Jessica Jackson
Stories
5
Chapters
1,060
Words
656.8 K
Comments
0
Reading
2 d, 6 h
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The court stood assembled in the throne room. The hall was packed; besides every courtier, from the king’s sister to the lowest beorns, a disjointed band of highlanders, heathmen, drakonians, and others could also be found. Most of the noblemen from the Adalthing had also appeared, including most of the jarls. Ingmond was the exception along with many of his margraves. Conversation became quiet as the doors opened. With ten kingthanes surrounding him, the king entered from the far side and walked up the…
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The day after the Adalthing had spoken, the highfather sat in the Temple yard on a bench. Around him, priests and priestesses of all ranks hurried to and from, each busy with their own errand. Next to him was Godfrey. “How certain were you that the boy would renounce his claim?” asked Septimus. “Reasonably so. He has no interest in rulership, and both his older brothers were murdered for power. I would have preferred if the first counting simply went the right way, but as a contingency, it worked…
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On the morrow of the Adalthing, the Citadel was bustling as could be expected. Lords from across the realm had gathered along with their retinues. Many of them grumbled at being summoned to the capital outside the regular gathering at summer solstice, especially once they had learned the reason. As some expressed, the matter of Arnling had already been resolved, and they demurred at being forced to take this trip only to re-tread familiar ground. Regardless, they had come. All the many margraves of Vale,…
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In Middanhal, tension rose from day to day with the armies of Isarn outside the walls and the Dragonheart inside. News of the Adalthing convening had spread quickly, and while none doubted these events were connected, most could only speculate as to how or why. In the Citadel, the dragonlord made plans, gathering those noblemen loyal to him and his brother; in his family’s house, the dragonborn waited. Brand’s followers had reinforced the compound as best they could, given the scarcity of time and…
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With the enemy near, the northern gate in Middanhal remained closed for ordinary travellers. For those carrying a pass signed by the lord marshal, it was another matter. The same day as Brand had marched into the capital, a wanderer and a carriage made their departure through Woolgate in the afternoon. The solitary wanderer moved at a brisk pace, as if he required neither rest nor sleep. He followed the road east towards Theodstan. As for the carriage, its chosen direction was directly north. Eventually,…
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While Isarn’s army on the doorstep had closed Middanhal’s northern gate, the southern entry into the city remained busy as ever. From morning until evening, crowds gathered to move in either direction. A garrison of Order soldiers kept watch, charging toll of all seeking to enter, unless they belonged to the nobility or the clergy. A small band pushed their way through the crowd outside the walls; as the other travellers became aware of them and saw they were armed, they quickly got out of the way. As…
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From the mountain of Wyrmpeak, meltwater flowed down and fell as a waterfall into the eastern end of Middanhal. Here, it became the great river of the Mihtea, passing through the city before disappearing underneath the mountain of Valmark in the western end. For several miles, the Mihtea continued underground before appearing again south-west, providing the last source of freshwater before reaching Middanhal itself. It was commonplace for wanderers and caravans to make camp at this place before making the…
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Theobald looked up as the door to his study opened. The guard standing on post stuck his head inside. “There’s a man from Theodstan here.” The captain of the city guard nodded. “Fine. Let him in.” With a wink to the guard, Geberic walked inside. “My thanks, captain, for seeing me.” “Theodoric is my kinsman, albeit distant. You’re his thane, aren’t you? I recognise you.” “I was, once upon a time,” replied the other man. Seeing Theobald frown, Geberic hurried to continue. “The…
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Eleanor came rushing into the rooms she shared with Arndis. “Have you heard?” “I have not,” replied the other woman. She continued eating her breakfast in a calm manner, cutting cold ham into pieces. “What is amiss?” “Lord Vale’s chamberlain is dead. He fell from a tower,” Eleanor explained, slightly out of breath. Arndis’ movement froze. “Like Theodwyn,” came her voice softly. “Was anyone seen?” “None that I have heard of.” Eleanor shook her head. “But the castle is…
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In the small study afforded to him, the captain of the city guard had company. “Something must be done!” The speaker was an aged man past eighty years; for the last many of those, he had served as the quartermaster of the Order. “These mercenaries will take anything their eyes fall upon, and I have no authority to command our soldiers to fight them!” “Perhaps that is also best,” Theobald muttered. “I understand your concern,” he quickly added, “but we cannot let it come to blows. That…
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