A/N: hello! I just wanted to add a little note before we started in on this new chapter. First off sorry for not updating soon, been a lot busy. Secondly, I would sum up this chapter by saying I'm introducing a new character, Valcon. He's from Avalon. As always reviews are encouraged…thanks! Enjoy!
The trek to the docks turned out to take more than two hours, mostly because the docks turned out to be no more than a glorified plank. They had to be careful not to fall off in the shallows. The post were they had landed was a decaying village, in no way what so ever related to Avalon. Besides the one scout they still had, the other remained in the previous post with the horses, none of them knew anything about what they were to witness.
"you. Boy" Tus Barked at a young man about twenty, with dark brown hair sweeping past his shoulders, and the whitest skin any of them have ever seen.
"Yes?" He answered reluctantly.
"We need an escort to a land called Avalon. Do you know the way?" Tus demanded.
"I know the way. I am returning there right now. If you would like to follow me." He offered quietly.
"What is your name son?" The king asked.
"Valcon." The boy answered, Finally turning around to reveal an attractive face, with a couple days of stubble built up on his chin.
King Sharaman appraised the boy. He was more of a man really. Built thickly, with nicely squared shoulders.
"Are you a warrior? From Avalon?" He asked curiously.
"No. I am not." Valcon paused. "I am a salesman from there. I came here to trade."
"Trade what?" Garsiv asked.
"Herbal potions. Avalon is quite famous for our healers and mead." Valcon muttered before tightening the saddle on his horse, a black Arabian. "Sorry if I come across short…but are you accompanying me or not? I am wanted in my city immediately."
"Is your city near the capital?" Sharaman asked.
"I live in the capital. It's a big city." He muttered.
"What is the name of the capital?" Sharaman asked.
"Malin." He muttered.
"Malin? Such an odd name for a capital." Dastan muttered. This was certainly a strange land.
"I guess. It's an easy four hour ride if we leave now." He muttered, "You lot coming?"
"We shall accompany you. Young Valcon. But we require horses." Tus growled, trying his best intimidation tactics at the much bigger man. Valcon brushed him off.
"If you require transportation. Perhaps I could assist you. I am bring back a fresh stock of horses to the city to sell upon arrival. This village breeds very fine horses."
"That is very kind of you." King Sharaman smiled. "We will gladly reimburse you for your troubles."
"Thank you." Valcon gestured over his shoulder. "They are warning up the horses now. They should be ready shortly."
"Marvelous." King Sharaman nodded, allowing the boy to leave to check on his horses. "That was a sheer stoke of luck."
"Luck?" Garsiv muttered. "Luck would have meant I could have brought my horse with me."
"Hush now, brother way have an insight into this strange new land, a local. Maybe he's seen their king. Only our scout has seen the king." Tus remarked. "Were is that boy? Malik?"
"I am here Sir." Malik bowed gracefully.
"What is their King like?" Tus asked.
"Their King's name is Myrinn. He's a nice fellow." Malik answered.
"'A Nice fellow'?" Garsiv repeated. "I doubt that. But go on."
"I know he has four children. The Names I cannot remember, but I know that there was a boy and three girls, all around the age of maturity."
"Did you see his children?" Sharaman asked, "The girls especially?"
"I saw what I believed to be the eldest, already married I'm afraid. Great beauty that one."
"Really? So there are still two unmarried girls in the household?" Sharaman spoke, suddenly interested.
"Oh! Father! How generous of you. Marring me to another foreign goddess!" Tus exclaimed.
"Please." Valcon said non-chalant.
"What?" Tus muttered. "Are they not pretty?"
"They are the are the most divine creatures you will ever see. But they would chew you up and spit you out." Valcon muttered, checking over his horse again.
"There must be some mistake there. For Dastan's wife Tamina is the most beautiful woman in the world." Sharaman reasoned.
"Were is this Tamina. I will judge it for myself." Valcon said reasonably.
King Sharaman motioned for Tamina to step forward. This was a good day for her, her henna was freshly done the night before, and her new white silk dress clung to her body.
"Are you Tamina?" He asked.
"I am." She said the two words with an allure that surprised Dastan. How could she be so nasty to him, yet so 'friendly' to a stranger.
"Your skin is flawed." He muttered circling around her slowly. "That Garish Henna art, and your eyes…their horrid."
"Horrid?" Sharaman balked in disbelief. "You think tamina is horrid?"
"Compaired to the princesses of Avalon she is." Valcon smiled.
