We woke early the next morning and after getting a nice hot bath drawn by Phee, we all headed downstairs for a quick breakfast of eggs and bread, before heading out for the Stone section of the city.

As a city boy, getting used to no running water was a bit of a challenge, and as we traversed one of the bridges to the opposite side, I was already considering how I could perhaps apply my engineering knowledge and metal melding ability to remedy the situation. Running water would be a big step up in comfort, but even without it, I had to admit that the bath this morning had felt luxurious nonetheless.

In hindsight, I was surprised I was even able to fall sleep the night before with two days of sweat and grime on me. I guess I’d just been that tired. After we woke up, Phee had carried four large buckets of heated water from the kitchen to the bathhouse attached to the side of the inn and together we shared a bath and a quick love making session before breakfast.

It was wonderful.

In fact, the whole thing was still somewhat surreal to me. It was like being on honeymoon with a seven foot tall supermodel in some exotic resort in the middle of the Amazon rain forest or something. But that fantasy evaporated the moment Devena joined us for breakfast. The dragon lady had us racing down our food and out the door like a drill sergeant, making some timetable that apparently only she knew about.

Still, it was good to know that we could rely on Devena to keep us on task.

The morning air was already hot and became even more humid as we crossed the river. The engineer in me paid close attention to bridge’s construction. It was like something build in the 1920’s back on Earth. Large timbers made up the main support beams which sat on a series of stone pylons every thirty feet or so. In the middle was a double draw bridge with large counter weights. I followed the thick iron chains than ran through a series of pulleys which raised and lowered the bridge sections and saw them connected to a water wheel at the far end of the bridge.

Pretty neat, I thought. I wasn’t sure how often they opened the bridge, but using the rivers flow as a power source to lift what would easily be a couple tons of bridge definitely took some engineering know how.

“Did the Great Sage build all these bridges as well?” I asked Yunni who was bouncing along next to me.

“Well, the legends say he build the entire city, so I would say that it’s pretty likely, yes.”

I blew out a whistle of appreciation. I was sweating my balls off building just one bridge back home, but this place had at least three or four not including all the docks. I had some big shoes to fill if I was going to live up to being the new Great Sage.

As we stepped foot in the stone district, I immediately noticed the large contingent of city guards who gave us the steady stares as we made our way off the bridge. I almost expected to get stopped and harassed again for “papers”, but the Gestapo crew presently on duty seemed more lazy than gung ho and gave their subtle threats to “keep in line” via eyeballing alone.

My companions seemed oblivious to it, or were perhaps more used to it, and kept their heads straight and their mouths close as we walked past the guards and into the city proper.

The streets opened up and while made of the same large flagstones, I noticed these ones were a lot less muddy and grimy than in the wooden section of the city. I saw the reason as to why in the form of several goblin cleaning crews who were all dressed in green uniforms. They swept the up debris and garbage from the streets and dumped the refuse into hand drawn wagons that they hauled behind them. Others were busy scrubbing the streets themselves with hard bristled brooms, polishing the stone to a shine.

A goblin public works crew? I thought with a chuckle. Seems fitting.

But aside from the goblins, I noticed there was a distinct lack of non-humans in the area. It was definitely less than 10 percent as far as I could tell and as we walked the streets I noticed far more stares than we had gotten the night before in the wooden district.

More differences became apparent from the architecture alone. Where the buildings on the other side were more functional and rugged, here they were adored with decorative pillars and even statues. I then saw something that completely blew my mind.

The street emptied into a large open square where hundreds of people were congregating around a multitude of stalls and open air vendors. Within them I could see a variety of wares, from fresh vegetables and fruits from the jungle to weapons and armor. But all of that wasn’t what truly caught my attention. Smack dab in the middle of the square was a fountain, spraying water at least twenty feet into the air.

“Hey how do they do that?” I asked, pointing at the fountain.

“Do what?” Devena asked trying to discern what I was pointing at.

“The fountain, how do they make the water flow like that? Do they have pumps?”

