WITH Sissel as their guide, Unen’s group went through the castle gates without being stopped by the gatekeepers. Passing through the courtyard bustling with people, they proceeded inside another gate that led into the second set of castle walls under a portcullis and by a handful of knights covered in full plate armor.
Under the careful view of numerous towers, they were guided to the center of the castle’s structure, which culminated in the main residence.
Chilly air welcomed them into its embrace the moment they stepped inside the building. Feeling their sweat evaporate in record time brought sighs of relief to everyone’s lips. After depositing their bags in the small room adjacent to the entrance, they took to the corridors again and advanced deeper into the castle. Finally, Sissel pushed open the heavy evergreen oak double doors to invite the others inside their destination, and Turek, serving as the rear guard, respectfully closed the doors before standing at attention beside them.
Inside was a room spacious enough to comfortably fit a small house. Eight windows were cut out in the wall to the left in even horizontal intervals at a position higher than an average person’s height. A large fireplace took up the inner left corner of the room. Cerná’s flag decorated the center of the wall they faced. Slightly in front of it and to the right sat a marvelous cloth-covered chair pointed in the doors’ direction.
“Ooh, you came?” A man in his forties standing next to the right wall gazing upon its adorned picture turned to Unen’s group with a wide smile. He was a man of delicate, yet striking features whose glossy bronze hair and deep sky-blue eyes made for a profound impression.
“Lord Vrba, what, may I ask, are you doing here?” Sissel inquired.
“I had to come when I heard there would be an intriguing guest. I asked His Majesty for permission to be present for this.”
Sissel turned toward Unen’s group and introduced the gentle-looking man. “This is Lord Vrba, who rules over Schaehor Province which runs along the kingdom’s eastern border.”
“I’m his Majesty’s hunting companion. About ten days ago I came to the capital to kick back and have some fun.”
“You know, you don’t have to deliberately act frivolous by saying you came to play.”
The door to the right opened before Vrba could make a coherent reply and a new voice with a deep baritone resonated throughout the room in greeting. “Welcome!”
“Your Majesty!” Sissel immediately straightened, bringing his right hand to his chest.
“Ah, we aren’t in the public eye, you don’t need to stand on ceremony, Sissel.”
Cerná’s King Klinack strode into the spacious room with his golden blond hair swinging behind him, a jovial smile accompanying the good-natured look in his eyes. Judging from lack of wrinkles around the corner of his eyes and mouth, the king appeared close in age to Vrba, but the aura he exuded was of someone quite a bit younger.
“Your Majesty, with all due respect, should you not be equally concerned of your guests’ eyes as the public’s that you speak of?” curtly interjected the elderly man following behind Klinack, who had gray-streaked chestnut hair and wore a rather priggish expression.
“Don’t be uptight, Harabal. Our guests are not the kind of people who will lose sight of the matter by my being a tad more personable with them. Am I wrong?” he looked to his attendant and imperial guard.
“You are correct, Sire,” Sissel firmly answered. Turek gave a firm nod at the back of the room.
King Klinack then addressed Unen’s group. “First, allow me to thank you for taking the trouble to travel from afar to visit. Allow me to commence with formal introductions now. I’m Cerná’s master and king, Klinack. This gentleman here with the grim and rigid face is my distinguished aide, who also holds the position of mathematician and astronomer, as well as acting as my princess’ private tutor, Harabal.”
The man called Harabal shot a brief glance at Klinack, who piled on the titles with a roguish smile, before greeting Unen’s group with a nod.
The king continued, “Looks like Sissel has already introduced Vrba to you, but…he’s my beloved freeloader—”
“Hey now, that’s not a nice way to introduce someone, Klinack,” Vrba interrupted with an incredulous smile.
“I was only playing along with your thoughtless frivolity,” Klinack said coolly.
“Leave that role to me or you’ll ruin my plan where my frivolous behavior will lead to a fine series of events in which they will inevitably learn that I am actually a very serious person, and their opinions will change for the better.”
Theatrically shrugging his shoulders, Klinack surveyed everyone present. “This annoying and tiresome person is my dear friend, Vrba. He governs over the vital eastern territory of Schaehor. Seems like he wants to accompany me in hearing about the skills you possess.”
Now having finished with basic introductions, Klinack nodded to Sissel. It was finally Sissel’s turn to introduce Unen and her friends in order.
“This is Sparrow Eyes Unen, the mapmaker of Baborak Province’s town of Yezero.”
The king and his two men simultaneously turned their attention on Unen. As neither expressed any surprise at her appearance, they had to have obtained some information on Sparrow Eyes in advance.
Unen swallowed hard and curtsied the way Sissel taught her.
“And this young lady here is Lady Unen’s friend, Lady Irena. She is the oldest daughter of the leader of Yezero’s Vigilante Corps, and volunteered to accompany us as Lady Unen’s guard.”
Irena curtsied after Unen with a prim expression.
“Beside her is the swordsman Ori, and beside him, the mage Master Mouru. We came under attack by eight highwaymen on the road, but we safely survived without any trouble thanks to Master Mouru.”
“Oh, a mage?” Curiosity twinkled in Klinack’s eyes.
Right at that moment, the door behind Unen was thrown open with a loud bang.