No Good Men: Volume One

Chapter VII: Royalty

Calcor, Sharban

Count Hafza takes a sip from a large cup of wine and stares out of an open window. The chilly breeze from high up in the Citadel flows into the room and cools the Count in his formal dress. He wears a black overcoat with a purple tunic underneath tucked behind a pair of dark brown breeches. His black belt, covered in small purple gemstones, wraps around his waist. Completing his grand outfit, he wears his expensive black boots from Queen Wano in the kingdom of Pike. A gray fluff lines their northern rims, perfect for a winter's day, but comfortable for the heat in Sharban.

Behind him, his large white bed and its silky red sheets are neatly displayed over the soft padding and wooden base. The walls of the room are outlined with a marble stone pattern, chiseled into lions and a nude woman meant to represent Lindar. two pillars of gray stone cut through his room and down into the floor.

The count places his cup on a table underneath the window and looks out into the city. Past the courtyard ahead of Imonar's tower, and beyond the walls at the shore, the count watches as a fleet of ships sail into Calari Bay. The vessels funnel into the bay and file behind each other at each row of the docks extending out to them like blades of grass.

From the other side of the room between two blue flame candles, a knock comes from the door.

"Come in", says the Count, and the door opens to reveal Ramzi standing in the hallway. He steps inside and pulls down on his red tunic before bowing his head.

"Fair morning Count Hafza. Ser Arnaldus and his guards are ready to escort you to the harbor's walls. They await you in the courtyard."

Count Hafza raises his cup off the tables and swirls the wine around. He finishes the rest as if it were his last sip, and places the cup back down as he turns to face his advisor.

"I'll check on Samuel and take him with me down to the courtyard. I want you to accompany Elise down once she is ready. I'd like to leave as soon as possible."

"Of course, your grace.", says Ramzi before once again bowing and leaving the room. He shuts the door behind him and shuffles past rows of servants in faded purple uniforms hurrying about through the deep stone halls. Citadel guards in shining armor and decadent robes march through with haste, bumping into Ramzi as he makes his way past them.

Ramzi squeezes past the commotion and heads to a white stone archway marked with a blue gem at its peak. The archway at the end of the hall opens down to a spiral staircase lit by candles hung on golden platters above the steps. As he walks down the stairs, droves of servants, guards, and city councilors crowd the stairs.

One floor down, he steps off of the spiral onto a smooth stone pad, leading into another hallway. The marbled walls are windowless, but magical blue and white flames emit a bright light from long black candles in their place. Ramzi approaches a door on the right with a white cloth wedged between the frame. He raises his knuckles to his chest and aims them at the door before knocking three times. No answer.

"My lady, your father has asked for you to be at the courtyard in only a few minutes," he says. The knob twists, and the door slowly opens inward. Elise steps out of the room and shuts the door behind her without saying a word. Her hair is neatly curled and the small beads on her purple and black dress sparkle from the candlelight around her.

Ramzi bows in her presence and asks, "Are you ready to leave madam?"

"Yes Mr. Ramzi, I was just having a chat with one of my servants. Shall we go together?"

"I would be honored madam. Come with me, there's not much time left." Ramzi holds his right arm up and Elise grabs onto him before the leave. Three nearby guards quickly accompany them as they walk to the spiral staircase.