Moon Blessed

Chapter 17 ~ The First Challenge

    Nastasia's apprehension swelled with every passing mile. Ulrik, the capital of Blod, was visible in the near distance. Towering walls of white stone surrounded the city and the main gates were already open as blurry figures made their way in and out of town.

    She thought she could hear the ongoing celebration of the arrival of the Eldons and Seenanites. In less than half an hour, that celebration would be for them as well. Nastasia drew a deep breath and exhaled from her mouth, hoping to ease the knotting in her stomach.

    She'd been on edge ever since the Andrians joined their procession, and her nervousness was made worse by the bloody landscape around her. She'd never seen anything like the lands of Blod, though she'd heard the tales.

    The history of the kingdom was a gruesome one. Blod had been a kingdom of war; its people always divided and fighting against one another. For hundreds of years, blood was spilt until the land became saturated with it. Color leached away, being replaced by shades of red and brown. Even now, the results of so much bloodshed remained.

    Beneath Moxie's hooves was nothing but rust-colored dirt and brown grass. Nastasia expected the grass to be brittle and dead, but to her surprise, it was lush and healthy, springing back up in the horse's wake.

    Peculiar trees grew in random copses within hollows and around creekbeds. Their twisted trunks were the color of ash, mottled with brown, and their leaves were a brilliant shade of crimson.

    She was relieved to see that the water flowing in the creeks was a pure, crystal blue, and animals still roamed about. Birds nested in the unusual trees and bugs crawled through the brown grass. The land wasn't truly as cursed as it appeared.

    Nastasia straightened as her parents' carriage rolled to a halt. Several figures on horseback were waiting outside the gates of the city. She recognized them as the seven Lords of Blod. The women accompanying them had to be their wives or daughters. As her father and mother emerged from their carriage and joined Emperor Kazimir, who had dismounted his horse to greet the Lords, Nastasia took in the impressive sight of the walls before her.

    They were even taller than she'd initially thought. They rose higher than the tallest tower of Nyctoli's palace. Cannons were mounted at regular intervals and guards stood at attention all along the top of the wall.

    Banners hung down the sides, each bearing the colors and crests of every visiting kingdom. Carved onto the open stone gates was the crest of Blod, a ship with five sails, one for each kingdom of Damir, sailing upon a sea of red-stained leaves.

    The Lords of Blod led the way into the city and the carriages rolled in behind them. Nastasia kept Moxie close to the other servants as they passed through the gates. Her eyes widened in awe. The stone had to be at least six feet thick. How do they even get these to open and close? She wondered. She had her answer moments later.

    Massive gears and several pulley systems were set into place on either side of the gates. Ropes from the pulleys were attached to a circular contraption. There was a central pivot with multiple spokes extending from it.

    Judging by the stables lining the inside of the wall, Nastasia guessed horses would be harnessed to the spokes. As they walked in a circle, the rope would be drawn in and the gears would turn, opening the door. Reversing the process would close them.

    Shouts soon caught Nastasia's attention. They were riding through a packed street where people were dancing and laughing. Music drummed and the scent of rich food filled the air. They did not stop to join the festivities, but continued onward towards Kobmand Hall, where the Lords lived and worked. The leaders of each kingdom would be staying at the Hall while their servants and Knights camped around it.