Chains to bind our heart

[reliantnav]

Abel doesn't often attend his father's courts.

He is proud of what his father has built, using diplomacy to unite the factions of their once-city into a united and productive society. With that stability, they have some hope of achieving civilization once again, and Abel will have the relative freedom to pursue his research and projects. His father dismisses all Abel's work as 'tinkering' and tries to shift his focus instead toward leadership and politics.

The latest project will convince him. Abel's sure of it. He's almost finished the design for a water reclamation system that will provide their city with large quantities of fresh, drinkable water, enough to start rebuilding the system of running water that runs through the city.

So he isn't paying all that much attention to the court and their visitor--some diplomat or warlord from a neighboring city?--until he hears his father say:

"And my son Abel's hand in marriage to seal the bargain."

Abel's head whips up fast, staring at his father and their visitor in shock.