The next day they assembled down in the stable and set off. The groups had a expectant and relatively lighthearted mood for the day. They quickly noticed the rapid build up of taller and more crowded towns as they traveled. Finally, they reached a tall gate with towers on either side. It was a made of white and grey stone and was more then ten meters tall, and extremely solid looking.
They passed through with a cheer as the city guard wearing maroon fog coats saw Marcos. They continued east, and their road followed a stream into the city. The city’s road was smoothly paved with bricks and a gutter ran along its center. The buildings were made of exposed timber and plaster with dark slate roofs. Over hanging shop signs, balconies, and hanging laundry crowded the streets. Several squares, fountains, and markets opened up the street around them as they continued.
They mounted a small rise and saw the Citadel of Mavvus in the distance.
The Citadel sat on a two-mile square plot with one corner clipped by the canal. An iron fence surrounded the square. Two hundred and fifty yards behind it, the stone Citadel had a three-story wall squaring the inner compound. The main structure at the center was a T shape. It was hundreds of feet tall, and made of sand colored smooth stone that was darkened by age near the top. The shape was a thick continuously curved dome. The first four floors were smooth and curved with no windows.
The long leg of the T was a mile and a half long. It ended in a giant tower hundreds of yards in diameter that faced the canal. The tower was cone shaped. It had narrow window slits along the sides. A large bundle of five spires came out of the top as if something was growing from within like a sprouting onion.
The two short legs were three-quarters of a mile each. On top of the thick bulwark, a spindly ornate structure lined the spine of the legs with lots of tall windows and a few gardens. The south leg ended in an elegant structure with many stained glass windows that seemed like a cathedral. It looked like a separate structure upon a giant pedestal.
From the far leg to the north, a low stone walkway raised a few meters off the ground and went to the corner of the Citadel’s outer square. Where it joined, a large fat circular tower stood. It was a hundred yards at least in diameter. It was cylindrical with a flat top. On the roof, it had yet another tower and gardens with three large old oak trees.
They continued forward and were suddenly upon another giant building. The Goddess rejoiced at the splendor of it and reveled in the awe that the women felt looking at it. It was slightly awed itself at the appearance from Kaarthen’s perspective.
“This is the royal black temple for our Dark Mother. You three should stay here.” Marcos said quietly.
“Marcos that place won’t be good for the girls. They aren’t vampires anymore they should stay with us.” Kaarthen protested.
Marcos dismounted making her frantic. “Besides these are your slaves for eternity, you should keep them close and protect them. They aren’t vampires anymore. They won’t have any of the offensive abilities you worry about as they get older.” Kaarthen pleaded now following him up the steps.
Marcos stopped and turned to her. “Fine. We’ll see. But first, I have business to take care of. Ein stay with Rinis and the horses.” He said and spun up the steps. Mara and Kaarthen trailed him up to the entrance.
As they walked into the temple, and Kaarthen immediately noticed the darkness of it. The building intentionally avoided excess light, and accented in black silk. The front room had small chambers on either side. The two rooms were lower by a few steps and had benches running around the wall. The rooms were kept dark with ivy covered stained glass windows in the walls and ceiling. Shady people did business inside the rooms standing in hooded robes talking to people sitting around the walls. Marcos led Kaarthen in and walked around into the room to the right. Kaarthen noticed there were weapons on tables in the center and the people sitting on the edges watched her closely.
“Don’t touch anything. If you pick up or set anything on the table they’ll think your hiring someone.” Marcos whispered. Mara and Kaarthen looked around like children.
Quietly one figure got up and walk to them. Kaarthen noticed it was obviously a female despite the hood pulled low covering her face. Marcos paused and waited for her. She stopped before him and stood waiting.
“Augussi, I’m relieved to see you. Collect your sisters tell them Master wishes to have them for company at dinner.”
The figure nodded and turned but was stopped by Marcos who reached his right hand to her face. He flipped back the hood. Kaarthen gasped wide-eyed, the woman was stunning and exotically beautiful. She had a dark olive, slightly bronzed, complexion. Her hair was an unreal violet color, and her eyes were a yellow gold.
