With Drake riding in his private armored carriage and Sky in hers, the joint vanguard of Lords Gloomwood and Skybreak finally reached Korhaurbauten early the next morning. With the capital city finally in sight, Drake couldn’t resist the urge to pull back the curtains of his carriage to take a look. The Noble Road had gained a lot of additional traffic this morning, and they were far from the only people heading into the capital.
Drake spotted everything from peasants walking on foot to slightly-better dressed peasants riding on wagons to exceedingly well-dressed coachmen driving fancy carriages that looked as ornate and expensive as his own. No one else they passed had a vanguard of armed lizardmen, however. He didn’t fail to know that even the most well-dressed coachmen gave his army of zarovians a wide berth, which was probably wise.
Korhaurbauten was, as Lydia had told him, a massive city built along the shore of a huge open bay. The Noble Road was now sloping down to allow his vanguard to travel into the (relatively) shallow bowl that sheltered the city. From up here, he could see the city below laid out in perfect detail. It was absolutely the most impressive city he’d seen in this world.
The huge Alicean bay was a perfect blue and exceedingly calm, stretching off to a distant horizon where Drake could just make out the top of its C-shape. The shoreline itself was alternately beach and rocky cliffs, with the white foam of breakers just visible at this distance.
What must be hundreds of boats and sailboats dotted the yawning bay, but there was no sign of larger sailing ships or galleons. Lydia had told him that the bay was shallow enough that huge sailing vessels couldn’t enter without bottoming out. They had to anchor further out. So all of the boats he saw must be local fishermen or boats ferrying people to or from shore.
Most of the buildings directly along the shore of the bay looked to be wooden structures on stilts, while buildings that looked vaguely Mediterranean cropped up as his eyes moved inland. They presented a unified patchwork of red tiled roofs. Drake had learned there were also waterways crisscrossing the city through which small boats could move and ferry passengers, but the buildings were dense enough he couldn’t see those from this angle.
The vast majority of the buildings looked to range between one to three stories, with the castle tower-like outcroppings of some larger stone edifices rising higher than that. Yet despite the wide carpet of buildings below, Drake had no problem spotting the Temple of the Eidolons. It was set in the center of Korhaurbauten and towered over the city.
The temple had to easily be ten stories or higher, and it looked equivalent in size to one of the huge commercial football stadiums back on Earth. It was formed of successive tiered domes, each slightly less wide than the last, featuring rows of dramatic arches that reminded him of some of the famous mosques he’d seen in history books back in grade school.
The biggest difference between the Temple of the Eidolons and the famous mosques he’d seen in pictures was there were no minarets—the skinny towers that typically sprouted up around big mosques—surrounding it. Yet had he seen this city and temple from a distance, he would have assumed it was just another historical Mediterranean town on Earth.
Beside him, Samuel was pouring over more spy reports. However, Drake spotted Lydia also peering out the window. She looked to be enjoying the view almost as much as he was.
“It’s an impressive city,” Drake said.
“It is, lord.” She smiled at him. “Like you, I have never before seen the capital.”
“Really?” He hadn’t expected to hear that. “You never came here with Lord Crow?”
“The former lords of Gloomwood typically left me to handle matters at the manor when they traveled to Korhaurbauten. However, I know Valentia has traveled here before with Lord Crow, as did...” Her smile faded slightly. “Esme.”
Drake remembered that name. Lydia had mentioned Esme only once, revealing that she was Gloomwood’s steward before her and that Lord Crow had Esme executed for some slight. It was shortly after Crow executed Esme that Olivia joined Gloomwood Manor.
He didn’t want to push Lydia into any painful memories, so he decided to change the subject. “Well, assuming the cabal doesn’t completely fuck us over the moment we arrive, we could be here for a few days. Anything you want to do while we’re in town?”
She tilted her head in obvious confusion. “What do you mean, lord?”
“Do you want to do any tourist stuff? When we’re not dealing with political bullshit?”
Samuel looked up from his spy scroll. “I’m afraid we’ll have very little time to explore the city or enjoy its many amenities. The cabal and our negotiations will occupy the majority of our time here. We should return to the manor once those conclude.”
Drake frowned at him. “Oh c’mon. You can’t tell me we’re going to travel all the way out to your magnificent capital city and not do a little sightseeing.”
