The largest town that Goldwyn had ever visited was Firienstead in the Eastfold. Located just beyond the western eaves of the Firien Wood, Firienstead was the last major settlement in Rohan which lay upon the Great West Road, or the first, depending upon which direction one was traveling. The town was known for its bustling market and seasonal fairs where one could find a variety of goods from both near and far. Horses, cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry could be bought from local farmers and livestock traders. Fruits and vegetables were available depending upon what was in season, and grain could be purchased year-round. Hunters from the White Mountains would bring hides and pelts to sell or trade, and foresters from mountain logging camps brought ox-drawn wains stacked high with timber. A variety of artisan goods could be purchased at the market, and Fasthelm often sold his wooden crafts and smaller furniture pieces there.
The second largest town that Goldwyn had visited was Tir Anwar, which was the westernmost settlement in Anórien. Like its sister town in Rohan, Tir Anwar was located upon the Great West Road in the shadow of the Firien Wood, albeit nigh to the eastern eaves of the forest instead of the west. Fasthelm sometimes attended the market there as well, though it was not as large as the one in Firienstead. There was more variety, though, especially during the warmer months, as merchants from the southern fiefdoms traveled to the far reaches of the realm to sell their wares. In addition to livestock, produce, and artisan crafts, the market at Tir Anwar frequently offered fine wines, herbs and spices, dried fruits and preserves, textiles and dyes, and other goods which had been imported from southern Gondor. Sometimes Gondorian merchants journeyed to Firienstead and beyond, bringing the treasures of their land to the Rohirrim.
Both Firienstead and Tir Anwar paled in comparison to Turkûrzgoi, however.
The first time that Goldwyn had passed through the capitol of the Western Province, she was riding in the healer's wain, and her view was obscured by the curtain she had pulled over the window to keep curious bystanders from gawking at her. Still, though, she had seen enough of the city to tell that it was impressive.
It felt even more so when one was exploring it on foot.
As she strolled down a tree-lined avenue in the company of Raen and the guard Tanelis, Goldwyn could not help but feel a sense of wonder as she gazed upon the fine townhouses of the Oleander Quarter. Located in the northeastern section of the city, this district was where the wealthy citizens of Turkûrzgoi dwelt, living lives of decadence behind high walls draped with vines and trailing foliage. Esarhaddon's brother owned a house in the quarter, a large rectangular structure with alabaster walls and a terracotta roof. Whenever Esarhaddon visited the city, he would often stay with Erkanan and his family. The upper stories of the townhouse rose up above the outer wall which hid the home from passersby on the street, and lattice screened balconies looked out upon the city beyond. The compound was flanked on either side by two majestic mushroom-shaped stone pines, and ornamental shrubs had been planted along the outer wall.
When Esarhaddon and his small entourage had arrived in the city that morning, the first place that they had visited was Erkanan's home for a brief repast. Goldwyn had met Esarhaddon's older brother and his wives during the feast to celebrate the birth of Anúrnissa's son, but the crowded, noisy hall had offered few opportunities for close conversation. Not that she had minded, though. She already knew far more about Esarhaddon's various wives and relations than she had ever wanted. She cared naught for these Nurnian noblewomen, for the shining jewels and fine garments they wore, the lavish furnishings with which they surrounded themselves, and the many servants who waited at their command all represented the blessings of the Dark Lord. Enduring this second meeting had been a feat of great forbearance, but she had managed to carry herself with grace and decorum whilst in the company of the women of Erkanan's family. They had been greatly disappointed by the absence of Shumeeren and Anúrnissa, but Goldwyn explained that the First Wife had an unfortunate bout of the flux, and Anúrnissa was reluctant to travel with her baby.
After Esarhaddon had eaten and sufficiently rested up from the journey to the city, he and Erkanan left for the council at the Governor's Palace. A servant came to the women's quarters to inform them of the departure of the men. Goldwyn had seized the opportunity to take her leave as well, and announced that she was going to visit the Great Bazaar. She politely rejected the offers of Erkanan's wives to show her around the city, and hastily fled from the house with her two servants. She had breathed a sigh of relief when she was outside, for she was no longer constrained to play the role of Esarhaddon's doting concubine.
Now, though, the relief of being free of her unwanted husband's family had begun to fade, as well as the wonder of walking amongst the beautiful townhouses and magnificent pines of the Oleander Quarter. She had to find this Black Cat Inn of which Zereshka spoke, and Tanelis was the one who was escorting her there.
