Whitewall, Capital of the Kingdom

Chapter XVIII

Whitewall, Capital of the Kingdom

They set out for the capital at daybreak. Galakei’s carriage was luxurious, even in comparison to the domain’s lord. Inside, it had two benches facing each other, allowing four people to sit comfortably on each. On one of the benches sat Galakei with Elpinia, while on the other, Enji was seated in the middle, flanked by Silma and Skia. Lia and Maka were up front serving as coachmen.

Enji had just found out they were stopping in Eithea’s farm, where they would join them on their trip to the capital in another carriage.

Late that day, they arrived at the farm. The trip took longer than going by horse, as it followed a different route suitable for carriages.

Even with padded seats and several stops along the journey, carriage travel was not as comfortable as romanticized in novels or movies. As a result, Enji wasn’t sure which method he preferred between horseback and carriage. At least the inside of the carriage was isolated from the elements and road dust.

When they arrived, Enji was the last to step out of the carriage. Kasus, who had opened the door, received them along with Eithea. Enji had not taken two steps out when a big red dog, who happened to be Popa and not a dog, jumped him, tackling him to the ground.

“Enji Lo! Enji Lo!” She kept repeating, nuzzling her face into his and waving her tail so violently that she might cause a cyclone to form.

Nilsei, Sol, and Pol helped him to his feet with Popa still attached to his neck.

“Welcome home, my lord,” Nilsei said with a smile, but then, pouting, added. “We are angry at you, my lord. Why would you add another potential wife when you had two maidens waiting for you back home?” She looked at Skia, frowning.

“What?” Who snitched? Enji glanced at the twins, who were smiling mischievously. Guys, don’t throw gasoline on the fire!

“Everyone, let’s get inside,” Eithea commanded. She gave Enji an expressionless look.

He put his hand up. I’m innocent!

***

They set out early the next day. No one could persuade any of the girls to relinquish their right to travel together with Enji. So, Enji was now squished between four girls, all vying for his attention. He avoided looking at the mage sitting across from him, who, by her glare, seemed not to be pleased at the spectacle. Elpinia, by her side, was more interested in the scenery outside.

By midday, they encountered the first attack, which, according to everyone, was a regular occurrence when traveling. The attack came from two orcs who never had a chance to get near the carriage, as Pol’s arrows took them down.

By evening, they had reached the trip’s first leg destination, an inn. Inns were located at a certain distance from each other along major travel roads for travelers to rest, so overnight camping in the open was reserved for isolated or remote areas of the kingdom.

The food was not bad, a little insipid by Enji’s taste, but otherwise filling. After exchanging stories and anecdotes over drinks, they retired to their rooms. Enji shared a room with Sol and Pol, who, as soon as they placed their heads on the pillows, fell asleep.

For Enji, sleep took longer to catch up with him.

Someone shook him. He rose, confused, thinking they were being attacked in the middle of the night, to realize that it was Sol announcing it was daybreak, and soon they would depart on the last leg of the trip.

The journey progressed without incident until halfway through, when the carriages suddenly stopped, and Eithea called for them to get out.

Skia and Nilsei were the first to jump out, swords drawn, followed by Popa, who had been dozing and reacted more slowly.

Enji and Galakei descended from the carriage and looked to where Eithea was pointing.

“This is odd...” Eithea muttered. “They seem to be fleeing.” A group of orcs, consisting of a male, three females, and several of their offspring, hurried some distance away parallel to the road.

“There are goblins too,” Sol pointed to another group further away.

This was the first time Enji saw the little green men with long ears and crooked noses, which the translator rendered as goblins.

“Something must have spooked them out of the labyrinth,” Galakei stated.

Is there some guy in armor slaying goblins? Enji watched the strange procession. They seem intelligent. Like the orcs before, the goblins wore loincloths and carried crude but effective weapons, and marched in a formation that protected the young and the weak in the center of the group. “Can goblins or orcs communicate with us?”

“Who would like to communicate with monsters?” Eithea, frowning, snapped at him.

Huh? Touchy subject. “Right.”

After the monsters, who chose to ignore them, had disappeared from their sight, the trip was resumed.

The sun was low on the horizon when they reached Whitewall.

The kingdom’s capital was not how Enji had imagined it. Instead of a medieval-looking castle on a hill with the city lying in a valley below it, and a massive wall encircling everything, Whitewall was situated on a mesa rising over a fertile valley by hundreds of meters. The name of the kingdom, Whitewall, didn’t come from its surrounding wall at the top of the plateau; it was named for the vertical cliffs’ walls of the mesa, composed of white limestone.

