Enlightened Empire

Chapter 460: Stale

Challwala, pearl of the north.

As the largest port along Medala's northern coast, it had also been, for centuries, the most important port in Medala. Unlike Saniya, which had only been a hub for trade in Sachay even during its best days, and unlike Porcero, which had only really traded with the Bronze Coast until the arrival of visitors from distant Arcavia, Challwala had always been the largest, most important sea port on the Twin Isles.

This had become doubly true every time the Verdant Folk intensified their efforts in their waters, to once more disrupt the trade routes within the Verduic Sea. After all, Challwala was built not on the Verduic Sea itself, but on the south of the Copa di Mullu instead. With protection from the massive bay came calmer waters, more predictable weather, and better security.

Not only offered this port better protection from the elements, it was also safer from occasional coastal raids from pirates due to its easterly position. Even better, the city's location allowed for smooth and safe transport along the northern coastline, past the various Chutwa tributary states beyond the bay in the north-west and all the way to Chutwa proper. Without any good navigational tools and with the threat of pirates looming in the west, this had been considered the safest route to Medala's richest trading partner for centuries.

Thus, the city was not only the economic hub of the north, it had also been the main seat of the Medala Empire's Governor of the North for generations. Though the current governor Betucio probably no longer felt at home in his city.

Once King Amautu had established the Scholarly Court of the Northern Kingdom on the premises of the old Sky Zigurrat, he had taken most of Betucio's power as well. The Zigurrat had once been a ritual site, then a castle, and finally a lighthouse, before Amautu had made it his new home. Built close to the city's main port, the massive, but thin and tall structure stretched far beyond even the height of the governor's mansion to prove the new king's power.

Even out here, still outside of Challwala's city walls, Brym could see the building looming in the distance, just how he could feel the influence of the scholar king.

"You think they'll ever let us in?" Inti asked with a glance at the distant city gate. When they had arrived at the city, Brym had immediately presented his letter of invitation from Amautu, yet they hadn't been let in right away. Rather, they had been ordered to stand aside, at a distance of at least 300 meters or so from the city's southern gate, while the guards figured out what to do with them. It had been a long time since then, but Brym still tried to remain optimistic.

"They'll have to let us in at some point," he argued, before guessing their intentions. "Maybe they are just nervous because we're bringing so many guards with us. They've already seen me carry their king's seal. If they won't let us in today, surely they would disrespect their master."

Now that Brym and Inti were traveling together again, they obviously had also recombined their guard forces, which meant that they were basically traveling with a full military platoon of one hundred warriors by now. Of course such a number would make the local guards nervous, so Brym was quite certain that this protection was part of the problem. However, Inti's focus was once again elsewhere.

"Though the question is: Is Amautu their true master?" she questioned, and stared at the distant cityscape with the Chutwa-inspired architecture beyond the wall. "I'm surprised these people still speak Yakua in the first place."

"I wouldn't be shocked if they had let us through earlier if we had asked them in Chutwaya first," Brym had to agree. He also didn't like how close the north had aligned itself with the distant Chutwa, especially here. "Really, it's ridiculous that even their guards are dressing up like-"

"He's coming back," Inti interrupted him.

Just as Brym was gearing up to talk about him, the city guard who had previously inspected them came towards their convoy again. Still, even though he saw it for the second time today, the young minister couldn't stand how brazen and cheap the guard's outfit was.

The new arrival wore long, white robes and had a long beard, just like those of the scholars. However, he also wore a poorly fitted leather armor over the robes, and a helmet too tight on the sides to accommodate the fancy beard, which ended up looking squished as a result. Not to mention, the beard was partially peeling off in the hot and humid weather of northern Medala's late summer, which proved that it was simply fastened with glue. Frankly, the man looked ridiculous to Brym.

Like a boy dressing up in the clothes of his father.

Though despite the man's laughable look, Brym transformed his derisive smile into a friendly one to greet the guard as he closed in.

"Now then, master. Were you able to get confirmation of our identities, and have you confirmed the veracity of our invitation?" Brym asked in advance, to avoid any more shenanigans. He had already paid quite a bit of silver the first time this guard had come over, and he didn't want to pay a second time. Yet despite the generous bribe the man had received earlier, he scoffed in his selfless benefactor's face.

"For the moment, the forgery could not be uncovered, barbarian," the haughty guard said.

Brym meanwhile tried to identify whether or not the man was just naturally rude, hated southerners, or if someone important had instructed him to make things difficult for them. Considering the guard's low status — and the fact that they had been stuck outside the city gates for half a day already — Brym tended towards the latter explanation.

After all, an ordinary guard wouldn't dare antagonize this many warriors led by a man who carried his king's seal, not unless he had someone of weight to back him up. This was also the reason Inti had question the loyalty of the guards. Amautu himself would never order them to disrespect his seal like this. Clearly, someone else was giving them directions, someone who didn't care about medalan royalty. This was of course a big deal, though not one Brym had to deal with right away. For now, he would focus on the essentials instead, and solve his own problems before he tackled those of northern Medala. Before anything else, he would have to get through those gates somehow.

"Then that means we can go through?" he thus asked for confirmation again. With a heavy heart, he reached into his pocket to get some more cash ready for the guard. For a second, the man's greedy eyes lingered on the silver glint which played between Brym's fingers as he deftly showed off the coins, unseen by others in the vicinity. Only then did the man give his reply.

"Fine. Access shall be granted," he finally replied. Enticed by the prospect of more silver, he had even dropped the insults.

"But only one can go," the guard added. "The soldiers shall stay outside."