“I would advise against that. This city is crowded, security outside the temple will be light, and assassins could strike from anywhere.”
Samuel was probably right. It was disappointing to accept he couldn’t just take a day to tour the capital, but that didn’t mean his people had to suffer as well. He doubted anyone would pay a Gilded Blade to kill some random person with a rarity for heating soup.
“So even if I can’t go out and tour the city, what harm would there be in allowing Tamara and the maids a day off? Or Hugo and his boys? Or anyone who’s not me? I get everyone wants to kill me, but there’s nothing to be gained by killing any of you.”
Samuel tapped his lips. “If you wish to provide the staff with a day of leisure, that would be less risky from a security standpoint. Some could still be taken as hostages by your enemies, so you would need to be prepared to lose them if negotiations went poorly.”
Samuel really did prepare for the worst. Drake ruefully shook his head. “Doesn’t the city have security? They must have some sort of police force.”
“The capital guard handles security within Korhaurbauten itself,” Samuel said. “However, given the cabal, the guard will be stationed in and around the Temple of the Eidolons to ensure the security of the manor lords and their thralls. Travel beyond the immediate environs of the temple comes with many risks.”
“So what if we paired people up?” Drake asked. “Zarovians and humans? Have people travel in small groups instead of alone, and make sure no one goes off alone. I get there’s risk, but there’s always risk. There’s more risk in having my people die of boredom.”
“I’m still not certain—”
“Lydia’s never been here before, and I’m sure everyone on the staff would benefit from a little R and R. How long has it been since they got to relax?” Drake was now all the more certain he wanted to let his folks have some time off to enjoy themselves. “Even if I have to be stuck in the temple all day, we should give the others time to explore, shop, and chill in what is the closest thing I’ve seen on your world to a beachside paradise.”
Samuel looked back at his spy scroll. “I still advise against it. However, if you cannot be dissuaded, I will organize such an outing. I do acknowledge the benefit to morale, and pairing zarovians with our people will make them harder to abduct.”
“That’s the spirit, old man. All work and no play makes Jack...” He paused, then sighed. “Every reference I make to my world goes over your heads. Do you have any idea how depressing that is?”
“The guarded crab dies alone in sand,” Lydia said.
Drake glanced at her with fresh interest. “What does that mean?”
“It’s a saying where I grew up, lord. I come from a small seaside village, and there, small crabs burrow into the sand where they are safe from predators. Yet they do not remain buried forever. They emerge to forage and even play with one another despite the risk this presents. Some are snatched by birds or other predators while out and about, but they still come out.”
Drake smiled. “Because staying buried in the sand for their whole lives is the same as being dead. I like that lesson.” He looked to Samuel. “What about you, old man? Got any lessons from your elders or words of wisdom from where you grew up?”
Samuel looked up from his spy scroll. “Trust not the roots of a treacherous tree.”
“And what’s that mean?”
“A sparse marshland near where I was raised is rife with shallow quicksand. The terrain is difficult to navigate safely, and the unwary often find themselves sinking. However, there are wiry trees with sturdy brown roots throughout the area. Rope trees.”
“And I take it these rope trees are... treacherous?
“To an outsider who stumbles into a pocket of quicksand, the strong, sturdy-looking roots of the rope tree offer a way to pull themselves free. Upon grasping them, a toxin secreted by the roots is absorbed through the skin. It causes both euphoria and lethargy.”
“Bad trees,” Drake agreed.
“Thus, a person who stumbles into quicksand seeks to save themselves by accepting an offer of help from one they do not know. They soon pass out and then drown in shallow quicksand. Had they simply relied upon themselves, they could have escaped.”
Drake nodded thoughtfully. “I just got a better understanding of why you think the way you think.”
Samuel shrugged. “It is foolish to accept an offer of help when one cannot verify the other party has one’s best interest in mind.”
“Cynical and paranoid. Just what I need in my spymaster.” Drake grinned. “Anyway, we’re giving the thralls a free day. Or two. Since you’re my paranoia chief, Samuel, I’ll let you figure out the best way to organize small parties to minimize the chance of abductions.”
Samuel eyed him in placid resignation. “If that is your order.”
“And Lydia, how would you feel about taking the maids and Anna out for some fun?”
She frowned. “That would leave you unprotected, lord.”