"I am very much excited to see these wemon." Garsiv muttered, noticing that stable hands were bringing out the horses and quickly sprung into action to select his favorite.
Tamina looked distraught. Her maid-servant came and took her away quickly.
"Dastan, brother! Do you believe what that man said about the princesses of Avalon?" Tus asked loudly. "I'm not sure if any woman could be more beautiful than Tamina. She is quite a catch."
"She really is." Dastan paused. "But I have no more idea of what they look like than you do brother."
"Well. Let's mount up and go and find out." Tus muttered excitedly, Picking a random horse. Dastan was amoung the last of those to chose a horse. Which suited him well enough. He saw their things being loaded into the traders cart.
They made good time acrost the dirt and gravel road. The strange man named Valcon was correct, the ride, at a steady pace, not only took them into a thickly wooded pathway, the likes of which they had never seen, the man had said was the beginning of the country, and in no more than four hours, they saw the light gray walls through the forest, It was the city of Malin.
"This is quite different from Perisa." Dastan muttered as theyentered the gate into a crowded marker. He noticed that Malik was riding more towards the front now. Looking around the place.
The city was clean, no visible filth anywhere. The pesantry lived in small store cottages, and then there were more elaborate homes…at the center there was quite a large gray stone castle.
"I believe we are all going to the same place? Are we not?" Valcon muttered leading his horse in a direct line to the palace.
"You know the King?" Malik asked curiously.
"Who do you think I'm bringing the horses to?" Valcon asked. "Most people in Malin don't leave the city."
"Why aren't there gates to the castle?" Tamina asked cautiously, not wanted to be insulted again.
"No one has ever attacked the castle. So why put a gate on it." Valcon muttered, leading then through the wall. The castle had quite a lovely court yard, and many gardens. "I am going to see the king right now. I have an audience scheduled. But I am sure He would speak with you."
"That would be a good idea. I am not much on wasting time." King Sharaman said, as he dismounted his horse and followed Valcon inside. It opened into a large airium, with stair cases wrapped around either wall. That load up into the higher levels of the castle. Tamina and her hand-maid were lead up these stairs by other servants. But Valcon lead them through the arch way into the throne room. Were a reasonably tall man sat, no crown, but in the biggest chair.
"Valcon! You brought company!" He sounded pleased.
"I am King Sharaman of Persia. Theses are my sons, Tus, Garsiv, and Dastan." They nodded respectively.
"I am King Myrinn of Avalon." The man smiled making crinckles appear in the courners of his eyes. He was of above average height with slightly wavy black hair, with a little bit of gray streaking it's way through, and his eyes were piercing blue.
"I believe you have already met my only son, Valcon." Myrinn nodded to his younger counterpart. The resemblance was striking.
"Yes. He actually lead us here. He did not mention that he was a prince though." Sharaman smiled at Valcon.
"He does tend to leave out that information." Myrinn nodded.
"I heard you also had daughters. Beautiful ones."
"Three. And yes." Myrinn smiled. "Isabella, Roslyn, and Wilhelmina."
"And yet with names like that they still prefer to be called something else." Valcon muttered.
"And what would they be called?" Sharaman asked.
"Bella, Rose, and Mina." Valcon muttered. "I'm sure you meet them eventually. But They're not fond of company."
"That is true." Myrinn agreed. "Your men were here a good two weeks and I'm fairly sure they caught hide or tail of my girls."
"I do believe that is correct." Sharaman muttered.
Myrinn smiled, "We shall throw a feast tonight toasting your arrival!"
"That will be excellent." Sharaman smiled back at the enthusiastic ruler.
"Valcon! Instruct the servants that the Mead hall is to be opened tonight." Myrinn instructed.
"A Mead Hall?" Tus asked.
"Drinking hall." Valcon muttered leaving.
"What is this? You've never been in a mead hall? We have to go! Right now." Myrinn lead accompanied by two of his guards Garsiv and Dastan noted the well made swords that the men carried in the holsters. The mead hall was outside of the Main palace, but still inside of the main walls. The doors were just now being thrown open and women were beginning to clean the insides.
They all wore the same types of dresses, long sheath skirts of an average color, a tunic, and The same under bust vest that hiked their bosom.
"Scullery maids." Myrinn explained. Surveying the room as the fifteen or so women scrubbed the floors, which were covered in the filth of the last feast. Dastan looked at them appraisingly, if any one of them could be the beauty Valcon was talking about.
"I don't see my daughters here…so they must be…elsewhere.." Myrinn smiled.