We go to sleep after I make my minions regret their insinuations and arrive in sight of Kruzser's ramparts without further issues within the next two days, which is enough to raise my suspicions by itself as my approach must have been deduced by someone.
Not to mention the dozens of carriages from all comings that passed by us on the way can't have all missed the oddity in my left side. People know I'm coming so there must be reasons why none tried to intercept me.
Lack of time explains the lack of ambush but that there would be no troops to intercept me as I leave Mirus is odd. It may be that local Nobles don't wish to risk angering the Emperor.
The walls are tall and white, they appear to be washed regularly which is an incredible task considering that they must be dozens of kilometers long if not a couple hundred. The construction of these fortifications must have taken decades.
The gatehouse is both a work of art and defensive engineering. There are two huge roaring lions with laurel crowns on either side of it whose manes form crenelations. A dozen archers stand in perfect order behind those to surveil the area.
The gates are so wide they can allow four large carriages to enter at once but are strictly controlled by imperial guards to only allow a single file of carriages and one of people. They have light armors akin to mine and wield bardiches.
These weapons are pole-arms that resemble axes with long curved blades, they're suited to hack down soldiers in hard leather armor and breach wooden shields but wouldn't work very well against anything more substantial.
These guards are wearing white tabards with golden lion crests signaling their loyalty is directly to the Emperor. As a result, they are likely never challenged even by high born.
The lack of structures outside the Empire's capital, not even an inn, means there must be strict rules forbidding it. There is a single tall structure that rises above Kruzser's rampart, a tower with a golden lion head hanging on the last floor.
“This is the Great Bell of the Templar Order.” Nahl speaks up. “It is said only to ring when the Emperor is in danger.”
“What, it's magical?” I ask sarcastically.
“No, there is a runic construct engraved inside the bell, only Exemplars and the Grand Master can activate it.” He replies with more than a touch of disapproval.
“Rather than that, I wonder how tall the walls are.” Idali speaks up.
“Thirty-three meters tall, nine thick.” Rowland responds. “It's the most impregnable city in the Empire.”
“In the world.” Nahl corrects.
“That's doubtful.” I cut in. “The First Hive would be the place most difficult to invade by virtue of every Rykz acting to stop you and its location, which is likely deep in the eastern mountains.”
“Good point.” Rowland acknowledges.
“But it's a Hive, not a city.” The ex-Templar argues.
“I guess.” I reply dismissively. “Let us enter and witness what marvels these ramparts hold.”
I grab my cloak and flick it to get rid of some of the dust sticking to it before rearranging it around me as we take a spot in the short file of people waiting for their turn at the majestic gates.
We pass by a moderately long line of worn transport carriages filled with bags of grain and reinforced wagons likely carrying ingots of various metals. There are no high born but I suspect that they would be directly allowed inside if any showed up.
“Are weapons allowed in the capital?” I ask.
“Uh, usually.” Nahl replies with an awkward expression. “I'm not sure what the protocol is when someone shows up with three broadswords and an unreasonable amount of daggers.”
“Weapons of war aren't allowed to be openly wielded.” Uhla notes. “War-hammers, pole-arms, and such are required to be held in a case or leather sheath to be sealed in runic wax by the imperial guard.”
“There are too many warriors going through Kruzser to outright forbid those.” I acknowledge.
“It is also because there are large smith enclaves in the capital.” She says. “They produce many armors and weapons for the Phalanxes, although not all.”
“Duels aren't literally outlawed in Kruzser but consider them forbidden as a matter of practicality because you'll never get permission.” Nahl adds. “Needless to say, it would be a terrible idea to pick a fight with the imperial guard but even fighting with civilian city guards would be a terrible idea.”
“I'm not here to start a war against the Emperor.” I tell him in a low voice to avoid panicking those around us.
“Yes, but events seem to unfold violently wherever you go.” He grumbles. “I half expect you to run into our Emperor and challenge Him to a fistfight without recognizing him.”
“No way that would happen, unless the Lake has a great sense of humor.” I comment.
“How can you think it would be funny?!” Nahl utters as he places his palm on his eyes.
“It wouldn't be?” I blink in confusion. He lets out a few muffled grunts while Uhla sighs. I smile and point forward like a general would to tell them to advance. “Let us go forth and conquer this new land!”
As people throw me odd looks, I take two steps forward in the file and stop. Idali bursts out laughing with Rowland while the other two can't help but smile at my antics.
“How do people ever follow you?” Uhla asks while shaking her head.
“You tell me.” I return. Her expression blanks out.
“Fair point.” She acknowledges with an awkward smile.
We slowly advance to the front of the line and an imperial officer engages with a group before us with a wooden board on which are stacked several pieces of parchment in one hand and a writing quill in the other.
He has an aide hold onto a large vial of ink that must cost several gold pieces. After asking a few questions, he lets them pass and we move to the front. Rowland takes the lead as I slide behind his uselessly large stature to hide my left side.