“But we’re allied now. Remember? So I could hang out with Sky’s bodyguards while you all took Anna someplace to unwind. And then, if Sky’s bodyguards wanted to go out, you all could guard Sky in their place so they could do the same. Call it... team building.”
Samuel finally appeared interested in the conversation. “While I am not at all in favor of leaving either you or Lord Skybreak so sparsely protected, allowing our thralls to intermix could increase support for a closer alliance. We could test this idea with less important positions.”
Drake was feeling ever better about this. “So you’re saying there’s a chance.”
“I would not be comfortable leaving you in the care of Lady Skybreak’s thralls, nor, if she is wise, would she trust herself to ours. Yet we could suggest a manor summit at which you and Lord Skybreak could speak about the affairs of your manors over the course of a day. If we are lucky, you might even grow closer as allies.”
“And how would that work?”
“For security reasons, it would be wise for the summit to take place in the secure rooms of the temple. If you were together, we could then task one thrall from each of your manors to stand guard over both of you. This would allow the others to explore the city.”
“And give me some more time to charm Lord Skybreak with my clever stratagems and keen wit. Now I understand why you are so popular with the ladies.”
Samuel watched him placidly. “I would be surprised if Lord Skybreak agrees to a summit given her extensive responsibilities. But if you wish, I will suggest it to Head Ranger Cask.”
“Don’t bother,” Drake said. “I’ll run it by Sky the next time we talk.”
“It is likely you may not see Lord Skybreak outside of times set aside for all manor lords to meet at the cabal. She still lacks an experienced steward, and while I am certain her Head Ranger is helping as best he can, Cask is also doing double duty leading her vanguard.”
“All the more reason to find a time when she can relax and get a break from all that,” Drake said. “Don’t worry about pitching this to Sky. I’ll pitch it myself when we have a spare moment. If she shoots me down, no harm done.”
Samuel shrugged. “If that is your approach, I leave arranging the summit in your hands.”
“Thanks, Samuel. Now, if you had to choose, what place has the best seafood here?”
“We will not be able to visit local restaurants.”
“Sure, I get that. But that doesn’t mean we can’t order out.”
With Drake riding in his private armored carriage and Sky in hers, the joint vanguard of Lords Gloomwood and Skybreak finally reached Korhaurbauten early the next morning. With the capital city finally in sight, Drake couldn’t resist the urge to pull back the curtains of his carriage to take a look. The Noble Road had gained a lot of additional traffic this morning, and they were far from the only people heading into the capital.
Drake spotted everything from peasants walking on foot to slightly-better dressed peasants riding on wagons to exceedingly well-dressed coachmen driving fancy carriages that looked as ornate and expensive as his own. No one else they passed had a vanguard of armed lizardmen, however. He didn’t fail to know that even the most well-dressed coachmen gave his army of zarovians a wide berth, which was probably wise.
Korhaurbauten was, as Lydia had told him, a massive city built along the shore of a huge open bay. The Noble Road was now sloping down to allow his vanguard to travel into the (relatively) shallow bowl that sheltered the city. From up here, he could see the city below laid out in perfect detail. It was absolutely the most impressive city he’d seen in this world.
The huge Alicean bay was a perfect blue and exceedingly calm, stretching off to a distant horizon where Drake could just make out the top of its C-shape. The shoreline itself was alternately beach and rocky cliffs, with the white foam of breakers just visible at this distance.
What must be hundreds of boats and sailboats dotted the yawning bay, but there was no sign of larger sailing ships or galleons. Lydia had told him that the bay was shallow enough that huge sailing vessels couldn’t enter without bottoming out. They had to anchor further out. So all of the boats he saw must be local fishermen or boats ferrying people to or from shore.
Most of the buildings directly along the shore of the bay looked to be wooden structures on stilts, while buildings that looked vaguely Mediterranean cropped up as his eyes moved inland. They presented a unified patchwork of red tiled roofs. Drake had learned there were also waterways crisscrossing the city through which small boats could move and ferry passengers, but the buildings were dense enough he couldn’t see those from this angle.
The vast majority of the buildings looked to range between one to three stories, with the castle tower-like outcroppings of some larger stone edifices rising higher than that. Yet despite the wide carpet of buildings below, Drake had no problem spotting the Temple of the Eidolons. It was set in the center of Korhaurbauten and towered over the city.
