Thick stone walls defined the city of Asterfal. The walls stood forty feet tall, with stone and earthen ramparts supporting their height in areas where the land fell away. Parapets ran their length intermittently parsed by towers, and the gatehouse was a formidable defensive structure. It housed murder holes and, seeing the tips of arrows visible in the gaps as they passed under the fifty-foot-deep entrance, expressed how seriously the city took its defence. Portcullis at each end allowed enemies to be trapped if they ever considered attacking the city. The walls had been visible miles away once they had crossed the final mountain trail. As they approached, the true scale of it became apparent. Proudly standing along the outer walls were standards that flew the chancellor’s colours and the city’s emblem.
Cristy and SJ stared out of the coach window at the scale of the city as they entered. The street was wide enough for three coaches to fit side-by-side. Every manner of race was visible, mingling in the city’s throng. Traders, hawkers, and shopkeepers lined the streets, interspersed by buildings with signs in various languages. The buildings were tall and closely knit, with only the occasional narrow street or alleyway separating them. Construction of the buildings varied. Some were stone, others were timber, and as the city had grown, rather than the walls expanding, it had squashed whatever buildings would fit. Most buildings had at least three stories, with some exceeding that.
Travelling along the street was a slow process, with Alef easing the coach forward as it worked through the crowd. Peering from the window, SJ looked ahead along the street. They were now heading down a decline towards the city’s centre, where an enormous tower stood visible outside the walls. This was the building they were heading towards, the city’s council chambers. Zigferd had explained there were gates leading into the city from four sides, with all the primary routes leading to the centre where the tower stood.
Having fought through the crowds, they eventually reached an inner wall that encircled the tower. Guards again challenged Alef before allowing him to enter the city’s inner sanctum. The contrast inside the inner wall was dramatic. Immaculate open gardens, wide streets and large luxurious homes replaced the hustle and bustle of the outer ring of buildings, with tall trees lining the route to the tower. The tower’s grand scale left SJ in awe as the coach stopped by a set of steps. A footman walked to the coach and opened the door for them.
Zigferd climbed down, and SJ stood in the coach door, staring at the tower, which rose at least three hundred feet into the air. It was conical, narrowing as it grew. It was the largest structure that SJ had seen since arriving in Amathera. Its architecture appeared Victorian, almost having an art déco feel to it. The style clashed with other buildings, using granite as the prime material in its construction.
“Come on. There’ll be time to look around,” Zigferd assured.
Cristy hopped down, walking to Zigferd’s side, SJ following.
“Wow,” SJ exclaimed, amazed by the structure. Climbing the steps, beings in the city’s colours came and went from the tower. Three wide double doors stood open at the top of the steps. Each stood twenty feet tall, and posted at each entrance were two city guards. These guards not only wore the colours of the city livery. They also wore deep blue chain mail with golden trimmings. The expense alone of creating the armour of this style didn’t go unnoticed. It reminded SJ of the Horse Guards at Buckingham Palace and their overtly dressy nature.
Zigferd passed between the doors, not paying any attention to the guards standing there. Walking into the tower’s entrance hall, a wide-open area with benches and plants greeted them. The architects had constructed the floor from white marble, and the mosaic patterns looked stunning. A large semicircular desk filled the middle of the hall, and several beings were working along its length, talking to various individuals.
With patience, Zigferd walked towards the nearest clerk and waited behind a large dwarf in a heated debate. SJ stared at the dome-vaulted chamber ceiling covered in intricate carvings of battles against beasts. Everything SJ had seen so far since entering the inner sanctum of Asterfal exuded affluence and expense.
SJ thought about Zigferd’s tax complaints and speculated about money wasted on places like this.
“It is over the top, although I have seen worse.” Dave replied, “You’ll understand if you reach the capital.”
SJ couldn’t describe what she had expected for Asterfal, but it differed from what she had witnessed. In contrast to Killic’s humble setting, everything was considerably more extensive and exquisite. The dwarf eventually moved away from the desk, muttering angrily as he did, not happy with the response he had got. Zigferd stepped up, smiling at the clerk.
“Zigferd, Mayor of Killic. SJ, Ambassador of Killic and Cristy, Ward of Killic.”
The clerk was an elderly-looking kobold and coughed into a handkerchief, wiping its mouth as it responded. “I only see two listed for the Killic party. There is no mention of a ward.”
“Cristy won’t be in the tower. She will stay with her relatives in town. She is just a guest today.”
The kobold was taken aback by the size of the lycanthrope. Zigferd was an imposing figure. It then turned to look at SJ, who noticed its lips curl at the sight of her, not able to withhold its disgust entirely.
“Your suites are on the eighteenth floor. Suite numbers eleven and twelve.”
“Thank you. Do you have the pass stones?”
“One moment, please,” the kobold replied, turning and moving to a wooden locker behind the desk. With the locker opened, he retrieved two smooth stones with numbers engraved. “Remember to return these before you depart.” He turned back and placed the stones on the desk, mentioning that there was a three-gold replacement fee.
