Robb PoV [https://i.imgur.com/CGzG6r5.jpeg]
Robb tied a net on a wooden peg, making sure it was attached firmly. The previous times he did this, the rabbit was able to run away free, along with his net. He would then find the net a couple of yards away, without the prized prey.
Consequently, Robb made sure to double check if the string would hold, same with the four other nets he placed on the other rabbit holes. The first time Lira taught him this method of hunting rabbits, he was expectantly enthused. But as he continued with it for days, it started to feel like a chore. Hunting with a bow and arrow, the way that Minos and Ashvell taught him, definitely felt more exciting and thrilling.
Robb looked back to the direction of their camp, a thin strip of smoke had started to rise from the canopy. The sun was about to reach its peak and he wasn't finished with his task yet. He grabbed Scout and hurried to one of the holes he prepared.
The young boy shadowed Lira during the first few days of their group being on the road. She was in charge of hunting for meat in the morning. Eventually she started teaching him how to do it.
Every day at sunrise, she would roam around the forest looking for burrows. Multiple holes close together usually meant there was a rabbit nest underground, which she would cover with small nets pegged to the ground, leaving one open. Afterwards, Scout, her trusty ferret, would enter the open burrow, and he would dive deep into the underground tunnels where the rabbits nest.
As soon as the little creatures sense the predator trespassing in their home, the rabbits will start panicking and scamper out of the tunnels. They will start hopping out of the burrows, and get trapped by nets Lira had assembled.
Robb double-checked everything, keeping Lira’s notes in her mind. He took one last breath before letting go of Scout who then crawled straight into the open hole. The young boy sat back and watched the ferret disappear into the hollow and waited.
It only took a few days on the road for Robb to start feeling disappointed with their journey. It may be his first time traveling, but he had read stories of adventuring parties going off on a quest, finding some hidden treasure or hunting down an evil wizard.
He expected excitement and danger, thwarting hidden enemies ready for ambush or sneaking through a marauding bandit’s territory. He readied himself everyday, awaiting for a fight to happen, but the only fight he ever witnessed was their party fighting between themselves.
When they left the village, it was clear that Cassana was the one in charge. She told them when to stop, or when to proceed, where to eat, pray, or rest. She claimed to know the place, her and Ashvell both, being the locals that they were. The journey to Mugendale should be simple, their driver attested to it, having taken the route dozens of times before, doing his charcoal-related errands.
On their third day, they came across a fork on the road. Asking around, people claimed that both paths would lead to the city, but one was shorter than the other. However, the same people did not agree which was which, so their group was forced to make a decision. Cassana and Ashvell wanted to go one way, while Minos and Lira wanted to go the other.
The disagreement turned into a heated discussion, which then turned into a full-blown argument. Insults were exchanged, hurtful words were thrown, and there was nothing Robb could do but hide away and cover his ears. I thought adults don’t fight, he thought to himself back then, feeling disappointed at the grown ups that surrounded him. In the end, they continued following Cassana’s lead.
However, the path she chose to go through led to a dead-end.
After some gloating and a few resentful quibbles, they decided to double-back the next morning. Lira slowly took charge of their journey, being the veteran huntress that she was. They took the other road, and the next day, they finally saw a sign confirming they were on the right path. Lira and Minos exchanged a high five, much to Cassana's chagrin.
It took five days since they left to arrive at the city of Mugendale. There, they rented an inn and Cassana locked herself in a room and they didn't see her for an entire day.
Robb, however, spent that day walking around and seeing as much as he could of the city. It was his first time being somewhere other than the village, and though Mugendale was nowhere near as big or as populous as the capital, according to Minos at least, it was enough for Robb's jaw to keep dropping on the floor every corner they turn.
If Minos’ claims were true, that Mugendale was merely a tiny city, he wondered how much bigger the Capital would be. Or Soliton, their ultimate destination, the city that his parents went to three years ago. How will I begin to look for them? He mused, as he stepped into a dense marketplace. He had never seen so many people crammed in so little space. He tightly gripped Lira's elbow as they walked around, scared that he might lose her in the crowd.
They left Mugendale the next day, spirits lifted and energies regained. Four days later, they reached the Kingdom's northern borders, and were about to step into foreign territory.
That was three days ago.
Something caught Robb's eyes. A small furry creature hopped out from one of the holes but got caught in the net he placed over it. The young boy quickly reached for the animal, a small brown hare, and held it by the ears, gently wrapping the net around its entire body so it wouldn't move. Another one popped up from another hole, and then another, and another. All in all, Robb caught five small rabbits, which wasn't so bad considering his many failed previous attempts. Trapping may be not as thrilling or as fun as hunting, but even he could not deny its efficiency.
He scooped Scout from the nest and tucked him back under his tunic. He then tied the rabbits together, excited to bring them back to their camp.
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The camp was quiet by the time Robb returned. That has been the atmosphere every day when the sun is at its peak, and Rei starts convulsing from his noon-fever. Cassana and Ashvell would hold him down and keep him stable inside the wagon, while the rest would gather around the campfire, wallowing in their uselessness for the situation. One time Robb volunteered to help but Cassana pushed him away, saying he wasn't needed. The way she explained it was that there wasn't much they could do to help alleviate Rei’s condition. They just have to watch over him and make sure he doesn't swallow his tongue or choke on his own vomit. Or worse, hit his head on something hard.
