Cleo's Harbor
Cleo's Cove, or Cleo's Harbor, is the smaller of two inlets of water formed by the halves of the Austran continent. Before it was known as Cleo's Harbor, the inlet was known as the Lesser Bay.
In 11,621 CE, when the King's twin sons and ward were all 8, and 32 years into the War of Conquest, the twin's mother Cleo was assasinated. Despite having never married her, Vadim was very attached to his mistress, and both furious and heartbroken over her death. He renamed the Lesser Bay as Cleo's Harbor in her honor a year after her death, in 11,622 CE.
Geography
Cleo's Harbor is an inlet off of the Ash Sea between the two Southernmost peninsulas of Austra. There is also a river, Wildmouth River, which connects Cleo's Harbor to Emphir's Bay on the other side of the continent. It is a very protected inlet, giving it calm waters and a safe place to dock ships.Ports
There are four ports in the cove: Coldreach, Blackford, Brittglen, and Freyglen. Coldreach is by far the largest and busiest, and the one best equipped to dock seafaring ships. There are some berths for larger vessels at Freyglen, but generally ships dock at Coldreach and then passenger or small cargo boats move people and things across the harbor as needed.Localized Phenomena
"I just don't get the appeal. Yeah, I mean, you get to be floaty, but just look at the water. It looks like watery gravy in here."As a part of the Ash Sea, Cleo's Harbor has an incredibly high salinity. It's fun for people, and beaches in the area attract lots of swimmers and sightseers, but it makes life difficult for ships and sailors. With vessels extra bouyant and lifted higher out of the water, crews have to be at the top of their game, and even the docks themselves are constructed differently. They are lifted on stilts to account for the boats being taller as they float higher in the water, and reinforced to allow for better anchoring of tipsy ships.
History
When the continent was first settled by humans, as the Kingdom of Ostar, the inlet was known as the Lesser Bay (the inlet on the other side of the Wildmouth River was known as the Greater Bay). It was known this way until part of the way through the reign of King Vadim Talat.In 11,621 CE, when the King's twin sons and ward were all 8, and 32 years into the War of Conquest, the twin's mother Cleo was assasinated. Despite having never married her, Vadim was very attached to his mistress, and both furious and heartbroken over her death. He renamed the Lesser Bay as Cleo's Harbor in her honor a year after her death, in 11,622 CE.
King's Study | Ostar | Kingdom of Ostar | 11,622 CE
"Sir, you can't just rename one of the Kingdom's two major harbors."
The look that Vadim turns on him could have frozen the aforementioned harbor, despite it's high salinity. It's a good thing that Norbert is immune to his King's foul moods. A part of him, though, is mourning: a few months ago, that would have been a searing look, not a frozen one.
"I'm the King," the man turns back to stare out the window, hands clasped behind his back. The 'I can do what I want' is implied.
"Yes, sir," he says, even as he chokes back an unhelpfully sarcastic response. Sometimes, he can get away with speaking his mind, even - perhaps especially - when he's in disagreement with his King. His position as the man's Esquire grants him many liberties, and after many years, they are close friends. But with Vadim still reeling over the loss of his lover, his temper has been violent and unpredictable. "Of course you can. But imagine the confusion amongst those who have to use the Lesser Bay, if suddenly after hundreds of years it is no longer the Lesser Bay."
His friend and liege is still standing at the window, so Norbert takes a few steps forward to glance down, to see what Vadim sees. Almost immediately, he wishes he didn't. The three Royal Princes are in the courtyard below; Ethem and Evren are practing with wooden swords under the watchful eyes of one of their guards, but it is half-hearted at best. Emrah is sitting on the edge of a fountain, knees drawn up to his chest, head down. None of the boys are taking the death of their mother lightly.
"I thought I could protect her by not making her my wife," Vadim murmurs - unnecessarily, since Norbert had listened to Vadim justify this many times over. "Now she's gone. They're only eight, Nor. What will they have to remember her by? How soon will the world forget her?"
He'd promised Necla and Sone he would try to make Vadim see sense where all others had failed. On a heavy sigh, Norbert accepts instead that he will be pacifying the Princesses, and standing behind Vadim's choice.
"Cleo wouldn't blame you, Vee," he says quietly. "And for better or for worse, eight is old enough to remember. The boys won't forget her."
"I know. Thanks, Nor." The King rests a hand briefly on the window before turning to Norbert with a faint smile replacing the fury of before. "I'm still going to move forward with the memorial. And the name."
"Yes, sir. I figured."
The look that Vadim turns on him could have frozen the aforementioned harbor, despite it's high salinity. It's a good thing that Norbert is immune to his King's foul moods. A part of him, though, is mourning: a few months ago, that would have been a searing look, not a frozen one.
"I'm the King," the man turns back to stare out the window, hands clasped behind his back. The 'I can do what I want' is implied.
"Yes, sir," he says, even as he chokes back an unhelpfully sarcastic response. Sometimes, he can get away with speaking his mind, even - perhaps especially - when he's in disagreement with his King. His position as the man's Esquire grants him many liberties, and after many years, they are close friends. But with Vadim still reeling over the loss of his lover, his temper has been violent and unpredictable. "Of course you can. But imagine the confusion amongst those who have to use the Lesser Bay, if suddenly after hundreds of years it is no longer the Lesser Bay."
His friend and liege is still standing at the window, so Norbert takes a few steps forward to glance down, to see what Vadim sees. Almost immediately, he wishes he didn't. The three Royal Princes are in the courtyard below; Ethem and Evren are practing with wooden swords under the watchful eyes of one of their guards, but it is half-hearted at best. Emrah is sitting on the edge of a fountain, knees drawn up to his chest, head down. None of the boys are taking the death of their mother lightly.
"I thought I could protect her by not making her my wife," Vadim murmurs - unnecessarily, since Norbert had listened to Vadim justify this many times over. "Now she's gone. They're only eight, Nor. What will they have to remember her by? How soon will the world forget her?"
He'd promised Necla and Sone he would try to make Vadim see sense where all others had failed. On a heavy sigh, Norbert accepts instead that he will be pacifying the Princesses, and standing behind Vadim's choice.
"Cleo wouldn't blame you, Vee," he says quietly. "And for better or for worse, eight is old enough to remember. The boys won't forget her."
"I know. Thanks, Nor." The King rests a hand briefly on the window before turning to Norbert with a faint smile replacing the fury of before. "I'm still going to move forward with the memorial. And the name."
"Yes, sir. I figured."
Cleo's Harbor
Alternative Name(s)
The Lesser Bay (Formerly)
Cleo's Cove
Cleo's Cove
Type
Cove
Location under
Owning Organization
Header image by Elina Sazonova on Pexels.
The prose made me tear up. It was so beautifully written. I'd read a whole book about their friendship. ;-; I love the detail about the high salinity. That makes it feel so unique.
Explore Etrea | March of 31 Tales
Thank you!!