The temple had to easily be ten stories or higher, and it looked equivalent in size to one of the huge commercial football stadiums back on Earth. It was formed of successive tiered domes, each slightly less wide than the last, featuring rows of dramatic arches that reminded him of some of the famous mosques he’d seen in history books back in grade school.
The biggest difference between the Temple of the Eidolons and the famous mosques he’d seen in pictures was there were no minarets—the skinny towers that typically sprouted up around big mosques—surrounding it. Yet had he seen this city and temple from a distance, he would have assumed it was just another historical Mediterranean town on Earth.
Beside him, Samuel was pouring over more spy reports. However, Drake spotted Lydia also peering out the window. She looked to be enjoying the view almost as much as he was.
“It’s an impressive city,” Drake said.
“It is, lord.” She smiled at him. “Like you, I have never before seen the capital.”
“Really?” He hadn’t expected to hear that. “You never came here with Lord Crow?”
“The former lords of Gloomwood typically left me to handle matters at the manor when they traveled to Korhaurbauten. However, I know Valentia has traveled here before with Lord Crow, as did...” Her smile faded slightly. “Esme.”
Drake remembered that name. Lydia had mentioned Esme only once, revealing that she was Gloomwood’s steward before her and that Lord Crow had Esme executed for some slight. It was shortly after Crow executed Esme that Olivia joined Gloomwood Manor.
He didn’t want to push Lydia into any painful memories, so he decided to change the subject. “Well, assuming the cabal doesn’t completely fuck us over the moment we arrive, we could be here for a few days. Anything you want to do while we’re in town?”
She tilted her head in obvious confusion. “What do you mean, lord?”
“Do you want to do any tourist stuff? When we’re not dealing with political bullshit?”
Samuel looked up from his spy scroll. “I’m afraid we’ll have very little time to explore the city or enjoy its many amenities. The cabal and our negotiations will occupy the majority of our time here. We should return to the manor once those conclude.”
Drake frowned at him. “Oh c’mon. You can’t tell me we’re going to travel all the way out to your magnificent capital city and not do a little sightseeing.”
“I would advise against that. This city is crowded, security outside the temple will be light, and assassins could strike from anywhere.”
Samuel was probably right. It was disappointing to accept he couldn’t just take a day to tour the capital, but that didn’t mean his people had to suffer as well. He doubted anyone would pay a Gilded Blade to kill some random person with a rarity for heating soup.
“So even if I can’t go out and tour the city, what harm would there be in allowing Tamara and the maids a day off? Or Hugo and his boys? Or anyone who’s not me? I get everyone wants to kill me, but there’s nothing to be gained by killing any of you.”
Samuel tapped his lips. “If you wish to provide the staff with a day of leisure, that would be less risky from a security standpoint. Some could still be taken as hostages by your enemies, so you would need to be prepared to lose them if negotiations went poorly.”
Samuel really did prepare for the worst. Drake ruefully shook his head. “Doesn’t the city have security? They must have some sort of police force.”
“The capital guard handles security within Korhaurbauten itself,” Samuel said. “However, given the cabal, the guard will be stationed in and around the Temple of the Eidolons to ensure the security of the manor lords and their thralls. Travel beyond the immediate environs of the temple comes with many risks.”
“So what if we paired people up?” Drake asked. “Zarovians and humans? Have people travel in small groups instead of alone, and make sure no one goes off alone. I get there’s risk, but there’s always risk. There’s more risk in having my people die of boredom.”
“I’m still not certain—”
“Lydia’s never been here before, and I’m sure everyone on the staff would benefit from a little R and R. How long has it been since they got to relax?” Drake was now all the more certain he wanted to let his folks have some time off to enjoy themselves. “Even if I have to be stuck in the temple all day, we should give the others time to explore, shop, and chill in what is the closest thing I’ve seen on your world to a beachside paradise.”
Samuel looked back at his spy scroll. “I still advise against it. However, if you cannot be dissuaded, I will organize such an outing. I do acknowledge the benefit to morale, and pairing zarovians with our people will make them harder to abduct.”
“That’s the spirit, old man. All work and no play makes Jack...” He paused, then sighed. “Every reference I make to my world goes over your heads. Do you have any idea how depressing that is?”