“Names, occupations, purpose of your visit to Kruzser please.” The officer speaks up with a bored tone after throwing us a quick once-over.
“Rowland, independent warrior, we're seeking to meet with the Hospitaliers. The young one is Uhla, Hospitalier. The short one is Nahl, Hospitalier as well. The dumb blonde is Idali, she's an aide for house Hetlan but doesn't have anything to prove it I believe.” He pauses and Idali shakes her head to confirm but throws him a scowl that promises retribution for the slight. “You can consider her an independent warrior as well.”
“I'm Jessica, a peasant.” I speak up before Rowland says something stupid.
The officer stops writing to throw me a deeper look. His eyes trail to the scar on my left cheek and he waves his hand at Rowland to tell him to move aside. Good thing I didn't lie about my first name.
“Do you happen to have a last name?” The man asks.
“I do but I doubt it's in the records yet.” I tell him. “Jessica Freepath.”
“It's in the records all right.” The officer says as he stares at me with a deep gaze. “As Lady Lance's fiancee and sword-expert of the highest caliber.”
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“You flatter me.” I deadpan with a flat voice. “Do write my occupation down as peasant, though.”
“I'll do you one better and write 'peasant without a Liege' if you don't mind as I have to be precise, Dame Freepath.” He tells me with a wink while holding onto his serious expression.
“That would be great, thanks.” I reply.
“Have you been through the Duchy of Calmwater as you traveled?” He questions with interest.
“No, we went through the north.” I deny as I think these lands are in the south.
The man makes a thin smile with a touch of regret and nods. He seems to be from that land. Either way, his attitude leads me to believe he's sympathetic to the Redreef rebellion.
“You can't enter with that claymore in the open.” The man tells Nahl. “And that spear will have to be sealed as well in that sheath.” He adds. “Otherwise, I'll need you all to open your cloaks to check but all seems to be in order.”
Rowland's hand-and-a-half sword is allowed but not a spear, it is odd but I suppose the point is to restrict weapons that have more reach than the imperial guard or that threaten Templars who don't truly fear swords.
It's next to impossible to split plate with a one-handed sword and very difficult even with a bastard sword. One needs to use an armor-piercing construct and doing so with a blade takes a lot of flow or skill so spears are much more dangerous.
I open my cloak first to show the array of weapons around my waist and the officer merely nods and moves on. After checking, he provides a soft leather sheath for a few coins to Nahl.
He uses fragile string to tie up his and Idali's weapons before taking out wax that he melts with a construct. As it cools, he uses a long needle to engrave runes and make a seal. Then, he waves us forward but suddenly pauses with his hand in the air.
“It would be best to split these three swords before I let you pass, Dame Freepath.” He tells us as he lowers his arm. “It is somewhat irregular for me to make an exception and, who knows, it might come in useful.” He advises with a mysterious air.
I narrow my eyes and nod. I raise my arm to lift my cloak before throwing a glance to Idali and Nahl who unfasten one of my belts to take one of the two sheathes each. I further raise my guard as we go through the large barbican to enter Kruzser behind the second set of gates.
“Was an imperial officer implying Kruzser isn't secure?” Nahl asks in disbelief.
“You can never completely safeguard a city, it's impossible.” I tell him. “There are always outlaws and people ready to pay the price of a given crime for ideological reasons.”
“Yes, but what kind of petty thief would pose a threat to us?” He presses.
“You'd be surprised.” I utter with a low voice as I recall Tsek who could have posed a real threat had I not been in such a lonely and damaged state I entertained his twisted thinking instead of breaking relations. “Circumstances sometimes combine in such a way that the slightest grain of sand can break the sturdy mechanism of a mill.”
We enter a wide avenue with large warehouses made of wood and stone. Further down the street is a mansion that has marble columns at its four corners linked by sturdy oak wood engraved with a crest depicting weighing scales.
It seems to be a trading guild. The alleys between each building and giving into the avenue are as large as Meria's two main streets. There is enough gold used as decorations within sight to feed the entirety of Izla Meria for a year.
Most ludicrous is the lush green forest in the distance, there appear to be people walking through it. Near it is the round top of a palace. It's difficult to estimate the distance but I'm quite certain now that the rampart surrounding Kruzser is at least a hundred-fifty kilometers long.
There is a group of people dressed in robes, suits, uniforms, and half-formal dresses meant for Nobility's everyday use hanging next to a structure that has a sign showing a bed and a crescent moon.
They likely had the intention to blend in considering very few are wearing jewelry but the quality of their clothes betrays them. There is also the fact that they're avoiding proximity with the inn the same way the common people are avoiding them.
“But, in this case, it seems the threat is far more obvious and unsurprising in nature.” I comment with a smirk.
“Jess, please don't.” Idali pleads. “I don't want to have to flee Kruzser before I can even do what I'm supposed to.”
