Chapter 13: The Arrival in Teguma and Bodily Disappointment
Chapter 13: The Arrival in Teguma and Bodily Disappointment
Finally, we crossed the province borders and reached the surroundings of the port city of Teguma. My physical structures, however, had been virtually turned into dust. I firmly believe there wasn't a single fiber in my flesh that didn't cry out for a tub of hot water and urgent care to soothe the pains in my backside.
My father, Lord Arl, couldn't contain his laughter upon seeing my deplorable figure climb down from the carriage. I walked hunched over, with my legs wide apart and my palm pressed against my chafed buttocks. To make my mood worse, he delivered a rough slap to my back, his laughter echoing through the stone courtyard.
— Be a man, my son! — the warrior exclaimed, amusing himself with my suffering. — That burning will pass soon and your hindquarters will get used to it. Traveling for entire days on horseback, wearing iron armor under the frontier sun, is an infinitely worse martyrdom!
I looked at him with a glaring countenance of pure childish fury. Of course, because the backside that is on fire isn't yours, my dear lord! I grumbled internally. What a complete disaster... I should have a tombstone carved into the ground of this fiefdom: Here lies the pride and buttocks of a young nobleman after four days on a muddy road.
My mother, Lady Sylvia, peeked through the leather window of the vehicle, interrupting my lamentations.
— We have arrived at the city's outer barrier — she announced.
The Vance driver pulled the horses' reins and confirmed, his voice coming from the driver's seat:
— My Lord, the coast wall guards are requesting our passage credentials.
Marching to the gates of a large-scale commercial district demanded rigid formalities. My father stepped down from the vehicle and displayed our lineage's coat of arms, extending the signet ring he wore on his finger. The guard sergeant inspected the stamped steel and adopted a posture of deep feudal respect, bowing his head.
— Lord Vance, welcome to Teguma — the soldier greeted. — Baron Claus awaits your family's delegation at his official residence, located near the great lighthouse on the southern corner of the peninsula. It is the property on the highest part of the terrain. That was what I was ordered to report to Your Lordship.
My father thanked him with a firm nod, instructed the driver, and we continued our journey. To the relief of my nervous system, the city's internal path was paved with beaten stone blocks. The carriage still rattled considerably, but the impact was infinitely less than the mud pit of the eastern forest.
Claus's Board and the Islanders' Table
Upon reaching the imposing residence of Baron Claus, we were welcomed with the usual formalities by a maid in a starched apron and the manor's butler. To my obvious frustration as a scientist, I was not authorized to explore the port docks or investigate the sea salt deposits immediately. We were led directly to the massive main dining hall, where a grand feast had already been arranged on the linen tablecloths. There were rustic platters filled with grilled fish over embers, coastal citrus fruits, and cuts of wild meat.
The table occupying the center of the room was monumental, designed to easily accommodate thirty people. At the central head sat the ruler of Teguma, Baron Claus. My parents were seated on the right wing, while the heteromorphic representatives of House Aurelius occupied the seats on the left.
The three leaders initiated the commercial council without delay. They discussed transport routes for the brown sugar, storage logistics in the port warehouses, molasses distillation for the taverns, and the exact number of sweet root wagons that should cross the northern valleys each month. The merchant acumen of Lord Varian Aurelius, combined with Baron Claus's shrewdness in managing the shipping fleets, exceeded my expectations. My father, focused mostly on border defense and military strategy, was entirely overwhelmed by the smooth talk of the two negotiators.
However, what truly paralyzed my geek attention was the very structure of the table. It was a circular piece of furniture whose center contained a movable wooden platform that rotated on a hidden axis, allowing the fish platters to circulate among the guests without the help of servants. It was a sophisticated mechanical concept, extremely rare to glimpse in such a rustic feudal society. Curious, I extended my small fingers and began touching the edges and crevices of the wood, trying to decipher the underground rolling system.
The baron's wife, Lady Othede, noticed my obsessive investigation and smiled with sympathy.
— Did the young master Kaelen appreciate the furniture's woodwork? — she asked, her voice gentle.
— Yes... — I replied, polishing my diction. — It is very curious. How does the wood's rotation work?
— It was one of the commercial finds my husband acquired from a caravan of artisans coming from a distant island city — the noblewoman explained proudly. — Those island peoples were exceptional craftsmen in woodwork and built totally unusual mechanisms. We brought this piece on our merchant ship about ten winters ago.
