102 – Skarg: Assets And Liabilities

The structures averaged three stories tall, with the first level being mostly stonework walls, and the second and above usually being wood frames with stucco walls, with shuttered windows. Some structures had stonework second levels, and some were as much as five levels to the roofs. Most roofs looked to be nearly flat, or having dormers and an attic taking advantage of the last bit of structure.

The main roads were wide enough to turn a harnessed team around at the intersections. The secondary roads would take the larger freight wagons two abreast with space to spare, and the alleys were mostly wide enough for the little single pony carts.

As for carts, there was more animal and cart traffic than anywhere the Caplan's had seen. Small goods carts with a single animal, medium sized flatbed wagons with a team in traces, large low slung freight wagons with two or more teams in yoke; and there were people-moving carts and carriages of every description and size. There were also a significant number of riders on single animals, and some leading strings of animals. The majority of animals were horses, but there were some cattle and other animals in evidence, including some that Steven would classify as related to llama's.

The road surfaces were cobbled with worn brick of some kind, and all sloped to the middle, with occasional metal grates. The sidewalks were wide enough for pedestrian traffic to pass without having to step in the animals exhaust before it got cleaned up.

As they got oriented the crowds of locals and traders began to make sense in their flow. Finally after seeing where the cart and ponies were being boarded, and passing two different markets that each had wagon trains in winter residence, they worked their way back to the inn, and dinner.

They took a table in the open air market and watched as the crowd went past, and the evening chill slowed the city a little. As they talked, Steven suggested that should they all get separated, the place to get back together was the tavern across the street.

Steven explained when Caspian challenged his reasoning.

“Well, for one it's inside, therefore warm. Also it reduces the visibility of people to outside observers. It's not where we are staying, so if there is someone following they will not immediately be led to the rest of our things. It looks to be as large as this one, including both the café and the tavern.”

Caspian listened, nodding. “That all makes sense. Also it had a visible sign that you can describe: a bird in a cauldron. And it is at the corner of a major and a secondary road.”

Rox interjected. “I'd call it a pot, but still . . .”

Caspian did not worry about this. “I guess we are agreed, then. If separated, meet back there for or by the next meal. If two meals are missed, then we will start looking for each other.”

That evening back in the Caplan's room, they looked over the three sets of trackers they now have. The set that Caspian made in the woods had expired while in Veradale. The set he had made there worked up until the day or so before leaving Shalaia. Near as Caspian could tell, they were still working, but being blocked, somehow. An elf Magic Master, not Master Iver, had made a set with hair from each child brought fresh from earth, but had said this set would not be ready for another day or so, to allow a week for the amulets to cure and the magic to set.

Roxanne looked at the sets. One rough made set having no mana about it, this being the set from the woods; one finer set having mana but not showing anything but a swirl, this being the set made in Veradale; one set that looked jewel crafted that showed a growing organization of mana, this set being from Shalaia. “So, what do we do?”

Steven answered first. “We can either wait and see, or go start asking around. I saw what I took to be a town crier hanging a bill like this on a message board. I can’t read it, but it looks like some kind of festivities notice.”

Steven handed the handbill to Caspian. It took Caspian a moment to decipher the hand writing and then the alphabet, but after several moments he read a notice for a citywide day of celebration being thrown by The King and Queen, in celebration of a vanquished enemy. Adjoining this would be a ball held in the palace. Those suitably dressed would be allowed entrance to the palace grounds, and to the ball and banquet there. Caspian read it over again to himself. Then looked at the Caplan’s.

“This is too convenient.” Caspian commented.

“Step into my web, said the spider to the fly.” Steven responded.

Caspian did not understand the specifics, but guessed that he did understand the generals. “Yeah. It’s too convenient. Or it may just be a coincidence. The only way to find out for sure is to attend. And we may overhear a few loose lips and learn the information we need.”

“How soon is it?” Rox asked.

Caspian looked the bill over again. “Three days.”

Rox though about this. “Well, the tailors are going to be busy, if this city is like Veradale or Hollywood, and aristocrats and celebrities are the same here as back home.”

Steven nodded. “New gowns.”

“And suits,” Rox added.

Caspian nodded, beginning to track across their train of thought, with his own. “So, do we go listen in the tailors and clothes sellers in the garment sections?”

Rox nodded. “Sure. And also see what the going fashions are and what we might do about it.”

