The gates and lower levels of the mighty alabaster tower were kept open to the citizens of the still young nation. The Lord's Keep was essentially a fortress with an octagonal base and out of the center, reaching for the heavens, was the central tower surrounded by eight smaller minarets. The ground floor was comprised of eight courtyards arranged about the base in a circle; while these courtyards served as public meeting areas they also created several rings of curtain walls that were overlooked by watchtowers. Walking in through one of the main entrances would lead one into a series of progressively narrowing corridors that funneled into the circular throne room.
The second floor contained sanctuaries and their small complement of priests but also various state libraries and other areas devoted to learning and research. The central floors housed all of the various Offices of State. Here were the various Ministers of the government carried out daily bureaucratic functions. The sixth story capped the octagonal base of the keep and held outdoor gardens which displayed flora from all across the southern kingdom. The gardens were kept as a quiet and contemplative area in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the tower.
The tower floor above the gardens was the chamber of the Council of Free Men. The Kingdom of Ahlissa had been founded as a constitutional monarchy. The Council was comprised of representatives from the twelve counties that composed the kingdom. William and Eryca had spent two days sitting in the gallery watching as the Council, presided over by the Grand Magister, went about its' business debating and voting on the various laws and treaties that demanded their attention. Above the council chamber and its' gallery were a series of apartments, meeting rooms and dining rooms used for the entertaining and housing of guests and foreign dignitaries.
Finally above all of that were the Royal Apartments and that is where Brion had taken Eryca that afternoon. He had wanted to show her where they would be living after they were married. He had explained that his father, a widower, had never occupied them, preferring to leave them for his offspring when he was wed. After looking through the various rooms Brion led Eryca back out to the central circular chamber. The large pillared room had a circular brazier in the center ringed by a sunken couch upholstered in black and dove gray leather. However, what he really wanted Eryca to see was up the staircase that ran around the circular wall of the room.
As they ascended the stairs Brion explained that they led to the outermost balcony at the top of the tower. Continuing up the stairs opened up onto the balcony but also continued up, winding around a ring of pillars. They stopped at the balcony and took a few minutes to admire the breathtaking view. All of central Ahlissa was laid out in before them; to the south they could see the Serumaram River and the extensive rolling green of the Ahlissan Plains. As they walked the circumference of the terrace and looked east, the county of Avoharp and beyond that the forest of Bonewood grew into the distance. To the north, the expansive blue of Relmor Bay stretched out before them and to the west the smaller towns of Porton, Shargallen and Getheren dotted the coastline. Lord Brion then took his Lady by the hand and guided her up the final stair.
The stairs ended on a small landing where a door of thick dark mahogany secured the uppermost room of the tower. Opening the door they walked into a large round room a little more than sixty feet across, it was slightly dusty with a few cobwebs where the convexly curved walls met the conical ceiling. In the walls were large banks of leaded glass windows with interspersed panes of clear and stained glass. The light that filtered in spread sprays of bright colors throughout the room.
"It's beautiful the way the light creates rainbows throughout the room but why have you brought me all the way up here my love?" Eryca inquired of her future husband.
Brion pulled her close to him and reaching up tucked a wild strand of her red hair behind her ear. It was the first time they had been totally alone in the last few days, with all the new people for Eryca to meet, planning and executing the raid on the slavers, they had been busy. Looking down at her, he drank her in. Brion loved her red hair, naturally curly it resisted all attempts to restrain it, her eyes and their shifting shades of green always pulled him into their emerald depths.
Today Eryca wore the purple lightweight dress which she had dressed in that morning before heading to the marketplace. On her feet were a pair of matching purple beaded slippers and encircling her head was an intricately woven circlet of gold made to look like ivy. Eryca's entire appearance accentuated her in all the right places; every time he looked at her, she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
As he gazed at her it was like he was seeing her for the first time again in the garden of William's fortress on Walworth Isle. The first time he had ever seen her he had felt something, a rhythmic humming in the deepest part of his soul and he knew then that she would always be the most important thing in his life.
