“Wow,” said Kerys. “I’ve never been this close to a horse before.”
She leaned forward, watching the two animals pulling their carriage over the driver’s shoulder through the window slit.
“Yeah,” said Ari. “They look bigger in real life.”
They’d seen artwork of horses before in their time down in Golias Hollow, but there hadn’t been any actual living ones underground.
“I wonder what it would be like to ride one?” asked Kerys.
“It would probably involve a good deal of chafing,” said Ari. “Along with having to take care of a living, breathing animal. Far more maintenance than riding a rune sled, and probably slower overall.”
He smiled at that. He felt a little out of his depth in the busy city, preparing to put on a performance for the nobles in charge. He took satisfaction in remembering what he’d accomplished in his own element, where appearances and manners were secondary to the practical aspects of survival.
The carriage dropped them off and took up a spot to wait on the edge of the street nearby their destination. The seamstress’s shop was a wide, single-story building in the middle of a section of the city that seemed safer and cleaner than what lay around the Traveler’s Guild Inn.
The doors were already wide open, though few people were inside the sprawling shop’s interior. The seamstress was an older woman who immediately rose from the gown she was tailoring to greet them as they began to wander through the rows of expensive dresses, shirts, and tunics.
“Hello,” said the seamstress. “Are you shopping for a particular occasion?”
“Yes, in fact,” said Ari. “We’ve been invited to meet with the Baron.”
The woman’s eyebrows shot up in surprise with a touch of disbelief.
“And you have money?” she said in a voice that sounded genuinely curious.
Ari pulled out his coin purse and showed her the inside of it. “These two will need the finest dresses you have. I’ll also be needing, uh, I guess a new shirt, or something?”
“More than just that,” said the seamstress.
Kerys giggled. Eva was her usual stoic self, or at least, that was what Ari had assumed until he turned around and saw the frown on her face.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, stepping aside as Kerys and the seamstress headed deeper into the dress section.
“There’s no need for you to spend your money on me,” said Eva. “I was expecting to be at your side in my sword form, anyway.”
“That’s…” Ari chewed his lip. She was right, of course. That’s what he’d been thinking, too, given that it made sense for him to have a weapon as a lord and he certainly wasn’t about to buy a new one for a single meeting.
“I’ll wait by the carriage, outside,” said Eva.
“No,” said Ari. “I want to buy you a new dress.”
Eva furrowed her brow and shook her head. “There would be no point.”
Ari flashed her a mischievous smile.
“Seeing you in a pretty dress would be the point.” He playfully grabbed her around the waist and pulled her in close, planting a quick kiss on her lips before she could say anything.
“Fine,” said Eva, who seemed in the midst of a struggle to suppress a smile of her own. “If that is truly what you wish.”
He let her head off to catch up with Kerys and the seamstress and began wandering through the much smaller section of the store that catered to men. It took him a minute to realize that he wasn’t alone. A short, stocky bald man was standing directly behind him, actively measuring Ari’s inseam with a long piece of string.
“Your cloak,” said the man. “Along with the sword scabbard.”
“Uh, excuse me?” asked Ari.
“That’s all you’ll be keeping,” said the man. “The rest I recommend you burn.”
Close to an hour later, Ari stood in front of a mirror staring at a reflection he hardly recognized. The tailor had outfitted him in a dark blue shirt with silver buttons, a gold sash, and a tight pair of black trousers. The tailor had also taken his Feathercloak for a quick laundering, which had done a marvelous job in bringing out the deep, dark green color of the fabric.
His empty sword scabbard had similarly been polished. Ari wore it on a tight belt underneath the sash. It was an unusual style to carry a greatsword in, but the tailor had assured him that wearing it across his back wasn’t the fashion for a proper noble.
He paid the man four gold coins for the ensemble, which was a far better deal than he’d been expecting, before heading to the other end of the store to find Kerys and Eva. They were both already dressed, and the seamstress was in the middle of decorating their faces with the glitter and powder that the noblewomen of the city seemed to favor.