I scour the area further and start spotting people lingering around the warehouses far more than one would in a bustling city. Most don't have swords but some do and many carry visible daggers while I can spot concealed weapons on the rest. An ambush of a kind.
“I will keep it as peaceful as I can.” I reply, feeling a shallow pain arise in my left arm while my right hand starts twitching.
As we approach the group of Nobles waiting to the side, they begin paying more attention to their surroundings and finally fake spotting me. One of their faces jumps out to me as the man was standing in front of me during my one meeting with Cenwalh in the hills north of Port-Odo. He is the one who steps out of the crowd to throw me a disdainful look.
“They really allow anyone to step in the capital nowadays.” He sneers. “Look at those dirty cloaks and faces.” I keep my focus on my potential enemies and ignore him. “Cowardly too.” He adds as he steps in my way with the group fanning out behind, blocking half the avenue.
“I've no time for leeches, get out of my way or be stepped on.” I respond with a kind smile.
“Ha!” He scoffs. “Who do you think you are? Elizabeth Vil?” He throws out.
The remark puzzles me because it implies my sister is the one to be wary of, which runs counter to the prideful high born disdain he's affecting. They're operating under the principle that Liz and I don't get along.
The interaction has all the hallmarks of a trap so far. Then go with the provocation and smash 'em, I'm itchy. I have things to do, and he's right we're a bit dirty from traveling.
“Maybe she is, after all these cowardly women both fled their own Kingdom.” A woman throws in.
“I'm Jessica Freepath and I warn that you lack the numbers to make me suffer defeat this day.” I calmly inform the Nobles, causing some to lose their smiles and not because they're angered. I spot a leg trembling and my smile widens. “I'm in a hurry so let's get to it.”
I fall into a low stance and bring my arm back as I close my hand into a fist while my minions let out deep groans. The man facing me scowls and straightens his posture in defiance.
“The low born are always so prompt to scuffle. We've heard of the violence you brought in Mirus, it was no surprise considering your illegitimate access obtained from traitors on Izla Meria.” He sneers at me.
I lion's leap and smash my fist in his stunned face. His eyes roll back before the back of his head even hits the ground. The Nobles stare with wide eyes, baffled as most are unable to react.
Two throw themselves at me but Idali suddenly appears at my side and blocks one while I casually hang back to dodge the other. Those waiting around the corner of warehouses move to intervene.
Bruuuh. The noise coming from the barbican causes the entire area to freeze. I place my hand on the pommel of my long broadsword and turn. The officer who welcomed me in Kruzser is standing a few dozen meters away holding a horn decorated with a golden lion and escorted by a dozen imperial guards.
“The Emperor's peace is to be respected by all without exception!” The man bellows aggressively at us.
“This barbarian stroke first without reason!” The woman who accused me and my sister of being cowards hurriedly justifies.
“On behalf of our Emperor Rasaec, I order you all to disperse or face imprisonment!” The officer continues without engaging her.
“This is preposterous!” Half the group exclaims at once.
“Our Emperor in his wisdom has decreed a brawl is no breach of peace as long as it is promptly ended.” He responds while glaring at the Ladyling. “I have the parchment right here, if you wish to read it yourself. It even says this, 'Else the imperial guard would have to arrest half the capital's drunk and every bartender.' So you see there was no need to congregate here to welcome Dame Freepath.”
His words cause the carriage drivers and passerby to erupt in laughter. It seems clear to these people that their Emperor just foiled a scheme of Nobility. They're unafraid of retaliation from these high born, likely because they're all strangers towards each other and the population of the capital is huge.
I frown despite the paling Nobles' embarrassment because something feels very off with this scene, I'm missing information of some kind. As I try to piece things together to make sense of the event, those who waited to ambush me slowly trickle out of the area.
The officer throws us a flat look that tells me it would be good if I scampered out of here as soon as possible. A glance he does not give the Nobles which makes it clear that, no matter what, high born are privileged.
“I need to find an inn to rest and wash up, do any of you have recommendations?” I ask my minions as we walk away.
“Shouldn't we find where the Hospitaliers are staying first?” Uhla questions.
“Not in this state, no.” I deny. And there is no way I'm running to Leomi after what she pulled in Meria, setting me up with Ruth's galley and you disloyal minions.
“Aww, you're going to pretty yoursel...” Idali starts in a pandering tone.
“Do not try me right now, blondie.” I cut her off.
“None of us have been here before so we can't advise you.” Nahl tells me, being the serious one as usual.
“Alright, then give me my weapons back and go away.” I dismiss them. “You can tell Leomi I'm somewhere in the city when you make your report.”
“We haven't been spying on you.” Rowland protests.
“Sure you have, might not have been on purpose but being present is enough isn't it?” I return. “It's fine, I was cognizant of this fact when I let you come along.”
The three make guilty expressions so I wave them off with an amused smile after they give me back my broadswords, hoping they'll take it as forgiveness because they've been useful. The one I'm angry at is Leomi, not these three.