As Liza’s voice continued to ring off the landscape, I made out the edges of a glowing royal crest hovering a few feet above her. The window limited what I could see, but the same was not true for the soldiers on the wall. Apparently, the pin held some magic that projected the icon, and it left an impact. Liza descended back to the carriage and after a few more seconds of silence her words seemed to register, everyone on the structure erupting into chaos.
After that it took less than a minute for the gates to open. A line of guards stood to either side of the carriages as we entered, the lack of dull thumps and slight jostles I’d grown accustomed to signaling we were out of the forest. As we pulled to a stop, my carriage only 10 feet from the now closing gate, a guard in slightly more ornate armor than the rest approached Liza’s coach. The man, likely the guard captain, looked composed, as if meeting someone from the royal family was an everyday occurrence. The same however, couldn’t be said about the two behind him, their fidgeting betraying poorly masked fear. The guard knocked on the tinted window and a brief conversation, likely between him and Liza, ensued. After a minute he stepped back and bowed, the two next to him rushing to do the same, before he began to give orders to his subordinates.
Whatever was said caused most of the twenty or so guards to disappear, leaving only the captain and his two followers. Rather than start moving, as I had expected us to, we continued to sit for another few minutes until Liza spoke again, this time clear even from inside my carriage.
“Sir, I’d like to speak with the Count immediately; please take us to his estate at once.”
The man looked ready to object but instead saluted fist to heart and let out a brief, “Ma’am.” He walked to the front carriage hurriedly, the other two slow to move as they shot furtive glances between Liza and the captain. Then we were off, all three carriages slowly advancing towards the middle of town.
Amersfort was a retired fortress city that dated back to when the people of Danton first settled the area. While the land that now encompassed Davion was safe from people and mana beasts outside its mountainous enclosure, there were plenty beast that had already inhabited the newly claimed land. This led to the rise of walled cities like Amersfort and Vander. It was amazing to see the historical planning that went into the city’s creation, though much of its function was now obsolete.
The city had an odd design as traditional walled cities went but was likely well suited for the mana beast that used to roam the area. The thirty-foot walls encircled the entire city with all the buildings just past the gate four or five stories high. As we traveled further in the buildings shrunk, few taller than three stories. I asked Nicki, and she said it was likely the beast had been climbers. If they got over the wall, the people in the building could attach, if they got past those buildings, it’d be harder for them to go unseen deeper in town.
I could see all eyes were on us as we rolled further through the town, though most of the streets themselves were cleared. The atmosphere was almost eerie as we passed shops, houses, and buildings that combined the two, all quiet.
“Guess we know where those guards went.”
I looked at my companion before realizing what she meant. There weren’t any guards visible, but it was likely true. Why else would everyone seem so… emotionless? I asked if the guards had done anything illegal, but Nicki said it was unlikely. The Count had probably just ordered them to take most people off the streets.
I noticed the slight film of dirt and grime that stained many of the buildings vanish as we traveled further into town. It took another fifteen minutes on the cobbled road before we reached the Count’s estate. The manor itself was decent, nothing compared to Vander, but next to the brick, stone, and wood combinations of the rest of the city, the greenery of the compound held a nice contrast. Though Nicki referred to the heavy use of marble as “uninspired.”
The carriages came to a stop briefly at a black iron gate adorned with what I suspected to be House Sterling sigillary, though we started moving again so quickly I wondered if the stop had even been necessary. As the carriages came to a final rest in the garden’s circular driveway, I noticed a man standing with two guards and a maid at the building entrance. They stood about ten meters away, directly across the stone path that bisected the area, a giant smile on his face. Quickly he began to speak, Liza only partway out her carriage as his voice began to fill the empty courtyard.
“Welcome! Welcome Lady Elizabeth, to my home. It is an honor to host one half of the Kingdom’s Linnaea.” His voice was smooth, lacking the Flanter accent common to the people of the region.
As he finished, he moved towards the carriages and I was able to better make out his features. He was handsome in the classical sense with a square jaw and striking silver eyes that contrasted his dark skin. He was only of average height, but as he walked there was a presence about him, like the one Liza now sported, as if he owned the place. I chuckled; he did in fact own the place. He wore a formal three-piece suit, though the jacket was open, and the shirt had a few buttons undone,, suggesting he was a mage. Reaching Liza, he put his hand out with a higher than was proper bow.
“I am Count Jaquan Tavius Sterling. As I said it is an honor to have you in my home.”
Rather than putting a hand on top of his, which was customary, she grabbed it and gave a firm shake, Nicki laughing as the Count’s arm jerked at the sudden motion. Then Liza turned and began to walk into the Count’s estate, Leonard, Rick, and Kevin quickly following her, leaving the mansion’s owner to catch up.
After that nothing particularly interesting happened. The city guard had left as we stepped onto the property and the household staff kept a wide distance from us, leaving Taeho and Yoojin waiting outside Liza’s carriage while Nicki and I sat in ours. I couldn’t leave the carriage for obvious reasons, though I couldn’t help wondering if this was a good idea, people weren’t supposed to know I was here. What if the Count got too curious? That line of thinking fled as I thought back to what Nicki said about the power of a royal guard. It was unlikely anyone in this town could beat two, let alone three of them.
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My mind wandered as I looked at the beautifully carved fountain, it depicted a lady, though I had no idea who, as she meditated, elements of earth and water moving around her. Eventually bored with doing nothing, I pulled out my pebbles and began to work. In the corner of my eye, I saw Nicki look over a few times while I attempted to link the pebbles with mana strings, though she never commented.
