The first thing Lexander learned about King Alden was that he did not believe in doing anything halfway.
The second thing he learned was that Alden had apparently decided that this applied to everything.
Including alliances.
Including construction.
And, to Lexander’s growing horror, weddings.
It began with a messenger.
The messenger arrived at Concordia just after sunrise carrying a sealed Valedorn document.
Atreyu accepted it.
He broke the seal.
His eyebrows rose.
Lexander noticed.
“What?”
Atreyu looked at the document again.
“You should read this.”
Lexander took it.
He read the first paragraph.
Then the second.
Then stopped.
“What?”
Io asked.
Lexander handed her the document.
She read it.
Her eyes widened.
“What is it?”
Lysandra asked.
Io looked up.
“Alden wants to formally join the alliance.”
Lexander smiled.
“That makes sense.”
“There is more.”
“How much more?”
Io handed the document to him.
“Read.”
Lexander continued.
His expression slowly changed.
“That’s…”
“Large,” Atreyu supplied.
“Very large.”
Lysandra reached for the document.
“What did he offer?”
Lexander hesitated.
“Money.”
“How much?”
“A lot.”
“That isn’t a number.”
“Because I’m still trying to comprehend it.”
Lysandra snatched the document.
She read.
Her mouth fell open.
“Oh.”
Io smiled.
“What?”
“He’s offering enough gold to finance a significant portion of Concordia’s construction for the next several years.”
Lexander stared at her.
“Years?”
“Yes.”
Atreyu nodded.
“And that’s not all.”
Lexander looked at him.
“What else?”
“Timber.”
Mara entered the room.
“What kind?”
“Structural timber from Valedorn’s northern forests.”
Mara whistled.
“That is expensive.”
“Yes.”
“What else?”
“Stone.”
“Tools?”
“Yes.”
“Engineers?”
“Yes.”
“Craftsmen?”
“Yes.”
Mara stared.
“He’s sending half of Valedorn.”
Atreyu shook his head.
“Not half.”
He pointed toward the document.
“More.”
Silence.
Lysandra looked impressed.
“I think I like him.”
Lexander laughed.
“You already said that.”
“I like him more now.”
Alden arrived two days later.
This time, he came with an actual delegation.
Not an army.
A delegation.
There were Valedorn ministers, engineers, merchants, military officers, architects, and representatives from several noble houses.
And behind them came wagons.
Hundreds of wagons.
They rolled into Concordia carrying timber, stone, iron, tools, grain, medical supplies, and sealed chests of Valedorn coin.
The sight left the people of Concordia speechless.
Lexander stood beside Io as the first wagons entered.
Alden dismounted.
“Good morning.”
Lexander looked behind him.
“Is all of that for us?”
Alden smiled.
“Most of it.”
“Most?”
“There are another three hundred wagons coming.”
Lexander stared at him.
“Why?”
Alden shrugged.
“Because I have a kingdom.”
Io laughed.
“And you intend to spend it?”
“Not all of it.”
Alden gestured toward Concordia.
“But I believe in what you’re building.”
Lexander’s expression became more serious.
“Why?”
Alden looked over the valley.
Workers were already moving between the buildings.
The central avenue stretched toward the unfinished palace.
The first bridge stood over the river.
“The old way of doing things nearly destroyed my kingdom.”
He looked at Lexander and Io.
“Valedorn spent generations trying to control its neighbors.”
He shook his head.
“I don’t want that.”
“What do you want?”
Alden smiled.
“To make sure Valedorn has neighbors who actually want to trade with us.”
Io smiled.
“That sounds reasonable.”
“I’ve been told I occasionally am.”
Lysandra stepped forward.
“Occasionally?”
Alden looked at her.
“I’ve known you for three days.”
“And?”
“I’m reconsidering the claim.”
She laughed.
Lexander shook his head.
“Welcome to the alliance.”
Alden extended his hand.
“Thank you.”
Lexander shook it.
Then Io stepped forward.
“Welcome.”
Alden bowed his head.
“Your Majesty.”
