Ahhh, I'm such a terrible person! I was all busy with Marching band finals, and stuff, and I was also working on my Dramione fic, that I didn't update this one! The updates are supposed to be once a week....ARG. As a please-forgive-me, like I'm doing for my other fic as well, TWO other updates will be posted this week. Also...well...this chapter is sorta a bridge, but not very interesting.
Po and Katsa rode like the wind. She set the pace, and Po never once mentioned her ruining the horses. A journey that could have been accomplished with one horse instead took a change of three at different Inns. They did not spare a second, eating on horse back and stopping only to sleep for a few hours every night.
After three days of grueling riding, Katsa could see the spires of The King's City in the distance.
There! Po, I can see it!
She urged her horse faster, the packs thumping against it's back and the wind straitening out it's mane and her hair.
"Katsaaaa…" a small voice called behind her. She just laughed to herself, forcing the horse and her even faster, till she felt removed from the world. Blurs of green whooshed under the pounding hooves, and streaks of white and pink wild flowers rushed past.
Carefully, she tugged on the reins, going from the lightning fast gallop to a canter to a careful walk. In the distance, the small figure of Po on his dark horse slowly and steadily advanced. She turned back to the city.
Katsa and Po were riding through a meadow of wildflowers. Before them, a valley with a river rushing through it perfectly framed the fabled King's City on a mountain in the distance. The tin roofs shone in the strong sunlight, and the deep pink marble found only on Liend gave the castle a unique beauty no other king could claim. At this distance, Kata's eagle sharp eyes could barely make out the steps that ran up to the Mountaintop City.
Po galloped up next to her. The dark hide of his horse looked black where it was streaked with sweat, and the impressive beast was foaming slightly at the mouth.
"What on..earth were…..you…thinking?" the man panted, gripping his reins tightly.
The girl opposite him grinned cheekily.
Don't you know?
He glared at her, his dark, heavy eyebrows pulling together.
"No, I don't, as you are well aware. I was hoping to make it to the city without you laming another horse, but I'm beginning to assume that hope is futile."
She sniffed.
I am not ruining the horse. If it cannot run, then it is worthless to us. No one wants a horse who cannot run. I am simply using it for it's intended purpose.
He laughed, and she let the warm, full-bellied sound wash around her before she nudged the horse into motion again.
They rode together, in a gentle walk now, as the horses would have the tiring job of climbing through the valley soon.
Will we make it to the city by nightfall?
"I think we will, if you are reasonable and don't kill the horse. If you decide be unreasonable, there is an inn we can stop at the end of Charchol Pass."
Katsa looked at the valley coming up in front of them, and pictured it with a question mark.
"Yes, that's Charchol pass.
Char-tschol?
Po smiled. "Yes. It's a rather entertaining story. Would you like to hear it?"
As they rode, Katsa listened to the story of the thirty-second king of Liend, a King Harmiendoff. Po told her how Harmiendoff had been an absolute loon, and was in love with the wife of the King of Ester. Chara, she was called. Beautiful, with black-blue hair, creamy skin, and eyes the color of unripe apples. It was said that she could cause a man to drop of heart attack with just the right look.
Many men desired her, and it was not unusual to become infatuated like the Liend King. Love makes people do odd things, and the already bizarre King's love made him all the more outlandish. He sent her letters, flowers, and some even say those Graced with singing came to her window at night to sing his love to her. Ester, a rather possessive man, became annoyed with the Liend's obvious intentions for his wife. Many men had the same, it was true, but the King of Liend was special because he was of the same rank as Ester, and this made him a threat which had to be dealt with. Meanwhile, Harmiendoff did his most outrageous act of l'amour yet. The pass to the city, which had always had the uninventive name of 'City Pass' was formally renamed by his Majesty King Harmiendoff, thirty-second king of Liend. It's new name, 'Charchol Pass' was decreed about the land, causing the gossips to gasp at the scandal and the King's subjects to shake their heads with affectionate disbelief. Those that spoke the old language know it meant 'Chara's heart's Pass'. In one of his gloriously eccentric moments, Harmiendoff claimed the city to be his heart, and Charchol Pass to be the path that led Queen Chara to it.
Ester, who had nearly had apoplexy when hearing this, decided to take action. He had heard of a woman of Nander's court, one who was graced with the ability to seduce. After an exchange of many boring and unnecessarily formal letters, they agreed to send the woman, Quianna, to the court of Liend, with express instructions to seduce the King. Some say she succeeded, and some say she didn't, but the river in Charchol Pass is named 'Pidia Quianna'.
Po's deep voice and soft lilt was smooth and unwinding. It relaxed Kasta, and she was able to take her mind off the mysterious sickness and what would wait for them at the King's City.
A narrow but well traveled road let along the river Pidia Quianna to the city, which was almost glowing with the orange light of the steadily setting sun. It was quiet and peaceful next to the burble of the river, and Katsa felt the need to laugh, but was at the same time confused.
How did such a fool ever become King?
"Careful, Katsa. You're insulting my ancestry, you know." A deeply offended expression appeared on his tanned features.
Ah, yes. At least now I know why you're so silly.
The mock hurt deepened, and he looked away from her as she laughed.
"You look rather like a spoiled boy with that face, you know."
He turned back to her, smiling, his golden eye glowing and his silver one burning.
"A spoilt boy? And are you the one who spoilt me?"
Perhaps. How could I have been so foolish?
"It's not your fault. I'm quite irresistible."
Just then, they passed a small sign proclaiming that the King's City was less than 17 Lottas away.
"Almost there, Po. Then you can be irresistible to the whole court."
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Thank you guys for being so awesome. You give more reviews than the HP fandom.
