Chapter 5
Lord and Lady
Heraldforn had actually been further than ‘a couple more miles’ like Zanzo had confidently declared. Greeves had known this of course but didn’t see the need to correct him.
No, all that would do is draw more attention to himself and Mercy. Just doing the hunting for that wine sot Zanzo had already made people curious enough about them.
Zanzo’s two squires most of all, who now berated himself and Mercy with endless questions about hunting. Greeves had bared his sharp teeth and hissed at first.
That had kept them at bay for a while but they’d soon returned. In the end he’d found he didn’t mind answering their questions so much. After all, they weren’t likely to learn much from Zanzo.
He glanced over at them now, two brown skinned boys of about thirteen years with black hair. Fires knew what gutter Zanzo had pulled them out of. They wore tan rough spun and leather moccasins.
They were walking either side of Mercy listening to her tell a story, big dewy eyes on them like they’d never seen a female in all their days.
Mercy was waving her hands around like she was mad. Telling her Lo-bear story.. She'd have been lucky to have not been outmatched by those pond mushrooms, the way she fights.
Both of the boys were laughing and looking at her in that way young boys do at a pretty older girl. Greeves turned and spat. A waste of moisture in this arid place but he supposed he could afford to treat himself to a spit or two now and again.
He rode on behind them silently with their horses in tow at a slow trot. He could see Heraldforn up ahead now, its great closed gates in the pass between the canyons and the outline of the castle beyond. He sighed heavily looking over at Mercy.
Twenty years he’d looked after her but she’d be going her own way after this trip. She was a grown woman now and he’d taught her everything she needed and then more that he shouldn’t have. She turned and caught him staring, she gave him a radiant smile and waved cheerfully at him. He raised two fingers from his bridle and wagged them in return feeling his heart sink.
Zanzo blew a horn bringing his entourage to a slothenly halt so he could iron out the details of his magnificent entrance one more time. Greeves watched indifferently and took out some salt beef from a pouch on his saddle, chewing it without relish. “Why does he care so much about the way he walks into a town?” Mercy asked from beside him.
Why? Because the smallest dogs bark the loudest, because the more foolish a man is, the more he must try to appear otherwise. That’s what he’d have liked to say but the squires Jax and Eli were still with them and he thought they’d be upset to hear their master was an idiot so he settled for a terse grunt.
Eli spoke up instead, “Master Zanzo cares because first impressions matter even for great men like him, he knows it would be unfair to expect people to treat him like the hero he is on hearsay alone” he said pompously.
“Yea that’s right” his brother Jax agreed eagerly. “Lord Zanzo is putting on a show for the small folk of Heraldforn to best display his might.” Both the boys spoke with misplaced pride, Greeves couldn’t blame them though, young and ignorant as they were. There’d be plenty of time for the world to tear down their hopes without him sticking his boot through them as well. Mercy didn’t look convinced either. She shot him a sidelong look, rolling her eyes and he nodded back amused, he’d raised no fool.
Zanzo blew his horn once again. “Onwards! my bold companions!” He roared from atop his elephant, his sword raised to the sky, his cloak billowing out behind him and his long blonde hair blowing in the wind, even a skeptic like Greeves had to admit he cut quite the picture of a story book hero if nothing else.
A sycophantic cheer rose up from his followers, the two boys among them, even Mercy gave a whoop of delight, much to his displeasure.
They moved on, and as they approached the tall metal gates of the town, two men on horseback clad in outfits of Zanzo’s colours, deep burgundy and gold moved to either side of the elephant. They began blowing regal sounding noise from trumpets.
Zanzo maintained his heroic bearing, raising his chin in challenge to the town as if daring them to not open the gates to such a hero as he. Greeves would have liked to see what he’d do if they didn’t. To his disappointment though the gates were opened swiftly by many guards as if by prior arrangement which Greeves had no doubt there had been.
A herald of some sort walked before the elephant “make way for lord Zanzo!” He boomed at the milling crowd of curious townsfolk within. The crowd cheered and bellowed their shared approval of Zanzo’s grand opinion of himself, he blew kisses at the women and waved down to the rest as if it all was really too much. “No, no. All this for me!?” He shouted. If anything he had probably been hoping for more.
