With her orders, the long march continued bit by bit. The city in the distance soon got bigger and bigger. Flying over the gate were the flags of the country as well as the royal banner. This meant that the city lied within one of the royal duchies. If it was under one of the over princes, the banner would be there's instead of the royal one.
She could just about make out the outline of a few guards patrolling along the walls as she approached even more. Then just before she reached the large wooden gates, it slowly opened in with a large keep revealing a long straight road that leads straight up into the keep itself.
The road itself was made of cobble, the cobble itself though was covered in mud, and in some places, the road even had moss sprawled out over the road. Pavitra took all this in quickly and frowned slightly. The state of the main road was terrible. Didn't they have people to clean it, she thought to herself.
As she looked further around, she quickly noticed that there were very few people around as well. A few guards were thrown out along the street though. Then she saw a shutter open and a door crack open slightly. It seems like there are people here, they just won't come out at all.
Not sure what was going in, she pressed her heels into the horses' sides, urging it to move forwards, and slowly she began to ride through the street. As she road by the houses, the doors that were cracked open, closed quietly and the shutters suddenly closed. It was like the people did not want to be even seen. She looked to the people at her side, they all just shrugged their shoulders not exactly sure what was going in here as well.
As she got closer and closer to the keep through the roads began to get cleaner and cleaner. On the walls which surrounded the keep, there were tens of guards walking along and keeping watch. It was a complete contrast to the outer wall. Then the large wooden and elegantly carved gates slowly opened in, revealing a vast and spotlessly clean courtyard.
"Pallavi, make sure the people can settle themselves in the main city, we will be staying here for a few days. Also, give me twenty soldiers to act as my guard." Then she turned and rode a bit closer to the captain who so far had become more of her second in command throughout the whole journey. Leaning closer she quietly whispered, "Find out what is going on in this city. There is something wrong."
Then the doors to the keep opened up and a large fat man walked out, using a golden stick to help himself walk. Behind him came a thin woman, who had sunken eyes and in truth, she looked exhausted and tired. The two though were dressed in really elaborate clothes.
Then the fat man spoke, his large chin wobbled as he spoke which was funny to watch, but Pavitra managed to keep a straight face, her soldiers behind their helmets did not, however. "Your Highness, What an honor it is to have you here...I am Shakuni. The Count of this city and here is my wife. The Countess Bhavna."
The Count did not bow like his wife however, he seemed to be incapable of it. Pavitra just looked at him for a minute unsure of exactly how this man was even still alive. His belly for the most part was barely being held in his clothes.
She then slowly dismounted, before standing tall and looking at the count.
"It is my pleasure to meet you, my Count." She spoke surely and slowly. The fat count hearing her reply smiled a bit. Before looking around at his keep. "Well your highness, as you are here we must have a feast tonight! For now, I will have my wife here show you where you will be sleeping. Oh and your guards do not need to follow you, my men can guard you well enough." He smiled lecherously as he said that though, it was like he had another kind of idea. His beady eyes, Pavitra had also noticed were looking over her own body. She felt a little defiled at what he was imagining.
"Thank you Count." She managed to say, accompanying that was a cordial smile. Seeing the keep she already had a little idea of what was going on here.
Then the wife turned and began to walk into the keep. Just before she followed him, Pavitra turned back to the count. "My guards will stay with me though. I trust my trained and experienced soldiers. They are loyal. So they stay."
The Count could only nod his head slightly at her demand. After all, he was just a count, she was a Princess.
Then Pavitra followed the Countess into the keep. The Countess herself did not say much throughout the whole journey. The keep itself though was perfectly cleaned, not even a trace of dust could be found, which just made Pavitra wonder more why the city itself seemed so dirty and well so lifeless.
Just before she entered the room in which she had been given, Pavitra pulled the Countess to the side. The woman did not even fight for a second and just went with it. "My lady, why do you seem so sad?"
The Countess looked up a little and whispered, "My husband is a great and kind man, he is loving and caring. A great lord. I love him."
Her reply just caused Pavitra to frown inside and out. The woman did not even really reply to her question and instead just said some words which were praised about her husband nothing to do with herself. Just what was going on here? Or to be more accurate, what was the fat count doing here?
The Countess then turned and walked away, her back seemed to be so frail at that moment.