Shit, why do I never think these things through?Trepidation creeps into my mind but I’ve made it this far with minimal planning. I just have to trust I will be able to get to where I need to go… I have to trust myself.
Chapter Twenty-One
When we leave the charred remains of the Heartwood Forest, we are met with a sprawling prairie that is dotted with shimmering lakes and marshes. Not the friendliest terrain for a hooved creature to be running through at full speed.
Braun slows his pace just enough to keep us from accidentally stepping into deceiving puddles that might swallow us whole but also attempts to keep us going fast enough so that he doesn’t sink in the mud, it is a complicated dance. I have to hold on tight during the stop-start lurching motions but eventually he gets his stride and the jostling levels out.
These lands look like a water sprite’s dream. I wonder whether this area is controlled by The House of Water. I never received a history or geography lesson on the makeup or divide of lands but this has water wielder written all over it.
The botanist in me takes a moment to appreciate the fluffy bulrushes, with a few red-winged black birds flying in and out of the reeds and the soft purple petals of the lotus lining the lakes. As we race by, flocks of geese take to the air, lifting in unison like a fluffy cloud and the big white swans swim further into the middle of the waters to avoid us. A great blue heron pops hishead up from his fishing ground and gives us a curious look, unafraid.
In a not so distant past, I would have thrown on my waders and collected some samples but unfortunately that side of me needs to take a back seat. The passing appreciation is all I can give to this space. Perhaps I will return and take my time with this place, that is, if The Wolf doesn’t want me dead…
The natural places in this realm are truly remarkable. I can imagine the human realm once looked this way but a wetland of this size would have been drained and turned into farmland a long time ago. The closest thing I have experienced in the human realm was the boggy marshes near the university, where my class would go on excursions for sampling. They were nowhere near this magnitude and beauty though and there was indeed farmland surrounding it.
I sigh and look forward. A grand house is coming up on our right which I am assuming is the estate of the lord of these lands and the marsh land is starting to become dotted with many smaller houses. Some of the homes even appear to be floating in the middle of the lakes.
A man with what looks like a beaver tail is sitting on the porch of one such house with his fishing rod cast out. He waves out and I go to wave back but Braun has found a solid gravel path that winds through the marsh now and is picking up speed so I have to hold on tight and give the man a nod instead. This seems like a peaceful land. I wonder if the lords here take slaves. There has to be some good fae left, right?
The marsh land seems to span on forever and I start to worry as I notice the rise and decline of the sun. We are past midday and I am aching all over from riding bareback and holding on for dear life but there is no way we can stop, so I try and focus on what is ahead instead.
The wetland is slowly turning back into prairie and I can see a forest line far in the distance which, I bet, is the estate line. I hope this is the territory in which the Palace is because judging by the sun, we don’t have much time.
The forest is sparse, mostly birch and aspen. It only spans for about a kilometre until we are back out in a pastoral landscape with farm houses popping up here and there and livestock grazing. I can see the spires and towers of a large city poking up into the horizon. A plume of fog seems to linger just overtop the city. It is still a ways off but I let out a sigh of relief that we are going to make it, hopefully with time to spare.
The enormityof the city of Magath shows its full glory as we near. There is a big wall of living vines surrounding the entirety of it. They are flowering in places, showing off bursts of whites and purples that add to the whimsy of the place. I can see taller buildings that are all full of points and curves popping up from behind the walls, giving the place a dark fairytale feel to it, but there are the same flowering vines growing off of many terraces which softens the sharp lines. The contrast of life sprouting on all surfaces and the dense looming fog confuses the senses. Something feels truly amiss here.
Braun stops a little ways from the front gate and lets me hop off before changing into his humanoid form. Again, he is unfazed by his nakedness and the various fae travelling towards the gate don’t seem at all perturbed either.
“This is where I leave you, small one.” Braun looks warily to the gates and I notice some vargs standing just inside the massive doors. “I must return to the forest and tend to the places I am needed. Stay out of trouble…” He looks back to me andgives me a nod before transforming back into his stag form and springing away.
I guess I am on my own…I bite my lip and look nervously at the vargs.I need a plan…
There are many fae walking in and out of the city but I need something to distract the vargs from looking right at me just in case they have been put on the lookout under Pyralis’ guidance.
Just then I notice a woman of around thirty, with dark hair pinned back in a messy bun, stumble and drop a roll of fabric on the ground. Her arms are already full of rolls of fabric and a baby so she is noticeably struggling to pick up what she dropped, cursing quietly as she tries.
Perfect.
“Excuse me, ma’am, allow me to assist you.” She gives me a big smile and blows out an exasperated breath, shaking her head at her own predicament.
“Thank you dear! This trip has been quite the struggle. Our cart got bogged down in the marshes and my husband stayed behind to try and get it out. I have to deliver these today so I ended up traveling the last hour with her in my arms.” She bounces the baby on her hip who giggles at the movement.
I go to pick up the fabric but instead she shoves the baby into my hands and scoops the fabric up herself. “If you could just help me to my shops I would be most grateful!” She beams at me and starts walking towards the gate. I look at the wriggling babe in my arms and decide that this will have to do. Surely the vargs won’t recognize me with a baby in my arms… right? I pull up my hood and cradle the squirming child, rushing to follow the woman.
The vargs sniff at me a bit as we enter but whatever smell is coming from the bottom half of the baby has done a great job of covering my scent up and they do not stop us.
When we are clear of the gate my eyes go wide with wonder at the beauty of this city. Only a few places on the Continent have been relatively untouched in the human realm, holding on to the old charm of a time long since passed, but the magic of this place far surpasses them.
There is a big, open, cobblestone square just inside the gate that is lined with two and three story brick buildings with shops on the ground levels that show signs of food vendors, bakeries, bookstores, herbalists, haberdasheries and more. Hung across the square are stringed-globe lights with suspended fires burning inside, which I can imagine makes this whole place light up with a beautiful warm light at night.
There are streets winding off from the square that have cute multi-story brick homes lining either side. The balconies and wooden window sills all have box planters of vibrant flowers and vines and there are laundry lines spanning far overhead across the streets with beautiful garments fluttering in the wind.
Children of both Metamorph and Elemental fae play in the streets and old hunched grannies sit, gossiping in the doorways. The feel of community is strong and wholesome, even so close to the Palace of such a pernicious ruler. Easthelm feels so lifeless in comparison to this place. I’ve never been one to enjoy crowded spaces but I can see myself living here… If I ever get the chance.
I make sure to keep up to the woman with the fabrics but can’t help my curiosity as I sneak peeks into shops and down side streets as we go, my eyes drinking in everything I see. Even the alleyways have a sweet charm to them with little hidden cafes with tables outside and more string lights illuminating the spaces.
We turn down a large open street and I have to dodge carts that appear to be pulled by nothing as I keep up with the woman. We finally turn into a big shop with elaborate ball gowns in the window and she drops the fabrics down at the front counter.
