by D. R. Rosier
Point was, we decided if they were going into the city, we might as well take advantage of the inn.
We were even right, the commoners outside the gates, coming in and leaving, were wary as we approached the gates, but didn’t feel threatened enough by two elves alone to be moved to attack them. Not in a huge city of thousands of humans around anyway, safety in numbers? It might have even helped that they were both beautiful women, and one was light elven and the other one was dark elven. Making them a curiosity to gawk at rather than a threat for humans who had probably never even met an elf before.
Of course, what we hadn’t counted on was the reaction of the guard. Maybe it was stupidity, or maybe we were just used to the human guards in Eastguard, who respected and appreciated our elven neighbors. In hindsight, I thought it much more likely I was the only one that didn’t think of it, and that Saria and Karana had considered the risk, and they’d decided that letting me go alone with Regina was the more dangerous option.
I never asked, so I really couldn’t say. The idea hurt my ego a bit, but also made me feel loved.
The city of Dulcier was nowhere near as big as Malburn which was miles across, but it was big enough to have several districts, had a wall thirty feet high, as well as a central keep that was large enough to be called a small castle with its own walls and gate. Well, Dulcier had been its own kingdom before Malburn conquered them, I’d forgotten that story, and this city having its own castle suddenly made a lot more sense.
I hadn’t thought a duke would rate more than a keep, but obviously I hadn’t been thinking at all.
I estimated the city would have fifteen to twenty times the population of Eastguard’s. There were no signs of undead, maybe after the invasion they were returned to rest, or maybe they’re stacked like corded wood in a warehouse for the next time they were needed, who knew?
Point was, when the line of people got to the gate, all we saw were eight guards around the gate dressed in green uniforms and brown leather, a gatehouse, and the market beyond on the wide road beyond that which was filled with both street vendors and permanent buildings. The castle being the tallest building in the city, stood above the market stalls in the distance, maybe a half mile away.
The two guards inspecting and questioning arrivals did a double take as we approached, and put their hands on their swords, though at least they didn’t draw them.
“Purpose of visit,” one of them demanded in a suspicious voice.
I smiled, “We’re travelling from Eastguard to Malburn, we just need to replenish our stores, and after a night at the inn we’ll be moving on at dawn.”
His eyes narrowed.
I waved at Saria, “This is Saria, one of the queen’s nobles in Eastguard. She’s been called to Malburn to escort the elves that used to be prisoners of the late unlamented king.”
He barked a laugh, “And I’m the bloody queen, nice to meet you.”
Right, I supposed that the truth was rather farfetched for a guard to have gotten wind of.
I considered telling him that I was the last living flesh sculptor on the continent, but something told me that wouldn’t be believed either. I looked over at my companions for help.
Karana gestured to me, “This is James, a flesh sculptor your queen wants to meet, and his mate Saria who is not only a noble of Eastguard, but also a princess of Lelmalond, and an old friend of mine. This is Regina, James’ other mate, and I am Karana, high mage advisor of Amathyr. I’d advise you let us through, we are on the queen’s business, or if you must, verify the truth of our words with your duke or duchess. I’m afraid I’m unaware of who rules in this city now.”
The guard’s face looked incredulous as he called the other six guards over to us. In fact, I was pretty sure the only reason he let Karana finish that her spiel, was because her voice was so damned sexy and sultry. Seriously, I could listen to her for hours talking about fashion, or maybe reading from a phone book, or a dry medical text for that matter.
At least we weren’t being attacked, but they did look wary, and I had a feeling it was in our best interests not to make any sudden movements.
“You’ll go with them now while we check out your story. If you’re lying and spies, you’ll regret it long before your deaths. Don’t even think about trying anything, or the men on the walls will fill you full of arrows.”
Yeah, I was fairly sure Karana and Saria could turn them into mincemeat, but the thought of attacking the queen’s guards seemed like a bad one, even in self-defense. But then, threatening a noble was treason, and punishable by death. Still, avoiding any violence seemed like a good plan.
I nodded, “We’ll cooperate, but keep in mind mistreating a noble is treason.”
He grunted, and his glare seemed to agree with me, but also promised painful retribution if we were lying. It was probably stupid to expect any kind of welcome for my elven mate and the mage that was quickly worming her way deep in my heart, but they’d have to get used to it. After the first few times through, they’d know us, because I had a feeling this wouldn’t be the only time I travelled to Malburn from my home in Eastguard, and I wasn’t going to hide my mate in the woods every time we stopped for supplies.
Assuming we got to keep that home, or a million other things didn’t go wrong.
He waved for us to follow the six guards, which quickly flanked the four of us and led us toward the gatehouse. I ignored the gawking people in the street.
The gatehouse was far larger than was apparent from outside the gate, only about twenty feet wide, but it was a very long building along the city wall, the tower to climb the wall was just the first section of it. They led us into a large stone room with stairs up, with two more soldiers present.
