The Lady's Man (15 page)

The elves' only chance was that among the court there might be some clerics with the most detailed knowledge of the Order's history. Those who might know something of the name Myral, a wizard who not only had been around at the time of the formation of the Order, but who also knew the Lady herself. Those who might have an inkling that the Order was not alone. But of that happening, Yorik had little hope. Yet the elves seemed almost certain of a good outcome. Between their unremitting optimism and his doubts and gloom, it had made for a difficult journey.

“Halt.”

As he was thinking his gloomy thoughts, the trio finally arrived at the front guard post in front the gate to the outer wall, and the formal challenge was given almost without his noticing.

“Yorik son of Heric, Paladin of the Order of the Lady and friends. We come on the business of the Order.”

Still distracted, Yorik gave a perfunctory answer, counting on it and his armour to get them through. It always had before. But the guard's slowness in accepting his credentials came as a surprise. And he wasn't slow for reasons of laziness. The Lord Mayor had many shortcomings but he knew the value in a properly motivated and well trained guard. It was suspicion that slowed his tongue.

“You may enter.”

Apparently it had been enough of a response for the guard in the end, and he formally waved them through as he'd expected. Yet as they passed Yorik couldn't help but notice that the man was tense. More so than he should have been. His eyes darted briefly over each of them, and then back to the horizon. They weren't the target of his concern, but something out there was and it wasn't hard to guess what. Given all that they'd already seen it could only mean one thing. More attacks from the undead. Maybe, Yorik suddenly thought, this wasn't just an elven war after all.

Entering the outer ring only served to confirm that impression. There were people there in their hundreds as usual, thronging to the nearer market stalls, while music played, meats were roasted, and children laughed and played. It was all very normal. Yet mixed in with them were city guards patrolling the outer courtyards in numbers greater than he'd ever seen before. They weren't there to keep order. They were there in case of attack. Meanwhile every tower was fully manned, with five archers on active duty and another two below to ferry up supplies and take over should any fall. Catapults just inside the walls were being tended to by artisans, being made ready for use. And the battlements were also fully manned, with more archers walking them and soldiers standing watch by the murder holes.

Further ahead of them he could see dozens of wagon loads of grain and vegetables being directed to the store houses further in. Too many of them. They looked like provisions for a battle. Ender's Fall looked to be a city expecting attack. Preparing for a siege.

He said as much to his companions, who were staring all around them, no doubt awed at the sheer size of Ender's Fall, and wasn't sure that they heard him. Quite possibly it was the first time they had ever been in a human city, even a trading city like Ender's Fall, and it took time to absorb. The giant stone buildings, buttressed up against the walls three and four stories high and filled with people. The twenty yard wide cobbled paths which not only ran from gate to gate, but also circled the entire ring. And ahead they could see another wall, just as massive as the one they'd just passed through, while in the distance behind it they could just see the spires of the keep and the various towers.

But this was only the outer ring, extending a mere four hundred and some paces inwards before reaching the fourth wall as it was known. From there on in, each ring would become thicker by at least a hundred yards, as the builders had had an easier time finding and quarrying enough stone for the walls. Each wall it was said, needed nearly twice the amount of stone of the previous one, and the Fifth or outer wall had nearly emptied the entire nearby quarry. If they were ever to build a sixth ring and wall, they would have to find the stone elsewhere. As it was the city was already over a league across in all directions, and home to over two hundred thousand people. They didn't need the space. Yet.

They hadn't done so badly on greenery either he thought. Despite the fact that the city was a living stone monument, in front of every building and between them were trees. For the most part they were fruit trees, while hundreds of large vegetable gardens were also planted everywhere to keep the locals fed. Further in they would find actual corn fields which could feed the city if need be, as well as the horses. Roof gardens were also popular, and many of the stone buildings could also be seen to be sprouting trees. Grass could also be seen everywhere save where the cobbled paths crossed it. The greenery was a useful source of food, a way of masking the smells from so many people living so closely together, a good way to get rid of night soil, and an attractive change from the white stone.

Once the night soil had been dumped in the Shassa to be slowly carried away by its current. But four hundred years ago the then Lord Mayor had banned that practice. He'd said that the Shassa was too important to be defiled in that way. It carried the trade to and from their city. It was their source of fresh drinking water. It irrigated the farms. And so ever since then all the night soil that was collected went on to land where it was used to help the crops grow.

Ender's Fall might not be an elven city, but it was a fine human city to live in. The finest of the six cities of New Vineland in his view.

“Come along you two.”

Yorik coaxed his two companions to continue following him on towards the Order's chapter house, and slowly they made their way through each of the next two rings until they were finally entering the second ring, and their destination.

The chapter houses of all five orders of Paladins were located in the second ring, as well as the best of the smithies, stables, artisans, and spellcasters. It was also home to the most affluent trading houses, many of the city's noble families, book keepers and scholars, the border patrol and even some of the more distant members of the various royal families who were not part of the court. It was the most desired part of the city to live in – save for the first ring or the inner courtyard as it was known of course. And that was mainly home to the Lord Mayor's castle and the court. it was a mark of prestige to say your home was in the second ring.

