"Now, I have heard many things about you. A creature of the Abyss. The destroyer of Ulundkin. The Plaguebringer reborn. Despite this, The Silent King has ordered your protection. As he brought order to the chaos in this Plague-ridden land, I will always trust his judgment. But if I even begin to suspect that you mean to disrupt the lives of the people in my city, I will bring the full might of our forces down upon you. If that means execution for going against The Silent King, then so be it. Am I clear?"
"I appreciate your honesty, but I am not the monster that brought the Plague down upon your beloved city."
"Neither was the Plaguebringer at first. If you believe the stories, he was a hero. That's not how he is remembered, though. Everyone can change for the good or bad. So I ask again: Am I clear?"
"Crystal."
"Good. Now if you will excuse me, a member of the city guard will take you the rest of the way inside."
Without waiting for a reply, Haavian gave a whistle and rode ahead to the gate. The other guardsmen that had been escorting them followed behind in single file. Captain Joor stopped for a moment to lean over and speak to one of the guards at the gate then led his men through.
Leaving Ean and his companions sitting atop their mounts on the road.
"Pleasant fellow," Azalea said as she brought her horse up alongside Ean's steed. "He holds a great deal of anger towards you. Tasted wonderful. Was even peppered with a little fear. That didn't seem directed at you. A dangerous man to be sure." She gave him a wink. "For you, of course. Not for me."
"For everyone," Dao said, also joining them. "Just past the main gate is the city barracks. It used to house hundreds of men before the Plague. Haavian has replenished its numbers to over a hundred well-trained soldiers."
"That's not much of an army," Azalea scuffed. "Nar'Grim in the Abyss has put thousands of creatures on the field in their tiresome battles for control."
"Maybe. But a hundred or so men is more than you could handle. And anyone allowed to live in the city has at least a little training. It's part of the requirements of being a citizen."
"Farmers with pitch forks, how scary."
"Weren't you just recently on the receiving end of a--"
"Wait," Ean cut in. Something Dao had said got his attention. And he didn't need them to start arguing right outside of the city. "Did you say there are requirements to be a citizen here?"
"Yes." Dao shot Azalea an angry look then turned his attention to Ean. "There are quite a few requirements, and most people in these lands don't meet them."
"And that doesn't seem strange to you?" He spread his arm wide, taking in as much of the city as he could. “This city could probably hold all of the people in Ven Khilada comfortably. From the two villages that I've seen, I would think there are less people here than in my lands. Why not just let all of them live here?"
"I don't know." Ean noticed Dao's body tense slightly. "But the punishments for those not accepted and still try to live here are . . . harsh."
"How harsh?"
"We should probably get going. That gate guard is staring at us . . . "
"Dao, how harsh?"
Letting out a sigh, Dao turned his attention towards the ground.
"The first offense means disfigurement." He raised a hand and made a motion towards his missing nose. "The second time you are caught means death."
"So you don't actually live here. You were caught once and--"
"Twice."
"I thought you just said . . . "
"I lived here for years, Ean." Heat entered his voice as he spoke. "Was born here before the Plague. Survived the chaos after it on my own. Then was told I didn't meet the requirements to stay after The Silent King took control. Was one of the hundreds forced to leave in those early days. Except I didn't leave. The city is a big place and I knew it well. Lots of places to set up hidden homes. Avoid the guards. I lived here happily for years right under the noses of those that wanted me gone."
"But you eventually got caught."
"Eventually." He let out a bitter laugh. "Decades of outwitting the system tends to make a person cocky. I started getting bolder, tried stealing from the castle."
Azalea barked a laugh. "And I guess you aren't as skilled as you think you are."
"Apparently not." Dao inhaled through his nose sockets. "After I was caught, Haavian took my nose himself. Then his men tossed me out of the city. I waited, maybe . . . three days? Then snuck back in."
"How long did you last then?" Ean asked.
"Less than a day. Cursed man had people waiting for me at the side gate I tried sneaking through. Probably had men at each gate. Long story short, they brought me to the Counselor and he offered me a choice. Run an errand for The Silent King that might get me killed or he would have Haavian remove my head right there on the spot."
"Not much of a choice."
"Nope, not at all. So that's the real reason why I ended up in your little cave to deliver a message."
"And now that you've completed your task . . . "
"I'll be given the rights to live in the city and a full pardon. Not a horrible deal."
"Then I imagine you'll be heading your own way as soon as we get in the city."
"Not to worry. I'm not going to abandon you at the gates. I fully plan to accompany you into the castle and make sure everything goes smoothly."
"Afraid we'll ruin your little deal?" Azalea quipped.
"Of course not!" Dao waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. I have the utmost faith in Ean. I just want to make sure my new friends are given accommodations that are suited to someone as important as you."
"Well," Ean reached over to pat the man on the back. "I certainly appreciate that. Having not left the village I grew up in until I was older--"
"You honestly aren't falling for his honeyed words, are you? Even a simpleton could tell he just wants to enjoy whatever hospitality is offered to us."
"No, I'm sure . . . "
Dao flashed a smile and lifted his arms in a shrug, which lead to Azalea to burst out in laughter.
