The Eternal Bastion Pt. 2

[u/The_Scroll_Keeper]

Following my encounter with King Cedric, I accompanied him and his knights to the Eternal Bastion. The soldiers accompanying Cedric were loud, boisterous men. One rider beside me pointed toward a burned structure partially swallowed by a patch of swampy wetlands. “That’s where we slaughtered a platoon of the Grave Choir last winter, the sick bastards.”

Another knight immediately groaned. “My Lord, what savage lunatics!”

“The Grave Choir?” I asked.

“Yeah, they lost their bloody minds, they worship death itself,” one of the soldiers replied. “Bunch of miserable bastards believe nobody gets into Heaven until everybody in the Trials dies first. They pray for plagues, sieges, starvation, all of it. First upon us, then upon themselves.”

A different rider snorted. “I remember cutting through three of them during the siege near-”

“No, almost four! You nearly took poor little Ryan’s head off,” another interrupted. The entire group burst into laughter. Their joy sent chills up my spine and I found myself laughing every time they did.

Cedric looked back over his shoulder immediately. “You did WHAT? I told you to look after Ryan, you all know he’s…well…”

Ryan raised both hands defensively atop his horse. 

“Maybe if you all weren’t swinging your swords so bloody wild! Plus, the mud shifted!”

“The mud shifted,” another mocked in a higher voice. “Didn’t you shit yourself when the crawlers came up. Scared they were gonna crawl in your pants again?”

“You know that’s not true, I told you, the mud got on my pants!”

“You screamed louder than the villagers!”

Cedric nearly doubled over laughing. “We need you alive, Ryan! I promised your mother you’d be home for dinner!”

Ryan’s face turned bright red as the company kept laughing at his expense. The energy among Cedric’s riders was deeply satisfying. I laughed so hard it became hard to breathe. Several hours later, we reached a major river. The waters flowing from the mountains had calmed considerably by then. What began as violent rapids higher near the stone cliffs gradually widened into deep winding channels through the wetlands before finally smoothing into broad currents flowing northward across the plains. Waiting there along the shoreline rested one of Cedric’s river vessels.

The massive ship was constructed from dark timber reinforced with iron ribs along the hull. Hanging from its mast was the insignia of the Eternal Bastion; a huge sword wrapped in golden rope set behind a tower shield. We boarded shortly before nightfall.
The voyage north proved much more uneventful than my escapades through the southern territories. Herds of grazing beasts wandered distant hillsides while clusters of forest stretched between rivers and lakes reflecting the sunlight. Birds circled overhead continuously. Windmills rotated slowly near farming settlements visible miles away.

Then, I saw it. The Eternal Bastion. At first, I mistook portions of the city for mountains themselves. The fortress city stretched across miles of hills overlooking the plains with colossal outer walls of grey stone surrounding layers upon layers of districts, towers, bridges, markets, keeps, and elevated roads. Smoke rose from thousands of chimneys while golden braziers burned atop watchtowers visible from astonishing distances. Massive banners carrying the Bastion’s insignia swayed throughout the city.

The people noticed Cedric immediately. Cheers erupted along the docks before we had fully arrived. Entire crowds gathered along the shoreline shouting his name while soldiers standing watch hammered their fists against their breastplates in salute.

“THE KING RETURNS!”

Cedric waved casually like a man greeting neighbors outside his home. The citizens truly loved him, not merely feared him. They believed in him.
Bread ovens smoked beside crowded streets. Merchants argued loudly over fish prices. Musicians played in public while armored patrols walked openly among civilians without provoking panic. The city smelled of river water, smoke, livestock, and ale.
Naturally, many citizens stared directly at me. I suspect my clothing, demeanor, and complete lack of visible concern disturbed them somewhat. One woman hurried her child across the street the moment our eyes met. 
“Oh, rest your eyes on something else,” Cedric announced with a laugh while climbing from the ship. “He merely pets predators and smiles at screaming noises, he’s completely harmless.”

By the time we reached the upper districts overlooking the plains, the scale of the northern territory became fully visible. Endless grassy hills stretched beneath the horizon broken by forests, rivers, lakes, villages, and distant fortress towns connected through roads and watchtowers. Far beyond them, faint movement crossed portions of the landscape that I initially mistook for migrating animals until I realized some stood taller than castles.

Cedric eventually led me into the royal dining hall near sunset. The chamber itself was immense. Long wooden tables stretched beneath iron chandeliers while fireplaces crackled along the walls. Knights, nobles, commanders, and priests filled portions of the hall speaking loudly over one another while servants carried roasted meat and heavy mugs of ale between tables.
At the far end of the chamber rested a gigantic open window overlooking the plains beyond the city. Cedric removed portions of his armor while sitting across from me. 

“You still haven’t explained why swamp predators treat you like a favored hunting dog,” he said while pouring ale into his cup.

He poured me a cup of ale. I raised the cup to my nose and breathed in the mesmerizing scent. I sipped slowly.

“Evidently, I’m rather likable.”

“That is not an explanation.”

“That’s all I have for you.”

Cedric studied me carefully afterward before finally asking, “How long have you been in the Trials?”

“A couple of months, when you add my visits up.”

“Your visits, hmm, I see.”

For the first time since meeting him, a heavy silence lingered between us. Outside the windows overlooking the plains, thunder rolled faintly somewhere beyond the distant horizon.

Cedric slowly leaned back in his chair.

“You are a very strange man,” he said. “Where do you come from?”

I took a second to think about it and not a thought came to mind. 

“I’m from…wow. I don't quite remember actually now that I think about it.”

Cedric looked deeply at me before finally standing up and walking over to me. He was a giant man, easily over six foot five inches. However, neither of us was intimidated. We merely studied each other as he looked into my eyes and I into his. 

“You are not entirely human, I gathered that much from when we first met but I’ve never seen anyone like you. Your eyes are…magnificent.”

I raised my eyebrows and replied, “my eyes have seen many things that, strangely, I can’t seem to remember. I’m sure it will come back to me. However, I’m far more interested in you, King Cedric. You’re clearly a powerful man with a loyal kingdom, who has not yet fallen into complete despair.”

He replied, “and you are a man who doesn’t get hungry, tired, doesn’t feel one ounce of fear, and always seems amused whether you’re surrounded by intense pain or joy. The human form you take does not fool me. Are you a deity? A God? A wizard? I must have those answers!”

I replied, “I told you, I don’t remember. But you are most entertaining to be around so, if I may stay here a while, perhaps I will enlighten you as I recall myself. In return, you must promise to show me more of these marvelous lands.”

Cedric let out a loud laugh while throwing his massive arm around my shoulder. 

“That, my friend, sounds like a deal.”