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Five mules and their four human dependants were emerging from a shady forest about late afternoon, then overlooking a pleasant valley with crops, pastures, orchards, and clumps of cottages here and there. The valley's river was broad and slow, and in a bend of it half a league downstream stood a fine castle of tree-trunk palisades surrounding the tall thatched hall of the local king, all of it being raised up far above the water-meadows on a great mound of earth which had been dug out of an artificial lake and that made of the castle a true island. Near the castle on the actual river, the newcomers could see some docks and some ships - long warships to be rowed swiftly up or down the river, and also barges for cargo which should be sailed downstream or else towed upstream by bullock teams and winches.

It was an impressive and beautiful scene of fertile, industrious prosperity and royal peace. Ergo Harper and his troupe reined in their mules and stood just to look with delight over this promising valley, the kingdom of Eidrean.

more to come ...