They rode in the wagon in silence, a slow, pulsing hum from its engine washing over them. Leaf drove the vehicle, encouraging Bessie forward with his words and only using the reins to keep her on course. The Auroc trudged forwards, her steps further packing the dirt road under her feet, but she showed no signs of strain. Helbram and the others sat in the bed of the wagon, its cover shrouding them in further darkness as only the barest amount of sunlight bled through the canopy above. There was no sway to the vehicle, and the relatively smooth journey was starting to cast a spell of heaviness over his eyes. The same could be said of Elly and Jahora, the spellcasters succumbing to the calm atmosphere as their blinks grew gradually slower.
Only to be interrupted as Leaf banged the side of the wagon.
“Oi oi! You can’t just be quiet back there,” he said as he failed to stifle a yawn, “I’m about to fall asleep myself, and who knows where Bessie will wander off to if that happens.”
The sudden noise jolted Helbram awake, and he rubbed the bridge of his nose as his eyes fluttered, “Right right,” he yawned himself and stood up, stooping low to avoid bumping his head against the ceiling.
Elly and Jahora had ignored Leaf’s plight, and were fast asleep. The smaller woman leaned against Elly’s arm, her deep breaths almost a snore mixed with the occasional grumble. The Weaver slept in a more silent manner, upright and unmoving, with quiet breaths that gave off the illusion of meditation rather than slumber. Helbram snorted at the sight and hopped into the driver’s seat next to Leaf. The wagon listed from the shifting of weight, but returned back to normal quickly.
“We cannot have a repeat of that now can we?” Helbram remarked, “It took hours to get back on the road last time.”
Leaf scoffed, “Progress was still made, we just took the scenic route is all. Besides, that’s why you’re here.”
“I suppose it is. Conversation does go quite a ways of keeping the mind active. Whether mine is entertaining, however, is another matter entirely,” the armored man stretched, letting out a yawn as he smacked his lips.
“I’ll take what I can get,” Leaf directed Bessie straight using the reins, “Gods I need a bed.”
“Do you? Never thought you would be so adverse to roughing it.”
“No one likes roots and dirt riding up their arse at night, and the ones that say they do are liars,” Leaf closed his eyes, “Now a bed, nothing quite feels as satisfying as falling into a nice bed after a long days’ work.”
“That, we agree on,”
Helbram looked ahead as they continued forwards, idle chatter filling the silence just enough to prevent heaviness from returning to either his or Leaf’s eyes. As they talked, the forest’s canopy started to thin, allowing light to bleed through the leaves and cast a speckled pattern of shadow and light across the dirt road. Ahead, he started to see an opening to the forest, the bounds beyond hidden by a direct feed of the Sun. It was not so bright to force him to look away, but grew to such intensity the closer that their wagon pushed towards the exit. Wind brushed through his hair, evolving into a gust as they crossed the boundary of trees.
He turned his eyes away once the Sun’s light grew too bright, and the first signal of change to his environment was the air. It felt lighter, freer somehow, and when his vision recovered he knew why.
Gone were the trees of Silverglen Forest, replaced by a wide open field of pale green grass. It was in such density that it could be mistaken for fur, untamed and at such a size that the blades looked to fall over from the breeze that came from the sea beyond. A sea that took up half of the horizon, framing the town that sat in the distance in a veil of a deep, heavy blue.
Helbram took in a deep breath, relishing the crisp air that settled around him, and let out a satisfied sigh, “I did not think I would be so relieved to be free of the forest.”
“I’ll say,” Leaf said with an agreeing nod, “I think I’ve had my fill of trees for now.”
Helbram peered towards the town, “So that’s Southsheer… compared to Goldshire it looks to be at least four times the size,”
Leaf rested his hand against his chin and looked towards the town as well, “Aye… though with a far less impressive border.”
