by Wil Clayton
Chapter 4
Orleena was putting the last her books back on the shelf of the library when the caravan arrived at the gate of tower. A page hurried in and told her that Uncle had arrived and he was waiting in the atrium.
Even though Grand Pa had told Orleena that Uncle would return in two months the trip had taken four, almost five. In that extra time, Grand Pa had called on Orleena to take on some responsibilities of the Chancellor in the Royal Keep. Allocation of the Royal Kin to tasks, overseeing payments for services, keeping the merchants happy with their lot, all had become part of her daily routine.
Orleena instructed her page to bring Uncle into the library and where she awaited him surrounded by her books, each one placed in their correct home on the shelf.
There were so many now. The ones of law and philosophy were the ones she kept at shoulder height, she read them every morning taking in more and more of the ancient wisdom that Hallow’s wife, Evonne, had demand be written when Hallow’s Keep was nothing but a grouping of huts and tents out of place in the dank swamp. Orleena prized each of them more than gems or fertile farmland.
Above those tomes, she kept the books she read at night, military strategy and tactics written by the Sowan generals, the art of engineering and alchemy written by the Kaborn builders and sometimes the secrets of the arcane written by the Dun, though she had little patience for magic and what she did read made it sound dangerous and the realm of fools.
She had removed all the history books from the library that Da Raloff had once command she read. The Free Man did not write down their history and so the stories where all distant accounts written by the perfumed men with suppositions and assumptions that would often make Orleena slam the books shut in annoyance. Often she had wondered, why had Evonne never written the history of Free Men when she had command the scholars write the laws and philosophies of Roland, but such answers were lost in flow of time.
The door opened and Uncle appeared, his face beaming with joy.
“Welcome home, Uncle,” laughed Orleena and she walked up and embraced him with all of her strength, “I have missed you.”
“I missed you, too,” he replied warmly, “though I must say it has been a joy to see the world beyond the swamp, from the Heartland to the Crown.”
“Tell me everything,” she laughed eagerly wishing her court was not starting so soon.
“That is a large request,” laughed Uncle, “we will have dinner tonight and I will tell you as much as I can but, now, I must hurry I have court to hold.”
Orleena laughed as the realisation dawn on her that with her Uncle back she was free of the Chair again.
“I can take the Chair, if you need,” smiled Orleena.
“I won’t hear of it, but I do have something important to discuss before I go,” said Uncle and then called to the door, “Princess Kara, please, come in.”
A girl appeared in the doorway, she was tall for a child and extremely slender, her skin was smooth and grey, her golden hair was wrapped tightly around itself on top of her head forming a small mound held in place by three large hair pins.
“Princess Orleena may I present Princess Kara, third daughter of the High Lord Braggan of the Forged Empire and King of Ulnsearth,” Uncle declared in a stately manner.
Kara step forward into the library. Orleena stood, awkwardly still, as Kara curtsied deeply, her gown swept across the ground, elegantly, as the light of the library danced across the gold and blue fabric.
“My warmest greetings, Princess Orleena,” she said with a smooth voice, “I have heard many remarkable things about you. The men of the Golden Throne talk of your firm but fair hand from Roland’s Chair.”
Orleena stood silent for a moment, she was no diplomat, she had never learnt the right words to say to a Princess many years ago, but such things had been pushed aside and replaced by more important and relevant knowledge.
“Thank you, Princess Kara, I have heard Ulnsearth is quite cold,” said Orleena dumbly.
Kara rose with a smile and nodded.
“Princess, you must forgive us,” laughed Uncle, “our fledgling Empire is still working on court etiquette.”
“This library is amazing,” exclaimed Kara looking around the tall shelves, “are all these yours?”
“Some of them belong to our King,” Orleena shook her head at the word, “I mean to say, some of them belong to our Emperor Di Soven, but most belong to my father, ah… Low King and Crowned Prince Soven.”
Orleena hated all these unwieldy titles.
“Princess Kara may be betrothed to your brother when he returns from The Rough,” Uncle cut into the conversation.
“Did you see him in your travels?” asked Orleena eagerly.
“For a few days on the journey home, I visited The Rough.”
“How is he?”
“He is doing, well, though he is becoming a bit tired of the blue of the ocean,” laughed Uncle, “his men admire him and he has a good head for naval combat. There have been some set backs, but he is determined on holding the port.”
