Chapter Six: A Guest in Her Own City

Tranith Argan: Book 5

---

Kara and Llarand reach Tranith Argan, and things do not go in expected ways.

---

That afternoon they walked on with little interruption. The farther they walked from Lookout Point, the fewer people they encountered. There were not that many travelers between the city and the coast at any given time. Most of the people on the road were local farmers and fishermen who lived either in Lookout Point or in neighboring villages. Much of the trade was local other than the carts laden with fish being brought up to the city. Most farmers were trading with others nearby. So as they left the coast behind so too did they leave most of their fellow travelers behind. By late afternoon it became rare to encounter anyone else on the road.

Shortly before dusk, however, they did encounter a woman on horseback who stared hard at them as she approached. She was a middle-aged woman of some evident means, not just because she owned a horse for travel but by her dress and bearing too. Unlike many of the poor villagers they had passed, she seemed not at all shy to stare these elves in the face and not with fear but out of curiosity. She drew closer and Kara observed her too and then realized the woman was focusing on her. When the woman had drawn up next to the group she halted the horse and excitedly dismounted with a cry of joy.

“My lady!” she exclaimed with her arms raised in triumph. “You are alive! You return to us!”

Kara did not know this woman but evidently here was someone of the city who had seen her on Coronation Day, or in some other way had noticed her face at one time or another. She clearly recognized her. Kara stepped forward from within the protective circle of elves and smiled widely.

“Yes,” she said simply, “I am alive.”

The woman broke out in joyful tears and bowed to the earth before Kara and for once Kara did not mind. She was so touched at this display of real emotion she merely watched in wonder. But after a moment she crouched down and gently pulled the woman back to her feet. The woman still had tears in her eyes and stared at Kara with pure joy.

“What is your name?” asked Kara.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” the woman said, wiping her face with the back of her hand, “I am Wiltha, my queen. I live in a house not far from the palace and I have seen you along the palace walls. I knew it was you as soon as I saw you. Oh, I am so happy to see you alive and well! We were told you were dead. And your brother too! Oh, where is he? Is he alive?”

“Yes, Wiltha, he is alive and healthy and will return to Tranith Argan soon. We are both fine. Who told you we had died?”

“Ravesfel said so,” said Wiltha accusingly, “and Anarth said it too. They said you had been captured by the Evil One and killed. Ooh, they lied to us, they did!”

“They might not have lied, Wiltha,” said Kara, not believing that she was about to defend them, “for they might have truly believed we were captured and killed. In fact, it almost happened that very way.”

“Oh, my queen!” said Wiltha.

“Do not worry,” reassured Kara as she grasped and gently squeezed Wiltha’s hands, “we are both fine. Tell me, what news of the city? Are the people well?”

“Oh, the people are well enough, I suppose,” said Wiltha, falling into a gossipy tone. “We are ruled by Ravesfel now, not Anarth, though I do not understand how that is supposed to be the correct way. We all knew very little of this guardian other than that he helps the regent, but now he stands in the regent’s place and what is the regent doing? This is what we cannot figure out when I talk with my family and neighbors. But he seems nice enough when he gives speeches. Oh, but he talks about invasion all the time, he does. Says we have to prepare for a war that is coming to our city. Is this true, my queen?”

“We have to be ready for a fight,” said Kara, “but I suspect it will not be at Tranith Argan that this fight takes place. That is what I am going to do first, make sure we are ready to help this fight.”

“Oh good,” said Wiltha, “I do not want to be under siege and Ravesfel scares me.”

“Do not worry about him,” said Llarand.

Wiltha jumped as she seemed to focus for the first time upon this band of elves traveling with Kara.

“Oh,” she said, “elves are with you, my queen. How do you do?” She nodded her head toward Llarand.

“We are pleased to encounter a friend of Kara’s upon the road, and that is what you seem to me, a friend,” said Llarand with a smile.

“Where are you traveling to?” asked Kara.

“Oh, I’m just going to visit my sister. She lives in a village just a couple of leagues up the road. Well, you have to leave the road at the end and ride half a league to the north, but it’s just there up the road. I want to be there for supper.”

“Then we had better not keep you waiting any longer,” said Kara, “for the sun will soon set and you do not want to be on the road after dark.”

“No, I do not,” said Wiltha firmly. “But what about you? You are on foot. You will have to spend the night out here in the wilderness!”