The rest of the retinue trailed behind now clad in festive attire instead of their road clothes, they wore brightly coloured linens, satin and silks. They danced and juggled, japed and mingled. Zanzo, it seemed, had taken advantage of the huge crowd that had followed behind him for weeks now and had orchestrated a parade for himself like a conquering hero from ages past.
That last thought left Greeves with a sour taste in his mouth as he and Mercy trailed behind, passing through the gates themselves under the disapproving gazes of the guards above manning the parapets.
The time of parading heroes were many man-lives behind him, better not to think about them at all. That time was long gone. But it was not just the men of the time that were disappointing; it was the architecture and decor he thought looking around at the misshapen buildings within the gates.
Shacks that were little more than tents were haphazardly put together as if by children, the occasional buildings of actual stone sat atop natural pillars of red rock — winding stairs cut into the pillars that spiralled up to the buildings — or built up against the walls of the gorge itself. The streets were filthy and it seemed they’d taken to clumsily draping dyed flags and banners everywhere as if to draw the eye away from the shabbiness of the place, but there’s no polishing a turd. It looked like a rainbow had taken a runny shit all over the place.
Absolute dump he thought to himself then he puffed out some air realising how bitter he was being and took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He turned to Mercy, “right, we get set up, sell the furs and then we can both be on our way.” He said curtly.
Mercy wasn’t paying attention though, she was watching the show with the boys, whooping and cheering.
“Mercy!” He hissed,
“yes?” She replied absently whilst waving at some of the townsfolk that looked confused to see an Orak, an Aeth and two boys riding together. Greeves pulled up the leather hood of his coat despite the heat.
“I’m saying we get in and out, then we can both be on our way.” She frowned back at him, “are you that eager to be rid of me da?” Her tone sounded hurt.
“You know that’s not it, I just don’t like being in built up places surrounded by superstitious fools.” Her frown softened and became thoughtful, she reached over and patted his arm gently.
“You know I’ll come back and see you whenever I can'' she said, her big green eyes full of sincerity and love that he didn’t deserve. That put a lump in his throat “I know.” He croaked back. Their touching moment was cut short by one of the boys.
“Mister Greeves! Miss Mercy!”
Greeves looked over and saw it was Eli pointing at a building they were passing and laughing. It was a roughly constructed building made of planks of wood that might have been nailed together by a blind man. A black metal sign hung over the front porch swinging slowly on a rusty swivel that read ‘The Buggery’ there were men dressed scantily in silks hanging out of the windows and balconies making cooing noises and waving tiny handkerchiefs at Zanzo. Not just men, boys as well and other men dressed like women. Zanzo saw them and flexed his arms at them. They squealed in delight, some pretending to faint. “Fires bind me” Greeves swore.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Further into town the crowds had dispersed. They were closer to the keep now and Greeves noticed the buildings had actually gotten better. The streets cleaner, the brothels less masculine, not that Greeves gave a shit either way.
Zanzo had dismounted his elephant and was talking to a cringing steward about how his precious elephant should be cared for.
“.....Roxanne is a lady and therefore must be treated as such, she enjoys cool water, being fanned with huge leaves, trunk massages. She must also be sung to. Of course this is just standard elephant care really” he stated matter of factly.
The steward blinked, “you want your elephant to be serenaded?” Zanzo rolled his eyes and touched his forehead shaking it in the manner of a dog trainer dealing with a particularly disappointing cur. “It’s not about what I want my friend,” he said slowly as if he was speaking to a simpleton.
“No, no. It's about what Roxanne wants and Roxanne will not be denied, ask anyone. Now see it done, good man.”
He patted the steward on the back in a jovial, good natured way albeit a little too forcefully. It jolted the spectacles from his head to the hard cobbles at their feet, luckily they didn’t smash. Unfortunately however Zanzo spotted His squires and made a beeline towards them, obliviously crushing the stewards spectacles beneath his fine leather Librestan boots as he strode forward.
The steward let out a long piteous moan at the sudden demise of his spectacles which had no doubt cost him a fortune. “you’ll have to find a sweeter note than that for Roxanne.” Zanzo called back chidingly as he swaggered over.
