“Maorok”

I simply can’t get it to work at all. The more I play, the less I think I know about this game.  I move my Consort to protect my Maorok, since it’s one of the only pieces that can save me from defeat. He has a sizeable advantage and I simply can’t see the proper way out of it.

“You see, now I get to kill your Consort in exchange for my tracker, which doesn’t work in your favour. Here, go back a move and try again.” Cerolus returns my Consort to the position it was before, allowing me to make a different move. It’s helping me in a way, I guess. He sometimes points out the things I do wrong, congratulates me when I do a correct move, and tells me some of the basic things that I could do in the game. He also points out some moves he can make.

Our game in the carriage is cut short by Kozzok’s voice from outside of the carriage. “Master, Mistress, we have arrived at Greenhorn.” Greenhorn is apparently the necklace’s doing, the town’s name is Verforak. It’s an interesting thing, this necklace. It sometimes works on the words I hear, and sometimes it doesn’t. For example, it never translates Maorok, even though its meaning is Supreme. I wonder if it’s because I’m actively learning the language or not. For now, I’ll go with the explanation I’ve got so far: it’s magic.

“Oh excellent, we’re right on time.” Cerolus is almost gleeful, and I’m relieved at the prospect of having a bed to sleep in tonight. This carriage is comfortable, but a bed is a bed. “We’ll stay here for the night, but this town doesn’t have a Lord, so we’ll be staying in a different place than usual.”

We won’t be staying at a castle or a manor? I’m not sure what Cerolus has planned for tonight.

“Why is it called Greenhorn anyway?”

“Greenhorn?” Cerolus looks confused by my question, or by the name I called it. “Oh right, the necklace. It fits I guess. You’ll see it in time.”

The convoy enters the streets of the town, this one looking similar to Hadron. Surprisingly, people barely seem to notice we are here at all, as if this would be the most common of sights in a town like this. Maybe I’m simply used to being in the Royal Family of Leonia too much, people would gather from all around when we went away from the Palace. It was like that at the wedding as well. How do commoners feel about nobility here? How do commoners feel about nobility anywhere would be the correct question I think. I’ve never really put that much thought into that in the first place.

The convoy eases to a halt, what seems to be the town square sprawling in front of it. The doors to the carriage open, and my husband takes his first steps outside, while I follow. Another town, another story I guess.

The people in the streets which until now hadn’t change their regular demeanor are now looking in our direction, but their eyes seem to follow me rather than Cerolus. The cold gazes make a shiver run through my entire body, the unwelcoming postures seen everywhere I turn. However, nobody does anything, the people just stand and stare in contempt. I haven’t seen many people in Hadron, but here I notice the clear difference between us, the invisible walls put up between the races.

Cerolus walks through the masses, his hooves stomping through the streets as if threating to trample the unlucky ones in his path. The people around us make way for my husband, and I make sure to stay closely behind him. He never even bothers looking around or behind him, with a destination seemingly already in his mind.

The clamor of the mass has already died down by this point, the sound of hoofstomps permeating through the air. I can sense the eyes still upon me, as if trying to peer behind the clothes I wear, looking directly into my body, no, my soul. My breaths linger in my chest as I try to gasp for air, as if I suddenly forgot how to breathe.

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I used to be a princess in my country, people used to bow when they saw me. But who am I here? Will I only be known as that Human girl who married Cerolus Kreshorok? Do I suddenly yearn the respect and devotion of the people here? What exactly do I want in this life, and how will I obtain that? Only question rummage through my mind, my chest clogging the more I think, my breaths becoming increasingly ragged.

No, Sophia, calm down.

I am safe here. Maybe less than welcome, but safe. Cerolus has been nothing but kind to me all this time, and he has done nothing but try to make me comfortable. He hasn’t exactly shown what kind of influence he has, but from what I’ve gathered so far he certainly possesses some, and I’m sure he isn’t afraid to use it.

But am I really happy taking comfort in him every time something would happen? I have pushed so hard at home to be seen as independent, but out here, I look like nothing more than an afraid child hiding behind her carer.

The short walk that felt like a century has passed ends with Cerolus stopping in front of a huge red building with a banner on its front fluttering in the breeze. The banner depicts a seven pointed star, each tip of a different colour, ranging from pure white to a dark purple. They remind me of something, but I can’t exactly figure it out.

“This is the Guild of Dralarag. It deals in trading, magical lessons, transportation, crystal refinement, cave delving and much more. There are a few of these Guild Houses around Dralarag, and as far as I know of they have regular contact with the Elvin, Drakkar and the Nazjar. I’m really not sure what you could compare it to in your lands. We just call it the Guild, from Grah, Utri, Inar, Lerint, Dungen. Trade, Magic, Travel, Crystals and Caves. Guild.

We will be staying here for the night, they offer excellent service to travelers with enough coin. And they mostly know me. Or rather, I know them. I know the Guild for a long time.”

Kozzok opens the large doors to the establishment in front of us, the hinges responding with a squeak, announcing our entrance. The interior is filled with tables, the floor apparently serving as a tavern for the people. Most of the people in here are armed, armored, or most commonly both. Cerolus walks calmly across the room, several nods of recognition being exchanged and some pleasantries spoken. The major difference is the lack of a cold stare towards me, it’s as if I don’t even exist in here. Or maybe they just don’t care about me being different? Are we that different anyway?

My husband reaches the counter at one end of the room, a smiling woman standing behind it.

“Lord Cerolus, it is a pleasure to have you for a visit? I assume you want to spend the night?”

“Of course, a room for my wife and me, and of course appropriate quarters for the personnel and beasts. Feed the Firemanes as well. We will be having dinner in our room.” Cerolus put on his bright smile, the white of his teeth contrasting with the color of his eyes, but the visage doesn’t dampen his appearance, making him just a bit more attractive instead.

“Of course, Lord Cerolus. If you would follow me to your room.”

We follow her across a staircase and a hallway, ending in a set of doors which hopefully open towards a bed.

“If you need anything, just call for Rena. I hope you have a pleasant stay at the Guild.” The woman turns and walks away, not a word uttered towards me, or even a glimpse of acknowledgement given.

I think I know what my goal is: to be remembered as Sophia Leonia Kreshorok, not only as a mere wife to Cerolus, but as a person of her own.