Zigferd just smiled politely, collecting the stones and pocketing them. “Thank you.”
“Room keys?” SJ asked.
“Yes. They are magically linked to the doors. Only a matching enchantment can open the doors.”
Zigferd guided them to a wide staircase to the side of the chamber. “Views are amazing on the eighteenth floor,” Zigferd commented, climbing up.
The steps gently curved, following the exterior wall initially, before reaching a large open floor. Various offices were off the floor, with more beings moving around. “The council chambers down there,” Zigferd gestured, pointing at steps leading down. Surrounding the floor were four spiral staircases, and Zigferd opted for the nearest one to continue his ascent. Feeling dizzy, SJ reached the eighteenth floor. The spiral staircase gradually tightened as they rose. SJ stopped at the top, looked down the stairwell, and felt vertigo.
Walking towards one door, Zigferd said, “Here we are.” He removed the stones from his pocket and placed them by the numbers, causing them to glow a brilliant white before a clunking sound, like a bolt being released. With a gentle motion, the door swung open. Passing the stone to SJ, Zigferd said, “This is for you. I’ll be close by.”
Moving into the room before SJ, Cristy commented, “This is nice.”
With a massive window, a spacious room provided a view of the mountains in the distance. The crests of Asterfal were emblazoned on the sheets of the large double four-poster bed with luxurious drapes. To match his livery, the chancellor had coloured everything.
“So extravagant,” SJ remarked, surveying the room.
Cristy ran and jumped onto the bed. With her arms laid back, she exhaled. “It’s nice, and the beds are comfy.”
SJ smiled at her before walking over to a wardrobe against one wall. Upon opening it, she discovered towels and scented oils. A wall held a burning fireplace, and taps were seen by a bath in the room. Walking to the bath, SJ turned the taps on and was delighted to find running hot water. “They have hot water!” SJ exclaimed.
Surprised, Cristy exclaimed, “What?” as she came and felt the temperature. “That’s amazing.”
“It has to be magical,” SJ said.
“The working in larger cities and some towns with dedicated magic users have many differing perks,” Dave said.
The room’s plumbing astonished SJ, and she would have to talk to Zigferd about replicating it in Killic. Walking to the window, SJ looked down at the sprawling city below. Standing at the height of their floor, the city’s design was visible. Looking like spokes leading towards the city centre, the primary routes expanded concentrically from the tower at the centre until they reached the outer wall.
The variety of buildings below, with their multicoloured appearance, made it seem like a patchwork quilt. Black smoke rose from various locations, showing forges or similar operations being undertaken.
“Wow,” Cristy said, joining SJ at the window and looking over the stunning vista below. The true size of the city was only visible from this height. SJ observed that the buildings closer to the centre seemed larger than those approaching the city’s outskirts.
Expressing astonishment, SJ said, “I didn’t expect it to be designed like this.” With the open space and large homes dominating the centre of Asterfal, the outskirts seemed cramped and inundated. From above, the city felt like some of Earth’s metropolitan areas. In the distance, the landscape of buildings was cluttered and varied. Greenery and perfect gardens surrounded the spacious and wealthier homes of the rich. The city’s hierarchical society was clear.
“Do you know where your aunt and uncle live?” SJ asked.
Cristy dug in her pocket and removed a crumpled letter. “District 3, 2nd Quarter, 8th western house on Juniper Street.”
Arriving in the city, it was already mid-afternoon. Because of the crowded streets in the outer circle, it took over an hour to travel from the gate to the tower. “We should find them.”
Cristy looked excited at the chance to see her aunt and uncle. She last saw them at age three. Her aunt was her father’s sister. Cristy didn’t know any of her mother’s relatives.
“Okay.”
After exiting, SJ knocked on Zigferd’s door and conveyed their plans. Zigferd was unaware of the city areas to direct them, suggesting they ask at the desk. You could order carts to move you around the city. SJ had mentioned taxis, getting a frowning look in response. SJ returned downstairs and once again felt dizzy at the bottom. They spoke to the clerk, who said he would arrange a cart at the east entrance. They climbed into a cart twenty minutes later, and the orc driver set off towards the district.
Cart travel was easier than the coach, but not significantly. The streets were so congested. Turning from the main street, the cart headed deeper into the rat warren of streets in the outer quarters. The buildings here were much smaller and even more tightly knit together. There were still plenty of hawkers but few traders or shops. The buildings nearly touched at their heights, and little light reached the street level.
A voice called “Gardyloo,” and SJ glanced up to witness water being thrown from a window. The stench hit her nostrils only as it splashed onto the cobbled street.
Hearing Cristy gagging, the orc chuckled and warned her to be cautious if she heard the call. The city looked perfect from above, but the reality was different.
“I thought the city did well?” SJ said.
With a grunt, the orc responded, “Few over many.”
People on the street wore Amathera’s usual clothes, yet a sense of deprivation lingered. A female human walked towards the cart, holding her hand out. “Copper miss.”
