Kalie Rana

Our first task upon making land fall in Scuttleview was to get to our passage out of the town. A part of me hoped that we would’ve been able to spend at least a little time in the interesting town, but between our travel itinerary and Lux’s mood, I didn’t think pushing for that would be wise. My enchantment with the town also quickly began to fade as I realized that to reach our carriage, we would need to scale the veritable cliff that Scuttleview was built into. While not quite vertical, the unique terrain that they had chosen for this town presented several issues. First and foremost though, was the inability for carriages to navigate through the tight and steep switchback streets that snaked up to the top.

“The absolute buffoon who decided to settle this unnecessary town is quickly becoming my least favorite person,” Maria said as she led the way up the hill. While she led our pack at first, she quickly fell to the back, as she struggled with her wide dress she had insisted upon wearing.

“People work with what they have Maria. I wouldn’t put it past someone to think something very similar about Cerith after all,” I spoke breathily as I thanked my good sense that I was wearing pants. Although I was more than used to hiking, there was something about that day that made the sun feel just that much hotter. Despite this, upon finally mounting the steep hill, I was treated to another surprise that did more than enough to dispell the exhaustion.

Above the twisting branches and stacked buildings that I thought made up the entirety of Scuttleview, sat a true town. It was odd, suddenly being within a fortified town after thinking that the comparatively ramshackle huts I had seen were the town had become a very humbling experience. Not to mention the fact that a town like Scuttleview—one that Lux called a rat’s nest—was in actuality many times as large as the largest of the towns of Cerith. The thick foliage and the uneven terrain seemed to do little to stymie human expansion.

“Forgive me, Your highness, Lady Rana of Cerith?” An armoured and armed man approached our group as we stopped to catch our breath. All I could manage was a nod. “Your carriage awaits.”

“Couldn’t’ve met us at the bottom of that cliff eh?” Maria asked, all hints of the prim and proper woman I knew her to be having disappeared along with her breath.

“Sorry Ma’am, the paths are—”

“She’s joking,” I interjected, “thank you very much.” The guard stood still for a moment, not knowing what to do next. If this much was enough to fluster these mainlanders, I could only imagine the sort of storm that I was about to bring into their capital.

“Oh, well then, I am sorry still,” the guard finally managed. “Please, this way.” Offering a guiding hand, he led us to a gate house near to the cliffside. The sheer rocky cliffs that surrounded the lower docks and the cliffside town made for natural fortification that was butted up against the tall stonework walls that surrounded the rest of the town.

Reaching the gate, it was obvious by Lux’s normally implacable face suddenly being adorned with heavily scrunched eyebrows, that there was something wrong with the carriage that was waiting for us. It was gilded and insanely ornate.

“I guess the kingdom of Corvus doesn’t want us riding in anything but the best,” I said.

“Where’s the carriage that was sent for us?” Lux disregarded me and quickly approached the footman who had been waiting with the carriage. Looking it over, I didn’t notice anything particularly out of place with the carriage, again, other than its size and gold trimmings. It looked more like the sort of thing that one would use if they were intending to get robbed by bandits.

“I’m sorry sir, but I have been asked to bring you to Lord Marcroft’s manor.”

“The Lord’s manor? Why? We have a strict schedule to keep.”

“I’m sorry Sir, but there has been an issue with the Princess’ arrangements, the Lord has requested that he be the one to explain it all.”

“But we—”

“Of course, we…” I said, stepping into the conversation to the shock of both men. “I mean, I would be happy to meet with the Lord. It’s only the right thing to do.”

“Kalie,” Lux muttered under his breath as the guards led our group toward a waiting carriage.

“It’s fine. This is politics,” I said, half-heartedly and fully aware of the irony. “What is a meeting with the local Lord? A bit of kindness can go a long way after all.”

“A long way toward the gallows.”

“You worry too much.”

“We’ll see, I guess.”

And, with that, he turned his eyes forward, and drifted behind me, leaving me to walk alone to the carriage. It was ornate, but obviously old. The sort of thing only brought out when someone is looking to be impressed. The thing was, that it was a wholly unnecessary, and ineffectual attempt. I could practically feel the staleness in the air as I sat on the flattened cushion. The appearance of wealth, but without the coin to back it up. From that alone, I got a sure impression of the Lord of this land. And it wasn’t exactly a positive one.

Although Maria looked relieved just to be in the carriage, Lux was much less impressed. However, I was glad that he allowed himself to ride alongside us. In a way, he felt like he was another of my attendants, just like Maria. But, at the same time, I stopped myself from feeling that way. I had too many swirling feelings to allow that to reach it’s uncomfortable logical end point.