As they drew closer to the town, Helbram understood Leaf’s sentiment. Southsheer held a much more open design than the rigid structure of Goldshire, and instead of sitting at the base of a mountain it instead rested against a tall, sheer cliff that overlooked the sea below. Helbram could imagine the sound of crashing waves echoing from the rock face on particularly windy days, but no such roar graced them as they closed in on the town.
Up close, most of the town’s buildings were made of a pale white stone, a testament to how long the town had been established. Further still, rather than the rigid, square-like structure of Goldshire’s buildings, Southsheer was a mishmash of structures that varied wildly in size, holding slanted roofs composed of clay shingles. Helbram noticed through the mess of buildings that each structures’ front archway were painted. Their colors varied with no set pattern that Helbram could identify, but the mix of size and colors was enough that each building felt distinctive. Helbram could only guess why the town had been built this way, but he appreciated the visual stimulation.
Despite its lack of a border wall, the town possessed a front gate signified by two tall stone pillars that stretched into the sky, matching the height of the town’s tallest three story buildings. Manning this gate were an assortment of guards who stood next to the pillars. The amount seemed excessive, and judging from the drowsy faces possessed by the guards, they would most likely agree. Helbram assumed that on busier days all of them would be actively inspecting travelers and cargo alike, but as they approached Helbram could see them practically fight to decide who would be the one to greet them, if only for something to do. He smirked, sympathizing with the feeling.
Eventually one of them, a shorter man with a stern wide face, clad in simple leather armor and a metal helmet, approached their wagon, his spear resting on his shoulder. He cleared his throat, “Ho there, before allowing you into the town we must inspect your wagon.”
Leaf and Helbram nodded.
“Not a problem,” Helbram said, “though I must say that I did not expect security to be so strict in a town like this.”
The guard started to march around the wagon, bending down to inspect its floating undercarriage, “Thanks to the Sword, we get all kinds here,” he explained, “regardless, some unsavory types like to waltz into town, claiming to be ‘adventurers’ of some sort,” he took a moment to inspect both Leaf and Helbram’s gear, “and what do you profess yourselves to be?”
Helbram flashed the guard an grin, “Adventurers.”
The guard snorted, and some of his compatriots at the pillars rolled their eyes, “I surmised as much,” he walked around to the back of the wagon, peering at their supplies and the two sleeping women within, “just don’t go causing any trouble and you won’t find any from us.”
“Twas never our intent,” Helbram said, “I find that sightseeing is a much more enjoyable affair.”
The guard smiled, “That it is, but I must ask, are you lot here to try and draw the Sword?”
Helbram tilted his head, “Draw? I have only heard tale of its blessings, not of anyone trying to draw it.”
“Tis the word of the Maiden,” the guard explained, “about a month ago she claimed to have been given the revelation that the blade was to be chosen by its intended wielder,” he sighed, “Course that drew all kinds of people here. Thank the Gods it’s winter, I guess people would rather not brave the cold for their shot at glory,” he snickered.
Leaf snorted, “I don’t blame them. The cold has had more bite to it as of late. Can’t be drawing anything if your hands are falling off.”
“Aye, well let’s hope it stays that way for a while. We may be a bit bored, but the town could do with some calmness,” the guard walked up to the driver’s seat, “You’re good to go.”
“Before we enter, mind pointing us to a good tavern?” Helbram motioned to Bessie, “Preferably one able to handle our furred friend here.”
“You’re looking for the Salty Breeze,” the guard said with a confident nod.
One of the other men scoffed, “Come now, we all know the Maiden’s Kiss is the best tavern. Better drinks, better women,” he said in a confident tone.
The guard spit on the ground, “A tourist trap is what it is,” he turned back to Helbram, “The Salty Breeze, just take the main road to the central square and head right to Cliffside, you can’t miss it.”
Helbram nodded, “Noted, thank you. Have yourself a wonderful day,” he said with a smile.
The guard flashed a grin, “Likewise, enjoy your stay in Southsheer.”
