Free Web NovelChapter 5: Chapter 5
They sailed for many weeks, stopping across multiple cities to rest. For the girls, this was an experience to remember. Hera had never travelled farther across the cities in the east. While in the sisters of the order, they had been forbidden from leaving the fortress they were kept in until they were of age. Now, immersed in different cultures and exploring different cities, they had almost forgotten the obstacle ahead.
Aragon had been the first kingdom they had stopped in. A small city with warm people. They had been welcomed with hugs and melodic songs. It was a pity they had not stayed long enough. They also passed through Brindlehold, the city of bulls. Its people were predominantly farmers.
Such were the ways their journeys to other cities and kingdoms came and went, until they finally washed up on the shores of Erindros. It was far more magnificent than the books had described. The girls looked on, mouths agape as they stared at the city.
Their port did not have the chaos and warmth that the others they had seen before it possessed. Everything felt mechanical, rigid. The people paid no heed to a band of girls arriving at port, there were many others, men and women of importance, who also pulled up along its harbour and were treated as their stations demanded.
The roads fascinated them as they walked through the streets. It was not made of sand or gravel like Epirus or the many cities of the east. It was covered inch by inch with slightly large stones with smooth surfaces. The people were also dressed differently. No two people wore similar attire. It was like a melting pot for people of every race and culture.
The city also had a large canal that ran along various parts of it, with little boats floating on it. Then there was the arena, the largest to ever built.
Iris whistled. "This place!!! I’ve never seen anything like it."
"Truly," Selene agreed.
"How do we get to the palace, though? We might end up getting lost if we do not find the damned place," Clair chimed.
The other girls nodded in agreement.
"We could always find an inn to stay for a while, though, look through the city before we enter yet another dungeon," Larissa suggested.
"Tempting idea," Astrid said, "but I would like to assess the dangers of the mess we are currently in. Hera will need every chance she can get to win whatever twisted games they have planned, so we need to find the place."
"We could always just ask someone, or better yet, tell the servants pulling our luggage to take us there," Andrea said, pointedly.
They had paid a few servant men who were at the harbour to push their luggage for them as they walked around the city.
"Excuse me, kind sirs," Hera called after them. They were ahead of the group. "Excuse me," she called again. "Could you take us to the palace? " she asked, as they finally stopped and turned towards her.
"The palace?" One of the men asked sceptically. "We can. Is there a problem?"
"Would you mind taking us there, please?" Astrid asked. "We have urgent business."
"Urgent business?" The other servant retorted wearily. His eyes were darting to the other in an uncertain glance.
Astrid could see that the men were not convinced, but she did not care about what they thought. She and the girls needed to get to the palace before the sun fell.
"No problem, ladies, we can take you there," one of the men sighed.
They zig-zagged through the streets of Erindros. There were no welcoming people; everyone conversed impassively with a cold indifference to others around them.
As they walked on, the city continued to mystify the girls. They passed by a large statue of sorts, a large cylindrical stone, and a lady by its side with an arm outstretched. They would come to find out that this was a clock, a water clock.
The shops and kiosks were enormous, with some of the best items they’d ever seen; textiles, silk, everything. There were also large waystations across the city. The servants had offered bits of information as they passed.
After much walking, they finally stop in front of a large gate. The building behind it was larger than life, spanning many acres of land. It looked like an entirely different world. With golden frames around their windows. The strange carvings on various parts of its wall.
"How do we get in?" Hera asked.
"We do not know my lady." One of the servants responded, "The palace gates are hardly opened, and even then, it would have to be when someone has summoned or when dignitaries from other kingdoms visit the city. Members of the royal house almost never passed these walls."
"I see," Hera sighed.
"How do you propose that they open the gates for us the?" Astrid chimed.
"We have no idea, my lady. However, you could wait till someone passes. Or... the soldiers, those who come out to patrol the city, you would have to ask them to help you."
Astrid looked at the other girls with a grave expression.
"Thank you," she replied with a tight smile and paid the men.
"So, girls," Iris heaved, "what do we do?"
The other girls were silent. There was nothing they could do. They did not know how to be summoned, and they were stuck out here, in front of such a towering gate, that they couldn’t even call out to anyone on the inside.
"I miss home," Hera blurted after a while.
They had stood outside the gates for many hours, and the sun was setting. To anyone who passed by them, they were probably a funny sight. Some of the girls were seated on the floor already, their hands on their chins.
"Tell me about," added Selene.