Goldwyn's gaze fell upon the guard's back, observing her as she led the small party towards the Way of Khamûl, the main boulevard which ran north to south through the city. Over the course of her captivity, she had become quite skilled at studying her keepers, and she noticed that Tanelis seemed uncomfortable amid the stately opulence of the Oleander Quarter. Back at the villa, Tanelis carried herself with a certain swagger; she laughed a bit too loudly, and she walked with a jaunty step. Here, though, she was far more quiet and subdued. Raen, on the other hand, seemed quite at ease traversing the city's wealthiest neighborhood. Of course, the elderly Gondorian woman had come from a well-to-do family back in her homeland, and after being captured by Umbarian corsairs in her youth, she had spent years serving Esarhaddon's mother in Harad. Goldwyn knew very little about Tanelis, but judging by the other woman's demeanor, she suspected that she had been born a commoner.
Goldwyn remembered her first meeting with Tanelis. That had been two days ago, the morning after her secret council with Zereshka. The cook's assistant had returned to Goldwyn's quarters and bade her follow her to the guard hall, which was located near the manor's stables. While she had visited the stables many times, Goldwyn had never set foot inside the building which housed Esarhaddon's household guards.
Unlike the warriors who were employed to protect the caravans, most of the guards of the merchant's household were women. Their main duties were defending Esarhaddon and his household from the occasional threat, escorting the wives and children on journeys beyond the villa, maintaining order and discipline in the school, and impressing Esarhaddon's guests with their imposing presence. The guard hall was a long, rectangular building which served as a place to eat meals, practice combat, and while away the hours whilst off duty. Most of the guards were busy with their duties that morning, and so the hall was relatively empty. Empty trestle tables met Goldwyn's eyes, though she did spy two women on the other side of the chamber playing nine men's morris on a board scratched into the wood.
Zereshka led her to the far end of the hall, where weapons and armor were stored. A solitary woman sat astride a bench, lifting a heavy leather sack and drawing it up to her shoulder in slow, intentional repetitions. A sheen of perspiration shone on her ruddy skin, and her sandy blonde hair, frizzled from the heat which radiated off her body, was pulled behind her head in a low, messy bun. Her chest was bound with white strips of cloth, revealing broad shoulders and muscular arms. On her lower half she wore tan breeches and short leather boots with curled up toes.
Tanelis' eyes widened with surprise as she saw Goldwyn approach, and she set aside her weight and rose from the bench to welcome her. After all appropriate greetings and introductions were exchanged, Zereshka politely excused herself, stating that the cook had need of her in the kitchen. Soon Goldwyn was alone with Tanelis, who regarded her with barely concealed curiosity. Goldwyn's senses were suddenly overwhelmed with the most sickening dread, and she felt herself inwardly recoil at the thought of asking a stranger for help. Everything inside her urged her to run, to flee somewhere safe, somewhere where she was not vulnerable and exposed.
But yet she had come this far. This meeting was but another step in her journey to freedom, and she had to keep going.
"I understand that both of Esarhaddon's wives have preferred guards who travel with them," Goldwyn began, keeping her tone measured and choosing her words carefully. "I have not yet chosen a guard to serve as my protector, and you come highly recommended. If you do not have other duties that would prevent you from occupying this position, would you consider entering my service?"
"I would be honored to be your guard, my lady," Tanelis told her, smiling broadly. "I am skilled with sword and dagger, and my fists are as lethal as any weapon." She brought her hands up and curled them into fists, the muscles in her forearms and biceps clenching with the motion.
"That is good to know, for I wish to accompany Esarhaddon on his journey to Turkûrzgoi two days hence." Goldwyn kept her head high, attempting to seem authoritative even though her heart was hammering in her chest.
"I assure you that you have little to fear, my lady," Tanelis spoke reassuringly. "Only a fool would dare harm the concubine of the great Esarhaddon uHuzziya!"
"Where I plan to go, I wish to remain unknown." Goldwyn's voice was low and filled with implication.
Tanelis' eyes widened. "And where might that be, my lady?"
Goldwyn glanced around the hall, taking note of her surroundings. The two guards were still seated at the table on the other end of the spacious room, engaged in another round of their game. Though it was unlikely that they could understand much of the conversation at that distance, she still lowered her voice.
"Esarhaddon will be occupied for most of the day with the council, and he believes that I will be spending that time beholding the city and its many wonders. However, while he thinks that I am shopping at the Great Bazaar, or strolling along the cobblestone paths of Bûrzgûl Square, I intend to explore a different part of Turkûrzgoi altogether… the less than reputable part."
A broad grin spread over Tanelis' face. "Ah, my lady wishes to mingle amongst the rabble and the ruffians," she chuckled, winking knowingly. "I would not have taken you for one who enjoys that sort of sport, but appearances can be deceptive."