Marcos grinned watching their expressions. “I see Augussi impresses you. She is also extremely talented. I taught her as much as I knew. She is an expert in several fighting styles and is a master with poison, swords, and daggers.” Marcos said with haughty pride, looking back at Kaarthen’s shocked face. Augussi smiled unsure. “She also is loyal. Without fear, or threats she follows me, merely because I ask it of her.” He let her go and watched her leave. “You talk of slaves but I know you’ve never had any. What use would I have with those?” Marcos chuckled and led them up the stairs to the outside. Kaarthen could feel the shame in Mara, as she knew in a thousand years she could never compare to Augussi. The women began silently discussing what was seen, and what possible purpose they could serve for Marcos.
They walked out into the light and they were treated with a spectacular view from the doorway at the top of the stairs. It was like they had been borne out into the world again.
Marcos continued and thought aloud as they walked down and mounted. “Besides, would you let me train them? They could be trained to fight like humans, with swords or poison. Perhaps not Rinis or Mara, they would have to be left behind if we had to go fight. I have vampires in the army but they are not permitted in the city either. They guard the borders. They are both excellently trained, and were in the army before being… corrupted.” Marcos finished.
As they passed into the grounds of the Citadel, Kaarthen was amazed at the structures. The iron gate of the grounds was fragile compared the substantial bulk everywhere else.
Posted at the outside of the border, were coated city guards that were no different then the ones who patrolled the city and guarded the city-gates. Inside the gate, palace guards were armored head to toe in thick plate armor enameled in purple with highlights in bronze. The thick plating made them smooth for deflecting attacks. Their helmets were broad wide bowls that came down to their shoulders. Holes on the side, and a slit in front gave them places to see and hear. They wielded all metal halberds with sharp long spears and a narrow elegantly engraved axeface. The weapons were long and skinny compared to the wide armored behemoths.
Beyond the fence, ornate low bush gardens, flowers, and fountains made an elegant display. Several paces into the garden, Kaarthen realized she had vastly under estimated the size of the Citadel. At about two hundred yards the gardens stopped, a steep ramp took them lower until they were another two stories down. Kaarthen felt as if they were in a dungeon where the sun didn’t reach, as they walked up to a low tunnel in the outer walls. They passed under the outer walls that bridged over them and went up a short ramp into the palace courtyard. Within the Citadel walls, they were instantly among the hustle and bustle of a living breathing capital.
A pair of stable boys in purple livery came running up and took the reins. The women followed Marcos’ lead as he dismounted. Replacing his swords, he walked toward the wall. Along it, they could see the built in stables, barracks, armor-smiths, and blacksmiths. An open set of double doors on the side of the stables was a busy center of the people going in and out. There was another similar entrance on the opposite side of the entrance gate they came through.
Marcos walked towards the doors. Inside he walked down tight spiral stairs into a tunnel leading to the Citadel. The tunnel was the only clue that they were entering the palace. It was elegantly rendered with a mural and lighting along the ceiling. The walls had slits at the tops and guards on raised platforms stood watch looking down on them. At the end of the tunnel, they walked up wide stairs into the utilitarian areas of the palace. Around them, people everywhere moved briskly. Servants in livery, guards changing post, and soldiers with dispatch all moved quickly up and down around them. Several nobles with their retinue passed, they were dressed for a council meeting with the royalty or heading off into the city or surrounding areas. Few people passing, looked at them, and the nobles were the only ones who openly studied them as they passed.
Finally, they reached what felt like the top and they could feel the sun again. They stood in a T shaped hall, it opened in arms to the right and left and behind in a grand hall with high ceilings, and wide windows.
“As you noticed, the palace takes security very seriously. I will be taking you to the palace security official and have you all added to the rolls as my retainers.” Marcos said as they turned to the left and walked past various rooms, fountains, and curtained side chambers.
“There are no doors out. In point of fact, the only way in or out, is what we just passed through. You three will not be allowed out of the tower unaccompanied until you can defend yourselves. I will train all of you since I take my own security very seriously. Various people, ranging from curious to nefarious want to violate my privacy. I can’t have any weak links, and especially I cannot have liabilities. That minimum is exactly what I expect of all those who live with me. Be glad there will be nothing to miss. As we train, the city has excellent carnivals and festivals, but most are past until the harvest, solstice, and of course new years.” Marcos stated deliberately.
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