Chapter 104 - Provoking accommodations
The city of Autumnwell was situated at the end of one of the distributaries that fed into the main body of the Three Streams River, northwest of Elystead and east of Windgrove. The settlement was nestled in a natural canyon, surrounded on both sides by low, verdant cliffs covered in fields and small forests. A large fort overlooked the city from atop a tall hill to the north, acting as a natural barrier of sorts. This meant that, unlike many of the empire’s other cities, Autumnwell wasn’t enclosed by walls built by previous generations to shield them from the dangers outside.
As for the city itself, there remained plenty of room in the canyon for it to expand. The ground held a gentle incline from the harbor to the south towards the hill to the north, with lots of open space surrounding the inhabited sections filled with smaller pastures and woodlands.
Scarlett and the others were afforded a magnificent view of it all as the buildings sprawled out before them as their carriage left the harbor area where the Kilnstone was, traveling towards the heart of the city. Most of the structures here were made of brick, with additions of wood here and there, though some of the homes closer to the edge of the city had more simple wattle and daub structures.
“Where are we heading now?” Leon asked after they veered off one of the more well-traveled thoroughfares onto a long road that carried off eastwards.
Scarlett turned her attention from the window she’d been looking out of, watching the man for a second. “First, we will be visiting members of the local nobility.”
“The acquaintances you spoke of yesterday?”
She nodded. “That is correct.”
“Who are they?”
“Are you familiar with the Withersworths?”
His eyebrows rose. “Lord Withersworth was the previous Lord Marshal, if I’m not mistaken. I’ve also heard tell that Lady Withersworth was rather influential among the nobles of the capital.”
“Lord Withersworth holds a barony northwest of Autumnwell, which just so happens to be where our final destination is. Before journeying there, however, we will have to speak with him regarding the matters related to this venture.”
“They retired from high society years ago, didn’t they?” Leon eyed her closely. “How do you know them?”