Goldwyn blinked, confused by the presumptions that Tanelis seemed to have of her, but also relieved by her understanding. "Yes… I want to go on an adventure in the lower quarters of the city, places where it might not be wise for a merchant's wife to visit alone. Therefore, I desire secrecy… and protection."
"Oh, I am quite familiar with the lower quarters." Tanelis smirked, her eyes going misty for a moment as though she were remembering a particularly sordid exploit. "Is there a place in particular that you wish to visit?"
"I seek a tavern called the Black Cat Inn."
Tanelis let out a hoot. "My, my, you are quite the bold one, are you not?" She shook her head with incredulous amusement, a chortle rumbling from deep within her throat. "Well, I am always game for a jaunt to the Black Cat, and I will gladly escort you there. I do wonder what business a decent lady such as yourself has at the inn… but I know better than to ask questions." She gave Goldwyn a mischievous look, her eyebrows raising playfully.
Goldwyn held back the sigh that threatened to escape from her chest. Tanelis assumed that her desire to go to Turkûrzgoi was to pursue amusements in taverns where a high-ranking merchant would forbid his concubine to go. She wondered what theories the guard had concerning her motivations. Perhaps Tanelis thought she had a secret gambling compulsion, and was keen to spend her allowance on wild wagers with strangers. Or perhaps she suspected that she was meeting a lover in secret, or trying to find some rake with whom she could have a passionate tryst. Or perhaps Tanelis merely assumed that she longed for the music, laughter, and noise of a rowdy tavern, and that her only motivation was the pursuit of excitement.
Just what kind of establishment was the Black Cat Inn, anyway?
Goldwyn would soon find out.
At last they reached the Way of Khamûl, leaving behind the peaceful streets of the Oleander Quarter for the hustle and bustle of the main thoroughfare. Through the trees across the way, Goldwyn could see another neighborhood of stately townhouses, though these homes looked older and less ostentatious. Somewhere beyond the last row of houses lay the walls of the Governor's Palace, where Esarhaddon sat deep in council with the governors of the Western and Southern Provinces and various other Mordorian dignitaries.
The boulevard was quite busy that morning, with people going about their business on foot or on horseback. Mordorian Guards swaggered up and down the street, looking quite intimidating in their dark mail and black surcoats bearing the emblem of the Great Eye. A palanquin bearing a noblewoman passed by in front of Goldwyn's party, the poles of her litter borne upon the stout shoulders of four brawny slaves. She gave the three women a disinterested glance, then turned to gaze out the other window of the conveyance. A trio of heavily laden wagons rumbled past, their wheels clattering over the cobblestones.
It was only a short stroll down the Way of Khamûl to Bûrzgûl Square, the spacious green which lay at the center of the city. When Goldwyn had first seen the square, all of the ornamental bushes and flowers had been in full bloom. The beautiful gardens which dotted the square were less colorful now, although beds of cool weather flowers brightened the dullness of the late autumn landscape. A chill went down Goldwyn's spine as she stared up at the statue of the Nazgûl which loomed over the large central pool, and she shuddered with dread as she passed beneath its shadow. She felt Raen's hand slide into hers, the gentle pressure of her gnarled fingers steadying her and bringing her back from the realm of fear. Turning away from the statue, she smiled at her handmaiden with gratitude.
As they passed by the entrance to the wide street which led to the Great Bazaar, Goldwyn committed the location to memory. She had made plans to stop at the marketplace after her business at the Black Cat was concluded, for she had to make a few obligatory purchases. Esarhaddon believed that she would be spending much of the day at the bazaar, and his brows would raise if she returned empty handed.
She thought back to the night when she had asked Esarhaddon for permission to travel with him to the city. He had stated during supper that he would be in the Tulip Room for the rest of the evening, working on some missives that he had been neglecting. Shumeeren and Anúrnissa retired to their respective quarters, and Kabtu scampered off to play with his toys for as long as he could before his maid demanded that he go to bed. Goldwyn withdrew to her chambers, where she lingered for a while before quietly returning downstairs to seek out the Tulip Room. A polite, unobtrusive knock gained her admittance to the chamber, and she found herself standing face to face with the man whom she hated.
"Goldwyn!" Esarhaddon exclaimed, his voice filled with surprise. "To what do I owe this pleasure?" He stepped aside, bidding her enter.
