Book 5, Chapter 22: The Gloomy Road
The forty lancers, our esteemed escort, led the way. Twenty in front, twenty in rear. Months prior, I would have felt safe with this arrangement. Now I wondered what their lifespan would be, escorting me like this.
I should, I knew, meet them, talk a bit, get to know their leader, but I was annoyed. Not talking to anyone and grimacing possibly made me appear more of a princess to these troops. Aloof, arrogant, angry. If they’d seen my display last night, though, it was most likely just fear.
It was dumb of Hafthon to put so many men in danger. I guess that was part of my annoyance. He, of course, didn’t listen. Just wanted to show up Carlisele. Maybe gifting him the duchy was a poor decision. But, giving it to the earl who stayed behind, like Brundle had said, even less a good idea. At least Hafthon got things done. I suppose if I was wiser, I’d have appreciated him for that.
Although, given the news Tread brought this morning, that wasn’t really a fair assessment, either. Carlisele had gone to meet the Laemacians. Staying behind while Crygmore and Hafthon confronted the Ketzles was, in this case, a good decision.
I screamed inwardly. I couldn’t even be annoyed at Carlisele! What a morning.
Worse, I didn’t really know what I was doing. Etienne’s journal didn’t explain what the temple was for. The journal barely mentioned it, as a ‘windward causal link,’ whatever that meant. And, later in the journal, just ‘the temple’ plus a question mark and a bunch of dots, where Etienne was probably pressing whatever he used for writing into the page.
I knew where I had to go but was directionless. I had a purpose yet felt helpless and caught up in events beyond my control.
“Princess, you seem gloomy.”
“Yeah.”
“It’s a bright and sunny day, a fine day for riding, and soon you’ll be able to see Lady Brin again.”
“You’re right, Morry, I should be happier.” I scratched Cloud’s neck. “It’s just that events seem to be spiraling out of control. And the last time I’d traveled on this road was in Bechalle’s company. Pre-brutal torturer.”
“He’s long dead, Princess, and the world is a better place for it.”
“Yeah. You know, he was generous with his time, then. Explaining intricacies of the land.” I pointed at the trees to the left, “This area is good for grouse hunting, that forest has lots of deer. And he explained how to rule, administer taxes, what goods each town produced, and so on. It was like, I don’t know, like the first man who treated me fairly. As an equal. Scratch that, sorry, the first noble. Duke. You know what I mean.”
“I do. The others laughed when you asked questions. I stood outside the tent. But Princess, Bechalle was just grooming you. Getting you to trust him.”
“Yeah, the man was a monster. And well hid it. Though,” I looked over at the big man, “not from you. You saw through him very quickly.”
“The land is well into spring now. Farmers weeding their fields, ranchers moving animals to new grasslands.”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. Sorry, Morry, I guess I’m just brooding. Thinking too much of morose matters.”
“Spring is a time of renewal. You and I and Tread are making new memories on this road to Castle Hafthon.”
“I was kinda thinking about that, too.”
“Your thoughts didn’t seem full of flowers and bees.”
“No, not spring but the castle. It was his, Bechalle’s, but then we lived in it so long,” most of my time here on this planet, but I left that part silent, “it felt more like my castle. And I just gave it away to Hafthon.”
“Your castle is prettier anyways. And better positioned. It’s bordered by both the wide and majestic River Dernam, the open ocean, its rhythmic waters and plentiful bounty, and tall, treed mountains that bring fresh water and offer endless timber.”
I tilted my head at the big man. “Morry? Were you replaced by a poet?”
“The river is a gateway to trade and the ocean, an invitation to the unknown.”
“You have been!”
“Brundle will be occupying it now. Cleaning it up for you, getting it productive. I’m looking forward to our return.”
“I hope it’s as pretty as you say.” Whoops, did I just tell him I’d never seen the place? I quickly added, “What with the Ketzles occupying it and all.”
“I’m sure it will be by the time we get there. Brundle will see to it. No lingering traces of Ketzillians and no signs of war.”
Given this world, it was probably a monstrosity, full of narrow and twisting hallways that led nowhere, cramped spaces with floodwaters in them and dungeons full of the undead, whose nightly moans kept even the bravest of soldiers cowering in their beds, feet tucked safely under the covers. “Tell me, how long did you, how much time did you spend there? Any, uh, violent histories and hidden dangers I should be aware of?”
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