The Ashes of Allmau: The Orfolk of Allmau

Chapter 25

Energised by the anticipation of returning home, the impact of the crewmen stirred Ahna from sleep around early afternoon the following day. She lay in peace in a nest of comfortable throws in Evelyne's room. Dyll sat at the tea-table, guarding Rune and the copper lotus while nibbling at a sizeable breakfast that had been laid out for her.

"Where is everyone?" she asked.

"They've gone outside," he said, "To see the view."

"The view?" she asked, turning her attention to the window she saw outside a scattering of dark green islands on the horizon, they were nearing the city of Langsine.

Ahna arrived at the deck still chewing on some bits, Dyll sat on her shoulder, hidden under one of Evelyne's expensive shawls. From the bow of the trimaran's port wing they could see the approaching coastline, stretched across the horizon. The cities seawall was coming into view. A tall, uniform grey structure, stained by the high tides, and overpopulated with shanty homes across its top. The ship aligned with a fortified waterway, set to sail into the heart of the city.

Ahna joined Syble, Euol, Evelyne and Sabian, along with a few crewmen taking a minute to enjoy the view. The sea air was pungent here, the smell of rotting seaweed on the gravel shores filled the air. It was an acquired taste.

"Is this it?" Ahna asked.

"Yes," said Evelyne, longingly "This is home,"

"Langsine." Said Syble.

The ship sailed through the waterway into the guarded bay, which opened out in all directions. The water here was still, wooden mooring towers were scattered about the shallows, some empty and rotting, and others clustered with small boats and floating hamlets of fishermen. Some were still dressed in sun faded bunting from long gone days of celebration. Amongst this were the products of Langsine, great warships, sitting purposelessly around the bay, rotting into pools of rust while hoping for turmoil.

An odd energy hung in the air; it wasn't just Ahna who could sense it. This city was once a great machine that churned out weapons for the empire, transforming the islands natural resources into whatever the old empire needed to maintain peace around the Northern Lown. It's demise now left the wheels of the machine to come to a slow stop, and everyone who manned the factory floor had been left with nothing to do. This left an uneasy anxiety about the place, not unlike that abysmal atrophy she'd experienced before, just city wide.

"Do you guys remember much from here?" Ahna asked her siblings.

"Not really," thought Euol, who studiously drank in this incredible insudtrial world.

"He was just a baby when we left." Said Syble.

"What about you?" Ahna asked.

"Little bits," she said, "I remember, the crownlands." She pointed to the hills just visible in the distance, "They're very pretty. Also, I remember sailing along the canals through town with mum and dad. That was nice."

"Oh, they're all gone now." Said Evelyne, "Well, in the city at least. They're being paved over for progress, or some such thing."

"Oh," Syble thought, glancing down to Ahna and giving a frown.

"Progress," mouthed Ahna, getting a smile from her big sister.

"Yes, on warm days you can really smell the difference," Evelyne grimaced, "We can spend most of our time in the Crownlands."

The Guildhall took centre stage, dominating the waterfront. Made up of several beautifully crafted buildings, interconnected by a maze of gardens, bridges, canals and concourses, it would be accurately described in size and nature as complex. It was a grand and imposing structure, the type of building measured in epics rather than storeys, straddling the waterfront with two large, ornate canal locks either side of the main dock that controlled waterflow into the city. Such a building eclipse itself as they grew closer, like a pyronaut to an orfolk, only this was far less welcoming.