Units of Measure

One step equals one foot.

I need a name for a smaller unit of measure instead of inch. I almost used “toe” which just sounds dumb. If anyone has an idea for a good name please leave a comment.

One long step equals one yard.

One league equals one nautical league or 3.45 miles or 5.56 kilometers.

Units of Time: seconds, minutes, hours, days, etc.

Units of Weight: ounces, pounds and tons.

Most coins are one ounce.

A horse drawn carriage typically travels at 1.5 leagues per hour.

James Drake’s carriage: http://www.hansenwheel.com/custom-showcase/custom-vehicle-showcase/eastern-style-stagecoach/touring-concord-coach

I need some suggestions for a few good names for two oceans and two continents.

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Chapter 11: Cone Island

Two days after demonstrating the communication boards to Paul and Sam, I was working with Dean Marks and Professor King in my laboratory. Though the Mage Guild probably wouldn’t like to admit it, both ladies are probably the best two potion concocters in the Kingdom.

I had finally invented an apparatus that gave witch sight to normal people. There was only one slight hitch; it was exceedingly difficult to make the necessary potion that the magical device required, so hard in fact that I was forced to cheat when mixing it. A potion concocter will sometimes put a drop of their own blood into a concoction that they are making. The blood isn’t actually part of the potion; it is instead a catalyst that gives a mage a much higher success rate when making said concoction. By using their own blood, a mage is able to establish a better connection with the potion when they invoke their magic upon it. The blood catalyst technique, besides granting a higher success rate, normally ensures that any potions made that way are more powerful as well.

In school, I was taught that at least half of all potions are made using a blood catalyst but I had a mental problem with using that method too often. I had far too many painful memories involving a Bloodsucking Witch! As a result I rarely used my own blood when making a potion. I did use it when I mixed my stone making concoctions however it only took a little drop of the catalyst for a whole vat of that particular potion. And by using my own blood I was also able to cast an enchantment that made my stones partially resistant to the magical attacks from any other magic users. Thus the Imperial Wizards we fought; had a harder time damaging the stone walls that I helped to build.

I do sometimes, use my own blood when I’m mastering or inventing a new potion. Sadly, my witch sight concoction is proving to be an absolute dragon of a potion to make! I’m hoping that Dean Marks and Professor King can help me with modifying the concoction so it becomes at least a little easier to manufacture.

In order to complete my new device, I got some old Shangren battle helms; they are equipped with drop down metal visors, unlike the Gulf Kingdom’s open-faced lobster-tail and kettle hat style helmets. I next had a glassmaker create some extremely thin, rectangular, clear glass bottles.

After the bottles were made, I engraved some runes onto them, my potion was poured inside and the bottles permanently sealed with my glue. When a normal person looks through the thin enchanted bottle it’s just like as if they were born with fairly good witch sight.

I had a blacksmith chop rectangular holes in the battle helms’ visors and I used glue to affix the bottles into place. I’ve got four of the helms done now but I don’t know if I should demonstrate them as of yet. I don’t know how long they are going to continue to function, since the concoctions do degrade over time and sunlight accelerates the process.

There was a bright flash of fire by the work bench that Dean Marks was standing in front of; she started to curse, unintelligibly. “#$ @%&*! James, get over here!”

“Yes Dean,” I said upon my hurried arrival.

“I give up for now. I can’t even make this blasted potion when I follow your formula, let alone when I try to modify it. How are you doing Julia?” The Dean said looking towards the other work table.

“I gave up over an hour ago Greta. I’ve been keeping myself busy by making a good vegetable soup, while I’ve been waiting for you. It’s done now would you like a cup?” Professor King said brightly, while looking at her boss. Greta resumed cursing.

While the ladies had been experimenting, I had mixed enough potions for four more helms but I only had two bottles and two helmets left. The Royal Armory originally had just six of those Shangren helmets in stock; I wondered what else I could use?