Ari’s jaw dropped at the sight of them. Kerys wore a ruby-red gown with multiple ruffled skirts and a swooping neckline that seemed specially tailored to showcase her spectacular cleavage. Her blonde hair had been brushed to a sheen, and she had on a pair of silver earrings that emphasized the flawless skin of her neck.
Eva’s outfit was just as stunning, though quite different in style. She wore a simple and elegant black gown with a long slit running down one side that would give her legs more freedom than a normal dress. It tied up around her shoulders, connecting with a black choker with an amethyst brooch. Eva had, for the first time that Ari could remember, put her hair up into a complicated bun with a few silver-blue strands left hanging to frame her face.
“Is something wrong?” asked Eva, sounding uncharacteristically self-conscious. “This… was not my idea.”
She gestured to her hair and then the dress.
“You look amazing,” said Ari.
“How do I look?” Kerys bounced over to him and clasped her hands together in a manner that put even more emphasis on her chest.
“You look like a proper noblewoman,” said Ari.
“Thanks,” said Kerys. “I like your sash.”
Ari paid the seamstress for the dresses and the three of them headed outside to meet the carriage.
CHAPTER 51
For the next few hours, Ari was subjected to a barrage of tips on how to act the part of a proper nobleman. Durrien pressed Ari to absorb as much of it as he could, though he conceded that any areas of lacking knowledge he had could probably be explained away by Ari’s foreign backstory.
“Now, Baron Ogwell and the rest of the nobles won’t have heard of Etheria before,” said Durrien. “That’s not unusual, given how isolated Cliffhaven has become over the past few decades, but it doesn’t mean you can just make up the details as you go.”
“Etheria is a wealthy town atop a mountain with fair weather,” said Ari. “My personal residence is Ethereal Tower, a restored ancient ruin, which is close to the truth. My subjects are a few hundred people who’ve left the underground hollows of the south to seek a life on the surface, which I guess is only a slight exaggeration.”
He grinned at Kerys and she rolled her eyes.
“I’d prefer if you didn’t imply that I’m one of your ‘subjects,’ if you don’t mind,” she said.
“You’re going to have to pretend to be for the evening,” said Durrien. “You can’t pass as a bodyguard, so you’ll serve as Lord Stoneblood’s consort.”
Kerys sighed but didn’t object.
“What about Rin and Leyehl?” asked Ari.
The two Ravarians had changed into their own fine clothing for the night, each wearing matching gowns of dark green, along with cloaks that did a good job of providing the option to hide their wings. The Baron would know that the Ravarians were coming with him, but Ari had no idea how the rest of his court would react, and he appreciated the fact that Rin and Leyehl were erring on the side of caution.
“I will serve as the representative for my sister and the flock, chala,” said Rin. “Given what Durrien has told me about the bias against Ravarians that still exists in Cliffhaven, I think that it will serve our cause better if you do most of the talking.�
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“Do you trust me not to say anything foolish?” asked Ari with a chuckle. Rin laughed too, and it was hard to tell whether it was with him or at him.
“Your goal should simply be to get Baron Ogwell to reopen diplomatic and trade relations with my people,” said Rin. “Tell him of how Etheria has flourished from their dealings with Varnas-Rav and he should be more welcoming of the idea.”
“Right.” Ari scratched his head. “I can do that.”
He took a breath, feeling more nervous than he’d expected to. His palms were sweaty, and he wiped them across the bar counter instead of taking the risk of leaving marks on his clothing.
“If all goes well, the Baron will invite you to stay for dinner, and perhaps even allow you to sleep in one of his guest houses within the Noble Quarter,” said Durrien. “If it doesn’t go well, you and your friends are of course welcome to continue staying here for the time being.”
“Thanks,” said Ari.
He pulled ten gold coins from his pocket and passed them to Durrien, whose mouth formed into a large, dumbfounded circle.
“You… realize how much money this is, lad?” he asked. “I’ve no need of reward. I’m helping you for the sake of my daughter, of my own volition.”
