A Stolen Crown (10 page)

“Yes, my Queen. Everything is in order. I think these reassurances will be sufficient,” he said with a bow and retreated from the room. As he left, he caught a glimpse of the half-Darga child he had heard rumors about, lying among the thick covers of Calexis’ bed. He had not noticed him before but shivered as the creature's reptilian eyes wathced him closely as he crossed the floor to exit the queen's chamber.

CHAPTER SEVEN

The wet winter wind that blew in over the water along the coast did not make travelling any easier but at least Lady Valamyr and her niece Ehlena were warm, wrapped in heavy blankets and furs inside the old carriage. Carlis hunched the heavy fur over his shoulders as he held the reins guiding the team of horses that led them along the rocky coastal road.

They had travelled out of the heavily snow-covered lands in Maramyr, making their way south along the Great Mara river toward the port city of Aramyr. After a few encounters with soldiers along the main road who had asked far too many questions, Carlis had convinced Elaine they would be safer travelling along lesser-known roads until they reached Aghlar territory. They had hoped that the weather along the Aghlar coastline would be less inhospitable but the road was under constant attack from the strong sea winds at this time of the year and, while it was not as cold as the weather further north, snow and ice persisted, making their journey that much more difficult. It took them three days to round the southern tip of the coastal mountains and begin making their way toward Aghlar Hold, the capital of the seafaring Aghlar.

Carlis was awestruck by the beauty of Aghlar when he drove the carriage along the road toward the capital. The grey rock of the mountains that cut their way into the sea was carpeted in so many places by the wet green grass that felt the cool of rain more often than not. Now the landscape was frosted with winter ice and small patches of snow that created even more contrast in the breathtaking coastline. Immense cliffs were home to countless birds that hovered overhead, riding the winds that came off the water of the sea. Amid this divergent terrain was carved a large bay, almost too wide to see across and at its innermost curve was nestled the city of Aghlar Hold.

It was not the city that was first visible, but rather the multitude of ships that sailed the giant bay, and the countless smaller vessels that hugged the coastline. Carlis felt the high winds battering him in the driving chair of the carriage and was amazed that so many ships would be out among the great waves that crested and crashed in the water below. For as many ships as there were out on the waters that day, there were even more nestled in the harbor of the Aghlar city, riding out the rough waters of winter awaiting the time when they could venture forth once again on the frothing sea.

Carlis knocked on the roof of the carriage as they came into view of the city so Elaine might draw the curtains and get a better look. He was not surprised when Ehlena nimbly climbed out of the carriage to ride up front with him.

“It’s beautiful isn’t it,” she said. Carlis nodded.

“And you spent your childhood here?”

“Yes. I used to love going out on Aghlar Bay in a skimmer for an afternoon or on one of the king’s tallships.” Ehlena pointed at a massive ship sailing toward the harbor, its giant sails full on their three great masts. “That one there is the Al-dea. That’s Aghlar for sea god,” she explained. “My favorite is the Al-thea, the sea goddess, but I don’t see her anywhere. She’s probably out on the seas on some exciting voyage.” Ehlena breathed her excitement. Carlis could sense that the girl had been happy here. He hoped she would be again, even though neither her mother nor her step-father were here as they had been before.

“Did you know King Toren?” Carlis had wanted to ask the girl since they had left Maramyr, but her aunt had thus far discouraged any talk of the sea-going barbarians. Carlis smiled to himself as he gazed across an ocean horizon that spanned further than the eye could see. Hopefully, when she saw the beauty of this place, the Lady Elaine Valamyr would surely come around. Ehlena sighed.

“King Toren. Yes, I met him quite a number of times. He was always very kind to me,” she told him. Carlis’ spirits brightened even further. If Ehlena happened to be on good terms with the local nobility, then surely he would be able to arrange introductions for the girl’s aunt. Some contact with civilized society would surely make Elaine happier, Carlis thought.

“What kind of man is he, this sailor king?” he asked.

“Toren? He’s a big man with a beard, like most of the Aghlar men, but he stands taller than the rest of them.” Her eyes took on a faraway look. “I don’t think he’s actually taller, but he just seems that way. He loves the sea almost more than anything else and he cares about his kingdom and all of its people. I think you will like him.”

