Kethril (44 page)

“Sir Knight, it might be best if you rode in
the front,” Anilyia suggested, looking worriedly at a group of
tough looking men hanging outside a run down restaurant along the
road. Sir Danth took point while Tathan and Anilyia rode side by
side behind him, followed by Vevin and Liselle. Once again, they
could handle just about any danger, but wanted to avoid it.

***

They reached the northern gate of the city
near sunset. The wall was made of stone and extended further than
they could see in either direction. The ground outside of the wall
was clear for seven hundred feet, with stakes to prevent against
attack. Guards walked the upper wall.

“Now that is a proper defense,” Sir Danth
said.

“I don’t know why they have all that.”
Anilyia waved her hand at the stakes and guards. “Oimryi hasn’t
been attacked in centuries and there are thousands of people living
outside the walls.”

“It makes complete sense,” Sir Danth said
without clarification.

“How far does it go?” Tathan asked.

“It’s mostly round with four main gates and
a few smaller ones between,” Anilyia said as they rode through the
wide gate. There was a great deal of traffic: people walking,
riding, sitting on seats carried by peasants, or riding in
carriages. Wagon trains moved through the mob. It all created a
traffic jam that slowed their pace to a crawl.

“From the west gate to the east gate, it’s a
little over seven miles. From the north to the south, it’s just
under eight,” she told them as if reciting lessons. “There are
eleven districts outside the wall that extend for miles. My
father’s scholars believe there to be well over a million people.
Almost all are peasants, who tend to be rather noisy and smelly.”
The last sentence sounded more like opinion than a recited
lesson.

Liselle was in shock. She couldn’t even
comprehend a million people. It would be as many flowers as she had
met in the valley, or as many stars as she could see in the
sky.

An hour later the sun had set, but there
were so many lights in the city that it glowed, making it difficult
to see the stars. Clean white buildings bordered the tree-lined
boulevard, their domed roofs painted with bright colors and
intricate patterns. Multi-colored mosaic tiles decorated the
corners, eaves, windows and doorways. People riding carriages or
horses moved along the cobblestone streets while pedestrians
strolled on stone sidewalks. There were few children out after
dark.

“Most of these people either work late or
they’re going to parties and taverns. There will be a better class
of people the closer we get to the castle,” the princess
explained.

“Tathan and I are peasants,” Liselle pointed
out.

“Neither of you are peasants. I like you.”
The princess seemed to consider that a perfectly logical argument.
“I’m so excited! I’m almost home!” She gave a happy little squeak
and wiggled in her saddle. Tathan squeezed her hand and smiled
while Liselle shook her head in amusement.

***

The royal palace was set in the northeastern
section of the city, away from the center. Anilyia told them that
the middle of the city was an enormous park and plaza with the
biggest fountain in the world dominating the center. She led them
down another tree-lined avenue that would take them to the main
gates.

“How are we going to do this?” Tathan asked.
“I’m worried that they’re not going to believe you’re the princess.
There are always people who try to run cons when kidnappings
happen.”

“I’m not worried about that, and I just need
you to trust me on it,” she told him with a tender smile. “I’ve
been thinking about it for the last few days. Sir Danth, would you
mind doing the talking when we get to the gate. A knight’s words
will carry more weight than anyone else’s. I’ll take care of it
once we go in.”

“Of course. I don’t like talking to councils
and kings, but I love telling common soldiers what to do,” he told
them over his shoulder.

“Alright. We’ll be challenged at the main
gate. Tell them you wish to speak to Councilor Hephran. He’s not
the highest ranking person we’ll talk to, but he’s the highest
ranking person the guards will actually call.”

“Councilor Hephran. What is his position?”
the knight asked.

“He’s the Royal Guard’s liaison to castle
security. Once he sees who I am, he’ll get us to the right place.
And he probably wasn’t executed when I was kidnapped, although you
never know with my father.”

“I’ve never heard of such a position,”
Tathan said. “I thought the Royal Guard
was
castle
security?”