“Do not worry about us,” said Kara. “I have this band of elves to watch over me. I pity any robber who attempts to bother me.”

“Ah, you are a wise one,” nodded Wiltha, “for you come with guards. That is wise. And elves, they can fight?”

Kara laughed. “Oh yes, they can fight, especially this group.”

Wiltha’s eyebrows raised and she looked again at the elves, her face finally resting on Eralar. He stared back, not in a confrontational manner, merely in what Kara now knew was a neutral expression. Wiltha shuddered and looked back at Kara.

“You are safe then,” she said. “I must be off to see my sister. Oh queen, it is wonderful to see you safe and home!”

Wiltha mounted her horse, waved goodbye and trotted off down the road.

Llarand watched her move on and then turned back to Kara.

“If she is typical of your people’s reaction, we should have little trouble,” he said.

“She is typical,” Kara sighed. “Most people in Tranith Argan will think about what is best for themselves. They do not understand Ravesfel taking control and they will not have liked hearing about the city bracing for attack. They are a simple people, Llarand, not unlike those of Brindledown, though both groups would laugh to hear the comparison. In both places, they like what they are used to and they resist change.

“I now represent what was lost and so Wiltha was glad to hear I was alive. She was even more glad to hear I did not think her city would be under attack. I wonder how she will feel when she finds out I said that because I think we will attack first, and it will take all the able-bodied men of the city to accomplish that, including her family and neighbors. Maybe she won’t be so happy to see me then.”

“Perhaps not,” said Llarand, “but never underestimate the power a people gain from joyfully having their king and queen return to them. A people can be asked to sacrifice many things if it is in the service of a great cause. People can be inspired to contribute to greatness.”

“Yes,” said Kara, “that is so. This is what I have to accomplish.”

They marched on a little way until it became pitch dark, seeing no one else along the road once Wiltha was gone. Thick clouds made things darker and while the elves could see well enough, Kara could not. They left the road to pitch camp for the night. As before, the elves set up a defense perimeter around Kara. They would take turns sleeping during the night but never leave a direction unwatched at any time. Kara fell asleep shortly after supper and could hardly have felt more secure.

The next day was cloudy and cool. They rose at dawn and began marching along the road again, the Lofty Mountains now quite close and looming above them along the horizon. There was no reason for them not to reach the city by late afternoon if they kept their pace. The mountain pass was steep but not punishingly so, for it was cut in a way that allowed for a gradual rise toward the city. It was wide enough to allow armies to march and horses to ride and was very well maintained.

This was the Royal Highway that extended from Lookout Point to Tranith Argan and then long beyond the city to Delendor and Falia Town and then south all the way to Irular Istan. The sections through the Golden Lakes region were kept up almost as well as the sections on either side of Tranith Argan. Once south of Falia Town however, it was said, the condition of the road began to deteriorate in places. It was even said there were gaps in the road in the wilderness of the Plain of Talenar, places where the Royal Highway was no more imposing than the Wilderness Road heading up to Whitescar and Finger Point. The people of Tranith Argan blamed the Duke of Irular Istan for these reports about the road’s condition. The Duke, as was his wont, blamed Tranith Argan for not sharing enough wealth to be able to afford the road’s upkeep. So much of the road was left in the Duke’s care, but not nearly enough money, he said to anyone who would listen.

So the climb up the mountain pass to Tranith Argan was smooth and easy. Early in the morning they encountered no other travelers, but by noon they had seen a few descending toward the coast. It wasn’t until late afternoon, however, that they were finally confronted. By now they were almost in sight of the city and Kara had begun to wonder when they would be challenged. Seeing twenty soldiers on horseback approaching, she told herself that now would come the moment when she would begin to find out Ravesfel’s reaction. She and the elves stopped and waited for the men on horseback to reach them. Kara stepped forward so that she would be in the front and Llarand allowed this while still making eye contact with Eralar as if to tell him to be on guard for betrayal. No reminder was needed.

As the horsemen reached them, Kara recognized their uniforms as belonging to the High Guards of Argan. An appropriate welcoming party, she thought, though she recognized none among them. Had Ravesfel shaken up the Guards and appointed new people to take over? Her eyes followed the lead guard as he halted, dismounted, and approached Kara. he was tall and dark in both hair and countenance. He was young too.

