Mitoburo River

Two fords cross it: the upper one under the Henderlif hanging bridge by Duke Lukins's Frest castle, and the lower one by Baron Shulas's holding. Lorist's main convoy crosses at the lower ford on the way north.

Illustration: Photo by Christopher (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0). Real-world photograph chosen for atmosphere — the novel itself has no canonical illustrations.

The Mitoburo (Mitobro in some chapters) is a wide, calm river of clear water, the natural border between the Madrass Principality and the Northern Plateau. It serves as the Northern Lands' barrier because, in its course around them, it now slips between sheer cliffs, now tears through heaps of rock and rapids — there is almost no navigation. Only in its middle reaches, over some ten-plus li within Baron Shulas's holding, does the river wind and form quiet, relatively calm pools.

Beyond the river the highlands rise sharply — the endless mountains and hills of the Northern Lands. From the river to the Norton ancestral lands is about seven hundred li, and the road runs through seven other lords' holdings.

The Mitoburo is crossed two ways: the upper, at the Henderlif hanging bridge (Hendlifoso in some chapters), which leads to Grand Duke Lukins's Castle Frest, and the lower, at Baron Shulas's landing with just two ferries. Northern convoys prefer the cramped lower ford because at the Henderlif bridge Lukins keeps strict tolls and forcibly buys coveted goods at half price. On Sedekamp's advice Lorist crosses at Shulas's to avoid the duke; to speed things up he strings ropes across on winches and halves the crossing time (ch 82).

On the second crossing (ch 162) the lower ford is spanned by six pontoon bridges of boats, sheepskin rafts and 'Lorist boats' to move the northern convoy and a hundred thousand refugees. Baron Shulas, who demands a toll over a hundred li of river, is hanged at his own landing by Yuri and Rodd. Because both crossings lie in private hands, Lorist realises the region will stay locked in forever without its own outlet to the sea.

Baron Shulas's ferry tariff: one person — a silver coin, a horse — ten silver, a loaded four-wheeled wagon — a gold of the old stamp; even nobles got no free passage and no discount, only the right of priority crossing.