Darkspur

Chapter 3 - Darkspur

As she walked, Keria continued scanning the forest for movement but apart from a startled deer and an inquisitive fox there was nothing. She guessed it must be around midday and knew the ogres always favoured dusk but lately, they had become unpredictable and aggressive, Keria couldn't let her guard down for a second. The beasts had started taking ever increasing risks over the last few months, even attacking nearby villages and causing panic. She had just visited one of these hamlets after an attack, gathering what information she could, trying to determine what aid could be provided. Five people had been taken and the villagers were no-where near prepared enough to fight off the monsters. This had to change.

In hindsight, it was perhaps foolish of Keria to bring a nine year old along on the journey but it was only a couple of days walk and Milly had accompanied her mother on such trips many times before; besides she knew exactly what to do if the unexpected happened. Her blending cloak made her near invisible when used properly and Milly knew her mother would defend her with her life. Six months ago Keria wouldn't have thought anything of it, no ogres had come down from the valley for decades, but those days were over, Keria had now seen this first hand.

After a couple of hours walking they emerged from the cool shade of the wood into the late afternoon sun. She had stopped several times to gather her strength as even though Milly was small, carrying the dead weight of an unconscious child for so many miles was far from easy. Now, she stood on a low ridge overlooking the Duraeden Plain, soaking in the view that she never grew tired of seeing.

On the plain, farms sporadically dotted the landscape, a vast array of fields stretching in-between. This fertile landscape never ceased to provide, growing every crop the population could possibly need and more besides. She could see farm hands making their way home for the night through the newly cut fields, some walking, some lounging on the fully laden hay wagons as they trundled lazily along.

In the distance was the towering form of Darkspur, the Great Black Keep. It's imposing central stretched pyramid towered above the sprawling city as it had for hundreds of years. The straight, geometrical shapes of the fortress were in sharp, controlled contrast to the jumble of houses, shops and taverns that spread out below. Half way up the colossal structure, jagged battlements ringed the castle and above them, scattered randomly over the smooth dark surface, countless windows and balconies peppered it's slanting walls. At the summit, stretching high into the sky, an imperceivable fragile watchtower reached for the heavens.

Surrounding the Keep, a great wall sat, with a huge array of towers and bastions spread out along it's lengthy perimeter. But unlike the precise, order of Darkspur itself, the towers were a jumble of styles and shapes with many partition walls creating a complex maze of inner courtyards and walkways.

From the wall stretched the city itself, a labyrinth of tight, cobbled streets, save for the main road running almost directly to the gates of Darkspur. At that moment, much of it's irregular, red tiled roof line was hidden behind a haze of wood smoke that hung lazily in the still evening air. At one point, it to was protected by a smaller defence wall but that had long since been overrun with street upon street of still more shops and dwellings. The city had steadily grown over the years and now had a population to rival any of the great cities of the world, if not surpassing them all.

Darkspur harbour couldn't be seen from where Keria stood, it sat over a steep ridge behind the castle, it to protected by the inner wall. The sheltered cove could harbour literally hundreds of vessels and the bustling quay side was constantly packed with wares brought to the city from over the Atretic Sea.

At that moment the keep was adorned with numerous brightly coloured flags and banners that hung from the battlements or dangled from poles erected along the walls. The harvest festivities had just finished and the vivid decorations had yet to be removed. It was an awe inspiring sight.

Milly stirred in her arms. "Shh, quiet child," Keria whispered. "We're nearly home."

Within an hour she was passing through the evening streets of Darkspur. Even though the festival had ended several days before the shops and taverns were still regaled in their bunting and decorations; it seemed the people weren't ready the party to end quite yet. Most shops were still open and the taverns so busy their patrons spilled out onto the streets as minstrels played and people stood around singing. Vendors walked the main road selling all manner food from around the world, the smells mingling together making Keria's stomach grumble as she passed. The people had had it hard for many years since the plague, many feeling this had been the first year they had manage to get back to some sort of normality after loosing so many important figures in their lives. It was time for celebration and they just didn't want to stop.

Keria had forgotten about her bloodied appearance and also that she was carrying an unconscious child, causing many concerned townspeople to asked if all was well. Keria just smiled and reassured them that Milly was just sleeping and everything was fine. Most were placated, others knew exactly what the mess on her armour was and weren't so easily satisfied. Eventually though, she reached the market square in front of the castle gatehouse. Most of the stalls had been cleared for the night but a few still remained, hoping for some late customer to pass by and perhaps purchase on a whim; it also helped if they had maybe overindulged in one of the many taverns that ringed the square. The castle gates were open as normal and four guards stood chatting at the entrance. One noticed Keria approaching and marched forward, looking at the sleeping girl.

"She's fine," Keria said before he had time to ask."Just sleeping. We had a bit of a busy evening last night."

"I can tell," said the guard, grimacing as he caught a whiff of Keria's soiled armour."Is that ogre plastered all over you?"

Nodding, Keria asked, "I need to get to the King, do you know where he is?"

"He's was the Council Chambers earlier," he replied. "A delegate arrived this morning from overseas,"

"Here," Keria said, passing her daughter to the guard."Take her to Mother Kell, she'll get her to a bed."

"Don't you think a wash first would be prudent, Lady Keria?" a voice piped up from behind.

She turned to see the plump figure of Mother Kell. As usual she was dress in a plain, dark woollen gown, her head covered with one of her flamboyant hats that allowed only her round, chubby face to be seen.

"Normally yes, but I think this is important, " Keria said.

"The King is with some perfumed diplomat from the east, I don't think he, or the diplomat for that matter, would be too happy if you turned up smelling like a dung heap," Mother Kell remarked.

"I just thought that it may make a point that the threat is quite real," Keria continued."We could have died out there Heslet. If it wasn't for Milly, I might well have." Keria still felt strange using Mother Kell's first name but she insisted.

"Did she use her healing?" Heslet asked excitedly.

Keria pulled up the sleeve of her tunic. "It was badly fractured, the Rune magic wore off and I passed out, when I woke she had healed me. She's been asleep since."

"A bad injury like that and being so young she'll be asleep for a while yet," Mother Kell replied examining the slightly bruised arm. "Simply amazing for someone her age. She's going to be very powerful, Keria, like her father."

"Take the Lady Milly to my quarters," she ordered the guard," and you wash. I don't think it's the right time to making a point to the King, do you?"

"Yes, Mother Kell," Keria bowed her head, feigning submission.

"And you can stop that as well," replied Heslet, wagging her finger.

Keria turned towards the castle gate chuckling.