“Do you think we will get a chance to meet him then?” He thought he might pry a little further. Ehlena laughed.

“Of course we will,” Ehlena told him. “Matthius, my godfather, was his brother.”

“Your mother was married to Matthius. He was the king’s brother?” Carlis was astounded. Depending on how things in Alghar worked, that might make Elaine’s niece some kind of princess in this land. Elaine had not told him any of this. As far as she was concerned, the Aghlar were just a lot of ocean-going ruffians, not much better than the pirates of Meer Island. “Your aunt has told me very little about your time here.” Ehlena shook her head and leaned closer to Carlis.

“Of course she hasn't. She hates to talk about Aghlar because of what happened the last time she was here.”

“Elaine has been to Aghlar?” Carlis was astounded, and worse, he was beginning to wonder if he might be depending on the advice of his two companions for help figuring out how things worked in this land rather than the other way around. The girl smiled.

“Like I said, she hates to talk about it.” Ehlena shrugged. They rode along for a while before Carlis could resist it no longer. He had to ask.

“What happened?” Ehlena looked at him, considering whether to answer.

“I don’t know if I should tell you,” she said. Carlis gave her a pleading look and she gave in. “That’s the funny thing. Nothing happened. The story goes that during the moon festival, aunt Elaine drank too much of the Alghar strong spirits and woke up the next morning, naked in Toren’s bed.” Carlis frowned. Maybe, after all, he was not sure whether he wanted to meet this King Toren.

“That hardly seems like nothing,” Carlis could not help but make some comment. Ehlena shook her head and smiled.

“No, she was alone. Apparently she fell unconscious and the King himself lent her his bed, apparently staying elsewhere,” she explained. “I heard the story from one of Toren’s attendants who was there. They’d be the first to gossip except they thought it was funnier how aunt Elaine reacted. They told me she woke up, discovered where she was, screamed, and ran down the halls of the palace all the way to her own apartments while wearing nothing more than a bed sheet.”

Carlis laughed as he pictured Elaine running down a palace hallway, half-naked. He did not think he had ever seen the Lady Valamyr lose her renowned composure. Still, he had more questions about this scandalous story.

“I must ask first, where was the king, and also, what happened to her clothes?” he asked. Ehlena shrugged.

“Who knows where Toren was. Probably still out drinking with his men. Moon festivals often stretch into the following day. Whatever he was up to, he did not return for several days, and when he did, Aunt Elaine had already left for Maramyr, convinced her honor had been besmirched.” Ehlena laughed. “She really does not understand Aghlar society very well.”

“But how did she end up without her clothes?” Carlis persisted.

“Oh yes. I asked my mother about it and she said they had all gone swimming at one point in the evening. Aghlar’s all swim naked, you know,” she told him. Carlis raised both eyebrows at that. As much as Lady Elaine perhaps did not understand Aghlar society, he figured he understood even less.

"Your aunt must have had a whole lot to drink," Carlis told her.

"Watch out for the Aghlar strong spirits," Ehlena said. "The Aglhar people pride themselves on how strong they are, and they often measure their strength how much of the spirits they can drink. They sometimes fight too, especially after too much spirit."

Carlis was still wondering how he might fare in such a rough and improper sounding place as they approached the gate that led through the outer wall of the city. The traffic had increased as they had joined the main road and now their carriage drove slowly along in the line of wagons waiting to enter the gate.

Ahead of them, Carlis could see the back of a wagon covered in brightly colored cloth. He heard the sounds of several instruments playing from the wagon and guessed it to be some sort of group of travelling minstrels. As the musical wagon rolled up to the gate and its driver pulled it to a stop, four small figures popped their heads out of a hole in the top of the wagon. Ehlena laughed along with Carlis when they saw that the four characters were puppets. Several tough-looking guards took up positions around the wagon and the puppets looked at each other nervously.

“Name your business,” said one of the Aghlar guards, unimpressed with the display. The driver, a man with a pointy beard and a coat that was a patchwork of bright colors, stood and bowed deeply in return.

