Kingdom Born

Chapter 19: Stronghold

The Hall of the Mitchell Sander, Thane of the Northern Stronghold, was an overwhelming masterpiece of design, artistry and intimidation. When the MistRaven had pulled in, I had thought the crowded docks to be a sight of wonder. The sheer mass of people on the floating wooden wharfcity was double, no triple, that of Coveport. Smells hit your senses. The stench of unwashed bodies, human waste and rotting cargo was enough to make you cover your mouth and nose or else gag. The thought didn't hit me until later that there were no women to be seen in public right by the shore.

Sanderson had come to the cabin to supervise our departure. Karl had dressed as he declared he would in a plain cotton tunic and kilt. Sanderson came in, looked him over, opened his mouth then shut it again. Instead he turned to me, "Lady Phara, I think it would be best if you wore your helm and a cloak while we ride up to the main gates. I'm sure that my father and the rest of the court is bursting at the seams to meet you and the less delay we have getting to them the better. Although you may curse me for your introduction later."

At the time I had not given his words a second thought, it wasn't until we were in the Stronghold proper, past enormous blocks of stone that served as walls that divided the land from the sea and the common folk from the upper class, that the wispy visions of women darting from shadow to shadow was seen with more frequency.

I glanced over at Karl but his face was tight and pale with memories. I urged my gelding over to Karl close enough to speak to him without being overheard by the walking citizens, "You look like you're frightened to death."

He glanced over at me, offered a wane smile and straightened in the saddle, looking like the noble that Sanderson insisted that he was. When Karl had rattled off his tale of nobility I had shown him that I thought he spoke the truth, but in my own heart, I had assumed that he had been a poor woman's son and was ashamed of it. I believed that his father had been a spiteful and hurting man and forced his son to suffer for it but a Thane. A War Thane. To hear the crew speak of War Thane Kaleb Bezer was like they were talking about a deity one step away from the Goddess.

Now, I think Karl's past ordeals were far worse than he had spoke of. I watched him ride past the overt stares and whispers of the pedestrians unashamed and graceful. Pride burned in my heart even though sweat was beading in my helm and under my armour. Sanderson might have wanted my appearance to be a surprise and it would be if I fainted from the heat of the sun, so I unclasped my cloak and laid it across my saddle and pulled my helm free. I hung it by the strap on the horn of my saddle which would keep it secure and accessible. We were in unknown territory. It would be unwise to drop my guard until I was sure that this place was as hospitable it appeared to be.

The streets inside the fortification walls weren't as well swept as Coveport but then I had discovered where they had hidden their excesses on my night journey to the Golden Palace. This lack of artifice was strangely comforting. I didn't like the masks that hid the character behind it; whether dealing with people or cities.

Merchants, common citizens and other denizens of Stronghold bowed deeply as Sanderson past by them. You could feel the respect emanating out from them. Eyes whipped up from the ground to look at the rest of the entourage. I could hear the faint whispers as they conferred about the man in a dress and the soldier that didn't look quite right.

I tried to remember the turns and twists the on our path but soon I was confused and let the stress of remembering fall by the way side. There were well dressed guards on every main intersection. They held their stance loosely but their hands rested near the weapons. A deceiving posture of nonchalance.

I glanced over at Karl, sweated beaded plainly on his face and ran in rivulets down his tunic front. He was locked in a private hell where I couldn't follow and offer comfort. My hands tightened the on the reigns. My gelding tossed its head around in protest. I forced myself to drop hands lower to keep from hurting its mouth. I patted it's neck gently. There was a man who should get this anger I felt. Karl wiped the sweat from his forehead, his eyes focused straight ahead. He suddenly gave out an involuntary gasp. I jerked my head around to see what amazed him and was stunned by the sheer magnitude of the building before us.

Sanderson laughed at our faces. "Welcome to the Northern Stronghold, Lord and Lady Bezer," he called back as he kicked his horse forward.