Leaf urged Bessie forwards, and the wagon lurched as it followed after the Auroc. Helbram and Leaf gave the resting guards a wave, receiving only a few half hearted responses back.
“Bit of a mixed reception here,” Leaf said.
“I cannot blame them, imagine having to deal with a flood of people just like me,” Helbram said with a smirk.
Leaf grunted, “Now that is a terrifying prospect.”
Helbram heard Elly groan from the back, he looked back to see the Weaver stretching her arms and smacking her lips, “Gods, did I fall asleep? How long did I slumber?”
“About an hour, were I to guess,” Helbram said, “You missed an inspection and some idle chatter, nothing much.”
“I see…” Elly stood up and poked her head from the inside of the wagon, “well, this is quite the quaint town.”
Helbram followed her gaze. Now that they were close up, the colors to the houses felt more vibrant, and he now noted that the streets were paved with patterned cobblestone. He’d been so accustomed to the dirt roads within most of the towns of the Freemarks that the sight of it gave him a pleasant surprise. Given that they had arrived in the morning, not many people had taken to the streets, but those that did paid them little attention beyond the fact that they were the only ones in a wagon. Even in the Winter, they wore looser clothes compared to the other towns they’d been to, ruffling with even the slightest breeze. He couldn’t say he envied them, for he noticed a few shiver when an especially strong gust swept through the street. The wind rattled a few signs within the street, drawing attention to the shops that they hung from. Helbram noted the goods on display through their windows, ranging from potions to equipment to simple sundries. He made note of them, but none drew his interest as they passed by.
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“A bookstore… didn’t think we’d find one here,” Elly mused, “I’ll have to peruse their collection later.”
“Don’t you have enough books to read?” Leaf said with a side glance, “You practically packed a library with you.”
“One can never have enough books,” Elly said in a matter-of-fact tone, “You’ll never know what you’ll find if you just look. It’s part of the fun,” she had a satisfied smile on her face.
Leaf shrugged, “So long as you’re carrying them.”
Elly made an unsure gesture at that.
The smell of saltwater started to become more pungent the further that they went into town, and as they arrived at the central square he noted a distinct scent of fish from a few of the vendors that were setting up shop. There were others selling produce, but they kept a clear distance away from the fish vendors, and between them he noted a few other smaller vendors setting out displays of handcrafted goods such as wooden amulets and even some crafted pieces of jewelry. He noted the prominence of a sword upon each accessory, and it was easy to guess why. Given that this particular section was relatively empty compared to the other two, he could tell that it was a slow season for these vendors.
The vendors occupied the inside of the square, wrapped around a swath of grass encompassed by the cobblestone street. The buildings at the edge of the square were mostly of other, larger shops that people started to funnel into, or in the case of one particular building, funnel out of. It was a building that stood three stories tall, painted a distinct red to stand out from pale structures around it. Above its doorway was a large wooden sign, shaped distinctly like lips with the silhouette of a woman embracing a sword. The words The Maiden’s Kiss were painted over the sign in a gold, flowing script. Many of those leaving the building wore clothes that were of a different style compared to the townsfolk, and many bore ragged expressions as they wandered out into the streets, rubbing their temples as the festivities of last night took their toll.
“Well it certainly looks active,” Helbram said.
“Can’t say I’m too keen on the crowd,” Leaf said with a frown.
“In more festive times, it’d be tempting,” Elly admitted, “But I’m in more of a quiet mood at the moment.
Helbram peered back into the wagon, still seeing Jahora fast asleep. He snorted, “It appears our Mage is in the mood for more peaceful shores as well.”
The smaller woman responded with a deep breath bordering on a snore.
Leaf chuckled and directed Bessie towards the right path of the square as the guard mentioned before. There was a small wooden sign with Cliffside painted on it, and as they turned the corner Helbram noted a slight shift in the buildings along this road. They were still built of stone, but many of the supports that were visible were made of and aged wood. The paint along the arches were more faded, and some of the buildings were not painted at all. This road was also paved with cobblestone, but it did not bear the flowing patterns from before. Those that walked this street did not appear to be any more impoverished compared to those before, but their numbers were more thin overall.