After we all ate some soup and the ladies left, I stood up and looked around my cluttered workshop. Suddenly, I was sick of looking at the place. I walked back to my suite trailed by my two well-armed assistants. Why do they make me feel so old? I’m young; I should be out having fun. I had an urge to go fishing.

Once in my room and sitting down for dinner with my staff. “Guys, I need a break. Tomorrow I’m going to skip class.”

I was interrupted by Army Sergeant Richard Sanders who said with a grin. “So what else is new, you’re always skipping class.”

I glowered at him. “Shut up, I was with Dean Marks and Professor King all day today, in my book that counts as going to class. As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted. I am going to take a break and go on a walk-about tomorrow. My first stop will be at my shipwright’s place, I need to check on the new boat that she’s building for me. Those slow sailing ships absolutely suck mud, and except for when I nearly got killed on my last trip, I was bored the entire time. After I talk with my shipwright, I’m going to walk to the coast. Probably to the deserted eastern side of the bay and go fishing.” To say that my plans were greeted with applause would be a bold faced lie.

The following day, Countess Green, Minister of Intelligence, had a very special visitor in her home. Elizabeth Gomez was a commoner but she was a very well connected commoner despite her origins. Even so, she was extremely flattered to be invited to the Countess’s home.

“Thank you, Ms. Gomez for coming to see me.”

“It is my pleasure, Countess.”

“Please sit down, I hope you like green tea?”

She didn’t but she wasn’t about to admit it. “Green tea sounds wonderful.”

The Countess laughed. “You are a liar but you’re very good at it. We’ll be having some nice cool lemonade instead; I know you’d prefer that.”

Elizabeth laughed too, “So that was a test?”

“No, more of a little joke, I already know what kind of a person you are; I’ve asked you here because I and in fact the Kingdom need your expertise.”

Ms. Gomez was astonished, “Why would the Kingdom need my help?”

“First off let me say that the Kingdom has already recognized your good works with various charities and the support you’ve given to children orphaned by the war. This is not a bribe but I thought you might like early word that per Princess Ellen’s request you will be ennobled shortly. You should in fact receive the formal notice either later today or tomorrow.”

Elizabeth Gomez was stunned but not so much that she couldn’t clearly see the hand of Princess Ellen. The new heir had a lot of wisdom and intelligence, unlike her father. “Thank you for informing me Countess but you said that you needed my help?”

“Yes, you have a reputation for being an excellent and honorable matchmaker. We have a young man that we need to keep happy and keep here in the Capital. He doesn’t like it here and I cannot say that I blame him, since he’s been ill-used by far too many people. However, his value to this Kingdom cannot be overstated. And I think that there is no better way to keep him happy and here than a pretty girl. This young man will be ennobled in less than year; the only question is whether he will be made a Baron or a Count. That is no secret by the way. Many powerful families, that are already in the know, have been trying for weeks to introduce their daughters to him. However, I am afraid that those girls will all be poor matches for that young man. The King and his advisors don’t care if our distinguished gentleman partners with a noble or a common girl we just want him to be content. To those ends, you would have an open purse from the King in this matter. I’ve prepared a file for you about your target. I do hope that you’ll accept this task, because I don’t know what we will do without your aid. We will also be compensating you for your help, Princess Ellen insisted on that.

The King will formally name you Lady Gomez at the palace next week but unless you move to the newly captured territories, your title will not include any lands at this time and that may never happen, there are very few vacant landed titles west of Drake’s Swamp.”

In truth, Elizabeth Gomez wouldn’t mind having an estate in the Eastern Territories. She had heard that much of it was empty because of the Empire’s cruelty and mismanagement. But she would bring that up at a later time; she didn’t want to appear to be too greedy. “I would be happy to help the Kingdom and find your young man a suitable partner or even partners, though the second case is rare even amongst nobles nowadays.”

“I don’t think James Drake is the type to appreciate more than one addition to his life but you never know.”

I had planned on walking today, but to my disgust I found myself in a carriage riding towards my shipwright’s place of business. What the heck was that?!! I suddenly felt a shiver go up my spine like I was being eyed for lunch by a hungry swamp dragon!