Travelling through the heart of Scuttleview, I got a much better understanding of Lux’s position on the town. Judging by the disarray that many of the homes and markets seemed to be in, my impression of the local Lord fell even further. Another less obvious aspect of the town that I noticed was the seeming lack of raw nature mana. While the harbour and the steep harbour front shacks were teeming with spirits and nature mana, the much more densely populated town above was nearly void of the stuff. Instead, like the mess deck on the Tamer, the streets and the air around them were thick with the raw mana of the people that lived there. However, unlike the mess deck, I doubted that the feeling one would get would be similar to the “cozy” impression most would get in the dimly lit mess deck, here, I’d wager it would feel significantly more suffocating.

After a while, I needed to close my eyes. I couldn’t bear the ragged and beleaguered look of the throngs of people as we passed by. The amount of dirty looks and obvious ill will thrown toward the carriage quickly became too much for me. Eventually, after passing through the wrought iron gate of another walled area, I was treated to an entirely new scene. Mansions and elegant looking homes lined the streets; it was obvious this was some sort of noble’s quarter where the rich lived and the poor got whipped for looking at too long. The buildings here were clean, and immaculately masoned. It was like the stones that made up the cobblestone street were even laid straighter. The air here was once again blessed by nature spirits, and I once again felt at least slightly more at ease.

Lux however seemed to sink even further into his sour mood. At first, I thought that his negative emotions were tied to the glut of people in the town, but it was obvious that his dislike was much deeper than that.

Finally, after entering another gated area, I finally felt like I could truly breathe. Greenery on both sides of the road made it seem like we had left the town entirely, but through the foliage I could still just barely make out the large fanciful homes still surrounding us, albeit at a distance. This wasn’t the way out of the town no, rather, it was the large property of the Lord of the town. And, as the carriage pulled to a rest in front of the largest and most gaudy of all the buildings I had seen that day, I knew we were at the Lord’s mansion.

I was the first to leave the carriage, followed closely by Lux, then by Maria. While Lux was a self described “low-noble” he was the representative of the White-Raven, and the kingdom of Corvus. That, alongside his place as my chauffeur and pseudo-attendant, he deserved respect from the guard and Lord alike.

And if he didn’t receive it, I would be sure to rectify that quickly.

Waiting atop the stairs leading to the front doors, was a thin, well kept man in a suit that closely resembled Lux and the Admiral’s uniforms. However, rather than the severe crimson of the admiral's, the man’s suit was a stark white. From the deferential gazes of the servants standing at attention, I knew immediately who I was about to deal with.

“Her Royal highness, Princess of the Kingdom of the Shattered Isles of Cerith.” I was surprised by the booming voice of the guard who had brought us here.

“Your royal highness, I welcome you to Marcroft Manor,” the Lord said as descended the steps, arms open wide. A calculated maneuver to gain my favor, but not one that I would fall for easily. “I am the humble custodian of this fine town and the land around it. I am Baron Archibald Marcroft, and please allow me to be the first to welcome you and your retainers to the mainland.”

“Thank you Lord Marcroft for your wonderful welcome.” Again, I remembered to curtsey, despite how odd it felt.

“Of course!” Lord Marcroft said, closing what was left of the distance between us and scooping up my hand into his. “Thank you again for joining me here. I have taken the liberty to have a feast prepared.” Without waiting for my response, he began to lead me toward the entrance.

“Sir, wait,” I said, retrieving my hand from him, “I appreciate your kindness so far, but we really must be off. I am expected in the Corvus kingdom as soon as possible.” Lord Marcroft maintained his smile of stone before cracks finally began to show.

“I’m quite… quite at a loss of how to say this.”

“What is it Lord Marcroft?” I asked, pressing him.

“Well, it is quite embarrassing, but your carriage is currently… unavailable.”

“Unavailable? What do you mean?” Like a switch flipped inside of him, Lux’s questions turned to anger. “Don’t tell me that they’ve been taken by someone else? That carriage was specifically provided by the kingdom of Corvus to—”

“My good man! This is no place to quibble about details here and there,” Lord Marcroft said, clasping a firm hand on Lux’s shoulders. “It’s nothing so sinister! In fact, it’s nothing more than an indictment of the sorry state the protectorate’s roads have been in ever since last season’s severe storms. I’m sure you can understand?”

“Because of the storms?” Chewing on his lip, Lux looked like he wanted to say something more, but I stopped him. What he had said already was probably more than enough to get him in trouble if Lord Marcroft wanted it.

“So it’s broken,” I confirmed.

“Under repairs. I’ve got my best craftsmen on it as we speak. Come morning, the your highness and the rest of your people shall be well on your way,” Marcroft said addressing Lux, “but for now, as I was saying, Princess,” Marcroft turned to face me again and his smile was as wide a pig’s slit throat, “I would be honored if you were to join me for a meal.”

There was no other option here, I knew. Whether or not Lord Marcroft was being honest with me—and I didn’t think he was—if I were to spurn his offer now, there was very little I’d be able to do short of pulling out my magic.

“Of course, please, lead the way.”