Nyori turned her attention to Captain De Vallegera. "People call Epanos a new nation, but it looks as though the city is as old as those in Kaerleon."
De Vallegera laughed. "Se, Mistra. Epanos is only a 'new nation' in the authorized sense of the word. We always had our lands and culture, but our lands were claimed in the Age of Kings by Norland and Runet. We declared our independence in what is known as the Wine Wars. Even after we won back our lands, our nation was still beset by raids from Norland and the bolder castes of the Steppes. That changed with the peace treaty from Kaerleon wrought by Al Champio, something that had benefited both nations and brought prosperity in the absence of conflict."
Nyori turned expectantly. Marcellus shrugged. "I had been direly wounded when brought to Epanos from the siege of Brumar. Before I left, I was fortunate enough to broker a treaty that would have happened sooner than later anyway."
"You are too modest, Al Champio. The stubbornness of Lucretius was matched only by our young queen at the time. You displayed what your king's envoy did not: humility becoming of an emissary. The peoples of Epanos are in your debt."
The atmosphere in Salino was of bustle and excitement as they rode toward the High Don's manor. The Queen's Guard swarmed about, while everyone else did the best they could to make everything presentable for Her Majesty's unexpected visit.
Most Epanites were small in stature, so Marcellus stood head and shoulders over the majority. They were mainly dark of hair and eye, with complexions both fair and tanned. The men mostly wore their hair clipped short, save for the nobles who let it hang to their shoulders. The women had long, dark hair that they wore loose or tied back with a bow or cord. Both men and women moved with musical grace, and most were quick to smile and greet the newcomers as they passed. They wore simple, yet colorful loose-fitting attire. The colors were richer and more expensive on the nobles that rode in carriages or horseback.
The High Don's manor sat in the shadow of the cathedral upon a vine-covered hill overlooking the city. Atop the domed roof flew the Eagle of Epanos, as well as the Moon of Divia, the Queen's personal standard. The company dismounted and entered through heavy wooden doors gilded with grapevines. Down the hall, the walls were lined with portraits and paintings by many of Epanos' fine artists. The oils and pastels were rich in color, both dramatic and striking.
Nyori pointed at one of the larger paintings. "It's you!"
The large canvas depicted him on one knee before a woman of striking beauty and bearing, offering a scroll that contained the terms of the treaty of peace. He pulled his eyes away.
"That was long ago. Ancient history."
They stopped before a set of gold-gilded doors. "You have been announced to Her Royal Majesty," De Vallegera said. "We shall wait here." He turned to Marcellus. "It has been how long since you have enjoyed Epanite hospitality, Al Champio?"
"Close to twenty years."
"Ah, then you have never met the Queen's daughter, Princess Emillisa. She is nearly twenty herself. She has accompanied her mother on this visit. Salino is indeed blessed to have the honor of mother and daughter's visit to this city."
"Emillisa." Marcellus murmured the word softly. "So the Queen has married, then?"
Ayrton laughed. "No, Mistro, her Majesty remains unmarried. She is the most powerful queen this realm has ever witnessed. What man could stand under the weight of such power? Not many, and the few that dared would do so only for selfish gain. Her Royal Majesty knows this with her infinite wisdom. The father of the child is a mystery, but an unimportant one. Such is the prerogative of a queen, se?"
Marcellus slowly nodded. "Se."
The doors opened, and a servant in white and gold livery bowed. "Her Royal Majesty, Queen Salliana de Montes de Oca will see you now."
Captain Ayrton led the way into the audience chamber. It featured spires that curved upward to the high domed ceiling that depicted a white-capped eagle battling a serpent. The floor was polished flagstones decorated with the Eagle of Epanos. The light from the open windows painted the room saffron, and a fountain of sculpted winged figures bubbled in the center.
The chamber was packed. All the Dons and most of the other nobles had arrived, eager to greet the Queen, and perhaps Marcellus as well. They wore finely cut velvets and silks. The majority of the men wore long coats and trousers that came down to their stocking-covered calves, while the women wore flaring floor length dresses that were snug across the bodice and waist. Their hair was styled in elaborate curls, or long and hanging down the length of their backs.
The High Don Casimiro de Arellano was an imperious figure, with his steel-colored hair and thick mustache. He wore a blue velvet coat embroidered in gold with an eagle emblazoned on the breast. White lace spilled from his collar and cuffs. Alone he would have dominated the room, but at that particular moment he was completely overshadowed by the woman who sat next to him.
Queen Salliana had fully matured and ripened since last Marcellus had seen her, at the very peak of her beauty. Her cheeks were smooth and unlined, her jaw firm, and her olive skin unblemished. Her hair was a cascade of shimmering ebony waves that hung simply and elegantly loose to the small of her back. Large auburn eyes gazed at them from under perfectly arched eyebrows.
Her silver-embroidered lavender gown was of the softest silk, and an olive stole hung from her shoulders, heavily brocaded with baby pearls and gems. Lunestones sparkled from the chandelier earrings and the links that encircled her neck. She wore no crown, yet no one would doubt her royalty. Her demeanor overpowered all others in the room; the sheer regal bearing that would announce her as Queen even if she wore rags. Captain Ayrton and his men dropped to one knee reverently before her, and the Companions hurriedly imitated his example.
"Rise, my friends, old and new." Her voice was uniquely throaty and rich, her presence so captivating it was hard to focus on anything else. "Lord Admorran, it has been too long since you came and brought peace to our nation. It is indeed a pleasure to welcome you once more." She raised a wry eyebrow. "Though it would be a far better reunion had you not brought with you the largest army to ever sit unmolested on my border. The Dons are anxious, and I too must question your intentions. Our countries have long been neighbors and allies. Do you now bring war to my doorstep? Are the unsettling rumors we hear from your lands true?"
Marcellus rose and looked her steadily in the eye. "Your Royal Majesty, it is true that the peace and friendliness between our lands has never been betrayed. That is why I beseech that you trust me now. Whatever you have heard about occurrences in Kaerleon is irrelevant in the face of the threat that endangers my kingdom and yours, indeed all of Erseta. That is why I ride with an army. I ask that you allow us passage, so we can enter the Barrens and attack Aceldama."
Murmurs rippled across the crowd of nobles. The Queen studied him with penetrating eyes. "So the time has at last arrived," she mused softly. "The nations take up arms against the akhkharu."
She noted his expression, and smiled bitterly. "Yes, Lord Admorran, we know the nature of the beings you seek to destroy. Since my nation's birth, we have faced the inhabitants of the great fog-covered lands. We are the buffer that has stood between the rest of the world that does not even know of the existence of the immortal ones. Never truly a war, not even a battle has occurred. Only a battle of shadow. The bruha is what my people call them. The Unspoken Ones. We know of them, Marcellus, and we fear them."