The structures, composed of clay and sandstone, ranged in color from creamy whites to rusty reds. Most of the buildings were indeed built low to the ground, with sand piling around their outer walls. Other than that, it felt very much like the Iseldan capital she grew up in. Tight rows of small houses gave way to open marketplaces. Surrounding it all, the thick wall of the fort protected everything and everyone inside the city.
Also, unlike home, the lighter and warmer colors were different from what she was used to, especially the pale, soft hues of the Falqri clothing. Everyone in Iseldis seemed to favor deep, dark tones. It appeared as though everything here, from the buildings to the clothing to the people, had been shaped by the constant heat of the sun.
They were only a few turns past the operating section of the fort when the cart stopped in front of a sprawling sandstone manse. It was set against the wall of the fort, overlooked the city inside it. The sprawling courtyard in front of the house was covered in sand and beautifully arranged stones. Small bulbous plants in a pale green color brought a charming sense of life to the dry environment. Short stocky trees with long, thin, willowing leaves lined a path to the main entrance.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Jules asked.
Meena turned to him. “I’ve lived my entire life in a castle, and I’ve never seen a more welcoming home. Is this your family’s estate?”
“No. Not sure who had it last, but they were thrown out. King Gareth certainly knows how to take care of his own,” Jules replied.
Meena kept the smile on her face even as the joy in her stomach turned to horror. She knew her own father provided housing for all the commanders in his army, but she didn’t know if he’d ever thrown someone out of their home to accommodate the soldiers. She’d never even considered it as an option before.
It seemed as though every moment of joy she found was dissipated by another reminder that she knew so little about so many important things. Exhausted, she accepted Sol’s hand as he helped her down from the cart.
He seemed completely unperturbed at the revelation of removing people from their homes, which meant he’d known of the practice or he was not surprised by it because such horrors were common to him.
Meena squeezed his hand, refusing to let go of it as she stepped onto the ground. She was glad to know now, but she didn’t like to think of how many other uncomfortable truths she’d been protected from. She only knew she would find them, one by one, uprooting everything she had previously known.
Chapter 21
Sol followed Jules, Ezra, and Meena into the extravagant home they would be staying in.
The climate of Falqri reminded him of Istroya, and he felt at home in the dry heat and amongst the round, stubby plants.
He did not feel at home in the opulent sandstone manse. It reminded him of the houses which the taskers inhabited on Istroya.
Interestingly, he did not remember feeling so disgusted at the palace of Iseldis. Perhaps he had been too focused to notice his surroundings, or perhaps the large castle felt less opulent because it was less of a home and more of a small city. He did remember feeling overwhelmed at the sheer number of people who lived and worked in the palace. It had a function that served many people.
This particular large home was eerily empty. Sol felt that its only purpose was to impress.
Sol pushed aside the tired frustration he was feeling and brought his mind back to his present mission. All he wanted was a room to himself, a long nap, and the freedom of darkness so he could explore the city on his own.
He followed Jules through the halls of the home, keeping note of every turn they took and how far they were from the main entrance. Occasionally, he saw windows in the outer walls, which would be surprisingly easy to escape through. The house itself had been built several hands lengths into the ground, so when he looked out the window, the outside ground was nearly as tall as the base of the window.
“Would you care to join us for a game of quugot?” Jules asked, stopping at the open door to an inner courtyard.
Sol began to shake his head.
“Surely they are tired from their travels, dear,” Ezra said, reading his mind. “You must let them go rest. We can play all the quugot your heart desires during the rest of their stay.”
Jules turned back to them with a rogue smile. “Of course, of course. They surely want to go to their rooms.”
Sol smiled his thanks, relieved. He was exhausted.
But Meena caught his attention, blinking twice.
She wanted to find out more information, even though she, too, was likely exhausted.
Impressed at her dedication, and not wanting to be outdone by her, Sol gave her a slight nod.
She smiled warmly at him before turning back to their hosts. “We would love to join you for a game of quugot. You will have to teach me the rules as I’ve never played it.”
Sol nodded his agreement, thankful Meena had spoken for them. He raised his eyebrows at her, hoping to communicate that she had done well.
Meena blinked back at him in response.
“Magnificent!” Jules threw his arms out wide. “Ezra and I make a formidable team, but we will take it easy on you just this once.”