“We appreciate your help,” said Ari. “It’s the least we can do.”
Durrien chuckled. “You’re a solid sort. I’ve got to admit, it seems a waste to introduce you into the noble society, rather than letting you run loose as an adventurer. You’ve got heart.”
“Don’t tell him that,” said Kerys. “His ego is already overinflated.”
“I’m the most modest person who has ever lived,” said Ari. “Truly a humble soul.”
They left a few minutes later to meet the carriage. Eva shifted into her sword form, and Ari spent the walk getting used to the sensation of carrying the weapon at his side, rather than across his back. The hilt jutted up higher than a typical longsword’s end would have, which actually had quite a striking effect, given how the sapphire pommel complemented his fancy blue shirt.
The ride through town was silent outside of the ambient noise of the evening crowd, and the clacking of the horse’s hooves against cobblestone. It was Ari’s first visit to the Noble Quarter, and he was surprised to see that it was completely cordoned off from the rest of the city.
The Noble Quarter was basically a massive interior, built against one inner corner of the city with a roof overhead that connected to the outer wall. An archway with heavy oak gates served as the only entrance connecting the district to the rest of Cliffhaven, and it made Ari feel as though they were preparing to enter a city within a city as the carriage queued in line.
A guard nodded to them as they pulled up to the gate. “Greetings. The purpose of your visit, sir?”
“I am Lord Aristial Stoneblood,” said Ari, forcing confidence he didn’t feel into his voice. “I’m here at the direct request of Baron Ogwell.”
The guard stiffened and immediately waved the carriage through. The inside of the Noble District was cleaner than the rest of the city, though there was a musty, contained smell to the air. Lampposts were set into neat intervals along either side of the street, and almost every house and building seemed lavishly constructed and painted.
“It’s so different from the rest of the city,” whispered Kerys. “It almost seems unfair.”
“Agreed,” said Ari. “Though I guess it’s all just a matter of perspective. Remember Cythia, outside the city? To her, just being within Cliffhaven’s walls was something to aspire to.”
“I guess” said Kerys. “Why is it that only this section of the city has a roof, though?”
“They probably think that the wall is defense enough against the Weatherblight for the commoners,” said Ari. “I’ll guess we’ll have to wait for a storm to see if that’s actually the case.”
Neither of them said much else as the carriage slowed in front of their destination. The Baron’s estate was ostentatious even in comparison to the rest of the gaudy mansions within the Noble Quarter.
It was several floors higher than any building Ari had seen before, stretching almost up to the main roof. There was enough open space to the sides and back of it to have allowed several dozen more normal-sized houses, and it was all dedicated to the most impractical garden Ari had ever seen.
With the Noble Quarter’s roof overhead, there was no means through which green, leafy plants could grow naturally, lacking direct sunlight. The Baron had gotten around the limitation in the most impractical manner that Ari could have imagined. All of the trees, bushes, and flowers were set into pots, and more than a dozen servants were in the process of carrying them in from outside the Noble Quarter to serve as decoration for the evening’s festivities.
“Disgusting,” muttered Rin.
“Just seems like a waste of time,” said Ari. “Though we should probably save our criticisms for when this is all over.”
Kerys and Rin both nodded. Leyehl did too, though Ari wasn’t sure if she understood the meaning of what he’d said. She looked unusually tense, frowning and fidgeting her hands, and he had to focus his attention elsewhere to keep from being infected by her mood.
There was a group of nobles slowly making their way up the steps and into the Baron’s mansion alongside them. Ari had been expecting a private meeting with the Baron, and he frowned a little as he entered the mansion’s foyer amidst a crowd of people that he had nothing in common with.
“Lord Stoneblood?” A well-dressed attendant waved to him as he attempted to follow the rest of the nobles down the hall. “The Baron wished to meet with you and your entourage privately before dinner. If you would follow me, sir.”
“Of course,” said Ari. He looked at Kerys, Rin, and Leyehl. From their uncertain expressions, they appeared happy to let him take the lead. He took a breath and gestured for them to follow as he began walking alongside the attendant.