Feeling distraught by the conditions many lived in, SJ removed some copper from her pouch. The orc, noticing the movement out of the corner of his eye, hissed with a warning, “Don’t. You give to one more will come.”
Hesitating, SJ put the copper away. “Sorry,” she said, feeling a heartache from not helping the woman. She wore ragged clothes and looked extremely thin.
The cart continued for two streets, then turned left and stopped shortly after. “This is it,” he said.
They halted before a two-story building featuring a slim entrance and tiny front windows. They could see lantern light inside the building.
“Are you ok waiting here?” SJ asked.
“Of course. I am under strict instructions to ensure you return to the tower,” the orc said.
SJ raised her eyebrow at the comment. Climbing down from the cart, Cristy walked to the door and knocked on it. The streets were noisy, hammering, shouting, laughing and crying, making up the cacophony of noise. Cristy knocked harder after there was no reply. The door opened after a few moments.
“Yes?” a tall male gnoll said.
“Uncle?” Cristy asked.
“Cristy?” her uncle’s eyes opened wide in surprise. “Yawnee. Yawnee. Come quickly. Cristy is here.” Stepping forward, he took Cristy into a hug, squeezing her tightly. “I am so sorry we couldn’t see you before.”
The gnoll looked tired, and although strong, he clearly didn’t eat well.
“Cristy,” a female gnoll called as she reached the door, a grin on her face as she hurried to embrace her.
SJ climbed from the cart and walked to stand by Cristy.
“You must be SJ,” the uncle said. “I am Lurtew, and this is Yawnee. We would both like to thank you for what you have done for Cristy. She writes to us often.”
SJ was unaware that Cristy regularly spoke to her aunt and uncle. Cristy stood with tears in her eyes and sniffled. “Oh, my poor dear,” her aunt said, hugging her again. “Come inside, please, all of you.”
“Thank you, but I will stay with the cart,” the orc replied.
“It is safe here. No one will touch it,” Lurtew replied.
“Still, I prefer to remain in the cart.”
“The offer is there,” Yawnee said.
“Thank you,”
Cristy followed her uncle into the house, and SJ and her aunt followed. The building was narrow, with wooden steps starting just inside the door leading up. Walking along a corridor, they moved into a room with racks full of tools before reaching another room wider than the original house front. A set of open double doors led to a small courtyard. Someone had neatly stacked wood in piles in the courtyard area, and they had already shaped other pieces as required to produce barrels.
SJ knew only the basics of barrel making and didn’t fully understand a cooper’s process. A small table with stools stood in the yard, and Yawnee offered them a seat. “I will get refreshments,” Yawnee said, disappearing back into the house.
The next couple of hours disappeared in what seemed like minutes for SJ. The conversation had been welcoming and normal. Cristy discussed her adventures and training while SJ inquired about the life of a cooper. Yawnee and Lurtew spent a whole day making one barrel each. Producing only two barrels daily didn’t give them a decent income from the brewers’ guild, meaning they were stuck where they were for now. Her aunt and uncle had moved to Asterfal over 25 years ago, and from the information they passed to SJ, life in the city deteriorated as time passed, and the population continued to grow.
Because of the city’s hilly location, expanding the city walls was not feasible for the chancellor or council to consider. This led to overcrowding in the poorer quarters. The stark contrast between the districts was disheartening and angered SJ. Yawnee had lit a lantern, and SJ had to make her excuses to leave. She had to return to the tower. She had promised to meet with Zigferd for dinner that evening. Zigferd was hoping to introduce her to several councillors before the inauguration began.
SJ had expected the orc to have left, but he still sat outside, napping in the cart’s driver’s seat. The streets had darkened further, and the odd lantern hung in a doorway, lighting the way until they worked out of the district and into more affluent areas. There was no comparison between the areas they passed through. When SJ returned to the tower, she thanked the orc and inquired about the payment.
“Eight copper,” he replied.
“Eight coppers. Is that all? Are you sure?”
“Yes. Eight coppers.”
“Do you work daily?”
“I do.”
“Can I hire you for the week we are here?”
The orc looked at SJ, confused. “You won’t always require a cart.”
“No. I prefer having a driver who is always available when we need to travel. How much for the week?”
“Erm...” the orc hesitated as he tried to decide on a suitable fee.
SJ did some quick maths in her head. They had taken four hours, including the time at Cristy’s family, which cost eight coppers. Twenty coppers a day appeared to be a fair rate, SJ thought as she removed three silvers from her inventory. “How does three silvers sound?”
The orc’s eyebrows shot up at the comment. “That would be great.”
“Here then. I assume if we need you, I will ask the clerk at the desk.”
“Yes.”
“Great. What’s your name? So I know who to ask for.”
“They call me Jay. My full name is Jayrazeb.”
“Perfect if I need you. I will let you know. Thank you for today.”
“My pleasure.”
SJ climbed down and entered the tower. The entrance area remained busy. She stood, gazing at the stairs, then began her long climb to her room in search of Zigferd. She needed to note her room position better and look into flying next time.
