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CaveLeather
After fully maximizing the million-gold-dragon budget and spending over two hundred thousand gold dragons immediately, Arthur switched to Keenwing's perspective to observe the changes in the Starfall domains.
Keenwing spread her broad wings and with a slight flap, launched herself from the Eagle's Nest at Starfall Keep.
With powerful strokes, Arthur felt the airflow whistling softly through her feathers as she rapidly climbed into the high sky.
From the clouds, the Starfall domains unfolded like a scroll painting below.
The Torrentine River shimmered like a silver ribbon. On the roads running north and south, and on the arched bridges spanning the river, carts and horses flowed like endless columns of ants.
Most of these carts carried construction materials like stone and timber, as well as iron tools.
Along both banks of the Torrentine, particularly in the Smithing District, construction on the planned watermills had already begun. Workers were piling massive amounts of building materials on the leveled ground.
Through Keenwing's sharp eyes, Arthur spotted the experimental watermill Karl 'Bi' had built earlier in the Smithing District. Workers were constantly hauling logs into it and carrying out cut lumber to the construction sites of the new watermills.
Over a dozen carpenters were busy at work. Some skillfully processed the lumber to build the frames of the houses, while others followed blueprints to craft the wooden components for the water wheels, cranks, and connecting rods.
On the other side, masons were shaping stones into standard sizes, constructing the main buildings of the watermills according to the Masons' Guild's plans.
Soaring along the Torrentine, Arthur could see four watermills under construction simultaneously—three within the Smithing District and one at the Nightshadow Market north of Starfall Keep.
The Nightshadow Market was located in a large open area where the newly completed road to Nightfall Keep met the original road to High Hermitage.
With the road between Starfall Keep and the Prince's Pass open, Starfall Keep had become a distribution center for goods in the domain. Its rich produce attracted more and more merchants and commoners from the north and east of Dorne to trade.
Vendors' tents sprouted like mushrooms after rain. Bakeries, roadside inns, taverns, hostels, and cart shops sprang up to meet the demand.
After circling Starfall Keep a few times, Keenwing flew south. She sped over houses, farmhouses, and wheat fields scattered along the road until the massive arena came into view.
Originally a training camp for levies, then the tourney grounds for the Starfall Tourney, it had now been transformed into a colossal complex for daily training and public entertainment.
Rows of stone tiered seating extended outward and upward. Arthur had Keenwing fold her wings and land on the highest stone step at the top of the arena.
Inside the main arena, where the joust had once been held, two warriors in full plate armor were fighting fiercely with sword and shield. Sparks flew as their blades clashed.
The stands were packed. People waved their arms, cheering for their favored fighters. Vendors and children wove through the crowd selling mead and meat pies. The atmosphere was lively.
During the interval after the match ended and before the next pair of contestants entered, Arthur saw singers and fiddlers performing for the crowd.
This scene reminded him of watching the bravo and assassin duels at the Moon Pool in Braavos. aside from the courtesans and the different combat styles, there seemed to be little difference.
In the archery range adjacent to the main arena, Arthur saw many commoners in roughspun clothes—farmers mostly—practicing shooting under the guidance of several instructors.
To encourage more people in the Starfall domains to practice archery, Arthur had authorized monthly archery competitions with substantial prize money for the top performers.
He also granted Gerold hunting rights in the Red Mountains and surrounding woodlands, allowing him to organize regular hunts.
Outstanding archery skills and performance in these events were key criteria for joining the archery corps or the guards.
To the northeast of the arena, a large vacant lot had been fenced off. Its area was nearly equal to that of the current arena.
This area, following Arthur's modification of Gerold's arena expansion plan, was designated for new events like horse racing, bullfighting, wrestling, and unarmed combat.
Arthur lingered on the top steps of the arena for a while, enjoying a free joust between two knights, before taking flight again and heading south.
Passing over the Dawn Market and Starfall City, he arrived at Starfall Port.
Perhaps due to the news of Arthur spending a million gold dragons spreading, Starfall Port, which had been somewhat empty after Stannis and the Royal Fleet left, was once again a forest of masts. Flags of all colors snapped in the wind.
The small harbor was filled with ships of all sizes.
Many ships bearing the banners of nearby Dornish and Reach lords were docked at the piers. Others, due to a lack of berths, were anchored off the small islet south of the port and near the large extended reef.
However, these were not Arthur's focus. He circled the port once and finally located the warships being built with his massive budget.
Near the pier where the seven Reach warships were undergoing repairs and modifications, a large clearing on the coast was stacked high with timber drying naturally under the sun. This process would take over a month to minimize cracking.
Beside the clearing, Arthur saw Eaton directing over a dozen craftsmen in laying the keel and framing—the most critical part of shipbuilding.
According to Eaton's earlier explanation, the keel of a ship, especially a warship, must be made of hard, durable wood.
Oak, typically used for lances and shields, was the standard material for warship keels.
Besides oak, rare hardwoods from the Summer Isles and ironwood from the North were even better materials, though much more expensive.
Arthur planned to use Summer Islander hardwoods or ironwood for the next batch of warships and the flagship's keel and hull.
The keel material Eaton was using for this batch was a thick, naturally curved oak trunk.
This naturally curved oak had an inherent arc, requiring minimal processing. The ends curved upward to form the stem and sternpost—a superb keel.
Aside from laying the keel, Eaton had broken down the various processes.
Some carpenters followed blueprints to shape timber into ribs that would connect to the keel and support the hull. Others, along with laborers, were responsible for transporting the ribs and assembling them onto the keel. Eaton oversaw the entire operation.
This model seemed efficient, and the frame of the hull was rising quickly.
Arthur observed for a while, then didn't linger. He directed Keenwing south along the coastline.
In the low-lying areas near the beacon towers along the way, he could see many workers and conscripted farmers digging reservoirs according to the craftsmen's plans.
To execute the salt and glass production plans, Arthur had specifically instructed Karl 'Bi' to establish a Salters' Guild and a Glassmakers' Guild. This was to attract and train talent while encouraging innovation.
Finally, Arthur had Keenwing land atop the soaring lighthouse of Beacon Tower.
On the flat beach to the northeast, where the new port was planned, several floating docks had already been built with timber to facilitate the transport of personnel and materials by boat.