Chapter 309: What They Didn’t Know

"No one outside this meeting must learn of it until we take control. Every power in the Homeworld would come looking."

"And how do you propose to hide a World Wonder?"

"A Mythic Building appearing this early... Is Sector 666 going to become another war sector?"

Odette Ravelle sat among them. Occasionally, a face or a hand flickered. For all the apparent solidity of the people around the table, every one was a holographic projection.

At eleven fifty, the betting pool drew their attention away from Sunhaven.

[1. Cloudrest Province — 13,800,000,000 Aether.]

[2. Fairhaven Province — 8,200,000,000 Aether.]

[3. Dawnspire Province — 7,100,000,000 Aether.]

[4. Plantagenet Province — 6,200,000,000 Aether.]

[5...]

The first entry wiped the argument from their faces.

"Damn it. Ten billion added to Cloudrest at the last moment?"

"Our reports say House Frost has put almost everything it can behind that Province. They must be very sure of themselves."

"The whole pool has more than doubled. A hundred and fifty billion Aether! Whoever backs the winner is going to make a fortune."

"One victory in the Legion Contest gave all thirteen Crown Provinces six times the resources. That advantage is enormous. Who wouldn’t make the most of it?"

At the mention of the Legion Contest, eyes turned toward Piers Haldane, Concord Province’s new Governor.

Without the Second Homeworld Legion, their Provinces would have shared Cassian’s victory. Six times the resources could have been theirs as well.

Piers raised his voice.

"Why are you looking at me? Establishing the Second Legion was a decision we all supported."

The accusing looks finally moved elsewhere.

Odette turned to the young man beside her, smiling.

"Lord Gavin, Fairhaven established its Fortune Region two months ago. Judging by those wagers, you have plenty of confidence too."

Gavin Roswell, Fairhaven’s Governor, answered with his usual precision.

"We do have grounds for confidence. Though—"

He stopped, studying another entry.

"Divine Province had less than two million Aether behind it a moment ago, didn’t it? Why is there over a billion now?"

They scrolled down the list. There it was, in eighteenth place.

"Cassian has a habit of backing himself in the last few seconds. Could this be him again?"

"But Divine Province has fewer than a million Lords. Even a hundred Legendary Buildings wouldn’t put them in the top ten."

For a moment, no one had an answer. Then Piers rose abruptly.

"A Mythic Building. That must be it. One appeared in Divine Province!"

"Impossible," Gavin said, scarcely hiding his contempt. "Even if one appeared, it wouldn’t explain this. Only Buildings under a Province’s control count toward the ranking. Surely you know what it takes to occupy a Mythic Building."

Odette nodded.

"Taking a World Wonder is work measured in years. Look at the Mythic Ancient Road in Sector 632. Decades have passed, and still no one has claimed it."

Another Lord offered a more familiar explanation.

"What about that old Black Banner theory? A Faith Artifact. Perhaps he’s putting on another performance."

"He has money now. A billion Aether to make the entire Homeworld talk about him would be a reasonable price."

Faith Power came from emotion directed toward a particular being. Approval or hatred, admiration or contempt—thinking of the recipient could supply it. The stronger the feeling, the greater the offering.

Beric Kelshore had used that explanation for Cassian’s behavior long ago. Beric was dead, but the theory had survived him. Revived by a Western Beacon Lord, it quickly found supporters around the table.

"Faith Power..." Gavin let out a breath. His expression grew serious. "People say he created his troop line through worship of a god of wealth. Perhaps they’re right. He may even have become a god’s representative, like the Morvane family."

He looked around the meeting.

"Divine Province has already shown far more strength than we expected. The Firstborn Gate is our best chance to counter it. Once this ranking is over, I hope we can work together. Gather First-Age Coins. Take the Gate."

No one objected.

They all knew the argument waiting beyond that agreement. Even if they collected enough coins, deciding who would control the Wonder would be another struggle entirely.

——

Third Realm. Highcrest.

Edran Frost leaned forward as a recording from the newcomer sector played before him. Across the room, the projections of House Valcrest’s founder and the Sovereign of Caerwyn watched with him.

"Someone obtained a First-Age Coin?"

His interest sharpened.

"Then perhaps a Firstborn Gate has appeared in the Homeworld’s new sector. Or a Firstborn Sanctum. One of those Wonders."

The Valcrest founder laughed.

"Our thirteen Provinces have six times the resources. If a World Wonder has appeared, surely it is most likely to be in one of ours. I’ll have people search."

"Not necessarily," the Caerwyn Sovereign said. "Remember the old saying: the heavens take from those with too much and give to those with too little. Knowing how the Realm works, I’d expect it to appear elsewhere. Perhaps even among our enemies in the Black Banner."

An ancient Lord had offered that explanation of the Realm’s behavior. Anyone climbing toward the world’s summit would meet one trial after another. Where no obstacle existed, the Realm seemed quite willing to provide one.

The strongest drew the harshest tests.

Edran nodded.

"Once the ranking is over, we’ll use our contacts to look for this possible Wonder. Fortunately, claiming one is no simple matter. Otherwise, whoever found it could take first place almost without trying."

He gave a short laugh.

"All our work these past few months would become a joke."

The mention of the ranking brought a smile to the Valcrest founder’s face.

"Ten billion Aether on Cloudrest, elder brother. You certainly sound confident."

Edran only smiled.

"Divine Province gained a billion in bets just now too," the Caerwyn Sovereign reminded him. "I doubt we need to ask who placed it."

That made Edran frown.

Cassian had overturned too many expectations for the wager to be comfortable. If Edran had not known Divine Province’s circumstances so well, he would already have been wondering what he had missed.

"He would need a World Wonder," he said at last. "I can’t see any other way."

"What about the Five Elements Temple from the Legion Contest?" the Valcrest founder asked suddenly.

Edran chuckled.

"Completing a World Wonder in that contest may happen only once in a thousand years, but it has happened before."

"Has it?"

The founder’s attention sharpened. Another piece of history he had never learned.

Edran knew the precedents. What he did not know was that Cassian had done more than complete the Temple.

One Lord had supplied over half its total contribution. That had no precedent at all.