From Darkness Won - Jill Williamson [165]
“Aye. Lead on, Cortland.”
Achan, Shung, and Manu followed Cortland through the village and up another rocky trail. The smell of pine was thick here. Darkness might now cover this land, but it had not yet sucked out all its life.
Achan’s backside was sore from riding. He longed for days spent in a home with a kitchen and chairs. Would Armonguard truly become that home? Or would Esek ruin it before giving it up?
After several hours, Cortland eventually stopped on rocky ground. “We have arrived, Your Highness. You may dismount.”
Achan slid off Dove’s back. His boots smacked against cobblestone, and the balls of his feet smarted.
Cole appeared out of the fog, took Dove’s reins, and tugged the animal away, new sword swinging at his side.
Achan called after his squire, “Thank you, Cole.”
Cole turned and bowed. “You’re welcome, Your Highness.”
Achan looked around, but could still see nothing but golden fog lit from invisible torches. He followed Cortland into the unknown.
“Watch your step, Your Highness,” Cortland said. “We’re going up.”
Achan slowed until he saw a wide set of stairs carved into rock. He moved slowly, one arm outstretched before him, hoping he would not collide with anyone or anything.
Achan’s thighs ached from the climb. On and on they went. Just when he began hoping Cortland would suggest a brief rest, the rocky ground flattened and an entrance materialized out of the fog.
Two brick red doors were propped open. The walls around them were white, trimmed in wood painted red to match the doors. Achan passed inside, and the fog vanished.
He stood in a long corridor at the foot of yet another staircase. This one was grand, however. A red carpet tucked along the center of a wide staircase that stretched the length of the room. An iron banister ran along both sides of the red carpet, dividing the stairs into three rows. There must have been another thirty steps to the top. A high ceiling vaulted over the foyer, stairs, and whatever was at the top.
“The great hall is up there,” Cortland said. “Come on.”
Achan took a deep breath, squeezed his thigh muscles in a brief stretch, and started up the red carpet. Being able to see made time move faster. As soon as Achan’s line of sight rose above the top stair, he could see the great hall.
It was not so great. In size, anyway. The room was as wide as the stairs and only as deep as two tables and the benches around them. To the far left, a short head table on a dais ran the opposite direction. On the far right, a narrow stairs ran up the wall and passed through a dark archway. Halfway up the stairs, a man and woman were tangled in an embrace, kissing as if it were the only way to breathe.
Achan’s gaze stopped on the couple and he grinned. Sir Caleb, is it proper to kiss a woman in such a way in public? What will people think?
Whatever pleases them. I’ve not seen my wife in over a year. Go bother someone else, Your Highness.
Achan laughed and pointed out Sir Caleb to Shung, who raised a dark eyebrow.
Inko stood in a cluster of people at the foot of the stairs. He squatted and lifted a small girl into his arms. She kissed his cheek. “Your Highness!” Inko waved them over. “Be coming and meeting my family!”
Achan and Shung made their way to the stairs. Inko introduced them to his son, Bodwin, a tall Barthian man with a shaved head and a cropped grey beard. Bodwin’s wife, Zoral, was a plump woman wearing a blue dress with a wimple that bared only her grey-skinned face. A skinny boy stood beside her, his curly grey hair sitting like a cloud on his head. The girl in Inko’s arms had grey hair too, only hers was braided along her head in dozens of tiny braids.
Sir Caleb and his wife made their way downstairs, hand in hand. Esper looked younger than Sir Caleb by at least ten years. She had grey skin as well, but her hair was black and hung down her back in a long, silky drape.
“Esper, this is Prince Gidon Hadar, also known as Prince