Morning mist still lingered over the shallow banks of the Casmere river when the first group of villagers arrived. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

They came from Lowmere.

Men with shovels slung over their shoulders, others carrying ropes, baskets, and crude digging tools. Most of them expected a normal day of fieldwork, not to be summoned by a Prince.

When they reached the river bend, they slowed.

Eric was already there.

He stood near the narrowed section of the river where the current struggled through the thick silt. His boots were planted in the damp soil while the supervising panel stood further back along the bank, speaking quietly among themselves.

The Lowmere farmers stopped a short distance away, unsure whether to approach or wait.

Then someone pointed.

More people were arriving from the opposite path.

Hillford.

The two groups noticed each other almost at the same time.

Murmurs spread instantly.

"What are they doing here?"

"Why are they here?"

"So the Prince called them too?"

Some of the Lowmere men scowled openly. The Hillford farmers were not much friendlier. They slowed their steps but continued forward until both groups stood facing each other across the muddy riverbank.

No one spoke loudly, but the hostility was obvious.

Eric watched them quietly for a moment. Then he stepped forward.

"Good morning."

His voice was calm, but it carried clearly across the bank.

The murmuring stopped.

Some of the villagers bowed awkwardly. Others simply lowered their heads.

Eric glanced briefly at both groups before speaking again, "I asked both towns to come because the river that feeds your lands belongs to both of you."

No one argued with that.

He gestured toward the narrowed bend of the river.

"When I inspected the Casmere yesterday, I found the cause of the water shortage."

The farmers leaned forward slightly.

Eric crouched near the riverbank and picked up a clump of wet sediment from the ground. It crumbled slowly between his fingers.

"Silt."

He tossed the mud back into the water.

"This bend has not been dredged properly for years. As the current weakened, sediment accumulated. The riverbed rose, the channel narrowed, and the water flow slowed."

The villagers looked at the river, some frowned, others seemed confused.

Eric continued calmly, "When the river weakens here, the fields downstream receive less water."

A Lowmere farmer spoke up, "So it’s because of the drought?"

"Drought helped cause it," Eric said. "But neglect finished the work."

He gestured along the river.

"This stretch has not been maintained as a single river. Each town worked on the part closest to their own land."

A few men from both sides exchanged uneasy looks.

"But rivers do not recognize borders."

That line settled quietly between them. Eric stood again.

"If this bend remains clogged, the river will continue to weaken every season."

He paused just long enough for the weight of the problem to settle.

"Which means both Hillford and Lowmere will lose their harvests."

Now the farmers were listening properly.

One of the Hillford men folded his arms, "So what are we supposed to do about it?"

Eric pointed at the riverbed.

"We dredge it."

Several farmers blinked.

"Dredge?" One repeated.

"We remove the accumulated silt," Eric explained. "Restore the depth of the riverbed, increase the flow speed, and allow the current to clean itself again."

Another man frowned.

"And that fixes everything?"

"It will fix the foundation."

Eric looked from one town to the other, "But it cannot be done by one town alone."

Silence followed.

No one liked the direction this was going. Eric let the quiet stretch for a moment before finishing calmly.

"So today both towns will work together."

A Lowmere farmer scoffed, "Together?"

A Hillford man muttered, "That’s not happening."

Eric didn’t raise his voice. He simply stepped down into the river.

The water reached just above his boots as he pushed the shovel into the soft sediment and lifted the first heavy scoop of silt from the riverbed.

The wet mud slapped against the bank. He looked up at them.

"It’s your river, I’m trying to solve the problem, but if you don’t want your people to live then keep standing there."

The supervising panel members exchanged surprised glances.

For several seconds, neither town moved. Then an older farmer from Lowmere sighed heavily and stepped forward.

"Give me a shovel."

A Hillford man hesitated before muttering, "Fine."

One by one, the farmers moved toward the river, their movements were reluctant but the work began.

The sun had climbed well above the trees by the time another group of riders approached the river bend.

At the front rode Earl Castermere.

Behind him were Lysanne and the twins, Leonard and Nicolas, both sitting stiffly in their saddles as they peered ahead with curiosity.

Thaddeus had been informed earlier that morning that the Prince had gathered people at the river, but he had not expected much to come of it. At best, he had assumed it would be another inspection.

But as they drew closer, the sound reached them first.

Shouting.

Not angry shouting.

Working shouting.

Thaddeus slowed his horse.

"... What in the world?"

The trees opened enough for the riverbank to come into view.

Men from Lowmere stood knee-deep in the water, digging into the riverbed with shovels and baskets. Others dragged heavy clumps of silt onto the banks. A group further upstream was hauling stones into place along the edge.

And mixed among them were the people of Hillford.

Not separately.

Together.

Though "together" might have been too generous a word.

"You idiot, that’s not how you scoop it!"

"Then you come here and do it yourself!"

