Someone Else's Kingdom, BOOK I - Chapter 31
Having said a hearty farewell to the old sea captain, the gang of four trundled onwards and inwards. Following the winding dirt roads through the pleasant countryside of the Maiden Lands. Everywhere flowers, wheat fields and gentle meadows. The odd stone windmill dotted about, where laid-back, but purposeful locals milled their wheat to make their flour. Streams and rivers were frequent features of the country, but almost always small and quaint. Trickling along at an unrushed pace. Even the hills were only gentle slopes. As the four breathed in these sights they remained mindful of their destination: Poppy Fields, or, the Poppy Mines, as they were sometimes known. A huge area of hinterland stretching many, many miles, where the landscape, as the name suggests, was pretty much just endless fields of poppies.
Long ago, in the long gone decades and centuries, the whole area had been intensively mined. For gold, along with copper and silver. Consequently, the locale was littered with underground shafts and tunnels. Cutting into the ground like giant rabbit burrows. As those in the Maiden Lands were generally careful and patient-minded, a great care had been taken to ensure that these didn't impinge too much upon the outward topography. So, the mine entrances were discreet, and endeavours were always made to mask the theft of nature's bounty with pleasing floriculture. Hence the abundance of poppies. One could find oneself walking through a flowery field or meadow, only to come across a cold stone staircase, invisible to anyone looking in from further afield, leading down to an underground mine entrance. Like a little doorway to another world. Most were now blocked, but a few were left open. With fewer being worked still; by aged miners, prising out the remnants of precious metal that were left.
It was Eldskeep who had insisted they come this way. He wanted to head to the Poppy Mine Bank, which, like the various other banks across the kingdoms, was run by an Official Treasurer, of the official treasurer class. In this case some distant cousin or other of Madame Drua Maleeva. In fact, she herself, on odd occasions, would visit this distant outpost when she travelled to the Maiden Lands. Inquiring into the latest, albeit quiet and slow-moving, goings-on. The quietness sometimes deceptive though. This little out-of-the-way bank only second in status in the kingdom to the main bank situated in the capital, Maiden's Tower. Locked at the very heart of this local mining industry, it was entirely central to the valuable trade. So, though remote, it held a reserved prestige; and, as with everything in Poppy Fields, the bank's building was perfectly picturesque too, blending seamlessly into the surrounding countryside. Were it not for the twee, but well-maintained wooden signposts, situated along the soft dirt roads - hanging out like insightful scarecrows - it would be difficult to even spot.
As the four adventurers slowly wandered towards this destination it was easy to discern that they were heading in the general direction. As increasingly they found themselves amidst a growing red sea or carpet. All scattered with an undertow of greens, beneath a soft blue sky. As Goola looked back towards the direction they'd came from the vision looked something like a painting. Only was a crisp realness, and an added layer of perfume to heighten the colours. The misty blue sea, upon which they had recently sailed, afar off in the distance.
Finding a peaceful spot they sat down, to eat some of the breads and treats they'd stocked up on in Fools' Harbour. They even took the briefest of naps beneath the soft amber Sun. Yet still, as they finally arrived in the tiny village, where the Poppy Bank was located, they all felt a little weary. Worn out by the novelty. Eldskeep quickly headed into the bank, as the other three waited outside. After a short period he re-emerged; and handed them back all the money he'd borrowed. They then crossed the street to a nearby inn. Almost as sleepy-looking as the Poppy Bank itself. They booked rooms, then settled down for another evening in another unfamiliar place.
Long ago, in the long gone decades and centuries, the whole area had been intensively mined. For gold, along with copper and silver. Consequently, the locale was littered with underground shafts and tunnels. Cutting into the ground like giant rabbit burrows. As those in the Maiden Lands were generally careful and patient-minded, a great care had been taken to ensure that these didn't impinge too much upon the outward topography. So, the mine entrances were discreet, and endeavours were always made to mask the theft of nature's bounty with pleasing floriculture. Hence the abundance of poppies. One could find oneself walking through a flowery field or meadow, only to come across a cold stone staircase, invisible to anyone looking in from further afield, leading down to an underground mine entrance. Like a little doorway to another world. Most were now blocked, but a few were left open. With fewer being worked still; by aged miners, prising out the remnants of precious metal that were left.
It was Eldskeep who had insisted they come this way. He wanted to head to the Poppy Mine Bank, which, like the various other banks across the kingdoms, was run by an Official Treasurer, of the official treasurer class. In this case some distant cousin or other of Madame Drua Maleeva. In fact, she herself, on odd occasions, would visit this distant outpost when she travelled to the Maiden Lands. Inquiring into the latest, albeit quiet and slow-moving, goings-on. The quietness sometimes deceptive though. This little out-of-the-way bank only second in status in the kingdom to the main bank situated in the capital, Maiden's Tower. Locked at the very heart of this local mining industry, it was entirely central to the valuable trade. So, though remote, it held a reserved prestige; and, as with everything in Poppy Fields, the bank's building was perfectly picturesque too, blending seamlessly into the surrounding countryside. Were it not for the twee, but well-maintained wooden signposts, situated along the soft dirt roads - hanging out like insightful scarecrows - it would be difficult to even spot.
As the four adventurers slowly wandered towards this destination it was easy to discern that they were heading in the general direction. As increasingly they found themselves amidst a growing red sea or carpet. All scattered with an undertow of greens, beneath a soft blue sky. As Goola looked back towards the direction they'd came from the vision looked something like a painting. Only was a crisp realness, and an added layer of perfume to heighten the colours. The misty blue sea, upon which they had recently sailed, afar off in the distance.
Finding a peaceful spot they sat down, to eat some of the breads and treats they'd stocked up on in Fools' Harbour. They even took the briefest of naps beneath the soft amber Sun. Yet still, as they finally arrived in the tiny village, where the Poppy Bank was located, they all felt a little weary. Worn out by the novelty. Eldskeep quickly headed into the bank, as the other three waited outside. After a short period he re-emerged; and handed them back all the money he'd borrowed. They then crossed the street to a nearby inn. Almost as sleepy-looking as the Poppy Bank itself. They booked rooms, then settled down for another evening in another unfamiliar place.
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