The Stronghold was made of the same stone blocks that stood vigilance at the outer walls but that was end of their similarities. Eight columns stood at the front shoring up a huge overhang that cast the inner doors into deep cool shadows. The top of the columns were scrolled in battle scenes far above our heads as we rode closer and closer they grew larger. When we were right next to them, I saw that they were woman-sized. Banners of red silk fluttered in the breeze from the number of small windows high above the battle scene. There was more silk hung in decoration that could have past through Sandshore in a full year of trading. I was in awe.

"Lord Matthais, welcome home!" An elderly man rushed forward and lowered himself to one knee.

"Henry! You are a sight for sore eyes." Sanderson pulled his stallion to a halt, dismounted, handed the reins over to the man. He clasped the elderly man to him.

"We received the message that you were coming. We have a banquet all planned for tonight. We've minstrel, acrobats, jugglers..." The older man's face beamed with gladness.

"You make me wish night was falling even quicker than it is...Where's my father?, Where's my wife?"

"Out in the gardens. There was open court yesterday." Sanderson shook his head solemnly at the news.

"So he's not really in the mood for more bad news."

"Not really, Lord Matthais." Henry turned and bellowed toward a stable. A dozen young men came tumbling out, silk tunics of red hung off their shoulders. Silk, just to muck out horses stalls. This land was rich.

Sanderson gestured to Karl and myself. "You can leave the horses with the boys. They'll stable and feed them."

I dismounted, ran a hand through my sweaty hair, wiped it on my leathers, then crossed over to Karl and offered a hand to help him down. A ghost of a smile crossed his lips before he reached out a hand and accepted my aid. His palm was cold and clammy. I gave him a quick squeeze then turned back to Sanderson. His face was cracked into a huge grin. Then I noticed that all the horseboys were staring at us. I quickly glanced around. We had everyone's attention. I raised Karl's hand to my lips and caressed the back of his hand. The open courtyard suddenly found something else to look at. There faces were tinged with red. Karl grinned widely at me and returned my comforting squeeze.

Sanderson kept his face in control but his eyes danced with merriment, "If you will follow me, I'll bring you out of the sun and get you something cool to drink." Sanderson turned on his heel and headed up the wide stairs two at a time.

"How are you feeling?" I whispered over at Karl.

"If I had eaten breakfast, I think I would have lost it already. I had forgotten it was so hot here. You're lucky that you tan, otherwise you'd have to walk around covered from head to toe."

"I'd rather get burnt," I gestured him forward and followed on his heels leaving the yard in silence behind us. I could feel the open stares at my back until the cool shade swallowed us up. I was expecting to find the inside of this giant palace just as extraordinary as I found the outside. I still underestimated what wealth this city had.

The ceiling arched high above us as Sanderson lead us through his home. It was painted...I think..in gold, so much so it was garish to my eye. The practice of the massive columns continued through the walkways. The stone floors were intricately laid with multicolored rocks to make flowing patterns. And servants were everywhere. This one building could have housed the Garrison, the Council chambers of the Elders and three or four of the large taverns from Sandshore.

"Did you live in a place like this?" The awe must have came out strongly in my voice.
"This section is just for impressing visitors. The real living quarters is further into the centre and is no so golden." There was a sting of bitterness in Karl's words. "Do you want to live in something like this?"

I looked up at the ceilings, so far above us. "We'd never keep one room warm if we did."
Karl laughed out loud, "My practical wife..." Karl grabbed me around the shoulders and squeezed me tight but still being careful of my healing wound, "You could always make me feel better. We've better hurry up or Matthais will disappear on us and the servants will kick us out as vagrants."

"Would that be so bad?"

Karl's grey eyes met mine evenly. I repeated my words again, "Would it?"

"No...What would we do for food?"

"You forget we still have a horde of gold. I had arranged for it to be brought with us from Coveport. If you want, we would turn around now, go out in the city and settle in like Kingdom woman and man."