“We are entertainers good sir, minstrels, puppeteers, actors of drama high and low. We seek to entertain the goodly folk of Aghlar and further increase the joy of this beautiful city,” he proclaimed. The puppets danced as the music played with the driver’s introduction. The guard shook his head and poked his large spear against the wood of the wagon.

“Out,” he said simply.

The driver shook his head and rapped on the wagon. Four people, two men and two women, hopped out of the wagon. They were all dressed in the most outrageous costumes that Ehlena and Carlis had ever seen. One man and woman had puppets on either of their hands while the other two nervously held their instruments to their chest, the man a stringed instrument, and the woman a flute.

The Aglhar guards looked in between the flaps of the colorful wagon cover for a short time and, satisfied that there was nothing dangerous inside, they told the minstrel group that they would be permitted entry to the city. The entertainers shared a look of relief as they climbed back into their wagon. Noticing that they were also being observed by Carlis and Ehlena, the woman puppeteer waved the hand of one of her puppets at them and smiled. The guards told the driver to make for the builders' quarter, that they would have their best luck among the working folk since the palace was off-limits. The driver thanked him and, with a flick of the reins, urged the wagon through the gates and into the city.

Carlis directed the carriage forward to the gate. Again, as they had done to the wagon of entertainers, the guards surrounded the carriage, ready for any trouble. Carlis nodded politely to the man who seemed to be in charge.

“Your name and your business at Aghlar, sir?” the guard asked. Carlis smiled.

“I am Lord Carlis of Maramyr and with me is Lady Duchess Elaine Valamyr and her niece Ehlena, daughter to Elara Valamyr and Matthius Al-aran,” he told them. The guard looked at Ehlena skeptically.

“You’re a daughter of Al-aran?” he asked. Ehlena nodded and pulled up the cuff of her sleeve. Carlis was shocked to see a colored marking on the underside of her wrist. The design was very intricate and looked almost like a piece of jewelry had been drawn into her skin. The guard looked at the design for a moment and stood at attention, giving Ehlena his best salute. Carlis’ brow furrowed as Ehlena giggled at the guard.

“We are here to look over the Aghlar Ship and Trading Company,” Carlis explained. The guard looked as though he recognized the name of the business and was much more respectful now that it was clear who he and his companions were.

“Oh, you’re Captain Carlis,” the guard said with a nod and a smile of recognition. “Welcome to Aghlar, Captain.” He looked toward the carriage, where Elaine remained mostly obscured by the curtains, though he could see that she looked to be asleep. “Don’t wake the Lady Duchess on our account. Please, go right ahead. Again, welcome. Good to meet you.” The guard ushered them in. Carlis nodded and thanked them and drove the carriage through the gates into the main road of the city.

As they rode through the many smells of the Aghlar main road Carlis wrinkled his nose. If Elaine was still asleep in the carriage, she would not be for long. The harbor city was home to countless odors, from the varieties of fish for sale to the musky sweat of so many sailors newly docked from long weeks at sea. Even the sea itself gave off a kind of salty smell that Carlis imagined would not be particularly pleasing to Lady Valamyr. Ehlena gave no sign that it bothered her and directed Carlis to turn the carriage down a wide street that led toward the waterfront. At the end, they came to a wooden gate through which they could see workers busy assembling what would soon be the complete skeleton of a giant sailing ship. A sign above the gate read Aghlar Ship and Trading. Ehlena smiled and pointed to it.

“See! I thought I knew where it was,” she told Carlis. Carlis gasped at the immensity of the shipyard and saw dozens of workers just with his first glance through the wooden fence. This place was a major industry, even in the absence of its new owners. Carlis was impressed and more than a little curious. A short man with a long grey beard that covered his enormous belly opened the small gate nearby the main gate.

“Can I help ye’s with somethin’, sir and lady?” he asked, glancing at Carlis and Ehlena. “Have ye lost yer way?”

“No,” Carlis began. “I believe we are in the right place. This is the Aghlar Ship and Trading Company?” The man nodded and pointed to the obvious sign.