Free Web NovelChapter 197: Chapter 197 The Crystal City
Amber’s POV
The city is absolutely breathtaking. We stop at the gate, and I ride down to the girls carriage. I tell them to get their ponies, and come ride with me. They are more than willing to oblige, and soon we are riding with Chase into the city, where the citizens are coming out of their houses to see us. They are quiet, which I don’t know is a good sign or not. Chase moves a little closer to the girls, and the guard’s loose circle closes a little as well. Then we reach the middle of the town, where they have their market place. Their ranked members are awaiting us, and I realize the carriages haven’t followed us. Neither have Blaze.
’He’s staying with the little ones. The girls and you can defend yourself if worse comes to worse, but I hope it doesn’t come down to that.’ Chase says in my mind. I nod, not taking my eyes off the ranked members. They watch us with guarded eyes, and follow even the slightest movement. We’re at a standstill where we are on our horses, not moving or speaking, and they are standing on an elevated platform, not moving or speaking.
I gesture for the closed guard to take my horse, and I slide down from the saddle. Chase hisses at me, but I ignore him. Instead I turn to the girls, and ask them to come with me. He rolls his eyes at me, sliding down as well and coming with us.
"Amber, what are you..." fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
"Shush! Just follow my lead, and trust me, okay?" He sighs, but doesn’t say anything else.
We move from the protective circle, and when the guards want to follow us, I gesture for them to stay back. I have a feeling here, and I am going with it. Trusting my gut!
’Girls, if anything happens, you are to go to the shadowland and run back to daddy and your siblings and warm them. Do you hear me?’
’Yes, mommy.’ They reply together, and I squeeze their hands. Chase is tense, but if my feeling is correct, he has nothing to be tense for.
"Greeting great citizens of the Crystal city. We are sorry to be imposing, but we saw your wonder in the horizon, and we just had to marvel at its beauty." I say loud and clear. Chase snorts, as he knows as well as I do, we gave notice far in advance about this visit.
"We are delighted to have you visit our humble city, you Grace. Welcome." The oldest of the ranked members answer with a smile. He walks down from the platform. "We were a little surprised by the number of guards though." He continues, and I smile a warm and inviting smile.
"We met some of your citizens when we rode in here, and their posture didn’t give much away. I’m afraid, recent events taking into account, they got protective." He nods, looking over our guards.
"I quite understand. We have made plans for a festive evening, and I hope you enjoy our city. We mean no harm, and we are loyal to the crown. I apologize for the confusion." He’s speaking the truth, which even Chase knows. The guards mostly turn around, but Hixton, Haldon and Tristan stay with us. Haldon rode up to us, when we were going into the city - knowing his duty came before his mate at this point. I’m surprised they chose Hixton to stay here as well, but seeing how fond he and the girls are of each other, I understand why.
"My name is Mayor Brax, and I’m honored to have you visit our humble abode." He chuckles, as do we. There’s nothing humble about the city, as every house, street and sign is made of crystal. Everywhere I turn crystals in new shades meet my eyes. The girl’s eyes are wide and they are asking a million questions a minute. Mayor Brax explains as best as he can, and Chase supplies with what he knows as well, as we move to the platform where the others are waiting. We are introduced to the other, as Blaze arrives with Glaciel, Merida and the little ones.
"Oh, little babies. My Queen, they are absolutely gorgeous." Mayor Brax’s wife Cordelia says, while looking at the twins. I smile, taking Ashilia in my arms.
"They are a handful, just like their big sisters." I reply, sitting down at the table besides the woman. I notice Chase has taken Callum from Glaciel, asking if they mind terribly to take the girls on a tour of the city? They are quite smitten with the special way the crystal has been formed and shaped to be houses, and how they do not break when people are living in them. Merida, Glaciel and one of the locals, along with Hixton, take the girls on the tour, very much to their delight.
"I bet! How old are their sisters?" She asks, and I explain they are 6 and 4, and how we got to adopt them after saving them from Keres. She nods, gasping when I tell about the dark goddess and praising our choice. freewebnσvel.cøm
"We have always been loyal to the crown, but I must admit it was hard to be loyal to his Grace’s late father. He was not a friendly man." Cordelia says, sipping her tea. I nod.
"Yeah, he was one of an awful kind. We are trying to be different, and we want to get to know our people." I told her. We keep talking, and I find her so fun and easy to talk to, time just flies by.
Before I know it, it is time to start the festivities. During the day more and more people join us on the market square, and I learn they are not hostile but shy. Not many people visit them, but those who do often want something from them, or learn their secret to living in crystal homes.
"It really is a pity, because we are just like everyone else, despite living a bit differently." Cordelia says, and we promise to get word out of who they feel, and how they are just like everyone else.
We have a great time with the Crystal City’s people, and it gives me hope for the rest of the journey. We need to work on relations between our people as much as our relations with our people, but we are well under way. We also need the law against mistreating women and men, but that will also be a slow process.
I know this, but as for tonight, I am enjoying myself so much. Dancing with my mates, my children and many others. We laugh, smile and talk. People are at ease with us, seeing how we are enjoying ourselves and that is what matters. I know this is just the beginning and we have at least half a year, maybe even more yet to come on this journey, but it matters. And I will not want to be anywhere else right now.