"If you dump that there it’ll slide right back into the water!"

"Mind your own business!"

Mud splashed. Someone slipped. Another cursed loudly as his boot sank deeper into the riverbed.

Yet none of them had stopped working.

Lysanne blinked in disbelief.

"They’re... working together?"

Leonard leaned forward in his saddle.

"They were fighting last time we came here."

"They still look like they’re fighting," Nicolas muttered.

Thaddeus remained silent as he watched the scene.

It had been years since the two towns had cooperated on anything.

Even during harvest seasons they barely tolerated each other.

Yet here they were, standing shoulder to shoulder in the river.

Not happily, but they were doing it.

His gaze shifted to the center of the river.

Eric stood there with his sleeves rolled up, mud streaked across the lower half of his trousers as he shoveled another heavy scoop of silt from the riverbed.

A few paces away, Drac was hauling thrice the mud than an average man and a few young women who had gathered around were watching him with awe.

It was years since he had yearned to see this scene. Thaddeus exhaled slowly.

"... How did he manage this?"

Lysanne followed his gaze toward Eric.

"He didn’t force them," she said quietly.

Thaddeus glanced at her.

"You sound certain."

Lysanne watched Eric for a moment longer, "He wouldn’t have."

At that moment a Lowmere farmer slipped on the muddy bank and crashed directly into two Hillford men beside him.

A splash of thick river mud flew into the air making the twins burst into laughter.

Thaddeus rubbed a hand across his forehead, unsure whether to be impressed or horrified.

By midday the work had slowed.

The sun had climbed high enough to press down heavily on the riverbank, and the farmers had begun climbing out of the water in small groups, wiping mud from their arms and faces.

Tools were set aside. Boots squelched against the damp ground.

Soon the two towns drifted toward separate patches of shade along the riverbank.

Lowmere gathered beneath a cluster of trees further downstream. Hillford settled along the higher bank near the stones they had been hauling all morning.

The distance between them was not large but it was deliberate.

Eric climbed out of the river last.

Mud clung to his boots and the lower half of his trousers, and the sleeves of his shirt were rolled up to his elbows. He brushed his hands together lightly before walking toward the shaded area where Drac stood waiting.

Drac had already washed his hands in the river and was quietly opening a small food container brought from the Castermere mansion.

Lysanne approached a moment later, carrying a cloth bundle under one arm.

"You should eat," she said. "You’ve been in the water all morning."

Eric gave a small nod.

"I’m not the only one."

The twins had already found a place nearby and were sitting cross-legged on the mat that was spread for them, watching the villagers with open curiosity.

Drac passed Eric a piece of bread while Lysanne spread the cloth on the ground between them.

Before Eric could sit, a Lowmere farmer approached hesitantly, holding out a wooden bowl.

"My wife packed stew," he said awkwardly. "It’s not much, but... Your Highness has been working with us all morning."

Eric looked at the bowl for a moment before accepting it with a polite nod.

"Thank you."

The man seemed relieved and returned to his group.

Not long after, a Hillford woman approached from the other side carrying a small basket.

"Fresh bread," she said, placing it beside the cloth before quickly stepping away again.

The twins’ eyes widened.

"We’re getting a lot of food," Nicolas whispered.

Eric glanced toward the two groups sitting apart along the riverbank.

Lowmere was eating together beneath the trees.

Hillford was doing the same further up the slope.

Neither group looked toward the other.

Eric broke a piece of bread slowly before speaking.

"You know," he said casually, "it seems inefficient."

Lysanne looked at him, "What does?"

Eric gestured lightly toward the two groups.

"They’re all eating the same kind of food. Bread, stew, fruit. Just in different places."

Drac looked in the same direction but said nothing.

Eric continued, "If they put it together, everyone would probably eat better."

Leonard tilted his head, "You mean... share?"

Eric shrugged slightly, "Food tastes better when it’s shared."

Lysanne followed his gaze toward the two groups again. For a moment she considered it.

Then she stood.

"What are you doing?" Nicolas asked.

Lysanne picked up the basket of bread, "Trying something."

She walked toward the middle of the riverbank where the two groups were sitting apart.

Several farmers looked up as she approached.

Without saying much, she placed the basket down on a flat rock between the two sides.

"If anyone wants bread," she said simply, "it’s here."

For a moment no one moved.

Then one of the Hillford men shrugged and walked over, grabbing a piece.

A Lowmere farmer followed shortly after.

Soon another basket appeared, then a pot of stew.

The distance between the two groups didn’t disappear completely.

But slowly, people began sitting closer to the middle where the food had gathered. Some were still arguing and glaring but they were eating from the same place.

Reggie and his friends were also gathered to see what the Prince wanted to do but watching this change had even shocked them. They hadn’t lingered but Reggie had stayed long enough to notice the little warmth that could still be between them. He looked at Lysanne and the twins before he turned and walked away.