Chapter 21 Vulcas, Capital of The Mountaineer Kingdom

❄Snow❄

Snow was leveling with Lussuria on the scheduled plans. The fort was disappearing behind them as they resumed the journey.

“We are going to settle our belongings at the inn we are staying at. Then…we will go to the Mage Guild first, after them, we will go to the Knight Councilor’s manor. The City Hall and the Head Councilor will be saved for last.” Snow reaffirmed.

“Very well, this should be fairly quick then. Do you think we should split up? Because the mage guild doesn’t take visitors unless they have been approved ahead of time. That doesn’t apply to me of course, but you…”

“No, Arthur explained to me that splitting up isn’t wise. We can just wait outside while you handle your task in there.”

“I see…oh, one more thing Snow. Did you know the Mountaineer Kingdom has a life-sized praefectus chess board that they move around with magic? It’s supposed to be very impressive. You want to try playing it?”

“After we get the job done, sure, I can agree to that. Are you trying to even the score?” Snow raised an eyebrow with a profound smirk.

“Hey, don’t get cocky. You only won once!”

“A win is a win. Especially against you and your “perfection.”

After some time, the weather started getting warm, at least it appeared that way to the plants and animals they passed on their journey. As frostblooded, Snow and Lussuria were separate from such things. The landscape gradually transformed from grass and trees into stone and dirt; the dirt trail they were traveling on turned into stone. This road felt so much smoother under their carriage’s wheels. Eventually, they drove over an incline and the Capital of the Mountaineer Kingdom appeared in the distance; The famously massive dark mountains that stabbed into the sky, with a city whose walls looked as if they were made of one solid piece of rock instead of slabbed stones or bricks. The Mountaineer’s capital was called Vulcas, its city walls stretched from the ground all the way up into the mountains. If the city behind those walls matched them for size, then it was at least four times the size of the Regalian capital.

“Wow, Vulcas is so much bigger in person!” Snow exclaimed.

“Yes, the city has three districts, which some consider to be three cities fused into one. The Regal District at the very top where the king resides, the Noble district partially embedded into the middle of the mountain and finally the Common District where just about all day-to-day activity happens; this includes the Council Hall at ground level.” Arthur explained as he took out some colorless crystals. “Alright, Princess Snow, Princess Lussuria, if you would allow me, I need to disguise your hair color.” He then held the crystal in his hand tightly before he used his magic to heat it, causing it to take on a brown color.

“If you would allow, I must touch your hair.”

“I have been victimized by this carriage ride already. My pristine hair must be next?” Lussuria asked rhetorically, upset but resigned. Arthur answered her anyway.

“You two will be the only ones with white hair in the districts, unless you rather wear a hood? That will surely be worse for your hair.” Arthur stated. The expression on his face was neutral, but there was amusement dancing in his eyes.

“Just don’t mess it up further!” Lussuria complained as she leaned her head forward towards him.

Arthur lightly touched her hair and the crystal’s new color spread, turning Lussuria’s hair brown. Even her eyebrows and eyelashes had changed color.

He then did the same to Snow.

Lussuria took out a hand mirror and studied her reflection.

“Hm…I wonder… could I be a Mountaineer model now? What would I be called? ‘Lussuria, the brown-haired beauty’ or maybe ‘Lady of the Mountain?’. I am not a fan of dyeing hair, but this will do. Arthur, you seem to have quite the color pallet. Ha, who knew? Maybe I should convince Mother your true calling lies in model design.” Lussuria jovially said.

“I’ll take that as a compliment, I guess. " Arthur shrugged.

“What about our eyes?” Snow asked, remembering the other feature that could reveal who they were.

“The hair is sufficient enough. There isn’t a single Frostblood that doesn’t have white hair. The public would sooner believe the sky is purple, than in the possibility of a Frostblood not having white hair.”

The carriage pulled up to the massive front gates, but there was traffic and they had to wait in line. Guards checked each of the carriage loads before they were allowed to enter. On their left there was a secondary line of slaves who were all linked by a long chain being counted and walked into the city.

“This isn’t a public visit, so we need to enter as lowborn nobility. If they check inside, do not speak.” Arthur warned, reminding them of the covert nature of their visit.

They eventually were up next. The front guard spoke with Crow, he handed the guard a piece of paper and while they were having the exchange several guards were examining the bottom of the carriage and looking inside the windows.

“Any goods or weapons?” The guard asked Crow.

“No sir, just visiting from Ignia.” Ares responded in his stead. Ironically, Ares was from this realm so he must have been best suited to talk to the guards. Even though he sounded playfully sarcastic.

“You sure? We just need to record it for entry, that’s all.”

“One hundred percent. No goods, No weapons. Just visiting and the roads are safe this time of year.” Ares responded to the repeated inquiry.

But what of Ares’ axe? Snow remembered he brought one. She could see from the open sliding window that the axe he usually held at his side was gone. At a closer look Snow saw that his armor had changed slightly, Ares now had shiny metallic armor over his left arm.

