A Crowned King (Complete)

Chapter 27

The city of Snowcore was a very rambunctious and loud place. There were noises all around from salesman hawking their wares to people laughing on the street corners whole they drank from their ale cups to children running around the streets with dogs barking at their feet and the pounding of metal on metal as some blacksmith created a fine weapon or a well-made suit of armor.

As Mako walked among the cobblestone streets, he took in the sights of the city without emotion even as he stepped around the horses and the wagons that crowded the already compacted streets. This place wasn't that unlike Blackreach save for the people themselves. They were mostly large, blonde, and in the case of the men, hairy. Also, the lack of wealth or finery was on full display here. Everyone was dressed in the same roughspun cotton clothing he'd seen in Snowshield. The only ones who were dressed in fine linens were the soldiers and there were a lot of them.

It seemed everywhere the young Prince looked there was a soldier. None of them wore helms, but their armor was leather and they wielded swords, shields, axes, spears, and maces. There was no crest or banner to show what Clan any of the men and women belonged to, but that didn't seem to matter to any of them. It was enough that they were soldiers. They were likely the law in Snowcore. Well, other than their King and Lord Steward.

"Come on. You don't want to call behind." grunted the soldier that had lead them inside. Shortly after they had walked through the gates, the other soldiers had dispersed to their normal duties leaving them with only the lead of the soldiers who had dismounted his horse to lead them on. The man smiled back at the Princess. "Your father will be happy to see you, Princess. He's been wondering where you've been."

Mako looked over his shoulder at his companion and saw her narrow her eyes on the man speaking. She walked up closer to him, her lips tight. "What's going on here?" she asked and waved her arms at the soldiers practically crawling the streets of the city. Suspicion burned in her golden eyes and it was aimed right at the Captain. "Why are there so many soldiers in the city? My father has never had this many men in Snowcore at once."

The captain sighed and came to a stop, looking back at her. "I can't tell you that Princess. Your father is the only one who can tell you that." he told her out loud. Then he leaned closer to her and whispered just loud enough for him to hear. "But from what I know, an invasion from Star is imminent."

"That's not possible." Mako replied without thinking. He wasn't supposed to be listening at all, but it was true. There was no way that Star was about to invade Galtea. Only the crowned Prince could authorize such a thing, and even though he did have a double serving in Blackreach, Drianna would never allow the young man to actually wage war. There was no way. "Only the Prince can order men to attack and he hasn't."

"And who are you exactly?" the Captain asked as he stepped passed Winter and eyed him closely. "I never did ask. How do you know about Star politics?"

The Prince opened his mouth to answer the question -- a lie for sure, but still an answer-- but the Princess stopped it. "You are not here to interrogate him. He is my friend and I won't have you bothering him." she told the soldier in a stern voice, drawing both of their gazes to her and she had her arms crossed over her chest, glaring. "Take me to my father and no more questions."

The soldier turned a dark red, but he bowed his head to her. "Of course Princess." he replied before turning and walking back down the street. The two of them followed after him without a word, but they did share a look with one another. As they walked, they noticed that the closer they got to the longhouse of the King the larger of a military presence there was.

"What's going on here?" Mako asked her, looking over at her as he whispered. She stared at the back of the soldier's head before looking back over at him.