The roads started to curve, following the shape of the mountains. They eventually nestled right along a long and bare rock face. Nets had been placed above the road, along with signs warning of falling rocks.
They continued on until a long shadow cast itself along the caravan, rays of sunshine occasionally marking sillouhetes of trees and rock. It was getting late.
The merchant in the front cart yelled out.
"Only a distance away until we reach the shrine! Keep up, laggards!" He joked. The other merchants and several other guards cried in indignation. "Just because you're first..." "Get outta that seat before you call us laggards!"
Ernin looked out, a large drop before him. They had made some elevation, more nets extended over another road.
"Be careful not to slip." Bruwen said atop his cart.
"Aye."
Ernin looked in front, continuing his walk.
The caravan looped around once more until they reached a large stone pillar on the side of the road. Carved on the pillar were strange symbols, etched in the stone rather crudely. Ahead of that was an extended plateau of bare stone seemingly cut into the very side of the mountain, an unlit campfire in the middle. At the back, another set of rocks were piled together in the shape of a person, offerings of food, coins, and personal belongings placed before it.
Wagons were directed to the back beside each other, the horses tied and led to one corner. The merchant in front called for everyones attention while men started to bring wood to the pit.
"We'll be resting here for tonight as planned. I have with me the nightwatch assignments, so take a look. Wake up the next in line when your shift is finished."
Men flocked around the merchant while he called out names. Ernin, somewhat unluckily, had his shift right in the middle of the night.
One of the guards took wooden planks off the back of one of the wagons, stacking them into a lattice of firewood.
The third merchant carefully placed bits of cloth underneath the wooden structure. He then produced a pouch, obtaining some sort of strip that smelled of alchemical compounds. Striking a nearby boulder, the strip erupted with cobalt fire. The merchant made a show of throwing it into the pit as if he was some almighty wizard smiting a peasants home.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
The house went up in smoke, flames turning to warm yellow.
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Steps on the opposite side of the road alerted the camp to company. A group of 6 carrying large bags, 4 adults, 2 little ones. They dressed in northern fashion, thick cloaks padded with furs that drooped to their knees.
"Hail." the foremost one said in a tired voice. A woman, face worn by the winds."Might we sup with you for tonight?"
The first merchant smiled and waved away some of the guards by the fire.
"Come sit!" He said, gesturing them down. "The roads are dangerous these days, it's rare to see a small group like yourselves risk travel."
The strangers sat down, unrolling a small cloth underneath the ground. Three woman fully grown, one man using his spear as a walking stick, and 2 children, a boy and a girl.
The first merchant gave Bruwen a look.
"Ernin, why don't you feed the horses with me?" Bruwen asked. "We still need some more people... You, lad. I've seen you eyeing them, want to help?"
The boy in question had his eyes on the three horses in the back. "If we had a horse we wouldn't have to walk so much." He muttered.
One of the woman holding the girl whispered in her ear, then sent her off with a smile. "Go help dearie, dinner will be ready soon."
"Okay!" the girl replied.
Both of the children looked in awe as Bruwen showed them a bright red apple.
"I got these from the valley on the other side of the mountains. Buttercup loves these."
Buttercup being his cart horse, chained to a wooden stake.
"Wow! So pretty!" giggled one of the children, a girl. "Can I try?"
"Aye, It's dinnertime for Buttercup too, go ahead, he deserves a treat."
The girl stuck her hand under Buttercup's mouth, wherein the horse plucked the apple and chewed it whole.
"It tickles!'
The other child, a boy, looked at his sister expressionlessly. Bruwen came up to the boy and offered an apple.
"Want to try?"
"..no thank you."
"Cmon. He won't bite! I trained him too well for that. You know about the carrot and the stick? He knows what'll happen if he disobeys me."
One of the guards piped in. "The kid's probably more scared of you than the horse."
"How? I'm jolly and old, what could you possible be scared of?"
Handing the boy an apple, Bruwen pushed him closer to Buttercup. The boy stared for a bit until finally holding out his palm, apple in tow. The old mare graciously accepted, giving a final lick on the wrist.
"See? Harmless."
Bruwen turned to Ernin looking in the distance. "You too." He said, apple in hand.
Ernin didn't respond at first, too busy focusing his attention towards the conversation by the pit.
"They terrorize the living, covet what they cannot have. Monsters they are." Said the first stranger.
"We couldn't wait no longer." said the man. "None of the big caravans dare venture out of the town, wanted more 'security' they said."
"Our family home... vanished in the mist, it was. By men in horrible masks." a third spoke, an old and wrinkled woman.
"Masks?" asked the merchant.
"Faces with exaggerated smiles, almost mocking. I'll never forget it."
"When we brought up our situation to the mayor, you know what the bastard said? We deserved it! In his own words, we 'angered the spirits!' I couldn't take that bullshit any longer. So what if we end up dead, at least we're no cowards." Fumed the fourth.
"Where do you plan to go?'
"Our relatives, down in Alders Ridge. Hoping to stay there until we can get on our feet again, if not then at least our children."
Ernin responded to Bruwen. "Okay."
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