--- Roric

"The weather is clearing up."

Roric glanced up to the cloudy sky. A grey veil had accompanied almost the entirety of the journey, and those first rays of sun were more than welcome. The boy, however, was growing impatient.

How much until Cassidia? The ambassador said it was a long trip, but I didn't imagine it would bring us this far into the South. I have never traveled so many miles at once!

The small group was still led by Andrew Virgil, the man in blue. General Hector Cremont followed him, keeping a close eye on Elise and especially Roric, who rode on the other side. During that time together, both the emissaries had been tolerant and allowed him to stay near the princess even if their mission clearly stated not to do so, despite the weird looks they were getting from the other two guards. Nonetheless, it was just a temporary solution. Once in Cassidia, they would have had to ask for permission.

They had traveled along the white road, never stopping for more than a couple of hours, changing horses whenever it was possible and avoiding any unnecessary contact with the many people whose paths crossed theirs. Not that anyone could have possibly recognized the daughter of the king, dressed as she was, yet the risk was always there. As Cremont had stated since the first day, a stranger suddenly asking why were the eyes of that girl so green and bright would have been rather unfortunate.

It took six days on horseback to reach the Republic's border with Cassidia and from there the group proceeded swiftly. Virgil decided to pass by a city called Norburg by night without entering its walls, grumbling something about the local nobles. Roric didn't ask, but guessed that bringing Elise there wasn't remotely a part of the plan.

The land became green and luxuriant. With that mild weather farms and orchards turned out huge, abundant, growing even more in size as they approached the capital. When the young warrior, stunned by the fact that one of them was bigger than an entire village in Guhrien, inquired about them, the ambassador simply said that Cassidia needed a lot of food. The population of the city, in fact, was so numerous that it required an equally oversized production.

Roric had been told that almost half of the people in the kingdom lived in the capital city and in its surroundings. An incredible feat, compared to the Republic, from which that land didn't differ much at a first glance. Yet, even a fool could tell that the touch of the sun wasn't the same there.

I have a feeling that the weather is much warmer. It should be October, yet it seems like late summer instead. How is this possible? Most trees are still bearing fruits!

"We do have a couple cold months," explained Virgil. "But it's nothing like in the Free Kingdoms. I heard that the climate in the North of the Republic can get freezing, which is a very rare occurrence here in Cassidia."

"Ambassador," stepped in Elise. "How long until the city?"

"We should spot it any moment, miss," answered the man. "Now that I think about it... You two haven't seen the sea before, haven't you?"

Roric got an inquiring look from the girl, and quickly shook his head.

"I know it's a kind of big lake," said the boy. "Its water isn't good to drink, though."

"That's more or less correct. It fills the entire horizon and goes even beyond. Many have tried to cross it, but it seems impossible."

Virgil stopped for a moment to hit his pipe. It seemed like he shared more than his current role with old Dominic, curiously.

"Some among your ancestors were known to be great sailors, miss," he continued. "There's always been a prosperous trade between us and the Merchant Cities, especially Orinna. It is told that... Wait, just beyond this slope. Look."

The young warrior stopped his horse a couple of meters ahead, speechless. Before his eyes lay a breathtaking view.

It's just like the ambassador was saying... No. Even more incredible.

White walls. Imposing towers. Countless buildings, dominated by a fortified hill. Cassidia extended for miles and miles along the coast, much larger than Rayol or any place Roric had ever visited. The white road led directly to the western gates of the city, disappearing into the many warehouses and production structures that crowded the outside area. Masses of people went back and forth through those doors, which already looked huge despite the distance.

"What... What in this world is that?" babbled Elise. "It can't be... Cassidia?"

"The heart of our kingdom, miss. Of your kingdom," said Virgil. "A monument to the greatness of your ancestors."

The girl seemed near the point of crying. She had never traveled before, that much her friend knew, but being put in front of something like that would have been astounding for anyone. Even for a person who had heard more than her about the big world.

It's not possible... How could mere humans build a city like that?

Roric dismounted, his legs trembling. Every aspect of that landscape, from the boundless waters in the background to the overseeing palace at the very top, defied everything he had assumed to know. His sight went up to the highest towers, where many windows shone like gems in the sun. Words weren't enough to describe what he was looking at.

If someone had told me about this just yesterday, probably I would have laughed. It's exaggerate... Elise's father lives up there, right?

"Ambassador," he asked. "We are headed to the summit, aren't we?"

The man laughed.

"No, young one. Only the members of the royal family and a bunch of others have the privilege to access the upper levels of the palace. But our path won't lead us that far from there. The throne room is on the lowest level of the palace, below those halls. You were just slightly off."