A few more hours went by, and darkness had enveloped the sky already, but the city lit up. Lights on every corner, in every house. It was a fascinating sight indeed.
The gates groaned open behind them. They all whipped their head around to see who had come out...
It was time for the night guards to patrol the city and the others who had been outside needed to enter the palace. The servant was correct.
Hera squealed in delight. The girls moved aside to make way for the soldiers.
The soldiers were led by five horsemen as they marched loudly into the city. Not one of them spared the girls a glance.
After the exchange, the gates began to close, but the girls rushed towards them, clamouring loudly to be let in.
"May i help you, Ladies?" one of the soldiers in charge of the gates finally asked, his eyes narrowed.
"Yes, of course," Astrid gulped. " This is Princess Hera from Epirus, and i, her older sister, Astrid, with our company. We’ve come for the marriage selection."
The soldier looked pointedly at Astrid. "And which one of you will be entering this competition?" He asked, looking between her and Hera, observing them closely. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
She wished they’d worn better clothes, but they’d all been too tired to dress formally. The journey to the city had been arduous for them. The last thing on their minds was dressing in fancy clothes.
"My sister." Astrid motioned towards Hera.
The guard was silent for a while. "Wait here," he said finally, closing the gates.
The girls waited a long time with no response coming for them.
"I think we need to leave," Larissa said abruptly. "Look at us! We look horrible."
Astrid sighed and looked at Hera, brows creased at the sight her slumped against a wall. "You’re right. We should come back tomorrow."
"The nerve of these people," Iris huffed. "Leaving us here after all this time."
"It’s fine," Selene replied. "Let’s just leave. I’m sure we’re all starving, and my legs are killing me."
"You don’t say," Iris said, her voice flat.
At that moment, the gates creaked open again, a head sticking out. It was the guard they had seen earlier.
His eyes widened a bit, but he regained his composure almost immediately, and a small smirk appeared on his face. He finally opens the gate wide enough for them to pass.
"You may enter," the guard instructed. "There are a few servants here to help you with your luggage and show you to your rooms."
The girls sighed and gave slight bows as they entered.
The palace was much larger than they initially thought it to be. It went on and on, almost the size of a small kingdom.
"gods," Hera breathed.
"How much land did they use to build this?" Claire whispered. "This place is enormous."
"It is," Larissa responded.
They climbed the multiple steps at the entrance and finally entered the palace. Their eyes widened in shock, their mouths agape. The place was like a golden city. Every inch of the place dripped with gold, the vases, the curtains, the tables.
They passed through so many rooms, each almost more magnificent than the last. They finally understood why this city was written with so much adulation in all the books and scrolls they had consulted. One would kill for such wealth.
"You must be the ladies from Epirus," a man interrupted. He was tall with long, wavy hair. His skin the most beautiful shade of brown. His eyes were a lush brown, captivating everyone in his gaze. He was adorned with the best gold, and the silk he wore caressed his body. He was a work of the gods themselves.
The servants immediately stopped and bowed to him.
"And who among you is Hera?" he asked.
Hera stepped forward, bowing just as the servants had done.
He slowly took one of her hands and kissed it. "Beautiful." There was a glint in his eye, and his smile was charming.
"However," he said, stepping back, but his eyes had hardened. "I was not informed that you would be arriving so fashionably late, princess. All other kingdoms have arrived you see."
"We’re deeply sorry," Hera said apologetically. "There were some family issues we needed to resolve, and then preparations for the journey here took a while."
"I see."
Astrid did not like the look in his eyes.
"No matter," he said, "you are finally here."
"May we know your name?" Astrid asked bluntly, her eyes slightly narrowed.
His eyes landed on her as he looked up from Hera. "Adonis," he said.
"The prince, I presume." Her tone was straightforward.
"I am," he stated, smirking at her audacity. "And you must be the Astrid."
"Yes, your majesty."
"I did not realize I was so beneath you, princess, that you did not see it fit to pay your respects," Adonis drawled.
A disaster, Astrid thought. She did not want to make a horrible first impression on the man her sister might marry.
"Forgive me, your majesty," she said as she and the other girl bowed.
"Well then, I would have to leave you, Princess Hera. I have many things to do."
"Of course, your majesty," Hera replied, completely enthralled. "Do not let us keep you." ƒrēewebnovel.com
He kissed her hand again, making Hera blush. Then looked up at Astrid and gave a curt nod.
"I’ll be seeing you all around," he said as he left.
Astrid could see the look in Hera’s eyes. At least, her sister liked him, she thought. Now, they would have to win against all odds.
