David Dalglish - The Shadows of Grace

“Been there only once,” Tarlak said. “Beautiful place, and far better fortified than Veldaren. No offense, Antonil.”

“Better be careful how you talk around a king,” Haern said, smirking at the wizard.

“I’ll throw him in the stocks later,” Antonil said. “But continue, for I have never seen the city, either.”

“Well, when Ashhur built the city, he surrounded it with a gigantic wall of white stone, five men wide. But evidently that wasn’t enough for our beloved deity, so he built a second wall around the first.”

Tarlak drew a few lines in the dirt to illustrate his point.

“Try to climb over the first wall, maybe even blow a hole in it, and you’ve still got a full second wall to get past,” he said. “And even worse, the gates to the city are cattycornered. Break down one and you’ve got to turn and march a good hundred feet to the second, and of course, the gap between the walls is so thin no battering ram is going to fit.”

“Sounds impressive,” Antonil said. “We will be in need of such defenses.”

“Winged attackers ruin a lot of the fun,” Tarlak said. “But any troops on the ground are doomed. Archers line that inner wall, and they’ve got retractable ladders from one wall to the other in case they need to retreat. Needless to say, no one’s ever successfully laid siege to Mordeina, not even Karak.”

“No matter how big their storehouses,” Aurelia said, “if they try to starve us out it would not take very long, not with thousands of people pouring into the city.”

“Let’s hope they’re too overconfident for that,” Antonil said. “For all our sakes.”

“Enough of this,” Tarlak said. “We worry about dying tomorrow, but tonight! Tonight is for fun!”

He downed the rest of his wine and bowed to the rest.

“I hear music in the distance,” he said. “And there’s bound to be a pretty lass dancing to it.”

“I better go with,” Haern said as he stood. “I’d hate for him to act too big a fool.”

“But that’s what I’m good at,” they heard Tarlak argue as the two vanished into a sea of torches and revelry.

“I best see to my men as well,” Sergan said, hefting his ax onto his shoulder. “And crack some heads that get a bit too much drink in them, if you know what I mean.”

“Go easy on them,” Antonil said, grinning. “I want my soldiers to make a good impression when they enter the city, and I doubt they’ll look too impressive covered with black eyes and broken noses.”

“As you wish,” Sergan said with a bow.

That left just Harruq and Aurelia with the king, who leaned back and chewed on his lip.

“Where’s the paladin?” he asked.

“Lathaar’s out somewhere with Mira,” Harruq said, grabbing a slab of meat from a plate between them. “He’s not much for the whole drinking and celebrating thing, I gather.”

“I see. And the Ash Guild?”

Harruq shrugged and looked to Aurelia.

“I don’t know,” she said. “My guess is they’ve snuck into Mordeina. Wouldn’t be surprised if they’re already setting up shop. I pity the thieves they set their sights on.”

Antonil nodded, chewing his lip harder.

“I’ve received notice from the queen,” he said. “She somehow discovered an elf travels with us. She wants to meet you, Aurelia. I don’t know why, but she requested your immediate presence when we enter the city.”

“I will not go alone,” she said, taking Harruq’s hand.

“You won’t,” Antonil assured her. “I will be there, as will Tarlak and your husband. I don’t know if she shares her husband’s hatred of your kind, but if she does, I won’t stand for it. If I must, I will take my people and leave.”

Aurelia glanced about the camp, hearing the songs and seeing the cheer.

“There will not be many that go with you,” she said.

“Even if I go alone, I will still go.” He stood and bowed to her. “My thanks to you both. You’ve saved many lives, and given all of us hope against the chasing darkness. Ashhur watch over you.”

He retired to his tent. Aurelia looped her arms around Harruq and leaned close.

“I’m worried,” she said. “They’ve all had hard months of travel. I don’t want them to suffer more just because of me.”

The half-orc kissed her cheek. “Nonsense,” he said. “It’d be because of someone else’s ignorance, not you. And you better believe I’m not staying there without you. Well, not unless the food is really good and they have those places with all the girls where you can…”

She elbowed him, and as he grunted she pushed him to the ground and laughed.

“You’d miss me in a heartbeat and you know it, no matter how good the food or pretty and easy the girls.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Harruq said, grabbing her arm and pulling her atop him. “See what you’ve done to me? Big tough orc, and I can’t stand being away from you for a moment.”

She kissed him, then winked. “You love it.”

Harruq sighed. “I know.”

Aurelia snapped her fingers, and a small fire burst to life on the grass beside them. The two cuddled beside it, each anxious about coming day.

M ost were packing before the sun had risen, in spite of their hangovers. Mordeina awaited them, filled with food, comfort, companionship and warmth. After months of hardship, it seemed paradise was but a few miles away. When the sun finally rose, they began. Antonil led the way, his crown shining and his armor freshly polished.

An hour later the city came into view. First they saw the walls, gigantic and towering. They could make out soldiers walking across the tops between enormous banners showing a sword breaking against a shield, the symbol of the Baedan family line. Two doors made of wood and iron flung open as they approached. They heard trumpets sound, and it renewed their excitement. The only structure taller than the walls was the castle, it too made of the same white stone. Six towers were evenly spaced within the walls, all waving different flags, and it was their spires they saw as they approached. Each had the symbol and color of previous kings and queens.

“I always wondered why King Vaelor was so jealous of Mordan,” Antonil said to Aurelia as they approached. “Now I understand.”

More trumpets sounded. Soldiers marched from the outer gate, holding their weapons high and cheering them on.

“That’s some welcome,” Harruq said.

“Stay by my side,” Antonil told them. “I don’t want to lose you in the crowd.”

“No worries,” Harruq said. “I tend to stick out.”

As they neared the gates, a high ranking commander stepped forward from the soldiers and saluted.

“King Antonil Copernus,” the man shouted. “Her majesty requests an audience with your most trusted.”

“Follow me,” Antonil said to the Eschaton. He drew his sword and held it before him, and the people of Neldar cheered and cried his name.

“I am he, King of Neldar,” Antonil shouted amid the noise. The commander saw him and saluted once more. Soldiers rushed ahead and surrounded him, ushering him ahead of the rest. Tarlak, Aurelia, and Harruq hurried after, the guards giving them curious looks but allowing them by.

They passed through the gates and immediately turned left, to where the second gate was swung inward. The passage between the two walls was narrow, and Harruq kept looking to the sky to fight his claustrophobia. Eight people could stand side to side within the gap, and at sight of the archers atop either wall, he couldn’t imagine being an attacker against the city.

“Queen Baedan has been looking forward to your arrival for some time,” the commander said as they walked. “Of course, she had hoped for more pleasant circumstances, but we will do what we can to help your people survive.”