Karen saw the bulletin, and grimaced. Since her sister died, Karen had eschewed going to any party. Those people she knew personally would undoubtedly bring up one of two subjects, both of which hurt to discuss; her sister, and her own lack of husband. As she had been socially inactive since the last spring, Karen did not have an in-season gown. So she could either wear one of last years, or go get a new one, and count it as expenses.

Karen did not doubt that this party might be a lure to try to attract the parents of the children who had been paraded through the streets a week or so prior. The uncertainty was whether they were in the area. On the other hand, it might be the King throwing a party to celebrate. It was doubtful the queen would be in attendance, as she had disappeared socially near twenty years ago, at the time of her change.

As Karen though about this, she wondered whether it was so uncertain that the ball was a trap. Magic users could make trackers tuned to individuals. That was part of why assassins did their best never to leave any traces. It was therefore possible that someone in the palace had one for the parents of the kids, and could therefore tell about where they were. Then it would be simple to draw then into vulnerability and kill or capture one, or both.

The more Karen thought about it, the more she felt she would have to go to the palace ball. So, in a new gown, or one from last season?

Journal of Steven Caplan: Day 133

Second day in Skarg. Our trackers aren’t working right now, so we need to ask around, and risk capture or worse.

I found a handbill about a party being thrown by the local Royals. Scuttlebutt says it has many purposes. One may be that our kids were here in this city the day we teleported into this kingdom from Shalaia. So we may be closer to them now than we have been since the first week on planet.

Caspian says he has again magically given us the local language. Today I will put this to the test, as we find and get fitted for local formals.

Caspian had done his language spell again, for all of them, as he did not really know the local dialect. For targets he had used as many locals as the spell could find, up to a dozen, while they slept. Steven and Rox both found their dreams again in a new language half way through the night.

The next morning, they began exploring the city in earnest. Caspian readily admitted that he had never been here before, and did not know his way any better than the Caplan’s did. Like the other cities they had been through, the various districts demarcated themselves by devices hung from the door signs and a few street lamps. Another thing that was in greater evidence here than the northern cities was an taxi type of service among the carriages. Rox hired one to take them to the tailor’s district, and then they set out to explore.

They spotted what the local city guards looked like, being in chain mail and leather tunics, with metal helmets. They carried billy clubs. There seemed to be one every forth block or so, on patrol singly or in pairs. The higher ranked ones carried swords and rode horses. Several stood guard were the road passed through an internal city wall, bottlenecking traffic briefly as it went. The tall thick wall appeared to once have been an external wall, that the city had long since expanded beyond. The locals decorated it accordingly, and several holes had been cut in it for the roads and sidewalks that now passed through.

The city was not crowded, but it was well populated, with plenty of people going about their business. The carts and carriages plied the roads, and pedestrians on the sidewalks. Steven felt the city looked like a variant design on some of the older pre-World War II Germanic and Swiss towns he had seen.

Rox wore the one gown she had brought with, with her girdle about her waist, one of her purses and knives on it, under her cloak. Steven had noticed that the men went about mostly armed, though with want looked at first glance to be costume swords. As a result he wore his girdle and sword under his cloak, but like Rox not his full travel kit. Caspian chose to go off on his own to ask around, and see what he could learn from any local magic users, but he found himself walking in the direction of the Caplan’s out of concern for their being in a strange and unfriendly place. He sent Cyrril out to look around for any local magic as he went.

Roxanne and Steven quickly found that their height worked both for and against them. They stood a head and a bit taller than virtually everyone, though looking over the men's unwashed hair was not very appealing. Most of the women wore bonnets, or some similar head covering. They could see each other easily enough. They walked together, she at his left. As they went, Rox looked in the windows of the various shops, and they listened as best they discretely could to the conversations around them. At the corners, they were propositioned by the street vendors, but like about two of three people just walked by.

What the Caplan’s did pick up from the conversation was that this was an unusual but not unheard of ball, as most Royal Balls were by invitation only. But at least one holiday a year was open to the public, with other occasional holiday balls open to the public. As well, much of the populous was not quite sure what this ball commemorated. They did happen to hear one society lady, a well fed woman who they guessed to be older than themselves, seamed to think it had to do with some military procession a week before. Another well fed woman disagreed and said it was about a new minister coming from a nearby kingdom, and bringing an eligible daughter with him to meet the locals; she was certainly going to have her son in attendance.

The Caplan’s moved on.