Approaching the gate house via a seemingly unworn path except for the fact that there were deep tracks that showed that many wagons and carts passed through this gate often. Arwyn took note of the stonework and the design of the gate house . The stones were poorly hewn and the gate design was a bland generic box which lacked imagination or ingenuity.

Gerald was in the middle of thinking what he should get for his wife for their second year of being married when an extremely dirty fellow walked up to the guard post.

“Oye, whachya need pal, come from round here.”

“Hello, I’m in need of entry into this town” rumbled Arwyn in his stony voice.

“Nice voice mate, do you have any identification or documentation that can prove who you are?” recited Gerald.

“No, I’ve lost all my belongings, when I was set upon by deserting soldiers who robbed me and set me loose into the wilderness to wander until I died.”

“Luckily I was able to come upon this town which was a sight for sore eyes.”

“No, problem siry, you just need to pay a fee of 50 silver to enter the town but you have 3 days to visit the town hall to get your ID again.”

“As you have been robbed. I can let yous in the town, but you will have to stay in the town to do jobs until you have repaid the 50 silver you needed to get in.”

“Thank you, Sir,” Arwyn bowed his head slightly and entered through the rough wooden gates.

Walking into the town Arwyn swung his head back and forth as he observed all around at the buildings and stalls that lined the main way. First order of business was to find the town hall so that he could start earning some money to get a place to stay in the town.

Entering through a stone arch which stood in front of the town hall Arwyn approached front desk. Seated at the desk was a heavy set woman who looked like she enjoyed her food and ale a bit too much, but it was off set by the brilliant smile that was permanently stuck on her face.

“Ah, Hello, I’m here to get my ID because I have lost mine.”

“I will need your name, hometown, and occupation,” spoke the portly woman.

“My name is Arwyn Eterna Krieger, I would like to keep my hometown a secret, and I’m a blacksmith.”

“Oh, sorry your lordship, I meant no disrespect by my questions” quaked the woman.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

She then shakily held out a piece of yellowish paper that had writing on it that listed all the information that he had given her.

“What jobs are available so that I can pay off my debt.”

“Umm, there is are jobs available on the wall construction team, in the quarry, and there is also an opening at the smithy, milord.”

After selecting the job on the wall construction team Arwyn walked out of the mostly empty hall and walked directly to the construction area to begin work. He knew that he would have to spend at least a couple of months in this town to pay off his debt and to gain enough capital to move around and search for information. The construction site was filled with moving bodies and the thundering shouts of the foremen and the responses of the worker crews. Walking to the temporary building an checking in for work he joined one of the many crews on the wall placing interconnecting planks and covering them with a tar like substance that was called “weathers cloak” for its properties of protecting any material from the weather.

Hours passed by as Arwyn labored away at the wall that towered 70 feet above his head and was 20 feet thick and held a black hew due to the coating of weathers cloak. Receiving his pay of one silver for the days work Arwyn was informed of the currency values. Gold was the largest amount of money normal people used and for every gold it was worth 100 silver and each silver was worth 100 copper which was the smallest unit of money. An average sized family could survive on one gold a year if they lived comfortably. He left the construction site at dusk as the sun’s final light dwindled.

Walking down the lonely streets that were devoid of the earlier bustle. Looking for an Inn to lodge at while he was in the town of Edgeton which he learnt from his fellow crew members. Arriving at a drab looking two story building. Looking up at a faded sign of a woman leaning on a table with a mug of some liquid. Walking into the building Arwyn was greeted by a wave of loud laughter and the smell of cheap liquor. Approaching the bar which seated two people and asked the barman.

“Is this an Inn?”

“Yes, sir, for one night it will be 15 copper with breakfast and supper included.”

“I would like a room for 4 nights.”

“That will be 60 copper, sir.”

Handing his silver coin over he waited for the barman to exchange his silver for copper and then give him back his change.

“Your room number is 7 and will be upstairs and to the right.”

“Would you like your dinner now?”

“Yes, please.”

Sitting down at a round wooden table that was located in the far back corner which made Arwyn seem to disappear into the darkness. While waiting for his food to arrive he surveyed the room and watched the drunken revelry of the drinkers and the ‘respectable’ women that accompanied them. Noticing the hilts sticking out their waist belts, he realized that everyone was carrying some type of blade, even the women carried blades either on their thighs or in their hair disguised as hair pins. Sighing at the discovery of one more item that he will need to get to keep appearances up.

Minuets passed as Arwyn waited silently observing the bustling Inn and the flow of people going in and out. After eating he left the Inn to wander the streets to find the library to gather information on the when and where he is. As he is walking he observed the side streets and alleys which held the denizens of the street. Making his way into the heart of town he was approached by a trio of heavily armed guards.

“You cannot pass through here,” The leader of the trio said in a self-important voice.

“Why not?” said Arwyn.

“This is the housing of the Governor.”

Backing away from the trio Arwyn walked in the opposite direction and continued to wander around searching for a library. Having no luck in his search he returned to the Inn and went straight to bed.