"On that hill..." murmured Elise. "That's where I'll meet my father."

"You alright?" said Roric.

The young princess took a deep breath and looked ahead, with a resolute expression.

"We came from the other side of the world for this very reason. There's no point in turning back now."

Meanwhile, General Cremont took out a cape and handed it to the girl.

"I must ask you to wear this from now on, Your... Miss," he advised, with his deep voice. "We don't plan to take any detour until the upper district, but you can't be too careful these days."

"Thanks, General."

Getting on his horse once again, Roric smiled.

Well, I can't help but be curious about this Cassidia.

***

The group approached the gates half an hour later.

Nobody dared to stop Virgil or his following. A quick wave of a royal sigil was enough to open every door of the city, for such an important man. Not to mention that the guards were hastily hopping to salute Cremont too, whenever he came into view.

The general was right, our escort isn't going to pass by unnoticed, unless we are very lucky. There's no way of knowing whose attention we could get, if we set foot in the wrong places.

As they walked, the ambassador went on explaining that Cassidia was built in a gulf and cut by the passage of its main roads. Towering above the merchants' quarter, at the very center, an artificial hill provided the footings for the royal palace and the upper district, where the wealthiest people and the nobles lived. That area was defended by walls that could reach a hundred feet of height in certain points, Virgil said, and from the top one could see every landmark of the capital at once. All around lay markets, shops, residential quarters, that became gradually poorer and less important the further they were from the King's seat of power.

In the western part of Cassidia, not too far from its core, one could easily spot the Great Temple, second in size only to the one of the Holy City itself. The cult of the Makers was very prominent in that kingdom, reason why its worshippers needed a building so grand and majestic and its surroundings were rather safe to walk through. The eastern districts of the city, on the other hand, were a little newer and less organized. There were even some slums near the outer walls, clear proof that living there was way harder than in the rest of the capital. Still, deeming it as the worst part of Cassidia would have been a hasty judgement.

In the very middle of that area, in fact, was another important building, a massive pinnacle surrounded by flowery gardens. It was the tower of the Circle, the headquarters of the Mages, allowed to live within Cassidia's walls by its founder, King Lanis, the man who had formalized their function and service for the country. The presence of a similar landmark at least made it sure that the main road was safe enough, but the same couldn't be said about the overcrowded quarters all around.

Lastly the entire coastal line, just a mile or so South and East from the palace, was completely occupied by the harbour. The kingdom had a fleet of well-made freighters that sailed along the continent, bringing in and out impressive amounts of merchandise and profit, and even some armed warships in case of necessity.

Roric and Elise couldn't help but looking left and right as they traversed the capital, with their mouths open, just listening to Virgil's improvised lesson.

I... I could get lost here in one or two minutes. The entire southern valley couldn't possibly contain it. That's how vast Cassidia is. I don't think even Elise imagined it to be this big.

The girl had been silent since they had passed the gates. At first the young mercenary just thought that she was as amazed as him by the city, but then he realized that the more they closed the distance with the royal palace, the more she became nervous.

"Elise," he said. "Are you scared?"

She nearly jumped on the horse, like she had been brought back from another world.

"No... No, I'm not," she replied, with a shy smile. "I'm just trying to get used to all of this and it's not easy. Fradot and the valley are nothing but a small garden compared to this place, don't you think?"

"You liar."

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"I know it's because of him."

Elise sighed, and looked away.

"The moment we left the village, I couldn't help but thinking that I was going to meet my father, at last. It tormented my sleep every night on the road. Yet, now we are here. The day has come."

"I could feel it... You think you won't be able to find the words, don't you?" asked the boy.

"I... I don't know. What kind of person will he be? What-"

"I'm with you. Remember our promise? Together till the end."

It's not like I can tell her what I really think, now that the situation is so delicate. I don't want to ruin her big moment, but... A king is a king. And she is a princess now. If he doesn't want me near her, then... Well, he'll have the right to send me away. Why do I have to think about this now...

"Thanks, Roric," whispered the girl. "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."

Roric gave her a quick nod and turned to the other way, so that she couldn't see his reddened face. He surely hoped that the ruler of such a great kingdom would have been at least as nice as his daughter.

But it's too early to tell... And too late to have second thoughts.

***

From the market district, where in just a few minutes Roric saw at least fifteen kinds of fruit he couldn't recognize, the road began twisting and going up towards the palace. As the group got closer to its imposing walls, it became evident that even conceiving that kind of fortifications wasn't a small feat. Now that he was in their shade, the young warrior was forced to admit that assaulting that place would have been a complete waste of time, even for the strongest armies of all the Free Kingdoms.