“Not in Mayncal. There are hundreds of
positions that other kingdoms don’t have.” Anilyia waved off
mention of the other kingdoms as though they didn’t matter and
never would. “There’s the palace.”

The palace wall was twenty-five feet tall
with iron barbs facing out. Guards with long pikes walked along the
top. A wide grassy area with flowers separated the avenue from the
wall. There were low ropes to discourage anyone from walking in the
area. Liselle waved at the flowers and they waved their petals in
return. One of the guards on the wall did a double take and wiped a
hand across his eyes.

“Whatever you do, don’t go past that low
rope. The guards are ordered to kill anyone who does,” Anilyia
warned Liselle who was starting to ride toward them.

Liselle reluctantly rejoined the group.
“Those are very pretty flowers. I’ve never seen most of them.
Perhaps your father will let me talk to them before Vevin and I go
exploring?”

“Yes, of course,” Anilyia said. “I’ll see to
it personally.”

A few minutes later, they reached the main
palace gate, which was set back from the avenue. The walls angled
away from the street for a hundred feet on either side of the open
gates, creating a space where fifteen guards stood at attention on
each side, ready to deal with any danger.

Sir Danth rode up to the guard who looked to
be in charge. The man, dressed in blue and gold tunic and kilt,
held up his hand. He also wore sturdy leather chest and skirt armor
with light steel plates. His arms and legs were covered by greaves.
Sir Danth had told Liselle a lot of little details about armor on
their journey. It was interesting to see some of what he had
described.

“Hold there, knight. What is your business
at the palace?” the man asked in a powerful voice. Liselle imagined
it would be very useful in giving troops orders.

“Greetings, my good officer. I am Sir Danth
Wazmordin of Morhain. I would speak to Councilor Hephran,
please.”

“And why do you need to speak to him?” the
officer asked. He was respectful to the knight, but did not defer
in any way.

“I have definite and vital news regarding
the princess’s kidnapping and wish to report the information to
him,” Sir Danth said.

The officer studied the knight for a moment.
Sir Danth was a striking figure and it was easy to take him
seriously. The officer briefly studied the rest of them. He turned
to a group of four young men in foppish blue and gold outfits who
were sitting underneath a small awning to the left of the gate.
“Summon Councilor Hephran immediately.” One of the young men jumped
and ran through the gate at full speed.

“I don’t normally call for a councilor
without being certain that there is a true need,” the officer
informed Sir Danth. “However, there is something about you that
leads me to believe the matter is serious. If nothing else, the
subject is. I warn you that you had best not be wasting time.”

“I assure you we are not wasting your time,
good officer.”

“Very good. It would be wise of you to
dismount so that you are on level ground during the conversation,
as a gesture of goodwill,” the officer suggested.

Sir Danth hopped down from his horse. Tathan
and Anilyia dismounted between theirs so it would be difficult to
see the princess. Tathan led her to stand behind Sir Danth. Liselle
and Vevin also dismounted, but remained by their horses. Liselle
noticed that Tathan had made his sword disappear.

A few minutes later, the foppish young man
led an official-looking older man through the gate. The newcomer
was wearing a light blue toga with golden clasps and belts. He also
had gold jewelry on his fingers, arms, legs and neck. Gold
piercings lined his ears with a few in his eyebrows as well. His
hair was mostly grey and there were numerous wrinkles in his face.
Liselle thought he must smile a lot. “The runner informed me a
knight had information regarding the kidnapping of the princess,
Captain,” he said to the officer.

“Yes, Councilor.” The officer thumped a fist
to his chest in salute. He motioned toward Sir Danth. “This is the
knight and his companions.”

“Well?” the councilor asked, waiting for an
explanation.

Sir Danth was about to speak, but Anilyia
put a hand on his back and moved in front She took the silk off her
head and shoulders. “Hello, Councilor Hephran. Are my parents
well?”

