Chương 30: Chapter 22: Roots Beneath the City — Part I

The short silence that follows Selene's words feels very different from the one that greeted our arrival. An hour earlier, the council had been trying to determine whether the reports were true. Now the reports sat neatly organized across the tables before them, supported by engineers, clergy, merchants and city officials alike. The discussion surrounding the tunnels had reached a conclusion everyone could accept. The grove was another matter entirely.

Selene allows the quiet to linger for several moments before turning one of the reports toward herself.

"According to the district records, the grove first appeared shortly before the corruption beneath the river was removed," she says.

"Since then, it has expanded throughout portions of eastern Fallowspire, restored abandoned land and altered sections of the local ecosystem." She glances up.

"Would you consider that description accurate, Master Kaelen?"

"It is accurate," I reply. The chairwoman nods.

"Then I would like to begin with a simple question." A few councilors shift in their seats. Apparently simple questions have a reputation for becoming complicated. Selene ignores them.

"What exactly is the grove?" The question settles over the chamber. Several people immediately reach for pens. Others simply watch me. I take a moment to consider the answer.

"The simplest explanation is that it is the start of a druidic circle." That earns several looks of confusion. Exactly as expected.

"A druidic circle is not merely a collection of trees," I continue.

"It is a living network. The roots, plants, soil, wildlife and mana within it become connected over time. Each part supports the others." Councilor Elira leans forward slightly.

"Connected how?"

"The same way a forest supports itself," I say.

"Water moves through roots. Nutrients move through soil. Life strengthens life." Elira considers that.

"Those processes already exist."

"They do," I agree.

"A druidic circle encourages them." Several councilors begin writing. Others appear disappointed that the answer sounds considerably less mystical than expected. Brenner notices the reaction and chuckles quietly.

"I believe some people were expecting ancient secrets."

"Ancient secrets rarely improve irrigation," Elira replies.

"I strongly disagree," Brenner says. The exchange earns a few smiles around the table before Selene steers the discussion back on course.

"The grove appears unusually healthy for something that emerged only recently."

"Because it did not emerge from nothing," I explain.

"The silverwood at its center carried the remnants of an older circle." At the mention of the silverwood, several councilors look toward one another. The tree has clearly appeared throughout the reports.

"What role does the silverwood play?" Elira asks.

"It serves as the heart of the grove." Elira folds her hands atop the reports before her.

"That sounds like a tremendous amount of responsibility for a tree."

"It is." I hear Garrick cough suspiciously beside me. The council chamber appears to contain far more people who appreciate dry humor than I expected.

"The silverwood anchors the circle," I continue.

"Without it, the grove would not exist in its current form." Selene immediately picks up on the implication.

"Can another silverwood be grown?" The question comes from one of the merchants seated further down the table. Interest sharpens throughout the chamber. For the first time since the discussion began, I recognize genuine opportunity in several expressions. People are already imagining possibilities.

"No," I answer. A few shoulders visibly sag.

"The tree itself can produce seeds eventually," I continue, "but silverwoods are exceptionally rare. Creating a druidic circle requires considerably more than planting a sapling." Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. The merchant's disappointment deepens. Brenner appears amused by it.

"That answer just destroyed at least three business proposals."

"Only three?" Havlar asks. Brenner considers the matter with exaggerated seriousness.

"Five, then."

"That sounds more realistic." Several councilors chuckle quietly while Brenner shakes his head.

"You people have no appreciation for vision." The council chamber relaxes briefly. The tension does not disappear entirely, but it softens enough for the conversation to continue. Selene waits for the amusement to fade before speaking again.

"Several reports mention roots spreading beneath portions of the district." There it is. The first question everyone actually cares about.

"The roots have expanded," I acknowledge. Elira immediately opens another document.

"We mapped several sections ourselves. The growth appears deliberate rather than random."

"It is." The councilor studies me for a moment.

"You can influence it?"

"I can." Pens begin moving again. Across the chamber, one of the clergy representatives exchanges a glance with another priest. The significance of the answer is obvious. Until now, the grove has been a phenomenon. Something unusual and remarkable. The moment intention enters the discussion; it becomes something else entirely. Something capable of making decisions. I can almost see the realization spreading through the room. Selene folds her hands atop the table.

"And how much influence do you possess?" The question is calm and reasonable. Yet every conversation within the chamber seems to narrow toward it. The merchants stop writing, the priests stop whispering. Even Brenner sets aside his reports. For the first time since the discussion began, the council appears united in wanting the same answer. I look around the chamber before responding.

"Less than you fear," I say, "and more than I possessed a month ago." The silence that follows is thoughtful rather than hostile. Unfortunately, that usually means the difficult questions are about to begin. Councilor Elira opens another report. Unlike some of the others, she appears less interested in what the grove is than in what it might become.