Jax and Eli were helping Mercy and Greeves unload the furs onto a makeshift table they had assembled from detritus they’d passed in the slums. “You boys are definitely my squires,” he laughed delightedly. “Aiding a maiden in distress, work fit for heroes indeed.”
Mercy cocked a bemused eyebrow, probably wondering what a maiden was. “What do you think of my boys Greeves?” Zanzo asked suddenly. “They’re hard workers.” He replied and he meant it. Zanzo might not do a lot of work himself but he knew how to choose the people who did the work for him.
The boys looked ready to burst from the meagre praise, obviously strangers to average levels of approval. Zanzo beamed as well and reached into his pocket bringing out a couple of coins and flicked them towards each of the boys in turn.
“Go buy yourselves something to eat my hard working men,” he said magnanimously. The boys looked at the coins they’d caught, there was a pause, “but this is only a copper penny?” Jax said, his eyebrows furrowing in hurt confusion.
Zanzo looked at him incredulously “Well?! I said get yourselves something to eat, not go buy a house and live happily ever after! Now go on, you’ve got plenty more work to do once you’ve eaten,” he shooed the boys away and they scampered off into town. Zanzo shook his head watching after them then turned back to Mercy and Greeves. He pulled out a purse from a pouch at his waist and placed it down heavily on their table, it jingled pleasantly with the sound of many coins.
“May I ask what your plans are now your service with me is at an end?” He inquired.
“We’ll sell these goods and leave” Greeves replied, turning and rearranging his furs, hoping Zanzo would get the idea and leave.
“Truly? But there will be so many festivities in the coming days, a great wedding, circuses, mummer shows and fireworks. And it’s a historic event, the forging of a truce between great Urungeald and the barbaric south.”
Greeves had seen enough historic events in his time, more than enough and he doubted peace between the north and south was on its way. The lord's son was marrying a chieftains daughter, but there were ten dozen chieftains in the south. Why should the rest care?
“It doesn’t interest me.”
Mercy perked up at the mention of the festivities.
“That all sounds wonderful, why don’t we stay a few days da, and see what all the fuss is about? It’ll mean a few more days together as well.” She prodded.
Greeves wanted to say no, but he could see by her eyes she wouldn’t let this drop, she was beginning to get the ‘I want‘ line between them.
What was his rush after all? The mountains and forests would wait for him. “We’ll stay a day and then we’ll see” he conceded. Mercy cheered and jumped at him, hugging him around the shoulders. He was taken aback by this for a moment, but he hugged her back and breathed in her scent, pine and lavender.
He wondered when he’d gotten so soft. Greeves looked up while still hugging his daughter and saw Zanzo watching him with an amused look on his self satisfied face.
“Where do you think you’ll stay?” there was a glint in his eyes now. “The Inns will all be full I imagine.”
Greeves gently untangled himself from Mercy who was giggling like a child.
“We’ll find one or we’ll set up a tent somewhere.” Mercy’s giggling subsided upon hearing that, apparently unenthusiastic about that idea.
“Nonsense my friend I will see you both set up with excellent rooms at the keep with me and the boring diplomats and other people of tedious note.” It was a generous offer, but Greeves was dubious about accepting, the quarters would no doubt be lavish and would place himself and Mercy in Zanzo’s debt. Zanzo seemed to guess his thoughts. “Hey it’s a castle, plenty of room there and you’ve both more than earned it, besides I did promise a bonus.”
Once again Greeves was on the verge of saying no but Mercy was looking at him with wide expectant eyes, near trembling with excitement. He sighed heavily in the manner of a man resigning himself to clean an overflowing latrine.
“We accept.”
“Excellent!” Zanzo exclaimed, “I shall see you at the keep, I’ll inform the guards there to expect you, we shall— …hmm it seems there is another welcome in store for me” he murmured brushing back his hair with one hand in an attempt to tidy it. He turned dismissing Greeves and Mercy from his notice.
Greeves stared in the direction Zanzo was looking. The crowds before them were parting respectively for a regal looking woman with golden woven hair and proud features, she wore bright orange silks and walked with imperious confidence. A young man about Mercy’s age walked at her left, linking arms with her, maybe her son? He had the same golden hair as well but the sturdier features of a workman, a chiseled jaw and dimples either side of his easy smile. He wore simple linens of deep blue.
