Page 89 of Under the Lion Star

“While not an immediate solution, the soil in that area produced higher yields year after year,” he spread out several aged documents onto the table. “With Haerbor restored, it would also give us another port of trade. The Mistal Ocean permits far more avenues of shipping as well as an increase in capacity for vessels.”

“It would take years,” Gamril countered. “Decades, even.”

“Aye,” Orin nodded. “But the city doesn’t need to be rebuilt entirely before farming could resume.”

“Exactly,” Z said. “Just enough infrastructure to support farmers and the roadways.”

“Even if it took a decade, it would be worthwhile,” I stroked my chin. “I want to believe the peace with Krannar will last. However, we cannot allow Fjorn to become reliant upon food from an ally we’ve only just regained.”

“We have a proposal here with more concrete timelines,” Liras slid a stack of parchment in front of me. “Farming could begin in as early as five years, with the majority of the city inhabitable by ten.”

“This is good,” I nodded.

I could see Sanna’s touch all over the documents as I rifled through them. Carefully calculated figures and cost projections were easily located. My mind struggled to focus on the proposal itself, pride and astonishment over their work winning out.

My father’s words about not ruling alone filtered through my thoughts. If he could only see how far his children had come. Not even into adulthood, and yet they were improving Fjorn in ways that I would have never thought to.

Twisting in my guts had me unwilling to embrace the idea that things were starting to look up. I knew how easily everything could be taken away in an instant.

“Dismissed,” I waved a hand, not looking up from the papers I was perusing carefully.

How long had it taken them to put this together? The outline was expertly crafted, and I hated that I hadn’t made more of an effort to include my siblings in my reign. Orin’s initial absence was understandable, but Liras and Sanna had so much to offer, yet I never gave them the opportunity.

Once the last man had left, Zialda stood, moving between my legs and leaning back onto the council table. As much as it pained me to deny her our tradition, I had news for her. News that she was not going to be thrilled about.

The door opened, and Atlas walked in with a hesitant smile.

“Don’t you ever knock?” She narrowed her eyes.

“If you knock, you rarely stumble upon anything fun,” he retorted.

She scoffed but looked back at me with a smirk. It fell, moment by moment, as she studied my face.

“What is going on? Did you get information from the elf Liras has tied up?”

Atlas looked to me for guidance, but I didn’t want to set the precedent of lying to my wife.

“No name yet,” I explained. “He insists he doesn’t know. However, he did mention that it was just one well-dressed man who recruited him and his friends.”

“Then what is with this intervention?” She asked, narrowing her eyes.

“Zialda,” I started, looking away from her. “I promised to always keep you safe.”

“Have you forgotten that I don’t need your protection? In fact, both times you’ve stepped in on my behalf, I had the situation handled.”

“I’m not implying that you’re not strong or capable,” I shook my head. “Far from it. All the same, as long as you are around me, you’ll be in danger.”

I slowly lifted my gaze to hers, noting the fury as she took in my words.

“No.”

“Z–”

“No, Leor,” she crossed her arms over her chest. “You are not going to send me away. I can help you. I know I can.”

“Atlas will take you and Sanna to Keldsfen in a few days,” I pressed onward. “He will stay with the two of you until we can take care of this threat.”

“Leor, please.”

---