As one of the oldest parts of the city, it was also one with the most elegant and ornate buildings, the artisans having crafted them and then re-crafted them for nearly a thousand years. But instead of stopping just inside the second gate and letting his companions stare at the architectural splendour all around them as he normally would, Yorik made them follow him immediately around to the right. The ring being nearly eight hundred paces thick, and nearly two leagues around, there was still a long way to go to the Order's chapter house and they had business to attend to.

This part of the city was Yorik's truest home, as it was here he'd been raised since birth. They had taken up residence when his father had been made a knight of the inner circle and then the Lord Mayor's man at arms, and so he knew almost every cobble they rode over. He also knew many of the people they passed, and one by one he nodded to them and watched them nod back, unsurprised to see him. Of course, his shame was a private matter to the Order as well, so no doubt they'd simply thought him away on a mission as he had been many times before.

Some though, too many in fact, knew of his family's fate, and a number came up to him to express their condolences. It was something that made him uncomfortable even as he thanked them for their kindness. It was also something that caught his companions off guard. Apparently they didn't know quite as much about his past as he'd thought, for which he was grateful. Others who didn't know him stared instead at the elves riding beside him instead. They'd seen many a paladin of the Order before, but very few elves had passed them by here, and they were naturally curious, especially the children, who often simply stood and stared. A few even pointed fingers, but his companions took it all in their stride, smiling and nodding politely back.

The compound of the Order of the Iron Hand was soon in their sights and as always Yorik had to resist a shudder as he saw its dark block walls. What happened inside those massive walls he didn't know and he didn't want to. The bards whispered of cruelty and abuse and terrible battles, but they didn't sing it out loud. They didn't dare. Not when the order was said to be slowly taking control of the city. Buying it one business and trading house at a time. Still, they rode by it without incident as usual.

Within Ender's Fall and even within the land roamed by the Lord Mayor's patrols, the orders behaved with circumspection. Outside them however, there had been battles. Paladins of the Iron Hand didn't just seek to become the most powerful warriors they could; they tested themselves and then boasted of their power. And the most common boast they knew was to list the people they had bested in combat. Many of them sought to add a paladin or two from a rival order to their list, especially any they perceived to have slighted them.

They were a dark and dangerous order and it was best to treat them with circumspection.

Next on their journey was the inner market. Not really a market so much as a gathering of open fronted shops that just used the name. And the people who ran them weren't stall holders they were shop keepers. Here you wouldn't find the lessor fare that you found elsewhere in the city. There were no rusting arms, old fruit or poorly made clothes. The people here were those of means and they didn't buy such things. So it wasn't sold.

Here the clothing shops sold the more elegant dresses the ladies wore and the proper trousers and vests the gentlemen were accustomed to. You wouldn't find leggings and leather jerkins. The armourers had only the finest steel wares on display. And if you were after food, whatever it might be, there was only the freshest and finest available.

There were no farming supplies of course. Farmers didn't come this far into the city. They probably couldn't have afforded the prices if they did.

Still, as a child he'd enjoyed coming to the market and browsing the shelves. Looking at all the expensive items he could never have afforded. That his father, the Lord Mayor's own man at arms couldn't have afforded. They bought what they needed in the outer rings.

A little past the market they finally arrived at the gates to the Order's chapter house. Their journey was at an end. His journey especially. Yorik could see others of his Order on the walls, staring at him as though he were floating through the air. Knowing of his shame and his dark mission, they had surely never expected to see him again, least of all in the company of elves. They would have expected him to have not returned. Well trained however, they held their tongues, and instead let him approach without comment.

“Yorik son of Heric, Paladin of the Order of the Lady, escorting two guests, seeking entry fellow warriors of faith.”

It was a traditional greeting, and with it he also doffed his golden helm as was custom, letting them see his full face, and know that he spoke the truth. This though, was his first true test, and he'd known it would be before he'd even approached. If he'd already been tried and convicted of his crimes, he would be challenged and entry denied until the Commander himself came out to see him. It was a painfully long wait until he heard the sound of bolts being released and he could breathe again.

Trying to look calm, as if he'd known he would be allowed entry all along, he watched with a quiet sigh of relief as the giant wooden gates creaked open, as the oxen kept for just that purpose turned the giant wheel that pulled them apart. It was as always a slow business, and he had a good minute to stare at his friends on the walls, as they in turn stared back. Yasha and Penifore, both paladins of the Order in good standing, and men with whom he'd shared many a hot meal and a long watch. His brothers in arms and his friends.

As he studied them Yorik looked for any sign that they rejected him, but thankfully couldn't find any. They were good men as were all of the Order; slow to judge and always merciful, for which kindness he was grateful. Meanwhile they in turn were no doubt wondering what would happen now that he had returned. One and all among the Order knew he had failed his vows, disgraced himself by disobeying his orders and rushing off to seek vengeance. But apparently his punishment had not yet been decided, or if it had the decision had not yet been announced.

Once the gates were fully open he nodded his thanks, and they trotted slowly inside to the great courtyard where many of the knights and squires were training. It was a large courtyard, capable of holding a thousand men at arms with ease, but only a hundred or so were there. This was normal for the Order, as most would be out journeying or on missions of one sort or another, showing the Order's flag and carrying out the teachings of the Lady, while the rest would be meditating or in the teaching rooms.