Days bled together as our boots met the dirt road, and each following night sharpened with frost. We’d reached the outer fringes of the capital now. The road we were traveling shifted from sparse woodland to rolling fields, lonely cabins, and the occasional farmhouse.

  Marie insisted to continue scouting ahead, though the terrain couldn’t possibly offer an ambush. It’s likely the Vuudweyen soldiers ended up returning the day after we left the library, setting it up in flames and returning home. Elias would probably get a scolding from the commander, for requesting resources and failing to achieve more than their original mission.

  To your misfortune, you half-wit captain.

  “I saw that foot drag, Kaleh. Do you need to stop?” Agnes snapped.

  “Trick of the light.” He responded, a little too quick to be true.

  My breath fogged up as it left my mouth, a white cloud barely visible in the light. At least it felt real. The sand feels like it’s long since drained out of me.

  Agnes couldn’t put the map down for a second. Every watch she took at camp, she scoured relentlessly over the thing. Recalling the journal and ledger information she should’ve lost a week ago. She swears she’s fine, but the obsession’s caused her to trip several times. Which came first — the damage or the map?

  Long wooden fences lined either side of the road, protecting what would’ve been lush fields of grain and vegetables both, if not for the season. I’d only seen a small stable in Fuulen—Gilban’s —that housed any sort of livestock. It was truly eye-opening, my first time gazing upon a barn.

  Agriculture and large-scale farming are leaps more common here, as I’ve been told from old instructors. Some children laughed, sprinting across a fallow field. I hope Donvan’s doing alright.

  As we made our way up a hill, we caught up to Marie. She was resting partway, coaxing breath that never seemed to come home. I pulled beside her, letting a tilted glance speak for me. She nodded, and that was all I needed.

  She’d been pushing herself all morning, so it was bound to happen.

  I could feel my boots slowing on the incline, each step less forward and more upward. We all went dead quiet, the wind picked up behind us, and we finally crested the terrain.

  Vast stone walls sat at the end of a patchwork quilt of fields. Watch towers sat atop the battlements, spires threatening to pierce the sky. Columns of smoke rose from an innumerable set of chimneys, and the smell of bread and coal wafted all the way out here.

  I’d been raised noble, but not like this. I was looking upon everything father claimed to stand above. Compared to this, his station might as well be pointless, a holding of land just to prevent others from claiming it. The massive, flowing, bright banners flapping in the cold wind was something our house would’ve never obtained.

  My eyes first found Marie, body still, but eyes wide. Agnes finally found the willpower to drop her map below eye-line. Kaleh turned, tapping the point of his boot against the ground.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  I was about to comment on the scene, well-dominating castle above all else, when Marie stepped forward.

  “Come on, stop stalling. Do you all want to get there at midnight?”

  We eventually ended up reaching the front gate, after what felt like hours of walking. I was expecting Argos again, but the capital felt no need to levy a toll. With naught but a bored glance from the Arnien guards, we made our way through. It felt too easy, but didn’t raise my arm-hairs either.

  Even at dusk, too many voices filled the air. The earlier smells of bread and coal began to mix with the sweat and breath of the night-life. Lanterns hung off iron hooks every 20 paces or so. The stone underfoot seemed to amplify the sound of every step. I had no idea where to look first. Everything had a smell, a direction, a bright new color.

  Though it wasn’t enough to keep my head from thinking. It’d be best to try and find some help locating an inn, we’re tired from the journey. We walked by numerous people. A stable-hand who was dumping water into a trough for the horses, a miner lugging his pickaxe down the road, a group of older women, hair greying as they discussed knitting patterns.

  I approached a man who was once manning a nearby stall, though seemed to be readying himself for the journey home.

  He turned to us, head tilted over to the side.

  “Evenin’. First time in the capital?”

  I cleared my throat, “Yes. We’re looking for a good inn. Would you-”

  “Straight walk down that way, turn left at the fountain. If you can hear singing, you’ve missed it.”

  After a brief thanks, we were off. Those instructions might have been faulty, with drunkards enough to fill the streets with off-key praises. We approached a rather tall building, marked as “Giant’s anklet.”

  I led the way as we continued in.

  Inside was a vast bar, boasting a polished wooden counter hidden behind the backs of many sorrowful men. The corner of the room had a separate counter boasting a brass bell atop it. Men were throwing dice in the corner as a bard dimmed the room with gods-awful sonnets.

  The bell barely even sounded once before someone appeared behind the counter.

  “Good evening, two rooms for two?”

  I looked back at everyone, and they collectively shrugged.

  Guess I’ve got to keep playing leader.

  “Yes, please.”

  “24 Gildes.” They demanded.

  Second floor, the rooms at the end of the hall on either side, so said the keeper.

  Agnes spoke up, “So... how should we split up?”

  Kaleh’s head swiveled between each of us, before declaring quite bluntly,

  “well I thought it’d be obvious. Two rooms, two beds... We split men and women.”

  I set my pack down beside the straw mattress. Outside the tall window, the city continued to stir in the ceaseless evening chatter.

  “This place is overwhelming,” I stated.

  “You’re telling me — I could barely hear myself over that.” Kaleh admitted in response.

  “They don’t build cities for people with cracked ribs, do they?” Kaleh exhaled.

  “You could’ve stayed outside.”

  “And let the future lord walk in here alone?”

  I blinked, unsure whether he was joking.

  “I’m no future lord. Just an idiot trying to survive like the rest of you.”

  “You’ve the making of one. More than any.”

  He responded abruptly.

  It’s something I’d have never expected him to say.

  “Back at the ambush... I saw that look. Memories coming up like demons, making the world look different than it should.”

  He stopped, clearing his throat, “every soldier needs a purpose.”

  He looked away, eyes toward the window, as if the purpose he sought was right outside. He understood more than I thought...

  Tomorrow, we had plans to pursue the wrath workshop. Something with that code-name was bound to feel threatening. I felt nerves crawling inside of me, waiting for its chance to spring.