“Must be an older part of town,” Helbram guessed.
“I like it,” Leaf said as he looked over the street, “feels more comforting.”
Elly nodded in agreement.
They followed the road until they noticed a sign hanging from a building. It was old, much like the rest of the street, and it creaked on the rusted metal as it swung from its hinges. A swirl was painted onto the wood with a faded green, and scratched onto the sign were the words The Salty Breeze. Unlike The Maiden’s Kiss, no one was stumbling out of this tavern’s doors.
“Here we are,” Helbram said. He whistled towards Jahora, and motioned to Elly.
Elly tapped the Mage awake. Jahora’s eyes fluttered as she woke up, and she let out a loud yawn as she rose from the corner of the wagon that she nestled herself into, “Are we there?”
“Far more than that,” Helbram said, “we have already made it into town.”
She snapped up, now wide awake, “What?!”
Jahora scrambled to the edge of the wagon and peered out of it. She let out a whine and plopped back onto the bed, “Why didn’t you wake me? I missed all of the sights…”
“And interrupt your rest? Perish the thought,” Helbram said with a smirk, “I remember the last time we did that.”
Leaf shuddered, “Those nails bite deeper than you think.”
Jahora rolled her eyes, “Oh don’t be dramatic. Tis your fault for shaking me so harshly.”
Helbram hopped out of the front seat and gave Bessie a pat, “You will have plenty of time to explore later. For now let’s just get ourselves situated. I will go ahead and secure us some rooms.”
The others nodded at him as they moved the cart towards the alleyway next to the tavern. As he passed by its opening, he noted what looked to be stables further within. No other animals or vehicles appeared to be present, which gave Helbram more hope that the tavern wasn’t too crowded. As he walked close to the building, he noted that it had been freshly painted, its blue color more vibrant compared to the rest of the buildings along Cliffside. He pushed through the tavern’s doors, entering its wooden interior.
The bar was empty, with nary a soul populating the interior. Tables and chairs were spaced far apart from each other, presumably for some privacy and to allow patrons to walk around, but given the bare state of the room Helbram could not help but feel it only emphasized how little people were in it. Even he was surprised, having expected at least a few people to be about their business.
The bar itself had no one tending to it, and were it not for the fresh paint outside he would have assumed the building to be abandoned. There was a raised portion of the floor at the far side of the room, presumably for a bard or other forms of entertainment, but that too was empty. As he looked around some more, he noted that despite the eerie absence of others, the tables and chairs were absent of any dust or dirt. This applied to the decorations lining the walls, which, instead of displaying the usual head of some beast or other hunted wildlife, were instead lined with paintings depicting scenery that ranged from a forest grotto to the very cliff this town sat upon. At a glance, he thought them to be pictures, but it would be unusual to see such things outside of Esperus.
Over the counter was a single sword resting on a plaque. It was a longsword with a wide base that tapered to a fine point. Its crossguard was of a simple design, and in general the weapon appeared to be more functional rather than decorative. It too was well kept, absent of any signs of constant use.
His admiration of the weapon was broken by the entrance of a woman emerging from the door behind the counter. Her youthful appearance stuck him first, placing her as a lady just past the age of adulthood. Her figure was hidden behind the clean white apron that she wore, and there was a furrow to her brow, breaking her smooth skin and fair features with wrinkles as she muttered to herself. Her brown eyes were cast downwards, looking at the floor as she started to pace behind the counter..
“Now where did that idiot brother of mine go… Gods he better not be going to the Sword again…” she tugged on the braid that her long brown hair had been tied into.
She continued to look towards the ground and pulled a rag from her apron, wiping down the already clean counter, “Not that I can blame him, not like there is anyone showing up here anytime soon…”
Helbram cleared his throat, and the woman froze. She looked up at him with a surprised expression, and he returned a small smile to her.
