Book 5: Chapter 3
Phithcha was known as a sprawling harbor town and the capital of Soljest. It served as the foundation and prided symbol of the nation.
Blessed with good trade, it hadn’t always been the capital city. However, once Gruyere had taken over the throne, he relocated it and expanded the port.
Phithcha became the capital both in name and substance.
“I’d heard the stories, but they give Mealtars a run for its money.”
A few days had passed since they left the capital of Marden, Tholituke. Inside the carriage, Wein expressed his admiration as they traveled down the main drag of Phithcha.
“Even though we’re both in the North, the port seems to make a world of difference.”
Ninym couldn’t hide her amazement either.
Natra had no warm-water port. At the northernmost tip of the continent, their oceans were frozen solid for over half the year. This was a death sentence in both military and economic pursuits. They could sail for only six months out of the year, and the cost of maintaining their warships only continued to mount. In Wein’s opinion, they were about as useless as scrap paper, and he wished he could chuck them in a wastebasket. “He shoots, he scooores!” Wein imagined calling out.
Any shipmaster who stopped at this dead end would wonder what he did to deserve this punishment.