The Traveler's Stone by Corrine Aarsen

Author:Corrine Aarsen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Indie Author Project

Part III

REVELATION

Chapter Fifteen

A little more than four weeks after arriving in the Lands of Vendome and one day behind schedule according to Fredryk, we approached West Scapah much like we had Ballindale, from a bluff high above the city.

As we crested this final rise, we nudged our horses to the side of the road so I could have a clear view of the sprawling city that blanketed both sides of the sparkling River Atha. Multiple bridges of varying designs and widths arched handsomely over the glittering waterway that wound lazily through the town and that seemed, even to me, overly congested with barges and boats. The oldest area of the city was located on a rise of land above the west bank. Inside the high, fortress-worthy stone wall was the sprawling Royal Residence that covered acres of land. A less formidable wall encircled most of the sprawling outer city. From the number of buildings tucked against its outer flanks, it was clear the metropolis had spilled over its edges decades ago. Tall buildings and spires shot up above the homes and shops, and domes of copper and gold gleamed in the sun. In celebration of the coronation anniversary, orange pennants—the colors of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess’s family—decorated many of the spires, bridges, and gateways.

A steady stream of visitors, merchants, and artisans flooded into the city to take in the festivities, including the final event—the Coronation Parade—that was scheduled for the following afternoon. Horses and carriages, wagons and ponies, men pushing carts and adolescents pushing wheelbarrows heaped with goods to sell, all made their way along the teeming thoroughfare. In the distance, I saw sentries patrolling on foot and on horseback. Their polished armor, including their orange-plumed helmets, shone in the sun.

Reaching our final destination of West Scapah meant I would not only have to say goodbye to Lox, I would have to disappoint him by refusing to create an image of Rodmyrrah. I’d become deeply conflicted about this, wrestling with the knowledge that my refusal made civil war in these Lands pretty much inevitable. Not only would thousands of people be killed in the ensuing battles, one of those battles could very well claim Lox’s life. Even if I never saw him again, I desperately wanted him to live a long and happy life. The image of Lox being killed on a battlefield within weeks of my departure haunted me.

As I stared down at the city I was both eager and dreading to enter, my thoughts drifted to Kimberly and the reunion that now loomed on the edge of my horizon. I wondered how she and the rest of my family were dealing with my extended and unexplained absence. My remaining two brothers, who lived with their families 3000 kilometres away in Ontario, would likely not be overly concerned. We hadn’t ever been close. But Val and Marilyn—and Jim and my four rambunctious nephews—would find my absence both puzzling and worrying.

Fredryk nudged his mount forward and the three of us silently rejoined the flow of travelers moving down the gentle slope towards the city.

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