Corvin Voss had spent thirty years learning how power moved.
Power followed coin.
Coin followed influence.
Influence followed perception.
Change the perception...
And eventually, power followed.
It was a system that had served him well.
Until Jax Darquebane arrived.
Now...
Nothing behaved the way it should.
"We start with the mayor."
Corvin adjusted his gloves as he and Maelis crossed the newly paved streets of Solmere.
"If we can influence Aldren, we can slow construction permits."
"Delay expansions."
"Question zoning."
"Make investors nervous."
Maelis nodded.
"It won't stop Darquebane."
"No."
Corvin smiled faintly.
"But kingdoms don't collapse because of one defeat."
"They collapse because progress becomes inconvenient."
That...
She agreed with.
They climbed the steps to City Hall.
The receptionist looked up.
"Oh."
"You're just a few minutes too late."
Corvin stopped.
"Too late?"
"Mr. Darquebane just finished with the mayor."
Silence.
Corvin forced a polite smile.
"I see."
"What were they discussing?"
The receptionist smiled brightly.
"Oh..."
"Something about permits."
"Expanding warehouses."
"A public swimming pool."
"Affordable housing."
"And another portal."
Corvin thanked her.
Walked outside.
Said nothing.
Maelis folded her arms.
"Interesting."
Corvin didn't answer immediately.
Instead...
He looked back toward the mayor's office.
"He got here first."
"He was discussing construction."
Maelis sounded unconcerned.
Corvin slowly shook his head.
"No."
"He was discussing influence."
The Merchant's Association.
"If he anticipated City Hall..."
Corvin muttered.
"We secure the merchants."
They crossed the market district.
Halfway there...
The doors opened.
Jax stepped outside carrying rolled building plans beneath one arm.
Grathok lumbered along beside him laughing loudly.
"...If we double the warehouse size now," Jax was saying,
"...we won't need to expand again for another decade."
Grathok slapped his own stomach.
"You always think too far ahead."
Jax shrugged.
"It saves money."
The two continued down the street.
Never once noticing Corvin or Maelis.
Neither spoke.
Until Jax disappeared around the corner.
"...Again."
Corvin's voice barely escaped above a whisper.
Maelis smiled.
"Oh..."
"He's good."
Corvin rounded on her.
"You think this is amusing?"
"I think it's fascinating."
"He anticipated us."
"No."
"He anticipated everyone."
They changed direction.
"The Guild."
"If he controls the merchants..."
"We influence adventurers."
The Guild Master wasn't available.
"He just stepped out."
"With Mr. Darquebane."
Corvin closed his eyes.
Very slowly.
The Bank.
"He just left."
The School.
"He just finished."
The Construction Office.
"You missed him."
The Park Commission.
"He approved the expansion this morning."
By late afternoon...
Corvin stood perfectly still in the middle of Solmere's busiest intersection.
People flowed around him.
Workers.
Children.
Merchants.
Builders.
Everyone moving.
Growing.
Building.
He slowly turned in a full circle.
The school.
The guild.
City Hall.
Warehouses.
The market.
The gates.
Everything...
Touched by one man.
Maelis finally broke the silence.
"He's building more than businesses."
Corvin nodded absently.
"...He's building dependencies."
She smiled.
"I was going to say an ecosystem."
He looked toward the horizon.
"No."
"An ecosystem grows naturally."
He swallowed.
"This..."
"...was designed."
Neither noticed Jax walking through the market two streets away.
He was busy comparing lumber prices.
Trying to decide whether cedar or oak would last longer in Frostveil's climate.
Completely unaware that two of the sharpest political minds on the continent had spent an entire day believing they were chasing a mastermind who had anticipated every move they intended to make.
In reality...
He had simply been solving tomorrow's problems yesterday.
And somewhere...
The gap between coincidence...
And destiny...
Quietly widened once again.