Iron Blooded

Despite learning about the Bastion of the Southern Lands, nothing could have prepared me from the sheer scale of it.

Ceris was gigantic, a two-tiered city surrounded by high walls of white stone. A castle parapet stood in each corner, banners flapping in the wind. The city itself was a sea of rooftops and streets, but at its center rose a tall domed building.

“The House of Refuge,” said Gills in way of explanation. “Home of the Lord Governor’s household and the court of Ceris. I’ve heard of it, but I’d never thought I’d see it for myself.”

He glanced ahead, where the long line of soldiers of the Kadian Army snaked steadily into the distance. The heat was grueling. We had all but drank our canteens dry, and the water supply on the pack horses and mules was growing light. I was anticipating replenishing our stock from the wells in the city.

The further the Army drew to the Ceris, the more apparent the effects of the war became. There were tents set up sporadically around the walls. Refugees in tattered clothes watched our path with hollow eyes. A few children played in the dust nearby, and their clothes hung off of their thin frames.

One of them saw me looking and waved. I waved back. When he saw my snake scale gauntlets his eyes grew wide.

“What happen to them?” I asked Draxus. The giant was using the last of the water in his canteen to splash his face and head beneath his helmet.

“Hard to say. I would have thought the city would have tried to admit them rather than leaving them to fend for themselves.”

Gills sighed.

I was beginning to suspect that this Lord Governor cared more for the flow of coin through his city than the lives of the people who lived within it.

The guards standing high on the walls looked like insects from where I stood below. A bell was rung, and the Portcullis was raised with a clatter of metal and chain.

Lord Blackthorne stood at the head of the Army, dark cloak drifting in the wind. From out of the gate came a procession of robed men, followed by household guards in the Dark Blue of Ceris.

One of the men stepped forward and bowed to Lord Blackthorne. The two of them spoke at length. I tried to catch their words but the wind carried them away.

After a long moment, Blackthorne nodded and swept a hand out.

The man in blue stepped forward and raised his voice to be heard over the wind.

“Welcome to Ceris,” he said. “The city of the South. Our great jewel is open to you, we only ask that you obey her laws and respect her culture. The Lord Governor welcomes you into our city with open arms.”

Many of the soldiers cheered as excited murmuring swept through the ranks. The mood had shifted from tired and hot, to anticipatory of comfort for the first time since the front lines.

The thought of spending some of my hard-earned coins in the bathhouses and scrubbing free the grime of the road filled me with anticipation. Perhaps there would even be time to explore the city itself.

We started forward and I stared up at the iron spikes of the Portcullis as we walked beneath them. It was hard not to feel like a mouse in the shadow of this city. Everything here felt larger than life.

People watched us as we made our way through the cobbled streets.

They hung out of windows and stood in doorways and alleys. Some were wide-eyed, and many waved. But I couldn’t help but notice a few hostile faces among the crowd. So, we were not entirely welcome here.

That would be worth taking note.

The Garrison building was long and stood just outside of the second wall. There was a long cobbled courtyard in which we were instructed to set up camp. I patted Gills on the shoulder as I set down my pack.

“I have a date with the bathhouses,” I said. “Unless you have need of me, I’ll be back this evening.”

Gills nodded and, glancing around, drew closer.

“Mind yourself around here,” he said. “We don’t know this city and I have a feeling not all of Ceris’s citizens are pleased with our arrival. If you must go, I would recommend going armed.”

He gave me a significant look. After a moment's hesitation, I decided to ket Iron fang on my belt, though I removed most of my armor to be scrubbed and cleaned by the washerwomen.

The Streets of Ceris were vibrant with activity. I was drawn towards a market stall by the smell of cooking meat. My stomach growled as I looked over the selection of small meatpies on display.

The stall’s proprietor, a short plump man with ruddy cheeks, smiled at me.

“I have an offer you can’t refuse young master,” he said eagerly. “Three pies for the price of two. Only six coppers for the lot.”

