Felix studied each plan laid before him with a careful eye, doing his best to note any potential flaw he saw. And, while he was not experienced in building a town, he did know a few things about how to capture one. That, surprisingly, gave him more insight than he thought…

In total, there were six different plans. Two were from Hargoth and the rest were from Gillador, with the elven architect's being more in depth. He had notes and dimensions written down, and even included a few sketches showing off the style of the future buildings.

His work, by far, was the most impressive. No wonder Calinna was able to draw such a detailed plan of the dormitory…

Then there were Hargoth's plans. They were far more simple in layout and design, owing to the fact that they would be far faster to build. He claimed he could have the entire town built in less than a month, a normally outrageous claim that Felix now believed.

But therein lay the problem.

Constructing quick and simple buildings is nice and all, but this is also going to be a permanent settlement. There's no doubt about that. Felix let out a sigh, carefully choosing his words as he spoke.

"Thank you these plans, Hargoth–"

The dwarf visibly deflated and he finished Felix's sentence. "But they aren't what you want."

Felix winced and gave a slow nod. "They aren't… But, I understand why you decided to go this way. Unfortunately, we do have to think about the future, perhaps, even more so than the present.

"Still, I– We need your help. The fact you were able to do…any of this is incredible."

"Thank you. I, along with the rest of the dwarves and gnomes, will do what we can to assist," he affirmed and his mood improved some.

"If ya can keep up with ya momentum, we can have all this done before winter," Gillador added, and for once he looked sympathetic.

"Indeed…" Felix trailed off for a moment before staring back down at the four plans left. "Now onto the hardest part. Oralyn?"

Eri's de facto aide came alive. So far, she hadn't said or done much save for taking notes in her journal. "Yes?"

"I did say you will help me choose one of these plans. Tell me, out of the four, which one would feel… Hmm…" He rubbed his chin in thought for a moment. "Elven?"

She leaned forward and narrowed her eyes, carefully scanning each parchment. There was pure silence as she did so, no one wanting to break her concentration.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she laid them back down. "Out of these four, I have two that I think would work." She separated the plans and set aside the two she didn't like.

Felix peered down at the remaining ones.

Both plans were for a circular town, each with concentric rings that separated different areas into districts. They each had designs for walls and plenty of paths for both foot traffic and more. Yet, that is where the similarities ended.

The first plan was more of what he thought of when imagining a town. The roads were curved and wide, with a single larger road going straight down the very center. It was clearly designed with a growing population and ease of travel in mind.

Then there was the second plan…

If the first was thoughtful and utilitarian, then this one was nearly the exact opposite. For starters, it had no central road running through it. Instead, in the very center there was a large blank circle drawn. That wasn't all though.

From that center, pathways and roads spiraled out. They intersected the rings and terminated in what Felix could only describe as, hubs. It was like little oases dotting a town. It…wasn't the most practical of the designs, but it definitely had the most character.

"Say, what is supposed to be in the center here?" Felix asked, pointing at the second plan.

Gillador cracked a devious smile, as if he'd been waiting for this exact question. "Why, that's where we'll put the castle."

Felix blinked. "What?"

The architect slouched into his seat as he explained. "Ya see… When I was drawing up all these plans, I couldn't help but think: Something's missing. So I pondered it for a while– Really tried to think about what this town would mean…

"I was going through some old designs I had and searching for inspiration, when I found it." He suddenly snapped his fingers. "I knew immediately what was missing."

"And…what was it that you found?" he pushed, still very confused.

The old elf nearly jumped from his seat. "Gods, boy! Don't you get it?! A castle… C. A. S–"

"I know what a damn castle is! I wanted to know what you found that inspired that!" Felix shouted. He immediately got the 'are you serious' look from the elf.

"Ya, know? Ya can be a little slow… But that's what I found, my old plans for a castle."

"Thank you! Gods! Was that so hard?!" He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. "Now for my next question. Why a castle?"

