Chapter 24:
Tales from Zemliharos: Night of The Striga
The fortress walls of Ragusiic glimmered as the morning sun reflected the watery depths of the coastline, towering over the cliffsides and down to the bay, even as the band of four approached the entrance from several hundred feet away. While Peter was awestruck by the medieval charm and scale of Zemliharos when he first arrived in this world, he admitted that his newfound city was simply dwarfed by the Duchy’s capital. The forest line broke within a half days’ worth of walking and gave way to the rolling hillside that beckoned him to this oasis. After all of the aimless walking, and scraping together stale bread and meat for camp side meals, nothing sounded better to Peter than a nice warm pretzel and a pint of mead in the comfort of one of their taverns. Though he knew there’d be no time to rest until he finally met with the king himself and beckoned an army to retake the city and free his people.
The city walls grew and grew as they approached the fortress, until Peter struggled to see the top of it. The city gates were closed, and several infantry men stood watch with halberds in hand and several archers perched from above. Peter could hear the faintest hints of twine tightening as they approached the two guards. Both of them had the majority of their face covered in helmets and chainmail, though Peter could still see their hardened eyes focusing their attention on Tinnie and Lyana with increasing suspicion.
“State your business.”
“I am Lord Petar Zrinski, Vojvoda of Zemliharos & Preveyor of Silver, I wish to request an audience with the king on urgent matters.”
The guards looked at each other in confusion. Jakov whispered to Peter, “I believe the word you want is Kraji, Your Grace. Kraji Ratimir.”
“Excuse me, our journey has been long and dire. We seek an audience with Kraji Ratimir.”
The guards looked at each other again, before breaking into laughter. “If you’re a Vojvoda, then I’m the bloody Kraji myself.”
The other guard pointed to Lyana and Tinnie, “Your Grace, quite the caravan you brought with ya, didn’t know nobility in Zemlihaors consulted with imps and wenches. Perhaps I’ll have to make a visit myself.”
“And I’ve heard incest is common in Ragusiic, take it you two are sired from it?”
Peter tried to keep his face from turning red while the guards tightened their grip on their halbards. After all of the sacrifices, all that they fought through to reach here, the band of misfits seemed just as likely to become heads overlooking the city walls than enter in one piece.
Tinnie couldn’t contain his chuckle and stepped forward. “It appears we’ve started on the wrong foot. Forgive our mild-mannered companions, as we’ve said our journey has been dire and our reason for visiting even more so. There’s no time to mince words, we bear urgent news. Zemliharos has been infested by Striga, and they fully intend to overtake Ragusiic next.”
The guards grew silent upon hearing the word striga leave Tinnie’s mouth. Time seemed to freeze as Peter stared towards the guards with the utmost conviction. They looked to themselves again, then back at the band of misfits. “You’ll get an audience with the High Priest to validate your claims. If your story is not collaborated, or anyone in your party tries anything unsavory within the city walls, you will be executed on sight.”
Peter nodded, “You have our words.”
The guards stepped aside with one of them marching backwards to stand behind Lyana and Tinnie. They then turned around and saluted to the gate. Metal creaked and heaved as it opened for the six of them and their horse. The head guard marched forward as the gate cleared, leading the 4 of them deeper into the capital itself.
Peter found the interior of the city to be just as striking as the exterior. Long and wide cobblestoned streets graced the city entrance, where caped and robed vendors and merchants shouted to any passersby and amongst themselves. Some speaking languages that Peter had no hope of understanding. The more pedestrian vendors had essentials like vegetables, livestock, though many had silks, velvet, woolens and brocade in saturated navies, sages, oranges and burgundy prominently on display, along with gemstones and trinkets from far away lands, all shouting over each other in an attempt to capture the most amount of ears and eyeballs. The ports bustled with dockhands, crew and captains, all heaving crates to and from their warehouses opposite of the port, with as many cloaked figures looking to draw as little attention as possible while navigating through the chaos. They walked past a long bridge, linking the bay to the rest of the city, where beggars and the destitute encamped themselves below, where the waves of the ocean threatened to wash away anything, or anyone, who came too close to the tides. Blacksmiths, armorers and what Peter figured to be an occasional brothel or two followed past the ports, with pubs, inns and taverns happy to take silver from whoever entered their walls.
Ignoring the labyrinth of alleyways, the guards led the four of them through the main artery, closer into the city center. A prominent tower, with several guards adorned in much more ornamental armour, stood watch, not acknowledging anyone who approached. Peter figured them to be for the Kraji himself. The guards led them to the right, which brought them to the Cathedral. The building contained several archways and pillars, with a broad and imposing dome centered at the top of it. Several figures were carved into the walls, depicting priests, noblemen and beasts, all vanquishing the monstrosities depicted on them. With a firm push, the guard opened the cathedral door and beckoned them inside. Tinnie quivered as he steps through into the building, but complied.
Inside, several archways adorned and framed the eyes towards the center of the building, where light shines through the center of the dome and towards the altar at the center of it. A high priest, donned in gold and white robes recited something to himself, the faint mutterings echoing through the church, but Peter can’t make out what they mean. He stood up as the guards approached.
“No need for the introductions, I know who you are. Welcome Krsnik.”
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