The seat of a king... I wonder what it looks like from the inside.

"We are almost there, miss," announced Virgil. "Just a few more minutes and our trip will be concluded."

"Thanks, ambassador," replied Elise. "Tell me, is there anything I should know about my father, before I meet him? It saddens me, but I have no idea of what kind of person he is."

"King Sebastian," stepped in Cremont, with a serious tone. "He used to be what you would call a warrior king. A couple of years before your birth, when I was nothing more than an officer, our Lord nearly lost his left leg in a battle against the republicans. We won the war, yet he couldn't fight in the frontlines as before and just led the army from a safe spot. People who were close to him at that time told that being unable to join his soldiers made him feel terrible, and weak. For our king's spirit shone on the battlefield, and nowhere else."

"I can't understand," commented the girl. "Why was he so fond of fighting?"

"Your father is noble at heart, miss," explained Virgil. "He believes that protecting Cassidia and bringing it glory is the noblest aspiration for a member of your lineage, and a top priority. His constant wars brought him close to death so many times that even his subjects couldn't bear to see him fighting anymore, so I guess that his wound helped him in some way."

"So, the city loves its King?"

"And the King loves them in return, in his own way. Everyone here in Cassidia would die for that man, and follow him to hell and back. Still, he can't avoid everyone being concerned for his well-being."

It reminds me of Fradot, actually. The way Elise used to act with her villagers, what she represented for them... They believed her every word just because they loved her. It was really something due to her royal lineage, after all. Still, after what happened...

"Would you say he is a good ruler?" asked Roric, suddenly.

The ambassador turned towards him, perhaps surprised that a commoner had the guts to interrupt a high-standing conversation like that.

"Cassidia has always been a great, powerful kingdom, boy. The kings of Lynn's blood were all wise and strong, for the most part, and he doesn't make an exception. Under their guide, these lands have prospered for centuries, and more than ever since King Sebastian ascended to the throne. Trust me, if you ever get the chance to meet him in person you'll understand."

Roric didn't answer, because he didn't want to make a fuss of it. He was growing curious about that Sebastian, instead.

"Hey, Elise," he whispered. "How do we know that your father won't just kick me out, exactly?"

His friend laughed in a weird way. She seemed a little less nervous than before, yet still concerned by something.

"Don't worry. I'm going to tell him that you saved my life twice, and I'm sure it will be enough. Weren't you the one who fought alone against so many enemies? If he values courage as much as Virgil said, there's no way he won't like you."

"I... I hope you are right."

Come to think about it... She has never met a nobleman before, has she? What if the King turns out to be someone like Lady Leanna? Or even like Ainar, the commander of the paladins in Rayol? To be honest, I'm not that eager to know...

"The gates, finally," exclaimed general Cremont.

At the end of the road there were two massive, reinforced doors, covering the only opening in the wall. Roric and Elise had been told that there was another entrance on the northern side, but it wasn't used as often as that one. Four soldiers, dressed in much more elaborate armour than those around the city, stood below the arc. When they recognized the ambassador, they moved aside and bowed to let him and his following pass.

"Welcome home, Ambassador."

"Hail to you, general."

The upper district was even richer than Roric expected. Noblemen's mansions, all decorated with blue and white standards and motives, exquisite gardens and marbled roads were all built around the palace, that even at that height still seemed to tower above everything else. Important-looking people walked in and out of its main building without any rush, accompanied by their personal escorts and servants, but they didn't really seem very occupied.

Roric followed Virgil in awe across a wide plaza, getting closer and closer to the front porches of the royal palace. Everything was so elegant, compared to what he was accustomed to, that just being there felt like exploring a different world.

"Shouldn't there be a welcoming, or something?" quietly inquired Elise. "I... I am the princess, after all."

The ambassador shook his head.

"Impossible. His Majesty ordered us to keep our mission secret, miss. The simple fact that you insisted on bringing your friend here put us at risk already-"

"Ambassador," pointed out the girl. "It may be true that I've always lived like a mere farmer, but watch your words."

"My apologies, miss," politely replied the man. "By the way, I would ask your permission to address you appropriately once again."

Elise sighed noticeably. "Alright. I should be getting used to it, sooner or later."

The group stopped and dismounted, heading to the entrance while a couple of servants rushed to take the horses.

"Your Highness!" exclaimed Cremont, who seemed overjoyed from hearing those words coming from his own mouth. "I must beg my leave for now. I hope your meeting with the King will be the most pleasant."

"Of course, general. Thanks for your protection on the road."

Elise followed Virgil inside and Roric moved as if to join them, but the general grabbed his shoulder and dragged him back.

