Blood Knot

Chapter Four

Chapter Four:

Avoca had seen the castle outline as she had sailed in. She had seen the front of it, yet failed to realise just how huge it actually was. The castle walls encompassed the city, towering over the buildings. She knew guards lined the tops of them, armour clinking and weapons rattling. They were one of the signs that this wasn't exactly a time of peace. They neared the castle and the sheer majesty of it overwhelmed Avoca. There wasn't much that could do that, she thought wryly.

Eight towers dominated the sky line and the soaring curtain wall discouraged enemies from invading. Avoca could imagine how difficult this castle would be to attack, for the only visible entrance was a steep slope up the side of one of the walls. The castle itself formed a long rectangle, with battlements all the way round. Gilbert led her up the slope and they reached the great doorway. It was as Avoca expected – two huge wooden doors, open to reveal the courtyard within. Two guards stood to attention on either side of the door. They waved Gilbert through and squinted to see Avoca. It was too dark to see any of her facial features; all they saw was a girl in leather armour. But that was enough to raise interest.

Before they entered the courtyard, Avoca turned to look over the city. The city walls hugged the buildings of every shape and size. Tall narrow buildings were to the edges, with many small, hut like homes squashed in between. Nearer to the harbour, and lining all the main streets, were the grander buildings. But all were dwarfed by the magnificent castle; it made the hundreds of houses look tiny and insignificant. They appeared in chaotic angles, as if there was no plan, no organisation. The castle was at the opposite end of the city from the harbour, yet Avoca could see it from where she stood. Countless brigs, merchant ships, fishing boats and others she couldn't name sat bobbing on the ocean. The sea was one black expanse in the night, going on and on until it merged into the blacker horizon.

She turned her attention away from it – she had seen enough of the sea to last her a life time. Instead she looked to her left, where, within the walls, were two more giant towers, each at least fifty foot tall and covered in ivy. Between them was a newly built arch; a gate that had been drawn closed for the night. Slightly beyond them, outside the boundaries of the city, Avoca could see some sort of structure. It looked like a small platform, but there was something swaying from above it... She snorted with amusement as she realised it was a gallows. She'd heard of them, but never having been to a city before she hadn't seen them in use. Where she had come from had a... different way of dealing with criminals.

Smiling to herself, she turned back to the courtyard, where Gilbert was waiting for her with an eager expression on his face.

Inside the courtyard, the castle was even more impressive. Avoca admired the archery targets in the torch light, liking how they were all set at varying angles and distances. More guards stood within the walls, guarding the doors and stairways. It was peacefully quiet.

Gilbert led her to a door to the right. Inside, it was quite small but in no way was it plain.

'The waiting room, My Lady,' he said, gesturing.

'I will call you by your name, Steward, if you call me by mine,' she said coldly. She was unimpressed by the tapestries that lined the walls from floor to ceiling, with their exquisite stitches and immense detail.

'Oh, uh, right then, Avoca?'

'Thank you Gilbert Godwinson,' she said with a genuine smile. He nodded a little bashfully and cleared his throat. 'Well, I needs must go wake your Lord Father then.' He smiled back and backed out of the room.

Avoca studied the rest of the room. Whilst the tapestries were the dominant feature, there were several high backed chairs lined with the softest material. It looked very modern and had pale green flowers embroidered on. Avoca couldn't understand why people wasted their time on such impractical stuff – it would wear away in a few years at the most. A delicate vase stood atop a small wooden cabinet. It was empty. She investigated the contents of the cabinet, finding that empty too. Everything in the room seemed pointless and decorative. Ignoring the chairs, she laid her heavy pack onto the floor and sat on that instead.