to create a new city in such a short amount of time."
"I want to see one in action."
"We can plan a trip. It's only an hour away."
"That sounds wonderful."
We sat in comfortable silence as the workers measured and marked the foundation lines. One kept stopping to consult a small leather-bound notebook, muttering calculations under his breath.
Then she looked away and snapped her fingers.
"Oh! Varix, I'm really sorry to say, but there is one thing I forgot to tell you. Before we can get married, we need to-"
"Boss! Boss!" Lady Churl appeared on the road and interrupted Seraphina. Her arms waved frantically above her head. "It's a disaster, boss! Reckon you need to hop to. Back to the tavern!"
"Which one?"
"The Shadow's Respite! Kinda questions ya gettin at?"
"Sorry!" I jumped to my feet. My heart suddenly hammered against my chest. "What happened?"
"The kitchen!" She skidded to a stop, panting. "Water everywhere! Spurtin' like a geyser!"
"The new pipes?"
"Burst clean through!" She gestured wildly with both hands. "Tried to plug it with a ladle. Didn't work. Then I used a pot lid. Also didn't work. Even shoved a whole loaf of bread in there!"
"Bread?"
"Reckon I panicked. Seemed like a good idea at the time!" She cackled despite the situation. "Left Grondak there, tryin' to hold it back. He wrapped those meaty orc hands round the break and now it's holding, but for how long's gonna last is anyone's guess."
Seraphina stood and brushed off her skirt. "Go. I'll see you later." She kissed my cheek. I turned away, but she yelled, "Wait! I may have a way to help."
"Yeah?" I asked. "Tell me on the run."
I grabbed the picnic basket and started running. Lady Churl kept pace beside me, still describing her failed attempts to stop the flood.
Seraphina trailed behind me, her hand digging into a pouch at her side. I knew what that meant. She might be able to staunch the flow with one of her gems. Or at least slow it down.
We raced through the streets of Everspring, dodging merchants and shoppers. My mind spun round and round as I imagined water destroying the kitchen I'd worked so hard to build.
Panting, close to the tavern, we passed the blacksmith. Ragna stood off to the side, her broad back working at a pile of wood that was probably going in the forge shortly.
A familiar face appeared near the anvil.
"What's wrong?" Doan called from his shop doorway as we sprinted past.
He'd grown a big bushy black beard but kept his head shaved bald, and it suited the blacksmith. He wore a long, thick, tan leather apron that was covered in scratches, a few holes, and numerous soot marks.
"The Shadow's Respite is leaking water!" I shouted back. "About to be flooded!"
Doan yelled back, "Not on my bloody watch!" and raced into the forge, presumably to pick up some tools, before he joined us as we ran toward the tavern.