The woman stuffed the rag back into her apron and tried to regain her composure, despite the blush on her face, “Sorry sorry! Was distracted by my own thoughts.”
“Pay it no mind,” Helbram said with an easing gesture, “I find myself victim to that constantly.”
She smiled at him, a charming expression on her slight lips, “Thanks for understanding. Welcome to The Salty Breeze, my name is Mary. How may I help you today?”
Helbram walked up to the counter and fished his coin purse from his side, “Well Mary, my party and I would like to purchase lodging. Two rooms.”
Mary fished a book from under the counter and pulled the pencil that she kept resting on her ear. She flipped the book open and wrote something in it.
“Two rooms… do you know how long your party will be staying?”
“That depends, could be short, could be long depending on a few things,” Helbram explained.
“I see… well in that case we’d need a daily payment, is that alright with you?” she said, her voice shifting to something more rehearsed, professional.
“I don’t see a problem with that, what’s your rate?”
“For 2 rooms? 20 marks per night.”
Helbram reached into the coin bag and fished out a few coins before putting them on the counter, “Seems like a fair deal. We do have a wagon and Auroc with us, do you mind us using the stable in the back?”
She shook her head, “You are welcome to it so long as you stay,” she knelt down under the counter and retrieved two keys that she placed on the counter, “Your rooms are on the far end of the hallway,” she gave him another smile, “they have the best view.”
Helbram smirked and took the keys from her, “Much appreciated, we will go get set up right away.”
As he turned away, she stopped him with a question.
“May I ask who sent you to us?”
Helbram turned back, “A guard at the gate, bit of a middle aged man, stocky.”
Mary nodded, “So Darin then… I’ll have to thank him later.”
“Others did mention The Maiden’s Kiss, but we found that to be a bit too raucous for our liking.”
“I see… well I shall do my best to ensure your stay here is a pleasant one. Though I must ask, are you here to see the Sword?”
Helbram nodded, “Indeed, one of my companions suggested we come here for the Sword’s blessing, though I have been told people have been trying to draw it?”
The smile faded from her face, “Yes… it’s been quite bothersome really. People tend to be more sour when they fail at getting what they want, but some business is better than no business I suppose.”
Helbram clicked his teeth, “Disappointment is quite the painful thing, but I promise when I fail I shall be nothing but smiles upon my return.”
Mary giggled, “That would much appreciated,” her smile again faded, “If I may ask a favor…”
‘What is it?”
“My brother is most likely at the Shrine, if you do find him do bring him back here will you? That boy has work to do.”
Helbram snorted, “That I can do, what’s his name?”
“Marcus. He should be easy to recognize, eyes like mine, a bit taller, and the look of mischief to him. We’re also of the same age as well.”
Helbram tapped his chin, “Twins is it? But would that not make him a man?”
She huffed, “It will when he starts acting like it.”
He chuckled, “Fair enough. I shall direct him your way, though for a small fee I would be tempted to pull him here by his ear.”
“Oh, now that is tempting, but I shall spare him the embarrassment, he does enough of that to himself.”
Helbram shrugged, “Fair enough. Thank you for your hospitality, we shall be back in due time.”
She gave him a polite bow, “Tis my pleasure, best of luck to you and your companions.”
Helbram stowed the keys in his pocket as he left the tavern. The wagon was gone from the street, and by the time that he made his way down the alleyway the rest of his party had just finished stowing both Bessie and the wagon within the stables. Their furred companion was already munching on a mix of hay and feed, and Leaf was scratching behind her horns. Jahora was at the wagon’s front seat, fishing the magitek vehicle’s activator key from its slot.
Elly emerged from behind the wagon, hefting her deformed pack that, by some miracle, had not spilled over with books.
“Everything go well?” The scholar asked him as she stooped to manage the weight of her pack.
Helbram held both keys up, “Yes it did, but let us be quick about unloading shall we? We’ve a sword to draw.”