"You would do this for me?"

I reached out and touched his handsome face. "If it would make you happy...when Sanderson was ready to head back we would board his ship and be on our way."

"You trust his word?" Karl stared past me toward the back of the man who used to be his tormentor.

"He seems to be a man of honour."

"Would you trust him?"

"With your life, and you know now dear that is to me. He gave his word..."

Karl offered his hand to me, "Come on..."

"We're leaving?"

"No, we've got a garden to see and I need something to drink. I trust your judgement. Maybe I'm seeing Matthais through the eyes of a child."

The highly ceremonial armoured guards stood at attention as Karl and I crossed the threshold and entered the garden. Out in the streets everything was muted colours of varying shades of brown, but here within the sanctuary of this house, everything was green and lush. They even had full sized trees in the middle of their garden.

"Watch it!" Karl caught my arm. I had almost stepped off the stone walk into a running stream with gold fish in it because I was so intent at gawking.

"Impressive place," Karl whispered to me. I just nodded. It was an understatement.

Karl urged along the path. A man with blonde, grey shot, hair and blue eyes, the coldness of glaciers, stepped from behind an ornately carved wooden talisman and glared at us. I could feel his gaze rip through me, weigh my value then discard me as inconsequential then his eyes centred on Karl. He was thinking something but his eyes never betrayed any thoughts. They never wavered from Karl as he marched close to us. I didn't need to see Sanderson hovering behind this powerful to man know that he was his father.

I was snapped out of my thoughts as the man reached out to strike at Karl. I stepped between them, pushed Karl backwards and took the blow. My head snapped to the left with the force of the impact.

The hilt of my dagger caressed my palm as I straightened.

I didn't need Sanderson's frantic motions to tell me not to clear leather. I had heard the chilling sound of the guards drawing and as they stepped in to save their sovereign.

The iron taste of blood filled my mouth. Making sure that the guards behind me saw my hands were weaponless, I reached up and wiped a trickle of blood from my mouth, then bowed slightly, my eyes never wavering from the pale blue regal gaze. I was no longer inconsequential, "Greetings elder, may the Goddess bless your household."

Lord Sander stared over my shoulder at Karl, "I see you still haven't learned to defend yourself, boy..."

I continued on with my speech, not daring to feel my face or wipe more the blood from my mouth, "I honour my elder with patience and tolerance and will overlook the slighting of my family."

He took the insult well. Moko would have lain me out on by back for uttering them. Lord Sander had to be only in his late fifties and he was still in fine form for a man that old. The strength of his hand told me that he could take offensive if he chose. His nostrils flared and a cold fire blazed in the centre of his eyes but he did nothing. He gestured the guards back to their posts and made to push me out of the way. I centred my weight and stood stock still. He glanced over at me with a hint of admiration in his eye, "Well woman, let me look at him."

"You can see Karl from there or is your eyesight failing good elder?"

"Phara!" Sanderson groaned laying a restraining hand on his father's shoulder.

"You go too far woman." Lord Sander returned knocking his son's hand off him. "Or aren't you civilized over there?"

"You attack my husband, insult your kinsman and slight my honour. We both know who has overstepped the bounds of civility, or is this your civility?"

The cold fire threatened to blaze out of control then suddenly he threw back his head and laughed. He reached up and gently caressed my face with the back of his hand. His cold fury was replaced with warmth and kindness, "My son was right in stating that you were an extraordinary woman. Greetings to you both, Lord Bezer, Lady Bezer...I offer all that is mine for your comfort while you stay. Now, let me see nephew."

Karl dropped a hand on my shoulder, "You will apologize to my wife, Uncle Mitchell." Karl's voice was calm but the grip of his hand on my shoulder told me another story. "Back home, a woman of honour would never raise a hand to a weaker person, or should the Thane of the Northern Stronghold hold himself above the confines of polite company?"

Lord Sander's eyes narrowed and centred on Karl's face, "So there is something of your father in you after all, boy."

