Wonder how Bumpy would react if he could see this. Would he be happy? Or would he grow confused at the bizarre likeness to his brothers and sisters?
The path through the grounds wound in such a way that it passed by several attractions. From a series of small waterfalls that fed a pond filled with multicolored fish, to a rose garden, and even a trellis-covered arch walkway that looked like it was from another planet, the gardens left a lasting impression upon Vir.
Little did he know that was only the beginning. From there, they mounted up on two Ash’va and left the gates to the next part of the city.
“Balindam’s Strong Quarter is where the wealthier citizens reside,” his guide said as they trotted down the immaculate cobblestone road.
“The Sawai, you mean?”
The man shook his head. “No, the Pagan Order does not use the feudal system so popular in other kingdoms. There are no knights here. No lords who own and maintain land. The entire country is run and owned by the government. Residency in the Strong Quarter is available to all who can afford it.”
“So everyone’s a commoner, then?”
“One could say that,” his guide said with a smile. “But we prefer to call them citizens. Equals. No matter how poor or rich, all have the same rights here.”
That actually sounds pretty nice.
“That only applies to humans, though. Right?” Vir ventured. “What of demons?”
“I think Lord Reth would be better suited to answering those questions,” his guide said. Though he wore a smile, it was a strained one.
Definitely a hot topic around here.
From the Strong Quarter, they rode west of the castle to the Promontory, passing a small market. In Daha, the Commons had been dirty, crowded, and bleak, while Avi was clean and colorful.
Balindam sat in the middle. Though its buildings weren’t painted in bright colors, preferring natural stone colorations, its roads were clean and orderly, and even the foot traffic seemed to obey a stricter set of laws than Avians or Dahans did. Despite the population, their unspoken rules ensured that no collisions or traffic jams occurred, and Vir mirrored his guide’s movements to avoid breaking them.
They passed a number of open-air stalls along the way, with merchants politely hawking all manner of goods.
Many vegetables and fruits were smaller and less colorful than the prana-enriched ones he’d grown accustomed to, but there were bigger, plumper ones on sale as well, though they commanded a higher price.
“How do you get all this? Aren’t you, er… isolated from the rest of the Known World?” No one wanted to do business with the Order, but Vir thought it prudent not to bring that up.
“We trade aggressively with the Rani Queendom, who in turn trades with the rest of the world. We can get nearly anything from anywhere for those willing to pay. For everyone else, while our own produce may not quite compare, one grows used to it.”
They continued to work their way through the crowd, passing armorers and blacksmiths, whose wares didn’t impress Vir. Not one magical item was for sale, and the steel he saw—while not poor—was nothing special.
What did catch his eye was the vast assortment of balms, salves, bandages, poultices, and who-knew-what-else available for purchase.
“Do you mind if we stop for a moment?” Vir asked, approaching a medicinal stall.
His guide nodded, bowing his head slightly. “As you wish, friend.”
“Welcome, dearest,” an elderly woman said, smiling. “How may I help you today?”
“I’ve used salves and balms, but I’ve never seen such a variety. What is this stuff? What does it all do?”
“We’ve had to make do with what we have, dear. Here, you’ll find many remedies not known to the rest of the world. It’s a point of pride, if I do say so myself. Down with the flu? This ointment will fix you right up! Break a bone? This salve will heal you straight away!”
Vir’s eyes narrowed. “Truly? That sounds… unlikely. If it works so well, why wouldn’t the rest of the Known World use them?”
“Ahem,” his guide said, clearing his throat. “Our herbal remedies do function in lieu of magic, however, I’m afraid this fine lady might be overselling their efficacy.”
Vir smirked. Of course she was.
Even so, she did have a variety of herbs and salves that Vir used, of which he was always in short supply. Most stores only carried the bare minimum, since magic worked so much better. To Vir, a place like this was a treasure trove, so he stocked up, and even bought a few tinctures and theriacs the woman claimed to counteract poisons. Of course, he corroborated with his guide before making any purchases. The wily old lady could lie without batting an eye.
“A most impressive view, wouldn’t you say?” his guide asked, his chest full of pride. They’d just left the market and had arrived at the Promontory, which boasted sweeping views of much of the city and the ocean beyond.
It was no deception. Vir got the sense the man was genuinely proud of his city. And from what he’d seen so far, he had every reason to be. The discrepancy between the Pagan Order’s public image and reality was still something he couldn’t get over. He feared there was more to this act than met the eye.
They stood at a grassy park at the peak of the Promontory hill. From here, the city sloped down around them, offering an unobstructed vista of the western wall and the endless Runean Ocean that stretched to the horizon, broken only by the silhouettes of ships, their white sails full of wind. Bordering the wall was the storied Green Ring he’d seen from the air. It appeared even more impressive from up close, and he couldn’t wait to explore it.
Several families and couples lay on the grass, enjoying the view or just making small talk. Over half had clean-shaven heads. Vir couldn’t say he approved of that fashion style, but it was certainly distinctive.
Their next stop was the Green Ring itself. Several cobblestone paths had been paved, though these stones were far smaller and arranged closer together than the ones on the main roads. As if made for foot traffic, rather than Ash’va and wagons.
It was like a vast park that circled the whole city. Here again, Balindamites sat on the many benches placed all around the Ring, with small ponds and fountains of water dotting the landscape. The sound of crashing waves completed the idyllic scenery, and after an hour of trotting along the Ring, Vir concluded the city was even prettier than Avi. A feat he’d thought impossible just a day earlier.
By the time they returned to the castle after crossing through the Grand Plaza—a place brimming with vendors selling everything from healing balms to exotic foods—Vir was well and truly exhausted. The sun had just set, casting the ocean and the city in a gorgeous amber glow, plunging the city into darkness. Though its denizens lit candles and lanterns where they could, it failed to compare to the myriad of Magic Lamps that bathed Avi and Daha at night.
As he’d just learned, Balindamites did many things differently to cope with the lack of magic. They weren’t backward, per se. Just that their technology varied drastically from the rest of the world. As one who couldn’t use magic, Vir itched to learn more about their medical technology, but that would have to wait.
Lord Reth was ready to see him. His guide led him straight to the audience hall’s great double doors, in front of which a half dozen warriors in full plate stood like statues.
“I’m afraid I will not be following you into the audience chamber,” his guide said, backing away with a bow. “I wish you the best, and I hope your stay in our city is a pleasant one.”