Orleena smiled at the news.
“And father?” she asked.
“I’m sure Soven is fine,” said Uncle bluntly, “now, I hope you have room to take Princess Kara into your care. While she is in Hallow’s Keep she is to be considered your Brother’s Kin and all the rights that come with that.”
“Of course but Princess Kara, if you prefer, you are welcome to my room at the Royal Keep.”
“The Royal Keep is not ready to except a guest as esteemed as Princess Kara,” said Uncle, “I would prefer to leave her with someone I know will treat her as is required.”
“Uncle, I have so much to do. I have issues with the Imperial Guard I must see to, I am in the middle of acquiring four more ships from the merchants guilds who blame us…” she started listing.
“Orleena,” said Uncle, “I am back, now. You do not have to worry about any of that. You have given so much, it is time for you got to be a nine year old girl.”
“I am eleven,” snapped Orleena and then added angrily, “and I do not need to be anything but what I am.”
“Yes, of course, I apologise,” laughed Uncle, “but as Chancellor I will not have you taking my role from me. If you seek it, speak to your grandfather.”
“Yes, Uncle,” nodded Orleena with no emotion, “then I will be happy to welcome Princess Kara into Hallow’s Keep, we have plenty of room for her here.”
Uncle then reached into the leather bag he had over his shoulder and pulled out a book.
“I brought you this from Ulnsearth.”
He handed Orleena the book in gold writing was “The Guard of Dragon’s Perch: A History”. Orleena was not impressed.
“Don’t roll your eyes,” said Uncle, “its written by the Uln themselves. Its a transcription of the original details of the construction of Dragon’s Perch, it is the only script in the land said to outshine the Kaborn’s efforts in building.”
Orleena opened the book and found little writing, instead detail diagrams and notes detailing the guttering and sewage systems that fed off the springs of the mountains. She flicked a few more pages, more detailed schematics of elaborate machines that fired heavy boulders and huge arrows at intruders that dared to cross the cities threshold, she flicked some more pages and archaic writing of different reagents and how they were used in the machines.
Orleena put the book on the table jumped into her Uncle arms, showering him kisses. He laughed wildly, Kara stood quietly in the corner and pushed tears away from her face.
“I must be going now,” said Uncle, “Princess Kara, I will leave you with my niece. We will all dine at my tower tonight.”
Kara nodded and pushed away the last of her tears.
“Thank you, Prince Di Aliza,” she said her voice still solid and sweet.
Uncle left the two in the library. Orleena was unsure as what to say next.
“I have a room for you on the forth level, next to mine, I will
have it made up for you at once.”
“Thank you, Princess,” smiled Kara warmly.
“Call me, Orleena, nobody calls me by my title.”
“Please call me Kara, then. That is what my sisters call me,” a look of sadness flashed across Kara’s face and then she quickly added, “do we have lessons, then? Or activities?”
Orleena paused again, she did not like how this day was unfolding.
“No,” she said frustrated, “I don’t usually have time for that.”
“Oh.”
Kara fell silent.
“I will have the servants have your room ready at once,” said Orleena with a forced cheer, “and then I can… you can… we can see the tower and gardens.”
Kara forced a smile.
“That would be lovely, Orleena.”
“Wait here, I will organise it all.”
Orleena left to find the house master, as she went down the hall she shook her head, angry at herself. Why had she been so awkward? She had too better than that. Kara was a princess of Ulnsearth and she deserved better than being hosted by a nervous girl who babbled like a fool.
The house master had the room in order, quickly, and Orleena went and found Kara in the library. She was sitting on a chair with her hands crossed patiently looking at the bookcases.
“Your room is ready,” said Orleena politely, “please follow me.”
Kara followed her up the stairs to the room and then to the door just along the circular hallway from Orleena’s room.
Orleena opened the door and motioned for Kara to enter first. The room was almost identical to Orleena’s own. A single wooden closet, a similar feather bed, a simple dressing table and a window that looked out over the swamp.
“It’s perfect, thank you,” said Kara.
Servants where already unpacking the large trunks Kara had brought with her.
“My lady, the closet isn’t large enough,” said a servant woman looking up from the trunk.
“Have the stable boys bring as much furniture as is needed. If you need take more take it from the other towers or the keep.”
