The Affairs of Mortals

Chapter 16

The city of Fer was large and cosmopolitan. It was not the largest city she had ever seen, both the capitol Vermillion and the Imperial City were larger, but at a certain level of population the differences between sufficiently sized metropolises faded into academic obscurity. The city was large enough that a master of almost any trade could be found within its walls, including a university of occult science.

The walls of the city were high stone, but several villages had grown up into fully fledged towns within eyesight of the walls. They bore their own names, but they may as well have formed a singular urban mass. As they passed through the main gate, Vero noticed that the walls bristled with cannons. She reflected that the walls were strong old stone, but that cannon fire would certainly bring them down with a sustained attack. Presumably, that was the reason Jean's own cannons were kept prepared for counter-battery fire.

They rode down the main boulevard in parade formation. Vero had dressed in pants and rode Papillon herself. Many of the common people came out to wave to them as they passed and the guild masters formally greeted them in the city square. The weather was still fair even so late in the year and everyone seemed to treat their lord's return as an impromptu holiday. Merchants hawked their wares, food stalls served the onlookers, and the city's prostitutes and catamites wore all their finery to ply their own trade.

The sun was just over the horizon when they had spied the city walls, but it was past mid-day when they finally reached the Iron Hall, ancestral home of the Marquis de Fer.

A clear space had been left around the fortress so that attackers could be kept under fire as they approached. The walls had been double layered and were built in an odd star shape with projecting points. Vero presumed it had been done for arcane purposes, and Jean confirmed it when she asked. His wizards had calculated that such angles served as a ward against cannon fire.

They passed the first gate and found the garrison waiting for them standing at attention in the killing field between the walls. A small party in regal attire waited for them at the second gate. Vero recognized Father Ignacio, the captive Umbrian nobles, and Ser Renaud. Along with them were two women of extraordinary beauty.

The first woman had long flowing golden hair which came down as far as her waist. Her features were soft and kind. She wore an exceptional deep purple dress with fathomless skirts that trailed far behind her, carried by maids wearing complimentary - though obviously inferior - gowns to match their mistress. There was a diadem ornamented with emeralds on her head like a princess. Vero thought the woman was the fairest she had ever seen, excepting perhaps Mama.

The second woman was exceptionally beautiful herself, although age had begun taking its toll. Her hair was grey, but still appeared supple. Her face was sleek and avian and she was very tall, taller than Vero. The woman looked to match Jean's six feet. Wrinkles showed themselves around her eyes, but that and her hair were the only hints of her mature age. Her chest in particular appeared to defy gravity's hold, which was especially impressive given its bountiful size. Perhaps that was a result of the rather provocative dress she wore.

There was a man on the older woman's arm of about her own age, with the colors of salt and pepper in his hair and beard. He was broad shouldered and had a handsome face, but Vero found him just a few years too old for her own taste. Although she might have felt differently if she did not have such an embarrassment of riches, surrounded by the company of beautiful men which she kept.

"Mother!" Jean dismounted at once and ran to embrace the older woman. They held one another so tenderly it made Vero a little melancholic. "I didn't know you and Ser Elan would be here to greet us!" Then, almost as an afterthought, he turned to the golden-haired woman and added, "Hello, Marie. You look very beautiful today."