Announcement!
I want to start with saying sorry guys for the slow releases and chapter short length. Please bare for now as I lack time and has to really squeeze to make these chapters. I fear this might make the quality of my chapters suffer but I have to keep releasing to be consistent. But this is only temporary. Thank you.
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Sortie
I hated the city of Wali the moment I set my eyes on it, even from the distance. The city was set in a wide crevice in the rocky plains. From its rim you could see buildings down there as if looking into a giant dry well. The buildings were made of stones and seemed to be stuck together. There were tall buildings with multiple floors identified by their doors and narrow windows on each floor. Wooden bridges spanned the city too, across all levels of it, marked by floors, so people don't need to use the mundane things called 'stairs' to go downstairs to get out of their apartments, and could just use the bridges just outside their doors to step outside.
It was a brilliant idea, and you could see people going about on the bridges and feel how convenient it was for them.
We rode down into the city through a drawable bridge, that could be retracted in times of attacks. Down here the streets were congested with people; men and women wearing drab clothing as if bright colors did not exit. Well, the rules pertaining to colored cloths in V'alkre might not be as severe as that of Crystalis but it was a fact that colored cloths are a luxury in the continent and this just proved that the men of Wali were not that privileged.
They gave us way as we rode through the streets and before I knew it people were cheering. "Long live the baron! Long live the baron!" They chanted. "Safe is his return!" The chants came from around us on the street, from up on the bridges, and from unseen places. I looked up to catch a look at those above but the bridges mostly obscured my vision from the way they crisscrossed above us, even blocking the sun in most places, and only permiting shadows instead to fall on the streets. With only wads of sunlight here and there.
I was surprised yet again as we reached the palace. It did not look deferent from the other buildings and was stunned when we stopped there. Okay, it was taller yes, and maybe a little bigger..... and all the bridges in the city led to it somehow, like it was the heart of the city, surely. But how do I put it? It was too unremarkable.
Nevertheless the soldiers broke up with lord Natt before the palace tower and started heading to their homes; some back the way we came while others further into the city. Natt left me with one of the servants that came to greet him on his return. "Find a room for him in the palace," he ordered and continued into the tower.
"Yes my lord," The servant bowed then requested I follow him after the master of the house. "Please this way young master,"
I said nothing as I followed the middle aged man. Just inside the hall I saw an old servant stop lord Natt on his track. "Message for you lord," the old servant said. "It's urgent!" He was wearing a silver embroidered blue robe, his hair long and white, his eyebrows of the same color were long that they hung down to his chest. A Skiln, like Nimps, another sub race of humans.
"Urgent?" lord Natt frowned. "When did it arrive?"
"This morning, by horseman, it comes from the Crane,"
I stopped to watch. Natt quickly opened the letter and his frown deepened. "Trouble lord Natt?" I questioned.
"I wish I could say no," Lord Natt grunted. "I am going to find something to eat first, Tomi summon the leaders,"
"Right away my lord,"
Natt and Tomni broke away immediately, one going further in, and the other hurrying out of the tower. The servant that led me took me through a side door, through a hallway, and upstairs to my room. Where I eat and rested after the long journey.
I did not know how lord Natt's meeting with the so called leaders went since I wasn't invited to attend it, and couldn't just help myself in like I do in Fen since this is their territory. But I could guess how it went as later in the night a servant came to inform me to sleep early as we'll sortie at first light the next day.
The morning dawned, the cocks crowed, and Saint Highvoid walked into the main halls for breakfast still half asleep. I had woken up in time, and that was a miracle in it self as the sheer amount of willpower required for that feat was one I hadn't known I possessed. Two weeks on the road had left me weary to my bone and soul. A little more sleep would have been appreciated but life said no, and like all things, life commands with a foot on the ground and you'd have to deal with it.
The hall was filled with soldiers and palace servants eating. I found an empty stone table and sat, placing my food tray before me then started eating. Sandwich and a cup of milk, nothing more. But it was a good breakfast really. Especially for a back country like this place. Seriously bravo, I thought happily, I'm rather tired of consuming dried food.
Half way through my meal a silver haired boy suddenly appeared before me. He was holding an identical tray to mine in his hands as he just came back from the food counter. "May I?" He asked but sat either way before I could reply. "Bless you young master Saint," he said almost immediately, "I am Jakesean Shin, lord Natt's second brother, honor to meet you."
"The honor's mine,"
Jakesean talked like a parrot. No faster. "Say I had heard a lot about you, rumors been coming from Fen, said you killed some nobles of Guis house and Hill. I must admit I'm an admirer, been wanting to meet you for years too, believe it! But one time I suggested it and mother, oh bless her soul, gave me a bit of a telling off." he went on, "Bit? Who am I kidding? She went in details, she called you a freak and names and she called me a colossal disappointment in the midst,"
I finished my sandwich and gulped the rest of the milk down before glaring at Jakesean. "What do you want?"
The silver haired boy paused for a moment then grinned, his blue eyes sparkling like clear water. He's a good looking boy my age. "Natt asked me to help you get armed for war like a proper knight before we sortie."
"Now?"
"Hadn't you been listening Highvoid? We'll be down in the armory immediately I am done with my meal,"
"Then eat,"
Jakesean grinned and started digging into his food. At least he finally shut his mouth.
"So what would you rather, a halberd or spear? You could also go full barbarian with an Axe or war hammer," Jakesean asked as we walked into the basement. The tunnel was long with barred doors cast between rough stone walls at both side of the hallway. The boy opened the first door to a room housing large assortments of weapons. "Here's the armory, surprised? None is better at war than a Wali, hey pick a weapon, we should be in a hurry."
"I have a sword, but I could use an armor,"
Jakesean helped me choose armor parts and that I strapped to my horse then we sortied.
My new friend explained the situation to me as we rode with the army towards Crane. He said the High priest's army had rode out and taking Crane, a mining town at the edge of the Coldfire region. Our goal is to confront them and win. Which entails taking back the mining town and deflecting the High priest's army back east.
What a task. In the novel this army hadn't succeeded. They'd all died at Crane pass ending up as meals for crows and vultures.
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