I landed on the dock then next day to an honor guard. I silently wondered if this was to be the norm from now on. I certainly hoped not. There were people crowding around my landing pad and they cheered. I had no experience with this, not here and certainly not in my home world, wherever that was. Not being one for speeches, I lifted a foreleg and approximated a wave. Then I shifted. The guard stepped in from either side and turned as one to face the city. Haladoria and Dorvus stepped up to me with a bow, then rising, turned and led the way.

We walked... and in the guards case, marched, almost to the entrance to the valley leading to my home. I was led to a large building to the right and up marble steps to the main entrance. The building reminded me of old roman architecture. With large stone pillars holding up the extended roof. But instead of straight fluted columns, these were sculpted dragons. The doors, which opened as we approached, were of bronze with rampant dragons facing each other.

I was starting to detect a theme here, I though sardonically. The hall inside... well... I could probably fit in here in my dragon form if I didn’t open my wings. More carved dragon pillars lined the hall to the back where it opened into a larger room. There were doors to the side that lead to who knew where and they were in bronze as well. It suddenly occurred to me that they had planned for this for quite some time.

As we entered the main area, people... of various races... rose from their benches and bowed. Not knowing if I should do anything, I kept walking, nodding to anyone who I recognized. There was a ring of seats which we walked though, with a throne on the far end. It wasn’t hard to figure out which was to be my seat and a part of me thought it was pretentious. I reflected that I had more than adopted the dragon mindset, as I though the whole thing was nothing more than posturing. When we got to the throne, I simply turned and sat. Haladoria went to my right and Dorvus to my left.

“The most ancient dragon emperor, Michael.” Haladoria announced.

The temptation to face-palm was overwhelming, but I refrained. The guests who I had yet to meet, came to their places and bowed and sat. I thought about it for a moment, then stood. I could see that I had broken their little play, but I thought it was time to set things straight.

“You do realize that you have made a dragon your emperor, correct?” I chuckled, watching the confusion in everyone present. “I will explain. I do admire your art, your industry and your craft, but know that I cannot quite understand it. I can only think and act as a dragon would, which is to accept thing as they are and deal with things as I may. I think, bear in mind that I am not sure, but I think this is meant to show honor. If it is, I thank you. But in my own mind, I would rather just talk of things that are needed. This I say not to belittle your efforts, but to explain my views. I bid you all greetings.”

You could have heard a pin drop. Some few paled and others looked blankly from one to another. In the gallery, the groups the leaders had brought murmured amongst themselves. Me? I simple sat down and waited.

Dorvus chuckled to my left and slapped me on the shoulder. Then he said in a loud voice; “I thank you Michael for reminding us how we came to conflict in the first place. I pledge to you this day, fealty of Rockheld and Highmarch clans.”

The nobles in the center chairs looked at each other, then one by one announce their loyalty to the dragon crown... which I didn’t have. Part of me wondered if they would make that next. I was almost surprised that they hadn’t already. Then, I heard them talk of concerns... for the rest of the day. I commented when I needed clarity and stayed silent the rest of the time. There were no demands, which I thought was rather smart, since they did fall into food groups if I got too irritated. Still, most of the problems revolved around fair trade and safe transportation. The farther kingdoms had no real way to transport goods.

I thought about it for a few moments when everything had finally died down. We needed a more clear way of looking at the problem. Look at the problem… I knew I could look between the planes, but could I?.... I reached out to a view high enough to encompass the lands. That was simple. Now, I knew projection so if I...

On the floor, in the middle of all the chairs, a projection of what I saw when I looked down appeared on the floor in full detail... including a stray cloud or two that lazily made it’s way across the map. There was a collective gasp from the group, but they held their silence. Once I had that figured out, I thought on the locations that they had given me and I asked them to show me where their trade towns were. One by one they showed me each city and I highlighted them in different colors depending on the colors they were wearing. That brought a murmur from the group.

By this point, I had a base line to work from. Conjuring a crystal, I took the projection and linked it to that point in space I was viewing from. Holding it if front of me, I focused on the marble of the ceiling till it started to melt then embedded the crystal in it. The was another collective gasp and one little whimper as the stone floated into place. Then it lit up and the map on the floor returned. I glanced up at this point and everyone seemed to be rather pale. A few with their mouths hanging open.

I left my seat and walked to the various cities, causing the crystal to zoom in for further detail. No one spoke.

When I had studied it enough, I spoke. “I think I see a way to do this, if you do not mind river traffic. I need only reroute a few of the rivers and expand them and you can use them to carry your goods for you. I am sorry, but it will take about a week or so to do it.”

One of them asked. “Which city?”

“All of them.” I replied.

One of them fainted. I wondered why, then shrugged. Turning back to my seat, I could see Dorvus grinning.

“Aye, ya have a way of cutting to the heart of a problem, don’t ya Michael?”

I shrugged. “At least it isn’t anything major.” Not understanding what the fuss was about.

I looked up and all of the nobles were slack jawed staring at me. What?