The Death of a Dream [hiatus]

Chapter 3

"Sheen"

It was hard to believe I was still in the same kingdom. The streets were paved in neatly cut, white stones. All around us the houses lined the streets with uniform store fronts and alleyways. It was like the way the farmers in Orzon used to grid every single foot of their farm plots to perfection. Everything and I mean everything followed the Caledonian red, black, and gold colors. From flags and banners hung outside every door or draped over archways to the alternating roof colors.

The city's inhabitants peered out of their stores and windows as we rode down the main street. Little boys jogged alongside our procession, waving at the soldiers with their twinkling eyes wide.

"Are they always like this?" I smiled and waved at a little girl who had looked my way.

Innes shifted backwards, allowing me more room to sit up. "Only when we're victorious."

I chuckled softly. "Well, that must be quite often then. All my life, I hadn't heard of a battle we'd lost."

Innes remained silent. I assumed he had nothing else to say on the matter and continued smiling at the residents. They must've been confused as to who I was supposed to be for they returned my greetings with knitted brows and hushed whispers.

 The ride throughout the city was strange, not just to me but in general. How odd for a city to be built downhill. After every steep incline down was a small section of the street that plateaued before going into another downward slope. It wasn't until we passed through the third slope that I realized why it was built the way it was.

Nearing the end of the strange inclined streets was a gigantic arch that stood between us and circular chasm that contained a stark white palace. The building was beautiful, almost divine. I'd never seen anything like it!

I counted four large, ivory towers circling the front of the palace and assumed that there were four more in the back. The spires had connecting walkways that linked them to different parts of the palace. It was like an interconnected ring of towers that encircled the main body of the palace.

"What a strange place to build a palace," I mumbled as Innes halted his horse just in front of the large stone archway.

Innes climbed down before helping me off the saddle. He handed over the reins to his horse before guiding me through the well-guarded archway.

"It's called the Titan's Hollow," he said as we approached a large stone bridge that connected us to the palace's entrance-way. "After Ylaos' defeat against Belveus, his body fell into the Hollow."

"Fascinating, but strange." I frowned, confused at the notion that someone would want to build their seat of power on top of the Titan that ravaged the lands long ago.

"Lord Vagra saw the Hollow not as a place of danger, but as an opportunity to show the world that Caledonia fears no one, not even the old gods," he finished, his eyes never leaving the bridge ahead.

I followed his gaze and noticed a woman standing at the beginning of the bridge. She wore a large purple and gold dress that was adorned by countless silver pieces as well as strings of pearls. The closer we drew to her, the more I could see her features. If there was ever a woman who was born with a scowl on her face, she was it. Her cheekbones were high and sharper than the blades the soldiers carried. The pout and pursing of her lips along with the way her chin tilted upwards made me shrink in her presence.

"Running late, general? You test their patience." The woman raised a brow, her eyes looking less than amused. Her voice was deep and smooth, something between a cat's purr and a growl.