As they got nearer, Enji wondered how they could get inside. The answer came some time later. After traversing the valley, the road bent to one side of the cliffs. Where a long ramp facilitated access to the city, it was wide enough for carriages to travel back and forth, each on its own lane. At certain intervals, the ramp was broken, and drawbridges spanned the gaps. Enji figured it offered protection against invasions of humans and monsters alike.

“Lady Galakei, are there flying monsters?”

The mage looked out of the window at the approaching cliff’s walls and replied, “Yes, and they sometimes are a nuisance.”

Enji imagined dragons and griffins flying through the sky and attacking towns and settlements.

The two horses had no problem pulling the carriage up the incline. They crossed two checkpoints. At each, the guards let them through without much fuss, probably because House Galakei’s crest adorned the leading carriage.

After the last checkpoint, they were within the city proper. A broad avenue stretched from the gate they had just crossed to the entrance of an inner wall further up, from which a castle-like structure protruded from a small hill.

None of the buildings on the main avenue exceeded three stories. There were taller buildings, but they were further away to the left and right of the avenue. Perhaps it was to avoid blocking the view of the castle.

“What’s beyond the second wall?” Enji had his head sticking out of the window. Silma, Popa, Nilsei, and Skia were doing the same in the rest of the windows. It was understandable; they had never visited the capital before. Only Elpinia remained stoic next to the mage like a proper lady.

“The fortress on the central hill houses the royal palace. Radiating from it are the Royal Guards quarters and armories, government buildings, and various guilds,” Galakei replied.

“Do the nobles live there?” Enji sat back on the bench. The girls remained gawking at what was all new to them.

“No. Their residences are located outside, closer to the entrance of the palatial walls. The Royals don’t want them near.”

I guess they fear treason and assassination. The carriage shook. “Oh. We are stopping.”

“We have arrived at our inn. Listen, everyone, don’t wander from our group. You’ll never know where danger might lurk,” Galakei warned.

The girls acknowledged, some with nods, others with words.

The inn lay in a street perpendicular to the main avenue about a block in. The carriages had stopped at the main entrance, where the inn staff stood in a line ready to receive them. Enji noticed that some of the maids and bellhops, whom he chose to call them that, seemed nervous, casting furtive glances between the inn’s door and the carriage. Soon, an elegantly dressed man hurried out of the building and stood in front of Galakei’s carriage.

A hooded person opened the carriage’s door; Enji realized it was Maka. Lia, dressed likewise, set a step stool on the ground below the door.

Galakei was the first to descend, followed by Elpinia. The four girls exited next, leaving Enji for last. Eithea, Pol, and Sol joined them from the other carriage. Kasus remained with their carriage.

The inn’s staff and the elegant man bowed at them. “It’s an honor to receive once more the most distinguished High Mage Deadleaves at our establishment,” the man said, bowing to Galakei. “Please, come inside.”

So, Galakei is indeed famous.

“Thank you, Larston.” The man’s face lit up with a smile, likely because he was pleased that the mage had remembered his name.

Enji studied the facade of the inn, which reminded him of buildings from the German Culture Village in Ueno. The building had three floors and occupied the entire block. The double doors led to a vast reception hall, brightly illuminated.

As the solicitous inn’s manager, Larston, discussed with Galakei and Eithea their accommodations, the rest of the travelers took seats in the various sofas of the inn’s lobby.

“It’s bigger than the Mage’s mansion,” Silma whispered.

“When we return, I want to stay with Enji too,” Popa complained.

“I too! My Lord misses my cooking!” Nilsei butted in.

“The worm likes my cooking better, so you are not welcome.”

I hope they don’t fight here. During the girls’ verbal exchange, Enji noticed a hooded person approach and give Galakei something that seemed like a letter, and then the person immediately exited the inn.

“Hmm... something is afoot.”

Enji turned to Elpinia. “What do you mean?”

“I hope Lady Mage doesn’t get involved with any of the nobles’ machinations.”

Court intrigue? A marriage proposal? She’s a woman after all. Nah! Unless they want the mage’s prestige. Enji looked back to where Galakei was. She was talking again with the manager. They finished, and Galakei headed their way, followed by Eithea.

“Our rooms are ready,” Galakei informed. “Freshen up, I have requested reservations at a nearby tavern. You all will go with Eithea.”

“Lady Mage, what about you?” Elpinia asked.

“I’ll get there at a later time. I have to do something first.”

“Do you need us to guard you?” Maka inquired. Lia stood by her side.

