Who ever had wrought the changes had done a stunning job. Gone was the dull grey plain and the deep grey twilight replaced by a pale grey blue sky now fading at the end of the day into twilight. Feint wisps of thin white cloud were thickening on the Horizon.
The biggest change was to the plain. It now undulated gently, the hint of rich soil whispered as it rolled towards the ravine. Ravine is really the wrong word, canyon would more likely be correct. A road tracked across the undulations of the plain and descended into the canyon base. I estimated it to be about 3 miles deep.
The canyon base through which flowed a gentle river, was a grey green again hinting at rich soils beneath. The road wound its way across the seven miles of canyon base and then started to climb the granite cliffs towards the walled city beyond. The road as it descended into the canyon from the plain was broad, easily the width of 3 carts, but the ascent was far narrower, barely wide enough for a single cart, with passing places each time it switched back to rise another 100 feet.
As we neared the top we were struck by the magnificence of the 100ft walls and the 200ft high gate house. Passing through the arch I noted the thick double gates, the 4 sets of groves, the second set of double gates and a last set of groves. In each set of groves about 10 feet of heavy portcullis was visible about 20 feet above our heads.
We exited the gatehouse into a wide street lined with a mixture of premises. All appeared deserted. About half a mile away we could see another wall, and the top of the Tower some distance beyond that. Examination of the street indicated that our way onwards lay to the right.
Sorcha and I dismounted and started walking. As the road wound its way through the town it rose until after the best part of a mile it turned sharply left and opened into what appeared to be a large square in front of another gate house of similar stature to the first.
We continued through noting a third wall about half a mile away. Two towers were visible directly ahead in the wall, each about 50ft taller than the wall. They looked like they were designed to cover the square we emerged into. The main street left the square on our left, appearing to run parallel to the walls.
We walked for over two miles tracking the street round to the opposite side of the city. Another square, another gatehouse, another square with guardian towers. We were much closer to the Tower now, half of which was now visible above the last wall. The wall itself looked more substantial than the previous three.
We again set of down the main street, which again ran parallel to the walls. When at last we reached the last gate house the light had faded, and I was forced to use my helmet light to illuminate our way. It is difficult to make assessments in the dark but the gatehouse seemed bigger than the previous three. We emerged into what appeared the be an inner Bailey. Rising from the top of a rocky crag, some 50 feet above us was the Tower of Elysium. To our right was what appeared to be a large hall. To our left two other larger buildings. On our immediate left, nestled against the outer wall appear to be a set of stables. Sorcha led the Unicorn in that direction and I followed.
It was dark in the stables and completely bare. Despite my dislike for the Unicorn I had no wish to be cruel. I set about conjuring straw, lanterns, a bucket, some wine, and an assortment of legumes, fruits, and cheeses - the Unicorn has odd tastes.
I had conjured the straw when I felt the familiar presence of a Deirdre tentacle. I turned and watched it stop at the doorway. It hesitated, then stopped. If I didn't know any better it could sense the Unicorn.
I moved towards it, stopping just in front of it to touch it. A thin tendril appeared and moved towards my temple. I forced myself to remain calm. As it made contact I felt Deirdre's presence and lowered my guards.
She was gratified to see us. Allagahn hadn't returned, and Charity had been sent on an errand for the Serpent. Apparently it had been he who made the alterations, lifting some ancient spell that rendered this place undetectable. I explained about the empty buildings and the lack of anything - Dierdre said she would start doing something about that, at least for the buildings we would need to use immediately, although it would take her several days to accomplish. If there was anything specific we needed that I couldn't create I should come up to the roof of the Tower and use her trump.
The tentacle withdrew. I turned a noticed a second tentacle retreating towards the tower, Sorcha enclosed in its grasp. I suspected she and her mother had a lot to talk about.
By the time I'd finished the furnishing for the stables I was very tired and didn't feel like exploring further. I could have gone up to the tower and made use of the facilities in the condo, but that would disturb Sorcha and her mother. Instead I stripped of my armour, pulled my sleeping bag from my pack, arranged a pile of straw underneath it and went to sleep.
The dream I had last night was most strange involving of all things sex with a Unicorn. It is most odd in that I can almost remember it vividly as if it actually happened. What is equally disturbing is that this morning when Sorcha woke me was that I felt strangely satisfied.
It had been late when she appeared bearing gifts of a full English breakfast and steaming jug of coffee. Apart from the discomfort of requiring to pee, I had felt wet and sticky a feeling usually associated with recently having had good sex.
Having not had time to find the latrines last night I was forced to make do with a corner of the stables. When I returned Sorcha was talking to the Unicorn. He regarded me lazily and I got the impression of the sort of smug grin associated with a cat thats just got the cream.
I grabbed my wash bag and some clean underwear, the briefs I had had on were saturated, and retreated into an adjacent style to clean myself.
Having eaten breakfast, and coffee in hand, we set out to explore the bailey which was even more impressive in the morning light. The walls themselves were 150ft high and 30ft thick. At 100ft intervals, towers of 180ft covered all approaches.
Arrayed around the inside of the wall was a continuous ring of two storey buildings, amongst which were another set of stables and forge.
The two large buildings to the left of the gate house were each three storeys rising some 50 feet to their ridges. they were about 50 feet wide and each 150feet long.
The Great hall was the start attraction by far. It was nearly 80 feet wide and nearly 300 feet in length. The first 150 feet rose 30 feet before the roof rose to its ridge 30 feet above that. The remainder rose 45 feet before its roof rose to its ridge some 30 feet above that. A set of ornate but functionally sturdy double doors faced us.
Pushing them open we entered a galleried entrance hall some 30 feet long by 40 feet wide. Another set of double doors faced us and two heavy doors were set into each of the left and right walls. One in each led to a set of stairs and the other to a cloak room - one was obviously meant for use by women.
The hall itself was huge but bear. It had an ornately carved ceiling and a magnificent gallery reminiscent of what we had seen in Dworkin's hall in Undershadow. Doors in each far corner lead to the kitchens, and a smaller set of double doors in the center of the wall lead to a staired hallway leading to the upper floors.
If this were going to be our main base of operations we needed some furniture, but first an examination of the upper floors was in order.
The first floor of the "living space" was given over to what I would call social rooms a ballroom/dining room, a room that was probably meant to be a library, and three other smaller rooms. The second and third floors were given over to large apartments each with its own reception hall, bedroom and bathroom, and the attic floor held smaller bedrooms, two communal bathrooms, and a couple of studio rooms.
None of the rooms were furnished. I set about creating beds, bed linen, wardrobes, trunks, and curtains.
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| Supporting Cast - Cordelia | The Keep of the Thirteenth Hour |