Someone Else's Kingdom, BOOK I - Chapter 8
As Box, Goola and Julen entered the tavern they immediately approached the barkeep and asked for two rooms for the night. One for Julen and another for Box and Goola. Neither Box nor Goola had ever been in a tavern before, so their lively eyes were curiously scanning the room. Especially so Box's, who stared with particular interest at every odd stranger sat drinking and talking.
Having sorted their rooms and parked their belongings they too found a little table and ordered something to eat. As they waited for their food to arrive they continued observing the jovial surroundings of the half-full tavern. Julen, with his slightly greater experience of the world, feigning a comfortable nonchalance. Trying to imitate the older regulars supping their ales. Still, like Box and Goola, he too was equally excited to find himself out unaccompanied in this mildly grown-up world.
As they sat waiting they overheard a conversation at the bar. A loud gentleman, of middle age, was telling the barkeep and another fellow drinker about how he had just arrived from further west. Stating he'd heard odd rumours about the ongoing situation whilst he'd been working as a logger in "The Nic". The Nic being the narrow passage of land between the Northern and Eastern Kingdoms. Hemmed in by the Icy Mountains to the west and the encroaching sea to the east.
In ordinary times, logging to supply the shipyards of the Northern Kingdom would be done in Once Woods. The densely packed woodland to the west of the Icy Mountains. However, given the now enormous demand for timber, and thanks in part to the relative peace between the Northern and Eastern Kingdoms, logging had vastly increased in the Nic. With the timbers being hauled through the mountain passages to the western front line.
"They're going through a helluva lot of timber," proclaimed the loud gentleman, "..they must be losing a lot of ships."
"It's strange," noted the barkeep in reply, as he polished a small tumbler with his off-white cloth, "They're fairly feral in the Western Isles, but you wonder how they're doing that much damage. Especially if they're ravaged with the old pox. Assuming it is them doing the actual damage, that is."
"Who else could it be?" insisted the loud gentleman, "Perhaps they don't have it quite as bad as we're being told. Maybe they really are going for it good and proper this time."
At this point Julen was about to butt into the conversation, to ask the gentleman if had seen any of the damaged ships himself, but before he could Box punched him quite forcefully in the arm. Sensing it was better that they kept their heads down and tried not to needlessly involve themselves with people they didn't know. As Julen turned round in reaction Goola burst out laughing, which in turn made Box herself laugh. There was then some childish jostling between Box and Julen. Fighting, as per usual, more like brother and sister than uncle and niece. A familiar sight for Goola, who rarely ever raised a fist in play herself.
As Box and Julen continued to push and shove each other the barmaid arrived, bringing their ordered food. She was youngish, perhaps early twenties, and pretty looking. Julen quickly tried to regain his composure, and once again feigned a degree of maturity. This amused Goola even more so. The barmaid placed their food down in complete oblivion to him. As she turned from the table, Julen, mildly irked, noted her appearance. "She thinks she's more attractive than she actually is." Box and Goola both burst out laughing again.
Having sorted their rooms and parked their belongings they too found a little table and ordered something to eat. As they waited for their food to arrive they continued observing the jovial surroundings of the half-full tavern. Julen, with his slightly greater experience of the world, feigning a comfortable nonchalance. Trying to imitate the older regulars supping their ales. Still, like Box and Goola, he too was equally excited to find himself out unaccompanied in this mildly grown-up world.
As they sat waiting they overheard a conversation at the bar. A loud gentleman, of middle age, was telling the barkeep and another fellow drinker about how he had just arrived from further west. Stating he'd heard odd rumours about the ongoing situation whilst he'd been working as a logger in "The Nic". The Nic being the narrow passage of land between the Northern and Eastern Kingdoms. Hemmed in by the Icy Mountains to the west and the encroaching sea to the east.
In ordinary times, logging to supply the shipyards of the Northern Kingdom would be done in Once Woods. The densely packed woodland to the west of the Icy Mountains. However, given the now enormous demand for timber, and thanks in part to the relative peace between the Northern and Eastern Kingdoms, logging had vastly increased in the Nic. With the timbers being hauled through the mountain passages to the western front line.
"They're going through a helluva lot of timber," proclaimed the loud gentleman, "..they must be losing a lot of ships."
"It's strange," noted the barkeep in reply, as he polished a small tumbler with his off-white cloth, "They're fairly feral in the Western Isles, but you wonder how they're doing that much damage. Especially if they're ravaged with the old pox. Assuming it is them doing the actual damage, that is."
"Who else could it be?" insisted the loud gentleman, "Perhaps they don't have it quite as bad as we're being told. Maybe they really are going for it good and proper this time."
At this point Julen was about to butt into the conversation, to ask the gentleman if had seen any of the damaged ships himself, but before he could Box punched him quite forcefully in the arm. Sensing it was better that they kept their heads down and tried not to needlessly involve themselves with people they didn't know. As Julen turned round in reaction Goola burst out laughing, which in turn made Box herself laugh. There was then some childish jostling between Box and Julen. Fighting, as per usual, more like brother and sister than uncle and niece. A familiar sight for Goola, who rarely ever raised a fist in play herself.
As Box and Julen continued to push and shove each other the barmaid arrived, bringing their ordered food. She was youngish, perhaps early twenties, and pretty looking. Julen quickly tried to regain his composure, and once again feigned a degree of maturity. This amused Goola even more so. The barmaid placed their food down in complete oblivion to him. As she turned from the table, Julen, mildly irked, noted her appearance. "She thinks she's more attractive than she actually is." Box and Goola both burst out laughing again.
"What? It's true."