"Maybe I was wrong earlier. Maybe ya still a young buck after all… Here, let me help you. What does every monarch need?"

Furring his brows, Felix was doing everything he could to not lash out. "What?" he asked, not wanting to entertain the architect.

But Gillador shook his head. "Come on, I know ya can do it. What does every monarch need?"

"Subjects? Land? Gold?"

The elf shook his head once more. "Keep trying."

Finally, he gave up. "A castle?"

Gillador's smile returned. "That's it, a castle."

He peered up to the architect and then back down at the plan. "I think I know which one we're going with… You really have thought of everything–"

The old elf beamed at the complement, before Felix added, "There's just one thing."

His brows scrunched in confusion. "I've been doing this for longer than you've been alive. What exactly do ya think I forgot that ya haven't?"

"Well," Felix began, a gleeful look in his eye. "In all of these houses and castles and streets, where exactly are the dragons going to land?"

The architect froze. "Well shit…"

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

***

"Are you sure that was a good idea?" Oralyn asked, her tone and expression neutral. Her and Felix were making their way from the hatchery after finishing up with Hargoth.

He gave her a curious look. "What do you mean? You helped me choose, did you not?"

"I did–"

"Then why did you select those two plans specifically?"

She came to an abrupt stop. "Because…"

"Because?" He wasn't letting her get out of this.

For a moment, Oralyn's mask slipped and underneath a smile was revealed. "I thought it looked perfect."

The mask went back on.

"Perfect, huh? Well, I can't say I agree. However, I do think it was what we needed. That town… It will become the start of something more. That is why I chose it: We need a capital and one that will eventually rival El Morra, the Holy Triumphant's heartland."

She gave a respectful nod and started walking once more.

"Anyway," he went on while keeping pace with her, "what is next on the agenda?"

Without needing her journal she immediately responded. "The Chiefs– Though, I think we should cancel that one. I can go on ahead and do that."

"Why? I think I can handle them."

She shook her head. "The meeting is a waste of time anyway, that is something I am in complete agreement with Her Majesty about."

That caught his attention. "Now wait a second… What is going on?"

"They keep annoying and pestering Her Majesty. They call her for a meeting then spend the entire time arguing about who gets to do what. Meanwhile, I've been secretly organizing everything while she has to sit through all that."

He came to a dead stop, anger starting to bubble up within his chest. Is this what has been stressing Eri out? "So, you've been the one getting all the workers organized? I was under the impression that the Chiefs were doing a good job, but now… Now I want to have a word with them. First things first, tell me why they are even arguing with each other in the first place."

Oralyn drew a deep breath. "It is because they are vying for positions within Eri's court– Once she is officially Queen, that is. They all know they will receive titles upon her ascension, but those titles don't all carry the same weight. And, many are wanting the same title."

They're being greedy… Of course, I should have suspected that. He furrowed his brows, his draconic instincts giving fire to his building fury.

"Right," he said coldly, clenching his fists. "I admit, I don't know how elven courts work nor how anyone is selected but I do know one thing. It is unneeded stress for Eri. I'm going to set them straight."

Without waiting for Oralyn to respond, he set off once more…

Felix's trek led him towards the edge of the original camp, straight to one of the larger tents. It was here that he found the elven Chiefs gathered. He could hear the arguments as he and Oralyn approached.

"Felix!" Chief Yorlen stood from a large table and welcomed him with open arms. There was a look of relief in his eyes. "How's Her Majesty doing? We're concerned about her health–"

"More importantly, will we have to delay?" another Chief, one that Felix did not recognize, butted in.

"Chief Caspen! Now is not the time for such questions! Her Majesty's health is more important! We can figure the rest out afterwards!" Chief Oslen shouted in outrage. He turned his attention to Felix. "Please, come and join us. We are desperate to know her condition."

Quietly and with a single nod, Felix strode to the nearest open seat and took it. Oralyn came to stand behind him.

