Hank has been taking notes like crazy during this part of the trip,
writing and pencilling small diagrams in a journal he takes from his
pack. The size of the City walls impresses him, clearly; nothing he
has so far seen has been built on anything like this scale.
The power waggon slows as it approaches the nearest archway. The
soldiers guarding the entrance to the city step aside, and the vehicle
enters the tunnel through the tunnel at walking pace. Clearances are
tight, and presumably the driver doesn't want to scrape the walls.
When it emerges the exit, the city is spread out in front of the
travellers. It extends along a narrow gorge and up the sides, with
many building built into the cliffs. There's a mix of architectural
styles, most buildings squarish, with a few spires and domes. Most
buildings seem to be built of stone. Many are either whitewashed or
painted in various colours, mostly creams and pinks. In the distance
a graceful arched viaduct crosses the valley. It's also a grey-pink
in colour.
There are many people about, mostly kandar but a smattering of humans.
The dress styles vary a lot; some, especially the humans, wear tough
work clothes in dull greens and browns, others wear colourful costumes
in bright oranges, blues and greens.
The lower part of the city contains an expanse of water; clearly a
harbour, as several barges are visible. It's not clear how these are
propelled; there are no masts or oars. High above them on the left
hand side is an ornate domed building, which to Roy and Hank resembles
a mosque. At the highest point on the dome is what looks remarkably
like a satellite dish.
The power waggon slowly manoeuvres round the harbour, past large
openings in the cliff sealed by heavy wooden doors. The doors of one
stand open, to reveal a cavern stacked with crates, barrels and bales.
The vehicle turns into a second such doorway, and comes to a halt
inside a large cavern. It's artificially-lit with huge glowing lamps
in the ceiling, and seems a hive of activity, with well over a dozen
people present, both kandar and human. There's another power waggon,
party in bits as if stripped down for overhaul, with several men and
women examining scattered components Others are huddled over
workbenches, assembling machines of unknown purposes.
Waiting to meet the arrivals is a slightly overweight Kandar, with
grey-black hair and a bushy grey beard, dressed in scruffy overalls.
Next to him stands a stern-faced kandar woman.
"Jathren, you've returned", says the man, as Jathren steps down from
the waggon, beckoning the others to do the same.
"Stating the obvious, Galtheyn", Jathren replies, "We lost one of the
mercenaries. And the legionnaire is broken but repairable. He'll
return to the city when fit to travel".
"Well, what did you find?", Galtheyn asks.
"A mirror", Jathren replies, "But I wasn't there in person. You'll
have to speak to the others".
"I want a full debriefing as soon as possible", demands the woman, in
heavily accented speech that suggests that Mannish is not her first
language.
--
Tim Hall
Weblog: http://www.kalyr.com/weblog
Photos: http://kalyr.fotopic.net/