The lack of attention aside, the meals she had brought looked pretty tasty, and the three hungrily started to swallow it all down. As they did so Box pulled out a map from her pocket. It was a map of their journey that Grandpa Taxilian had doodled for them. The tavern they were now at was somewhere near the northern tip of Lake Fryjia, meaning they were now more or less halfway through the Eastern Kingdom. With luck, another day's travel would bring them to the eastern harbour town of Patina, where they could then catch a ship to Maiden's Tower. Their distant destination.
As the three of them looked at the surprisingly well-drawn map they wondered out loud to each other about the wider world depicted before them. "We should be heading west to find Middlemap," mouthed Julen, as his mind began wandering for even more adventure; the petite barmaid quickly forgotten. He then intently looked at the mountains that Taxilian had artfully sketched in the middle of the world island. Middlemap, hence its name, was a mythical city that was said to exist at the very centre of world. An imaginary place, right at the heart of the Icy Mountains. Rumour had it that this was where the kings and other royals headed when things got really bad, or just where they went to discuss their plans for the rest of the world's people. "It's just a myth, y'know," observed Goola, blasely, "..there's nothing there but ice and snow. Taxilian said it's just a story, told to get fools with too much curiosity to wander off to their deaths."
"Hmm.." murmured Box, looking at Julen, both of them clearly wanting a little too much to believe in the fable. It was at this moment that the loud, and now even more intoxicated, gentleman came wobbling over.
The lack of attention aside, the meals she had brought looked pretty tasty, and the three hungrily started to swallow it all down. As they did so Box pulled out a map from her pocket. It was a map of their journey that Grandpa Taxilian had doodled for them. The tavern they were now at was somewhere near the northern tip of Lake Fryjia, meaning they were now more or less halfway through the Eastern Kingdom. With luck, another day's travel would bring them to the eastern harbour town of Patina, where they could then catch a ship to Maiden's Tower. Their distant destination.
As the three of them looked at the surprisingly well-drawn map they wondered out loud to each other about the wider world depicted before them. "We should be heading west to find Middlemap," mouthed Julen, as his mind began wandering for even more adventure; the petite barmaid quickly forgotten. He then intently looked at the mountains that Taxilian had artfully sketched in the middle of the world island. Middlemap, hence its name, was a mythical city that was said to exist at the very centre of world. An imaginary place, right at the heart of the Icy Mountains. Rumour had it that this was where the kings and other royals headed when things got really bad, or just where they went to discuss their plans for the rest of the world's people. "It's just a myth, y'know," observed Goola, blasely, "..there's nothing there but ice and snow. Taxilian said it's just a story, told to get fools with too much curiosity to wander off to their deaths."
"Hmm.." murmured Box, looking at Julen, both of them clearly wanting a little too much to believe in the fable. It was at this moment that the loud, and now even more intoxicated, gentleman came wobbling over.
"It is real. Quite real."
He said this with an assumed authority, as if he expected everyone listening to just automatically take his word for it, despite the absurdity of the claim. To anyone more worldly he would've been dismissed as a teller of tall tales, but Julen was more willing to believe.
"How do you know? Have you been?"
"I haven't, but I know a man who's seen it. The most splendid city he'd ever seen he said. Towers and castles, gleaming with jewels. Guarded by men in golden armour."
"So how did he get there?" quizzed Box, more sceptical, and sensibly disregarding her own desire to believe.
"He was a chef, a great chef - one of the best. He was especially recruited to work in the famous royal kitchens. Now, you see, normally, those summoned there, are - by oath I might add - required to spend their entire lives there. No one can leave, on pain of death - it's how they keep it so secret, you see ..but he escaped. He took his chance and scarpered. Clambering down the icy slopes half-dead, over several fearful days, to begin a new life, under another name."
Goola looked on with disdain, and Box shared the appraisal. Julen remained a believer.
"I haven't, but I know a man who's seen it. The most splendid city he'd ever seen he said. Towers and castles, gleaming with jewels. Guarded by men in golden armour."
"So how did he get there?" quizzed Box, more sceptical, and sensibly disregarding her own desire to believe.
"He was a chef, a great chef - one of the best. He was especially recruited to work in the famous royal kitchens. Now, you see, normally, those summoned there, are - by oath I might add - required to spend their entire lives there. No one can leave, on pain of death - it's how they keep it so secret, you see ..but he escaped. He took his chance and scarpered. Clambering down the icy slopes half-dead, over several fearful days, to begin a new life, under another name."
Goola looked on with disdain, and Box shared the appraisal. Julen remained a believer.
"It's true," repeated the loud gentleman, "all true". At which point the barkeep sauntered over. Gently, with a warm hand, he escorted the loud gentleman to the door. "It's home time, old chap, we'll be closing things up rather soon."
This was the fortunate cue for Box, Goola and Julen to likewise leave the table, and head upstairs to their own beds. As Box and Goola entered what would be their room for the night they could see Lake Fryjia in the far off distance through the window. The now creeping moonlight reflecting off the still waters.
This was the fortunate cue for Box, Goola and Julen to likewise leave the table, and head upstairs to their own beds. As Box and Goola entered what would be their room for the night they could see Lake Fryjia in the far off distance through the window. The now creeping moonlight reflecting off the still waters.
"It's a shame we can't visit the lake," noted Goola, with mild disappointment, as she climbed into bed.
"At least we've seen it from here," replied Box, "That's something - and we'll be seeing an even bigger lake in a day or so." She pulled out the crumpled, but well drawn map again, and dragged her finger from the top of Lake Fryjia across to Patina, which sat on the edge of the world ocean. "I hope we don't get seasick ..or shipwrecked," she then added, with a devilish grin. Her exhaustion outstripping the disorientation caused by the novel situation, she then quickly washed and settled down, like Goola, for a night of much-needed sleep. It was similar in the room next door, and with an even greater ease, Julen quickly crashed out. Recharging his batteries for yet another long day's adventure.
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