Chapter 106: Upstream
The road narrowed as Kael’s group followed the river.
Trees crowded closer to the water, their branches hanging over the bank. The farther they traveled, the fewer farms they passed.
Kael kept his eyes on the river.
Something was wrong.
The water was moving quickly enough.
Yet the irrigation channels feeding the villages were almost empty.
Torren rode ahead with Seren.
Every few minutes, Torren would dismount and inspect another channel.
The pattern remained the same.
The channels themselves were intact.
There simply wasn’t enough water entering them.
After nearly an hour, Seren raised his hand.
Everyone stopped.
Kael looked ahead.
"What?"
Seren pointed toward the trees.
"Smoke."
A thin column of gray rose beyond the riverbank.
Kael dismounted.
"Stay here."
Lyra frowned.
"You’re going alone?"
"I’m going to look."
She shook her head.
"We came together."
Kael glanced at her.
Then at the others.
"Fine."
They moved forward on foot.
The trees became thicker.
The river disappeared behind them.
Then they heard something.
Water.
Not the natural sound of the river.
Something louder.
Kael pushed through the last line of trees.
He stopped.
A massive wooden structure had been built across part of the river.
Not a bridge.
A dam.
Water slammed against the wooden barriers before being redirected into a wide artificial channel.
Torren stared at it.
"That’s not supposed to be here."
Kael walked closer.
"Who built it?"
Torren crouched beside the riverbank.
He examined the wooden supports.
"Recently."
"How recently?"
"Months."
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
Months.
The same amount of time the villages had been losing water.
He looked toward the channel.
It flowed in the opposite direction from the villages.
"Where does that go?"
Torren pointed toward the hills.
"Toward the upper estates."
Kael said nothing.
Seren suddenly turned.
"Someone’s coming."
Everyone became alert.
Kael looked through the trees.
Three men were approaching the dam.
They wore leather armor and carried spears.
None wore Imperial insignia.
One of them noticed Kael.
"Who are you?"
Kael stepped forward.
"Imperial representative."
The man’s expression changed.
The other two tightened their grips.
Kael noticed.
"You built this?"
The man didn’t answer.
"Who ordered it?"
Still nothing.
Kael walked closer.
The man finally spoke.
"This land belongs to House Valen."
Kael looked at the dam.
"The river doesn’t."
The man’s jaw tightened.
"You’re trespassing."
Kael almost smiled.
"On Imperial territory?"
The man didn’t answer.
Kael turned toward Torren.
"Can this structure be removed safely?"
Torren examined the supports.
"Not immediately."
"Why?"
"If we tear it apart without controlling the water, the pressure could flood everything downstream."
Kael looked back toward the villages.
That explained why nobody had simply destroyed it.
Someone had deliberately created a situation where removing the obstruction could cause even more damage.
Kael turned back toward the three men.
"Take me to whoever is in charge."
The first man shook his head.
"No."
Kael stared at him.
"That’s not a request."
The man reached for his spear.
Kael’s expression changed.
The soldiers behind him immediately moved.
Darius’s training had taught them not to wait for Kael’s orders when danger appeared.
Seren’s hand moved toward his bow.
Lyra stepped forward.
Torren backed away from the river.
The three men realized they were surrounded.
The man holding the spear slowly lowered it.
"There’s no need for this."
Kael looked at him.
"Then stop making it necessary."
They didn’t go far.
The men led them toward a stone road that climbed into the hills.
At the top stood a large estate.
Black iron gates surrounded the property.
Beyond them stood a manor of pale stone with tall windows and dark wooden balconies.
Kael stopped outside.
He looked at the building.
It was far too large for someone claiming the region was suffering from a lack of water.
A servant approached the gate.
He looked at Kael.
Then at the armed soldiers.
His expression became nervous.
"Who are you?"
Kael stepped forward.
"Prince Kael."
The servant froze.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then the gates opened.
A man walked down the stone steps.
He was dressed in a dark green coat embroidered with silver thread. His blond hair was pulled neatly behind his head, and a gold ring bearing the crest of House Valen rested on his right hand.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
He stopped several feet away.
"Your Highness."
Kael studied him.
"You are?"
"Lord Garrick Valen."
Kael’s eyes moved briefly toward the river below.
"Your land contains the river diversion."
Garrick smiled.
"It does."
"Why?"
"For irrigation."
Kael looked at him.
"Your fields appear healthy."
"They are."
"While the villages downstream are losing their harvests."
Garrick’s smile disappeared.
"That is unfortunate."
Kael stared at him.
"Unfortunate?"
Garrick folded his hands behind his back.
"Your Highness, my family has maintained these lands for generations. We have obligations as well."
"To whom?"
"My people."
Kael looked toward the distant villages.
"Those are your people too."
Garrick didn’t answer.
Kael stepped closer.
"How much water are you taking?"
"Enough."
"Enough for what?"
"My estates."
Kael’s eyes hardened.
"You’ve redirected an Imperial river to protect your own crops."
Garrick’s expression remained calm.
"I have protected my land."
Kael looked at the dam in the distance.
"And everyone downstream?"
Garrick shrugged.
"They should have prepared."
Lyra’s expression darkened.
Kael remained completely still.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he asked,
"Who gave you permission?"
Garrick smiled.
"Permission?"
"To build the dam."
"I didn’t require it."
Kael looked at him.
"That answer will be important later."
Garrick’s smile faded.
Kael turned away.
"Torren."
"Yes?"
"How long would it take to safely restore the water flow?"
Torren looked toward the river.
"With enough workers?"
"Yes."
"Several days."
Kael nodded.
"Then we’ll do it."
Garrick’s expression changed.
"You cannot."
Kael looked back.
"Watch me."
Garrick stepped forward.
"Prince Kael, this is my land."
Kael’s voice remained calm.
"And that river belongs to the Empire."
Silence settled over the estate.
Kael turned toward his soldiers.
"Set up camp."
Garrick stared at him.
"You intend to stay?"
Kael mounted his horse.
"Until the villages have water."
Then he looked toward the manor.
"And until I understand exactly how long this has been happening."
Garrick watched him ride away.
For the first time, the calm expression disappeared from his face.
He turned toward the servant beside him.
"Send a message."
"To whom?"
Garrick’s eyes followed Kael.
"Someone who needs to know that the Emperor’s son has arrived."
The servant bowed and hurried inside.
Kael didn’t hear him.
He was already riding back toward the river.
But the moment he had stepped onto the estate grounds, the assignment had changed.
This was no longer simply about failing crops.
Someone had deliberately taken Imperial water.
And Kael had just placed himself directly between that person and everything they had built.