The stone hallway was on the right, and was farthest from the city wall on the side of the building, and we were led past three barracks style rooms to the left, through a very solid looking door into the holding part of this place. They walked us two more doorways, perhaps the first room already had people being held, and were gestured into the holding room.
I wasn’t panicked yet, but I was far from happy. At least they kept us together and didn’t take all our stuff. It helped, that Saria and Karana didn’t look at all worried.
Chapter Eleven
The room was bare save for a long rude wooden bench. There were no other exits outside the door we came in, and no windows.
Karana said, “There’s a very good dampening ward in here. I hope the queen thought to inform her duke here we might be coming through.”
“Dampening ward?”
Karana nodded, “Magic is like the air we breathe, it’s everywhere, and permeates through all the elements in equal facility. When you channel your magic, it’s replenished even as you use it, constantly from the environment. The elements around us constantly replenish too, to replace what you’ve taken. The ward on this cell stops the last part from happening. We have enough magic in our bodies to do a little, but we’d quickly find ourselves drained of magic and helpless.”
Saria smirked, “Helpless?”
Yeah, Saria would only be slightly less deadly without her telekinesis.
Karana grinned, “Okay, some of us would be helpless.”
“Glad you two are having fun,” I quipped.
Regina giggled.
“Three,” I said with a smirk.
Regina snuggled into my side and kissed my cheek.
“Maybe we should have gone to a village?” she asked.
“I thought of that, but in the long run this is probably necessary. I have a feeling even if the queen does let us return home, this won’t be our last trip to Malburn. Better the guards and everyone involved gets used to seeing elves along for the trip.”
Saria nodded, “Now all we need to do is wait, how long do you suppose it will be before someone gets down here from the castle to clear us?”
None of us had a clue, and we continued to chat lightly as we waited.
In the end the answer to th
at question was just over an hour. Of course, no one actually came down to clear us. At least, no one important, they sent a messenger.
The door opened, and one guard walked in, while two others were outside with bows drawn, who were in turn surrounded by three more with swords drawn. It was the same six guards.
The guard said, “We’re to escort you up to the castle to verify your story. It seems the duchess is aware of the possibility of your arrival, and she wanted to see you anyway.”
Duchess? I wondered if all of the queen’s city rulers were female. I decided probably not, considering how much power she entrusted to her consorts, those men spoke in her name.
I replied, “Lead the way.”
He smirked, “You first. But first the rules. Do not draw a weapon, or we will end you without hesitation. Once we reach the castle the guards at the entrance to the throne room will ask for your weapons, if you don’t surrender them you will be killed. They will be returned to you when you leave the duchess’s presence, assuming of course you are the ones she is expecting. Any questions?”
We all answered no, and then the guard waved us past. We were all quiet for the trip, though we did exchange a few glances. I did my best to look confident for my mates and Karana, but in truth I was probably drawing more strength from their apparent surety than they were from me.
The walk up the wide road filled with people and vendors even in late evening wasn’t too embarrassing, as they all gawked at us curiously. Still, I found it a good sign that none of the people looked afraid of the guards, that hadn’t been the case under King Hanson. They weren’t rich, and some were dressed in ragged clothing, but they weren’t afraid.
I took note of several stalls that sold the items we needed, as well as the location of the inn. Chances were that we’d be buying supplies on the way out tomorrow though, since I doubted we’d be cleared before night fell. Twilight was just thirty minutes or so away.
The street had just about everything for sale, blacksmiths, armorers, herb shops, foods, general goods, clothing, and everything else a thriving city would need. The shopping district ended at a cross street more than halfway toward the castle, and we moved into what I guessed was the merchants district. There were a lot of nice houses, middle class three-bedroom houses in size from my world, but I imagined were upper-class here on this world. Of course, being a city, they were all smashed up against each other, with alleys barely wide enough for one person to walk through.
There was a large open courtyard when the houses stopped, with a fountain in it, and about twenty guards on station. Across the courtyard was a large forty-foot wall, and large wooden gates with an iron portcullis which was currently raised. It was definitely a castle, not a keep. Not as large as the seven-floor behemoth in Malburn, but it had at least four floors judging by the long and thin slit windows.
We were obviously expected, as the guards near the gate simply exchanged nods with our six guards as we marched through. There was another smaller courtyard that was bare, but had obviously hosted statues in the past. I guessed they’d knocked down the reminders of King Hanson’s rule.
The entry room to the castle was filled with art and was three stories high. At first glance the opulence was welcoming, but when I saw the arrow slits, and balconies on the second and third floor above us, I realized this entry room was a kill box. The thick wooden doors banded with metal that led to the hallway straight ahead, verified that in my mind.
Of course, the room hadn’t done Hanson’s duke any good at all.
The main hallway was filled with both planters and more art on the walls, and it led straight to the throne room where the duchess must hold court. There were four very large guards right outside the closed doors, and we all halted when they held up a hand.
“Weapons,” one of them demanded.
