The heavily laden wagon shuddered as it went over a rut just as Louis was about to drift off to sleep. The boy didn’t bother opening his eyes. He was nauseated from the winding trip down the mountain and was tempted to suggest to Winston that they continue the journey on foot.
It was a lovely spring day. The path up to town had cleared early and Carson Stockley had made an early trip up the mountain to deliver supplies and Winston’s wines and to bring down some of the ingots the mine had produced over winter. When he’d found out that they were looking to make a trip to Estos, he had offered them a ride on his wagon, which the innkeeper had gratefully accepted.
“You’re going to want to see this, lad,” Carson said from the driver’s seat at the front of the wagon.
Louis lifted his head just as the wagon crested a hill and his eyes widened. Filling the horizon ahead of them were the majestic snow topped peaks of the Eretas Mountains. Cut into the middle of the range was a canyon that was over a mile wide and completely straight as far as Louis could tell. Barring entry to it and appearing to emerge from the feet of the two almost sheer sided mountains that stood on either side of the pass like massive pillars were the White Walls of Estos, standing almost two hundred feet tall. A sprawling city had been built right up to the wall, and only the spires of the Palace and the Church of the Three could be seen peeping out from the other side.
“The city has changed remarkably since I was last here,” Winston remarked from next to Carson.
“When was that?” the trader asked.
Winston tapped his chin thoughtfully before replying, “Why, it must have been during the Second War. I had no idea they had expanded the city beyond the wall.”
Louis looked at the sprawling city that was built right up to the wall and blinked. He’d assumed that most of the city was on their side of the wall, which had been built to defend from invaders coming from the east.
“That it has, Winston,” Carson laughed. “The city has become very important since the Second War, and if you think the Outer City is impressive, wait until you see what they did to the Inner City.”
“Is that the Divine Path?” Louis asked, pointing at the impossibly straight road that led right up to the gates of the city. It was jet black and looked to be made from a single piece of granite.
“That it is, lad,” Carson confirmed. “We’ll travelling down it to get into the city.”
Louis looked at it, the walls of the city, and the pass beyond, and at once knew that the legends had to be real. The Thrice Blessed Religion told that the Divine Path was made by the Three themselves when they walked still walked the mortal realm. It marked the route they supposedly took from the site of their final battle with the Dark One to the Holy City where they eventually ascended to the next plain of existence. It was said that Archava, the God of War, had made the canyon through the Eretas Mountains with a single blow from Devastation, His mighty polearm.
Soon, they joined the massive crush of people on the Divine Path, and Louis looked at them in awe, finding it difficult to believe there were this many people in the whole kingdom.
“Is this your first time on the Divine Path?” Carson asked.
“Yes,” Louis said absently.
The trader turned around and grinned at the boy. “It sure is something isn’t it?”
Louis nodded. “The stories don’t do it or the city justice.”
“You can say that again,” Carson agreed before focusing his attention back on the road. Louis glanced at Winston who was staring at the walls, looking distant, and wondered what memories he had of the city.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
The Divine Path was as smooth as glass, and there were no more bone shattering bumps, but sleep was now the last thing on Louis’ mind. He found the crush of pedestrians, wagons, people on horseback travelling in both directions down the Path fascinating. There appeared to be all manner of people from traders, Highborn, lowborn, it felt like every person from Carthus to the Central Kingdoms was here with them on this part of the road.
“You want to be dropped off in the Inner City, do you?” Carson ventured at length.
Winston snapped out of his reverie and said, “Yes, if it’s not too much trouble.”
“Oh there’s no such thing as too much trouble when it comes to my best customer!” Carson laughed. “But do me a favour and keep a low profile, eh? Half the city will be after you if they find out you’re the one buying all that expensive stuff.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” Winston smiled. “I am quite happy with our arrangement. In fact, being swarmed by every merchant in Estos sounds rather ghastly. Perhaps we should walk from here.”
“There’s no need,” Carson grinned. “I bring travellers down from the mountains all the time.”
The trader then reached into his jacket and produced a large pouch. “I suppose now’s as good a time as any to give you this.”
“Aren’t you going to count it?” Carson asked after Winston took it discretely and slipped it into his clothes.
Winston shook his head. “Why should I? I trust you completely.”
Carson grunted. “I should warn you that inns in the Inner City cost four times what they do outside.”
“I think I’ve withdrawn more than enough to cover our expenses,” Winston smiled. “I only plan on being here for two days.”
Carson’s eyebrows shot up. “I thought you’d be here a month with what you asked for.”
Winston laughed. “There would be riots back home if I closed the inn for that long, Carson.”
“That’s true enough, I suppose,” Carson chuckled. “I suppose you’ll have to buy them some nice souvenirs to placate them for closing as long as you have.”
The traffic grew heavier as they approached the city, and their pace slowed to a crawl. Winston looked up at the massive archway that was carved into the wall and blinked. “They’ve removed the gates?”
“They were just taking up space,” Carson grinned. “It makes sense when you think about it. The wall was meant to defend Estos from attacks coming out of the west, but now that Carthus is running the place, any threat would come from the east, wouldn’t it?”
“I suppose that’s true,” Winston mused.
Eventually, the wagon rolled into the city itself, passing a pair of life sized dragons carved from marble that stood guard on either side of the Divine Path. Even Winston seemed taken aback by the city’s majesty. Intricate statues depicting heroes from the war stood on pillars that had just as much detail poured into them.
Loius’ eye was grabbed by a huge mansion on their left. Ornamental pillars were carved into the façade. The Three Divines, Archava, Mernes, and Barylon sat on thrones in alcoves that formed the centrepiece of the façade, and before them were sculptures of knights charging atop their steeds. Clear, blue-green water flowed from the throne, under the hooves of the horses, making it look as though they were running through a river, before collecting in a large pool which was cordoned off by black wrought iron fences.
“Incredible,” Louis breathed.
“This city has really come to life,” Winston agreed. “It was deserted and in decay the last time I was here.”
Eventually, Carson’s wagon turned off the Divine Path and onto one of the city’s broad, tree lined avenues. The traffic was lighter here, and Louis felt like he could breathe again.
“Have you been to Aroden, Carson?” Winston ventured.
The trader shook his head. “No, I’ve been meaning to.”
He paused and gave Winston a mischievous look. “That’s right, you’re a Carthun, aren’t you?”
Winston nodded.
“Your capital isn’t as grand as this, if that’s what you’re wondering,” Carson laughed.
“I suppose it never was,” Winston conceded.
Soon, the wagon came to a stop in front of a building that seemed modest in comparison to the ones they saw earlier but was still far more impressive than anything Louis had seen before today.
“Here we are,” Carson declared.
“Much obliged for the lift,” Winston said as he climbed down from the wagon. “I don’t suppose you could make the return trip tomorrow?”
“I’m afraid not, Winston,” Carson said apologetically. “I have a lot on my plate. It’s spring, after all. Everything’s starting up again after a long winter.”
“I understand,” Winston said. “We’ll muddle through somehow.”
“Thanks, Mister Stockley,” Louis said, as Carson’s wagon pulled away. It wasn’t long before wagon disappeared, swallowed up by the city’s endless traffic.
Louis suppressed a shudder. It was all too easy to get lost in here, and if he were separated from Winston, he would never be able to get back to Chalybe again. He then turned his attention to the place they would be spending the night.
“This whole place is an inn?” He asked incredulously as he craned his neck to take the whole thing in. “There has to be a least six floors.”
Winston smiled. “I think that it’s run by a few more than two people.”
“You could put everyone in Chalybe up several times over in there,” Louis exclaimed.
“Let’s get a room,” Winston suggested.