《Alliance by Marriage》Chapter 34
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The sky is clear blue today, and the sea glitters with sunlight. Such warm days are getting increasingly rare as winter grows nearer, so I pause by the window to take in the view.
It still strikes me as odd, seeing so much blue without a single ship in sight. The harbor without a forest of masts still looks naked to my eye. There're only a few fishing boats preparing to sail out. The sea around the island will belong to them for the decades to come.
The clear water is still warm, and a bunch of little kids make use of that. They run up and down the docks and jump into the water before climbing back and repeating their game. Their cries and laughter carry all the way up the hill to my window, making me smile.
The market that has recently been established in the eastern part of the city is supplying the rest of the noise. It's constantly bustling with activity now that the harvest is upon us. There'll be no external sources of food this year, so it's golden time for the local farmers who have always had little demand for their produce. Now they can barely supply enough.
Farther in that direction stretch the newly planted vineyards. There're more of those deeper inland, along with the new fields. This winter will be tough, with most of our stores destroyed, and only so many things we've had time to plant during the summer to harvest before the cold. Yet we're going to make it, and the next year, we'll continue reinventing ourselves. We've always relied on importing what we needed. Now, we'll have to be self-sufficient, at least until the decades of the punishment will be over and normal trading relations could be reestablished.
I'll have to forget what I know about warfare and learn more about agriculture and cattle raising. The prospect could seem depressing if I had to do it alone, or with the help of my generals who know as little about these topics as I do.
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Luckily, I'm not alone.
"Look!"
I turn around to find Emilio enter the room, carrying a couple of thick tomes. He drops them on the table next to the books already lying there, raising a small cloud of dust, and stands over them, grinning. Then the dust gets to him and he starts sneezing.
"Where did you get them?" I walk over and hand him a handkerchief. "What are they?"
"This one is about seeds." He points at a thick, beaten-up volume. "I started to look through it, and it's worth its weight in gold. And this one..." He sneezes again. "About manuring."
"Sounds fascinating."
"It is!" He blows his nose and shoots me a wide-eyed glance over the handkerchief. "Do you know we can double the produce of each field if we use it for two years in a row, and then let it rest for one year? There, look here." He begins to ramble through the pages until a newly raised cloud of dust forces him to step back, wafting at it as if attacked by insects. "Your father didn't even deem these books worthy of his library. I found them in the basement. Luckily, the room was sealed shut so the mice didn't get them."
"You're such a bookworm."
I can hardly suppress a smile as I look him over. His clothes are dusty and his left sleeve is slightly torn, probably after an encounter with some nail sticking out somewhere in the basement, or in the library, or some other place he went to investigate.
His eyes are shining, though. He's been so excited lately, exploring the palace and the city, coming back each time with new finds and ideas.
His hair is gathered into a ponytail to facilitate his activities, but wayward strands keep getting out. I reach out to brush one of them out of his face. He smiles and catches my hand.
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"Someone has to be a bookworm." He kisses my palm. "Not everyone can be a lazy king sitting on his ass, not wanting to learn new things."
"Me?" I scowl at him. "I've been too busy taking care of the daily matters in ruling this island. When do you think I have time to read?"
"Well, if you're so busy, maybe I could read to you before bedtime. I'm sure the book about manuring will lull you to sleep in no time."
"Not sure I'll like the dreams it'll bring, though."
"In such case, I can offer you a book about breeding horses. It has pictures, too. Some of them remind me of something—I'm not sure what."
"Do show it to me," I say. "We'll figure it out together."
We grin at each other.
"It's going to be a long winter," he says. "We'll sit by the fire and I'll read to you. In spring, you'll emerge a wiser and more educated ruler, able to tell rye from corn."
"I can tell rye from corn," I say. "Also, I can think of better things to do with you by the fireplace during the long winter evenings."
"Hmm." He gives me a wry smile. "I'm looking forward to that."
"So am I." I wrap my hands around him and nuzzle at his hair that smells like lavender, summer dust, and a little bit like happiness. "So am I."