“Yes, my lady,” said the woman and left the room.
“You will have whatever you need while you are here,” said Orleena to Kara.
“You are too kind,” Kara replied and went to the window and looked out, “the swamp is much more beautiful then I thought it would be. I thought it would be a dead place, full of rot but the most amazing creatures and glorious plants live here.”
Orleena smiled at the compliment.
“We can go for a walk in the swamp after I show you the tower?”
“That would be wonderful.”
“I will have the kitchen pack some food in a basket, it can be our activity for the day.”
“Splendid.”
Without another word Orleena bowed and hurried down the stairs to the kitchen suddenly full of purpose. She found the kitchen hand and had him make the finest salad he could and to bake some of new flat bread that had become the fashion in the last few months. She then bounded up the steps and returned to Kara who was waiting, still looking out her new window at the city beyond.
“Let me show you the tower,” said Orleena slightly short of breath from the run.
Kara smiled and Orleena took her to the main rooms of tower. The simple dining room only large enough for eight people. Large bedroom reserved for Olav, which Orleena had made into her map room, Orleena had her figurines positioned across the different pieces of leather, she had now acquired maps of the different lands, but her collection was still missing the eastern kingdoms. She showed Kara the lounge with its large leather seats and huge hearth that had not seen use for many years, Orleena did not invite others to her tower preferring to meet them in the Royal Keep or in the streets, when it was necessary. It kept the discussions short which Orleena preferred to the rambling talk that came when people were comfortable.
Finally, Orleena took Kara to the Shrine of Helena on the top floor of the tower. It was a circular room of with no roof, vines and shrubs grew in the shallow gardens along the walls, each let to grow wild with the will of the great goddess Helena. In the centre of the room, atop a squat, white column stood a large statue of the Goddess. On her head sat her iconic crown a ring with nine large dragon fangs that stabbed at the blue sky above. She held sword to the sky while beneath her right foot she crushed the neck of the dragon, Kor’asha, depicted small and helpless underfoot.
“Do you worship Helena in Ulnsearth?” asked Orleena.
“We keep all three gods sacred, but my people praises Ka before the others,” said Kara looking up at the statue.
“There is a Shrine to Ka in the city, if you wish we can arrange an escort to take you there whenever you need.”
“No, I am not in Ulnsearth anymore. If the Hallowmen praise Helena first, then so shall I.”
“You are welcome here at anytime,” said Orleena with an approving nod, “come, I have planned a special meal for us to have this afternoon.”
Orleena and Kara exited the tower and found the pair found their way to the city gate not far from Orleena’s tower. The two walked ahead of six guards that escorted them. Orleena swatted at the bugs that swarmed across the muddy paths.
“The storms didn’t come this year, so there are more pests then usual,” Orleena explained.
“When you live your life under the mountains, bugs and insect are quiet rare. We do have a few that glow green and yellow in the darker caves, but you should never approach them, their stings cause your flesh to eat itself.”
“Is Ulnsearth dangerous?”
“Very dangerous outside the cities. All manner of twisted beasts live in the Deep Lands.”
“Have you ever gone down there?”
“No, but my brothers have, often. My brother is an explorer, his team once brought back a beast with the head of a goat and a sheep and the body of snake. It was the size of tall man. Father had it stuffed and placed in our family museum to celebrate the conquest.”
“I would love to see the Deep Lands.”
“If your brother accepts me and we are married, I can take you to Ulnsearth. My brother can take you down, if you truly want. I will stay in the city though, I have no interest in such adventure.”
“We will see,” mumbled Orleena distracted by the mention of the marriage.
“I saw the most magnificent creature from my carriage on the way from Edgelight. It was a beast made of a nothing but flesh. It was giant, round blob that was able to swim through the air like a fish in water.”
“You saw a Poral.”
“Do you have any here?” asked Kara excitedly.
Orleena though for moment and then called back to the guard who were discussing something amongst themselves.
“Do we have any Poral nests nearby?”
“I heard there were some over by the tanner’s hut,” called the guard back.
“Thank you.”
“Your guards are very informal here,” said Kara.
“Despite Uncle’s best efforts we have yet to learn the manner of the foreign court. We prefer to just yell at each other.”
Kara laughed.
“This way to the tanner’s hut,” said Orleena and ran forward.
