Blood Ties

Chapter 6: Beautifully Barbaric

The deeper they went into the forest the greener it got. It seemed never ending. The group had long since passed the pit of blackness near the forests' front. They were walking further into the forest. Rocky outcrops jutted out here and there. Houses were built on the larger slabs of rock, thatched roofs of twigs and walls of cut timber. They climbed a mountain, with houses scattered here and there. After overcoming the crest of the mountaintop, Trisa saw something amazing, a city whose walls were cut entirely from stone, smooth stone, coated with colored paints. Shocking was the height of the building some as tall as watchtowers.

How had they accomplished such a feat without magic? The guards noticeably stiffened at this breathtaking sight. Trisa felt her heart racing in her chest, with a strange feeling of excitement. It felt has if she'd soar from the elation of pure excitement. Is it wrong to be excited by that which is dangerous? She wondered this as they began trekking down into the valley towards the heart of the city. The walls were high so very high, great domes and arches mounted the tops of buildings everywhere. Bridges stood not only across the winding river that flowed through the center of the valley but extended across the upper stories of builds. It seemed as though an occupant of the city could walk across the city without ever going below the fifth story of the cities buildings. More fascinating was how lush greenery burst forth from every terrace in the city. Trisa was mystified, to say the least, the hum of trees was almost overpowering it would make any Wood Magi wild. Suddenly among all the elation a flash of fear struck her heart, then dismay settled in her stomach. She couldn't stay in this beautiful city for long. Worst yet she couldn't craft here. After the Kingdoms had rejected synthetics, magic became hearsay for Barbarians. Barbarians were not initially against magic, but the prejudice of the Kingdoms against the barbaric manipulation of nature had rendered it so that no barbarian trusted a magical. Not since the Old Age War.

Trisa sighed openly. "What's the matter? You should like this city it's filled with your own kind after all." The guard remarked gruffly.

Trisa stammered a reply "Yes, I just miss home." It was a stupid response she knew, but the best she could muster under the current tumult of emotions.

"Strange of you to say. I can't imagine what was nice about a bunch of desolate mountains."

"Crunkey stop talking the prisoner. No fraternizing." The Fire Magi said with a distasteful crassness. Trisa had to hide a smile, for the love of the Kingdoms! Who'd name their child Crunkey? The party walked onward into the cities square. On the left side of the square was the river rushing boldly forward without cause for concern as to the entrance of the party.

On the right side, however, was the fixated gaze of a handful of Barbarians. Whose leader stood chest jutted outward decked in battle armor.

"I am Goliath head of the City we call Barbarous. By election, it is my duty to screen all new entrants."

Screen entrants?? What did that mean exactly?? Trisa was already confused by Barbaric Customs. Was she going to have to mimic the way he talked? If so she already had problems.

The Fire Magi began to speak, "Names Ario as you may well know." At this, the Magi gave forth a vengeful smirk dripping with malice and dark promise. "I bring forth prisoners of the Kingdoms to you, as required by settlement laws and laws of banishment. Do not, however, mistake this as a cease-fire," With that Ario was silent.

Goliath stepped forward slightly and motioned his hand forward. On signal with a nod from Ario, the guards unshackled Aliyus, Frenzick, and Trisa. "Step forth to be screened."

With Aliyus and Frenzick flanking her sides they moved towards Goliath. Despite the sophistication of the city, the dress of its occupants was a testament to Barbarians stained escutcheon. Simple cotton tunics, with the rest of their bodies clad in leather pants and strapped with leather across their chests.

As they approached Goliath's buddies pulled out strange flat looking metal wands. They made a strange metallic buzzing noise as they were waved idiotically up and down in front of Trisa and her friends bodies. When one reached Frenzick's face, it made a high pitched sound. He jumped rather alarmed by this. Goliath waved away the guards and moved towards Frenzick.

"The piercing infused in you left ear it's charm infused is it not?"

Frenzick acquiesced, "Yes, I'm afraid it is."

"You're going to hand it over. Magical paraphernalia isn't allowed in this city."

Without complaint, Fren detached the ring, then offered it to Goliath open palmed. With rigid posture, the man shook his head and gestured to his guards who placed it in a strange clear bag. Without much further ceremony Ario and his men departed, spears at the ready.

Trisa was then forced to revert her attention to Goliath, who had suddenly looped his arms around her shoulders and Aliyus' who happened to stand on his other side. He shockingly changed to a causal barring after the Kingdom's Guard left. His voice was dripping with excitement when he said, "Welcome to the City."