Ean tried to ignore the laughter and motioned his horse forward. "Come on, let's go."
Azalea continued to laugh at him right up until they reached the wall. A large gate greeted them, easily five cart-lengths wide and four stories tall. A thick, wooden portcullis hung at the top, the wooden points of its base like a monster's teeth ready to snap shut. Four guards dressed in the same red-scaled armor took their horses without a word and began to unload the saddlebags while the fifth waved for them to follow.
"Not a talkative bunch," Azalea whispered into Ean's ear.
"I suppose not."
"You'll learn that Novufyr is a city of few words," Dao said. "Most people refrain from speaking when not necessary. Sort of a homage to The Silent King."
"No wonder they tossed you out," Azalea murmured. She wrapped an arm around Ean's waist as they walked. Ean placed an arm around her shoulder in response without thinking.
"Say whatever you want, devil woman," Dao retorted. "You can't ruin my mood." He took in a deep breath, closing his eyes and smiling. "It’s good to be back. I've missed the smell of this place."
Azalea sniffed. "Smells like dust to me."
"That's the smell of history." Dao was looking around the city wearing a large grin. "This city has seen more than anything else in this land."
"It certainly looks it. Everything looks like it is falling apart. And besides the guards, I haven't seen or even smelt a single person."
"I told you this city used to hold more than one hundred thousand people, and that's not counting the smaller districts that sat right outside the walls at the minor gates. Now, less than ten thousand live behind the walls. No one lives in this section but the guards. The rest live close to the castle in the districts on either side and behind. Those areas are better taken care of by the Restorers. A good chunk of our population work to keep the city from falling apart but they can only do so much."
"Maybe your
Silent King should hire some more," Azalea said with a sniff.
"Dao," Ean cut in. "What's this?" The road passed straight through a three-story arch cut through the base of a massive stone building. Broken windows and tattered tapestries lined its walls while torches lit the street underneath.
"It’s called the Eishamalga Concourse. No idea what it means--"
"Hoard," Ean said at the same time as Azalea. She looked at him for a moment, then made a show of looking elsewhere. Ean detected the faintest hint of guilt through their bond which he found odd, but continued speaking to Dao. "Eish'amalga means ‘hoard’ in the language of the Abyss."
"Really? Must be a coincidence. I've never heard it pronounced with the space in the middle of the word . . . "
"What was the building used for?"
"Well, it was the trade hub for the entire land back before the Plague. People would come from all over and set up stands to sell their goods. As you can see,"—Dao waved his hands as they reached a crossroads underneath the building—"the road continues in each direction underneath with plenty of space for stalls and carts to be set up. There are also rooms above us where the wealthier citizens can rent out for shops. Even late at night, this place used to bustle with activity. As a teenager I used to bring dates here. Grab some food, find a nice, secluded corner--"
"Why isn't it used now? I'm sure Novufyr trades with the rest of the settlements in your land."
"Trade is strictly controlled by The Silent King. Anything coming into and out of the city is inspected and the owners are given the appropriate trade in either coins or goods. Just another way that people who are not permitted to live in the city are kept out."
"Seems a bit strict. No one complains?"
"No one ever dares complain to The Silent King."
They exited the other side of the concourse and found Zinortan Castle staring back at them.
Four strong, square towers sat at each corner of the grand castle, its walls made of a forest-green stone. On the right side, a separate square building sat, about a third of the size as the main building and connected by another building in between. Simple windows were placed in symmetrical patterns around the walls, with the spaces in between taken up by blood-red banners depicting the gold outline of a profile with a single finger held to its lips. A regular gate with thick wooden doors sat in the middle of the building where the road converged. A handful of small gardens were placed around the sides, the flowers varying in color and appearance to what Ean was used to seeing with everything else in this land.
It was clear more work had been done in the upkeep to the outside of the castle in comparison to the rest of the city they had seen. The blocks didn't have the growth of moss spattering its surface as the outer wall had, and the wooden support beams appeared freshly lacquered. The colors on the banners were vibrant, with even the smaller details in the design clearly seen.
"Welcome to your new home-away-from-home," Dao said with a grand wave of his arms towards the main building. "Prepare yourselves to be spoiled and well fed, while you live in the lap of luxury in the castle's guest suite."
Chapter 35
Since Zin was out cold, the three of them took turns carrying his dead weight up the narrow castle stairs. Even though the imp was small, by the time Ean had lugged him up the last two flights, he was panting, but it was Dao who did all of the grumbling.
"I can't believe we weren't given the royal treatment. After being given a special invitation from the King himself, I can't believe we're being assigned to the guest suites in the side annex instead of the ones in the main building. It's like a slap in the face." Despite Dao's complaints, the guest suites were nicer than any Ean had seen. The stone floors of each room were covered in rugs, and paintings of various scenes Ean couldn't identify hung on the walls. Fine wooden tables and chairs sat in each room. Covered in the finest cloths, they looked more for show than to catch any food or drink being eaten on top of them.