Yesterday, I told the Sergeants that I was going off to get away from everyone and that I planned on walking to the coast, in search of a quiet place to fish. Instead upon leaving the dormitory building this morning, I had been followed by my entire staff and greeted with the sight of a fully loaded Royal Carriage.

It took us nearly an hour to get to Sofia Overgaard’s workplace and I grumbled at my overly helpful staff the entire way.

“Hey, Sofia how’s my new pirogue coming along?”

“James, why do you insist on calling every flat bottomed boat that you see a pirogue? For the hundredth time, a pirogue is skinny. What I built for you the last time was a punt, which is a wide boat with a flat bottom and not at all skinny! According to Sergeant Russell, punts are what you used when you were ferrying the Fifth Regiment across Drake’s Swamp, so stop calling every blasted boat you see a pirogue! As for this peculiar craft you had me make for you, I’ve been calling it a cobble, since I cobbled it together out of various bit and pieces. It’s got the flat bottom of a punt, the sides of a dory and a weighted keel. The keel is on a pivot which will allow it to swing up if it hits something or you can raise it when you need to. If you hadn’t given me that regeneration potion and promised to enchant my own sloop, I wouldn’t have built this ghastly thing. Whatever you do don’t tell anyone who made your boat, I would never be able to live it down.

I make no promises that you won’t kill yourself while using it and whatever you do keep close to the coastline when you are traveling back and forth from that swamp of yours. That way we’ll be able to find your body when it washes up on shore. As for your cobble it’s done and ready to be enchanted.”

“Sofia I’m glad to see that you so enthusiastically embraced my design ideas and I thank you for your suggestion about the keel.”

She grumbled back at me and showed me to my new pirogue. It was six steps wide and twenty-six steps long. According to Sofia it should be wider for its length but I didn’t think a wider pirogue would work that well back in the swamp. On the other hand my boat’s high sides, roof and keel should make it much more seaworthy, I hope.

The bow and stern of my boat had a permanently fixed wooden cover on top, while the middle of my PIROGUE was covered by what looked like an upside down, two step tall wooden box with windows. There were hatches in the top of the wooden box that could be opened up, if I wanted to stand but in case of bad weather I could close the hatches and sit inside while looking out the windows. There were a few other special features on my pirogue, like the bulge running down the center line of its roof. I had already made some custom magical devices for my boat as well. Now all I needed to do was enchant the craft.

“It looks great Sofia. I’ll be by tomorrow to enchant both of our pirogues.” She growled at me in response, she really is a wonderful person. I’m truly glad that I gave her that regeneration potion because when she used to kick me in the past her old wooden leg would hurt me a lot more and she didn’t even risk bruising a toe.

Walking with slight limp, I bid her goodbye and hopped back into my carriage. I was ashamed to admit it but I rather liked the coach that I always seemed to get, it was painted a lustrous deep blue and had gold filigree. The luxurious leather seats and the finely built springs on the vehicle; were extremely nice too. I’ve seen too many people throw up after a long bumpy ride in an inferior carriage. But I was frequently embarrassed by some of the looks that I received while riding in the expensive coach. Shrugging my shoulders, I decided to be decadent and let myself relax into the deep upholstery.

Five minutes later my pleasure excursion, to the eastern side of the Gulf Grand Harbor, took a down turn. It now appeared as if I was part of a bloody parade! Ten mounted horsemen had suddenly shown up and they were at this moment leading the way for my carriage. As they past my coach, they had exchanged nods of recognition with Rich and Roy; it seems that my sergeants had been expecting the troopers and keeping things from me too!

Besides those horsemen, there were at least two more squads riding alongside my carriage and immediately behind it. Following them was a supply wagon and with what looked like the command element for a horse platoon. After my time with the Army I well knew how the Cavalry operated.

Just what the heck was going on! “Rich, since all of the new people riding along with us look like regular Army to me; can you please explain what in the blazes is happening now? I feel like I’m part of a heavily armed convoy rather than being on a relaxing day trip to a secluded fishing spot.”

