Someone Else's Kingdom, BOOK I - Chapter 16
The setting Sun painted the perfect scene as they entered Patina. The city was old, but well maintained; the streets all stony-cobbles. Castle Tori stood at its centre, on the city's highest hill. It's large stone walls and turrets rising into the skyline, dominating the surrounding sprawl, like an extension of the steep jagged hill itself. Down below ringed by encircling walls, stairways and avenues. There were likewise numerous other towering buildings dotted across the city. Creating an impressive panoply.
Further behind this array, barely visible from the vantage point Box and her cohorts had as they arrived, was the equally impressive harbour. With its tall ships, loading and unloading, along with the countless smaller schooners and fishing boats gliding in and out of view. The ocean expanding endlessly into the distance. Castle Tori was the by far most magnificent edifice, but it was not the most famous. Patina being most well-known for its two huge lighthouses. One on the northern extreme of the city's coastline, the other at its southern edge. They were commonly called the "gold and silver" lighthouses, though the northern, "silver" one, was in actual fact just plain grey stone. It being named largely in relation to its more majestic counterpart. True to form, this wasn't made of actual gold either. However, it was indeed painted in a rich gold colouring, and had a ring of hammered gold plate around its summit, just beneath the blazing fire atop. Marking the way for seafarers in a halo of flame and reflection.
Arriving late in the evening, as these fires began to burn, the gang's immediate aim was the more mundane task of finding a place to stay for the night. Knowing they would need to find a ship the next morning, they elected to find somewhere close to the harbour. Dismounting from their horses and cart they grabbed their luggage, then walked the animals to the stables outside the city gates. Waiting in the the long queue as various other visitors to the city did likewise. Yet again, saddened to say goodbye to the little steeds they'd grown so fond of over the latest section of their journey. Then, they entered the city proper, and began to wander towards a destination for the night. Naturally Eldskeep leading the way.
Further behind this array, barely visible from the vantage point Box and her cohorts had as they arrived, was the equally impressive harbour. With its tall ships, loading and unloading, along with the countless smaller schooners and fishing boats gliding in and out of view. The ocean expanding endlessly into the distance. Castle Tori was the by far most magnificent edifice, but it was not the most famous. Patina being most well-known for its two huge lighthouses. One on the northern extreme of the city's coastline, the other at its southern edge. They were commonly called the "gold and silver" lighthouses, though the northern, "silver" one, was in actual fact just plain grey stone. It being named largely in relation to its more majestic counterpart. True to form, this wasn't made of actual gold either. However, it was indeed painted in a rich gold colouring, and had a ring of hammered gold plate around its summit, just beneath the blazing fire atop. Marking the way for seafarers in a halo of flame and reflection.
Arriving late in the evening, as these fires began to burn, the gang's immediate aim was the more mundane task of finding a place to stay for the night. Knowing they would need to find a ship the next morning, they elected to find somewhere close to the harbour. Dismounting from their horses and cart they grabbed their luggage, then walked the animals to the stables outside the city gates. Waiting in the the long queue as various other visitors to the city did likewise. Yet again, saddened to say goodbye to the little steeds they'd grown so fond of over the latest section of their journey. Then, they entered the city proper, and began to wander towards a destination for the night. Naturally Eldskeep leading the way.
Meeting Eldskeep had been a blessing in this regard. Had they arrived alone they would've found themselves a bit dazzled and out of their depth. Still, they suspected his claims to know his way around to be largely bluster. With no better knowledge themselves they happily followed his lead alas. Listening as he pointed out local landmarks, with the casual air of someone who was born and raised in the city. All this in spite of the fact that he'd already led them down dead ends more than once, and had had to turn heel and trackback on himself. Punctuated by outbursts of, "Ah, of course, I remember now," and, "They must have changed this part since I've been away." Luckily though, the overall direction of travel was fairly straight forward. Head towards Castle Tori, then, from there, with a nice high vantage point, head down towards the harbour. Making Eldskeep's overconfident and patchy grasp of the city's geography only a minor inconvenience. Plus, it allowed them to take in a little more of the city than they otherwise would've done.
