As the party rode along the main throughway to the castle people bustled and tumbled all over the place. Many of them were offering to trade or sell their wares while others were describing tales and stories of magnificence. Off to one side of the road, a group of minstrels were singing a harmonized version of The Ballade of the Knights of Southmoor. Sir Terius and Raviron smiled broadly as they rode past, both tossing a gold crown into the proffered hat.
Hal was rubbernecking fiercely, trying to see every way at once and was failing miserably. Nichos was up on his shoulders once again and babbling incessantly. Renora hung onto his arm and gaped about in wonder.
Garn was mellow about the whole experience, merely peering about the city and nodding with approval, as if the whole system would have stopped if he'd frowned. Knowing the mage's opinion of himself, Tasha had no doubt that he believed that they truly would have.
Ceorn was very blissful about the whole deal. He'd been to Southmoor on several occasions in the past and had spoken highly of the experiences. With his home in the Clanlands, he'd had the opportunity to head to the city on what he called, 'business trips'. He was to admit however that this was his first trip to the castle proper.
After mentally checking on the bard Tasha was relieved to note that the drunkard had passed out blissfully in the wagon and that Shiann was going to great pains to make him comfortable.
Of course there was no change with Lanarra.
Absently Tasha noticed that the roads were remarkably clean and well kept, all of the snow and slush had been pushed to the sides of the street so as to cause fewer difficulties for travelers. That's not to say that the cobblestones were risk free, there were still patches of ice spaced out periodically but at least they were easier to see.
Patrolling their respective beats were members of the city watch. They were easy to distinguish from the rest of the crowd by their black and white tunics. Also the breastplates and truncheons that they sported were good clues as well.
Ahead loomed the imposing castle. As they neared ever closer Tasha felt increasingly uneasy. It was a difficult sensation to explain. There were no outward, visible signs that there was anything for them to be wary of, just the contrary in fact. The gates were wide open with messengers and a complete greeting crew waiting on hand to process their entrance into the castle with greater ease.
So what’s wrong?
Tasha couldn't explain it any better than as a feeling.
It didn't seem to be an attachment to her mental abilities, mainly because she wasn't even using them at the moment. And even if it were, Tasha wasn't able to determine any sort of tangible threat from the feeling at all.
Tasha tried to shove the sensation to the back of her mind, something to be worried about later. Doing so however gave her stomach a queasy feeling. She ignored that as well.
The last couple of minutes until they reached the castle were almost magical in a way. The slowly setting sun gleamed off the alabaster walls and spires of the fortress but seemed not to hurt their eyes in anyway. All that it did was make the castle appear to be some sort of ethereal, mythical palace where anything was possible and whatever was capable of happening could and would at one point or another.
The drawbridge across the moat was built out of the richest highoak wood that Tasha had ever seen. It had been stained to a dark brown and was as sturdy as stone. The sound of the horses hooves clomping across it were thick and stable, giving lie to the fact that there was a twenty foot drop to the moat below.
Past the main gates and directly inside the battlements of the castle were three figures. Two knights garbed in their full ceremonial armor (at least Tasha hoped that it was ceremonial, there were pieces of armor in places where the human body needed to bend!) sat atop their immense horses with lances pointing directly into the air. A third man stood directly in front of the knights. He seemed to be in his middle fifties or so, with a slate grey beard and a weathered wrinkling face. He was dressed in silvery robes that flowed about his slender frame and settled at his feet. In his arms he carried a voluminous book and a quill. Lastly he wore a fluffy cap that rested on the top of his head like a pillow.
Sir Terius broke from the rest of the party and rode his steed ahead until he was within fifteen feet of the silvery robed man. Sir Raviron halted the caravan and waited patiently. Nicalla started to ask the head knight a question but he soothed her to silence with a gentle motion.
The mounted knight on the right spoke up through his visor. "State your name and reason for entering!" he challenged.
Terius straightened up in his saddle. "I am Sir Terius, Knight of the Power and First Knight of Southmoor. I and the party that I lead are entering the illustrious Castle to seek respite and relaxation after our harrowing journey."
The knight on the left spoke up. "I greet you Sir Terius and remind you that your guests are your responsibility during their stay here in the castle."
Terius nodded. "Of course. I accept the responsibility knowingly and with pleasure."
Then the small robed man walked forward and smiled. "Welcome home Terius. How was your trip?"
"Excellent Havar," Terius smiled back. "Have things been all right back here on the homestead?"
Havar shrugged. "Same as always." He looked at the rest of the caravan and smiled. "Welcome to Southmoor Castle. Come inside and allow us to get you settled in."
As they steered the wagon in through the gates a literal flood of servants came to take their steeds to the stables to get them tended to while others still took their belongings, promising not to lose them and insisting that they would be in their rooms waiting for them when they got there.
