Today we are discussing the castle that doesn't have a name yet. This castle is the palace of the Arazocos in Argenta. The royal family of Argenta could trace themselves back to ancient times, almost as far back as the Altesean Tiberi. They intermarried to preserve royal blood, and ended up with the terrible genetic trait that half the females born to the family were barren.Their palace is a "ranch style," so to speak. It covers a vast amount of ground, but is not very tall. They planted lush tropical gardens wherever they could. Due to the hot and sunny climate of Argenta the palace complex has 1001 windows without window panes. The capital city (It also doesn't have a name) grew up around the palace, but inside the gardens of the palace courtyard all is tranquil. The Arazocos adore silk wall hangings and ivory furniture. Everything served at their table is grown in their own gardens, be it figs or bananas. Meat is brought in from the royal farm a ways out of the city. The throne room is an atrium with palm trees some fifty feet tall lining either side. It is no less verdant than the gardens. Vines had been allowed to hang from the ceiling, and orchids clustered around the king's throne. Since most of the palace is open air, they have a special official just to keep the monkeys out of the throne room. A purple canopy is draped over the room in the rainy season. Hummingbirds are the most common courtiers. Being daughters of King Abundio, Carmen and Christina spent their childhood here. They and their brothers sailed their boat on the artificial lake in the gardens. They often accidentally crashed it into the fountains and sank it. Christina had a pet elephant. She was not able to take it with her to Altesea when she left to be queen. The crown prince of Altesea visited their palace and fell in love with the thirteen-year-old princess Christina. He was at that time twenty-three. King Abundio was thrilled to find that a prince of one of the powerful northern nations was interested in his daughter, especially since his daughter had a chance of not being able to give children. He had offered her hand to Prince Thomas of Tyrule, (he was King Peter II's younger brother) but Thomas said he would "never marry a kinky-haired black woman, whether she was a princess or not." The Tyrulians were not very tactful when it came to foreign relations with anyone who looked different from them. Prince Christopher, his father King Caleb, and her father King Abundio arranged the marriage without Christina knowing. They waited three years to tell her she was to be married. At sixteen Christina was taken to Altesea, far north across the sea. Though Altesea has a warm Mediterranean climate, Christina's heart always longed for the tropical paradise she grew up in. The palace has no name, and the city has no name. Please leave your suggestions in the comments. The first five people to comment on my blog get their first names in my book. I am always looking for names for minor characters.
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| Alcazar De Sevilla, in Spain. I imagine Abundio's palace looking a little like this. |
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