I kept pondering how the sailors of that rustic era had managed to transport a wooden monster of that density through ocean currents without the sea's moisture warping the rotation axis. A true miracle of carpentry.
The banquet stretched on for hours. My mother leaned into court gossip with Lady Othede, while Arl, Claus, and the tiger-man defined the refining taxes. For us, the children at the table, that eternity of bureaucracy was an unbearable boredom. As soon as we emptied our clay plates, we received the long-awaited permission from the adults to withdraw from the hall.
My immediate plan was to find a comfortable room to stretch my legs and try to sleep, but the twins of House Aurelius were faster. Lucius and Marcus flanked me in the corridor, their striped tails whipping the air.
— Let's go to the courtyard! — Lucius challenged, his fangs on display. — You promised us a sword duel last moon!
— That was months ago and you didn't return to the fortress! — I countered, pointing to my tunic. — And I have just crossed four days of potholed roads. Can't you see that my backside is on fire?
Valeria, who was walking just behind her brothers, overheard my anatomical protest and stifled a laugh, her furry cheeks gaining a rosy hue of embarrassment. The two little tigers, in contrast, looked at me with expressions of pure disdain and childish pity.
— You are weak, Kaelen — Marcus scoffed, crossing his arms of yellow fur. — Feeling pain because of a simple carriage ride... Tomorrow you won't escape the exercise courtyard. Prepare your training steel against our claws!
They ran off toward the gardens, laughing at my biological vulnerability. I felt my gladiator pride be pitilessly wounded by two feline brats. I looked at my hands and clenched my teeth with silent fury. Very well, you muscle-headed felines... I swear by my memories that tomorrow I will deliver so many wallops to your buttocks that both of you will return crying to the northern valleys! You will pay me.
I turned to Katriny, who was walking beside me trying to maintain a solemn posture.
— Katriny... — I requested, my voice strained. — Take me to some soft room. I need to rest my muscles.
The panda-monk froze, biting her lower lips to hold back an outrageous laugh. Her furry ears trembled.
— Yes, young master... — she replied, her voice trembling from the effort of not laughing at my misfortune. — There is a resting room just ahead. I will provide... a very fluffy cushion for your needs...
Even you are mocking my cellular structure, you traitorous bear? I glared internally. You also entered my list of counter-attacks. But the biological pain was sovereign; I swallowed my pride and crawled onto the feather mattress to sleep.
The Biological Breakdown in the Courtyard
At dawn the next day, I woke up in a different room of the mansion. I had slept with the density of a rock. Upon inspecting the room, I felt a pang of feudal discomfort: the nurse Thys was sleeping curled up on an uncomfortable wooden sofa in the corner, and Katriny was resting on a rustic wool rug on the stone floor, using a simple pillow. I was the only one accommodated in the luxury of the double bed. This rigid division of servitude is not right for their well-being and health, I noted mentally, uncomfortable. I recorded a note to intervene with my mother regarding the servants' accommodations in the future.
My movements on the mattress woke Thys instantly. She stood up with frightening agility, adjusting her apron.
— Good morning, young master Kaelen! — she smiled, walking toward the exit. — I will inspect the kitchens so they prepare your breakfast immediately.
I was shocked. This woman has the sensory instincts of a hunting feline... what kind of mechanical perception is this?
Katriny kept snoring heavily on the rug. I took the heavy wool blanket from my bed and walked slowly, spreading the fabric over the panda-monk's furry shoulders to protect her from the morning dew. But my caregiver's efficiency operated at record speed; not ten minutes passed before Thys crossed the door again bringing clean tunics. I hadn't even managed to put on my linen pants on my own. She picked me up in her arms, positioned me on the stool, and began dressing me with military dexterity.
— Where... where are my parents? — I asked, my diction firm.
— They already left early to inspect the port docks with Baron Claus, young master.
— I see... — I sighed. — Then bring the food trays to this room. We will share the meal here.
Thys stepped back, horrified by the breach of feudal protocol.
— That wouldn't be correct according to court rules, young master... servants do not share the table of the heir.
I adopted my best expression of childish psychological manipulation, lowering my eyes and puffing out my cheeks.
— You've known me since the cradle, Thys... — I stammered, feigning a deep sadness. — Are you going to leave me abandoned and isolated in this cold room to eat alone? This will break my child's heart... please.
The nurse's countenance softened right away, letting out a defeated sigh.
— Alright, alright... just this once, young master.
— And bring an extra portion for Katriny — I pointed to the floor. — She will soon complete her awakening cycle.
