To Form a Passage: Arts of Substance - Novel 1 by Sharon Rose

Author:Sharon Rose [Rose, Sharon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Eternarose Publishing
Published: 2023-11-01T16:00:00+00:00

The more Devron thought about lighting the night streets, the more he worried that the magnery system couldn’t handle it. He wasn’t sharing this until he knew. Which took him to the technician’s house while her family was still eating breakfast. Embarrassing.

He dipped his head. “I apologize for arriving too early, but I…I cannot let an idea be heard around town until I’m sure.”

The technician was young enough that her children’s ears and tongues would reveal nothing. She cradled an infant on her arm, swaying to keep the little one content while her husband took their toddler elsewhere. “What’s the concern?”

“The possibility of overtaxing the magnery system.”

“Ah. Have you turned on the gate mechanism then?”

“What? No. Why…” His stomach did weird things with his hastily swallowed breakfast. “Have we overlooked a problem with powering it?”

“I’m not sure yet. Motors are a really new development. I don’t know what those gates weigh or how you’re dealing with the friction. Slick as a rail, I’m sure, but I won’t know how it draws magnery until we try it.”

“Why didn’t you mention your concern?”

She hmphed. “It’s all so hushed, but mostly because of the hand crank. The gates can move either way, true?”

“Yes.” A relief to be able to say that.

“Don’t worry too much. I’m pretty sure the system can handle the draw as long as you only move one set of gates at a time. That’s the plan anyway, right?”

“It is, but that’s not what I was going to ask about.” She raised her eyebrows as Devron paused. “I have an idea about lighting the settlement streets at night. That would add a lot of lamps, and I don’t know if the magnery system can power so many.”

She angled her head. “We’re getting close to the limit. Not that we have a certain way to know what that is. Accidental discoveries may be thrilling, but they leave a lot of questions.” She swayed faster as the baby kicked. “The Magnery Guild was planning new conduits to feed the city expansion, but of course, that’s been stopped. We even had the material mined. Pity. No one will let us tunnel halfway to Crysalan to reach the river turbines now.”

His spirits sank…until the last few words registered. “River?”

She blinked and shook her head, giving him a perplexed look.

“The rare earth and copper—is it still in Jourendia?” Devron asked. “Any river would do, right?”

“Well…” She shifted the baby, who was starting to fuss. “Yes, it’s here, but Jourendia doesn’t have a river. Or do you mean the fountain river? I’m not sure if that one has current enough, and it powers the—” Her baby let out a wail. “Could we discuss this later?”

“Certainly. Forgive me for disrupting your morning.” He hastened from her welcome room and drew a deep breath beyond her door. Problems. Always problems, but likely a solution as well. Hopefully, Kevenor was still home.

No luck there. After a false lead, Devron found him in the city cavern with the mayor and several council members.

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