As the citizens assembled in the marketplace, Kaya looked at Andrew, “Has it been a week already?” she asked. “I feel like we just did this.”
“The problem is, it’s going to be fifty years before you blink again. At least that’s how it seemed to go for all the other Kingdoms.”
“Please try to relax a little,” Jacob interjected. “We’ve only been here for two weeks. We’re not exactly behind schedule.”
“You’re right,” Kaya said with a sigh. “It’s just me. I always do this to myself.”
“Then stop. Stress is self-induced. We’ve got a lot to do, but we’re not alone,” he said, gesturing to the assembled crowd.
“Are you going or am I?” Jacob asked Andrew.
“You took the last ones. I’ll go and be right back,” Andrew said, lifting into the air.”
As Andrew flew off to the east, the citizens applauded and cheered.
“It’s time,” Kaya thought to Jacob.
Jacob shifted his perspective and began the weekly meeting.
“Hello everyone,” he thought, “this is Jacob. Welcome to the weekly meeting.”
More than three thousand voices called back to him.
“As Kaya and Andrew so eloquently stated last week, we had all better get used to our weekly meeting, because now that we’re on a roll, we couldn’t possibly stop.”
There was some laughter and applause, and Jacob continued.
“It’s only been a week since our last meeting, and there is much to share. As most of us have learned, a regular drink from any one of the three Fountains of Knowing will do a lot to improve your circle of friends.”
Heads nodded in confirmation, and most everyone smiled at the playfulness of Jacob’s style.
“It can be a little overwhelming at first, but if you haven’t stopped by for a drink in the last week, please do. It’s a great way to learn the name of anyone who’s entered the City since you last had a sip.
Based on the information shared at last week’s meeting, I understand some groups are being developed. There is also a new board behind me with the group names, along with their meeting times and locations.
The groups we have thus far are the Welcoming Support group, the Census group, and the Public Relations team.
The Welcoming Support group is offering to assist Kaya, Andrew and myself at all three entrances and their support will be needed almost immediately.
The Census group is heading up the effort to keep track of how many of us there are. I think they’ll be posting some sort of large tracking board here in the marketplace in the coming weeks.
Also, we have our first team of volunteers departing with Andrew tomorrow. They will begin spreading our message and recruiting new citizens. I’m sure we’ll all learn a great deal from their initial efforts.
All of this recruiting activity will be supported by our Public Relations Group and on behalf of all of us, I want to thank you for your efforts. Together, we will succeed.”
Applause and shouts of support rang out across the marketplace, while Andrew returned, landing next to Kaya.
“Welcome back,” Jacob thought to Andrew, allowing everyone to overhear.
“Three new citizens,” Andrew reported, and the cheers and celebration continued.
“Wonderful,” Jacob announced. “Let’s keep going, shall we?
For those of you who don’t already know, I will be leaving on the maiden voyage of the Lady Marie tomorrow morning.”
When the applause finally quieted down, he kept the announcements going.
“We have no charts, except what we can see with our perspective, so my mission is twofold. First, I will begin mapping our coastline and making note of the ports along the way. I will also be gathering maps from all possible sources. These maps will be combined with those from the village until we have completed our map of the world.
Second, I will be visiting the Empire. It is the closest large city with a port, and I’ll report back regularly. I’m confident we’ll learn a great deal from these early voyages, and I hope to use the gateway of the Lady Marie to its fullest advantage.
Thank you, everyone,” he said, wrapping up. “Kaya also has a few items to share.”
Applause and kind wishes filled the air as Jacob pulled his perspective back into himself.
“Thank you, everyone,” Kaya said, quieting the celebration. “As Jacob mentioned, Andrew will be leaving tomorrow with two hundred volunteers.”
The anxious volunteers applauded and whistled with enthusiasm, and they were met with the applause and approval of the entire City.
“Thank you, volunteers!” Kaya added. “They will be heading east, and hopefully, they will return with many more in their ranks.”
Again, the applause overtook the marketplace.
“Jacob is departing for uncharted waters, leaving the responsibility of welcoming new citizens to me. Please remember, no new citizen can be allowed to pass the Fountain until I arrive. Thanks to the Welcoming Support group, I will be able to sleep for a few hours every night.”
The citizens acknowledged the importance of the expectation and Kaya continued.
“As a reminder, one we will continue making every week, our mission is not to simply call out to the world. We are more than a Beacon,” she said, pointing to the column of Light emanating from the half-spire. “We are a refuge, we are the only safe haven, we are the City of Light, and we must shepherd to our City all those who can hear our message.”
Thunderous applause erupted from the marketplace.
“Jacob, Andrew, and all our volunteers,” she said, trying to keep her tone steady and her heart brave, “be safe, and thank you. Everyone else, I’ll see you here next week.”
It wasn’t just the applause and enthusiasm making her smile. It was the unanimous commitment and resolve within the citizens.
The next day at sunrise, Andrew and Kaya bid farewell to Jacob as he exited the City. As he turned and waved from beneath the enormous archways of the southern portal, he appeared tiny and frail. In front of him, patiently waiting to escort Jacob to the Lady Marie, was a group of fifty children, each holding a long colorful ribbon.
“He’s in good hands,” Andrew said, leaning down and kissing Kaya. “I hope he fares well.”
“It’s not Jacob I’m worried about,” she said.
“I'll be all right,” Andrew said, putting his hand to her cheek. “We’ve been over this. We have a plan.”
“Plan or not, we’re putting citizens in harm’s way.”
“We will not succeed by waiting here, and we cannot do this alone. We must take risks, and this one is small.”
“I know,” she confessed. “I’m just worried about how this is going to progress. Today you’re leaving with two hundred. In a year, it will be two thousand, and in ten years it will be tens of thousands.”
“Before we’re done it might be hundreds of thousands,” he added. “We’re only at the very beginning, and we have hundreds of years before us. I’m just glad we’re taking these steps together.”
She nodded, wrinkling her forehead.
“Don’t over-think it,” he said. “The time for that has come and gone. We had today planned out so long ago it feels like a dream.”
“Was it?”
“Was it what?”
“A dream.”
“Anything is possible,” he said, taking her hand and lifting off into the air. “It certainly felt like one. Then again, so does this.”
As they sped off into the east, Kaya hummed a little tune she had heard a child singing in a place she couldn’t remember, “Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream.”
Andrew joined in as they touched down in front of the volunteers waiting for them at the east entrance, “merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.”
“I have an army of Wanderer’s at my side,” he thought to Kaya. “If everything goes well, we’ll return with someone who use to think of themselves as a king or a queen and maybe a few loyal subjects.”
“I know you’ll be fine, it’s them I worry about,” she thought back.
“Mind the entryways and tend the flock,” he said, with a kiss. “We’ll be back in a few weeks.”
Kaya gave him one final hug, and said, “Don’t come back empty-handed.”
“There’s the woman I married!” he said. Turning to face his group of volunteers, and yelled, “Are we all ready to go make a big first impression?!”
A cheer exploded from the huddled mass as someone announced, “Backpacks on!”
Finnigan, a short red haired man, handed Andrew his staff and pack and the group headed out into the rising sun.