Chapter 14 - Southmoor Castle
Tasha found herself gaping with wonder.
Gods! Nothing I'd envisioned prepared me for this!
Raised up on knoll and gleaming over the surrounding city was a work of pure, architectural art. Whitewashed spires reached for the heavens, appearing to actually grasp at them from the way the designs twisted around themselves at the top. The walls were so white they seemed to be made of pure ivory from the way that the sun glanced off them.
The front gates looked to have been smelted from unfettered silver as they glistened in the late afternoon light. As they neared ever closer, Tasha noted the elegant curving moat that flowed endlessly about the outskirts of the fortress' perimeter. It's elegance and beauty was but an aside, designed to throw it's attackers off their guard from a distance. Upon closer inspection, the average eye could distinguish the multiple lookout points positioned along the walls. Tasha didn't need to be a warrior to know that each of those points had at least one arrow slot. Never mind the ones positioned atop the walls proper.
And the smoothness of the walls themselves was a calculated advantage against invaders. Any advancing army would have a difficult time gaining purchase climbing that wall without the aid of a ladder or similar war machine.
The city itself was surrounded by a lesser wall, but a wall all the same. One that an army would have little trouble scaling or breaking through. But it would slow them down enough for the fortress to settle in for an attack, round up the civilian population and set up multiple ambushes throughout the city.
From high up on the wagon, Tasha distinctly heard Ambori slur out. "Holy mother of a... That’s shiny!"
And then he belched.
Tasha covered her eyes with the palm of one hand and thought she might die of humiliation.
The smack of flesh on flesh was the next sound to be heard. "Oww! What was that... excuse me." Then came the faint sound of the bard vomiting.
Correction. Now I will die of humiliation.
Garnthalisbain sighed. "The cuff was for being an idiot, you idiot. Now go sober up before we get to the castle." Tasha risked a look back and saw Ambori slink off of the wagon and stagger over to the side entrance in search of some food.
The little boy Nichos jumped out of the wagon just seconds before Ambori stumbled in. He gave the bard a peculiar look then bounced over to Hal, tugging at the leg of his new pants. "Hal?" he called, looking up at the big man.
Turning away from Renora, Hal looked down at the boy and smiled. "Hello Nichos. What can I do for you?" Nichos stretched out both of his arms, his eyes pleading silently. Hal sighed in mock annoyance. "All right," he said, bending low and scooping the boy up in his free arm. "But if keep carrying you everyplace, you're gonna forget how to walk."
"No I won't!" Nichos said, thinking that he knew better.
Hal eyed him as if uncertain. "Are you sure?"
The boy nodded his violently. "Uh-huh," he assured.
Hal smiled. "All right."
Renora smiled up at the boy, reaching across Hal to push at his hair in a near futile effort at straightening it. "Have you scared your hair with a brush today, Nichos?"
Both Nichos and Hal looked at each other before turning to regard Renora in confusion. "What for?" they asked in perfect unison. Renora laughed.
Tasha smiled slightly at the scene but felt strangely uneasy as she watched the goings on. She was smiling because watching Hal deal with children was always something to be admired. As to why she was uneasy... that was a bit more complicated.
For the last couple of days Tasha had noticed Renora slowly gravitating over to Hal emotionally as well as physically. It didn't take a wizard to see that she was at least infatuated with the big man.
And why shouldn't she be? Of the four men who assisted in her rescue from the Sunraiders he was probably the best choice for her. Ceorn was too old and much too overbearing for her at this delicate time. Ambori was out for just about the same reason. While he was a bit closer to her age, the bard was just a little too certain of himself and his ego was nothing to rule out either.
Garnthalisbain however was right out and probably the other side of the coin. While he was also quite certain of himself and no less egotistical, he was far too harsh. While the mage obviously respected Renora’s intelligence as well as her bedside manner, as seen when she assisted him with medical needs, Garn also showed absolutely no interest in her. And while Garn was attractive if you went for the skinny, perpetually tired and grumpy sort. You'd have to be able to get him to open up and talk to you. Tasha had known him for close to five years and he'd yet to say a word to her about his past or his personal feelings. And he considered her one of his closest friends!
What Renora needed at this time was a man who was gentle and caring. One who didn't think too much of himself but was more than capable of protecting her from the more dangerous sorts in this world. After two horrible experiences with foul, lecherous men, Renora truly needed someone that she could trust and care about.
Enter Hal. He was all of those things and more. Strong, caring, self-conscious and protective. In all categories, he was the perfect candidate for Renora.
So why was does my stomach turn every time I see them talking?
Turning her gaze directly at the castle before her, if for nothing else than to keep from looking at Hal and Renora, Tasha tried to sort the issue out.