“Damn it, Jurot,” Adam grumbled as they made their way forward. Though his mood had improved after his bath, the Watcher’s words continually replayed within his mind. “She’s right. I have to be careful.”

“Yes.”

“I feel like I’ve told you before to stop me doing something stupid,” Adam accused.

“Yes.”

“…”

“Did you do something stupid?” Jurot asked, his eyes also accusatory.

“I suppose not.” Adam wondered if Jurot would stop him from doing something stupid, or if his brother would fight by his side when it happened. ‘Seriously.’

“Anyway!” Adam exclaimed, catching everyone’s attention. “We should be careful since there will be all kinds of beasties on our way to River Hill.” ‘I hope there’s a little, since we’re running out of moneys.’

Adam blinked. He stared at the rushing river ahead of him, and the large town up ahead, which was built atop the hill, with streams flowing all around and through it. The large walls were made of stone, and small towers littered the landscape.

“Jurot?”

“Yes?”

“It’s been a few days since we met with the Watchers, right?” Adam asked.

“Yes.”

“We haven’t met any beasts?”

“Yes.”

Adam threw him a look. ‘Right, I used a negative.’ “So, uh…”

“I do not know.”

“Doesn’t it feel like…” Adam paused, glancing back to his party, before his eyes returned to his brother, leaning in to whisper. “Something’s, you know…”

“What is it?”

Adam had a sneaking suspicion that his presence was the reason as to why they hadn’t come across anything. “Is it common for us to find no creatures?”

“No.”

“How rare is it?”

Jurot remained silent for a moment, falling into thought. “It could only happen to you.”

“Yeah, I thought so. I don’t like the sound of that one bit…” Adam bit his lower lip as he stared at the town. “Not one bit.”

They approached the front gates, which were open, revealing the inside of the town, which was built around several streams. There were plenty of people hustling and bustling within. Several guards remained on the walls and at the gates, each adorned in scale mail, greyish in colour with a hint of blue. Those atop the walls carried crossbows, though they were unloaded.

“Good afternoon,” one of the guards at the front gate called out, though it was bordering evening as the group approached. “Heading to the tournament?”

“That’s right,” Adam replied. “Just passing through.”

“Just passing through?” the guard asked. “Not willing to spend your coin in River Hill? We’ve got all sorts of goods for your kind.”

“What do you mean my kind?” Adam replied, almost indignant, though he quickly chuckled to make sure the guard knew he was joking. ‘Seriously, what the hell am I doing?’

“Weapons, armours, supplies. Our rations are the best, don’t you know? The fish in River Hill is the best across the entire land, even the King thinks so.”

“Which…” Adam cleared his throat. ‘Seriously.’’ “Which fish would you recommend?”

“I’m partial to flale personally, but I know Bobby here enjoys snowfin,” the guard said, motioning to his companions.

“Aye, nothing like snowfin with a bit of salt,” the second guard confirmed.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“Good to know. I like your scale mail,” Adam said. “Do they sell that kind of scale mail in River Hill?”

“This is custom made for we here guards, but I’m sure you could get some,” the guard said, eyeing up the purple armour Adam was wearing. “Is that, uh…” the guard snapped his fingers, trying to recall the name. “Stormsteel?”

“Puthral,” Adam replied.

“Puthral?” the guard asked.

“It’s…” Adam looked to Jurot.

“It is similar to mithril,” Jurot said. “It is crafted within the Iyr.”

“Mithril’s the Elf armour, isn’t it?” the guard asked, his voice falling low.

“Believe so,” Adam replied, carefully.

The guard shook his head, and though made to speak of the Elves, he decided against it. “Well, if you’re looking for armour, follow Third Stream for about a half hour and you’ll find Sam’s Scales. He’s a grumpy old man, but no one can say he ain’t good at his craft.”

“Not as good as Jay,” the other guard said.

“Shut up, Bobby.”

“You only talk about Sam because he’s your old woman’s cousin,” Bobby accused.

The guard cleared his throat. “Anyhow, how many you got? Thirty or so?”

“Thirty three, I think,” Adam replied. “Plus two elks.”

“Magical steeds?”

“Yeah.”

“How long are you planning on staying in River Hill?”

“We were planning on staying the night and then heading out.”

“You come from Hill Grave?”

“Aye.”

“No coin?”

“We’re running out real quick,” Adam replied, chuckling lightly. “Perhaps after the tournament we’ll be flush with coin.”

“Aye, makes sense,” the guard said, slowly bobbing his head. “I got your word you’ll buy some fish while you’re here?”

