Chapter 2-19: The ancient fortress of Miquanien
Foto de Federico Burgalassi en Unsplash
- We've been lucky! Milwnor has just found something very interesting!
On the bridge of the ship, there were many more smiles. Erevin looked at Olter and said:
- Well, old friend. I think we'll have to go down and see what our duenxy friend has discovered.
At a brisk pace, they made their way to the stairs leading down to the cabins on the first floor, and there they found Milwnor, who was writing down what he had discovered.
- Welcome, gentlemen. I accept that I did not know that the duenxies’ books had any information about ancient fortresses of the Sinardian Empire. But there are some mentions in several of our books that I brought with me, which have led me to some important insights that I want to share with you all.
- We'd be happy to hear them,’ said Erevin, who sat down in a chair at the side of the room, while pointing another one at Olter. He knew full well that his former instructor would never have sat down if he was standing: matters of rank, "a Captain is always less than an Imperial Prince”, he would say. The others followed suit, each sitting where they could.
- Let's see,’ said Milwnor, as he and Gutron spread a map on a part of the wall and fastened it to the ceiling, “We are here now,” he said, pointing to a spot in the sea, ’between the west coast of the empire just before it begins to curve into the Gulf of Esdáloren and the Islands called the Storm Islands1, though we know next to nothing about those.
As he spoke, he pointed out the places he mentioned.
- As we all know, on the other side of the entrance to the Gulf, on a new and very prominent ledge, is first the city of Esdáloren and, a little further south, its delta, where the Great River flows into it.
He paused and looked at his notes.
- Well, now that we have got our bearings, I must take you into the interior of the Gulf of Esdaloren, not without warning you that what I have been discovering, happened well before the present time and that neither Hariokku nor his henchmen were alive then. However, I am grateful to Captain Olter for telling us the more modern story about this individual, whose existence I was unaware of, because some of the information he gave us has been useful in helping me to locate the right Fortress.
He motioned to Gutron to spread out a new map, quite centred on the Gulf of Esdáloren.
- I regret that it is only an orographic map, with no cities marked, but we will understand the location of the fortresses that may be of interest to us without much difficulty.
He adjusted his glasses, cleared his throat and continued:
- Well, if we consider the history of the Empire, this area was not conquered until relatively recent times. Now, this entire area, from the southernmost coast of the empire to further north in the great forest of the West, was part of the Grand Duchy of Anirandina. Unlike other parts of the Empire, there was no war: the annexation came about when the Imperial heir married the only heiress of the Duchy,’ he paused for a moment, looking at his notes. ‘Sorry, Your Highness,’ he said, looking at Erevin, ’you have some ancestors whose names are difficult for me to remember....
- That's all right. I know who you are referring to: the heir was Firionen, then I of that name, and the bride was Duchess Diamalda of Anirandina. Firionen I was the grandfather of Rainigen II the ‘unifier’, who was the first to reign over the whole of the present territory, although he was not yet called emperor.
Milwnor looked at him gratefully.
- Thank you, Your Highness. This dynasty thing is a tongue twister,’ he laughed at his own joke, causing hilarity among those present, and continued, ’Well, when the duchy merged with the crown, the duchy disappeared and others arose. However, the fortresses continued to exist. The main one - he pointed to a spot on the map, roughly in the middle of the western part of the gulf, is a castle that has survived and is now owned by Hariokku.
- Yes,’ said Olter, ’it is the castle of Anírio, the old fortress of the dukes.
- Exactly,’ replied Milwnor.
- That's where they took the fleet, I'm sure of it.
- I have no doubt,’ Erevin continued, ’When I joined the Navy, I had to learn the characteristics of the various important fortresses in the Empire. That one had the particularity of being a docking port, but inside the fortress itself. In other words, you could dock ships inside it, although I don't know if it could hold the entire fleet.
Milwnor looked at him with concern.
- You see, Your Highness, when we arrived in Haloren, you remember that Fra' Tinodar had a very particular route of investigation, which, however, he has not had time to tell us all about. Right, brother?
The stocky, short, watchful brother had traded in his monk's robes for a peasant's garb that suited him like a glove. Anyone who saw him with his bonnet on would never suspect that he had taken all his vows. He had judged that it was much more convenient to keep a low profile, and everyone there had supported him.
He was one of those who had not been able to sit down: he was leaning against the side of the door, and when Milwnor mentioned him, he nodded and walked over to where the map was:
- Oh, sure, Milwnor, sure. I know what you mean. As you know - he looked generally to all the people who were there-, I've been following the Count who we discovered was as much a count as I am, although we don't know who he is yet. But he received several visits from very particular people. One of them is a rogue of the port, a 27-way spy (he spies on everyone and then says what he considers to everyone, keeping all the real information in his possession). I'm not saying it myself: even the harbour master, that corrupt being (I don't think that's his only fault or crime either), had him in his sights because he had tried to blackmail him. Well, this guy, whose name is Kariom, got really drunk (others said he was drunk before) and started saying that new docking places for ships were being built in a fortress. His interlocutor, who was more or less the same as him or even worse, told him that this did not exist and he spoke of this fortress, although he certainly did not say the name.
- And how did he refer to it? - Olter asked.
- He called it ‘the eastern one in the west’,’ answered Tunadros.
- How poetic,’ said Erevin with a half-smile.
Olter let out a laugh and then said:
- Yes, I have no doubt that Starfleet is there, although I don't think we can introduce ourselves as ‘hello, we're here to free the prisoners’. Then there's the problem of getting into the Gulf...