I pulled out my purse and was about to hand over the coin when a smooth feminine voice said.

“Funny, I heard you offer the patron before a copper penny a pie. Yet you overcharge this man and call it a deal.”

Azure eyes met mine as I turned. Joanna leaned against a nearby wall. She was wearing her Healer robes and her veil partially concealed her face. Yet by her voice and stance alone, I had no doubt of her identity.

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I turned back to the proprietor, eyebrow raised. The man shot Joanna an irritated look, then tried to cover it with a smile.

“My apologies sir,” he said. “A man must, after all, make a living. Life in Ceris can be challenging for many.”

Joanna snorted but didn’t otherwise respond. I paid a copper for each pie and stepped away from the stall. I held one out to Joanna.

“Spoils of war,” I said. She smiled and took it.

“Shouldn’t you be setting up camp with the other soldiers?” she asked.

“Shouldn’t you be doing the same with the other Healers?” Her lips twitched and she bit into the pie.

“I’m heading to the bathhouses,” I said. “I have it on good authority that I stink.”

She arched one golden brow.

“Yes, the Bath Houses offer many different…. Services. All of which are quite renowned. I was heading there myself before I saw you about to get swindled."

"My thanks."

I brushed crumbs from my hands, eying the signs along the road.

The path to the Bath Houses led us downhill toward the center of town. Here, the towns folk were more richly dressed, and I noticed more guardsmen patrolling.

I saw a few eye my road-worn clothes as I passed. Eventually, one of the Guardsmen stepped out from the shadow of a building.

“You, boy, where do you think you’re going?”

He stepped in front of me, halting my progress with a hand to the chest.

“You know the rules. Gutter rats aren’t allowed in Center City. Now scurry off before I have a mind to take my club to you,"

Joanna frowned.

“This man is a Knight of the realm,” she said. “You will address him as such.”

The Guardsman looked me over and laughed.

“And I’m the Duke of the North,” He spat on the ground by my boots. “Be gone, both of you, before my patience runs out.”

“Ser William!”

I was saved a retort by the sound of heavy boots on stone. I turned to see Ser Connel striding towards me, still dressed in road dusted plate. The Knight pulled up his visor and gave the Guardsman a withering look.

“Unhand him, sir.” He said. The Guardsman’s eyes widened and he hesitantly withdrew his hand from my chest.

“Ser Knight,” He said, bowing his head. “I was only doing my duty. The Lord Governor is quite strict in his policies regarding the center city. This street rat is not immune to the law.”

“Street rat?”

Ser Connel looked momentarily lost for words. “Are you blind man? Read his stats.”

The Guardsman hesitated and his eyes went momentarily vacant in the way that I’ve come to associate with people checking the system. Then his eyes went wide. He stepped aside, bowing at the waist. His ears were crimson.

“My sincerest apologies Ser Knight,” he said. “I had no idea….”

“Uh,” I said, now at a complete loss of what to say. I cleared my throat.

“Yes. Well. Don’t let it happen again.”

Joanna smirked.

“Of course Ser, yes Ser,” the man fumbled as we strode past.

“Thank you Ser Connel,” I said and the Knight waved a hand. “Don’t thank me yet Blackbriar. Lord Dacon has requested a favor from you. He asks that you meet him in the town square tomorrow after sun up. He has someone he wishes you to meet.”

I hesitated then nodded.

“Please tell him I would be honored.”

Ser Connel frowned.

“I’m not a messenger, Ser William. You can do as much yourself.”

He cut a glance at Joanna, eyes lingering a few moments to long on her chest.

“Lady Healer,” he said.

“Ser Knight.”

Ser Connel turned on his heel and rattled away, the feather on his helmet bobbing. Joanna snorted.

“What a strange man,” she said.

“Tell me about it.”