Sergeant Richard Sanders mentally winced. “Well James as I told you when we started out this morning; last night Roy and I tried to figure out the best destination for you. During the war, the eastern side of the mouth of the Gulf Grand Harbor was repeatedly attacked, blasted apart and burned by the Imperial Navy and Marines. Despite what the Kingdom did to protect the area, the Empire was always able to sneak in and cause great devastation. As a result people, shops, docks and all other activities withdrew from that area. Many of those displaced people and businesses relocated to the better protected western side of the bay.

When I put in the request for your personal carriage, somehow a high ranking Army Officer heard about our excursion and he arbitrarily decided that the Army should send along a platoon in order to get a general feel of the area since now that the war is over, people will soon start returning to that side of the harbor.

Our destination has been practically abandoned for over twelve years because of the war. Fires, growing plant life and returning wild animals have practically wiped out any signs of what was once a heavily populated outlying arm of Sweet Port. I’m astonished that the Army hasn’t already sent a survey party out that way. But manpower is still at a premium even with the hostilities being over. The Kingdom lost too many people because of that damn war and what with rebuilding lost ships, destroyed infrastructure, and colonizing the new territories there are just far too many demands on the healthy people that we do have, to get everything done in a timely manner. So that’s why a mounted platoon just happens to be traveling along with us. It’s really just a coincidence of timing.”

It was difficult for the two Sergeants to maintain such innocent expressions while James glowered at them, because Rich’s explanation had been pure bullshit. Countess Green’s fledgling Royal Intelligence Service was certain that foreign elements wanted to either capture or kill James Drake. When James had made his plans known about what he intended to do today, the Countess nearly had a conniption fit when she learned about them late last night. The written orders she had sent back to the two Sergeants had been rather pointed. The eastern arm of Sweet Port had been a ghost area for many years, with only a very small army fort and infrequent token patrols. On top of that James was insisting on seeing the ocean and some unknown foe of the Kingdom had invisible warships. Even a brigantine might have a complement of almost two hundred with at least fifty of those normally being marines. All it would take would be to have a handy enemy ship off shore and a spy, equipped with some kind of magical communication device to imperil Drake’s life.

What the Countess wanted to do was lock him in the palace for his own protection but the Princess had given orders not to do anything that would upset Drake or reduce his quality of life. The Minister of Intelligence had wanted to shout back “what about his quantity of life?” But she had known that saying something like that wouldn’t be a smart thing to do, so she had kept her mouth shut.

The roads that we were traveling on were badly overgrown but the infrequent Army patrols had them cut back enough that they were still barely useable. We crossed an isthmus that was about three to four hundred long steps wide and less than half a league long, it led to what was called Cone Island, even though it wasn’t really an island. According to Marine Sergeant Roy Russell, who was one of my assistants along with Army Sergeant Richard Sanders, Cone Island was slightly over a league long, and it was about five hundred long steps wide at its widest point, with its length running parallel to the coastline.

Roy began speaking. “There used to be a lighthouse at the western end of this island but it got destroyed early on in the war. The Kingdom kept trying to rebuild it because it was an important navigational aid but the Imperial bastards would always show up as soon as we made any progress. So instead the King had the Royal Spire Lighthouse built on the western side of the bay; that structure is over two hundred and fifty steps tall, with it being so large it could fill in for the destroyed Eastern Point Lighthouse.

The spot where that lighthouse used to be has a great view of the gulf. How about if we stop there for lunch, since it’s been over four hours since we left the University?”

“Sounds like a good idea Roy, my stomach has been growling at me.”

Folding tables and chairs were unloaded from the roof of my carriage and they were quickly set up by my two servants, Philip Turner and John Cooke. While the driver and the footman for my carriage saw to the horses. Riding in such a coach might be the height of luxury but I am not overly impressed with their speed. I would have rather walked on this foray, since it would have only taken a little longer and I could have used the exercise. I’m afraid of getting soft and not being able to re-acclimate to living back in my swamp.