“Greetings, my lady,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone that belied his appearance of nervousness. “I ask you for the nature of your approach. Do you come to us in peace or war?”

Kara thought about the intent of the question and the orders that must have preceded it. Ravesfel does not know how I feel, she realized.

“Greetings,” she said, and she smiled as if to put this young man at ease. If they are at ease, she thought, things will go more smoothly. “We approach in peace. Is there a cause for us to approach in anger?”

The High Guard seemed uncomfortable with that question and he shifted his feet. “You are welcome in Tranith Argan as guests of the regent,” he said stiffly.

“As guests?” mocked Kara. “How magnanimous. What do you think, Llarand, shall we accept this generous offer?”

At the mention of Llarand’s name, the High Guard shifted his focus to the elf.

“The elf lord is also welcome in Tranith Argan for he has ever shown himself to be a friend of the city and of the regent,” he said as he bowed slightly.

“Tell me,” said Kara, “which regent do you speak of? Is this Anarth you mean, or has someone else taken the throne?”

Kara saw the other guards on horseback murmur at this and the guard in front of Kara stiffened.

“The regent is Ravesfel, my lady,” he said.

“Oh, is that the case?” said Kara sweetly. “Is this the way of our people to put a creature not of our kind as regent?”

The guard said nothing and the others on horseback continued their murmuring. Kara read on their faces a defensiveness that told her she had said the right thing. They might not have liked this challenge from her, but they could not deny it.

“We accept your gracious offer of hospitality,” Kara continued, “and I thank you for your kindness to my elven friends. You spoke the truth when you called them friends of Argan. We gladly accept your offer to escort us to the city. It would be an honor.”

The guard in front of her said, “We must have your weapons.”

“I do not think so,” laughed Kara.

The guard stepped back and hesitated, looking back toward his comrades. Two of them dismounted and stepped forward to back up their fellow guard.

“It is a rule that must be followed, my lady,” said one of the guards.

“Kings and queens make rules, not guards, and not regents when there is a king or queen alive.” said Kara. “We will keep our weapons. We said we come in peace, but I do not know if we are viewed in peace. Indeed, if the first order we are given is to become defenseless against who knows what awaits us, I think it is best to keep our weapons simply for defensive purposes. The last time I was in the city I was in a prison due to treachery. I feel better if I am armed.”

“But it is the law!” protested the first guard. He looked very uncomfortable.

“It is not my law, and I am queen,” said Kara.

“We must have your weapons,” said the guard.

“Try and take them from these elves. Eralar, please step forward,” said Kara.

Eralar moved next to Kara and stared at the first guard. The guard involuntarily stepped back.

“If you think you can seize this elf’s weapons, go ahead and try. It would be amusing to watch.” challenged Kara. “If you cannot seize his weapon, do your duty and escort us to the city where we will explain ourselves to your foreign regent. Make up your mind and let us not waste any more time.”

The guards on foot looked at Eralar and then back at the other guards on horseback and then back at Eralar. The first guard swallowed hard and then said softly to Eralar, “Will you give up your weapon willingly?”

“No,” said Eralar without changing the expression on his face or ceasing to stare at the guard.

The guard thought about this for a moment and then said to Kara, “Then we are not allowed to escort you to the city.”

“Do what you wish,” said Kara dismissively, “we are going to the city in any case and you may escort us or not as you please. Ready, Llarand?”

“Ready,” said Llarand.

Kara and the elves began walking toward the city again. The horses, sensing something in the elves that their riders could not control, shifted nervously and parted before them like water around stones. The guards yanked uselessly at their reins, their faces reddening as their mounts ignored their commands.

The guards exchanged glances as Kara's party passed through their formation. The young leader opened his mouth as if to shout an order, then closed it again as Eralar's gaze swept across him. For several long moments, the guards sat motionless on their confused horses, watching the elves stride purposefully toward Tranith Argan.

Finally, the lead guard cleared his throat. "We . . . we should follow them."

"But sir, the weapons—" one of his men began.

"Would you like to try taking them?" the leader asked dryly.

After another moment of uncomfortable silence, the guards urged their horses forward, catching up to Kara's group. They assumed their escort positions with an air of forced dignity, as if this had been their intention all along. Kara caught Llarand's eye and had to suppress a smile as they continued their march to the city gates, their reluctant honor guard now leading the way.