Chapter 9Skodros was, admittedly, impressive. It was different from the small island Marcus and his crew had recently visited. Where the island was filled with vegetation and quiet, Skodros was filled with smoke and movement. Pillars of smoke towered into the sky from fires, marking the beginning of the day’s work for the blacksmiths. Marcus could hear the distant ringing of anvil against steel. Small dwellings were bunched together and creeping up the hillside, separated by stone fences. Looming over them in a wide circle were mountain ranges, their sides nearly appearing black. Below the shadow of the mountain, overlooking the city was the queen’s palace. It resembles the ones he had seen in Greece, though perhaps this one was less pristine. Even at a distance, Marcus could see there wer
