Shadows Over Arcadia Chapter 41: 41. Getting Dirty

Read chapter 41 of Shadows Over Arcadia by Zacheas on NovelPedia.

I am Ren Drakemore, age 8, the 2nd Prince of the Kingdom of Arcadia, and I am building my power and influence so that one day I may become King of this land. https://shadowsoverarcadia.com/api/storage/objects/uploads/94d9f12d-768f-4ec3-a12d-51b487be4617 “Faber, I would like you to meet Prince Ren,” Lord Griswald says, addressing a tall man with short grey hair and a matching beard, trimmed neatly to the sharp lines of his square jaw. I nod in greeting with a friendly smile. In response, Faber places his fist over his opposite shoulder and gives a deep bow—a formal gesture of respect, traditionally used by commoners when addressing royalty. Though I know it’s customary, I’m a bit taken aback. I’m not used to being on the receiving end of it. I don’t interact with many commoners, at least not as Prince Ren. The other versions of me—the ones who move freely in the world—don’t inspire such formality. No one bows to Shadow or a cloaked boy wandering the alleys. No one knows they’re me. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, young master,” Faber says. His voice is low and gravelly, and there’s a slight stiffness to the way he moves—muscle-bound but weathered. His dark, rough skin speaks of a life spent working long hours under the sun, a life carved by hard labor. “The pleasure is mine, sir. Lord Griswald tells me you’re the only builder he trusts to manage the major projects in his domain,” I reply, glancing toward the massive piles of stone blocks and timber stacked across the scorched land above the kobold cave. It’s been four days since Jade met with Lord Griswald and finalized their agreement—which included the construction of a fortress to guard the entrance to Tiamat’s sanctuary. Since then, Griswald’s workers have hauled in tons of stone, timber, and steel fittings to the construction site. He also tasked Faber with assembling a large crew of builders, and today marks the official start of the project. Lord Griswald brought Lady Willow, Jade, and me to join him and Diana in overseeing this important milestone. He claimed Jade’s presence was necessary—so that Tiamat could witness firsthand that he was moving quickly to fulfill his end of the bargain. “M’lord is too kind,” Faber replies, a touch of pride creeping into his voice as he puffs out his chest slightly and straightens his posture. “But yes, I’ve had the honor of building many things for my lord’s domain.” “I’d like to show our guest what we’re planning,” Griswald says, gesturing with his thumb over his shoulder toward the kobold in the flowery sunhat. She’s currently distracted, watching the flurry of activity as workers unload equipment and tools from nearby wagons. What was once an empty valley has become a hive of organized chaos. A team of mages is raising the frame of what appears to be a warehouse or workshop. Others use magic to clear brush, while several more carve a wide trench into the earth with precision spells, tracing a sweeping arc around the path that leads down to the cave. “Of course. Right this way, m’lord,” Faber replies, waving us toward a large canvas tent pitched at the center of the work site. It stands amid towering stacks of stone blocks, timber, and steel. It appears to be some kind of command post for the operation. Willow, Griswald, Diana, and I begin to follow, but after only a few steps, I glance back and notice Jade hasn’t moved. She remains where she was, her mismatched eyes both wide with wonder as she, and her dragon matron, take in the whirlwind of magic and construction unfolding around her—utterly captivated by the sight. “Come along, Jade,” I call, holding out a hand. My voice pulls her attention back to us, and she hurries over, taking my hand and slipping into step beside me as we enter the tent. Inside, the others have already gathered around a large central table covered in sheets of parchment, each lined with detailed architectural drawings. Jade and I step into the open space left for us, and I scan the top sheet—an overhea