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“Where should we start?” Valda spoke sternly.

“Wherever Maris wants.” A wide and perfect smile spread across Eyphah’s face as she turned her attention to Maris. “Did you have something in mind?”

Maris shifted uncomfortably in her chair as she nodded. “I want to see all the roads that lead in and out of New Agenor, as well as the ones inside the settlement. I’ve noticed they are not in the best state.”

Eyphah nodded. “Done. What else?”

“The housing structures. What materials are you using?”

“Not the best. We have been recycling from broken down houses. As soon as one is destroyed after a sandstorm, we demolish and reuse what we can. It is hard to get construction materials with the roads as they are not to mention they sell us everything for twice the price.”

Maris nodded, tutted, and took out her notebook. “Do you need construction materials?”

“Yes. New ones if possible. We are not asking for the best quality, but definitely new. We have survivors that used to work as engineers back in the Sea Kingdom. They can make the best out of anything.”

Valda bumped her shoulder with Maris. “What about food? Where is your food sourced?”

“We have a small farm near the lakes. We use the water to keep it growing, yet we encourage our people to grow their own food.”

Maris nodded and wrote in her notebook. “Can we see it?”

“We can leave right now,” Eyphah said, pushing herself off the table and heading to the door while Maris gathered her notebook and placed Valda’s hand on her shoulder.

The cabins in New Agenor were small. Most of them only had two bedrooms with a communal bathroom for every three houses. To Maris, it wouldn’t be a problem, except that now when there was daylight, she could see how many people were in the settlements. She thought a population of a hundred, maybe two hundred, turned out to be approximately two thousand.

There were a lot of children in New Agenor. Young kids with different shades of blue hair ran down the settlement’s unserviceable roads, laughing and oblivious to their surroundings. Having lots of young kids was a positive thing, yet, it broke Maris’s heart. They didn’t deserve to be living like that compared to the Skylian children. This place wouldn’t do for them.

“There are a lot of children here,” Maris commented as they continued walking.

Eyphah couldn’t help but give Maris a sly smile. “We got busy as soon as we settled down.”

Maris nodded at the remark. “Do you have a doctor amongst you?”

“No.”

Maris’s eyes widened as she followed Eyphah close behind. Valda’s grip on her shoulder tightened. “You don’t? How do you care for the sick? The children?”

“We don’t get sick so often. The lakes provide us with all the medicinal necessities. We are not violent, so we don’t injure one another.”

“What about pregnant women? What about thieves? Accidents?”

Eyphah turned to Maris and then to Valda. “We have our ways.”

Maris narrowed her eyes at Eyphah as she continued walking in front of her. She was hiding something. Maybe she knew of a blessed Asclepius worshipper. Maybe Melvian had visited New Agenor more than once. Maybe Isen had brought her here when they needed a healer.

Eyphah stopped at one of the small communal gardens. She let out a loud sigh before moving her hand theatrically. “We have over thirty of these. We do need some watering system to help them grow. The earth in this kingdom is as dry and barren as an old woman’s cunt. We do gather water when it rains…or should I say, if it rains.”

Maris turned to face Valda. The queen’s upper lip twitched with annoyance as she slipped her hand off Maris. “Rhea has an excellent watering system. They have used it over many years on their farms and crops. I know our weather is not the best, especially if you’re out here. But we can come up with something to help you. We are on good terms with that kingdom, so I can ask them for some blueprints of their system,”Valda explained.

“How long will it take?”

“Give or take? Two months. After that is all about getting the water you need.” Valda sighed, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath through her nose.

Maris frowned and turned her entire body to face the queen. “Your Highness?”

“You can’t use the lake as your water source, but there is water under this land.” Valda raised her head. The morning sun shone upon her feminine features, and specks of gold shone through her hair.

“We know. We have been trying to dig a well since we came here. As much as we tried, we weren’t able to reach it. That’s why we make do with the water from the lakes.” Eyphah narrowed her eyes at the queen. “It bothers me to no end that I’ve traveled to your castle to ask for the bare minimum, your mother never yielded. It was a constant battle.”