When they were safely outside the palace, Amafi asked, Magnificence, what transpired?
We are now in the service of Duke Kaspar of Olasko, Amafi.
The former assassin grinned, for a moment looking positively lupine. Then he said, So, now our rise to greatness begins!
Yes, said Tal, though inside he felt as if it was a descent into darkness that lay before them.
The ship beat against the rolling combers as a stiff breeze hurried it towards the most magnificent city Tal had ever seen. No, he thought, more magnificent than he could have imagined.
Rillanon stood outlined against the hills, a stunning creation of coloured stone and graceful arches. The late-afternoon sun etched its form with brilliant highlights set against deep shadows. Tal had been told of its history, that the Mad King, Rodric the Fourth, had ordered the city rebuilt with every drab façade replaced by cut stone of brilliant hue. Kings Lyam, Patrick and now Ryan had continued with the project, and now nearly every building in the capital of the Kingdom of the Isles was a study in splendour. A thing of marble and granite, Rillanon glimmered white and pink, yellow and amber, with hints of purple, green, red and blue scattered across the scene. As they approached, details resolved and both Tal and Amafi stood in mute astonishment in the bow of Duke Kaspars ship, The Dolphin.
A voice from behind them said, Is this your first visit, Squire?
Tal turned to see the Duke and bowed before he answered. Yes, Your Grace.
Amafi stepped away discreetly, giving his master and the Duke the opportunity to speak in private.
I am second to no man in my pride in my homeland, Squire, said the Duke. Opardum is a magnificent city in its own way, but Ill concede that upon first viewing, no city matches Rillanon in beauty.
I must agree, Your Grace. I have read histories Tal forced himself to remember his place. When a student, my father insisted I master the history of the Kingdom. He turned, and waved his hand. But this its beyond description.
Yes, isnt it? Duke Kaspar chuckled. If one were to wage war upon the Kingdom of the Isles, it would be a tragedy to have to sack such a wonder. It would be far better to force them to surrender before having to storm those towers, dont you agree?
Tal nodded. Though I would think not going to war with the Isles the wiser choice.
There are other means of winning a struggle besides armed conflict, said the Duke. He spoke, as much to himself as to Tal. There are those who will avow that war is the result of failed diplomacy, while others will tell you that war is but another tool of diplomacy; Im not enough of a scholar to decide if theres really any difference between those two positions. He turned and smiled at Tal. Now, get to your cabin and change into your finery. We shall be dining in the Kings palace tonight. He glanced at the sails. I judge us to be less than an hour out of the harbour, and we shall have clear sailing to the royal docks.
Tal went below and did as instructed, and by the time he was ready for presentation in court, he heard a knock upon his door. Amafi opened it to find a cabin boy standing before the portal.
Yes?
Dukes compliments, Squire. Youre to join him on deck.
Ill be along straight away, said Tal.
Tal quickly adjusted his new tunic and grabbed his hat, an outfit tailored for him in Roldem prior to leaving. He had spent the week lying low as Kaspar had suggested, avoiding public places for the most part. It hardly mattered anyway, for the invitations from Roldems elite had stopped immediately after his humiliation of Prince Matthew. Tal assumed Kaspar had sent out word that Tal was now under his protection for there had been no attempt at reprisal, at least none that Tal and Amafi could see.
Tal hurried up on deck as the ship approached the breakwater outside the harbour. If Roldem had been breath-taking the first time Tal had seen it from a ship, Rillanon was astonishing. The closer they got the more stunning the vista became. For not only was the city constructed of polished marble and granite, it was trimmed in all manner of ways: there were flower trellises, hillside gardens, colourful pennants and banners, and windows of quartz and glass. The late-afternoon sun set the stones ablaze with reflected gold, amber, rose and white highlights.
Amazing, said Amafi.
Yes, said the Duke. I always try to arrive before sunset, just to see this.
A royal cutter flying the banner of the Kingdom of the Isles was on an outward tack, and dipped its pennant in salute to the Duke of Olasko. Sailors on both ships waved greetings, and Tal was rendered almost mute by the grandeur around him. Ships from every nation on the Sea of Kingdoms were at anchor or sailing in or out of the harbour. He saw Keshian traders, ships from the Eastern Kingdoms, and cargo-haulers from every point in the known world.
Sails were reefed and The Dolphin slowed as the captain allowed a smaller boat to come alongside. A rope ladder was dropped and up it scampered the Harbour Pilot, who quickly made his way to the quarterdeck. He took control of the ship: from this point on, it was his job to sail the ship into the Royal Dock.