Baron Ogwell’s audience chamber was through the door directly across the mansion’s entrance, in the back of the foyer. A red and gold carpet stretched down the center of the massive chamber, expanding outward into a T-shape as it fell across the stairs leading up to the platform that the Baron received visitors from.
He was a hefty man, with curly blond hair and a ruddy face. He sat in a red and gold throne that matched the carpet underneath it, and wore a maroon shirt and a heavy gold ring on each finger.
Two hulking guards stood on either side of the platform, each one equipped with a sword and heavily polished plate mail. A third man stood next to where the platform sat, frowning as he watched Ari and his companions approach. He wasn’t that much older than Ari, but heavy scars crisscrossed his neck and the bottom of his face, giving him a fearsome visage.
“Baron Ogwell,” said Ari, dropping to one knee at the base of the platform, as Durrien had explained to him. “I am honored for this chance to meet with you. My name is Aristial Stoneblood, Lord of Etheria.”
“Aristial… Stoneblood…” repeated Baron Ogwell, in a deep, booming voice. “For you, I have but one question.”
The silence felt crushing in the wake of his words, and the Baron’s eyes took on an intense gleam as he held Ari’s gaze.
“May I call you Lord Ari?” asked Baron Ogwell.
“Uh, yeah.” Ari chuckled nervously, and Baron Ogwell responded with his own full, hearty laughter.
“It is very good to meet you indeed, Lord Ari,” said the Baron. “Your message to me came at the most opportune time.”
Ari watched as the Baron’s gaze roved over his companions, wincing a little as he noticed the attention he paid Rin and Leyehl. Rin had a cordial smile on her face. Leyehl’s attention was directed toward the front of the room, away from any specific person.
Ari followed her gaze and sucked in a breath through his teeth at what he saw. The audience chamber had been decorated with a number of carefully preserved animal trophies. There was a large cat posed with its teeth bared. The head of a bear with
a similarly fierce expression hung from one pillar.
A set of large black wings, along with a section of shriveled, leathery back flesh was carefully mounted on a piece of polished oak. It had to be a trophy from the time Tialese had told Ari about, when the Ravarians were hunted like animals. He cleared his throat as he forced himself to look back at the Baron.
“Allow me to introduce myself properly,” said the Baron. “I am Gusman Ogwell, Baron of Cliffhaven and ruler of the Harvest Valley. This is Marshal Erwin Luka, the head of my guard and my right-hand man.”
The scarred man next to the Baron nodded his head slightly. His black hair was cropped close to the scalp, and combined with his scars and pale skin, it gave him a rather brooding demeanor.
“The Marshal and I have spent much time discussing how to approach the issue of the Ravarian flock over the past months,” said the Baron.
“Issue…” said Marshal Luka, in a voice as scratchy as his face. “You mean pestilence.”
Rin and Leyehl stiffened. They hadn’t brought their spears with them, but Ari had no doubt about what they’d still be capable of if pushed to violence.
“Marshal!” snapped the Baron. “You forget yourself. Lord Ari, I apologize to you and yours on behalf of my unmannered guardsman.”
“It’s fine,” said Ari. “I suppose it leads us to my reason for making the journey to Cliffhaven from Etheria in the first place.”
“Ah, yes,” said Baron Ogwell. “I must admit that I harbor a burning curiosity for more information of your lands. This ‘Etheria’ that you speak of is to the south, correct?”
“Yes,” said Ari. “We’ve lived an isolated existence for more than a decade atop one of the mountains south of the Vodakai Sands.”
“How many of you are there?” asked Baron Ogwell.
“Uh…” Ari shrugged. “Around 300.”
“Interesting…” said the Baron. “You’ve made allies with the Ravarians, as well, then?”
“Yes,” said Ari. “Our contact is mostly limited to trade, but they’ve given us advice and protection, as well.”
Vision Voyage (The Weatherblight Saga Book 2) Page 31