Three young girls who hadn't been all that far from home in their past were going further than they'd ever dreamed a week ago.
Rin was flanked by her two friends as the mists of otherspace gave way to normal airspace.
They were not the only "candidates for princess" on board the hammership, though all were currently drinking in the spectacle before them.
The city of Rangard itself was located in a roughly circular cove, as if someone had taken a bite out of a coastline. The city itself was a sprawling thing with the castle almost at the far end away from the docks.
Other ships, some smaller and some larger than the one they were currently on, patrolled the skies as well as the occasional dragon or winged being.
Two moons, one huge and at three-quarters full, hung in the night sky but provided considerable illumination.
"Welcome to Rangard, ladies," said an elf. "If you look there to the right you'll see the Castle. There are over fifty workers at the Castle, not counting military personnel and courtiers. You'll notice the moat is in the shape of a magical Seal and is warded to protect the Castle from a number of potential hostiles."
As the ship continued to lower, many of those present exclaimed as the air traffic increased in density.
"We are just beginning to feel the effects of winter in the kingdom, and so we will have heavier clothing prepared for you upon need." The elf looked around the group and wondered if they were paying any attention to him at all. "You'll notice that we have two sets of docks. Some vessels are built for landing on water, others on land, hence the need for a dual system. Some of the land based docks terminate in large mesh landing areas, as damaged ships may need to set down but not be able to use either due to areas of damage.
"We are now passing the Great Library, constructed five years ago and already requiring expansion. To the left of it you see Temple Road."
"What is that?" asked Chizu, pointing off to the side.
"Ah, that's the Halfling Village. Not really part of the city, but the farms sprawl to the point where they are right up against parts of the city itself," explained the elf. "Now over there we're coming up on the Elven Citadel."
Chizu leaned against the railing sniffing. "Something like sukiyaki, I think. Spiced beef."
"Elves don't deal with such pedestrian fare," began the tour guide.
"No, it's coming from the Halfling Village," said Chizuko Oe with complete certainty. She sniffed some more. "Brazed potatoes cooked alongside something I'm not certain about. Meat."
"Ah," said a little fellow as he climbed down from the rigging. "That would be Minced Rabbit And Potato Pie - a fairly common meal young princess."
"You eat cute little bunnies?" asked one of the other princess candidates.
"We raise 'em for food we do," said the halfling. "Also some birds for just such a purpose. Not the more intelligent ones though. Oh look! A herd of chocobo!"
The girls stared at what the halfling had pointed out before someone thought to start passing around a spyglass. They were still at a fair altitude.
"AH! CUTE!"
"So colorful. Most are yellow, but I see green and blue and black ones!"
"I wonder if Square knows about them?" asked Miyuki.
"Who knows?" replied Rin. "I wonder what they'll do when they see them."
"If we might get back to the scheduled tour?" suggested the elf.
Chizu wondered if they could tour the Halfling Village. Around meal-time.
Of course, one could not build a kingdom such as Rangard without ruffling a few feathers elsewhere. The very idea of such an eclectic kingdom with such a varied populace being a refuge for the repentant and oddball didn't set well with these others.
Which was why someone in a nearby spelljammer was examining the hammership carrying the candidates with a malicious eye, figuring them for easy marks.
This individual was:
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(Posted Mon, 07 Jun 2004 08:20)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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