“Pumps?” Yunni said. “Not sure what that is, but it’s probably just a water stone.”

“It is a water stone,” Devena said. “House Leviathan has the contract for sanitation for the Stone district. Fresh water supply is one of their responsibilities.”

“Magic, huh?” Maybe building a plumbing system here could be far easier than I thought. Magic and engineering combined for the win. “How do those stones work?”

“They are quite difficult and expensive to make,” Yunni said. “But once imbued with the proper runes, such stones can produce vast amounts of their base element. So long as they are supplied with enough mana crystals that is.”

“How much do they cost?”

Devena shrugged. “Twenty to Thirty thousand gold perhaps.”

“Yikes. Guess I won’t be making any hybrid magic tech anytime soon.”

“Huh?” Phee asked looking down at me.

I laughed. “Sorry. Just my stupid engineering brain thinking out loud. So where is the place to register?”

“The city hall,” Devena said. “This way.”

We wandered through the market place where I noticed a far greater population of nonhumans now, most of them in the form of vendors. I began to salivate as the various wares I saw. Besides just armor and weapons, I saw stalls offering magic items, scrolls and even raw mana crystals of various sizes for sale. I made a note to definitely come back later to spend some time pricing things and populating a database with it all. Being able to quantity survey and determine the exact cost of things would be very useful when planning how to go about executing this job.

“That’s the central bank and contract exchange,” Phee pointed out a two story structure that sort of reminded me of the Lincoln Memorial set at the far end of the square. “We should visit there today to have you added to the main account. Not that there’s much left in it.”

“How much do we have?”

Everyone looked to Devena but the dragon lady simply waved her hand. “We’ll worry about that later. Let’s just get registered for now.”

“How does it all work here anyway?” I asked. “I remember that goat guy telling me that magic binds the contracts here or something.”

“It does,” Yunni said. “Any contract formed under the Holy will of the Great Lythandra will be enforced through the natural laws of magic. No different than how bonding works. Would you like to see? We’re at the exchange now, so we could probably have a quick tour.”

Devena gave Yunni a glare and I spoke quickly diffuse the tension.

“Maybe later,” I said. “Let’s get signed up first like Devena said.”

The dragon lady seemed pleased with that and gave me a little smile as she continued to lead us through the market. After a few blocks we entered another open area that housed the city hall. As we got closer, I noticed it looked a bit like the White House. Actually it looked a lot like the White House, domed roof and all. I then thought back to the contract exchange resembling the Lincoln Memorial and realized it probably wasn’t a coincidence. If the Great Sage created this place and he came from Earth, then it was likely he used those real world buildings as models. The same went for the bridges, no doubt.

As we approached the open doors to the city hall, a burly human guard whose uniform was practically bursting at the seams, intercepted us.

“Can I help you lot?” he said gruffly.

Devena opened her mouth to speak, but I jumped in ahead of her, brandishing my amulet. Devena might have been the de facto leader before I arrived, but now that I was the Guildmaster, I needed to assert my dominance as the true leader of our group.

Especially when it came to the dragon lady.

“The names Cole Jacobs and I’m the Guildmaster of House Velmar,” I said with a smile. “I hear this is where we need to sign up for the canal dredging competition. Could you show us the way?”

The guard looked a bit taken aback by quick reply, but eventually he nodded after studying my amulet for a bit. “I see. Wait here.”

He disappeared for a moment and then returned with a thin man dressed in a long blue overcoat trailing behind him. He was middle aged with deeply receding hair and a thin mustache. He eyed us warily as he came to a halt.

“Good day,” he said and opened a thick book he was carrying with him. “You say you represent House Velmar, correct?”

“That’s right.”

“Velmar…Velmar…” he mumbled looking up and down the pages within the book. “And you say you wish to register for the canal competition?”

“That’s right,” Yunni said enthusiastically. “We still have plenty of time, don’t we?”

The man made a clucking sound with his tongue. “Time doesn’t seem to be your problem, Mr. Jacobs. Money is.”

“What?” Devena said. “What money problem?”

