Chapter 1:

Mya watched the ships docking in Ilus’ harbor. Stone had been extruded out to create the new docks and cradles. Ships entered and exited past the cantilevered towers of the harbor. They hung over the Molten Sea, formed of magma flows like crab’s pincers.

Ships passed through, entering and exiting Ilus to head down the coast to the other cities along the Molten Sea that they now controlled, or beyond to other ports to buy and sell goods.

With the Infernal Marauders help they’d been adapted to better fight threats coming from above and below. The new towers and wall mirrored underneath the original. Several new towers dotted the city’s skyline to protect from aerial threats.

A half dozen Infernal Marauder ships lay up in the newly created shipyards. The crafters of Ilus pouring over them, updating weapons and control runes. Right now it was just updates, increasing the ability of what was already there.

Crafters from Ilus and those of the Infernal Marauders seemed to come up with new improvements everyday, several small ships turned over to them for testing and trial.

They’d been able to repair and upgrade dozens of ships, but it was their hope to build a ship from the ground up combining their knowledge, a grand undertaking but a goal that pulled them all together.

In the three weeks since the alliance was formed, things had moved quickly. It didn’t leave time for anyone to think about the changes, instead having them thrust upon them faster than they could start to think of complaints.

Mya was pulled from her thoughts as the gangplank nearest her was secured in place against the Infernal Marauder ship that had docked.

“Mya!” Jaxus laughed as he stepped onto it.

She smiled as he hurried down to meet her. She reached out her hand to him which he took and pumped firmly. There were a few more lines on his face, but his eyes shone with excitement, a man in his element.

“Good to see you Jaxus.” She indicated down the dock, starting to walk, with him falling in step. “I’ve heard you’ve been running the Marauders ragged.”

“Well there are a great number of people looking to trade, and an equal amount that are looking to get some freebies,” He chuckled, but there was a darker look to his eyes.

“I’ve heard. I also heard that it has been a great way for the Marauders to add some extra ships to their fleets. What do you think of the crews?”

“Professional, some tensions but the captain’s are quick to lay things clear and bare. Its bolstered the boarding crews having the Molten Fist mercenaries aboard. Same with the casters having the Ilus students among their ranks. They share much between one another making the others stronger.”

Mya nodded, Jaxus had run his own trading caravan when she first met him. Now he operated dozens that were working their way across the Abyssal and Water Plane.

“Valter and Petor’s combined training has helped that out to a big degree.” Mya said.

Jaxus nodded and glanced around as they left the docks, taking in the buildings all around them. “I’ve heard impressive things going on here. Certainly your proposals have made things easier for me,” He turned back to her with a grin.

A carriage waited for them at the end of the dock, a servant opening the door for them. Mya waved Jaxus up. “Well, I have plenty more proposals and plans.”

His grin deepened as his eyes practically glowed as he jumped up the stairs into the carriage.

Mya followed him up, the door closing behind her before the carriage took off through the streets.

“How go things with the Nether Forge?”

“Well,” Jaxus laughed, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial level. “I think we’ve sold more kitchen knives and pans than we have cannons.” His smile dimmed a bit. “Though we have run into other issues, but we can talk on that later.” He waved his hand to clear his last words. “I have heard reports but they do not paint a true picture,” Jaxus glanced out of the carriage windows at the city beyond.

“It sounds like what you saw on the ships is what you could find in this city and the region. Its kind of funny, the ones that were fighting are finding it an easier time coming to trust those they were fighting. Those that were removed from the fighting or don’t deal with the people from the other groups are the biggest ones complaining. Maybe they’ve just built up prejudices in their mind so much.” Mya shrugged.

“The tensions are well on their way to stabilizing, the people that came from Ilus and Molten Fist respect those from the Infernal Marauders which makes them the natural in-between. As with all things, it takes time,” Jaxus chuckled.

“Things are already starting to blend together. People head to Ilus for an education, those in Ilus are heading to the docks and other cities to make their marks upon the world. As more people mingle the better it will become,” Mya agreed.

The carriage came to a halt at a store, a servant rushed out to open the door.

Mya stepped out, Jaxus following as she led him into the store, the last finishes were being added to the interior as staff filled cabinets and shelves with items.

