The following days did not begin with the silence of desolation, but with the rhythmic sound of footsteps upon the hardened soil.
As the first ray of sun touched the hills of Valenreach, I was already on my feet, tightening the bandages around my hands. Yesterday's blisters had burst and calloused over, leaving a throbbing pain that served only to remind me that I was still very much alive. I looked toward the horizon and froze.
It wasn't just the man from the previous days. Behind him came five more. And further back, a group of women carrying baskets and clay jars. They did not walk with the joy of a festival; they marched with the grim seriousness of those making a final pact with survival.
"Highness," one of the men said, coming to a halt before me.
They all lined up, their tools resting against their shoulders. The women brought water and food, ensuring the workforce wouldn't falter under the sun that was already beginning to scorch. Their silence was heavy with a newfound expectation.
"Good. I see that more of you have decided to fight so this land can survive. Valenreach will not fall without us fighting for it first!" I declared, my voice projecting with a firmness that seemed to echo through the dry hills.
Obrem, sensing the gravity of the moment, spread the map over a flat stone once again, beckoning the more experienced men closer.
"We will have to make a curve here," Obrem explained, his finger tracing the line on the yellowed parchment. "This way, we can connect the trenches to the main canal, passing behind the great rock. If we get the angle right, the water pressure will do the rest of the work."
The men nodded, and the sound of tools striking the earth marked the beginning of an exhausting journey. I didn't just stand there watching; I grabbed my pickaxe and joined them on the front line, where the effort was greatest. Lygni was with the women today, organizing a camp in strict military fashion. She ensured there was shade, rationed water, and efficient rest shifts so we could endure the sun's punishment throughout the day.
And so the day continued, between the sound of breaking stone and the steady rhythm of excavation. All those residents had decided to fight for this land. While Valenreach breathed with difficulty, nearly suffocated by drought and neglect, we were the life-support systems fighting for its survival.
Every drop of sweat that fell into the dust felt like a necessary sacrifice. I looked at the tired faces around me and felt the weight of my responsibility grow. This territory will be prosperous. I will make it flourish with my own hands if I must. If I cannot fulfill this promise, then death would be a better fate for me than the bitter shame of failing those who, for the first time, chose to believe in me.
It went on like this for a few more days. The effort was contagious; every morning, new faces appeared to lend their strength to our cause. Women picked up heavy tools, digging side by side with the men; children helped however they could, clearing small stones from the path with a diligence that tightened my chest. All of us, from the prince to the orphan, united to fight for that dying land.
Until the moment finally arrived. The last stone was broken. The last trench was dug.
We all gathered at the small earthen dam that still separated the original riverbed from our new canal. We were exhausted, covered in dust and mud, but no one dared to look away. On their faces, I could see the anxiety—the silent fear that all of this might still fail.
I descended to the base of the barrier. I took the shovel and dug. I dug with a fury that ignored the protest of every muscle in my body until the soil finally gave way. A jet of cold water shot against my legs. The river was coming.
Quickly, I began to climb the bank to get out of the way of the surging flow. Lygni, ever watchful, extended her hand to pull me up with impressive ease. I took it, feeling the firm grip of her glove.
We stood there, side by side, as the crowd held their breath. We watched the water, still struggling to flow through the dry and thirsty earth, snake along the path we had carved. It moved slowly at first, being swallowed by the dust, but soon the pressure mounted. The canal began to fill, and the sound of rushing water—a sound Valenreach hadn't heard in generations—echoed through the valley.
Suddenly, the air was filled with shouts of joy. Our effort had been rewarded by nature.
Obrem and Liss, who were there with us, were in ecstasy. Everyone was cheering. Even Lygni, usually so cold and composed, couldn't keep her mask on. A genuine smile surfaced on her lips.
The muscles in my body protested in agony, but I didn't care. I joined them in their celebration. Valenreach had been given a new lease on life, and it was because we all fought for it together.