Kara picked up her dressed, slightly muddied now, and ran after her.
The two girls hurried down the winding path letting the flying insects whipping against their faces. Kara laughed loudly and then coughed as her mouth caught large number of them. Finally they came across an old, wooden shack, skins of crocodiles and snakes stretched across a variety of wooden frames.
A large man emerged from the hut to see who was making all the noise.
“Who’s this?” the man called to the girls.
“Princess Orleena,” she called back, “I have just come to see the Poral nest near your hut.”
The man nodded.
“Don’t touch the skins,” he said gruffly and disappeared back inside his hut.
&n
bsp; Orleena led the way to the marsh behind the path.
“They usually nest on the shoreline,” explain Orleena as she tried to spot the creatures.
The she saw them, seven floating sacks of translucent blue flesh of all different sizes. They swam lazily above the water. The largest one was the size of a large dog the smallest the size of a small bird.
“Over there,” said Orleena and pointed across the marsh to a small island the creatures had used to build their nest.
Kara looked at sacks as they majestically floated without purpose, muscular tentacles hung from their bodies, trailing across the top of water.
“How do they float like that?” asked Kara.
“No one knows,” said Orleena quietly, “the Dun say magic but the Dun speak a lot of nonsense. All I know is they can.”
A tentacle of a larger Poral shoot into the water and when the tentacle emerged a fish struggled on the end of it, trying desperately to free itself from the spear. The creature took its victim to beneath of its body, and fish disappeared as it was consumed.
“It has a mouth of a hundred tiny teeth at the bottom its body that can mush up anything that gets between them,” explained Orleena.
“That’s horrid,” laughed Kara, “quiet amazing.”
The two watched the pod of Poral dance until their appetite demand their attention. Orleena called the guards to bring the basket of food and the blanket and the two sat themselves down amongst the twisted roots of a willow tree.
“This is a salad,” announced Orleena triumphantly as she removed the bowl from the basket.
“I see,” puzzled Kara by the announcement.
Orleena suddenly felt very stupid.
“I suppose you have such food all the time.”
“Yes, don’t you?”
“This is from our first harvest in the Lowlands. The swamp doesn’t offer us food like this. We mostly eat broths of roots and mushrooms with lizard or snake meat. Sometimes, a farm animal is brought from the Heartland but it is very difficult and expensive, most die along the way.”
“Oh,” said Kara and then added, “you must forgive me. This is all new to me. Thank you so much for sharing this with me.”
“How do you grow food under the frozen Crown?” asked Orleena.
“The valleys between the peaks are very fertile,” explained Kara, “in the Age of Men, our people built tunnels to access the valleys and sluices to feed them water from the spring buried in the mountain. We have may acres of farmland hidden within the mountains which feed our cities.”
“Amazing, your people sound remarkable,” Orleena replied handing Kara a bowl, “you should eat.”
The pair ate in silence for a while until Kara spoke.
“They say your brother is very handsome and fearsome in battle. If he was not a prince, it is said, he would be a pirate.”
“Who says that?”
“The nobles of the Golden Throne.”
Orleena simply shook her head.
“Do you agree with them?”
“The perfumed men are right, for once.”
“You do not like them?”
“Roland is the one true ruler of this land, the Free Men keep his way,” Orleena replied with hard voice, “the perfumed men proclaim dominion where they have no claim.”
“Does my father also make this false proclamation?” asked Kara.
Orleena looked at her and suddenly she felt as though she had made a mistake.
“Forgive me, Princess, as I said my court etiquette is extremely poor,” Orleena said sincerely.
“There is no need excuse yourself,” said Kara, “please speak the truth, I am not easily offended.”
“Roland’s way is the way we keep and none other than the gods stand above him. This is what we know is true and until the rulers sees this the wars that scar the land will continue. I mean no disrespect, Kara. It is what I believe.”
“Will you teach me your ways, Orleena?”
“If you wish,” said Orleena with shrug, “but those born under Thalius have a hard time understanding Roland’s teachings.”
“My family, my people, is much older then Thalius and his throne, even older than Roland and his cloak,” said Kara hard and defiantly, “we are older the dragons and Ka before that. You may see me as a outsider, and that I am, but I will not have you see me as a servant of Thalius.”
Orleena nodded but doubted Kara’s words.
“Then I will teach you anything you wish to know.”