“Well it seems your Guild is behind on your paying taxes,” the man said. “According to the rules of the competition, only Guilds in good standing with the Commission may compete.”

“What?” Devena said. “That’s outrageous! There was no stipulation like that within the rules.”

“Oh perhaps you missed the addendum that was released yesterday,” the man said. “In response to some complaints by participants, the Commission has ruled that good imperial standing would be an added criteria for eligibility.”

“What! Why?”

“Well it simply wouldn’t be fair for some guilds who pay their taxes on time to have to compete with those who do not. The Commissioner signed the order already so there is no use complaining.”

“I will complain!” Devena shouted. “And besides that, taxes are due months from now. So even if there was some asinine last minute rule change, it shouldn’t apply to us!”

“I’m not talking about this years’ taxes, ma’am,” he said. “I’m talking about last year’s taxes. And in terms of applicability, if most certainly applies to your guild. In fact, your guild in particular.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Sir, your Guild still owes eight thousand two hundred twenty seven gold for the previous year’s taxes.”

“Yes,” Devena said pinching the bridge of her nose. “But we opted for the deferral option under this year’s leniency clause. Imperial ordinance allows for leniency once every ten years and everything was in order. Furthermore I have the letter from your very office to state that it was granted.”

“That may well be,” the man said. “And you need not pay the taxes until years end as per the details of that letter…I have it right here by the way.” He looked down at the book, and catching a glimpse, I noticed that the figures on the page were changing, just like it were an Ipad or something. “But it will mean that you cannot register for the competition, I’m afraid. That would require a zero balance on your account.”

“You’re telling me that all the other Guilds have zero balances?”

“I’m sorry but I’m not allowed to share that information. One’s imperial debt is a matter of confidentiality, as you would no doubt appreciate.”

Devena crinkled her nose looking disgusted. “Dog shit Guild politics. I bet it was one of those deep pocket pricks that made the complaint. Force us little guys out.”

“I’m afraid I cannot comment on that, ma’am,” the man said. “But the complaints are recorded in the addendum as a matter of transparency. If you wish to know, the complaints came from House Ifrit, House Leviathan and House Aegis.”

“Yup,” Phee said. “The big three. You called it Devana.”

I looked to the dragon lady and then leaned in to whisper in her ear. “So how much do we actually have available, Devena?”

“Not eight thousand that’s for sure. Why do you think we had to defer?”

I blew out a sigh. I expected as much but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask.

“Will that be all then?” the man asked, closing the book.

I had to shake my head. Government red tape and bureaucracy existed everywhere it seemed. But thankfully I had a lot of experience dealing with civil servants.

“First, thanks for telling us all this, er…what was your name again?”

“Percival,” he said. “Vice Commissioner Percival.”

“Well Vice commissioner,” I said in as professional a tone as I could muster. “I hope you can appreciate that we have all intentions of making good on the back taxes we owe. Unfortunately we’re a bit short on cash flow at the moment but I’m wondering if there was any flexibility in that clause.”

Negotiation Versus Percival: Fail

+0 Relationship with Percival

Current relationship: 0 Indifferent

“I’m afraid not,” Percival said. “The order was signed by Lady Celine herself. And as it has already been publicized, it would be near impossible to have it revoked. I’m sure you can also appreciate the Commission’s position in this situation. The competition comes with a sizable advance and it certainly doesn’t make sense to issue that large a sum of money to a Guild who already owe us money.”

“Ugh,” Phee grunted. “Let’s just go. This whole plan is cursed.”

“No wait,” I said. “Commissioner Percival, I know your hands are probably tied on this, but we really wish to compete. Is there any way you can arrange a meeting for us with Lady Celine?”

Percival’s eyes widened like I just asked to date his mother or something. “That would be most unusual, sir. And quite bold of you to ask.”

Negotiation Versus Percival: Fail

-10 Relationship with Percival

Current relationship: -10 Indifferent

It was the reaction I was expecting, but I didn’t expect it to come with the -10 relationship. If I was reading the politics right, Percival was part the of the government or civil service, while Lady Celine was more like a politician, or in this case, part of the governing royal family that in control of the region. Either way, Celine was the one that held the true power and stopping the average Joe from getting to her directly was no doubt part of Percival’s job.