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V.I.R.A.L
In a world full of superhumans with fantastical abilities the idea of superheroes is seen as nothing more than childish dreams. The superheroes are instead streamers, people stream their crime-fighting ordeals for the world with the whole reason of getting rich and famous, nothing more, nothing less. The concept of great power means great responsibility is thrown out the window for a new era of supers.Alton Brantley is one such person. Working two part-time jobs to make ends meet he keeps his powers a secret not wanting the burdens of his past to define him. This changes however when he is met by a larger than life girl Zinnia, she dreams of being a real-life superhero like the ones of old. Forming Team Rhapsody they begin to climb the ranks gaining new allies in order to become the most famous streamers the world has ever seen.
8 181Realm Of The Forgotten Gods
Malcolm wakes up in another world, a world far different from his own. In this new world magic is real, dragons soar the skies, and gods roam the earth.Malcolm doesn't know why he was chosen to be summoned to this strange world and his memories are fuzzy at best. An overzealous Goddess of Death aids him in his journey, but can he really trust her? Does he even have a choice? Join Malcolm as he explores this new chaotic realm and struggles with the people and creatures that call it home. Welcome to New Pangea. **I also posted this story on Wattpad**
8 174The Plight of Aélia: Firebrand
The Kingdom of Aélia stands on the cusp of many scientific breakthroughs, thanks, in part, to the discovery of a powerful new element, currently known as Aélium. This element has brought with it many technologies never before thought possible by many on the planet of Aél and ushered in an era of intellect and scientific revolution to much of the world. Meanwhile, Emperor Lennix Sangrey of the Sangréalan Empire, jealous of Aélia's scientific achievements and hell-bent on revenge for the death of his father, the previous emperor, Runivan Sangrey, plots for the destruction of Aélia from somewhere in the shadows. Blissfully unaware of the impending doom, the son of the hero of Aélia and vanquisher of the previous emperor, Glaed Balaston prepares to follow in his father's footsteps as one of the protectors of Aélia; The Firebrand Knights.
8 150The Power of Descent
A tale of two. One was a young man who had joined the army in hopes of changing his broken life. Little did young Cedric know, he would find what he was looking for. However, power is never given freely and Cedric will be thrust into a war he had never imagined fighting in. Determined he was to repay the kingdom for what they had given him, but can he truly understand what that entails. Granted a holy elixir to fix his body and make him whole, Cedric was granted power beyond mortal men, for that was the only to compete with the Chanters. Wilt worked at a library, in hopes of one day inheriting it from his father. His plans never came to fruition though, as he discovered a talent for chanting. That discovery leads him to apply to the biggest school in the kingdom, a place known as the Institute of Chanting Studies. A decision made on a whim will change his life, thrusting him to the forefront and revealing his incredible talent. Destined to become one of the most powerful chanters alive, Wilt was made to walk a path he was not prepared for. How will he adapt to the growing tensions between the neighboring kingdom, and an old war restarted because of new power? This is a story of two individuals, both having found their way to power and war. What do their futures hold in store for them? Schedule: Chapters Every Monday, Thursday at 6-7 pm CST P.S. This is a much more structured story than my previous one, so it will be a bit different in its flow.
8 190The 48 Laws of Power in Practice
Discover how power works in the world, through true stories and real-world applications. In the game of power, we all play - as either conscious or unconscious players. So we can't afford not to know the rules. The ** chapters have the most outrageous content. In each chapter, I will be summarizing one of the laws and how it can be applied to current events and pop culture. Some of you have told me the stories are what you enjoy the most. They are real, raw, and anonymous so that others may learn from my mistakes. There will be cringe-worthy stories of self-sabotage, but perhaps also some unlikely triumphs. Some of the details are changed to protect the innocent, (or perhaps guilty). "The 48 Laws of Power" by Robert Greene illustrates truths about power, through philosophy and lessons from three thousand years of history, which still hold true today. There is a lot to learn from each chapter. I encourage you to go on this journey with me by reflecting on how each law might apply to you. Together, may we learn from the past and take control of the future.
8 187SHARP ▷ PIETRO MAXIMOFF
❝you didn't see that coming?❞ ❝actually, i did❞[PIETRO MAXIMOFF/QUICKSILVER][AGE OF ULTRON]
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