I do get a little exercise most mornings but that’s only when I practice with my spear or short sword with the Sergeants. The nobles can keep their fancy long swords; I prefer a well made spear. My favorite weapon is actually a glaive that is a little less than six steps long, it’s longer than a sword yet short enough that I’m pretty handy with it.

Both Sergeants and my servants had responded with looks of shock when I had initially told them my plans to go on a one day walk-about by myself. For spoiling my plans I think I’ll be using the four of them as test subjects for some really foul tasting potion experiments.

The seven of us dined on a table covered with a white linen cloth, while the Cavalry platoon ate what looked like a meal of dried meat and hard biscuits. I had invited the Lieutenant and her two sergeants to eat with us but she had refused, saying that she always ate the same thing as the rest of her troopers did and seeing as how we didn’t have enough food for an additional thirty-two people, she sadly had to turn down my offer. I did feel a little guilty eating cold fried chicken, corn bread, sausage, beans and fresh fruit in front of the platoon; but my two sergeants seemed to relish showing off what they were dining on to their brethren in uniform.

I had always heard that the Gulf Kingdom was particularly lucky when it came to food stuffs. The Kingdom was located in the center of a vertical band on the Book Continent. The Eastern Empire is, as one might easily guess, located on the eastern edge of the continent. The Empire is confined on its western border by Drake’s Swamp and the Mountains of Ria. On the other side of the mountains lies the Gulf Kingdom which stretches for over six hundred leagues to the west until stopping at the Great Western Sky Mountains. Beyond that mountain range is a collection of various city-states and small countries.

The mountains protect the Gulf Kingdom and provide it with vast quantities of fresh water and mineral resources. In the warm south; citrus fruits, olives and grapes are grown while further north wheat, rice and corn are all cultivated. The rivers in the Kingdom, especially the Haven River which runs right through Sweet Port and into the Gulf, provide an excellent transportation network which has been augmented by many manmade canals. It is my understanding that before the war, the Kingdom was making good money by shipping food stuffs to other countries. But because of the virtual destruction of our navy and the blockade, our local merchants had been forced to sell their goods to only those people sailing on ships from neutral nations. Those foreign buyers, knowing that the Kingdom’s merchants had no other alternatives, had bargained hard thus reducing the local merchants’ profits and the Kingdom’s tax revenues to practically nothing. Everyone had suffered economically because of the conflict.

It would take years for the Kingdom to rebuild its Navy and merchant fleet, so things still aren’t as good as they used to be.

Nevertheless for the moment, even if I didn’t have my desired solitude, I was still really enjoying the magnificent ocean view before me and the sound of the waves. Living in the center of Sweet Port is something I would never be able to get used to, but I could definitely envision being comfortable living in locale like this.

I suddenly sat up. I was unquestionably returning to my swamp but I could foresee making frequent trips to and from Sweet Port. I did have a few friends here, and there were some awfully good restaurants in town that I would miss. However, while I liked Alex and Donna, I didn’t wish to stay with them every time that I returned to Sweet Port, nor did I want to stay in an inn or a hotel. Since no one was living on this island, I had to wonder if I could perhaps buy a small piece of it. If I did, I could have my own dock here and use my new boat to travel back and forth. For the first time in a long while I felt really excited about something besides a new magical invention. I wondered who I should ask, maybe Donna. I was supposed to have dinner with her and Alex in three days; I’ll talk with her then.

After our lunch we spent the next three hours slowly touring the island. While the southern side didn’t have any suitable sites to safely keep a boat; the northern side between the mainland and the island, had numerous small coves that were ideal, though many of them were choked with sand but I should be able to figure something out.

Late in the afternoon we headed back to the University, I never did get any fishing in. I skipped school for the following two days so I could enchant my cobble and Sofia’s small sloop.

Sofia was a borderline mage, the sort that was being recruited by the Navy to operate and charge their kraken tubes and spears. Up until recently she had no real way to use the little magic that she had inside of her. Many years ago, she was a Ship’s Carpenter on a merchant vessel. Her husband had been its Sailing Master. When the war started their ship was out at sea; they almost made it safely back to Sweet Port. But they didn’t, Sofia lost her husband, their two oldest children, her lower right leg and her left eye.

