Through the city to the keep

Moments after the screaming dies down, Aurora leaps off her horse and storms towards the portcullis winch. The mechanism that almost brought down the gate on your heads is manned by two guards, but the one standing behind them, the one who nearly killed the two of you, is none other than that conceited nobleman, Veritas.

Aurora pushes both of the guardsmen to the side and slams her metal-encased fist into his gut. The slimy man’s face goes all red and he doubles over, crumpling to the ground instantly.

“What in the hells were you doing, Veritas?!” She screams, standing above him. “You completely abandoned those men out there!”

Wheezing, Veritas struggles to his feet and shouts back, “How, how DARE you! I have been protecting everyone, Princess! If I hadn’t closed the gate then, we might have let those monsters in!” He jabs a thumb against his chest. “You should be treating me as a hero!”

“You could have killed Hans and I!”

“And it would have been a terrible loss! But I was willing to make that sacrifice, in order to protect our people!”

“Of all the egotistical, self-absorbed…!” She turns away in disgust and stalks off, lips twisted in anger. You watch briefly as she climbs back on her horse but when she starts giving orders to the men around her, you turn away.

Now that the immediate terror and urgency has passed, you take the time to look around and take in your surroundings. Beyond the clearing in front of the gatehouse, the buildings are packed in densely in this corner of the city, built with rust-red stones and even redder ceramic tiles for roofing. The outer walls of the city cast a long shadow from its hewn stone blocks and mortar, and you hope they are as sturdy as they look. Because you’re sure Vanarim’s forces will put them to the test very soon.

“Hans.” Aurora calls from behind you, still scowling. “It’s time to leave. We are going to meet my father, King Lucian, so I can give my report.”

The princess indicates a large stone structure to you, sitting at the top of the motte, and sets off in a trot. Around a score of footmen encircle Aurora and act as her bodyguard, keeping watch for danger. Following behind the princess, you traverse the main road up a winding incline that leads to the castle keep where the king would be.

Up ahead, a second set of walls rises before you, giving the city defenders a place to fall back to, in case the first wall surrounding the city is breached. It was made of the same building material as the first wall, but collapsible staircases and a set of crenellations along the wall meant that this second line of defense would be even harder to penetrate.

After a few minutes of marching with the princess’ retinue past the second gatehouse, the road suddenly opens up into a huge clearing on the other side of the inner walls. You could probably fit the entire village of Gutandor in this space alone. Once it was probably the site of a huge market, with long rows of stalls, peddling their wares, and trade carts and animals travelling here and there. But now the city square lies barren and abandoned. All the tents and people packed up and deserted this section, hiding in their homes no doubt.

As you travel past the various homes and halls, you think you can feel eyes on you, watching you fearfully. Sights of beggars and refugees darting between buildings and crouching under awnings fills your vision each time you turn your head to the side. This is definitely not what you expected from the capital city. -They’re afraid of the Pretender and his host- You remind yourself, and you honestly can’t blame their reaction. You’ve seen what they can do first-hand.

The main keep looms before you now, its rounded turrets and barred windows almost staring down at you. As you approach the heavy oaken doors of the keep, the entrance is guarded by a pair of well-armed guardsmen. One of them walks towards you as you approach, relief showing in his face.

“It’s good to see you still standing spry, lil’ princess.” The castle guard says, beaming. “I guess ya’ll are looking fer your dad?”

“It’s very urgent, Morth. Do you know where he is?”

“Aye, that I do. He’s callin’ an emergency meeting with his court. Turned the audience hall into war room, he did.” He opens his mouth to speak again, when suddenly he notices that Lord Veritas is trailing behind you and her. Riding straight-backed on his horse and holding himself proudly. The guardsman’s smile drops altogether and his face darkens considerably.

“Y’shudda let that cunt die out there.” He spits, giving the nobleman a sidelong glare. “He’s sent somma my friends to die in that fight.”

There is a grim look on Aurora face and she replies, “We need every man we can muster. Even Veritas.”

He shrugs and gestures to the guard on the opposite side. As that guard opens the thick doors into the keep proper, Morth waves all of you in, but saves a black glare for Veritas as he rides past. The nobleman doesn’t even acknowledge the guard’s presence.

You enter a sort of transitional room, wide across but a very short walk to the next set of inner doors. This foyer appears to be some sort of cross between a stable and a waiting room for servants of visitors. There are a number of posts to tether your horse, and as you dismount, a solemn looking man comes along and takes the reins from you.

When Aurora and Veritas climb down from their horses, the soldiers who stood guard as they travelled through the city now bid farewell and leave the way they came in. Then a groaning noise signals that the inner doors are now open and you stay beside Aurora as she confidently walks into the next room.

When the inner keep doors slam close from behind, you swallow hard. From woodcutter's son to the king's court. How did you get in this mess?