059 – Changing Course, Taking The Left Hand Turn Off

The next day the city appeared on the western horizon as they crossed the tallest hill, at the south end of a coastal mountain range. The road they traveled went down the hills, and along the south edge of these mountains toward the city, the river was further off to their south as they went.

“Take a good look. Judging by the terrain, this is the last chance to see the whole city.” Caspian gestured to the blur across part of the horizon to their left. In the farthest distance, the curve of the planet dropped away.

Rox gestured, as Steven got his binoculars out and looked around.

“What is out beyond it? The sea,” Rox asked.

“Yes. I do not remember specifically if this is a port, or just in land from one, but, that does not matter now.” Caspian was already starting down the hill.

Steven handed Rox his binoculars as he got his SLR camera out, mounted his wide-angle lens, knelt down to remove all wobble, and snapped a picture.

As soon as the Caplan’s caught up to him, Caspian had a question for them.

“Steven, Roxanne; can either of you ride horses?”

They looked at each other. Then Steven answered. “I have ridden some. Roxanne’s grandmother has a friend who has some and when we take the kids there for summer vacation, we all ride. So we do know how to stay in a saddle.”

Caspian was ambivalently pleased at this. “Good, then we will get some horses; hopefully that fit you. We can go faster that way than on foot. It will be about three weeks ride to get to where these elves are; about twice that by foot. But it will cost more than walking. I think that through them we will find a way to get to where your children are, more quickly.”

Steven had been bothered by this line of thought. “And why are we bothering with this, instead of just taking ship and heading after our kids?”

Caspian responded more forcefully than Steven expected. “Because those damn elves will just pluck us off the ship and to where they want us to be. They will continue to harass and direct and exercise such power and authority over you as they can, until such time as you acquiesce. Or they will simply go after your kids, raise them themselves, and not let you have any access to them. In short: they are as tyrannical in their own way as those who have already kidnapped your kids.”

Rox jumped to the point faster than Steven. “In other words, they get their way whether we help or not. If we do not work with them, then they will go around us and cut us out. The easiest way to deal with them is to roll with them, and do what can be done to keep them at arms length, or further.”

“I can begin to see why your great grand left, it they were that way then.” Steven muttered.

“It is entirely possible, given the life spans of these elves that the same elf is still in charge, even with how long ago she left. Not that I really know your families history, but from those I have met, and what I have pieced together of the story, it is likely that the leadership has not changed significantly.” Cyrril had stood up and was fanning from Caspian’s shoulder as Caspian spoke.

Seeing Cyrril, and listening to Caspian, Steven realized that Caspian was no more willing to abide these elves any farther than Steven expressed. But that it was easier to go along and get along at this time, than to fight them overtly.

For her part, Rox stepped back in her mind to all the stories of her family history that she could remember, trying to find anything about where Great Grandma came from, and why.

They passed into the rolling grass lands of the coastal plane. Caspian continued instructing Rox on some theory or practice of magic. He had her practicing lesser spells and sensing him doing the same. A few times he pointed out when the backwash of some larger spell swept past. On some of these, he was able to point out to her the pieces of the source spell. On further interrogation from Steven, Caspian admitted that he was not sure of the specific spell being used, or why, but that it was coming from the south, and to produce that much ripple a lot of power had to be in play.

At lunch time, Caspian stopped for a few moments of personal prayer and worship. Steven and Rox stood near by, letting the mules browse. Once he got back up and going Caspian briefly explained that until reaching Veradale, he had not had any real clue what day of the week it was. Now that he knew, he was going to try to give at least cursory respect to the Sabbath each week.

In the afternoon, as a storm rolled in from the sea, Caspian had Rox practice casting a spell to keep things dry. Rox wanted to try keeping the whole party dry. Caspian convinced her to scale back to keeping her cloak dry. On her second cast, she got the spell to partially work. In his own example, Caspian’s spell had the drizzle running off his cloak, without it absorbing any water. Rox was able to get hers to do the same, until her concentration broke when a sheet-lightening flash startled her.

That evening they stopped in a way-station. This was right by a bend in the river that created a natural corral. The station also had an indoor bath house. With hot water. Everyone was appreciative of this.

