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It wasn’t allthat different. Or Keld itself wasn’t at least.
My first step into Dra Skor, I let my magic flare, feeling a sweet rush of relief travel along my skin as my magic burned with it. I could still use my Enchantment in a land where none of the locals could. My next two steps had brought plenty of stares and whispers in our direction, each of us lit up and trying to use our magic. Emric even went as far as to push our boat back off the dock in a breeze as soon as we were all on land.
We had found the nearest guard, who was at a station not far from the shore, and by the looks of it already headed in our direction, and then we checked ourselves into lodging to await news from the castle. Of course, two guards from the station followed us, but we had expected as much.
The temperature was slightly warmer. Contrary to how John made it sound, there wasn’t a whole slew of animals waiting to pummel us on the shore. We hadn’t seen any animals at all. At a first glance, Keld seemed so much like Nerede that it felt like I was back at my most recent home on the sea. The only glaring difference was that Keld did not seem to have electricity, but I wasn’t sure if that was true of all of Dra Skor, or just here.
As our first night in Keld bled into three and we ventured outward more often, minor differences were noted. Dra Skor was not a country which separated itself into classes it seemed. The Enchanted and regular human beings were intermixed throughout. There was a respect for all people I found refreshing. Whether it was our server in the tavern or the woman who ran the bed and breakfast we were staying at, everyone was treated with respect. If there was a job or career held higher than the rest, I hadn’t found it yet.
But was that just because we were in the lowest territory of the kingdom, much like that of Nerede?
The first time we ventured out for food, I had wondered if these people were sick, as about one in ten people we came across seemed severely fatigued. Dark circles were the most prominent features on these people, the first thing you noticed. Then it was their weight. They looked as if they were slowly deteriorating.
It hadn’t taken much to figure out these were the Enchanted. It wasn’t an illness or even a disease like they had assumed, my father had poisoned them. A few of them looked so ragged, I wasn’t sure they would survive a few months more. It was a punch to my gut seeing them, knowing that my father’s parasitic tendencies hadn’t just destroyed our own country but reached the entire realm.
My magic stirred often while watching those people, a deep empathy for knowing what they must feel and the crushing weight of having not used their power in so long. Emotions running high, I often forgot to suppress it all the time, and Emric would nudge me.
And then there was their clothing. Most men wore shortened pants and a short-sleeved tunic of sorts as they worked in their shops. It was more casual than even Nerede. And unlike Nerede, which had docks then the merchant streets a ways off, the merchant streets of Keld were close to the shore, allowing only enough space for high tide before you could find cobbled stoned streets and something to eat or drink.
Quite honestly it made more sense that way.
We were finishing a game of cards before departing for an evening meal at the tavern when a hard double knock sounded at the door. Four of us shared this double bedroom: one of Owen’s most promising guards Miles Rook, Dex, Emric, and myself. My feet dangled off the end of the bed when I slept, and I was getting tired of Dex’s snoring, but there was a safety in numbers. Two of us slept while two of us stayed awake. So it wasn’t even that I had to share a bed, it was just cramped living space.
I gave a nod to Dex, who opened the door no more than three inches.
There was a guard there, as evidenced by the black military outfit he wore. “I have correspondence from Her Majesty, the Queen of Dra Skor to His Majesty, Prince Keiran Valanova.”
Dex opened the door wider, and Emric rubbed his hands together in anticipation. It appeared I wasn’t the only one ready to be done sharing this small room.
I stood and went over to the man, who looked me straight in the eyes and handed the letter over, but did not even lower his head an inch, head held high.
I grinned, having expected these small slights to occur right from the get-go. “Thank you.”
Before I could do a thing more, he added, “Your carriage will depart early in the morning, if you are to make it to Halikaara by nightfall.”
I tilted my head to the side. “Thank you. We greatly appreciate all the accommodations.”
An emotion flickered across his face, and I wondered what that meant. If they were planning some sort of ambush along the way, they were going to be in for a rude awakening when they realized we could still use our Enchantment.
The guard turned and left without another word.
I was more preoccupied with the piece of parchment in my hand to care. We would worry about whatever that was in the morning.
The seal of the envelope was a crown with wings behind it. I popped the seal and pulled the letter out, a feminine looking scrawl filling the short page.
Prince Keiran Valanova of Wylan,
Please excuse the wait. Had we known of your arrival, we could have provided transportation to the castle in advance. Your carriage will bring you to Halikaara Keep in the morning. We are most surprised by this visit and await your arrival. Your rooms at the castle are being prepared for one full week as we are sure you are weary from your travels.
Regards,
Her Royal Highness
Queen Estalena Rhea Mallick
I ran a hand across my lips, seeing what she’d done there. Though it sounded kind, there was a tension to it. Along with a deadline of a week.
