It had taken less than two full days for Liam to find out one of the universally agreed upon truths of caravan life. Less than forty eight hours to make his way to the tidbit connection that every caravan worker in the history of caravans would agree upon with him.

The job was tremendously boring and dull. The lush hill that had risen in the landscape and the great oak trees towering over the side of the dirt roads had been exciting in the beginning, but now they had faded into a mere background sight.

During the evenings there was plenty of work, but during the day there wasn’t anything for the caravan workers to do. Most of them were lazing idly in their wagons. Liam’s wagon mates particularly were living out their love for card games and daylight drinking with the occasional loud and offensive joke.

They glanced at Liam and greeted him, but they made no effort to invite him to a game of cards, and he could feel the conversation cooling down as soon as he entered their space.

They might have been happy with passing their time idly, but Liam hated it. His ass was sore from sitting all day, his back felt tight, and the donkey bite from the night before still stung on his forearm.

He had been aware that it would be no easy job, pantheon, he had even been ready to risk his life. Despite the donkey incident last night and the cold shoulders he was getting, he couldn’t complain too much though. Compared to some of the tough times he had been through while living on the streets of Charville, this was still nothing.

What was really getting to him though, was the boredom. He hadn’t known how much sitting around idly being part of a caravan involved. How much time he would just be sitting there, twisting his thumbs and watching the scenery roll past him from his little place at the back of the caravan wagon.

It was during his time of sitting around and listening to the people at the table talk behind him though, that Liam realized how utterly lost he was.

He still had no idea where to start his search for his quest. Nor did he know how to really grow stronger in the most effective way. And if one thing was for certain, it was that he needed to grow stronger in order to measure up to the nobility and the cultivators in Charville one day.

His plan so far had been thought through rather haphazardly. He wanted to reach the capital of the eastern continent Eldezimar. From there he hoped to somehow be able to catch on to a transport to the western part of the empire, where he would hopefully be able to learn about real cultivation.

There was a slight hope in him also, that he might be able to learn a thing or two in Eldezimar already. Even if it was still in the east, cut off from most of the knowledge and treasures of cultivation, it was still a major city. Many times larger and better developed than Charville.

Until he reached that place though, Liam felt helpless. He hadn’t really thought about how long that journey would take. He had seen maps of the empire of course, even maps spanning the whole continent, although these things were almost the same. Still it was different to actually travel it.

Liam felt stranded in a way. He was open for the whims of the caravan and the gods protecting their way. He had been aware of how this would be going, but he hadn’t been prepared for the feeling of unease and guilt

And to his surprise, that fact rather suddenly infuriated him. Later he would realize that a big part of what played into his feelings was the feeling of restlessness. Especially the sort of restlessness that screamed at him to do something. Anything really.

Problem was, he was traveling on a piece of wood, drawn by giant animals across the landscape, and was utterly useless in doing anything somewhat furthering his goal.

That was largely pushed by the fact that Liam knew right now at this moment people in Charville might still be dying because of him. He hadn’t managed to fully put down his guilt, and he probably never would.

But he had reasoned with himself that he was going away for those people, to help them. For him to now be sitting around idly just felt like a waste of time.

A thought took hold of Liam’s mind. It planted it’s roots deep, and put thorns up to keep Liam’s rationality at bay. It was a senseless thought. The kind that stemmed from an overflow of energy that needed to be directed somewhere. But it was still the only thought Liam could think of now.

He needed to find out when the fuck they would be reaching Eldezimar.

It was technically utterly useless to Liam. Even if he found out how long exactly it would take them, there was no way he could speed that along. He had no control over the whole situation, and the pure information wouldn’t change anything for him. He knew that on the surface level. But still he decided to find out.

When he had tried to question his wagon mates he had come up rather short. His answers ranged between uncommitted shrugs and plain ignoring him. Not even the old man Leopold knew the answer. Although maybe he just didn’t care enough to give it to Liam.

Only Jerem was partway willing to help him.

“We really don’t know,” the boy shrugged helplessly. “The routes vary each year, as does our speed depending on how much we have to fight the seasons for progress. What was it last year, I think around six months Bernie?”

“Ai, but the season ‘fore it has been almost a year.” The words had barely left his mouth as another gulp of his beer started filling the gap. Liam had watched the big bellied man drink almost enough to empty some taverns over the course of this afternoon. He wasn’t sure whether to be concerned or impressed.

“So you always just hang back and see where the wagons carry you.”

“That is the job.” Jerem said.

One of the others at the table muttered something, too quiet for Liam to hear. The man next to him barked a laugh, seemingly at the expense of Liam. He simply ignored it and got up from his chair.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Later that same day they made a small stop to let the animals drink from a nearby river. Those stops were never particularly long, but Liam wanted to use it to find someone else to ask his question to. Someone who would hopefully have a somewhat more reassuring answer.

As the new kid he was still treated with suspicion, but in every group of people there were the sort of people who didn’t care about those things. Not for any sort of noble reason, but simply because they were gossip.

It didn't take Liam long to find one of the performers who fit that niche. The man was supposed to be an actor and played in plays. Liam had heard of the theater before, but never went.

Liam saw the man messaging his legs and then approached.

"All the sitting also grating on you eh?"

"Ha, my hips could tell stories. Wouldn't think sitting can be bad for ya legs, but it is, let me tell you. Really bad for the legs. Makes them stiff and sore and hard to move."

