Haladoria felt like… well… she felt like reality had just left and a dream had taken over. She had much hope when the morning had started and they had met Michael. But he seemed different. She walked with him to the council room and he took his seat.

Then she announced him;

“The most ancient dragon emperor, Michael.”

He stood… “You do realize that you have made a dragon emperor, correct?” Then he paused “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.”

She suddenly understood. He was a dragon. These… events were not going to be like any before. He was now emperor and was also the most powerful being on the face of the planet. Dorvus recovered first. He seemed to think it amusing.

“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.”

Her dread at the meeting flying apart was eased as the others fell in line. They pledged their lands and went on to talk about trade. He listened and asked few questions. The nobles seemed to realize, thank the gods, that this was no time to try the normal power plays. That point was driven home after they finished. Michael somehow made a… a map? It looked to be alive. Then she realized it was. She was looking down on the lands from a… a dragon’s eye view. He noted each location by the noble of the land and then somehow made a crystal. He took it and melted a place in the roof… the granite roof… and mounted the crystal there. She suddenly realized that he had made it so the crystal now controlled the map.

She stared in wonder as he studied it. Walking too and fro with that focus he had. Like he was stalking prey. She shuddered to herself slightly. She glanced back up at the crystal. She could still feel the heat from the melted stone. Then he 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.” He replied.

She couldn’t be hearing right. Dorvus said something, but it didn’t even register. A week? He was talking about connecting a third of the continent. Thousands of miles. Then he spoke again.

“At least it isn’t anything major.”

She was in shock. He had no clue. He sincerely had no clue what he was proposing. She looked around the room and realized that there would be no power plays now. They were dealing with a creature that was so far outside of their understanding, their power, that it would be suicide to play those games with it.

She looked at his face. He really could not understand what the fuss was about.

What had she done?