Steel Wolf

Goxell-Galbria

The trip had been uneventful. No marauding attackers. Around noon of the third day, they rounded the gentle curve between the mountains and smelled the ocean. Below them lay the port city of Goxell-Galbria. Tanaya called a halt to the column for a final inspection.

She rode her horse up and down the lines of soldiers looking for flaws and pointing out bits of grit. She wanted her warriors as pristine as possible. Even the monks stood at attention, waiting for Tandala to do an inspection of her own. Shalindra, who had walked the entire way, never leaving Amanda's side, offered her bow to Tanaya for a quick once-over. Tanaya asked Serenna to change into a suitable set of clothes, as befitting her royal station. When all was in readiness, the column moved down the road with Serenna at the front, flanked on either side by the officers. Flags and banners raised high, fluttering in the breeze from seaward.

As they approached the outskirts of the city, a church bell sounded, followed by another, then another, heralding the approach of the princess. At the gates of the city, they were met by a fairly large group of well-dressed men and women, one pair, astride quarter horses, in matching uniforms of some sort.

A tall mustachioed man wearing a top hat and carrying a cane stood in the center of the group. He bowed formally, his hat swishing in front of him as he did so, then straightened and approached the princess. Every guardsman had assumed "professional" mode, not speaking nor moving around, though their eyes constantly swept the area for danger.

"Princess Newlander," the man greeted, "I am Agamma Westerfield, the Mayor of Goxell-Galbria. We are honored that you grace us with your presence." He gestured to the uniformed man and woman behind him. "Chief Constable Westerfield and his wife, Vice Chief Westerfield, will accompany you to the Westerfield Inn where accommodations for you and your guards have been arranged. When we received word of your arrival to our city, several ship's captains offered to take you to Port Oxwood. But, our instructions were explicit and the proper captain has been notified. The Shark's Widow is due to arrive this afternoon and will set sail when you are ready." He licked his lips nervously, dabbing his brow with a white handkerchief. Had he even taken a breath during that speech?

"Thank you, Mayor," replied Serenna, settling into her appropriate role. "It is we who are honored by such hospitality. I'm sure the citizens of your fair city are as gracious as you are. Please, lead the way to the inn, this heat is rather unbearable."

Mayor Westerfield snapped his fingers. The Chief and Vice Chief Constables rode forward to present themselves.

The well-oiled Royal Guard machine needed no words or gestures as they fanned out to the curbs on either side of the wide cobblestoned boulevard. The officers surrounded Serenna. Battlemages and healers surrounded them as they began moving down the street. Men, women, and children bowed or curtsied as the entourage rode past. Many people stared wide-eyed at the forest elf striding alongside one of the smaller guards, having never seen one in person. Most believed the Forest Elves to be a myth, so rarely seen were they.

Shalindra seemingly ignored them and only the most astute would see her ears twitch as she gathered and processed the sounds around her. She turned her head, looking up at a rooftop and tapped Amanda on the arm. Her quiet voice was so soft that the healer had to lean down to hear.

"Ees normal for two hooman manses being up dere wit' boomsticks?"

Amanda glanced up to where the elf was gesturing with her bow.

"No!" she replied, loudly, alarm in her voice.

"SHIELDS UP!!" screamed Amanda.

Serenna, quietly following the constables and waving to the citizens, was suddenly in shadow as five two-foot long shields snapped over her head. A large blue translucent bubble covered the princess, officers, and mages just as two very loud bangs sounded from the roof. Less than half a second later, screams were heard from above as two bodies tumbled from the parapet, arrows piercing the eyes of both. The column collapsed inward, surrounding the princess as Tanaya grabbed the reins of Serenna's horse and wheeled to race at full speed out of the city. The monks, in the rear, scrambled to get of the path of the galloping horses, then follow at a dead run.