[Archalen Andares]

Chapter One.
Of Dreams and Memories

46th Brightening in the month of Kalendrya, Season of Winter, Era XV

The Thane sat on the hilltop; seeming alone. Only a few milles from glorious Imperia he was cross legged in the dying grass with his keen eyes pointed toward the dark city by the bay. Contemplative and reflective his mind danced with plans as the overcast gray sky swirled slowly above him. There was a quiet about the area almost as if it were a place of reverence. And it might have been, if only for the view it offered. The vista was breathtaking and the Thane held no choice but to fall into silent awe every time he visited here. He could see the Imperian city walls sprawled out protecting the city in the distance. This view of course offered the unparalleled beauty of the North Sea as a backdrop, the ocean shining as if a thousand small jewels sparkled there. He looked to his home with a confident satisfaction and saw already the developments he had cast within. He could see the rudimentary cranes sticking up like sticks in the distance building the Arcane tower. Here, even so far, he could see the wide plot of land he had developed for the homeless of Imperia; many white small boxes contrasting sharply with the trodden dirt and mud that the workers there trespassed with their tools as they were finishing up the monumental task.

Closer still he saw the developing agriculture of the city. Tracks of land that had been previously wild were now under plow and hoof being developed to feed the populace of the city. He could almost see the abstract and undefined rectangular boxes of land partitioned from this point. The esh'lahier thane knew that down there right now were farmers using the equipment and supplies that he had gotten. The Andares kinsman knew that right now they were down their toiling for Imperia and life. And it was glorious. Further off to the east he could see a small line of caravans, no doubt from his Imperian Trade Depot heading towards far off lands, ready to trade and barter for profits that would find their way back to the city and enrich it.

All of these things the Thane reflected on. He had learned much during his time as Thane. He had accomplished even more, turning a rabble of survivors into an actual productive part of the Empire. A lazy breeze picked up, tainted with cool air of the newborn winter and caressed him as it headed off. He had accomplished much, and he thought it was good. But like an artist working some unfinished masterpiece; there was more work to be done. And the next chapter in Imperia's rise to legend was surely going to be the biggest, longest, and toughest so far. Archalen directed his gaze down the hillside toward the open plains before the agricultural fields. Soft swaying grasses slowly turning brown were the only residents there, a sea of grass that had held there since perhaps time immemorial. But that would all change tomorrow for that was when the appointed hour of Imperia's future security would take shape. "Lord Andares, the rain approaches from the west, shall we go back to the city?" Iternus Malamar asked, coming from behind the ridge to the crest where the Thane was now seated.

Archalen said nothing, holding his tongue and still in his mind-eye seeing what would progress in that field tomorrow. Only in imagination he could picture now a veritable army of engineers, stone masons, wood crafters, laborers, and earth workers. The Shadow Elfs mind showed there in that browning plain an entire small town of temporary tents and offices. Endless in scope and number they would fill the entire lands around Imperia . Their sheer numbers would resemble the plain that lay there now; each person as a single blade of grass, together creating a living sea of life they would create the projects that would protect this city and the Empires interest until time itself stopped. Yes, it would be glorious. Yes, the scope of the project was thus far unprecedented in Imperia.

And yes, it would be this Thanes most daunting task yet.

"My Lord?" the chief aide and diplomat questioned as he saw his Thane unresponsive to the previous question. Snapping out of the images of the mind Archalen turned around and nodded in silent agreement. They walked down the slowly browning hill toward the city. The walls of Imperia, grand and honorable as they were loomed ever larger.

Soon, they would be impressive even more.