"The roots beneath the eastern district have already expanded beyond the original boundaries recorded in the first surveys," she says.

"My engineers confirmed additional growth during the past week." Several councilors nod; the information clearly isn't new to them. Only the person responsible for it. Elira's attention remains fixed on me.

"How large can the grove become?" The question draws the chamber's focus immediately because unlike discussions of silverwoods and druidic circles, this question affects everyone. I consider my answer carefully.

"That depends on several factors." A few councilors sigh. I cannot entirely blame them.

"Such as?" Elira asks.

"The health of the land, available resources and the strength of the circle itself," I reply. Elira nods thoughtfully.

"And if those conditions remain favorable?"

"The grove can continue growing for generations." The scratching of pens slows throughout the chamber. Elira studies me for a moment.

"That is a longer answer than I was hoping for." Pens begin moving across paper. The scratching sound spreads throughout the chamber. Elira remains thoughtful rather than alarmed and then sets her pen down.

"Then the eastern district is only the beginning."

"Potentially," I reply. The councilor absorbs that answer without comment, though several people around the chamber immediately begin making notes. Across the table, a merchant representative frowns.

"When you say generations, what exactly does that mean?"

"Decades," I reply.

"Perhaps centuries." That answer receives considerably less enthusiasm than the previous one. Brenner notices immediately.

"You say that like it's a problem." The merchant turns toward him.

"Cities are designed to last centuries," he says.

"They are planned, mapped and governed." Then he gestures toward me.

"Forests generally have different priorities." A few councilors exchange thoughtful looks.

"That," Brenner admits, "is a fair concern." Several people murmur agreement. I find myself unexpectedly sympathizing with the concern. Viewed from their perspective, the situation sounds absurd. A month ago, I would have agreed. Elira taps a finger lightly against the table.

"The roots have already altered portions of the district," she says.

"Runoff channels improved. Soil quality improved. Water retention improved. My engineers have confirmed all three." She pauses.

"Have we observed any harmful effects?" The room grows quieter, again she asks a question that matters. Brenner may see opportunity. The merchants may see uncertainty. The clergy may see mystery. Elira sees maintenance reports. If the grove is causing damage, she will find it. I shake my head.

"None that I have observed."

"Observed," Elira repeats.

"Or detected," I reply. She studies me for several moments. Then she nods. Apparently that answer satisfies her, for now. A younger cleric I do not recognize leans forward from his seat among the temple representatives.

"The grove carries mana," he says. Unlike the engineers and merchants, the clergy seem far less interested in roots, soil and irrigation channels. Their attention remains fixed on the unseen parts of the grove.

"It does," I reply. The cleric inclines his head.

"And the roots spread that mana through the district." The statement draws several thoughtful looks from the other priests.

"Yes." Again, I nod. The priest exchanges a glance with several others before continuing.

"Then portions of the city now exist within the influence of a living magical network." The phrasing draws several looks around the room. It sounds considerably more dramatic than roots improving soil quality. Yet it is not entirely inaccurate.

"Yes," I say. The priest sits back. That single answer appears to generate more discussion than any explanation I could have offered. Whispers move briefly among the clergy representatives. Further down the table, Brenner rubs his beard thoughtfully.

"I have a question." The entire chamber somehow looks less worried whenever Brenner speaks. Perhaps because everyone expects him to ask something practical.

"How aware is the grove?" That was not the question I expected. The room quiets again. Even Elira looks surprised. Brenner shrugs.

"If we're discussing a living network spreading beneath the city, I would like to know whether it notices things." A fair question. Several councilors reluctantly acknowledge as much as well.

"The grove is alive," I say.

"But not in the way people are alive." Brenner waves a hand.

"Excellent. Because if the roots start criticizing trade policy, I intend to resign immediately." Laughter spreads through the chamber. Even Selene's expression softens slightly. The tension eases once more. When the room settles again, Elira returns to the subject she seems unwilling to release. She studies me across the table.

"The grove can continue growing."

"Yes." She glances briefly toward the reports spread before her.

"And you can influence that growth."

"To a degree." Elira nods slowly before asking the question that has been circling the chamber since the discussion began.

"Can it stop?" The room grows noticeably quieter. Earlier questions focused on roots, irrigation, mana and silverwoods. This one, touches something larger. Every concern raised during the meeting eventually leads back to the same issue. Growth is easy to celebrate while it remains beneficial. People become considerably more cautious when discussing where that growth ends. I take a moment before answering.

"Yes," I say. Several councilors visibly relax; Elira simply waits. She clearly suspects there is more to the answer. She is correct.

"The grove can stop growing." A few more shoulders loosen around the table. Then I continue.

"I do not believe it should."