I stumbled out onto the road, the bird, who I had decided to name Firesong, cradled in my arms. I blinked, rather surprised, by my estimation, I shouldn’t have reached the road yet. Hmmm, I must have lost track of time when I was dancing to the bird’s song.

The road was paved with smooth grey rocks. I knew from previous excursions to Serac that further away from the city the tidy stone road would melt away into a dirt road full of ruts carved from numerous wagons. It was a hazard of pits and sudden dips for those walking on foot, I had twisted my ankle on several occasions.

After several more minutes of walking, the path broke through the forest into a wide open plain. The city was still a good six hour run away, but the plains were flat, you could see for leagues in every direction, so I could clearly see the city even from where I was at.

I frowned down at the sleeping Firesong, I usually ran at this point, that would jostle the bird’s broken wing...Haaaa, even if I walked fast, it would take three times as long. I glanced up at the sky, the sky was beginning to darken. I had planned to run partly through the night, and sleep at the closed gates, but it looked like I would be walking the whole night and part of the morning….There were farmhouses dotted around the plains, but I wanted to get to the city as soon as possible.

As I walked, a few wagons passed me, traveling away from the city, but not a lot of traffic occurred on this side of Serac, as it was the side closest to my Uncle’s kingdom and there was little trade between the two unfriendly kingdoms……..really, I wonder how they’ve managed not to go to war yet…..probably because they were both busy fighting with other countries they’ve developed newer hatreds with…..

I closed my eyes and let all my thoughts vanish, drifting away under the rhythmic thud of my boots. Time flew by until the touch of the dawn sun woke my still mind. The city was much closer now, and the castle seemed to stretched higher in the sky, it should only take me another two hours or so to reach the gates. I continued to walk as I turned to watch the sun rise over the ocean. The ocean looked like it was on fire, like it was made of topaz and ruby gems, like it held the warmth of home…...it was beautiful…..

The city gates loomed up in front of me, at least five meters tall, half the height of the wall it was set in. The gates were open and guard stood in front of them, leaning on their spears with bored expressions on their faces as they waited to check travelers entering the city.

As I approached the guards, they straightened, interest replacing their bored expressions. I gave a sigh, it was Always like this, for some reason male humans always tried to hit on me, though in mer standards, I was far from being a beauty, I had always been a bit of a tomboy…...

The better looking of the guards swaggered forward.

“Well, hello beautiful, what’s brings you to our fair city today.”

Guh, now that I don’t have my voice, it’ll be a lot harder to deal with these idiots…...I gestured at my throat and smiled sadly. The guard frowned, I suspected partially because I didn’t even bat an eyelid at his moronic ‘beautiful’ comment.

“Eh? you…...can’t speak? Do you have a sore throat or something?”

Ugh, what an idiotic question!

I shook my head and gestured at my throat again, then made a negative slash with my hand.

“Ummmm, you can’t speak at all?”

I nodded firmly. The guard’s frown deepened for a moment, and then he shrugged.

“Well, you seem to be able to communicate fine, were you born mute?”

Great, now that he had recovered from the surprise of my being mute, he was trying for small talk. I nodded sharply then scowled at him impatiently. The guard failed to understand my question.

“Ah? It seems you don’t like it when people ask you that? Sorry…..Hey, can I buy you a drink as an apology?”

My impatient scowl deepened into an outright glare and at this point, the other guard stepped forward.

“Come on Bredric, it’s clear you’re just irritating the lady, you’re probably not her type.”

Bredic turned angrily to Guard 2.

“And what Waldric, you think a plain guy like you has a better chance with a beauty like her than a good looking guy like me?”

Waldric smirked.

“Well, she clearly has no interest in a ‘good looking’ guy like you, so you really don’t have any ground to stand on~”

Bredic grabbed Waldric’s shirt and pulled him forward, raising his free arm in preparation to punch Waldric.

“Why you little!”

And now they had completely forgotten about the ‘beauty’ they were arguing about. I walked up to them and snapped my fingers between their furious faces. They looked at me, I pointed at the gate with my face morphed into a completely furious expression. The two guards faces paled and they both took a step.

“Y-you can go ahead miss, sorry for delaying you!”

I smiled sweetly at them as I strolled past them, and their cheeks flushed pink. I heard Waldric mutter to Bredric.

“Wait, why were we just scared of her a moment ago?”