I held the door to the Bath Houses open and Joanna stepped in first. I was greeted instantly with the scent of soap and perfume. The interior was open and a cool breeze blew through. There was a wooden Podium behind which sat a woman. Behind her, a burly man wearing Iron knuckles stood guard. He eyed me and gestured to my dagger.

“No weapons.” He grunted.

I hesitated and the woman touched a hand to his arm.

“We can make an exception for a Knight,” she said warmly. “We only ask that you keep your weapon sheathed at all times. This establishment runs on it’s reputation, after all.”

“Of course.”

I brought out my leather purse and the woman’s smile widened.

“And what can I do for you, Ser Knight? Perhaps I can interest you in some of our…more exotic options. We have amassed quite a collection, I can assure you. Women from all corners of the world or men, if that’s what you’re into.”

“No,” I said, aware of Joanna’s eyes on me. “Thank you. I require a hot bath and a cup of wine. Nothing more.”

The woman arched her eyebrow but she didn’t contradict me. I paid a silver and a half and was led to a small room with wooden shelves. There I stripped off the clothing of the road and wrapped a linen towel around my waist.

I was led through a hall of stone columns and silk veils. I could hear the laughter of women somewhere nearby and the sound of plates clinking.

The servant led me to a quiet corner where a small bath steamed. I was given an extra set of towels, a glass of water, and a goblet of red wine.

Next, the Servant brought out a small dish of scented soups and herbs which he placed near the water.

“For your hair,” he said pointing to a soft-looking soap at the corner of the dish.I thanked him and he bowed before departing.

I sighed as I slid into the warm water. I leaned back against the cool tile, letting the warm loosen the tightness in my muscles. It felt good on my soreness, and I found myself relaxing fully for the first time since I had first joined the Army.

Taking a bar of soap that smelled vaguely of rosemary, I scrubbed myself clean. Steam swirled off my skin as the layers of dirt washed away.

Next, I ducked my head below the surface and scrubbed at my hair. Rivers of dirty water slid down my skin and the result was satisfying. When my hair was clean I reached for the goblet of wine and froze.

A notification had blipped at the edge of my gaze. I focused on it, and the Quest Menu popped open. Excitedly I scanned the new text that appeared.

Perquisites almost met, Quests 1/2 completed

New Quest: Locate the Winds of Autumn and hand over the Book of Souls

I wiped water from my face and read the text again, frowning. Perhaps it was a play on words. I turned the phrase over in my mind a few times but couldn’t make sense of it.

I lounged in the bath until the water cooled and my goblet of wine was empty. At last, having to admit no success making sense of the cryptic message, I rose from the bath and wrapped a clean Cloth around my waist.

I lifted Iron Fang from where it lay and turned to go.

A flicker of movement caught my eye. I turned, preparing myself, but what I saw wasn't what I had expected.

Joanna had risen from a bath several paces away, and begun wrapping herself in a towel.

She turned towards me and for the first time I saw her face without the Healers veil. Her golden hair was long and tumbled down her back and around her shoulders. Her cheekbones were high, and her face heart-shaped.

She was, without exception, one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen.

Full lips quirked upwards as she seemed to note my appraisal.

“Bold of you, Ser Knight, to admire me so openly.” She teased.

“I did not expect to see you here,” I said.

She nodded.

“The Bath Houses of Kadia are open to everyone. The patrons tend to behave themselves, so women and men are allowed to mingle.”

She threw her hair across one shoulder and her eyes combed my body, stopping at the V of my hips.

It had been a long time, and without intending to, my body responded to her. I turned away to hide the evidence of my arousal and tucked Iron Fang into the waist of my towel.

Joanna swept past me and I could have sworn I saw a smirk gracing her lips.

“Ser William,” she said.

I watched the sway of her hips as she walked, and decided I quite liked the sound of my name on her lips.

I examined the clean clothes in my inventory and sighed when I noticed the edges of my tunic were frayed. I dressed and pulled on my boots before standing.

I was a Knight, and it was time I saw to being outfitted like one.

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