- Oh, no problem,’ said Gutron, “this ship, lent to us by the monks of the Order of the Patron Saints of the Sea in the Monastery near Haloren, is licensed as a fishing boat,” and he winked.
Erevin burst out laughing, but Olter said:
- The problem is that I doubt they think this is a fishing boat... unless we catch something.
One of the sailors who had just arrived said:
- We have been searching the holds as you told us Milwnor. There are several barrels with nets.
Milwnor jumped up:
- Great, let's cast the nets.
Olter stood up:
- Wait a minute, we need to see if there are any fish here.
Another of the sailors said:
- Yes, we have already cast one for a test. It came out full...
- Well,’ said Erevin, ’do you know where fish can be sold in the Gulf?
- Yes,’ said Milwnor, ’in the port of Garion, situated between the fortress of Anírio and the old fortress of Miquanien, although it is closer to the former. It's not a very big port, but they'll take our cargo.
However, Olter looked at Erevin who was frowning and deep in thought.
- Is there a problem, Erevin?
The prince seemed to come out of his reverie.
- No, I just remembered something: the ancient fortress of Miquanien.
Foto de David Becker en Unsplash
- It's a very interesting place and one I wanted to talk to you about,’ said Milwnor.
- What's going on in that fortress? - said Tunadros.
The prince got up and went to the map.
- As I learned at home, this fortress, now in ruins, was located in the northern part of the Gulf. It was a great place at the time, but when the Dukes moved to live in Anírio, it lost its main function, which was to defend the coast. It is an interesting site because, despite being in ruins, its destruction has not been as much as one might think. You have to understand that it is 500 years since Rainigen II unified the territory. Firionen I was his grandfather and, since his marriage to the duchess, his descendants have never lived there again. Almost 550 years or so.
He remained thoughtful and said.
- I remember my father telling us that if we misbehaved, he would take us to the dungeons of Miquanien... I don't know if they are still standing, but it is necessary to see it.
Olter then remembered that he had told Erevin precisely about his suspicions.
- Is it located in the north of the Gulf, right next to the Western Forest?
- Exactly,’ said Erevin, turning around.
- It matches the rumours I heard. That's where the dungeons must have been rebuilt.
The prince looked at them and said:
- Well, we're going to split up. I will go to Miquanen with Gutron and Tunadros. You will go to Anírio. We can't raise the alarm in one place if we're not already there in the other.
Olter looked at him.
- Your Highness, are you sure? There will only be three of you...
- We will be enough. I'm sure they're confident that we won't locate that place. But we'll have to get off the ship at night and take a small boat to the coast.
- OK,’ said one of the sailors. I'll take you and I think the two of them should come too. The Baron is most likely not well and you will need to take him with you. That's best done by those of us who are less experienced warriors on land.
Erevin looked at him and said:
- I was going to say it's going to be dangerous. But the truth is, everything will be,’ and he laughed out loud at the ridiculousness of such a thought.
- My name is Takrion and this is Dólumos and Yánor.
- I can vouch for them,’ Olter said, ’And they're right: you're going to need them.
Erevin turned and looked at the map:
- All right, I need you to drop us near a structure further east: it's the ancient gateway to the complex - and he pointed to another spot on the map - It's the gate of Anir- ond - the gate of the Silver Stars. Anir- ond - ein, although in the old days it was more complicated Anir - ondian - kjwein or the gate (Anir) of the silver stars (kjwein) (ondian). I have seen paintings: it was beautiful. I don't know what it looks like now.
Foto de David Gabrić en Unsplash
With spring, the prisoner in dungeon no. 9 seemed to be less uncomfortable because the temperatures had gradually risen. But even so, he was still uncomfortable. With each passing day he knew he had less time left: less and less food or water was brought to him. He thought he had been left alone in that place, when he saw a dark spot in his own dungeon.
He sat up and looked at it: it was a very large wolf that came towards him, sniffed him and then lay down beside him. The warmth it gave him revived him, but he could not allow the animal to be killed. He would have to think of something to prevent it from being seen the next time someone went in there, but first he needed to sleep....
In another distant dungeon, a woman had stopped crying: she knew that her mother was not going to release her from there and she accepted that. She had begun to think about the reasons why someone would lock her in the dungeon and she had some suspicions. The bad news was that she had concluded that her fiancé was going to make a fuss if he didn't find her. She hoped he'd have some sense and act as they'd arranged, instead of going to complain about anything. She sat down on the ground and looked outside. The sun had started to come in and she felt better. She had to start thinking about how to escape from there: it was one thing to accept the sad reality, but it was quite another that she would have to stay there locked up. She had to report what had happened. She would know how to proceed once she had escaped: she was not as stupid as many believed.
Finally, in the south, a cowering figure chained to a wall prayed all he knew. He felt weaker and weaker. He had been too impulsive... ‘If I get out of here, I'm going to have to change some things,’ he thought. Then he repeated, ‘If I get out of here’... Every day he saw it as more improbable.
And he fell back into the lethargy in which he now spent his days. Some pale ray of sunlight entered through the porch overlooking where he was imprisoned. A shiver shook his body, as he began to feel a little warmer.
He hoped that with spring would come his salvation. As he grew warmer, his sense of unease and pessimism diminished. A bird sang at his window. He thought he heard ‘your confinement will end’ in the song. But he thought he was fooling himself again and that it was his destiny to die in that damp, lonely, dirty place.
The bird sang again and, when he felt that the sun was warmer than the previous days, he moved closer to the window to get warmer. This relieved him and he prayed again, giving thanks and praying once more that someone would release him from that place and that, if possible, he wouldn’t have to wait for long...
Buy me a coffee. ☕️
Really nice, Mercedes! ;-)