As they sauntered, stranger-like, past all the little shops and taverns, it was quite a sight. Box and Goola in particular had never been anywhere quite so busy. Their wide-eyed little heads constantly turning to take in as much as possible. Their yellow-blonde and red-blonde bobs each respectively catching the glimmering light from the recently lit street lanterns. The buildings, the people, the steep little winding streets. The noisiness of it all - even at this softly-illuminated hour of the evening. The constant backdrop of chatter and loud voices.
"The Princess Liofia, daughter of the Eastern King, lives here. Very beautiful, but very troubled ..I've met her on a few occasions. Several times in fact. Though that was long ago, when she was a child, and it's said she rarely, if ever, leaves the castle walls these days."
His three acquaintances already knew full well who Princess Liofia was, and that she lived in Castle Tori. Everyone knew this. It would be impossible not to know this, especially living in the Eastern Kingdom. However, they still enjoyed hearing the added details from Eldskeep, even if they were somewhat familiar and peppered with personal anecdotes that stretched credulity. The rumours was common gossip. It was said that Princess Liofia was earmarked as a potential marriage partner for Prince Aralak, but it was also said she had stubbornly refused to entertain this prospect, and that was consequently holed herself up in Castle Tori in protest. Her father, King Kaspria, now simply waiting, somewhat impatiently, for her to come out of her royal sulk. Insistent in his promise to King Mizmeam that she would eventually come round.
As Box and Goola ambled on past the castle boundaries they both hoped to catch a glimpse of this elusive and alluring princess, but sadly none was forthcoming. As they crossed from the large stone slabs of the avenue to the smaller cobbles of the nearby streets they kept turning their heads for an extra look. Trying to increase their chances. Straining, in hope, to spy any moving flickers in the castle windows. Unfortunately, it looked almost empty in the now increasing darkness of evening. With just the odd orangey hum of candlelight pressing forth against the occasional window.
As they sauntered, stranger-like, past all the little shops and taverns, it was quite a sight. Box and Goola in particular had never been anywhere quite so busy. Their wide-eyed little heads constantly turning to take in as much as possible. Their yellow-blonde and red-blonde bobs each respectively catching the glimmering light from the recently lit street lanterns. The buildings, the people, the steep little winding streets. The noisiness of it all - even at this softly-illuminated hour of the evening. The constant backdrop of chatter and loud voices.
Like the rest of the Eastern Kingdom, Patina was relatively peaceful, but the constant traffic that came in and out: the sailors, smugglers, merchants, and various gadabouts, meant that certain parts also had an unnerving undertow. With some streets giving the leery feel that you were always just a misstep from danger. The soldierly city wardens occasionally meandering the streets offering a degree of calm reassurance and orderliness, but also adding a slight air of menace themselves. Surprisingly Julen - not always the most perceptive of people - was the one that was most acutely aware of this undercurrent, and had been unusually quiet since they'd arrived in the city. Eyeing the countless strangers he passed with cautious suspicion. His mood swiftly changed as Box challenged him to a race up the steps leading to the main avenue that ran alongside Castle Tori though. Always competitive he immediately sprang into life as she raced past, goading him. The two of them rushing up the two or three hundred steep stone steps with child-like abandon. Goola following likewise, but with far less eagerness and intent. Happy to trail along in stops and starts.
As Box and Julen reached the summit, almost neck and neck with each other - Julen making up the slight ground he'd lost following Box's cheat start - they stopped and looked down over the harbour ocean now visible far out in front of them. The rows of streets and houses beneath them curving haphazardly towards the harbour front. They waited, slightly out of breath, first for Goola, then for Eldskeep, who was slowly struggling to make the ascent beneath his own weight. As he eventually arrived they again had to wait once more as he recaptured his breath. This brief stop gone they then continued down the long avenue, which passed beside the southern side of the castle wall. The sheer scale so impressive up close.