"Brion?" she asked looking at him quizzically. "Are you okay?" Eryca knew he was fine but she always asked. Brion always acted this way anytime they were separated for any length of time. The way he looked at her in these private moments never ceased to give her those lovely butterfly feelings in her stomach and nether regions.
"I'm sorry Eryca; I was so taken with you that I forgot where I was." He said as he smiled warmly at her.
"It's okay Brion, you know I love when you look at me like that." replied the sorceress as she looked into Brion's deep blue eyes for some hint as to their purpose in this room.
Brion moved his left hand from around her waist and waved at the open space of the room as he looked across it.
"I am gifting you this room Eryca." he said as he looked at her again "Welcome to your new magikal study to do with as you wish, it will afford you with all the privacy you could desire." He smiled wide at the surprised look on her face. "I know you've been happy sharing a study with Aizan' on one of the lower floors but as the future Queen and the love of my life you deserve more."
Eryca stared at Brion open mouthed, shocked by his gift to her; she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.
"Oh, I love it!" She said into his warm chest. "Thank you Brion, I couldn't be happier!"
Walking back down to the lower floors Brion listened as Eryca chattered away excitedly about how she would arrange her new study and he knew that it would not be long before she had it just the way she wanted it.
* * *
Later that evening the two young lovers had dinner in one of the dining rooms near their apartments. Barnard the King, Eryca's grandfather William and Karolyn also attended. The group sat around the table and began to discuss possible dates for the wedding. As it would be an event of national importance the actual day couldn't conflict with anything else. Also present were several of the King's secretaries, the men who assisted Barnard in keeping track of all his various appointments and obligations.
William sat to Barnard's left and the two older men often talked concerning the difficulties of running a nation. The Shield Lands were a loose confederacy of individual baronies who had come together for mutual protection whereas Ahlissa was a monarchy with Barnard at its' helm. Though each man had different problems to contend with the responsibilities and concerns of their positions were very similar and both men treated their obligations with the utmost seriousness.
Between the members of the two royal houses and their attendants the date for the wedding was set, the fifteenth day of Flocktime. That gave them the next two months, Coldeven and Planting, to prepare for the grand event. The soon to be joined families finished their evening meal as Karolyn and Eryca talked excitedly about the upcoming wedding.
* * *
As the month of Coldeven approached so did the bi-annual inspection of the nation's borders. Twice a year a troop of the cavalry rode the countries' borders not only as a show of strength but also to check the border, collect information and discuss security concerns with the King's commanders in the field. While the Council of Free Men debated the laws it was the King's responsibility to enforce them and to maintain the security of the realm.
As was the usual custom Lord Brion would lead the mission as he had done for many years. A troop of cavalry consisting of one hundred Ahlissan Lancers would accompany Lord Brion as he rode from outpost to outpost meeting with the various brigade commanders. The mission would take several weeks and he was due to return on the twenty-eighth of Coldeven before the start of Growfest.
It was early on a Moonday; the twenty-fourth of Readying when Brion arose from his bed washed and dressed himself in his usual attire. He donned a pair of dark brown form fitting trousers, tan calf boots, a loose white linen shirt and his red and gold Lancer's sash; over his sash he belted on his rapier. After a light morning meal which he ate alone in his suite he began the climb to Eryca's study to discuss his departure for the upcoming mission.
After climbing the stairs up to the royal apartment Brion entered, then walked down a short hall into a circular entry hall. To his right through the arched entryway was the royal family's personal library and through the left entryway was the large pillared circular great room and along its' inner wall were the stairs leading higher into the tower; the young Lord swiftly strode up the stairs taking them two at a time.
Upon reaching the landing just outside of the door to Eryca's new study he stopped and examined the door. Similar to the door in William's fortress, the door to Eryca's study was now covered with runes and magik symbols. However, these new ones were inlaid with silver in a much more elegant fashion; he knew they were designed to prevent eavesdropping, spying and unwanted entry. So after briefly reminiscing about recent past events he firmly knocked at the door to his betrothed's study.