“No. I’ll be well protected.” She opened her arms wide. “Besides, who would be stupid enough to attack the magnificent Galakei [Kilai] Dead—”

“Come on, Gala, give it a rest,” Eithea chided her. “All of you kids, up to your rooms!”

Enji looked back at the mage as they all followed Eithea to their accommodations. Galaei was smiling.

***

Galakei approached a small shop that was almost lost among the narrow streets. Its front had a worn sign over the door depicting a flame inside a circle. It was a shop that dealt with magical lamps and torches.

She entered the store, where the stagnant smell of mildew and the presence of an old lady behind the counter welcomed her. “What type of lamp are you in need of?” the woman inquired.

“One that will show me the way when I’m lost.”

“This way, please.” The old woman drew aside the curtains leading to the back of the store. “The second door to the right.”

Galakei reached the door and knocked—a soft voice from within invited her to come in.

The room was small, and it only contained a table with two opposing chairs. Sitting in one was a woman, who, when she saw the mage come in, pushed back her hood. Two rabbit ears stood erect on a head of bright pink hair. Galakei sat across from her.

“May the goddess, Sil, and God Lon impart you the blessing of long life, Lady Deadleaves.” Aslei bowed her head.

“May the grass of the prairies always shine blue, Lady Whitemane.” Galakei nodded in acknowledgment. “Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, what is going on, Aslei?”

“I beg your forgiveness for summoning you so suddenly to a place like this.”

“Don’t give too much importance. I’m sure your reasons are of paramount urgency.”

“In a way, yes. We will challenge the lordship!” Aslei leaned forward. Her aqua eyes reflected the light of the lamp on the wall.

Is she desperate? “Did you find certainty?”

“Your disciple gave me a solution.”

“Do you mean Enji?” Galakei’s eyes grew wide.

“Yes. Lord Enji mentioned a device from his land that was able to see inside people.” She rubbed her belly with affection. “Our mages were able to make something that worked the same.”

“So you are having a boy.” Galakei smiled.

“Boys! Twins.”

Aslei had gone to Galakei’s mansion with the excuse of not feeling well, but what she really wanted was to know the sex of her unborn child. Galakei had heard her story. The Bluegrassland where her people lived was outside of the North Eastern Canton domain. They were a peaceful tribe who had no warriors, but when monsters began appearing in unusual quantities, they sought the help of the domain lord. Promising help, Lord Mitage convinced the tribe chief to give her daughter to him as a wife. What Aslei’s mother was not aware of then was that if Aslei had a daughter, the lord could claim, as her father and guardian, the chieftainship of Bluegrassland. And Aslei’s race was known to almost always give birth to girls.

“I’ll be ready to assist you when you need me,” Galakei assured her.

“Thank you, Gala.” Aslei wiped the tears on her cheeks. “Also...”

Galakei furrowed her brow. “Also?”

“Our spies heard some rumor. It seems that the lord’s son will not play fair at the duel. I don’t know the particulars, so tell your people to be aware, House Deepford is not to be trusted.”

“I was expecting something from them anyway. We will take our precautions. Aslei, I take my leave now. Farewell until we meet again.”

“Farewell, my friend.”

***

Eithea led the group like a school teacher, guiding her students on a class trip, which somehow came naturally to her. The girls had been on their best behavior ever since Eithea reprimanded them for quarreling among themselves. Elpinia walked in the middle, escorted by Lia and Maka. As for Enji, he, along with the twins, brought up the rear.

They took the main avenue to reach the tavern where they would have their meal. The avenue was densely populated. This was the time when people dined and went for drinks.

Eithea, in the same manner as the vampire girls, wore hoods that hid their features. Enji couldn’t fathom why they hid, not knowing the customs of the kingdom. The city was full of every imaginable race; silver-haired fox individuals like Eithea were not uncommon, and some pale-faced people who could pass as vampires were also present.

They reached the tavern, situated in the more affluent part of the city, close to the nobles’ district. On the outside, it looked ordinary, with the same German-like architecture as the inn. The inside was another thing. Enji had expected to see wooden tables with benches full of rowdy adventurers drinking ales and merrily boasting about their prowess and finds in the labyrinth. Instead, it felt more like those Japanese restaurants where a group of people from a company rents a private room for their parties. The walls were finely decorated with art pieces and paintings, and the floor was covered in rugs. So it was for refined eating.

They were led to a room that had a large table with seating for fourteen people. Soon after they all had sat, Galakei arrived, accompanied by Kasus.

“Where is the ale?” Galakei bellowed. “Let us drink and be merry!”

“I bet this time I’ll outdrink you!” Eithea slammed on the table.

So much for refined manners. Enji sighed.