Slowly scanning the room, he took in the different expressions everyone one wore. Most, thankfully, looked sincerely at him, waiting for him to speak. But. A few were obviously not as interested, including this Chief Caspen.

"Eri's fever has been steadily going down–"

There were several sighs of relief.

"However… Ashtia, the Healer, has diagnosed stress as the reason for her sickness. That, and her pregnancy. We cannot do much for the latter but I think I can handle the former."

That caused several elven Chiefs to raise an eyebrow. "Are you saying you will be stepping in for her?" The question came from Chief Caspen again.

"Yes," he said bluntly, trying desperately to hold back from lashing out.

"That's absurd! I mean no disrespect to you as our Champion, but we need Her Majesty–"

"Why?" he asked, interrupting the elf.

"Why? What do you mean why? Isn't it obvious? Our Queen needs to be the one to make decisions."

"She has given me the authority to make decisions on her behalf," he lied. But they don't need to know that, and I doubt Oralyn will object. If she did, she made no attempt to do so.

"What?! But… Is there any proof?"

"Proof? Did you want Her Majesty to write a formal letter addressed to you while she is bedridden? No, there is no proof save for my word and my witness," he took a gamble and gestured to Oralyn.

This was asking for too much and he knew it. Still, to his surprise, she gave a nod. "Her Majesty, while in one of a few moments of clarity, did give him authority. Though, only until she has recovered," she quickly added on.

"Few moments of clarity?" Chief Oslen asked, cutting off Caspen before he could speak. "How serious was it?"

Felix raised an eyebrow, unsure if the Chief hadn't been fully informed or was merely trying to disrupt the current conversation. "It was…serious. Very serious. She started seizing this morning and it took me, Ashtia, Kyrith and Zira to get her to stop. Since then, she has been resting."

"Four people? Gods…" Someone whispered.

"Two dragons, a Healer, and a human," he corrected. "Which actually brings me to why I am here. And no, I do not want to cancel this meeting…" His eyes fell upon Chief Caspen and took in the elven man's appearance.

The Chief had long bronze colored hair and a thin, wiry frame, with a sharp jaw. His brown eyes stared back, a hint of annoyance in them. If Felix was being honest, the man could almost be mistaken for a woman. Thankfully, what made it easy to tell, besides his voice, was the thin stubble he wore.

"You see, as I mentioned, Eri's episode today was caused by a combination of stress and her pregnancy. And, while I am here in her stead, I have my own agenda as well."

"You're own agenda? I'm sorry, Champion, but we do not have time for anything you might wish to add–"

"You misunderstood. I don't want to add anything. In fact, I think I will do the exact opposite."

Caspen narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean then?"

"I mean, I am going to give you all a single warning–"

"A warning?! For what?"

Felix's eye twitched, he had had enough with this elven Chief. He rose from his seat and approached the infuriating man. "You're bickering and fighting," he hissed.

Caspen had to crane his neck. "What are you on about? Please, go sit back down–"

Felix slammed his hand upon the table, startling the man. "Let me make one thing very clear. You all are fighting for prestige and power, for the hope you will get the title you want. But, I have news for you. If things continue the way they are, I will see to it that none of you receive a title."

"That is only for the Queen to decide–"

"Who do you think the Queen will listen to? An annoying elf who keeps interrupting and causing problems, or her soon-to-be husband? And that's if Kyrith doesn't get to you first. Trust me, you do not want to piss off her partner."

Felix hated doing this, he hated threatening people. But some, like this Chief, needed it and that is what he kept repeating to himself as he stared down the current source of trouble.

"This is my one and only warning to you all, do not cause any undue stress to Eri. None of you will like the consequences if she has another episode."

Silence, dead silence. The air, at some point, had become cold and people's breath could be seen. Yet, he waited for anyone to dare to object. None did.

"Good, I'm glad we all understand…" With his threat finished, Felix casually walked back to his seat and plopped down. He closed his eyes and drew a quick, relaxing breath. The air seemingly began to warm.

"Now, can someone tell me what this meeting is about?"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.