Thys looked at the panda-monk covered with my wool blanket and let out a muffled laugh.
— As you wish, little master.
Hardly had I swallowed the last spoonful of oatmeal when the bedroom door was ruthlessly thrown wide open. The Aurelius twins invaded the room like two striped hurricanes, grabbing me by the sleeves of my tunic without even giving me time to put on my leather boots. I was dragged through the corridors to the training courtyard at the back of the inn. What complete feline cruelty... these predators don't have the slightest sense of courtesy, I snorted.
The tiger-men's residence was adjacent to our lodging, which allowed the two brats to make that ambush in less than five minutes.
— Today you have no escape, Kaelen! — Lucius exclaimed, drawing a rustic wooden training sword.
— Yes! You will duel with us! Who will be the first to test your steel? — Marcus egged on.
— It'll be me! — Lucius pushed his brother. — You started the combat last moon!
— But that time there was no fun, the boy was with a cane! I demand to be the first!
Listening to this dialogue of two minds driven purely by muscles gives me an overwhelming headache, I grumbled in thought. How I wish I had enough psychic energy to manifest a jet of frozen water over the heads of these two... Cats repel cold water; I would love to test that scientific theory on their skin.
Marcus hurled a short wooden sword in my direction. The hilt hit my chest and I caught it out of pure reflex. Without giving me time to adopt an adequate guard posture, Lucius advanced running, delivering a descending diagonal strike against my shoulder.
To my absolute amazement, the tiger-brat displayed an absurd biomechanical agility and muscular strength for a child of only seven winters. What a complete genetic injustice! I blamed myself, crossing my wooden blade to block the impact. The sound of wood echoed through the courtyard.
I was violently overwhelmed by the little tiger's speed. My feet faltered on the stones and my six-year-old body simply did not respond with the mechanical precision that my gladiator mind commanded. The commands jammed in my weak tendons. Fury began to burn in my spine.
In a fit of anger at the limitations of my flesh, I channeled a raw pulse of Telekinesis. Without raising my hands, I ordered matter to act: Lucius's wooden sword was ripped from his furry fingers by an invisible force, flying high into the air.
The courtyard fell silent. Katriny, who was watching the training leaning against the wall, straightened her posture with her ears up. Lucius looked at his own empty hands, his feline eyes widening in a glow of pure excitement.
— How excellent! — the tiger-boy exclaimed, jumping for joy. — The training was about to get monotonous, but you revealed a formidable mystical trick! Show me more of that strength, Kaelen!
You muscle-brained windhead... give me a minute of scientific truce! I lamented, recovering my posture.
The duel stretched on for a few more minutes. I managed to balance the actions and dodge the attacks using movement reading, but the price was too high. Suddenly, the biological engine of my childish vessel broke down completely. An overwhelming weakness and a cold sweat hit me. When I tried to raise my arm to deflect another wooden blow, my legs failed entirely.
I collapsed to my knees in the dust of the courtyard, the sword falling from my limp fingers. I felt a deep humiliation burn my cheeks. Kaelen's little body had broken down again due to a lack of reserve energy. Marcus and Lucius stopped their movements, staring at me with expressions of pure pity and childish disappointment.
Katriny crossed the courtyard running, kneeling by my side and supporting my shoulders.
— Young master Kaelen! You have overstepped the limits of your physical body! Stop the exercise immediately! — she ordered, her gentle voice mixed with concern.
Before the twins could utter any mockery about my weakness, the graceful silhouette of Valeria appeared among the rose bushes of the garden. The white-furred feline girl advanced like a matriarch and delivered two precise ear-pulls to the hyperactive twins, making both boys let out yelps of pain.
— Stop this savagery, you hollow heads! — the countess scolded, her angry tone making her brothers' tails wither between their legs. — Don't you have eyes in your face? Can't you see that young Kaelen is still debilitated by the toxins of that curse? You forced him into a military combat!
Valeria let go of the twins' ears and turned in my direction. Her feline features softened and she adopted an extremely sweet and melodious tone of voice, looking at me with shining eyes:
— Please forgive my brothers' rudeness, Kaelen... They have no manners. I will order the kitchens of House Aurelius to prepare a sweet fruit cake from the valleys especially for you to recover your strength. Thank you very much for everything...
She dragged the two grumbling twins by their tunics out of the courtyard. Katriny put my tiny arm over her furry neck, lifting me from the ground with ease and carrying me back to the isolation of my room.