Today; Sofia, her two surviving children, Naja and Simon, as well as my two sergeants were whooping and hollering as I pushed my new pirogue along. I had improved the runes of movement using almost the same method that I had used to create my new button shields. My old boat could travel at a moderate running pace, my new boat could move twice as fast as a man’s fast run. The runes were still mass limited, so they couldn’t move anything much bigger than Sofia’s sloop but when they worked it was startling. It had been necessary to engrave some runes into the boat’s keel so my pirogue wouldn’t be as fast when I retracted the keel but you couldn’t have everything.

We had slowly taken my boat out to a secluded place in the bay for testing. I didn’t want it generally known how fast my boat could truly go but even I had been shocked with its speed.

Sofia was yelling at me again. “James let me pilot this craft. You said you would show me how to do it, I’ll need to know for my own sloop.”

“You promise not to kick me anymore?”

“Those weren’t kicks those were just pointed reminders about proper nautical terms.”

Grumbling I showed her how to use the movement enchantments. But I didn’t show her how to activate the pirogue’s shields, her sloop didn’t have those. As for the wards on both of our crafts they were entirely passive but our boats could move so quickly that I wasn’t sure how effective the aversion wards would truly be.

“Sofia I have enough magic to keep the movement runes fully charged even while I’m using it. You have enough magic to control your sloop but you’ll probably have to spend two or three hours charging them for every hour you use them. Please keep them a secret as best you can. I’ve got the really critical ones disguised but I would prefer for them all to remain a secret. As you already know, about every three months or so I will need to come by and touch up the runes but that’s only if I’m available, I’m not making any promises.”

She didn’t seem to be listening to me; I swear the fierce grin on her face was going to be permanently affixed as she swung my cobble into another tight turn, throwing up a spray of water. Both Naja and Simon, both had enough magic that I also ended up showing them how to operate my boat. Roy and Rich on the other hand, were very disappointed that they were magically unable to control the movement runes.

The next day while having dinner at Alex’s and Donna’s house, I spoke about Cone Island with my three dining companions, one of whom was the Princess.

“I skipped out on my classes a few days ago, the University walls had been closing in on me or at least it had been feeling that way to me. So feeling the need for a little fresh air and sunshine, I took a day trip to the coast. As you all know I plan on returning to my home as soon as I graduate. But while visiting Cone Island, I had a thought. What if I purchased a piece of land out there and built myself a second home on the island. I should be able to easily construct something using my magical stone making talents. So, I was wondering if any of you know who I would need to speak with about making an offer on a piece of that island.”

Alex and Donna both had to stifle exclamations of dismay while Princess Ellen felt her stomach plummet out from beneath her when she heard James mention returning to the swamp. But their emotions were whipsawed when their friend brought up the subject of buying a piece of local property.

Donna knowing the Kingdom’s security concerns for her young friend spoke first. “James that area is terribly far from the city proper, my goodness it takes over four hours by carriage to get from this estate to Cone Island. Are you sure that you want to live so far away?”

“Donna, I like everyone here but I’m not too fond of city life; it is okay in small doses but every day for weeks or months at a time, would drive me insane. Cone Island is abandoned as is most of that area; I thought if no one else has any interest in that land right now, then it was a good time for me to make an offer.”

Ellen suddenly started to speak before anyone else said anything, she just had an idea and she didn’t want anyone to possibly spoil it. “James, most if not all of Cone Island has reverted to the Kingdom. Please allow me to check with the Royal Treasurer and I’ll get back with you. It should only take me two or three days at most.”

“Ellen, I would feel like I was taking advantage of your position to ask you to do something like that for me,” responded James.

“James, you saved my life more than once and I see the Treasurer almost daily, so it is no bother at all.”

Reassured James dropped the subject but Donna exchanged a curious glance with the Princess.