32 The city of Durakles
The next morning, Cameron woke up Tristan really early. The sun was not even fully visible.
„We will be leaving for Durakles now.", he said after going back downstairs.
Tristan followed him. They were heading outside to the small garden.
„This might make you a bit dizzy, but I doubt it.", Cameron warned him, before pulling out a horn-like object.
He put it to his mouth and blew in it. A moment after he did so, a circle of bluish light appeared on the ground and engulfed them.
When the bright light was gone, they were in front of big city gates.
„Welcome to Durakles!", Cameron said with a smile on his face. They stepped into a line in front of the big gate. A lot of people wanted to get in. There was a separate entrance for carriages, fortunately the one for people without carriages was smaller.
„If you didn't know, Durakles is in the Arzuhl kingdom, it's one of the more important cities. It's fort is said to be impenetrable. The military might of this city is really astonishing.", Cameron said.
„The lord of this City, Duke Kristian, employed me to train his son in the arts of the sword.", he explained further.
Soon, they arrived at the front of the line. Two guards were waiting there and controlling people.
„You two. Why are you entering this city?", one of the guards asked.
„We have been called upon by Lord James.", Cameron replied.
„And who are you?", the guard continued to ask.
„My name is Cameron. I am the teacher of Lord James. And this is Tristan, he is another student of mine.", Cameron answered.
After some more questions they were allowed to enter.
The city was big, it was constructed in a circular way around a hill with a big fort on it. The lower district had wooden houses and huts with many people in simple clothes all around the place.
The main road was accompanied by many shops and tents on the side, with salesmen yelling out their low prices and wares.
After about half an hour, they reached the rich district. The houses were bigger and luxurious. They were made of stone and painted in white colours.
The people were mostly in carriages, but you could still see the fine garments they were wearing.
After another ten to twenty minutes, they arrived at the bottom of the hill. Guards were surrounding the whole place with a fence behind them. A gate in the direction of the road was being guarded by five guards.
„Greetings gentlemen! I am captain Koran. What brings you to the fort of Durakles?", one stepped forward.
„Hello there, captain. My name is Cameron and I've come to teach the young lord. This is Tristan, one of my students.", Cameron said once again.
„Please wait here. I will inform the Duke.", the guard said and left.
Tristan could tell, that whilst waiting, other guards were jealously looking at his sword. It radiated a weird power for them.
Shortly after, the captain returned.
„Please follow me.", he said and left once again, this time with Tristan and Cameron behind him.
They walked up the hill and entered the fort through a big gate.
Inside, there was a nice open place, a few flowers here and there. At the sides were the walls of the fortress, with lots of guards everywhere.
They entered the fort and the captain lead them to a throne room.
It wasn't really that majestic, but a throne is a throne.
„Welcome back, Cameron!", the person on the Throne, wich Tristan, for obvious reasons, presumed to be the duke, said.
„Thank you my lord. It's a pleasure being here.", Cameron replied and bowed, so Tristan followed his example.
„My son isn't home today, so you can enjoy yourselves in the city. My butler will lead you to your rooms now.", the duke said.
An old man in a black suit stepped forward and indicated them to follow him.
He lead them towards an area with loads of bedrooms, two of them were assigned to Tristan and Cameron.
„So Tristan, I will take the day off. If you want you can go around and explore the city. But be here by evening.", Cameron said before entering his room.
Tristan entered his room too. Maybe he could go out later, but for now he would stay.
It was a nice room, a little table with two chairs, a cupboard and a nice bed.
The cupboard was even filled with fresh clothes for him to wear.
‚Seems nice and comfortable.', Tristan thought.
‚Then, I think I should look around in the city.', with that thought, he left the fort.
Before he could leave, the butler gave him some kind of card, wich identifies him as a guest in the fort.
Tristan wanted to go and see some fuller parts of the city, because there is always some of the action.
He asked a guard at the front gate for directions and went towards the commercial district.
It was said, that if you need anything, there will be something in the commercial district.
It wasn't that long of a walk, but that was also because of it being so big.
The commercial district almost started in the slums, there were some small markets and shops, so it didn't really count as part of the district, but in the poorer part of the city were most shops, so there it really started. In the richer parts were exclusive shops for nobles, like jewelleries and other expensive stuff.
Since Tristan didn't really have any money, he just went exploring.