The formalities were simple.
But the meaning behind them was not.
Valedorn was no longer standing outside the alliance.
It was joining it.
The agreement was signed that afternoon.
The alliance now formally consisted of Lexander’s kingdom, Io’s kingdom, and Valedorn.
The treaty guaranteed mutual defense.
It established open trade between the three kingdoms.
It protected merchants traveling through their territories.
It established shared military cooperation.
It also recognized Concordia as the future center of diplomatic and economic cooperation between them.
Alden signed first.
Io signed second.
Lexander signed third.
Atreyu witnessed it.
Lisbeth witnessed it.
Mara witnessed it.
Even Thor stood nearby.
She looked at the document.
“So that’s it?”
Lexander nodded.
“That’s it.”
“We’re allies now?”
“Yes.”
Thor smiled.
“Good.”
She looked toward the Valedorn wagons.
“Do allies share food?”
Alden laughed.
“I believe that can be arranged.”
Thor immediately shook his hand.
“Excellent alliance.”
Lysandra whispered to Io.
“She joined for the food.”
Io smiled.
“I know.”
The alliance immediately transformed Concordia.
The Valedorn engineers were among the best in the region.
They inspected the city plans and suggested improvements.
The drainage system was expanded.
The northern fortress was redesigned and enlarged.
Additional reservoirs were planned.
New warehouses were added near the river.
Valedorn craftsmen began working on the government district.
Their masons helped accelerate construction of the palace.
Their carpenters joined the bridge crews.
Their metalworkers established a temporary forge.
And the gold Alden had provided allowed Lexander and Io to hire thousands more workers.
Within weeks, Concordia seemed to grow faster than anyone had thought possible.
The central avenue reached the future palace.
The government district began taking shape.
The first permanent market buildings opened.
Homes rose along the residential streets.
The military headquarters foundations were completed.
And the second bridge was officially begun.
Lexander stood beside Alden one afternoon, watching the construction.
“This is more than I expected.”
Alden nodded.
“You’re building a city.”
“We were.”
“What?”
Lexander looked at him.
“Now we’re building something bigger.”
Alden smiled.
“That’s what I thought.”
The political implications were immediate.
Merchants loved the alliance.
Trade routes opened.
Valedorn caravans began traveling south.
Merchants from Lexander’s kingdom traveled north.
Io’s kingdom gained access to new markets.
And Concordia became the obvious meeting point.
Even nobles who had opposed the union began reconsidering.
There was money to be made.
Influence to be gained.
Security to be shared.
The alliance was becoming difficult to oppose.
Not because anyone was being forced into it.
But because it was working.
That was far more dangerous to its opponents.
And far more difficult to argue against.
Meanwhile, the wedding committee had reached a crisis.
Lexander discovered this when he walked into the palace and found Io, Lisbeth, and Lysandra surrounding a table covered in papers.
There were dozens of them.
Possibly hundreds.
He stopped.
“No.”
Lysandra looked up.
“We haven’t said anything.”
“You don’t need to.”
Io smiled.
“We’re finalizing the wedding.”
Lexander stared at the table.
“Finalizing?”
“Yes.”
“That sounds dangerous.”
Lisbeth pointed to a chair.
“Sit.”
“I don’t like that tone.”
“Sit.”
Lexander sat.
Io took his hand.
“We’re almost finished.”
“Almost?”
Lysandra nodded.
“We’ve finalized the guest list.”
“Good.”
“The ceremony location.”
“Good.”
“The procession.”
“Good.”
“The music.”
“Good.”
“The flowers.”
Lexander looked suspicious.
“Which flowers?”
Lysandra smiled.
“All of them.”
He groaned.
Io laughed.
“We’ve also finalized the reception.”
“Food?”
“Yes.”
“Cake?”
“Yes.”
“Thor?”
“Unfortunately.”
A voice came from the doorway.
“I heard that.”
Everyone turned.
Thor stood there holding a pastry.
Lexander pointed at her.
“How did you get that?”
Thor looked at the pastry.
“I found it.”
