Birthright: The Contested Seat

Kyran

It had been a few days since their ship departed Galenport and Kyran had been dreadfully bored. There was only so much he could do to occupy himself on board a ship. Once you'd done it all, it became quite repetitive. Having Talia with him certainly helped, though she had already gotten him into trouble once or twice.

On the second day of their journey, Talia dared Kyran to pretend he was choking on his food. He thought it would be lighthearted fun, but the future king choking on a chicken bone caused quite a panic. Gerta was furious and lectured them about the severity of their actions, making them pay for it at training the next morning.

Another time, he and Talia snuck into the cargo hold of the ship in search of rare artifacts from far off lands. Instead, they became too excited and knocked over a rare porcelain vase from Rentos. The sound of it shattering brought the crew down to investigate. Gerta had to pay in coin for their mistake and they were scolded and punished once more. Kyran vowed not to get into any more trouble. They would have to find other ways to entertain themselves.

As the ship sailed upstream, the banks of the river became more densely populated. Kyran could see small fishing villages dotting the shoreline, their wooden huts and shacks clustered together in tight groups. The villagers would come out to watch the ship pass, waving and shouting greetings to the crew. Kyran noticed that some of the villagers were fishermen, their boats moored along the riverbank with nets and traps laid out to dry. Others were farmers, tending to small plots of land that hugged the river's edge.

The villages varied in size and appearance. Some were barely more than a few huts clustered together, while others were larger and more prosperous, with well-maintained paths and gardens. Kyran could see children running and playing in the streets, their laughter carrying across the water. In some of the villages, he could hear the sound of music and singing, indicating that a festival or celebration was taking place.

Kyran and Talia had begged the merchant captain to stop so they could attend, but Gerta insisted that he continue up the river. He wished he could experience a rural celebration without all the pomp and circumstance that his status demanded. It pained him to sail past, hearing the sounds of their merriments get softer and softer until he could hear it no longer.

As the ship sailed further upstream, the villages became more frequent, and Kyran could see that they were becoming more developed. Some had small markets set up, with vendors selling fish, vegetables, and handmade crafts. Others had small temples and shrines erected for worship of their gods, indicating that their religion played an important role in their lives.

Despite the activity and bustle of the fishing villages, Kyran couldn't help but notice an underlying sense of poverty and hardship. Many of the huts and buildings looked weathered and worn, and he could see that the villagers were living a difficult life, dependent on the river for their livelihoods and survival. The late Lord Warly's rebellion was not so long ago, and the effects of that war were still being felt by the smallfolk of the Riverlands. Kyran detested the idea of war, though he realized that sometimes it was unavoidable.

"What are you thinking about?" came Talia's voice from behind him.

When he turned to face her, she was dressed in a light linen tunic and leather trousers. Her hair was propped up in a loose bun, keeping it out of her way as she bit into an apple.

"The war really took a toll on the people in these villages. It's sad," Kyran responded, catching the fresh apple she tossed to him.

"The smallfolk always pay more for war than those above them. It's just the way of things."

"Do you think Lord Galia knows how badly they suffer? If he did, do you think he would fix it?" Kyran asked, curiously.

Talia thought for a moment, which was out of character for her. Kyran liked speaking with Talia because she never hesitated to say what she felt. She was the only one who spoke to him plainly, while others chose their words more carefully. The moment she would start treating him as a king would be a moment of great loss for him.