But that didn’t mean he couldn’t be persuaded.

“Yes, I understand that,” I said, choosing my words more carefully. “But I know it would be a shame for such a significant public works project to pass by the very guild that allows the commission to even operate in the Vult, in the first place.”

Negotiation versus Percival: Minor Success

+20 Relationship with Percival

Current relationship: 10 Indifferent

His eyebrow raised at that and I switched into full power point presentation mode. I’d performed numerous impromptu speeches like this during my career. From conducting town hall meetings to petitioning government boards, throwing a pitch to a reluctant audience was as natural as breathing for me.

“I’m sure the Holy Imperials Commission to the Vult Exploration Concern is an institution that holds dear to its roots and foundation. I mean…even the building you’re standing in now, is a product of my predecessor, the Great Sage of House Velmar. And while I know we have fallen on hard luck of late, I’m here to tell you that my aim is to not only bring back the honor of our house, but to build a monument that will stand the test of time as a symbol of the strength for the Holy Empire.”

Negotiation versus Percival: Major Success

+100 Relationship with Percival

Current relationship: 110 Neutral

Percival sighed and nodded slightly. “Well I can’t deny that House Velmar has performed wondrous works in the past. But the past is the past and the present balance is the present balance, I’m afraid.”

“Yes,” I said. “I understand that. But history must count for something. The commission owes its very existence to the Great Sage of this house, whom I have now succeeded. You can ask my companions. I have travelled across the stars to see to this great work. It would be a sin in the eyes of Lythandra for us not to even be allowed to compete over something as slight as a late payment. A payment that we will assuredly make as soon as I get the affairs of the house in order.”

Negotiation versus Percival: Great Success!

+100 relationship with Percival

Current relationship: 210 Mildly positive

+1 To Negotiation

I wasn’t sure if taking the religious angle was going to work or not, but considering it was called the Holy Imperial Commission, I took the chance. And I’m glad I did, because his shift in relationship caused a change in both his countenance and his tone.

“If that is true then I can’t deny that that would be a missed opportunity indeed, Mr. Jacobs,” Percival said. “But it would require a significant gesture by Lady Celine to make a special condition just for your guild. Transparency in this process is quite important, you see.”

Bingo, I thought. He’s given me an in and the reasoning behind the reservations for changing the policy.

“I understand,” I said. “The most I ask of you is a meeting. If not just to introduce myself alone. I am sure the Lady Celine might be interested in at least a conversation with the heir to the fabled Great Sage.”

Negotiation versus Percival: Critical Success!

+200 relationship with Percival

Current relationship: 410 positive

+1 to Negotiation

Percival twitched his mustache. “Give me a moment, sir.”

He left living us with the guard for a few minutes and then he returned a few minutes later, scrolling through his book again. “You are in luck, Mr. Jacobs. The Lady Celine has a cancellation this morning. Be back here within two hours and I will see to it that you you’re your audience.”

I grinned. “Thank you very much, Mr. Percival. I truly appreciate it.”

He smiled. “The Commission aims to serve.”

I gave a huge smile to my companions who were all stared at me dumbfounded like I had just performed a magic trick or something.

“Shall we go?” I said.

Yunni and Phee both nodded, their mouths still hanging open. Devena however merely rolled her eyes. As we started to leave, the Vice Commissioner called out to us again.

“Ah Mr. Jacobs? A word of advice.”

“Sure.”

“I mean no offense,” he said and then added in a hushed to a whisper. “But might I advise that both you and your…companion’s…return appropriately dressed?”

My face flushed with embarrassment as I looked down at my dirt strained shirt and torn pants. “Ah good point. Thanks.”

“Sebastian Reynolds is a fantastic tailor who works out of the garment district,” he said. “I do recommend. You can say I sent you. And also, hurry. The Lady Celine does not like to be kept waiting.”