Thanks for reading! Icefire - part two
“We’re almost there,” Lynn murmured to his mount. Snowflurry flicked an ear back and continued on, her clear ice hooves clopping on the frozen ground. Lynn shifted in the saddle and felt the reassuring weight of the icespears that were in his pack. His icesickle hung from his waist, hidden in a gray leather scabbard, and he felt his left side to make sure the little dagger was there.
As they neared Sothil, he dismounted and pulled the small cloak that Vergal had given to him around his body, hiding the sword and dagger from view. He led Snowflurry to the walls of the great city where the Crystal Castle was. To all observers, he was just another poor wanderer who had come to Sothil to bargain with the locals. Lynn entered the city gates unchallenged and looked around distastefully for a moment.
The walls and streets were solid stone. All structures were constructed out of the dull, gray rock, and the temperature was quite a bit warmer than it was in Tjaele. But it was cooler than Fiamal, Lynn reminded himself with a slight shudder, and he headed towards an inn that he had spied. He got accommodations for himself and his horse, and then left Snowflurry in her stall as he wandered through the streets, seeming to only pay attention to his feet and yet taking note of everything around him.
Lynn halted as he came to the castle keep, which was blocked by another set of walls. He went up to the gates and was stopped by a guard.
“What do you want?” the man asked.
“I was just wondering if I could see the famous Crystal Castle,” Lynn replied easily.
“Visitor from Jale-y, eh?” the guard asked, squinting at Lynn's clothes.
“Tjaele,” Lynn corrected, giving the T a slight emphasis.
The guard shrugged, not noticing much of a difference. “Fine, but don’t stay long, it’s not open to tourists you know.”
Lynn gave a curt nod and waited as the guard raised the portcullis and opened the stone double doors. Lynn entered, stepped over to a dark corner next to the wall, and surveyed the bailey. Stalls, booths, gardens, and the kitchen were scattered around, but all that Lynn really cared about was the keep at the other end. It loomed up large and imposing, and Lynn peered hard at it, as if he could somehow find the Gem’s location by doing so.
“Hey!” a young voice called. Lynn glanced to his right and saw a boy about his own age approaching. Assuming as casual a look as he could, Lynn waited until the boy came up to him.
“Yes?” he said.
“What’s your name?” the boy asked.
“Lynn,” he replied before he could stop himself. He mentally cursed and thought ruefully, Vergal will have a thing or two to say about that.
The other boy was nodding. “I’m Peter,” he said, holding out his hand. “Welcome to Sothil. I’m assuming you’re visiting?”
“Yes,” Lynn replied, stiffly shaking Peter’s hand.
“It’s not often that we get a lot of visitors from Tjaele,” Peter commented, shoving his hands into the pockets of his pants. “What are you here for? Are you with somebody?”
“I’m here on business,” Lynn replied thinly. “And I came alone.”
Peter eyed him up and down and shrugged. “Well, good for you.”
Lynn glanced at the keep and then at the other boy. “Do you live there?” he asked, indicating the keep.
Peter nodded with a grin. “I’m the son of the steward,” he explained. “Someday I’ll take his place.” He was quiet for a bit, then suddenly seemed to remember Lynn. “Would you like to see inside?” he asked graciously.
“You read my mind,” Lynn said with a small smile. This boy was giving him a perfect excuse to enter the keep in an unsuspicious manner; Lynn could hardly believe his luck, though he knew he couldn't rely on that alone.
Peter jovially led the way, chattering about his father and life in the castle. Lynn kept up a façade of interest in everything the boy was saying, making a noise of agreement from his throat every now and then, but his eyes darted around, memorizing every door, passageway, and guard’s post. He knew he would need the information on his way back out.
“And in here,” Peter was saying, “is where Queen Jade keeps her most valuable treasures.”
Lynn stared at the stone door, engraved with some foreign language. “Treasures?” he said casually. “Like what?”
“Oh, you know, the precious jewels and the like,” Peter said flippantly. He continued on, and Lynn followed, not wanting to raise suspicion by seeming too interested in the treasure room. His piercing blue eyes had spotted the lock and, of course, the guard who had been standing right there.
After Peter had finished giving Lynn a tour, the latter said in a reluctant tone, “Well, thank you for showing me around. I should probably be going now.”
“I don’t suppose you’d be able to stay?” Peter inquired a little forlornly.
Lynn shook his head. “I’d like to,” he said, quite truthfully. “But it’s getting late and I’ve been riding for a long time. I’ll try to come back, though.” I promise.
Peter nodded. “All right then,” he said pleasantly. “Good day.”
Lynn gave him a small smile and left the bailey, meandering through the crowds until he reached the inn. He found his room and locked himself inside, and then turned and emptied the contents of his pack out onto the bed. He picked up a small bundle of what looked like icicles and slipped them into the small pouch on his belt, then unbuckled his icesickle from his side and put it underneath the bed. He kept his dagger on and donned the dark blue cloak he had packed. It wrapped around him completely, and the cowl hid his face from view.
Knowing that all he had to do was wait, he stood by the window and watched as the sun started to sink in the horizon.
It's enjoyable to read. You've managed to jump straight into the story without leaving the reader behind somewhere.