“The guarded crab dies alone in sand,” Lydia said.
Drake glanced at her with fresh interest. “What does that mean?”
“It’s a saying where I grew up, lord. I come from a small seaside village, and there, small crabs burrow into the sand where they are safe from predators. Yet they do not remain buried forever. They emerge to forage and even play with one another despite the risk this presents. Some are snatched by birds or other predators while out and about, but they still come out.”
Drake smiled. “Because staying buried in the sand for their whole lives is the same as being dead. I like that lesson.” He looked to Samuel. “What about you, old man? Got any lessons from your elders or words of wisdom from where you grew up?”
Samuel looked up from his spy scroll. “Trust not the roots of a treacherous tree.”
“And what’s that mean?”
“A sparse marshland near where I was raised is rife with shallow quicksand. The terrain is difficult to navigate safely, and the unwary often find themselves sinking. However, there are wiry trees with sturdy brown roots throughout the area. Rope trees.”
“And I take it these rope trees are... treacherous?
“To an outsider who stumbles into a pocket of quicksand, the strong, sturdy-looking roots of the rope tree offer a way to pull themselves free. Upon grasping them, a toxin secreted by the roots is absorbed through the skin. It causes both euphoria and lethargy.”
“Bad trees,” Drake agreed.
“Thus, a person who stumbles into quicksand seeks to save themselves by accepting an offer of help from one they do not know. They soon pass out and then drown in shallow quicksand. Had they simply relied upon themselves, they could have escaped.”
Drake nodded thoughtfully. “I just got a better understanding of why you think the way you think.”
Samuel shrugged. “It is foolish to accept an offer of help when one cannot verify the other party has one’s best interest in mind.”
“Cynical and paranoid. Just what I need in my spymaster.” Drake grinned. “Anyway, we’re giving the thralls a free day. Or two. Since you’re my paranoia chief, Samuel, I’ll let you figure out the best way to organize small parties to minimize the chance of abductions.”
Samuel eyed him in placid resignation. “If that is your order.”
“And Lydia, how would you feel about taking the maids and Anna out for some fun?”
She frowned. “That would leave you unprotected, lord.”
“But we’re allied now. Remember? So I could hang out with Sky’s bodyguards while you all took Anna someplace to unwind. And then, if Sky’s bodyguards wanted to go out, you all could guard Sky in their place so they could do the same. Call it... team building.”
Samuel finally appeared interested in the conversation. “While I am not at all in favor of leaving either you or Lord Skybreak so sparsely protected, allowing our thralls to intermix could increase support for a closer alliance. We could test this idea with less important positions.”
Drake was feeling ever better about this. “So you’re saying there’s a chance.”
“I would not be comfortable leaving you in the care of Lady Skybreak’s thralls, nor, if she is wise, would she trust herself to ours. Yet we could suggest a manor summit at which you and Lord Skybreak could speak about the affairs of your manors over the course of a day. If we are lucky, you might even grow closer as allies.”
“And how would that work?”
“For security reasons, it would be wise for the summit to take place in the secure rooms of the temple. If you were together, we could then task one thrall from each of your manors to stand guard over both of you. This would allow the others to explore the city.”
“And give me some more time to charm Lord Skybreak with my clever stratagems and keen wit. Now I understand why you are so popular with the ladies.”
Samuel watched him placidly. “I would be surprised if Lord Skybreak agrees to a summit given her extensive responsibilities. But if you wish, I will suggest it to Head Ranger Cask.”
“Don’t bother,” Drake said. “I’ll run it by Sky the next time we talk.”
“It is likely you may not see Lord Skybreak outside of times set aside for all manor lords to meet at the cabal. She still lacks an experienced steward, and while I am certain her Head Ranger is helping as best he can, Cask is also doing double duty leading her vanguard.”
“All the more reason to find a time when she can relax and get a break from all that,” Drake said. “Don’t worry about pitching this to Sky. I’ll pitch it myself when we have a spare moment. If she shoots me down, no harm done.”
Samuel shrugged. “If that is your approach, I leave arranging the summit in your hands.”
“Thanks, Samuel. Now, if you had to choose, what place has the best seafood here?”
“We will not be able to visit local restaurants.”
“Sure, I get that. But that doesn’t mean we can’t order out.”
