The Four Kingdoms of the Four Seasons

Chapter 6 - Selection Day - Part 3

RECAP

"Morning Sunshine! Are you ready for your Selection Day?"

"YESSSSS!!! I would like to ride to the fae stallion's layer with you, could I?" – Before Papa could answer Thunder neighed gladly. And I swear I can see him grinning in victory towards Bourbon and Hunter. Father and my brothers burst out laughing.

"As you can see Sunshine, it's you who decides. I hope Thunder would let me mount behind you and doesn't want you only for himself."

END OF RECAP – Back to the story

The layer of the Fae stallions

ARYA'S PoV

           Out of the Four Kingdoms of the Four Seasons the Spring Kingdom's capital, Spring Recess was the closest to the central lands bordered by the other three kingdoms. Millennials ago it was the land of the Emperor of the Four Seasons, sovereign of the kings and queens of each season. The once splendid capital is now reclaimed by mother nature, only majestic ruins left to be the living proves of the Capital of capitals, the Season's capital. The Empire long gone lived his place once again for the sovereigns to govern freely their own lands.

           Now the Emperor's lands are called the Central Lands, mainly covered with old forests, mountains and plains. Most of the lands are claimed and governed by small or big associations, even shady ones. You can find here the famous School of Gifted, The Mage Tower, just to mention some with great influence on the Kingdoms. The Central Lands are out of the influence of the Kingdoms, they are neutral lands.

           It's the first time I will step on the Central Lands territory. I'm currently travelling on Thunder between father's protecting arms. As we got out of the Old Spring Forest, near the kingdom's border, a vast plain field appeared in front of my eyes. Far-left I could see ancient ruins. The wind playing on the crumbling walls, whispering in my ears ancient ballads telling the stories of what happened among these crumbling walls. As I turned my head in the other way, the sight of an unusual city appeared in front of my eyes. There weren't any houses or protecting walls. Behalf of houses, there were lots of fences going on and on, I couldn't see the ending.

"Papa, what kind of city is that?" – I asked curiously and was pointing in the directions of the fences.

"It is our destination. The Layer of Fae stallions. Long ago your great great great great grandfather agreed with the other kings to build a safe place in the Central Lands, for the Fae stallions. This way the wild stallions would have a place to meet with their rider. Other fae stallions and mares with riders or without riders can always come or come back to find their soulmates and friends. This is also the place where mares give birth to new generations. It's a sacred pregnancy, fae mares get pregnant..."

"Papa, what's the meaning of pregnancy?"

"Uhmmm. Sometimes I forget how young you are, because of your mature way of thinking. How to explain it... When a Mom and Dad love each other very much, sometimes a new baby grows in Mommy's belly. That's pregnancy."

"I have been born the same way, I came out from Mom's belly?"

"Yes, Sunshine, you are our surprise True Love baby." – father kissed the top of my head affectionately. I raised my head and smiled at him.

"Why it's called sacred pregnancy?"

"Same as for the faes, getting pregnant it's difficult, but for fae mares, it is very rare to give birth for a foal, a baby horse."

           As we got closer to the Layer, Cas with Bourbon came to our left and Kay (my nickname for Caim) with Hunter came to our right side. 

"Look Rya we are almost there!" – Cas said.

           A few minutes later we arrived at an open space. I could see cramped wooden stalls, sweety vendors mixed with humans and magicals. Vendors are selling diverse type of merchandise such as food, saddles, horse equipment, elixirs, weapons, alcohol, clothing. The whole place was loud, full of liveliness. People calling out to friends. Sellers hawking wares. Creaking wagons passed next to us. The clop of horses' hooves, mugs hitting the tabletop, people calling for service in eating areas or outdoor drinking. Created a cacophony of noises meddling in a melody proper to this market. We are in the middle of this crowdy place, slowly advancing with other riders between walking people. As we got deeper in the marketplace all of a sudden, all kind of smells struck my nose. Some of them were familiar like baked bread, spices, alcohol, sweat, smoke, leather whereas some of the smells were unfamiliar like some kind of oils, perfume and exotic food.

           Most of the things were new to me. I already went a few times to Spring Recess' marketplace, but it never seemed this packed, maybe it seems so because this marketplace has lesser place. Plus, I could only observe from the window of a carriage. And instead of wooden stalls, there were boutiques. I was happy to experience something new. I could take a closer look at what seems to look like a traditional marketplace. I mainly based this idea on the descriptions of chatting maids in the palace. I was literary drinking in the sight of my surroundings.

           We passed through a gate survived by a dozen experienced fae warriors, one glance was sufficient to tell they were experienced, their movements, the way they watched the crowd, their build was all conforming my previous statement.

           As we left behind us the marketplace cacophony and crowd, our horses' steps fastened on the dusty road, causing a small fog around us. There were only a few travellers in front of us.

"Papa where are we going? We left the strange fence city, you said was the Layer of the Fae stallions." – I asked him curiously.

"Yes, Sunshine you're right, the fenced city as you call it is only the entrance for the layer. Do you remember the gate we passed?"

"Yes, papa!"

"It is forbidden to pass the gate if you aren't passing it for your Selection Day with an escort composed of maximum three people, without counting the one person who is here for Selection Day." –  Papa explained.

"The guards you previously saw are warrior delegated from the Four Kingdoms. Their task is the protect the Layer's safeness and peacefulness." – Cas added, who finally caught up to us with Kay.

"And prevent any extension of the marketplace in the direction on the centre layer." –  Kay finished the explanation.

–Author's note—

What will happen next? Will Arya finally met with her fae horse?

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—End of Author's note—