As Box and Julen reached the summit, almost neck and neck with each other - Julen making up the slight ground he'd lost following Box's cheat start - they stopped and looked down over the harbour ocean now visible far out in front of them. The rows of streets and houses beneath them curving haphazardly towards the harbour front. They waited, slightly out of breath, first for Goola, then for Eldskeep, who was slowly struggling to make the ascent beneath his own weight. As he eventually arrived they again had to wait once more as he recaptured his breath. This brief stop gone they then continued down the long avenue, which passed beside the southern side of the castle wall. The sheer scale so impressive up close.
As they walked past it, Eldskeep, with his trademark braggadocio, began to tell them about its reclusive inhabitant.
"The Princess Liofia, daughter of the Eastern King, lives here. Very beautiful, but very troubled ..I've met her on a few occasions. Several times in fact. Though that was long ago, when she was a child, and it's said she rarely, if ever, leaves the castle walls these days."
His three acquaintances already knew full well who Princess Liofia was, and that she lived in Castle Tori. Everyone knew this. It would be impossible not to know this, especially living in the Eastern Kingdom. However, they still enjoyed hearing the added details from Eldskeep, even if they were somewhat familiar and peppered with personal anecdotes that stretched credulity. The rumours was common gossip. It was said that Princess Liofia was earmarked as a potential marriage partner for Prince Aralak, but it was also said she had stubbornly refused to entertain this prospect, and that was consequently holed herself up in Castle Tori in protest. Her father, King Kaspria, now simply waiting, somewhat impatiently, for her to come out of her royal sulk. Insistent in his promise to King Mizmeam that she would eventually come round.
As Box and Goola ambled on past the castle boundaries they both hoped to catch a glimpse of this elusive and alluring princess, but sadly none was forthcoming. As they crossed from the large stone slabs of the avenue to the smaller cobbles of the nearby streets they kept turning their heads for an extra look. Trying to increase their chances. Straining, in hope, to spy any moving flickers in the castle windows. Unfortunately, it looked almost empty in the now increasing darkness of evening. With just the odd orangey hum of candlelight pressing forth against the occasional window.
As they pressed further down the gentle incline towards the harbour, they could increasingly smell the ocean air. The numerous lively little taverns they passed seeming to beckon Eldskeep to enter. Regardless, he feared to raise the prospect, even just for one drink, following the censure he'd received from Box. So they kept apace, looking for a suitable place to pitch down for the night. Finally, having inquired into a few places without success, they found a nice little inn that could accommodate them.
Relieved, they each headed up to their rooms. Box and Goola sharing as usual. The room they were given was on the third floor of the building, with a window facing out onto the harbour front, affording a fetching view. As Box peered out, and surveyed the panorama, she could see in the far-off distance to her left a faint glow above the rooftops, coming from the silver lighthouse far up the coastline. It's light creeping and curving quietly into the night. Then, to her right, much closer up, she could see the gold lighthouse. Its bright beacon lighting up the now pitch black sky. Its necklace of gold plate, half-blinding the rest of the tower with its reflection. Drawing her moth-like vision.
"The world is surrounded by a ring of fire," she thought, as she watched the bright fire weave and crackle above the dark and barely-visible ocean. An endless flood of darkness, which the lighthouse impressively attempted, but failed to conquer.
Relieved, they each headed up to their rooms. Box and Goola sharing as usual. The room they were given was on the third floor of the building, with a window facing out onto the harbour front, affording a fetching view. As Box peered out, and surveyed the panorama, she could see in the far-off distance to her left a faint glow above the rooftops, coming from the silver lighthouse far up the coastline. It's light creeping and curving quietly into the night. Then, to her right, much closer up, she could see the gold lighthouse. Its bright beacon lighting up the now pitch black sky. Its necklace of gold plate, half-blinding the rest of the tower with its reflection. Drawing her moth-like vision.
"The world is surrounded by a ring of fire," she thought, as she watched the bright fire weave and crackle above the dark and barely-visible ocean. An endless flood of darkness, which the lighthouse impressively attempted, but failed to conquer.
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