I only had a six-inch dagger to turn in, that I used more as a utility knife than anything else. Karana had a similar blade, as did Regina. Saria on the other hand, gave over her long thin sword. Not quite a long sword in thickness, but thicker than a katana or sabre, and not curved. I wasn’t sure what to call it, I wasn’t a sword buff back in my world. It was almost three feet of steel, and sharp and deadly. She also turned over six throwing daggers, and two regular daggers with foot long blades.
It was probably wrong, especially being a physician, but my petite and very deadly wife really turned me on. There was a beauty and grace to the way she brought death when protecting us all that spoke to my primitive side. I wasn’t nearly as helpless anymore of course, as when I’d first arrived on this world, but it would take years before I’d achieve bare competence in comparison.
We were waved into the throne room as the door opened.
The room was large, and mostly bare of decoration, although there were some statuettes in alcoves along the walls, and two red banners with designs on them. I assumed one was the symbol of Gritor, and the other perhaps the duchess’s house? It was just a guess, I’d ask Regina later. Most likely the reason for that was so no one could miss the center of attention in the room, which was the elaborate throne on a dais, with a woman in red and black mage robes sitting on it.
She was in her mid-forties, and still an attractive woman with creamy tanned skin, light brown hair, and hazel eyes that betrayed a sharp intelligence. Her smile seemed welcoming in a reserved way. She looked to be in good shape, but her mage robes weren’t as revealing as Karana’s, so it was hard to tell.
Her voice was sweet sounding, almost to the point of being annoyingly grating, but not quite.
“Welcome, I’m Duchess Liandra, ruler of Dulcier and sworn to Queen Sera. Would you be James the flesh sculptor? I’ve been told to expect you.”
“I am, your grace.”
She smiled, which changed her face to look far less severe, and more kind.
“I’d like to take your word for that, but your company is rather an odd mix. Perhaps there’s a mutually beneficial way to settle the issue, since you’re the only flesh sculptor alive? Taking the city was rather costly, and I have fifty-three soldiers who will be laid up for months, some of them will never serve again due to the severity of their injuries.”
I pondered that, quickly. It would prove who I was, but I was starting to suspect she’d planned all of this to hijack my services, even from the guards detaining us at the gate and being ignorant to our possible arrival, it’d been political maneuvering. Sera’s intelligence network was far too good for my comfort, I found it very hard to believe the duchess didn’t have descriptions of me and everyone else in my life.
I replied with a light smile and bow.
“I would be pleased, your grace. There is the small matter of remuneration for my services. The price I already established with the nobles of Eastguard is a silver for each soldier healed. Perhaps it’s best if that becomes the standard in all duchies and baronies?”
The truth was I’d heal the sick and injured for free if they couldn’t afford it, or offer the commoners the service at a smaller rate, one that they could afford. My compassion and calling wouldn’t allow me to do less. But… I did have two wives, a house, servants, and soon to be children to take care of. Nobles could easily afford it, so they’d never get free services. Besides, if I did it for free I’d be in the doghouse with Regina.
Liandra’s lips twitched, and she turned to one of the attendants.
“If he heals them, pay him the five gold and three silver coins. Also, put them up in the guest wing, and provide the supplies they need for the rest of their trip.”
The implications in her voice being if I didn’t heal them, we were frauds and should be killed. Still, I knew now it was just leverage to make sure I did it. Which made me think she didn’t believe I would if simply asked.
“Your grace, I’d be pleased to pay my respects each time I pass through your city, in case you have need of my services?”
Translation, there’s no need for this bullshit stick and carrot approach Liandra, all you had to
do was ask.
Liandra nodded, “That would be appreciated, although I don’t expect the need will be so dire in the future.”
She stood and walked off, entering the door in the back of the room. We were obviously dismissed. Nobles…
The attendant said, “This way please.”
The ladies all looked approving of my choices, so I guessed I hadn’t flubbed too badly with my first foray into dealing with nobles and politics. I didn’t get a big head though, I sincerely doubted dealing with the queen would be so easy…
Chapter Twelve
After picking up our weapons, we were led down a side hallway to a different set of doors. The doors opened up to the outside, a public flower garden of sorts, at least for nobles and visitors to the castle. It was about fifty feet wide between the castle and surrounding wall. We turned left and walked around toward the back of the castle on a wide circling path.
The back of the castle was a large courtyard where soldiers were still training in torchlight. We crossed it and walked toward several barracks buildings, the same size and design as the ones in Eastguard. There were fifteen of them, which would house three hundred soldiers at twenty a building.
The attendant waved his hand at two of them, and said, “These two barracks are being used to care for the fifty-three wounded.”
Obviously they were over-occupied, but I supposed men that couldn’t move wouldn’t need the extra room.
He looked nervous, and I nodded, “Let’s get started? It shouldn’t take long. Why don’t you take a list of the supplies we need from my mate Regina, while I take care of it.”
We walked into the barracks room. It was ugly, there were a lot of men with bandaged wounds, a few of them with missing limbs. Without some of the magical abilities that killed disease causing organisms, they’d probably all have infections, it wasn’t clean enough, but I smelled no rot or infection. Magic was damned useful that way.