The councilor’s eyes widened, as did the
officer’s. A few of the previously statuesque guards exchanged
glances. Councilor Hephran was about to kneel, but took a closer
look to make certain, turning his head each way a little as though
getting a better angle. Tears suddenly flooded his eyes and he
knelt. “Your Highness.”

The guards slammed their fists against their
chest in unison, creating a loud drumming sound. Councilor Hephran
abruptly stood. “Captain! Defense!”

Liselle was alarmed when the captain barked
orders and all the guards rushed forward. They ran past the
companions and lined the avenue entrance with their pikes out.
Clearly, they weren’t going to allow anything else to happen to the
princess.

A few citizens traveling the avenue quickly
left in the opposite direction. One of the guards sounded notes
from a long horn and more appeared from inside the gates. They
didn’t understand what was happening, but lined up with the others
as fast as possible.

“I’ll take you to your parents, Your
Highness.” Councilor Hephran gestured for her to follow.

When the companions followed as well, he
stopped. “Who are these people?”

“They are my rescuers, Councilor,” Anilyia
answered. He looked them over dubiously again, but nodded and
motioned for guards to take their horses.

The cobbled walkway to the main building of
the palace was large enough for four carriages to be pulled side by
side. Expansive green lawns were on either side and guards with
dogs patrolled them. More guards were appearing on the lawn from
outbuildings around the palace. It appeared the horns sounding at
the front gate had been some sort of alarm.

He led them into a large courtyard similar
to the one in Kethril, only there were two statues and a fountain.
Marbled columns lined the main building of the palace for a very
long distance to each side of the main doors. Liselle was pretty
sure a couple of carriages could fit through those doors too. She
couldn’t help but try to stare at everything as they walked into
the long marble corridor inside.

A crash to their right startled her. “The
princess,” a woman shouted, pointing at Anilyia. The women dropped
to her knees and bowed. Other people in the corridor began to fall
to their knees and bow too. Many just stared in shock.

Liselle ran a few steps to keep up with the
pace the councilor set. She could see that Anilyia was half running
while the boys didn’t have any trouble at all. The corridor seemed
to go on forever until they finally went through another large set
of double doors into a giant plaza with numerous gardens surrounded
by five buildings. Councilor Hephran led them toward a building
across the way at a diagonal to the left.

Guards held up their hands as the councilor
walked up six wide steps to the ornate doors. “No weapons allowed,”
one announced, pointing at Sir Danth’s hilt sticking above his
shoulder.

“It’s an enchanted sword that cannot be
removed,” Sir Danth informed them. “I give you my word I will not
draw it unless to defend the princess or her family.”

“That is not acceptab . . .” the guard
didn’t finish the sentence because the princess moved forward.

“This noble knight is a man of his word. He
is my rescuer and protects my life. I require him to have his
weapon,” she told the guards in the most commanding voice Liselle
had heard her use.

The men slammed fists to chests. “Yes, Your
Highness.” Then they opened the doors for the party to enter.

There were numerous twists and turns before
entering a large room with marbled columns and a fountain. Liselle
thought to herself that there were almost as many plazas and
fountains as in Rojuun cities. She also realized that the palace
compound was larger than most towns they had visited, maybe even
larger than Puujan.

A large crowd of people was coming from a
side corridor toward them. “Councilor Hephran!” a man in an even
more ornate toga shouted from the group. He was bald on top of his
head. The hair on the sides and back were pure white and he had a
potbelly. “There is a disturbance at the gate and people are
shouting about the princess returning. Someone’s head will roll at
this cruel joke.”

“High Chancellor, it is true,” Hephran said.
They met in the middle and he stepped aside, gesturing toward the
princess.

The High Chancellor’s eyes nearly fell out
of their sockets. “It is true?!”

More royal guards had spread out from the
entourage and people surrounded them. It was unnerving to Liselle.
From out of the middle came a man and woman dressed in the finest
silks Liselle had ever seen. They wore exceptional jewelry and had
crowns on their heads. Between that and the fact that the man had
similar features and the woman looked very much like Anilyia except
for darker hair, Liselle determined they must be the king and
queen.