Journal of Steven Caplan: Day 60

These have been some long days on the road; two days of grass lands and farms, all going down hill. The villages and towns are no longer remarkable. Maybe the longest walk I have had with Rox since marrying her.

It has been interesting watching her learn to use an inborn talent that she cannot use at home. I gather that Diana and Alex should also have some kind of similar ability.

We have met some ‘elves’ who claim some control of our schedule, and Caspian is obliging them. He says that on one hand they are stuffy, annoying, and arrogant. On the other, they may make up for this by being more help than we can guess at right now.

Late in the afternoon, they finally approached the city. The local farms extended right up to the city fortifications, with irrigation canals demarcating property lines more than fences or walls. The city fortifications were staggered earth-worked walls ringing the city in three ranks each spaced enough to provide a long bare field between them, and appeared to go all the way around. Where the walls crossed the road stone-work guard towers stood with attached barracks.

In his curiosity, Steven inspected the wall with his binoculars. The stone works were only at the road. But at intervals beyond, Steven identified fortified artillery stations, alternating with passages for infantry or cavalry. Each stone tower had an array of colored banners hanging or flying. Rox identified one as that of the Baron, who administered the city; one for the Duke, who administered the four other baronies including and around the city; one for the Kingdom, and three different ones for the units within the city guard. Also a smaller set of flags was set to the back of the towers, which looked like semaphore flags.

The three and their mules passed the first ring of defense with the rest of the traffic, with little more than a visual inspection and otherwise such lack of interest as to not warrant stopping. The armor over red tunic of the city guards on duty was the same as from Veradale, but the specific unit insignia was different.

Once past, Steven looked at the back side of the closest artillery fortifications, and identified trebuchet’s, catapults, ballista’s, and sufficient fresh supplies that the only things missing were the crewmen to man the post.

The second ring of defense was similar to the first. Steven had put his binoculars away so as not to attract undo attention. Again the guards at the towers simply gave them a visual inspection, without any attempt to stop them.

The third ring had a post across the road, stopping all traffic for inspection in both directions. They dutifully lined up and took their turn, and paid the fee to enter the city. As they were questioned they also asked where the best yards to buy riding horses was to be found.

It was past local dinner time as they passed the final stonework gate and city wall into the city proper. Following their instructions they went to the main north-south road of the city and turned south. As they went Caspian noted the breezes, and commented that this could not be the actual sea-port. It did not smell of the sea. The sun was shining down the east-west streets as they came to the stock district.

Caspian suggested they find a place for the night, and start from there in the morning.

The next morning, after some searching, they found the horse paddocks. Up to now, the Caplan’s had felt a bit of good humored superiority for their height advantage. Now it was turned against them as they tried to find first some saddle-broken horses tall enough to carry them, then some tack sufficiently large, and at a good price. By the end of the day they had accomplished their task, at almost the expected level of expense. Before taking their mounts on the road, they first proved them in a ring near the paddocks, both to test the animal’s actual health, and the fit and usability of the tack.

Rox and Steven were used to what they understood as American Western type saddles. The local saddles were closer to but not fully like English type as they understood, but not quite. These had a bit of swell on front, but no horn; there was generous padding under the seat, and enough surface and laces to attach saddle bags and gear front and back of the rider; the metal stirrups were of the expected shape, and open. They both needed new stirrup straps, and to learn how to handle their horses. It still looked amusingly like riding low-riders, for Steven and Rox.

With the two mules still in tow, they headed out. Steven was the worst at riding, but with a few days continuous practice was soon adequate. On the other hand, Caspian was the most saddle sore.

Journal of Steven Caplan: Day 64

We crossed national boarders. The ponies do move faster than we did on foot. I understand that this kingdom is friendly to the one we just left. It is the next one south that is the belligerent.

Caspian is saying we need to go one city south, and there pick up an east bound highway. From there, work our way south and east, and up past the coastal ranges and back onto the high plains. Then up onto a certain mountain range and the city, Shalaia. The few we have talked to say that is about two weeks or longer to the inland mountains, depending on what roads we can take.

Here’s hoping it’s uneventful.