Howling Thunder 15: The boys are back in town

------------------------------------------------------------

“I see….something...green.”

Patra lazily looks around us, “grass?”

Puffing my chest pointlessly, “Haha, No. You’ll never guess this one.”

Akane calls out from in the wagon, “It’s your skirt or chest wrap Patra.”

Sticking my head into the wagon over the driver bench, “Hey! Why you helping her?”

She complains, “It’s all you’ve been looking at all day.”

Patra smiles, and gives me a wink while tracing a finger along her thigh, slightly pulling back the edge of her sarong.

Of Course it was her skirt….. “Ok, Lil sis than it’s your turn.”

She pokes her head out, “I see...Something white!”

Eh? White?

Patra squints forward, “Looks like we’ve arrived little pups.”

In the distance I can see a what looks like a white mountain.

As we get closer the first thing to hit me is the smell. Hundreds of strange scents caught in the breeze, smithies, bakeries, masses of people….sewage.

The guards accompanying us take turns hopping into wagons, changing into official looking uniforms. Light breastplates shining silver, blue and white cloth, white fur trimmings, a blue hilted short sword at their slim waists with matching hilt, lightly bouncing against their silver faulds that tightly encase the women's hips. The skirt covers to the knee where it meets tall blue boots with shining shin guards.

Finished with a simple iron spear with blue decorations and a small metal buckler with the image of a white wolf head on blue background. The ensemble looks quite fetching and matches our tribe’s characteristic grey hair and fur very nicely.

After I finish changing into a freshly cleaned set of armor myself, I can now make out details of the grand city in the distance. A small plateau looks out over the high, grey stone walls. Atop rests a castle with countless towers, the tallest central tower even pierces the clouds. From it, dozens of what look like bridges connect to each tower.

“Patra, what are all those bridges?”

She doesn’t even look, to busy fussing over my sister’s outfit, “The aqueducts, water from the Yoden Grail flows endlessly from the throne room in the castle bringing fresh water to the entire city. Once we pass the walls you’ll see that that spread like a spider’s maze to all the major towers in city and from their to fountains constructed in the major squares of each district. A design from my own clan I should add… well those coastal mutts might of helped as well.”

Maug sighs, “She means the Nico Tribe boy, the golden wolves she mutters about occasionally.”

A magic treasure granting an endless supply of fresh water would no doubt make any city stand out, add on the highly defensible plateau that can be mined for white stone, the large river for travel and trade. The list of reasons for calling the capitol a wonder of the world seems peerless.

The lead wagon is uncovered and converted into an open carriage, we’ll be arriving in style.

Sounds from the city begin to reach my ears as we get closer to the walls that seem ever more grand the closer we get.

Hammers on boats in a dockyard, yells, wagons, the hooves from countless horses pulling carts, the din begins to blur together.

People begin to gather along the road as we pass through the simple homes surrounding the city. I shouldn’t say they look poor, their clothes are in good repair, hair isn’t completely unkempt.

Maug notices my gaze from the wagon floor, “No one this close to the main road will truly be poor, there are slums in the areas farthest from the gates… don’t bother with any of it Fuzzy Toy. Freki isn’t so kind to those who completely lack ambition and leech of the dregs of someone else’s glory.”

Akane chuckles, “The day my brother is accused of being charitable is the day I’m also declared a saint.”

Maug cackles, “Hehe well in any case I should depart before you reach the great bridge, we will see eachother again sometime pup. Madam Inari.”

With a small bow of his head towards mother, the black warg sneaks out of the wagon in a wisp of black fog. I barely catch a glimpse of the back of a black haired man strolling away down an ally.

We near a bridge wide enough for several wagons, small carts with wares have even been set up along it’s sides. A diversity of people I never even imagined watches us pass by. Men, women, and children of all shapes and sizes, various patterns and colored furs, tail lengths, horns, a few fellows even walk on a pair of hooves.