Goldwyn crossed over the threshold into the cozy, lantern-lit room. The cream-colored plaster walls had been transformed into a soft amber by the flickering lights of many tiny flames, and gauzy curtains had been drawn over the large windows which overlooked the garden. The chamber had a soft, intimate atmosphere which made Goldwyn feel even more uneasy, for she feared she knew which direction this night might go. She allowed him to guide her to the nearby divan, where they sat down together. Her heart beat heavy in her chest and every muscle in her body felt tensed for flight. She was venturing deep within enemy territory, and the success of her mission depended upon her ability to deceive her opponent with various falsehoods, the most important of which being that she held affection for him. Praying that her face betrayed no hint of fear or uncertainty, she put on a pleasant smile and raised the pitch of her voice slightly so that it would sound gentle and steady, slightly fawning, but not enough to seem ingratiating.
"To be honest, I have a request of you."
His eyebrows rose with curiosity and perhaps a bit of suspicion. "Oh? And what is that?"
Drawing in a deep breath to steady herself, she gave him a charming smile meant to assuage any fears he might have. "The day after tomorrow, you will be attending the council in Turkûrzgoi. Only once have I seen the city, and that was just in passing. If you would be agreeable, I would like to join you on your journey, and tour the city whilst you are tending to your affairs."
"A reasonable request," he remarked, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "However, I insist that your handmaiden and a guard accompany you. It is not fitting for a woman of your standing to travel alone, nor is it wise. You could easily lose your way and become lost, or even worse, find yourself at the mercy of a footpad in a dark alley. While the city guards make regular rounds patrolling the streets, villainy still abounds in the shadows… and sometimes in the light, for that matter."
"Oh, I would never dream of exploring the city alone," Goldwyn simpered, her eyes widening ever so slightly at the very idea. "I pray that I have not been too presumptuous in this matter, but I have made inquiries amongst the household as to which guard would be best suited for my service."
A look of astonishment came over Esarhaddon's face, and for a moment Goldwyn feared that she had angered him by acting without permission. He leaned back slightly, resting his hand upon his hip as he regarded her for a long moment through disbelieving eyes. "Well, I am certainly glad to see that you are becoming more involved in the household," he said at last, nodding his head as though in agreement with his own statement. "Do you have any candidates so far?"
"I am considering Tanelis."
"Tanelis!" Esarhaddon exclaimed, looking even more astounded than he had before. "I never would have guessed that you would choose her as your personal bodyguard. Are you certain about this? She can be a bit rough around the edges."
Goldwyn shrugged and laughed lightly. "If she can fight and wield a blade, she can be as rough as a mountain road, for aught I care."
"Well, Tanelis is certainly a skilled warrior," Esarhaddon agreed, seeming to warm up to the notion of the roguish guard protecting his concubine. "I grant my approval to this request of yours. However, now I must ask Shumeeren and Anúrnissa if they wish to travel with me as well. It goes against the traditions of my people for a man to favor his concubine over his wives, and it is also traditional that a man must treat all of his wives equally."
"But of course." Goldwyn had already considered the possibility that Shumeeren might demand to go to Turkûrzgoi, a matter which would be resolved by Zereshka adding senna to her supper. She prayed that Anúrnissa would have the good sense to stay home with her baby, for she dreaded the thought of the Second Wife passing on the flux to her child. "I am most grateful that you have given me permission to accompany you to the city. Long has my spirit been burdened by melancholia, and I am desirous of a change of scenery."
Esarhaddon reached out and gently stroked her cheek. "We have both endured many hardships and sorrows these past two months: maladies which wither the body and sap the spirit, nightmares of unspeakable horror, and exhaustion which no amount of rest can relieve." A pained look came over his face, and his hand fell to his lap as though he feared that his very touch could shatter her like porcelain. "And to think that your ordeal began much earlier, that night when you sought sanctuary within the dank crypts of Osgiliath."
Goldwyn stiffened. She did not want to talk about Osgiliath. She did not want to remember the forsaken city with its crumbling ruins and ancient mausoleums, nor the terrible night when she had sent her sons away and sacrificed her freedom for theirs. And she most certainly did not want to remember the spirit that had come to her in the darkness, speaking to her in the voice of her husband.
"Let us not dwell upon the sorrows of the past, but rather dreams of the future." She slid closer to him on the divan, gazing tenderly at him through half closed eyes as she took his hand in hers.
"The future…" A thoughtful expression came over Esarhaddon's face. "Yes, I would much rather think about the endless possibilities to come and forget the woes of yesterday." He brought her hand up to his lips and pressed a kiss to her skin.
Goldwyn inwardly recoiled at the shudder of pleasure which trailed down her spine, but allowed herself to give into the sensation. Closing the remaining distance between them, she came to nestle at his side, the contours of her body molding into his. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, nuzzling her cheek with his as he drew her even nearer.