Jaxus’ eyes darted around the space, Mya slowed her pace slightly before they reached a set of stairs that led upwards to offices.

“Starting a new business?” Jaxus asked.

“An outreach program, supported by the alliance, it purchases from the local economies with an abundance and transports it to locations that have a need and sells them.” Mya said.

“Sets up trade routes and interdependencies on one another,” Jaxus says.

“Producers extra spreads to others while finished goods flow back to them. We’re setting up a trading outpost in every town. They’re funded jointly by the alliance,” Mya said.

“Sounds like a strong way to stimulate the economy. Producers get money for goods they don’t find useful. Trade caravans moving through all different towns, buying and selling, then you have the buildings in the different cities and towns where people can buy and sell. Allows you to fix the price somewhat too.”

“Yeah, and you should have seen the prices that people were charging for food. It was getting very dear.” She opened the door to a large office. A large table sat in the middle, two couches and two chairs sat next to a cart of drinks along the left wall a desk watching the door from the back wall. A large window covered in runes lay took up the right.

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She closed the door behind Jaxus and waved him towards the large table, a map of the area covering it, the air gained a pressure to it.

“Room’s enchanted so that no one can listen or see in,” Mya said.

“Useful,” Jaxus nodded, his eyes darting over the map, tracing out the different roads.

Mya moved around him to the left side of the map.

“We control all of the peninsula. Earth mages and engineers have had their work cut out for them. Along with a large labor force they’ve been creating roads across the peninsula to the different towns and cities in-land to the coasts.” She pointed to the network of roads on the map, some stiff black lines, others dotted, slowly growing. They spread out from the different coastal ports into the land.

“The old Molten Fist supply caravans move between the coastal cities across the peninsula and back again. They’re the lifeblood of the area, transporting what people need between the different isolated regions.” She indicated to the worn ‘roads’ most no more than a line in the stone. “What earth mages aren’t working on the roads are working in the fields with the water mages and those that study plants.” Mya snickered. “And Petor.”

“Didn’t take Petor as much of a farmer.”

“Better in forests that fields that’s for sure, but he’s got skills that allow him to help increase the yields of the fields he passes through. The real Anti-Famine he is,” Mya chuckled.

Jaxus gave her a bemused smile.“So, how can the Limos trading company help you?”

“Materials and consumer goods.”

“Netherforge isn’t going to like having a competitor,” He frowned.

“We have lots of crafters here, from all kinds of crafts. Sure there are some that do classical forging and repairs, but their standards are really high. Most are at the Rare grade and looking to advance. They create mostly custom and artisanal products. Unless they’re starting there aren’t many interested in making pans or kitchen knives.” Mya said dryly. “If Nether forge is interested in paying for the tuition then Ilus would be more than happy to teach their people whatever they want to learn. Weapons and gear that hold the water attribute or are better suited for it? Easily done, every element is taught here.”

“So you need raw materials for your crafters?” Jaxus asked.

“Yes, and then we need goods for people’s homes and fields. I have a few custom requests to help our various projects as well.” Mya took a folder from her storage device and put it on the table.

Jaxus opened the folder and flipped through them. “What’s this for? It looks like a plow.”

“That’s a grader, it will shave down the ground to smooth it out, requiring just laborers instead of needing all of the earth mages.”

“And you’re going to give these designs to Nether forge?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Play it up a bit and tell them that we’re entrusting them with it and wanted to show our ability. Reality is it took Valter and some of the other crafters a day or so to draft up these different items. They just don’t have the time to do it out of their other projects.” Mya shrugged.

“What about food and water?”

“We’ve been working our way through the food issue, I’m sure there are people that would buy it. Prices from the interior of the peninsula are cheaper but sometimes not and different kinds of foods are always welcome.” Mya turned from the table and grinned. “I knew a way to condense water that fills the wind needing sail and stitched runes.” She pointed out of the window.

Several sheets were filled with the wind coming off of the Molten Sea. Water dripped from them into a large basins. “Pipes take it to large newly built aquifers. Its been replicated across the other cities and towns. Wind and air mages work the fields calling rains and mists upon the fields to speed up growing.”