Some people I even recognize to be humans, elves, and dwarves. A few sparse wolf tribe, city guards patrol about in armors a bit less high end then our own guards. Every one steps aside for us and looks in curiosity, a few even scowl at me.

I was warned my black fur would attract such scowls, but I’m a bit surprised they do it so openly.

Mother frowns, “Ignore it all my pup, if they blindly fear and scorn you so then what need do you have to concern yourself with their opinions.”

“Ha,” I have to chuckle, “Barely any different than the den mothers… I don’t imagine going for a stroll in this city will bring me any peace or enjoyment. The faces gazing your way certainly have a reverence to them however.”

In a mock pride, “Well, I am the Inari, a founding figure of this city that hasn't been seen outside the den for over a hundred years… It’s annoying, this place is annoying…”

She begins to mumble to herself in a pouting manner.

Meanwhile Akane gazes expectantly forward at the city walls as we cross the bridge. Walther seems distracted by the large warships moored in the river, their masts bare of sails, the crew must be in town. Each ship seems to have the carving of some beast at its front. The bridge itself seems to have a mechanism to part and allow ships to sail beneath it at the center.

The wagon slows as we reach the front gate, giving time for the watchmen to open them completely as opposed to the smaller entry which would normally be used for a wagon the size of ours.

Now I see everything from the ground up. White and grey towers reach for the sky, at the level before their blue roofs, the aqueducts pass through before stretching to the next tower. The sound of water can be heard from everywhere.

Every shop imaginable lines the grey stone paved road, from flowers to weapons. Looking back I can spot Patra in the next wagon scoffing at the wares shown in windows. I guess such items don’t meet her standards. Mother ignores everything, nothing seems worth her notice. Akane seems to have her eyes caught by armor shops rather than dresses on display, she excitedly points out each new thing to Walt.

Now so even more people are frowning or averting their gaze from me, not exactly a warm welcome so far. Do I need to stay in the castle? Will other places in town be the same, the crafting area where Patra stays, the academy where the twins study? Is the castle any different even?

“Maybe staying in Yoden isn’t the best idea.”

Mother hears me, “This is your city, if you don’t like it, change it. However I'll bet you'll be plenty entertained."

Walther’s city, not mine… whatever, I’m sure I’ll find something entertaining.

As we start winding up the road towards the castle, the shops and clothes on people start to get fancier.

I poke Aka, “Keeping a lookout for any cute rich boys to tame? You could have your own little harem yourself you know.”

While she seems to take a moment to digest what I just said, Mother frowns.

Finally Akane gasps, “Absolutely not! The only men allowed near me or my bed are Fuzzy and Walty. I’ll find a troop of servant girls to take care of everything.”

Scratching my chin nervously, “I was just kidding little sister, but I think there are a few things wrong with what you just said…. Are we there yet?!”

Mother rolls her eyes and points forward, “One more bend and we’ll reach the front gates of the castle. Tonight will be a feast for the nobles, you’ll be introduced to the nobility individually. There is a private meeting with your father, then you’ll be shown to yours rooms.”

Can’t help but have a dry tone, “Yipee.”

The wagons snake up the city that seems carved right out of the plateau before finally reaching a landing and a large gated courtyard surrounded by gardens. The front door of the castle is massive, made from the wood of the gigapines and tinted blue.

I hop down first and offer a hand to Akane who seems happy to play at actually being a dainty princess … her height, flaming hair, and brash attitude rarely allow it.

She lets out a girlish giggle and takes a place beside me.

Walther is next, to him I also raise my hand, “Allow me, Madam.”

He grins and places a hand on my head to hop down instead.

Mother happily takes my hand as the large castle doors open for us.

A white furred, male guard in armor similar to the ones guiding us walks out and takes a small bow, “Welcome Madam Inari, and Young Lord Alphas, to Yoden Castle.”

It might be quite the moment if this fellow didn't smell like ball sweat.

--------------------------------------