Legacy

Chapter 21 - A Feast of Knives

The table was lavishly laid out; tall black candles in silver candelabras provided light while a woman in the corner played the violin. Most of the guests were milling about engaged in animated discussion while consuming colourful layered drinks made from three kinds of elgin berries. Everyone was dressed in their finest clothes and seeing Dawn Marie in her black dress made the prince wish he'd made more of an effort. The Caladus and Caladia were standing beside each other talking with a balding man bent slightly with age and wearing a pair of thin rimmed glasses.

Seven appeared with a tray and handed the three of them glasses of the same drink everyone was enjoying before signalling to Caladus Thane that the meal was ready. The first course was a rich broth with the subtle taste of honey.

"Welcome my friends to my table," Thane said. "We have a long-standing tradition in this house of getting together every Friday to enjoy a lavish meal with family and friends to celebrate all that we have and strengthen our bonds. Today we have some new guests joining us – they've travelled far but they are welcome."

"Here, Here, Caladus," the balding man answered.

"Thank you, Theo Lucius. Let us all rejoice and enjoy this fine meal. But first a round of introductions is in order. This is my good friend, Theo Lucius and his wife Theo Abigail, Talus Ren who runs the shipping lanes between here and the capital and her husband Conic Sung, and Armen Kha who deals in exotic goods and his son Falken. This is the young master of Three Lakes my new student, his Protector former, palace guard Kane, and his mentor from the Archivist Sol Uno Kabel."

"I am privileged and gladdened to be welcomed into the House of Thane. I intend to absorb all he has to teach and enjoy the hospitality that he has extended to me and my companions," the prince replied.

"Well. you couldn't have chosen a better mentor then old Caladus here. He'll teach you things you didn't know you didn't know. He's a sharp one that for sure," Theo Lucius said turning to the prince.

"You exaggerate my friend." Thane said modestly.

"Come now don't be modest it's thanks in part to you that the great works is so far ahead of schedule."

"For such an important task I couldn't afford to let my people wait. The great works will bring a lot to the arc and its benefits will far out live my involvement."

"You are too modest Caladus."

"You'll have to forgive my ignorance. Being from such a small village I am not up to date on all the news, but what exactly are the great works? I've heard the project has spanned almost seven years of labour but know little else about it," Kane casually inquired.

"Why, Kane my old man, it is alright if I call you that isn't it?" Lucius said.

"Of course, Theo."

"Please, I was never one for titles, Lucius is fine."

"Lucius it is, then."

"The great works is none other than the single biggest endeavour that the Republic has undertaken since the liberation. Over the past seven years we have been building run off cannels, reservoirs and strengthening the embankments along the seven rivers. As you probably know, spring floods and summer droughts have always plagued Cold Moon, Twilight, and parts of the golden lands. But once the Great Works is completed all of that will be a thing of the past. The spring flood waters will be diverted into a series of strategically placed reservoirs and cannels thus preventing the destruction and death they have historically caused. At the same time, those waters will be stored for the summer heat then we will be able distribute it to farms and communities in the event of drought. Thus one problem solves another and the great wheel of life keeps spinning."