"Roric!" complained the girl. "General, I thought you would-"

"He will be treated as a guest, Your Highness," stepped in the ambassador, glaring at Cremont. "But there's a protocol to follow. Commoners have to enter the palace from a side door, along with the servitude."

"That's unjust! After all he's done... I oppose!"

"Don't worry, Elise," said the young warrior. "I'm alright. If these are the rules, I see no harm in respecting them. We'll see each other later, once you are done."

His friend had never looked so distraught and out of place.

"Promise me. Promise that you aren't going to leave."

"Why would I? I'll be at your side, just like we said."

"Fine. I'll try to convince my father that you deserve his thanks, when I get the chance. You'll see, I'll manage to get you in."

"Until then, we should hurry," commented Virgil. "The King hates waiting."

After a last, sad glance, Elise turned away and disappeared behind the doors. The servants closed them hastily after her passage.

"Come, kid," Cremont called for him. "We both need a bath, after so many days on the road."

Roric sniffed himself, and had to agree.

Well, at least I'm not wearing armour like him.

While he followed the man towards the side of the palace, the boy noticed some people who kept watch from a terrace many meters above, wearing rich vests and mantles. He couldn't see much more, because they moved away shortly after, but they had clearly the air of superiority that was typical of nobles.

Of course I'm not welcome. It's all in the hands of Elise, now.

***

--- Elise

Ambassador Virgil escorted the girl through what seemed to be a maze of corridors, rooms and staircases, until they finally reached some quarters intended for the guests. There, three female servants and another woman, who looked in her late twenties, were waiting for them.

"Your Highness," announced the lady, stepping forward and bowing with grace "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lady Annette, daughter of the noble Knight Locke, Master of Finances and a close counselor to your father the King. I was appointed as your lady-in-waiting, Princess. I have studied for many years to play this role, and I won't disappoint you."

She was dressed with much finer clothes than Elise's. A long blonde braid completed her noble, sophisticated features. The girl couldn't help but notice a slight change in her expression when she noticed her poor apparel.

This woman has something strange, I can already feel it.

"Look, mistress!" exclaimed one of the three servants. "She has the same eyes! The same beautiful eyes of the descendants of Lynn!"

"This way, Your Highness" echoed another one, clapping excitedly. "You have the same features as the King, even! We are going to make you beautiful in no-"

"Who told you could talk?" roared Lady Annette.

The servants shut their mouths instantly and quickly cowered in fear and reverence. Annette's trembling hands went to cover her own mouth, like she had spitted out the worst of the insults.

"My apologies, Your Highness," she said, bowing again. "I didn't mean to raise my voice. Please forgive these impudent attendants and their big mouths."

Elise shook her head slowly, looking for the right words.

"No... There's nothing to apologize for, Lady Annette," babbled the girl. "These three didn't do any harm."

The woman's eyes went wide. "If... If you say so, Princess. Now, we must get you prepared for your first official meeting. There's much to do, and little time..."

"Now that I think about it, what did you say you were?"

Annette cleared her throat and gave one last glare to the female servants, who were still standing behind her, their eyes fixed on the marble floor.

"I am your lady-in-waiting, Princess. My job is to take care of your needs here at the palace and accompany you wherever you go. I will be your faithful assistant and confidant. I will be sure that you aren't late, dirty or badly dressed. No matter the day or the hour, my gaze won't leave you for a minute. Now, I was entrusted with the important task of getting you ready for this afternoon, and as I said time grows short."

She seems a little too obsessed with her job. Can't say that I like her presence very much. It's making me a little uneasy, to be honest.

"Thanks for the explanation," replied Elise, because she didn't want to argue. "Can you show me the way? I can bathe by myself."

The lady-in-waiting shivered, and looked down like someone had just delivered her some news about the end of the world.

"Wait, wait!" exclaimed the princess. "Fine, you four can be in there with me, if you desire so, but take it easy for now. I'm not used to be taken care of by strangers, that's all."

With a last, deep bow, the woman stood and rushed inside the room, along with one of the servants. The other two waited for Elise with dreamy faces.

"Uhm... Ambassador?"

"Oh, right," said the man, turning back on his heels. "I'll make sure that the King is informed of your arrival, for now. Lady Annette will tell you the rest."

He marched away along the corridor, clearly embarassed by his lack of focus.

Virgil must be exhausted, after so many weeks on the road. But he still fulfills his duty without blinking an eye. It's incredible...

The girl suddenly noticed that her lady-in-waiting was just a couple of steps ahead of the door, looking at her expectantly.

"Princess?"

"Fine," sighed Elise. "I'm coming."