"You tell me," Liam said. "Only been here two days and all the sitting is already getting to me."

"You're the new boy no?"

"Yep," Liam nodded.

The man had a sympathetic look on his face. "Caravan people are a tight knit bunch, they take some getting used to. Don't let it wear on you."

Liam frowned slightly, unsure what to say.

"That is to say even the pain in your arse from sitting will get better eventually." The man chuckled.

“Can I ask you something?” Liam said.

The man shrugged. “You just did, but feel free to make it two.”

“How long does it usually take you to reach Eldezimar?”

“That’s hard to say.

Liam wasn’t sure what it was. If it was the similarity to Mr Montgomery, or maybe just Herbert’s grandfatherly attitude in general, but something about the man made Liam trust him. Trust him enough to ask him the other question that had been burning on his soul the last two days.

“Well if you really have been around as much as you say, maybe you can help me with another thing. “Do you have an idea what this is by any chance?”

He carefully procured the little black stone talisman that had been laying heavily in his pocket since he left Charville and showed it to the man.

For the briefest of moments the man’s eyes went wide in shock. Then his calm professional composure took back over.

“I’ve never seen such thing.” He gave Liam his best stage smile.

“Never?” Liam said. “Come on, save us some time.”

“Pantheon knows I tried,” the man shrugged. “Well that thing you have there looks to me awfully like the signal stones of the resistance. Does that name ring any bells?”

“I might have heard of them before,” Liam said noncommittally. “But you could still refresh my memory a little.”

The man chuckled.

“That I would gladly do, but we’re reaching the limits of my generosity here. This is a dangerous topic you want to know about, and I might need some encouragement to talk about it.”

Liam rolled his eyes. “Fine. How much?”

“Three silvers.”

Liam’s eyes bulged almost, but he handed it over. “There goes my first months pay, together with the admittance fee,” he sighed.

“Admittance fee?” A smile played around Trake’s lips. “Who told you that?”

“Well for the documents you know. Bilby did them with me.”

Liam paused for a moment as realization dawned on him. He slapped a hand on his face.

“There is no admittance fee, is there?”

The man chuckled softly and shock his head.

“Nope, I’m sorry but you just got linked. Happens to the best of us.”

“That asshole.”

Liam continued a few more curses, almost more directed at himself, rather than Bilby. He couldn’t believe how foolishly he had fallen for that trick. That wouldn’t have happened to him on the streets.

After he was done cursing, Trake made good on his promise though. The old man gave him quite some information in exchange for the money. Information that surprised Liam.

Katarina was positively steaming. She looked at the collection of metal pieces in her palm, and let out a frustrated sign. Less than 24 hours ago this was a working signature tracking compass. A wonder of artificery and one of the most treasured riches of the resistance.

Now it was nothing but scrap metal and bolts.

It wasn’t the only thing damaged by the fight with the two Seekers. But the others she didn’t dare to think about now.

The stink of the city had faded into a subtle background noise for her. To her surprise it almost didn’t bother her anymore as she walked along the canal separating Charville.

But maybe just because she had other things on her mind. Her eyes wandered towards the gatherings of people. They had already noticed them on their first day of arrival, but despite her consciousness screaming at her, they hadn’t intervened. It wasn’t ordered.

Katarina wondered how long they would continue with the executions. Even the far off noble houses like these should have some forms of signature compasses. They should’ve realized already that the boy had left the city. Should’ve realized it over a day ago.

The thought made her ball her fists, nails digging deeply into her flesh. She knew how nobles could be if they felt wronged. Knew it first hand better than most.

Yet she also knew there was nothing she could do for them right now. She knew they would need to stop at latest tomorrow. It was hard to her to justify that to herself, but she knew that her only options right now were making it worse.

It pained her, like a hot burning ball of iron in her stomach. Yet the only thing she could do was to find the boy again, so that their mission at least wouldn’t have been a complete disaster.

She almost wanted to blame that stupid boy, but she couldn’t bring herself to. Even if he had run away and maybe ruined their whole mission by that, making their sacrifices for that in vein, she couldn’t fault him. She had seen the fear in his eyes when the Seekers flared their aura. She knew that fear all too well.

He was nothing but a boy in a world that he couldn’t even halfway fathom, with a role way too big for his shoes.

The scent of blood hung heavy in the air next to the execution ring. Katarina’s legs didn’t walk away though. Instead they stayed routed to the spot. She couldn’t bear to watch and looked down at the ground.

Even there redly stained ground greeted her.

After a while she couldn’t anymore and walked away. She saw a group of nobles on the bridge. They seemed to be caught in chattering, unfortunately there wa sno way Katarina could pass the bridge with the barriers for passing voer.

She could feel their auras though. Only two of them were blessed, and still in the frist seed stage. So she activated her “Persephones perception ability.”

A small astral projection of her soared over the water and landed next to the nobles. It looked like an exact replica of Katarina, downright to the smallest strand of hair. Or it would’ve looked like it, if it had any sort of texture or color other than its transparency..

It should invisible and utterly inconceivable to people of a grade below Katarina, but still she was careful to move it a little to the side of the group.

She listened into their chatting, before she saw something that caught her eyes. A small metallic object glinting in the hands of one of the blessed ones.

Two hours later Katarina left a burning building, clutching a golden shimmering compass in her hand.

Maybe the mission wasn’t lost after all.