“You stole it.”
“I prefer found.”
Lysandra shook her head.
“Get out.”
Thor ate the pastry.
“No.”
Lisbeth cleared her throat.
“Now.”
She turned a page.
“The ceremony will take place in the gardens.”
Lexander nodded.
That was what he and Io had originally wanted.
“The procession will begin at the palace doors.”
Io nodded.
“The representatives of both kingdoms will enter separately.”
Lysandra continued.
“Then the representatives of Valedorn will enter.”
Alden, who had just entered the room, stopped.
“Why am I involved?”
“Because you’re an ally.”
He looked at Lexander.
Lexander shrugged.
“Welcome to the wedding.”
Alden sighed.
“I knew joining the alliance would be complicated.”
“You have no idea.”
Lysandra continued.
“Then Lexander enters.”
“Finally.”
“And Io.”
Lexander smiled.
“Together?”
Lysandra looked at him.
“Obviously.”
“Good.”
“The ceremony will be witnessed by representatives from all three kingdoms.”
Io nodded.
“And after the vows?”
“The new standard will be raised.”
Lexander looked at the design.
The two intertwined circles.
The bridge in the center.
He smiled.
“I like that.”
Io squeezed his hand.
“So do I.”
The wedding dress had been finalized.
Io had chosen an elegant gown in ivory and silver, with delicate embroidery representing the river and mountains surrounding Concordia.
Her ceremonial cloak would bear the symbols of her kingdom.
At the ceremony, it would be removed and replaced with a new cloak bearing the Concordia bridge.
Lysandra had designed the clasp herself.
It was silver.
Simple.
And shaped like two circles joined together.
Lexander had not seen the dress.
He still hadn’t.
He suspected that if he asked, three people would immediately yell at him.
So he didn’t.
His own ceremonial clothing had also been finalized.
Dark formal robes.
Silver trim.
A simple crown.
And a cloak bearing his kingdom’s colors.
During the ceremony, he would remove the old cloak and receive the new one beside Io.
Not as conqueror.
Not as emperor.
As an equal.
That distinction mattered.
The guest list was another matter.
It had become enormous.
Representatives from neighboring kingdoms were coming.
Noble families from both kingdoms were invited.
Merchants were invited.
Military leaders.
Religious representatives.
Scholars.
Architects.
Engineers.
And, naturally, the people who had been involved in building Concordia from the beginning.
Io insisted that several construction foremen be seated among the important guests.
“They helped build this city,” she said.
“They deserve to be here.”
Lexander agreed immediately.
Alden did as well.
“They should have the best seats.”
Lisbeth smiled.
“I already arranged it.”
Lexander looked at her.
“Of course you did.”
She smiled proudly.
“I’ve been planning this for months.”
The food menu took another two days.
Thor objected to almost everything.
“This needs more meat.”
“No,” Lisbeth said.
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because there are already twelve meat dishes.”
Thor considered that.
“Thirteen would be better.”
Lysandra looked at her.
“You’re going to make yourself sick.”
Thor pointed at the menu.
“I am a goddess.”
“You still have a stomach.”
Thor paused.
“Unfortunately.”
Io laughed.
“What about the cake?”
Thor’s expression became serious.
“Chocolate.”
Lysandra shook her head.
“Fruit.”
Lisbeth said, “Vanilla.”
Lexander raised his hand.
“Can I vote?”
“No.”
He lowered his hand.
“Fair.”
Alden quietly looked at the menu.
“What about a layered cake?”
Everyone turned toward him.
He continued.
“Chocolate base.”
Thor’s eyes widened.
“Vanilla center.”
Lisbeth smiled.
“Fruit layer.”
Lysandra nodded.
Io considered it.
“And a light silver icing.”
Everyone looked at Lexander.
He smiled.
“That sounds perfect.”
Thor pointed at Alden.
“I like him.”
Lysandra sighed.
“Of course you do.”
“He understands me.”
“He suggested cake.”
“Exactly.”
Three days later, the final wedding meeting was held.
For the first time, there were no arguments.