My lips twitched up into a smirk and I turned my attention to the city stretched out before me. Shops lined the road in front of me, mixed in with houses. The drawback of creating huge walls for defense was that the room for the cities expansion was limited, at the more popular gates of the city, shops and houses have actually been popping up near the walls, though always close enough that the residents could reach the safety of walls in case of an attack. The streets were already bustling with people starting the usual morning activities, bakers hawking their wares, mothers dragging screaming children to school (The lucky ones that could afford school), and men and women heading off to their daily jobs.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

I wove my way expertly through the busy streets, moving further into the city, and towards the inn I usually stayed at during my few excursions to Serac. But before I went to the inn, I went to the city center square, the wide courtyard was a place designated for announcements, and a board where job openings were posted. It was also where the beggars tended to gather. As I stepped into the square, I was surprised to see an unusual number of people gathered around the notice board. They all seemed very excited for some reason.

Curious, I walked closer, trying to figure out what had gotten them so riled up. Their bodies were too packed together to see the actual board but I soon gathered what the source of the entertainment was from the pack of people’s excited conversations.

“One of the older royal guards is retiring, so the king is holding a tournament to find a new royal guard! I would give anything to have that job…..”

“Eh? But the royal guards are entrusted with protecting the king’s life and also act as his advisors, isn’t it unsafe to have a stranger guard the king?”

“Hah, the guard are required to take a magically bound oath, they are unable to do anything that will truly harm the king.”

My ear perked up, a royal guard? That would be perfect!

I grinned and strolled away from the courtyard.

The Blue Tail inn was as lively as ever, the owner, Drest Maddock, was said to have been a fisherman who thought he had seen a mermaid with a blue tail. Deciding he had lost his mind, he retired from fishing and started the inn. When I had first heard the story, it had taken everything I had to not burst out laughing, and I had immediately decided that I would stay at this inn whenever I visited Serac.

I walked up to Drest, who was standing behind a long counter and waved my hand to catch his attention. The big bear of a man grinned at me.

“Ah, Delta, Lass, you’ve come visitin again, same deal as usual right?”

My usual deal with Drest was a room which I payed for by a day to day basis, since I never knew how long I would feel like staying at Serac, it was useless to pay for my room in advance. But this time, I had at least an idea of how long I would be staying so I shook my head and held out seven fingers. Drest frowned, his brown eyes flicking from my face to my hands and back again.

“Seven days in advance? It’ll be one silver and fifteen copper then, but why aren’t ye speakin to me Lass?”

Hmmm, how to explain…..shifting Firesong to one arm, I pointed at my throat, then wiggled my fingers at Drest, indicating magic. He raised a heavy eyebrow.

“You be under a curse? Bad fortune that is, Lass, have you come here to get it lifted?”

I shook my head and shrugged my shoulders in a helpless manner.

“Ah, it can’t be lifted? A pity, you had quite a pretty voice Lass….”

Drest narrowed his eyes at me.

“You’re not the kind that usually pays ahead, now if it isn’t for breakin a curse, then there’s only one thing I can think of that would spark your interest that’s happinin in a week, you’re going to join in that tournament to become a royal guard, aren’t ye?”

I grinned at him, and after a long moment, his face split into a smile and he let out a booming laugh.

“Ohohoho, I knew it Lass, you take it easy on those kiddos, I’ve seen you fight, and I reckon there’s not many who could equal you. Most of the people signin up are likely sea-sick dreamers that are more fodder than fighter.”

I made a face at him, I had stopped a couple of big brawls in his inn and we had developed a rather interesting friendship. He chuckled at my expression and reached under the counter, pulling out a familiar iron key.

“Same room as always Lass, number seven.”

I took the key and pulled a small waterproof bag from my pack and took out the necessary money from the assorted coins and dropped them into Drest’s waiting palm. I flashed a smile at him and he returned it, then glanced down at the bundle in my arms and raised an eyebrow.

“And how did you get that little creature past the guards?”

Firesong perked his head up, hmmm, he was awake already? I raised an eyebrow of my own and smirked at Drest, he grunted.

“Ah, another pair of idiots then? They didn’t even notice the little fella then…...How did you pick this one up and how much slaughter was there?”

I had a bad habit of helping animals in need…….and killing those who had dealt harm to the animals. Hmmmm, I couldn’t figure out anyway to mime bandits…..I really needed to get some paper and a quill and ink. I mimed a writing gesture at Drest and he pulled a thin roll of paper and pen he usually used for orders out and handed it to me. I scrawled the story out on the paper , then tore the paper I had written on from the rest of the roll and handed it to Drest. He read through it slowly, not very good at reading.

“Bandits aye? Sounds like you took out the group that’s been bothering the few people who have been passing through that area, but really, those idiots chose a terrible place to ambush people.”

I nodded in agreement, then gave a big yawn, the night of walking was starting to catch up with me. Drest waved his big hand at me.

“You look tired, go on up and get a bit of shuteye.”

I yawned again and blinked sleepily at him, then moved smoothly up the stairs nearby and went to room number seven and opened it. I laid Firesong on the warm wooden floor lit up in sunlight and collapsed on the bed. Firesong had gotten it’s nap, now it was my turn.