Garn saw to the needs of Lanarra as two white robed men came bearing a stretcher for her. He quickly explained her condition and the reason for the situation. The eldest man in white nodded and asked for Garn to follow them as they took the comatose woman away. Shiann followed along at the mage's request.
Tasha was surprised at the sight of Sir Krehgal as he strode over to where Terius and Havar were having a conversation. She had almost forgotten that he was still around. The pain etched across the arrogant knight's face intense and his forearm piece was still lodged against his flesh.
Without a thought, the man interrupted Terius' conversation. "My liege," he began through gritted teeth. "May I now head over to the Clerical temple to have my... injury taken care of?"
Sir Terius leveled him with a dangerously blank stare. When he spoke, his voice was like a cold blade. "You may, Krehgal. But once you have been taken care of, you will head directly to my office. At that time we will discuss an appropriate punishment for your behavior. Is that understood?"
Krehgal appeared about to say something but seemed to think better of it. With a tight-lipped expression he spun on his heel and marched away. Hal caught the knight's gaze as he departed. Needless to say, the look that Krehgal shot him was less than friendly.
Ambori, apparently a bit more sober than he had been a little while ago, hopped out of the wagon before it was taken away and didn't sway too obviously as he did so.
Sir Raviron joined Terius' conversation at the lead knight's request and took Nicalla from his arms. The little girl seemed about to object but Terius smiled down at her. "It's all right little one. I have to speak with Havar right now. But I'll come back and talk with you later. All right?" Nicalla nodded slowly but didn't say anything. Sir Terius smiled and walked away with Havar, talking quietly.
Raviron, obviously uncomfortable with the child in his arms, quickly walked over to where Tasha was standing. "Uhm .. here," he said, holding Nicalla out to Tasha.
Then Hal stepped forward and took the girl. "Don't worry Nicalla," he said soothingly as he shifted Nichos over so that he could make room for the both of them in his arms. "You aren’t all that heavy to me." Then Nicalla smiled up at the big man and leaned against his chest. Nichos giggled softly and
did the exact same thing.
Renora smiled at Hal and the two blonde-haired children in his arms. "That is just about the most adorable thing that I've ever seen." she gushed.
Hal blushed slightly and looked at Raviron. "Is there any place that I can put these two? They've had a rough couple of weeks."
Raviron smiled and clapped a hand on one of Hal's broad shoulders. "You all have, friend." He motioned for the one of the still mounted knights. "You there. Take Hal and Lady Renora to their rooms. And try to find one for the children as well, could you?"
The knight nodded his helmeted head. "At once, my Lord." Then the knight dismounted and led Hal, Renora and the kids off into the living quarters, leaving his steed for one of the stable boys to tend to.
Tasha watched them leave with a small smile on her face. Despite herself found herself agreeing with Renora. He does look cute with the children in his arms.
Then Raviron was speaking to her. "Milady. I know that you and the rest of your party are very tired. However, I have been instructed to invite you and the rest to tonight's gala event. It appears that it is the birthing day of Lord Timoth's youngest son today. So there will be a full ball tonight in celebration."
Ceorn smiled broadly. "Ah," he began. "Excellent. I haven't been to a proper ball in many a year. I'll be there an' don't you forget it."
Ambori grinned at Raviron as well, his eyes bloodshot in spots and breath smelling of wine. "Great to hear. This'll be a wonderful chance for me to learn from the greatest bards and minstrels in all the Lands."
Tasha glanced sidelong at the bard, a look of disgust on her face. "Not to mention an excuse for you to get drunk again, hmm?"
Ambori had the grace to look embarrassed.
Raviron smiled at them all. "Am I to assume that all of this means that you will all be present this evening?"
Tasha was reluctant. "I would love to attend, but I need to clean up first and... Dear Gods, I don't have a proper thing to wear to a ball of this magnitude!"
"It figures," spoke a voice from behind her. "She arrives after weeks of travelling and the first thing that she can think of is not how tired she is but how she forgot her favorite dress."
Ceorn choked back a laugh while Ambori felt no such restrictions. Sir Raviron's face became stony. "Sir Knight, I hope that we all heard incorrectly and that you had meant to say something else instead?"
Tasha turned around, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she regarded the other knight that had been waiting at the front gate. "I assure you," the knight went on. "I mean no offense but if some was taken then Lady Tasha has gotten soft in my absence."
Stepping toe to toe with the knight Tasha looked up into the steel visor with confusion. "I hope, for your sake, Sir Knight, that I do indeed know you. For if not I will be seeking retribution."
"Oh ho!" the knight crowed, raising his hands to his helm. "Perhaps you haven't completely lost your edge after all." He removed the helm then with a creak of metal and shook out his curly blond hair. He gazed down at Tasha then with a liquid amber gaze. "How have you and Dad been?"
Tasha was thunderstruck. "Nico?" she asked, not wanting to believe what she seeing.
Her brother Nicodemus laughed and held both of his arms out to his sides. "Who else?"
Tasha laughed with joy and threw herself into her brother's arms.