“I believe they can adjust or even close the vents whenever desired, sir.”
“Oh.” Archie made an impressed face. “Well, I say, that is clever.”
“Is that a mosque?” Maddie pointed at a stunning, blue, glittering building with several pointed minarets.
“It is, your ladyship,” Lenaert said. “I dare say you’ll hear the calls from it sooner or later.”
“That’s where the people go to pray instead of a church?” Maddie asked.
“Yes, ma’am,” Lenaert said. “Although, as I understand it, going is a choice and not a requirement these days, and some of the folk do their worshipping at home, too.”
“At home?” Maddie said in surprise. “Do they all have little mosques in their home?
“No, not mosques. They need very little to pray, actually,” Lenaert explained. “A prayer rug, quite small. Maybe some prayer beads. And they must face toward Mecca, which is a southerly direction from here.”
“Will we have to do all that?” Archie piped up.
“Yes, and will I have to cover my head?” Maddie asked.
“No, no,” Lenaert said. “From what I understand, foreigners aren’t expected to pray here. And I’ve seen plenty of the women folk walking around without scarves or head coverings on. Seems like a choice they make themselves, I’d say. In fact, you’ll see the women walking without escort here. They go where they want to go.”
“Indeed?” Maddie made an impressed face. “That does sound forward thinking.”
“Things are not too traditional here, then?” Francis inquired.
“Rather hard to describe, sir,” Lenaert said. “There’s traditions mixed in with new ways. I’ve ventured into the city on both sides a handful of times, and it’s worth a visit if you get the chance. Then you’ll see what I mean. And the port here has always been very welcoming. We’ve never had any problems, the folk are friendly and they love visitors. Anyone you meet on the street is always eager to talk to you and welcome you into their home. It’s a friendly culture, that’s for certain.”
This sounded promising to Francis. He’d had quite enough of strict customs growing up in Stormburg, with the threat of the church watching and judging him. He was looking forward to seeing things done differently for a change.
“Oh, look! Francis, look!” Maddie pointed at the eastern side.
Set against a picturesque backdrop of green forest hillside, on its very own private quay, stood a splendid, square shaped, white painted house, different from the more rounded houses with umber tones on the west side.
This house was protected behind shiny golden gates, offering a tantalising peep into what promised to be very pretty garden grounds.
On the quay itself, Francis spotted at least a dozen cats lazing in the sunshine.
“I believe that’s one of the palaces,” Lenaert said.
“Looks a bit small,” Archie said.
“He said one of the palaces,” Christian told him, frantically sketching away. “I’m sure the king has a few to spare.”
Francis watched the small, square palace and its cats recede from view. He realised the architecture resembled a classic French style pavilion, which was probably why the building looked so unique and unusual here.
A piece of French style over here, and on the other side a veritable cityscape of smooth-shaped, dark clay-colouredbuildings, with the occasional pop of blue, white and gold spikes from minarets.
Further along the strait, the forests on the east side gave way to buildings mirroring the west side, and they passed by some splendid institutional buildings situated right on the waterfront that looked to Francis like they were from ancient Greece.
Captain Lenaert explained that the long, pretty buildings were Byzantium era and used as universities and state offices currently.
As their ship approached its destination, Francis spotted Gustav waiting out there on the quayside, along with a dozen armed and exquisitely dressed royal guards lining the space to keep it clear.
Instead of his usual drab black suit and white wig, Gustav was dressed in a most flattering ensemble consisting of white flowing linen: loose trousers that nipped in at the waist and ankles, a long tunic with narrow sleeves, a matching white turban with a flowing white scarf on top of his natural grey hair, finished off with a beautiful patchwork waistcoat in red and gold, with matching red slippers.
“I say, is that Gustav?” Archie commented. “He’s gone native.”
Maddie gasped. “He’s dressed better than I’ve ever seen him! Look, even the guards are dressed beautifully. I can’t wait to see the fashions here.”