***

What happened inside that bathroom, at first, was pure nightmare.

Lady Annette thoroughly examined Elise, making a list of everything that had to be fixed before her encounter with King Sebastian, and that scared her so much that she almost thought about escaping. Along with her bath they even wanted to cut her hair, paint her fingernails, and put make-up on her face.

Being raised with no women at home, the girl went through that treatment as if it her servants were desecrating her own being. Still, at some point, she finally noticed something. Her lady-in-waiting, in fact, was a lot more tactful than her earlier obsessed attitude could suggest. She didn't alter any of her features, asking every time for her taste and opinion on the matter, because she wanted her to feel alright, not just to look alright.

That woman was like a sculptor, just a lot less brutal. She ordered the three people at her disposal around, with extreme care for making the princess comfortable. When she reached Elise's hair, Annette only removed a few strands and let the rest stay as it was, to the girl's disbelief. If something had changed, she couldn't really tell.

When they were done, Elise was dressed with a comfortable shirt, wrapped up in a silk towel and moved to the next room. Inside, there was literally an ocean of womanly dresses.

Woah! I've never seen such an amount of clothing before. And is it intended for a single person?

The lady-in-waiting provided her princess with a vast choice of garments, all in blue and white tints. She explained that those colours represented the kingdom, and the daughter of its ruler was expected to wear them with pride.

Elise opted for a long tunic, far flashier than anything she had ever owned, fastened at the waist with a belt made of pure silver. This latter piece was engraved with the insignia of the royal family, some sort of bird-and-shield motive.

"Now we are talking," commented Lady Annette, with a satisfied expression. "You look way more like a princess now, Your Highness."

The girl found a mirror and looked at it for what felt like minutes, struggling to recognize herself.

"One last touch," said the woman. "May I?"

"Sure..."

A beautiful hairpin, adorned with a green stone that mimicked the colour of Elise's eyes, was put on her head. Then Annette took a couple of steps back, admiring the results of her job.

"Marvelous, Princess."

Despite feeling a little uncomfortable in those clothes, Elise had to admit that they suited her pretty well. Even the three female servants that were witnessing the scene from a respectful distance seemed in awe by her very presence now.

"You did great, Lady Annette," she observed. "Sorry if I doubted you earlier. As I said, nobody has ever done this much for me."

The lady-in-waiting bowed. "I'm pleased to hear about it, Your Highness. You'll get used to it, with time. Now, shall we proceed?"

"Sure. Tell me where to go. I can't wait to see my father."

"No, not that fast." replied the woman, shaking her head. "I still have to instruct you about the correct protocol to follow. You are to be admitted in the presence of a king, after all."

Except he's my father... And I have never seen him before.

That was what Elise would have said, but in that moment it was probably wiser to just shut up and let Annette proceed.

So, over the course of the next hour, the girl was told how to behave once she would have entered the throne room. There was an impressive amount of rules to remember, and to be fully honest she didn't really think that all of them were that important. Still, her lady-in-waiting took great care in explaining them in full detail.

The mind of the princess, however, was partially somewhere else. Dressed as a person she hadn't completely accepted to be, sitting in that great palace in a foreign country... And separated from the only friend she had.

Damn... I wish Roric was here. Are they treating him well, I wonder?

Elise was concerned about the meeting with her father, as well. For what she had been able to learn, he was a powerful man with a lot of ambition, and a love for strength and warfare. Ambassador Virgil had also mentioned that he was a bit impulsive, having his own blood hidden in an extreme effort to protect it.

Truth to be told... Am I ready to forgive him for the many years lost?

The girl answered Lady Annette's questions on instinct, repeating mechanically what she was saying. Making a good first impression on him would have been crucial, but at that point she wasn't sure of what to think anymore. For an instant, she dreamt about her mountains again.

"And with this, you are ready," announced Annette. "Now, you must follow me."

Guided by the lady-in-waiting, Elise went a second time through the corridors of the palace, eyed with curiosity by anyone they would cross paths with. Her right hand went to her heart, and it was pounding.

Calm down. Makers, I'm so scared...

Every wall and corner of that huge building seemed ready to collapse on her at any given moment. Had she walked into a prison? In the nest of someone she would have ended hating?

Elise couldn't know. Nobody could.

"We are here," said the woman who was guiding her, once they reached a massive portal.

It was guarded by two armoured men, wrapped up in blue capes, who didn't even turn to face the princess or her new acquaintance. The robust wood went up for at least thirty feet and had been sculpted with scenes of battles and heroes, none of which Elise recognized, but probably all her relatives.

She took a deep breath. "I'm ready. Let's go."

With a nod, Annette approached the portal.