Forlaith: The Capital

February 4

Today was a big day. Our travels are finally over, or at least I hope they are. Alek, the ship's first mate and son of the captain, hinted that we may be setting sail again, though where else we could go, I haven't the faintest idea. The oddest part of it all is that we seem to be missing a crew member, not that I'm complaining. He was a large, frightening man. I couldn’t' muster up enough courage to ask anyone about it.
Upon reaching the wide Bathum Bay the crew began sending our trunks over on small boats that could go handle the shallower waters of the harbor. Evidently the Osim's Revenge is one of four ships too large to enter the harbor proper. Special moorage has been built for them within the protective and naturally forming breakwaters of the bay.
Ardythe journeyed into the harbor with Marcys and Haddock on the first boat, leaving Alek in charge of the disembarking process. It was a slow process. Between all of us “royals” packed into the ship we had a fair number of trunks and packages to be transported to the shore.
Finally, when the sun was nearing the horizon again the last package was delivered and us lowly passengers were called to the deck. Let me be the first to say there is nothing scarier than climbing down a rope ladder onto a tiny boat tied to the side of a giant ship. Though the men had no difficulty accomplishing the task, us women, garbed in long, warm dresses found it very difficult. Poor Rownet slipped near the bottom and positively fell into Sadon's lap. Leofrick teased her the whole way across the harbor.
“Are you this graceful?” he asked after a number of other rude remarks.
“Silence,” I commanded, thoroughly tired of his attempts at humor. No one was laughing, but he seemed oblivious to the sour looks being sent his way. Granted, I think the ores men were having trouble keeping their snickers to themselves. My command was as much for them as for my new brother. “For once attempt to act the gentleman!” I added as my glance slid to Kaplan who should have been the one to silence the younger man. Evidently he read the rebuke in my gaze because a soft blush heated his cheeks. Still, he didn't say anything.
A few minutes later we all arrived at the docks and climb onto the swaying pier. I hurriedly escorted Rownet to solid ground and stabled her as her body tried to continue the motion of the sea. I was accustomed to the sensation, but I knew Rownet had never sailed until this trip. The difficulty of switching from sea to land was still difficult for her.
Marcys met us at the end of the dock with an array of horses. I spotted the last wagon, piled high with our belongings, leaving the busy street. We were surrounded by a few discrete guards who kept an eye on the surging crowd of sailers, merchants and errand boys who hurried along on their own business, completely uninterested in the city's new arrivals.
“Pull the hoods of your cloaks up,” ordered Marcys. “This is not your grand entrance. That will come later.”
We obeyed and were each given a horse. Kaplan assisted me into my saddle while Leofrick helped Rownet—in an effort to make up for his past mistakes, perhaps.
Thankfully they gave me a calm, old mare. I am ashamed to say I am not much of a horsewoman. But I quickly lost interest in the horse as our procession left the lower levels of the city and began the slow climb to the castle.
Bathum is an enormous city; the largest I've ever seen. It begins right up against the wide harbor, some structures built on foundations that are beat by the gentle waves, their high windows looking out over the gray-green water. From their, the many roads twist and intersect with know clear design. Each street we entered was more packed with people, horses and wagons than the last. A few passing people glanced our way with curious expressions, but for the most part we disappeared into the crowd.
Within a few short minutes I was completely lost and overwhelmed. I felt relieved to have guards surrounding us and keeping us from falling behind.
Most of the buildings were at least two stories tall, with shops on the bottom and what appeared to be family dwellings on top. The setting sun was lost behind the continuous obstruction of buildings. As we climbed higher in the city the shops grew less frequent and the houses larger. Eventually the houses were lost entirely behind tall walls and elaborate gardens, but this was just the last street or two.
Finally, we reached a swath of land left completely bare of man made structures. Grass barely even grew here. The single road cut across the circular hillock like a scar. Evidently Kaplan saw my curious gaze.
“It is in case of battle,” he explained. If there were buildings right up against the walls, enemies could scale them, or use them as cover. Now the guards can see anyone who approaches the castle.”
“Are all castles like this?”
“Not many need this precaution. There are not many cities as large as Bathum.”
I remained silent, imaging enemy soldiers trying to attack the colossal walls quickly blotting out the sky as we approached the gatehouse, the menacing teeth of the portcullis causing a shiver to run down my spine.
As we passed through the wide tunnel of the gatehouse I realized the base of the walls were many meters thick. The last guard reached the other side of the wall and the portcullis began its slow descent to the ground, making groaning noises on it's way down. It clanked ominously as the teeth settled into deep holes lined with iron.
I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat. We were trapped; even if Ardythe hadn't threatened our families, we could never escape this fortress.
The king met us at the steps of the keep while servants ran up and took our horses heads. We were led into the keep separated on the second level. Marcys took the men down one hall and Ardythe led Rownet and myself to our rooms, right next to each other.
“I will leave you to rest. Servants will come to help you dress for dinner,” he said by way of parting and left us at our own doorways.
We stared at each other, both afraid to enter the rooms assigned us. Until now, we had shared a small cabin on the ship and therefore had never had a moment alone. As much as I missed the idea of privacy, I now loathed the idea of loosing her company. Before we could muster up the necessary courage, we heard a high pitch voice singing in the room beyond my own. Without thinking we both marched up to the door and knocked.
A beautiful young lady answered. She was slim, with a delicate face and wavy brown hair—similar in shade to both Rownet and myself. Her elegant lips quirked up into a smile.
“You must be Rownet and Forlaith,” she said briskly before ushering us into her room. “Ardythe said you'd be arriving soon! I'm Jocosa! Isn't this just exciting!”
“Did... did he take you from your family too?” I asked, stuttering over the words.
“Oh I came quite willingly!”
“Willingly?” Rownet and I repeated, shock marring our features.
“Of course! He's saved, no question about it!” She giggled. She actually giggled.
I had spent the last three weeks crying myself to sleep and this woman was actually giggling.
“You see,” she continued in a whisper. “I was in... a bad way, if you know what I mean.”
I looked at Rownet, completely confused, but the older woman seemed to understand. Her eyes had narrowed as she stared at Jocosa.
“But now Ardythe will find me a husband! How can you not be excited?”
I didn't know how to respond to my newest sister and began to wonder if she might be crazy.
Forlaith