Based solely on appearances, her and Jayme were wildly out of place, and getting more than one questioning look from those who passed. Even though there had been no gates or guards, it felt as if they had trespassed on grounds where they weren’t supposed to be. They were the “poor folk,” the “lesser,” and should thusly stay in their respective section of town. Every glare from the affluent citizenry seemed to try to convey the thought.
Vi was certainly unbothered by it, however. If anything, she found it amusing. To think that the men and women who turned up their noses at her were actually sniffing at the Crown Princess Solaris. It was almost enough to make her laugh aloud.
“We shouldn’t be far now… up that way.” Vi pointed to a narrow stair between two buildings.
“How do you remember your maps so well?” Jayme huffed softly up the steep stone steps. “Down to street names?”
“I can’t explain it,” Vi confessed. “Perhaps not being able to travel forced me to cement it, because I always thought of it. Walking here now… almost feels like I’ve done this before. I’ve gone over it in my mind so many times.”
They were both breathing hard as they finally reached the top of the third set of stairs, grabbing their knees and thanking the Mother above for the fact that they had finally reached what seemed like the summit of the northwest ridge. For such a large piece of land, there were only a few homes. Every one was guarded with a tall wall and gatehouse to ward away all who didn’t have express business.
“This certainly looks like the place.” Jayme straightened and looked around.
“Yes.” Vi stood taller as well, catching her wind. “Look, there.”
She pointed toward a manor five down the row, distinctly larger than the rest. It towered two floors above the other tallest house on the row and seemed to have dominated the most prime piece of real estate. In fact, Vi wouldn’t be surprised if the whole ridge had once been a singular estate, parsed out over the years for gifts, or strategy, or coin. It waved a large flag from its tallest rooftop bearing the Le’Dan crest.
“Well, we’ve come this far… Let’s do this.” Jayme marched forward, as though she was going off to war.
“Jayme, do you want me to lead the conversation?”
“No,” Jayme replied, quickly.
“You seem—”
“Let me do this,” Jayme snapped. Then she said, softer, “Please, Vi. This is not enjoyable for me, but I’m going to do it for you.”
The expression on Jayme’s face—one of agony—stopped Vi in her tracks. “Just what are you going to do?” she whispered, but Jayme had already continued on toward the front gate.
As expected, the gate house was occupied. The Western man who leaned against the side of his post looked at them dully, heaving a sigh when he realized they were headed for him. Pushing away, he straightened his leathers, puffed his chest, and rested a hand on the sword on his hip. Vi caught Jayme doing a similar motion from the corner of her eye.
“Turn around, we don’t take beggars.” He gave them a wave.
“We’re not beggars,” Jayme retorted. “Summon Lord Erion.”
“Lord Erion?” The man sniffed. “His Lordship is far too busy for the likes of street urchins.”
“We are no street urchins.” Jayme had yet to back down. If anything, she stood even straighter. Vi stared at her friend, half in admiration, half in the smallest amount of fear at what had overtaken the woman. “Summon him, or you will regret not doing so.”
“Is that a threat?” The guard’s grip on his sword tightened.
“I think what my friend is trying to say—”
“Stay out of this.” Jayme glared at her and promptly turned back to the guard. “Summon him or—”
At that moment, one of three sconces in the man’s guardhouse lit magically. He glanced between them and the flame, hastening over to the gate as he said, “Go away, children. There’s nothing more for you here.”
The man huffed and puffed as he worked a large crank. The gate began to shudder before it slowly swayed open. Jayme didn’t move an inch, standing right before the opening gate.
Vi waited nervously at her side. She didn’t want to see her friend’s guts spilled out on the ground because of a misunderstanding. She’d out herself as the crown princess before that. But what if no one believed her?
Her hand closed around the watch at her neck. Perhaps Lord Erion would know it? Vhalla had recognized it at a glance, but it had likely been a far more important token to her than the Western Lord.
“Are you going to make a run for it?” Vi whispered to Jayme, hiding her words underneath the loud squealing of the gate.
“That’s a sure-fire way to get yourself killed. I’ve spotted two archers on the balconies making patrols. This place is even more fortified than it looks.”
And it looked fortified to begin with. Vi scanned the main house in the distance, but saw nothing resembling an archer. Still, she was inclined to agree with Jayme. She knew from Sehra’s warriors that good archers could easily remain hidden if they so choose.
