[Continuation of mainstory] An expected arrival - Part 1

A cloudy day in early December is a day that should forever go down in the Estaran history books.

As the farmers of Ultopja go after their daily work on the fields they see a procession in the distance. Banners flatter in the wind, they display a proud woman in full armour and strawberry-blonde hair, holding a mighty mace. Eight mounted knightesses surround a cart drawn by two strong and tall horses. The farmers watch after the procession, some with hate, some with anger, most with fear.

The street to the gate of Ultopja is only slowly being build, a low priority amongst other much more pressing concerns of inner policy. A bumpy ride into the city. The second the procession crosses the tall marble gate, that sticks out of the greyish-red mountain, guards surround it. The spears of the lower soldiers are pointed at the knightesses as the professionals raise their shields, ready to respond to any act of aggression.

There is none, the knightesses simply wait in posture, their orders clear.

Catherine bursts out of the left building and shouts, “Lower your weapons and make room.” As she hastily steps closer. The soldiers obey and in unison step back, a drumming of boots on the stone street.

Catherine, a bit out of breath, stops in front of the procession. “Who are you and who speaks for you?” Catherine asks, it is a standard question. The eight knightesses remain silent as the door at the side of the cart opens.

A brunette lady exits. Her hair is held in a ponytail at the high-end of her head by a gold decorated barrette, grey strands artfully combed looking like they are meant to be there. Black frills adorn the seam of her purple dress. Her face is beautiful, her eyes sharp, many hard wrinkles betray both her progressed age and the many years she has spent negotiating.

Her eyes fall on Catherine, both of them are surprised for a moment and both of them hide it so well that only each other realizes. “I, Lady Arlene Karstenstein, speak for the Queendom of Estara. Who do I speak with?” A purely diplomatic question of course. ‘Who would have thought the woman that raised me would come here?’ Catherine thinks and hints a small bow. “I am Lady Catherine Karstenstein, I am one of the five members of the council that governs this city. May I assume that the reason for your visit is to speak with Lord-Regent Ulal?”

Arlene nods. “You may.” “Very well. We will arrange a meeting post-haste, until then I suggest you stay with us in District Imperja.” Catherine points at the giant tower in the distance. “As per our laws in diplomacy your safety and wellbeing are guaranteed.” “Yes, I have heard about your laws from the former residents of Brikstrat. They have been very….vocal.” Arlene says, her dignified tone drips with unspoken acquisitions. “I would be very interested to hear more, would you join me in the cart as we ride for the tower, Lady Catherine?” Catherine wants to refuse, but doing so would make her look impolite. “Of course, Lady Arlene.”

She climbs into the cart behind Arlene and the second the door closes behind her the mask drops. “What are you thinking?” Arlene hisses, “I dismissed those disgusting rumours as those, rumours, even though they were affirmed by the twins themselves. And this is how you repay my trust?” Catherine sighs, this is exactly what she though she would hear. “What did you expect from me?” She says and looks out of the carts window. “I expected you to honour the orphanage name, like I did and many great Estarans before us. We are the most influential none noble name in the military and we are not even related by blood.”

“Pff, the military.” Catherine swipes away Arlene’s little speech with a wave of her hand. “The military never did much for me. What I managed to learn ever since swearing fealty to my new master is enormous.” Arlene looks like she just got slapped, “a MASTER? You have submitted to a male? A mage no less? Catherine, what would Helena think if she ever were to hear this?”

Catherine shrugs. “Knowing her righteous attitude she would probably try to safe me. She would fail.” “How can you have so little trust in somebody that used to be both your sister and your lover?” Arlene says, “I watched both of you grow from dirty street kids to proud members of Estaras military. Helena got promoted to Generalship a few months ago, I had hoped you would once hold the title of Archmagistrix. You could have brought glory to Karstenstein.”

“Now I bring glory to me instead.” Catherine says, “Spare me your ideological nonsense, you know me better than that. I always liked power more than you.” Arlene sighs and massages the bridge of her nose in slow, circular motions. “Yes, you always were a rotten child.” Catherine smirks, “Now we are talking about me.” “If I can’t get you back to Estara tell me what all of this is about. You owe me at least that much.”

Catherine nods, “This city was created by my master after he achieved immortality, he wants too…” “Wait, immortality?” Arlene immediately interrupts. Catherine stops for a second; she almost forgot how absurd that must sound to normal people. “Ehm, yeah, that is a bit longer of a story. To put it short he is half a demon.” Arlene simply takes that information in and keeps quiet with a frozen expression of neutrality as she listens to what else Catherine has to say.

“He wants to create a city of science and magicians here. Ultopja has three ideals: Equality, Discipline and Knowledge. The city is separated into seven districts, Imperja, Anjar….” She continues her explanation of the rough build of their society and what has conspired in the last months, in accordance to the view that they officially represent.

In the end Arlene sighs and leans back into the cushioned seat. “You are not telling me everything. Whatever, I will find it out sooner or later. You do however realize that Estara cannot allow this city to succeed?” Catherine laughs and crosses her arms, “Of course, not only do we provide a better future for the male population but we also simply took a piece of your land. If you don’t act against us you will lose face.”

Arlene nods and stares at her hands that now rest on her lap. “Yes. You either decide to become a vassal and put a woman that we trust in charge and reverse the promises you made to the males or it is war…what is it going to be, Catherine?” The cart follows the circular path around the plaza, the emblem stares down on them, the golden eyes look gloomily. “That is not for me to decide.” She states and rips her eyes from the window underneath the emblem and the small silhouette she knows to be Ulal.

“But just between you and me.” She says, “Ulal was a demon long before he became one.”