Behind them strode a heavy set looking man of middling years, his hair and intense moustache mostly black as jet, there were patches of silver coming through here and there. He wore a long cream coat, with thin patterns of gold threaded all across the shoulders and chest. Lord Farho Torren Greeves thought. He’d heard a lot about the man and his campaigns in the cursed south. A firebrand in his youth by all accounts, now a sullen city lord.
They were a noble looking group that was sure, the crowd definitely thought so, men were donning their hats in deference, women giving awkward curtsies. Greeves had seen it all before though, in greater places, in greater times and his awe of such people was long since gone.
Mercy moved closer to him “Who are they?” She whispered. “The high lady and Lord of the town and the boy who’s getting married.”
“Oh really? That Princess is a lucky girl getting to marry that slab of handsome.”
Greeves mused idly at that strangely worded observation as he watched.
Zanzo gave a low exaggerated bow as they stopped before him.
“Lady Elaina, Lord Torren and young Haiden. I thank you for your invitation, I was expecting to see you at the castle. I must apologise for my attire” he said gesturing at his spotless, expensive looking garments. Lady Torren’s mouth curled up at the corner for a moment. Her son laughed openly. “Well we thought —“ he began but was cut off by his mother who spoke rudely over him.
“It’s no problem at all Sen Zanzo, even we of the keep rarely see a man wander into our humble town astride an elephant with a dozen mummers in tow.” She looked past him at Mercy then her eyes swivelled over to Greeves and rested on him for an insulting amount of time. “Amongst other things” she finished.
“Your Grace is too kind,” he said drawing the attention back to himself, “and may I say that is a flattering shade of orange you’re wearing, it really brings out your voluptuous figure.'' He winked at her. She was blind sided by this and blushed furiously. Her son however didn’t look happy about his mother’s body receiving such praise, he coughed disapprovingly.
Lord Torren walked around his wife and stood in front of her as if to shield her from assault. His face was turning its own shade of red. “That is no way to speak to a lady, never mind the wife of a Lord!” He yelled, shaking his fist as he did so. The violent movement caused his necklace to fall out of his collar.
Greeves' eyes widened as he saw it. What?.. is that? Greeves moved closer to get a better look at it, but Torren tucked it back into his shirt. “Hmm” Greeves pondered. Looking over at his sword that was strapped to his horse. It couldn’t be.. could it?
Zanzo laughed as if they’d all shared a joke and nobody had inappropriately flirted with anyone in the least. Then he ploughed on ahead “Perhaps we should move our conversation to the castle, my advisors here will also be needing rooms.” He waved lazily at Mercy and Greeves.
Lady Elaina had recovered from the embarrassment of the crude compliment enough to take issue with this. “Your advisors?” She asked with great disdain.
“I’m sure we can find rooms for them also.” Haiden interjected, smiling at them both graciously.
Greeves nodded at him in reply. Zanzo turned back to them with a cheerful grin plastered across his face. “I shall see you both shortly at the castle then?”
“Once these furs are sold” Greeves replied bluntly. Zanzo scoffed at this. “Let me aid you in this endeavour my friends,” he said, giving Mercy a wink. Then practically shouting he said “Oh! These are rare mountain wolf pelts?! I’ll take three!” he declared even more loudly throwing down a smattering of coins before grabbing three furs at random.
People walking by about their business stopped in their tracks mesmerized at the sight and sound of Zanzo. “Did he say rare pelts?!” A dusty looking old man asked nearby. “Yea!” An excited response came. “Hey! Zanzo is buying fur! I want fur!” Called another. Before they knew it they were surrounded with eager customers, drunk on the prospect of emulating Zanzo. “GIve me a double of the fur!!” A fat man bellowed in Mercy’s face offering out a handful of coins in a trembling fist.
“Get back you idiot!” Greeves hissed, pushing the oaf out of his daughter's face.
From there it was a frantic, fur hungry frenzy as the crowd bought up the furs like they were the last pelts in all of Vega.
Greeves heard Zanzo shout over the crowd “I’ll see you both shortly!” As he walked away with the Lord and Lady.