“I promise.”

“How strong are you all anyhow?” the guard asked, eyeing up their tags, and how many Iyrmen there were.

“Fairly strong,” Adam said. “With the Iyrmen and all.”

“Aye, that’s true enough,” the guard said, nodding his head. “Alright. We’ll take twenty gold for the gate fee, but I hope you’ll come by after the tournament and spend your coin here.”

“We’ll do just that, thank you,” Adam said, handing out the gold, before entering the town with his companions. He was glad the guards chatted with them, it meant they weren’t going to trouble the group.

“You could have gotten more from them, Garry,” Bobby whispered to his guard companion.

“Aye, but…” Garry looked back towards the large group. “They may have a magic item which is storing everything, but they don’t look like they were in a fight recently. One’s wearing puthral, and there’s a bunch of Iyrmen. Hill Grave, the bastards, probably bled ‘em dry. If we treat ‘em well, they’ll remember us. He asked about scale mail though he had puthral. May have been small talk, but he’ll remember Sam’s Scales if he needs some for his companions.”

“I’d have asked for the whole gold,” Bobby said.

“That’s why I’m the one that gets to greet them,” Garry replied. “A man in puthral is going to do well in the tournament, no doubt about that.”

“Good shout.”

“I wonder which noble’s sponsoring them. The Marquis? The Duchess?”

“You really think so?”

“I’d bet on it.”

Adam and his companions made their way through the town, trekking up and down and around the various hills. ‘My calves are killing me…’

They eventually arrived at the Adventurer’s Guild, which was about as Adam had expected, built similar to every other he had seen, save for the fact there was a large moat around it.

Once they had settled within the guild, Adam checked the board, wondering if they should complete a request. ‘Probably not,’ he thought, perusing the quests. ‘I should go grab some souvenirs, and some fish.’

Omen: 14, 18

“Are you all heading to Water Ford?” a voice called to the party as they approached the gates to leave.

“That’s right,” Adam replied, noting the figures.

The pair stood. The tall woman was adorned in heavy chain, with a greatsword against her back. The other was a tan skinned young man, who wore leather with studs, though on closer inspection the studs were scales. A rapier remained dangling at his side, but Adam was too busy admiring his large hat, which was pure white, with a white feather which swayed gently.

“Nice hat.”

“Thank you,” the young man smiled, tipping it slightly, the feather shimmering from white to iridescent.

‘Damn, that is a nice hat.’

“The name’s Pual, and this is my companion Iggritte. We were heading towards Water Ford, well, East Port for the tournament. Iggritte here is quite the warrior.”

“Yeah, no doubt. The name’s Adam. We’re Fate’s Golden, and more, and we’re heading to East Port too.”

“Wonderful! Could we perhaps join with you? It’s always best to move in a bigger group, until it’s not good.”

“I can’t say I disagree with that I suppose,” Adam said, looking to Jurot for guidance. Jurot nodded. “Alright. You’ll have to chip in for the gate fee and pay for your own lodgings, but otherwise we’ll move together.”

“Wonderful!” Pual grinned wide, his eyes scanning across the group. “Are you all entering the tournament?”

“Most of us,” Adam said, nodding his head.

“Which segment?”

“Segment?”

“That’s right. Which age group, and will you be fighting in the martial or magic segment?”

“Twenty one and above, martial,” Jurot replied. “With magical weapons.”

“Magical weapons? Aren’t you an Iyrman?” Pual asked.

“Wait, twenty one and above?” Adam asked. “We’re twenty.”

“They are stronger,” Jurot replied, simply. “I have a magical weapon I wish to use.”

“An Iyrman relying on a magical weapon?” Pual joked. “Never heard that before.”

“Many Iyrmen possess great magical weapons,” Jurot stated.

“I’ve heard,” Pual admitted. “Well, we thank you kindly for accepting us!”

“Is your friend okay?” Adam asked.

Iggritte was currently staring at Nobby, who was staring back at the woman. The pair were around the same height, and were both well built.

“Sorry about that, she’s young,” Pual said. “Iggritte, stop staring at the nice man.”

“Nobby’s young too.”

“He is?”

“Six… seventeen,” Adam said, before looking at the boy.

“That right? Iggritte’s seventeen too.” Pual glanced between the pair. “He strong?”

“Scarily strong,” Adam replied.

“I bet my Iggritte’s stronger,” Pual stated.

Adam tilted his head back slightly, eyeing the young man up. “How much?”