Where Ashes and Oaths Collide

Chapter 49: Where is Everyone?

Cassandra opened the first door on the right, revealing a bedroom, illuminated by the soft, flickering flow of a fireplace built into the sandstone wall. The fire burns steadily, casting orange light across the room and creating dancing shadows on the uneven stone surface. Above the fireplace hangs a heraldic crest, adding a subtle note of nobility. In the centre of the room stands a large wooden canopy bed, surrounded by thick and carved bedposts, supporting deep red curtains that hand heavily around the frame. The fabric looks rich but slightly worn, pooling softly near the floor. The bedding matches in tone– dark reds and warm hues– enhancing the room’s cozy, enclosed feeling, something which triggers Cassandra’s envy.

She walks toward a small wooden chest sitting at the foot of the canopy bed, its surface scuffed from use. Her armoured boots scuff the red and gold toned rug lying across the stone floor. She slowly opens the chest to find several layers of dresses. She rumbles through the content, finding nothing of use and then she goes over to the wooden table by the door and find only candles and small carved objects. The the second room Leo also finds a bedroom, primarily lit by candlelight, and with a simple dark wood bed in the centre, dressed in deep blue bedding with gold accents, creating a cooler, more elegant colour palette. A fur throw is drapes casually across a wooden chest at the foot of the bed, adding texture and a sense of comfort.

Leo quickly moves over the richly patterned rug in darker tones and snatches up the fur throw, shoving it in his bag and opening the chest to search for anything valuable. He finds several decorative daggers and shoves them in his bag before closing the chest. He moves toward the narrow, arched windows set into the thick stone walls, with dark blue curtains hanging to the sides. Outside the window, the city looked calm. Not what you would expect from a city under siege. Across the hall, Lua and Sol entered a spacious kitchen. The kitchen is well-lit by a combination natural light and firelight. On the left side, a tall arched window with a lattice of small panes allows soft daylight to stream in, illuminating the stone floor and nearby work surfaces.

The light highlights the textures of the room, casting gentle shadows along the walls and furniture. On the right, a large open hearth glows with a steady fire, its orange flames flickering and reflecting warmly across the stone and wood. At the centre of the room stands a large, sturdy wooden worktable. Its surface is worn but well-maintained, and it holds an assortment of fresh ingredients– vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, and herbs, along with bowls and simple kitchen tools. Beneath the table, baskets and pots are neatly stored and hanging from the ceiling above the central table is a circular iron rack suspended by chains. From it dangle numerous copper pots and pans, polished enough to catch the light and gleam softly.

Lua walks up the the table and picks up a carrot, immediately taking a bite. Sol walks along the long wooden counters and shelves lined with cookware and supplies. Rows of ceramic jars, metal pitchers, and clay pots are neatly arranged, suggesting a well-stocked kitchen prepared for large-scale cooking. On the right-hand side, bunches of garlic and herbs hand from hooks, drying in the warm air. Sol passes the large hearth, built from carved stone, feeling the hear from the fire during inside and he scans a blacked pot hanging over the flames. The mantel above holds additional cookware and containers. Sol continues walked to an arched doorway leading into a pantry, where more shelves are visible, packed tightly with jars and provisions.

Luz and Darm had opened the door at the end of the corridor, revealing a wark, richly furnished living area. The left side of the room is dominated by a large stone fireplace, its wide hearth framed by heavy varved stonework, and inside, a bright fire burns steadily. The flames cast a golden-orange glow across the room, illuminating the surrounding stone and furniture while creating deep, soft shadows. The mantel above the fireplace holds small decorative items– ceramic vessels and possibly metal pieces– arranged with understated care. Above it hangs another heraldic shield. In the middle of the room sits a grouping of solid wooden furniture arranged for conversation and comfort.

A sturdy rectangular coffee table anchors the space, its surface holding a few simple objects– books, a goblet, and a candle. Around it there are upholstered wooden chairs and a matching sofa, all featuring deep red fabrics with subtle patterns. The cushions appear thick and well-used, offering a sense of warmth and relaxation. Beneath the furniture lies a large, intricately patterned rug in rich reds and dark tones. To the right, a tall, arched window set deep into the stone wall allows cool natural light to filter into the room. The window is divided into small panes, and heavy red curtains frame it on either side, drawn partially back. The daylight contrasts gently with the firelight, adding depth and balance to the lighting.

Additional furnishings line the walls” a wooden cabinet holds decorative objects and possibly storage items, while a tall bookshelf on the far right is filled with books and vessels. Candles places on sconces and surfaces throughout the room provide additional points of soft illumination. A wrought-iron chandelier hangs from the ceiling above the seating area, fitted with candles that echo the warm flow of the hearth. The metal work is simple but elegant, reinforcing the medieval aesthetic. “This place feels abandoned,” Darm observed, checking the windows for signs of guards outside. “Maybe they heard the Corrompido army was approaching?”

Sol scans the pantry looking for something to eat. It takes Sol a moment to spot the servant hunched in the corner of the pantry, trying to look as small as he can. Sol grabs him by the collar and lifts him. “Where is everyone?” he asked. Lua dropped the half-eaten carrot, to join her brother and draw her crossbow. “The cathedral,” the servant said quickly. “Please do not kill me.” He squeezes his eyes shut as if waiting to be struck.