The Fires of Cerran

Chapter Four

Ramon awoke with a jolt. His head was banging and his body ached. A usual morning for the Archer. He looked around, he was alone. Again, nothing unusual there. He fumbled around the dark room for his shirt, he slung it over himself with a grunt as the pains from his bruises enhanced. He found a wine glass beside him and quickly gulped down the last quarter before finally allowing himself to take a moment. He moved across the room, opened the wooden shutters of the window and let the sunlight barrage its way onto the bed. There were a few dry blood stains from his wrist. He looked at the rag he'd tied around it, it would have to do for now. He looked down into the street, he saw a few beggars sat near the fountains with handmade wooden tools. He scoffed as he looked across and saw Arch Chancellor Velgar performing a sermon to a quickly growing crowd. Ramon remembered his first meeting with Velgar, in the Tower of Erin in Arisen following the birth of the Prince. Velgar had been voted as Arch Chancellor by the High Lords in what had been a unanimous decision following the death of Arch Chancellor Nempal the previous winter. Velgar had been a student of Nempal for many years, first serving as a missionary in the Southern Seas and even serving as a guide to the Ashira Kahn when they had visited Brodon nearly three decades ago. Of course Ramon hadn't known all of this prior to his meeting with the man, but the Chancellor had a way of telling him things. Ramon looked at the crowd, people were barging at one another to get but a step closer to Velgar. He would be reading from the Dhaka Minara, book of the Gods. Ramon remembered little about the book itself, he'd forgotten all that when he'd joined the Kingsmen. In war, no matter how much you prayed, it still hurt like a bastard when the arrow went through you.

Ramon held off until the crowds began to disperse before heading out into the streets. He preferred it when it was quieter, he had spent most of his life flanked at either side with row upon row in front and behind him. Now was his time to be alone. The Arch Chancellor had returned to The Inner Halls of Ceraborn no doubt, having offered the people a dose of hope in the name of the Gods. The man walked on, he avoided most of the main streets, instead he made his way steadily along the side roads until he came to the banks of the river. He looked ahead and saw the troop carrier, it floated almost silently, but distance laughter and clanking of chains and whips could be heard amongst the birdsong of the river way. He walked further along the bank, along the Outer docks and down towards the outer walls of Ceraborn. There he found it, a large white and black building, not six months old, with a large sprawling front garden with lush green surroundings. It was right along the riverbank, two small boats were anchored off a private dock and there was a large ornate fountain at the front of the property. There was a house guard stood at the entrance to the place. He was a tall thick black man with deep set purple eyes and long dark hair. He had a golden bracelet around both wrists and ankles and a long thin spear in his hand. Ramon strolled across the bank towards the man.
'Stop. Who are you?' the man said in a low deep voice.
'Ser Ramon of Garth, Black Archer of the King Brodon II of the West. Now move you fucking glorified statue.' Ramon replied before shoving his way past the man. The man pulled Ramon back by his shoulder, the two shared a tense stare.
'The master isn't here, he's fishing.' Said the man, still grasping Ramon's shoulder. The Archer shrugged the man off and looked around the garden.
'And the Lady?' He asked.
The man glanced across and gestured off towards the back end of the place, past an overhanging treeline.
'Be careful. The Lady has already lost one child in the name of the King.' He said solemnly.
Ramon readjusted his shirt and walked down a paved pathway past the fountain. He could hear intense birdsong now, along with the slow running water of the river to his right. He ducked down to avoid the overhanging ivy and found himself at the back of the property. It was an enormous lawn with perfectly primed plants and bushes. The Archer looked around but saw no one. He followed the path further and came to the edge of a raised patio, carved out of huge chunks of white stone from the Southern cliffs of Korgen.
'I thought you'd come.' Said a woman sat underneath a wooden veranda with a large bowl of summer fruits in front of her. She was an aging women, her face wrinkled but still with a shadow of beauty. She wore a long duck egg blue tunic which was patterned with golden circles. She spoke softly, quietly as if speaking only to herself.
Ramon climbed a few steps, the woman looked at him and pointed to his sword.
'Foul weapons.' She said fiercely.
'Lady Greynire, my name is Ser Ramon of Garth-' the woman held her hand out and wagged her thin fingers at the Knight.
'I know who you are Archer, and I know why you're here.' Ramon watched a tear fall from the ladies face.
'I had three sons once. Now, as each has pledged himself to our King, I have only one left.' She said, spitting at the thought of the King.
'He did his duty.' Ramon returned.
The Lady snorted.
'Duty? We are at peace dear Ser and yet here you stand at the feet of a Lady who has lost two sons to battle. Tell me if you think that our soft-bellied King knows as much about duty as I do.'
Ramon grunted, he began to turn and walk away before the woman called to him.
'My Eldest boy, he was killed during Erengon. You were there weren't you. The great battle of Erengon. I've tales of you Ser Ramon of Garth, and now I know they are true.' She screamed.
Ramon turned quickly, he fought to control his temper.
'Your sons died for the Kingdom, I tried to save them and -'
'You failed.' replied the crying Lady.
Ramon heard the words echo around him as he marched through the garden, he swung his arms in fury at the ivy, ripping it from its branches before finally barging past the man once again.
'She's told me to kill you if you return again.' the man said with a vicious smile. Ramon stopped, but left without another word.