“Very well, Welcome to Vulcas.”

They were let through.

Once they passed into the city proper, it was like they had run into a wall of noise. Even near the entrance, the sound of the trade taking place further down the road was shockingly loud compared to their usually calm home: from merchants hawking their wares, to the voices of singers and street performers, to the sound of cattle-the city’s heart in the Common District was filled with energy.

“Wow, I can’t believe how packed this city is!” Snow said, watching the city out of the window.

“Yeah this place is large, however it's clear some of these people could use some more hygiene.” Lussuria’s lip curled as she pinched her nose after a man clearly in need of an immediate washing passed by her window.

They continued down the main road until they reached the Grand Council Hall building which was the center of the common district. It was made of white marble, with a giant set of stairs. This monumental structure was a beacon in the sea of wooden buildings that were all over the common district. The carriage stopped across the street from it.

“Okay Princesses, this is it.” Arthur declared as they exited what had been their home for the journey to this city.

“I thought we were stopping at the inn first? This is the Council building.” Lussuria said as she stretched in maneuvers that looked nothing so much as a fashion model posing for a crowd of potential investors.

“This inn is right here.” Arthur motioned his head to the building they were parked in front of. To be fair, it didn’t even look like an inn. It looked like an abandoned shop front. It was also very small. Snow knew the inn would be discreet by her mother’s words, but she didn’t expect discreet and decrepit to be the same thing in this situation. She looked towards Lussuria, knowing her sister all too well. Sure enough, her sister’s eyes were beginning their steady journey to joining the rest of the shocked look of disbelief on her normally self-assured face.

“Lussuria don’t start, it’s fine. Trust me.” Snow caught Lussuria by the hand just as she took a breath for what was no doubt going to be a very attention drawing diatribe. The younger sister looked at the older one before closing her mouth as her shoulders slumped. Together, they walked inside.

Luckily, the inside was very clean and looked like an actual livable space compared to the outside appearance. There was a front desk, a cooking area to the side and a staircase to which Snow could only assume led to the sleeping rooms.

The innkeeper was present, but it seemed he was sleeping with his feet up on the desk. Snow, Lussuria and Arthur approached while Crow and Ares waited outside.

“Hello?” Snow cautiously greeted, tapping the bell by his feet, hoping to get his attention. But it was not to be, for it seemed be this man was a harder sleeper than Lussuria.

“Sir?” She attempted to greet him again, but it fell on deaf ears as the only response she got was the sound of his snores.

Lussuria, patience already frayed, leaned over the desk, and aimed to take her frustration out on him.

“Hello! Aren’t you on the clock?! Stop sleeping on the job!” She yelled as she shoved his feet off the desk. His snores cut off abruptly and his eyes opened slightly, as Lussuria and Snow stood in front of him, one huffing mad and the other bemused.

“Well, you’re loud and obnoxious.” He commented before closing his eyes again. Lussuria, shocked into silence at first at the swift insult, reacted and yelled again.

“Obnoxious?! How does an innkeeper sleeping on the job find the courage to speak such hypocritical words? Or maybe it’s just shamelessness? If anything, you’re the obnoxious one!”

“Lussuria, let me speak to him.” Snow stepped in front of her.

“Sir, we were expected, can you tell us which room we are supposed to be in? Sorry if we disturbed your rest. The quicker this interaction ends successfully, the faster you can resume your sleep.”

“Hm…” He looked at Snow in a contemplating manner, before looking at Lussuria again. “See? Why can't you be more like this nice girl right here, Ms. Curly hair?” He reached down and grabbed something, flinging it onto the desk a moment later. It was a key. “Room Three, it’s the one at the end of the hall, up those stairs. Doors lock at nightfall, but you can sneak in through the window from the alleyway. Have a nice stay.” He stated, as he closed his eyes, got comfortable and went back to sleep.

Lussuria looked like she was about to explode.

“You’re such a-!”

Snow interrupted, as she started pushing her up the stairs.

“Thank you, sir!” Snow exclaimed, nervously laughing. But he was already asleep.

The room was small, but it would do. Arthur had brought up their belongings and told them that he would be in front whenever they decided to leave. The room was simple: two beds, one desk and a very small balcony that overlooked the street leading up to the Council Hall.

“Well, we are finally here.” Snow said as she adjusted the curtains.

“The beds are surprisingly comfortable. No doubt approved by that slumbering fool.” Lussuria noted while combing her hair to her heart’s content, seated on the bed.

This was it. They had finally arrived. With all things considered, everything had run smoothly so far. Snow needed to stay focused. She needed to get this done, not just for her sake, for Randal’s family. Once their stuff was all unpacked Snow was ready to get going.

“Lussuria you ready to go?”

Lussuria rose from the bed.

“Yes, I need to stretch my legs. Let us depart.”