My two Vernian guards were discussing the latest book in a series I hadn't heard of when we heard the door to the manor open. Liza walked back outside, Count Sterling following close behind her. She still held an air of importance about her, though it was muted now, while the Count’s entire demeanor had changed. As he walked, long black loc’d hair swaying behind him, he looked to lack the confidence he had before. A wide grin still split his face though now it looked more strained. Liza said nothing as I she got into her carriage, all the guards hurrying to prep us to leave. The Count just stood and watched, looking all of us over. I knew he couldn’t see me, but it was unnerving as our eyes met, even through the tinted glass. He looked defeated, and I wondered what Liza had said to him during that brief exchange.
There were no more interruptions as we made our way to the city’s northern gate, some of the life that had been absent when we’d first rolled through having returned. After crossing through the gate however there was a surprise, a path had been cleared just wide enough for us to move one carriage at a time. One guard, a woman I’d not seen earlier, bowed repeatedly ahead of our carriage as I heard her say something about the captain and us having not stayed long. Liza likely said something to the woman because her face brightened as she stepped back. Soon we were back in the trees, the wall of Amersfort once again a distant structure I could only see periodically.
I had been trying to guess who had what mana abilities when suddenly the carriages came to a halt. Nicki said her goodbyes without hesitation, cutting off my spoken thoughts as she opened the door and began forming a platform of clear earth as she walked. The door to Liza’s carriage opened, and as she stepped onto the stone she was once again in her normal attire, a shirt and pants, all wrapped up in a coat. Making her way into my carriage she had a small smile on her face.
“So, what did you think?”
I, of course, had many questions, though I knew an opportunity when I saw one.
“How did you stand on the air like that?” the wide grin on my face was genuine, but it wasn’t enough to get an answer. Liza dodged the question so well I hadn’t even realized it until I’d asked another one. Mentally grumbling I decided to take what I could, and she answered a few more question as we began to move before deciding to tell the story from the beginning.
“After you and Nicki found out about those bandits, I remembered something.”
Apparently, there was a faction of nobles, including a nearby Earl, that was at odds with my father. The Royal faction had been monitoring them, though for the most part they had been harmless, only advocating for policies the Crown didn't support. This region was a bit different. Since the nearby Firedawn Marquis preferred to stay out of much of the politics the local Earl had little resistance and gotten bolder over the last few years. They couldn’t yet do anything about the Earl as he was careful, making sure not to expose himself too much. The same couldn't be said about the Count.
“He has a bit of sway with the Earl, though little with the faction as a whole, at least based on what we know. What we did today sends a message. Best case scenario, those bandits have been there for almost a month, there’s no reason they should have been able to move freely for that long.”
Knowing what she did Liza suspected the bandits were a plant to put pressure on a nearby noble and the Count being the reason was the most likely answer. Then, when she found out the northern roads hadn’t even been cleared of snow, her suspicion began to solidify.
“The crown gives money to most of the North’s cities and towns for this exact reason. It’s part of a big aid package that goes out every year. It includes: money to hire fire mages to help clear the roads, shelter for lower class people to fight the cold, making sure there will be enough food, and a few more things. Did you see the guards?”
I nodded, no longer wanting to speak. I was pretty sure Liza wasn’t supposed to be telling me all this. The excitement had likely gotten to her, and I didn’t want to snap her out of it.
“I counted twenty-four once we passed through the gate, plus another five hiding in the shadows. For a city as big as Amersfort, there should have been at least twice that if they wanted to show a full force at the wall. Based on those numbers the guard is almost definitely understaffed. When the captain sent those guards into the city, I think it was to get the homeless off the street. I saw a guard moving a lady as we rolled by an alley, and I’m pretty sure one of the Lieutenants was trying to block my vision. If that money was being spent as it was supposed to there shouldn’t be anyone on the street especially this time of year.”
She let out a sigh, and I did my best to keep my face neutral, she was just so different from in the castle. When she got to the meeting with Count Sterling, and I was surprised by the differences in the way we’d seen him. Where I thought he looked confident she saw arrogance, his overenthusiastic smile became a smug grin. It made me reconsider my thoughts of him owning the place since, based on what Liza said, it might not be for much longer.
“Even when we finally went to his office his mannerisms screamed obnoxious. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt since he had to take over the county so young, but the man was insufferable.”
Liza then went on to tell me how she quickly explained exactly what she was there for. The bandits, the failure to clear a city entrance, the misappropriation of funds, the understaffed guard, the auditor the crown would be sending out. Her smile was genuine, at least it seemed so, as she explained how his face fell at her every word.
“Then as we were leaving, he tried to save face by clearing the road, as if they could finish before we left. So, I’ll have to send a letter to the king, but I think he’ll be happy with how it went. The guard captain didn’t seem to like the count so maybe he’ll be of help.”
She shrugged, and I let the silence hold for a minute before changing the subject.
“So, what are we doing for the rest of the day?”
A slight smile returned to her face, “There’s a Speedstop like the first we visited a hundred miles north. I figure we spend the day there and get back to schedule tomorrow.”
Suddenly I was smiling with her. Though my thoughts kept wandering to how different Liza was from what I’d come to know as normal and how she had suddenly and easily morphed into that pseudo-copy of my mother. It was almost scary. Doing my best to fend off the worry I thought about all the rides I wanted to try. Today would be fun.