"Apologize or we leave."

Lord Sander took my hand and pressed his lips to it. "Please excuse my behaviour to you, Lady Bezer, I usually do not attack women of such striking beauty."

I turned my head and now spat out blood, that was filling my mouth, on the previously spotless stone path. "Apology accepted Lord Sander." I probed my cheek with my tongue. It was a small cut but it kept bleeding.

Lord Sander turned on his heel and clapped his hands together. The bright blue of his silk robe, fell back and exposed his heavily muscles forearms. He was not an idle ruler. My face could attest to that.

"Are you all right?" Karl stepped in front of my and watched me with concern.

I nodded, twitching my jaw back and forth and spitting out more blood. His face clouded over, and his eyes took on a glacial quality, I have never seen before. Graciously he offered his arm but his eyes were centred on the Thane of the Northern Stronghold.

Lord Sander eased himself back into an elaborately carved wooden chair and picked up the wine flask he had been drinking. "The garden is a pleasant place but it has the capability of being overhead by any passing servant. They gossip like fishmongers. I would rather not proclaim the resurrection of Lord Karlen Bezer until Kaleb arrives to night. I have quarters prepared for both of you."

"Uncle Kaleb will be here tonight? I take it he wasn't with King Halsem." Sanderson flopped himself into another chair that mysteriously arrived. I had never even seen the servants come in.

"No...there has been some bandits marauding along Thane Wendall's southern border. Kaleb was there just checking out the new fortifications..."

"We would prefer quarters together." Karl broke into their conversation his voice still clipped with unspoken anger.

Lord Sander turned back to us, "I'm afraid that it is not possible." He cast a wry glance over to his son, "You've been away a long time Karlen, I don't expect you remember much, and as usual Matty didn't take the time to inform you of our customs."

"Matty?" I spoke aloud.

Sanderson wiped a hand down his face, "Men and women do not share quarters in this land unless they are wed."

I looked at him in confusion, "We're married. You know that."

Karl stepped beside me, "We've been married for over eleven years."

Lord Sander returned, "In your homeland maybe, here we have no documents to support that." He shook his head, "I am sorry, Karlen, until you receive permission from Kaleb to wed I cannot allow you to flout traditions. You may share each others bed but you cannot stay till morning."

"That's ..." Karl started. I caught his hand and shook my head.

"Thank you for explaining, Lord Sander. While we are in your household, we will abide by your rules."

"I'll get a servant to show you to your quarters, so you can clean up. Suitable attire should be in your rooms. Once you get a chance to clean up then we will meet in the upper Balcony for a lite meal. The banquet tonight won't start until after sundown." Lord Sander picked up a bell and rang it.

At the end of the garden two figures, a man ornately dressed in breeches and a tunic that had gold spirals on his sleeves and a woman in a white kingdom style dress that I so despised with a veil across her nose and mouth, hurried up to us.

"Fiona will take you to the women's quarters, Lady Phara. Desmond will take you to your chambers, Karlen. Matty come with me. I want a full report before the ministers come in and start badgering you."

"Take your time, Sunny, I want a leisurely warm bath," Karl stepped in close and kissed me, his tongue tracing my windburnt lips. I opened my mouth and allowed his tongue entry...only our lips and tongues touched but it felt like we were making love right there in front of all our witnesses. Karl reluctantly pulled away, his chest heaving slightly and his kilt tenting more with each passing second, "I'll meet you up in the balcony."

I nodded, mainly because I didn't think I could speak. My body was burning. Karl turned and followed the brightly decorated servant. My eyes trailed after him. I met Lord Sander's bemused smile then Sanderson's expressionless face.

Turning, I looked down on the tiny veiled woman before me. She looked like an underfed child. She started floating, I couldn't see her feet move, down the corridor and I followed along behind like a huge plough horse after a brightly dressed pony. I could feel Sanderson's eyes burning into my back until we turned a corner and vanished from sight.