Mya turned and pointed towards one of the molten rivers that ran through the city. “Its also led to the ‘steam revolution’ we’re calling it. Using the natural heat of the rivers, of the sea and the region around us. Some students of mechanical means took excess water and created engines where the heat turns the water into steam and powers various items. Looms, smithies, all kinds of crafting has made use of it. They’re looking to replicate the cart systems in Nether forge, a great big engine of steam and heat that pulls along carriages between the coastal cities. At each point it would build up its heat and take on more water to continue its journey. Connecting us by land as well as sea. That way if we’re raided from one or the other, things don’t stop.”

“I’ve heard of similar devices before, they are great at reducing overall transportation costs, especially for large items,” Jaxus said, excitement creeping into his voice. “Never thought I’d see one being built!”

“I think that Ilus is going to surprise a lot of people in the coming years,” Mya smiled.

Jaxus smiled back at her, it was infectious seeing all of the opportunity ahead of them.

“Okay, so what can you trade for the materials and common goods?” Jaxus brought them back to the topic at hand. “The goods from the crafters?”

“Yes, gear that will work in all regions, or use spells and elements from the other regions here. Most of it is mundane, stuff that wouldn’t work for fighting. Though sails that can capture water, plates that can reduce the temperature of one area, or capture it in another, alchemical potions of various natures. Spell scrolls and formations that will allow someone with a red core to do something well beyond their natural limits. I think they’ll find their value.” Mya said, Jaxus nodded along. “We can also export water right now, we’ve got more than our needs require. Give us a few months and we’ll be able to start exporting food.”

“Depending on price that will go well with the lower grade goods that come out of Nether Forge,” Jaxus said. “There might also be a number of things that the LTC would be interested in acquiring.”

“We but open the doors,” Mya spread her arms open.

“And another request for you. Have you made contact with the Crystaline Dominion?” Mya asked lightly.

“We have not, we’ve heard of their goods and are interested in them, but their crystals are highly valued and the royal family is not going to let their secrets get out about them.”

“We have several teams working to figure out how they work. We believe that they act like a casters spell book or a ritual.” Mya said.

Jaxus raised an eyebrow in question.

“With spell books and rituals you create a structure for a spell. Usually you create a certain kind of spell, connect it to the ritual or spell book and then the form of the mediums increase the ability of the spell. What you could do we theorize is that you insert a spell and the medium changes the elemental attunement. A spell resonates with the world and creates an effect, you’ve heard of this?”

“Yes, everyone says it,” Jaxus said.

“Yes, but what if it is the truth. That a spell truly does resonate with the world. What if we were to change that resonance?”

Jaxus frowned.

“What if you were to pluck the second string on a guitar, but the fourth was the one that made the noise?” Mya took out her communication crystal. “These are made from Trevain Crystal, born from the same nodule. With some runes and a little magic you can power up these suckers and they transmit your voice to the others.”

Jaxus nodded along.

“I input here and it comes out of another one. What if you put a spell into one end of a crystal and then it tripped the fire element instead of the fire element?”

“It sounds reasonable to me but I’m no crafter,” Jaxus words were slow as his eyes moved back and forth, searching for something. “Based on the goods I’ve seen and your explanation and my limited understanding of magic. It makes sense to me.”

“Good, because Desari came up with the explanation, but damn if it didn’t take her three hours to say what I did in a sentence,” Mya shook her head and put the crystal away.

“While we haven’t made contact with the Crystaline Dominion, we did gather information on them.” Jaxus took out a binder and put it on the map.

“Desari will love this.”

“I’m sure,” Jaxus smiled, but there was a slight hesitation to it.

Mya turned the binder to it and glanced over the pages, flipping them idly. “What is the problem Jaxus?”

“This might be a bit much of me. Though I was wondering if I could ask a favor, as a Limos Merchant. I have a need for some problem solvers. For the Four Horsemen.”

Mya kept her hand pressed to the pages of the binder, lifting her head to meet his eyes. The nervous undercurrent she’d felt from him had bloomed.

She ran through the jobs that were offered on their cards. Each of them looked to take a while to complete. The faster they could complete the job—the faster they could talk to Limos. And get our information.

“What’s the job?”