No, no! This was far too close, too intimate. She had showed far too much vulnerability as it was; she would not put herself at his mercy by seeking comfort in his arms. Tender affections had no place between two enemies!
Impulsively rising from the divan, Goldwyn pivoted around until she was leaning over Esarhaddon, her inner thighs brushing against the outside of his knees. He gasped with surprise as her hands gripped his shoulders, forcefully pushing him against the back of the couch as her lips came down upon his in a fiery kiss.
"Right now, though, I wish to dwell upon the joys of the present," she murmured throatily as she kneaded the material of his tunic between her fingers.
"There is no better time," he laughed between kisses, his hands roaming over her back.
They made wild, passionate love long into the night, until they both collapsed from exhaustion in a tangle of cramping limbs and sodden sheets. As the bliss of sated ardor faded like smoke from the guttering candles, Goldwyn felt filthy and loathsome, both for the myriad acts of debauchery she had just committed, and for deceiving a man who quite possibly did truly love her in his own selfish way.
After leaving Bûrzgûl Square, the party continued southward through the city, passing through neighborhoods of modest tan and whitewashed houses. Lattice covered windows gave a view of the world outside but hid the occupants within. Several businesses were located along the boulevard, and customers gathered underneath colorful cloth awnings to inspect the wares which were being offered. Goldwyn noticed that Tanelis seemed much more relaxed now than she had in the Oleander Quarter. Her gait was loose and easy, and her arms swung at her sides as she walked. She frequently remarked upon the various sights they saw on their journey, and pointed out people whom she knew. Raen, on the other hand, seemed to be growing visibly concerned the further south they went, protectively clutching at the brooch which secured her cloak about her neck.
Turkûrzgoi was a hub of commerce, the main distribution point for grain, most of which would be shipped north for Sauron's armies with the surplus sold to feed the people of the Western Province. Though originally built on the north side of the River Tornîn, over the years the city had grown in size and spread past the southern bank of the river. The northern and southern parts of Turkûrzgoi were connected by a bridge, and along the city walls on either side of the river was a long, narrow strip of land which sloped down to the water. Due to the vicinity of the waterfront, many warehouses were housed in this section of Turkûrzgoi to accommodate grain, timber, coal, ore, and other commodities which were brought to the city by caravan or by boat. Docks had been built along the riverbank, and they teemed and bustled as merchandise was loaded and unloaded from ships. Merchants had set up booths and stalls around the waterfront on both sides of the river, and prostitutes plied their wares to the sailors. The neighborhoods located around the docks had a rather unsavory reputation, and the city guards were ever watchful for ruffians and troublemakers.
As they passed by a group of unsavory looking men who leered and whistled at them, Tanelis puffed out her chest and laid her hand menacingly upon the hilt of her sword. The men muttered amongst themselves and skulked back into the shadows of a particularly dilapidated looking building. Clutching her cloak tightly about her throat, Raen drew close to Goldwyn. "I think it is best that we do not linger in this place," she said in a hushed voice. "I do not care much for this part of the city."
"It is the part I like!" Tanelis beamed as a woman standing on a nearby street corner flirtatiously waved at her. Obviously a lady of the evening, the woman was clad in a diaphanous crimson gown which left just enough to the imagination, and the look in her kohl-lined eyes promised pleasure at a price.
"We do not have time for dalliances," Raen grumbled, scowling at Tanelis.
"It does no harm to look!" Laughing, Tanelis turned back to blow a kiss at the woman of the streets.
Her sensibilities outraged by the guard's audacity, Raen harumphed to herself and clutched her cloak even tighter.
Although Goldwyn suspected that she was even more frightened and uncomfortable than her handmaiden, she could not help but laugh at the antics of the two women, who were as different from each other as night and day. What a strange, mismatched pair of traveling companions fate had given her! Never in all of her days had she thought she would one day explore the dark underbelly of a Nurnian city in the company of an elderly Gondorian woman and a rough-hewn female guard.
Whistling a jaunty little tune to herself, Tanelis led her two charges through a warehouse district where great storehouses and granaries held everything from hides to wheat. Goldwyn was amazed to see these enormous buildings, which were unlike anything she had ever seen in Rohan. Heading east, they came to a section favored by the workers, for it provided everything that a hard-working man might desire – food vendors, coffee shops, tea houses, taverns, inns, bathhouses, and even low class playhouses which appealed, if not to enlightenment and culture, at least to the crowd's demands for entertainment.
Expertly moving through a maze of city streets, Tanelis at last came to a large, two-story building which was marked with a sign depicting a hissing black cat with yellow eyes.
The Black Cat Inn stood before Goldwyn in all of its ramshackle glory.