Eager to set Zin down, Ean quickly scoped out the bedrooms and chose the one with two beds. Without ceremony, he dropped the slumbering imp onto the bed by the window and returned to his companions gathered around the bowl of fruit and nuts on the table in the common room sprinkled with cushioned chairs and sofas. They were arguing about whether the contents were safe to eat or not while the other guards brought up their things.
"Not as grand as the suites in the castle," Dao said as he dropped into the corner of a couch, "but still fairly nice."
"Are the dungeons of the castle just as nice?" Azalea was the only one not seated. She moved about the room, running her hands over the curtains, poking at the cushions of the furniture, and pausing for a few moments to scratch the Hound behind his ears.
"I may have been beaten and tossed out of the city on my ear, but I've never spent any time in the dungeons, so the joke's on you, Yulari."
"Oh my mistake. A beating sounds much better than time in a cell."
"Azalea, relax." Through their bond, the Yulari felt like a tightly coiled spring and Ean had no idea why.
"Sorry, dear. The imp isn't here for me to take my frustrations out on and Dao . . . well he is just Dao."
"Apology accepted," Dao said with a wave of his hand.
"Wasn't apologizing to you, rottface."
"What are you frustrated about?" Ean interrupted before things escalated again.
"The same things I was frustrated about back when this noseless man first appeared with his offer. Doesn't this all seem a little too good to be true?"
"Oh stop," Dao said, leaning forward. "Hasn't everything worked out exactly how I said it would?"
"Funny, I don't remember you mentioning a whole village trying to kill us and Ean getting his throat cut and going crazy." Azalea gave Ean a sympathetic look. "No offense, of course."
"None taken." Ean kept his temper in check. Barely.
"Well, in all honesty, that was partially my fault."
"Partially? Try all your fault!"
"Ha, so you admit it had nothing to do with The Silent King! Problem solved, so stop being paranoid. Anyway, if he wanted something bad to happen to you, he could have just let the prairie cats make a meal of all of us."
"He has a point, Azalea. Why bring us all the way here to try and kill us?"
"Oh, young one . . . " Azalea walked over and rustled his hair until he swatted at her hands. She let out a laugh and continued to pace around the room. "Traps are not always set to kill their prey. Maybe this Silent King has other motives."
"And what might those be?" Dao asked.
Azalea replied with a simple shrug of her shoulders.
"Exactly," Dao leaned back on the sofa. "Stop making our poor boy nervous and let him enjoy a little luxury."
"Oh, he can relax. After all, he has me watching out for him. And don't you forget it."
Dao raised his hands in a placating gesture and let the conversation drop. Ean sent a wave of calmness through his bond with Azalea. She rolled her eyes and continued her inspection of the room.
"So, now what?" Ean directed his question towards Dao.
"Now we wait to receive our reward."
***
Around noon, meals were brought to them, plates of assorted roasted vegetables and mugs of water. The servants that brought them were in and out before Ean could even offer up a “thank you.” It was a bit unnerving how they bustled in after the last morsel had been eaten to clear everything away. Almost as if they had eyes in the room. Dao just passed it off as service of the caliber they deserved which earned a humorless laugh from Azalea.
Ean browsed over the shelf of books and was delighted to find one called Toxic Plants of the Silent Forest. Finding a cushiony chair, he spent the rest of the afternoon perusing its pages, wondering if this Silent Forest still even existed. Dao fell asleep sprawled out over the sofa while the Hound kept himself occupied by gnawing on a table leg. The day would have been rather relaxing if it wasn't for the Yulari. When she wasn't pacing around the room
or snapping at everyone, she was peering through the window as if she expected an army to descend upon the castle at any moment.
Ean was about to go look out in the hall for someone to ask when a man pushed open their door and entered. He had the look of a man in his later years with lines and wrinkles spread out along his face and his bald head. He stood with a slight haunch and used a metal staff with a wolf's head at its peak to help him move about. He was dressed in simple black robes tied with a green cord.
He froze for a moment as all eyes in the room turned to him, then gave a weak smile.
"Terribly sorry for the delay." His voice was pleasant and welcoming, like the sound of an old friend you hadn't seen in a while. "A great deal goes into the running of a city. Especially one with a relatively small population compared to the overall size of the land. Thousands of people spread out in a space that could fit hundreds of thousands . . . but listen to me. Going on about my problems. Not things you need to concern yourself with and I'm being rude. Allow me to introduce myself. Raneth Almirg"—he paused to make a quick bow—"High Counselor to The Silent King."
Ean found his appearance strange. Most other people he had seen in this land seemed locked between their late teenage years and early middle age. He couldn't recall seeing anyone who looked as old as Raneth. Dismissing the thought, Ean rose from his seat and moved to shake the Counselor's hand.
"Pleasure to meet you. I'm–"
"Ean Sangrave, the guest of honor. Of course, of course." The man took his hand and pumped it vigorously. "So nice to finally meet you in the flesh. Ever since word of that unfortunate incident in Ulundkin reached us, you've been all The Silent King has thought about."
The mention of Ulundkin made Ean pause, his mouth half open in reply.
Enemies and Allies (Bound to the Abyss Book 3) Page 29
