The Protector

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Balistrom, a solid domineering structure sticking up out of an otherwise peaceful landscape. I've only ever heard descriptions of its size, its splendour but to see it from atop a small crest was something else entirely. It's even more enchanting than I could have ever imagined! The city laid out in front of me sprawls in all directions right up to the sea and beyond. From here the city merges with the glistening blue creating the illusion of a floating harbour. Plentiful ships in a constant motion as they moor up and set sail as merchants trade their goods. Perched up atop a knoll, sitting above the extensive city is a central white walled castle where I will be spending the next few years.

It's magnificent!

In the setting sun the castle appears to glow as I realise some of the roofs are metal, solid metal! The bottom of the hill is encircled by more white stone a last defence separating the kings keep from the inner city and beyond that a smaller red wall encircling the inner city from the poorer folk. Kicking Shade into action I push her to a trot to quickly catch up with Rohann. Seeing me at a trot he matches my speed allowing us to complete the week-long journey and reach the towering walls in under an hour. Pulling up to a walk I allow Rohann to address the guards at the open gate, he brushes off the need for an escort, instead insisting that we will be able to make it to the castle by ourselves. Rohann has been a great teacher over our week of training and I was using muscles I didn't know I had. My footwork was cleaner than it ever had been and my agility had improved no end with the extensive, strained exercises he put me through. I was tired and my muscles were screaming at me, I needed a long warm bath to help recover but it was worth it. Having an extra week of one-to-one training with someone as skilled as Rohann was an opportunity I had to seize.

Travelling through the wide streets of the upper classes it was becoming clearer and clearer to me that these people lived in their own class not wanting to mingle or be associated with anyone outside. The poorest people, the ones who were unable to afford an apartment in one of the blocks just inside the wall were left to their wood and stone shacks, these people will most probably be the ones who can't get work, have come in search of a better life or have such large families that they can't afford to keep them all and have more luxurious location. I spare a thought for them, through no fault of their own they have been born into that life, no way out of their rutt. I just wish there was something I could do to change it.

As we enter through the gates I try hard to keep my wits about me and my concentration on my belongings. I've bet this is the perfect place for pickpockets. The packed streets are difficult to navigate and luckily Shade sticks close to Rohann's mount giving me a chance to look around. Large wooden wagons litter the many side streets, as larger market stalls line the main road each with vendor calling out the names of their produce. Large vegetables for coppers, fabrics and hand tailored dresses, freshly caught fish. It's a complete assault on my senses, each stall as a distinct smell but all mingle in the salty sea air. People press into the stalls as they barter for the best deal possible, some friendly some with slightly more aggression than was necessary desperate to feed their families. Children filter through the gaps in the mass of bodies, some holding tightly to their mothers, others snatching an apple or two while the vendor is occupied. Barely anyone takes notice of us as we pass through, many would-be –knights pass this way, we are no longer worth the notice. It will be different when I am a full knight.

I feel a tug at one of my saddle bags and move in time to snatch back one of my daggers hilted there. Catching the eye of the man who had been so bold as to try and steal from a mounted traveller. A fine scar runs down the right of his neck, the tip of it disappearing into his collar, his eyes were a deep chocolate, his hair the same tone, cropped long just brushing his ears, his skin was lightly tanned from the many days out in the sun and he was missing part of his lower right earlobe. He wasn't worried about being caught, it was almost as if he had expected to, but why? He gives me a lopsided smile, exposing a perfect row of teeth, and I feel like he can see right through me and I feel my expression falter. Could it be that he knew? My hand was still enclosed around his wrist, Rohann was disappearing off into the distance oblivious that I had stopped.