No revisions.
No new proposals.
No emergency changes.
Lisbeth stood at the head of the table.
“The guest list is finalized.”
Io nodded.
“The ceremony is finalized.”
Lysandra nodded.
“The decorations are finalized.”
Lexander looked suspicious.
“The flowers?”
“Finalized.”
“The cake?”
“Finalized.”
“The music?”
“Finalized.”
“The reception?”
“Finalized.”
“The procession?”
“Finalized.”
Lexander leaned back.
“So we’re done?”
Lisbeth smiled.
“Yes.”
Lexander stared at her.
He looked at Io.
She smiled.
He looked at Lysandra.
She nodded.
Then he looked at Thor.
Thor was eating something.
“Don’t look at me.”
Lexander smiled.
“We’re actually done.”
Io laughed.
“Yes.”
He stood.
“Then we’re getting married.”
Io stood with him.
“Yes.”
They kissed.
Lysandra applauded.
Lisbeth smiled.
Alden clapped politely.
Atreyu, standing near the door, smiled.
Mara smiled as well.
Thor raised her pastry.
“To marriage.”
Lexander laughed.
“To marriage.”
That evening, Lexander and Io walked through Concordia.
The city was illuminated by hundreds of lanterns.
Construction continued even after sunset.
Workers were still laying stone.
Carpenters were still working on the second bridge.
The new government district was beginning to resemble a real neighborhood.
Valedorn wagons stood beside those of the other two kingdoms.
Merchants from three nations filled the temporary market.
Soldiers from three armies trained together.
And above the central avenue, the new alliance banner flew.
Two circles.
One bridge.
Three kingdoms.
Lexander looked at it.
“Alden really changed everything.”
Io nodded.
“He did.”
“Do you think he knows how important this is?”
She smiled.
“I think he does.”
They walked a little farther.
Ahead of them stood the foundations of the future palace.
Behind them stood the bridge.
Around them stood the beginning of their city.
Io stopped.
“What are you thinking?”
Lexander looked at her.
“That this started with us.”
“And now?”
He looked around.
“Now it’s bigger than us.”
Io smiled.
“That’s a good thing.”
“Yes.”
He took her hand.
“I wanted a life with you.”
She leaned against him.
“And now we’re building one.”
“Together.”
“Together.”
Behind them, a hammer struck stone.
Then another.
Then another.
Concordia was alive.
Valedorn had joined the alliance.
The three kingdoms were beginning to stand together.
The wedding was finally planned.
And for once, there was no immediate disaster waiting around the corner.
Lexander looked suspiciously at the peaceful city.
“This feels wrong.”
Io laughed.
“Why?”
“Because everything is going well.”
She smiled.
“Enjoy it.”
“I intend to.”
A voice suddenly echoed across the construction site.
“LEXANDER!”
He froze.
Lysandra.
He closed his eyes.
“What?”
“You forgot something!”
He turned.
“What?”
Lysandra held up a piece of paper.
“The honeymoon itinerary!”
Lexander stared at her.
Io burst out laughing.
“I thought we were finished!”
Lysandra smiled.
“The wedding is finished.”
She pointed at the paper.
“The honeymoon isn’t.”
Lexander looked at Io.
Io was laughing too hard to help him.
Thor appeared beside Lysandra.
“I have suggestions.”
Lexander immediately backed away.
“No.”
Thor grinned.
“You haven’t heard them.”
“I don’t need to.”
Lysandra raised the paper.
“Come on.”
Lexander sighed.
Io took his hand.
“Come on.”
Together, they walked back toward the palace.
Behind them, Concordia continued to rise.
Three kingdoms were becoming allies.
A new capital was taking shape.
A wedding was only days away.
And, despite all the political turmoil, battles, arguments, invasions, construction disasters, magical bridges, gods, and wedding committees—
Lexander and Io had finally reached the moment they had been waiting for.
They were going to be married.
And for the first time since Concordia had been imagined, the future didn’t look uncertain.
It looked bright.
It looked enormous.
And it looked like home.
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