Of course, Brym had never expected to carry an entire army through the gates of an enemy's capital city. Still, he would never enter this sinister-looking place without any protection at all; especially not after the damage he had caused to Amautu's little kingdom over the past few months.

"Of course not. We are not here to start a war," Brym claimed, while doubling the amount of coins in his hand and making sure that the guard saw it. "However, not all of them are soldiers after all. As I am to meet with the King of the North, I will need my assistants, my Chutwa translators, my clerks and registrars, manservants, and personal attendants, at the very least."

As Brym listed off all the professions he could think of, the guard only stared at the merchant's animated hands with the silvery glow. Finally, the fake scholar swallowed hard and replied:

"Fine, but only if they are truly not soldiers," he said, in a last attempt at faked integrity.

"Of course," Brym replied, and shook the man's hand in relief. Now that both parties had come to an understanding, a real load had been lifted off his shoulders. If nothing else, he sure felt a few Sila lighter after that handshake. Maybe that was why his steps were so easy when he, Inti, and their thirty guards made their way towards the southern gates. Soon after, the group was traveling through the streets of Challwala.

As the medalan city with the closest ties to Chutwa, the architecture of the local Medalans was also heavily inspired by that of their distant cousins in the west.

With such a backdrop, Brym wasn't surprised by the depressing mood he found when he first entered the city. Of course, the city's general architecture greatly contributed to the city's overall mood.

Old stone buildings, blocky, sturdy, and imposing stood hidden behind walls, which stood side by side, with only small, dim alleys in between for traversal, if any. Such close construction had banned all light from the city streets and made them feel claustrophobic and uninviting. Any social life would be happening somewhere within these monstrosities, in private gardens hidden behind layers of stone.

Where Medala's courtyards were open and communal, Chutwa's had always been secretive and private. Such an architecture surely also impacted the mood of the local residents, and surely the recent actions of their current king didn't really help matters in this regard.

Walking through the city, Brym couldn't help but notice the startling emptiness. The few people he did spot on the street were walking quickly, with their heads held low. Only the white robes of scholars could be seen loitering every once in a while, around corners and through open windows, always keeping an eye on the locals.

With its culture so influenced by Chutwa, the people of Challwala had always been more private than those in other parts of the country. However, this was still a huge port city, the largest in Medala, so it had always been plenty lively, if more reserved in certain aspects. Not only that, all of the city's previous signs of prosperity had been removed, both from the buildings, and from the people themselves. The city once known for its excellent pearl and coral jewelry now presented itself bare like a pauper.

"What a depressing place," Brym finally commented. In response, Inti looked behind them, at the large collection of experienced warriors.

"I don't think those numbers will be enough," she finally added on to Brym's comment. With worry written all over her furrowed face, she scanned their surroundings, presumably for more hidden scholars.

"Well, our men should be enough to protect us against any direct threats," Brym replied, far more composed than his companion. "Any threat beyond that, we won't have to fight on our own. I've made sure of that."

With growing excitement, Brym looked down at the letter in his hand. Though they looked similar, it certainly wasn't Amautu's invitation he had received in the new Latrus hideout. Instead, it was his own, an invitation to a meeting on the state of the northern kingdom, initiated by Brym himself. This letter had been sent to every estate in the northern kingdom, and he had traveled to Challwala slowly enough to give the lords plenty of time to react.

If the lords of the north had any political instincts, they — or their representatives — would congregate here and meet with Brym, to hold a meeting which would shock Amautu and his scholars to the core.

"Did you think it was wise to make new plans out of nowhere?" Inti asked, still busy with her observation of the surroundings. By now, Brym really thought that she was overdoing it with her caution. It was always a good idea to be careful, but the significance of Brym's planned meeting was far too great. It was certainly worth the risk.

"You don't understand. This will be a demonstration of strength," he explained. "Not only would the implicit support of the northern lords vastly improve our negotiating position with Amautu, the meeting would also allow us to make up for all the bond sales we have missed out on these days."

"And it puts a big target on our backs as well," Inti added in a sarcastic tone. "Perfect."

"Wasn't security your specialty in the first place?" Brym winked, in an attempt to inject some levity into the dreary mood. "I will be relying on you when it comes to our safety over the next few days."

However, Inti only sighed in response to Brym's light-hearted attitude.

"Master Brym, you do understand that we are in hostile territory. There is only so much I can do in a foreign capital," she explained. However, Brym still remained calm. Unlike Inti, he never only looked at the things their enemies could do to them. As always, he would also consider the things they couldn't do.

"I'm sure you will do fine. I believe in you," he half-joked again, before he explained the reason for his calm. "And I doubt Amautu would be silly enough to start killing people at a meeting of his lords. I've always experienced him as a very rational man. Attacking his lords, as well as a representative of the southern kingdom, without any alibi is just about the least rational thing he could do. I don't think he will suddenly lose his head over a simple political struggle and ignite a rebellion, not when he is currently using so much effort to prevent one."

"Don't think everyone will always be as rational as you," Inti tried again, but clearly gave up when she saw Brym's determined face. Instead, she sighed and added: "Just be careful."

"Of course. As always, I will leave things in your steady hands," Brym said, satisfied that Inti could finally see his point of view.

"Fine, then I will be off to connect with the locals. Please retain a low profile until I return," Inti still insisted.

Brym wanted to relieve her anxiety again, but before he could, the spy leader had already disappeared around a corner. Unconcerned, Brym once more looked at the letter, before staring at the towering Sky Zigurrat in the distance. Soon, this conflict would be decided, and he was sure that it would be in his favor. He certainly had prepared sufficiently.

However, unbeknownst to him, other actors all across the city were also bringing their pieces into position, all eager to win this game for northern Medala's soul.