Robb found Minos and Lira sitting by the small fire, deep in contemplation. He showed them his quarry and they both complimented him for a good hunt. The drow huntress then proceeded to prepare the rabbits for roasting. He tried to watch but he just couldn't get used to seeing the animals getting slaughtered. He couldn’t understand why, but there was a different feeling shooting an arrow at a rabbit fifty feet away compared to slicing a knife across one’s belly to disembowel them.
Don't waste a single part of the animal. Robb remembered Lira's words when he tried to watch her gut a rabbit the first time. As she finished with the one he brought, she tossed the giblets for Scout to eat like she always did. And like he always did, Robb would feel lightheaded from the sight and would walk away.
He sat beside Minos, who was by then flipping through a thick hard-bound tome. Robb pulled a book of his own and started reading by himself.
The rest of the stop-over went by uneventfully. Robb had gotten used to Cassana and Ashvell taking their lunch on one side of the camp, while Minos and Lira would have theirs on the other side. It was like they weren’t even traveling together.
Yet for now, Robb chose to eat with the Minos and Lira. Another thing he couldn't explain was how he felt more and more at ease with the nobleman’s company.
After having their lunch, they packed the camp and went on with their trip. Minos regaled them with another story, which Cassana tried very hard not to interrupt. The two would banter about the details and accuracy of the nobleman’s tales, and it was usually a coin’s toss whether their argument would turn to fighting or not.
The air cooled down and the sky had turned to an orange haze by the time they saw the gates of Soliton. Dubbed as The Free-City of Soliton, the city-state was the second richest city on Windcoast, next after Zephyrus. It was named after Grandlegate Soliton, one of the greatest wizards in history. Legends said that he exiled himself on a small hamlet by the coast of Roewing Sea, and that hamlet grew into the prosperous metropolis that it was now.
At least that was Minos’ version of history.
The entire city was surrounded by a fifteen-foot stone wall, with five thirty-foot tall gates spread evenly around it. Cassana and her crew approached from the south-western gate, joining a short line of traders and travelers attempting to enter the city just like them.
"The great city of Soliton," Minos spat, the consternation was obvious from his tone. He looked at Robb and shrugged his shoulders. "Spoiler alert guys, it's not so great. Not really. It stinks, it’s too crowded, and it’s always wet for some reason."
"It's a coastal city," Cassana defended.
"Ad-Nilem is a coastal city, but their roads are dry. You know why the roads of Soliton are always wet?" Minos' question was directed towards Robb.
"Why?" The young boy was curious for the answer.
"Their sewage system sucks balls," answered the young noble.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Cassana and Lira shook their heads.
"So-wedge system? What is that?" asked the young boy. Ashvell was also intently listening for the answer, but still keeping his eyes on the road.
"It’s a system of underground canals, culverts. That's where all the poops and pees go, when you relieve yourself."
As a naturally curious kid, Robb had always wondered what happens to the excrement that people release from their bodies. He remembered digging beneath the latrine by their house where he would go to do his duty, and what he saw was something he wanted erased from his memory.
"You mean, they go somewhere else other than the ground?" Robb asked Minos.
"Yes. You see, in your village, all your poop just goes underground, because you're a small village, very few people, so that's not an issue.
"But in a city like Soliton, that has more than two-hundred thousand people living in it, where the poops go is a big problem. Just imagine, two-hundred thousand people shitting in a day, everyday in a week, for months, and years and so on. Do you know how many poops that is?"
Robb chuckled at the thought. "That's a lot of poop."
"That's a mountain of poop. So where do you think all that poop goes?"
"Where?" Robb was almost at the edge of his seat, excited to hear the answer, while their driver, Ashvell, had his head completely turned towards them, ignoring the road ahead.
"The sewage system. It goes like this, the city engineers would build tunnels upon tunnels underground, then they would lay pipes that extend for miles, connecting them to every household, collecting the poops that come through the latrines," explained Minos with animated delight.
"Where do the tunnels end up?" asked Ashvell, engrossed in the conversation.
Minos smiled at him and Robb both, trying to build up more suspense.
"Yeah, where?" seconded Robb.
Minos leaned back and rested his nape over his palms, "that's a story for another day."
"What?! Not fair!" Robb groaned.
"Do you know, Cass?" Ashvell looked at Cassana who was sitting beside him by the driver’s seat. She shook her head and looked aside, refusing to participate in the juvenile conversation.
"Come on, tell us Cass. Where do the poops go?" Followed up by Robb.
"I'm not gonna answer that question." Cassana dismissed, though a small smile was visible on her lips. Minos may annoy her most of the time, but she could never deny that he had a certain appeal when it comes to telling tall tales.
"Anyway, the point is," Minos continued, "Soliton's sewage system is obsolete and old, they haven't upgraded it in decades. Hence, why a short burst of rain would easily flood their roads. Why it's always wet and stinky."
"You seem to know a lot about Soliton's sewage system…" blurted Cassana, asking the important question.
"I... did my research."
"Research? For what?"
"I..." Minos glanced at Lira, then at Rei, who was sound asleep on the other side of the wagon, then back to Cassana, "took part in the Capital's upgrade and maintenance of its sewage system."
"Don't tell me you're also an engineer?"
"No, I was a prospector, and a liaison, for the Prince of Zephyrus. Fixing the sewage system was his flagship project before the siege."
"Is this the same prince who promises to pay fifty thousand marks to whoever helps you find the Sword of the Godslayer?"
"Yes, same prince."
"Alright. Good to know that he's not a useless, decadent prince after all."
Minos opened his mouth and closed it back again. Having a banter with Cassana always starts as fun, but he could clearly see by now that most of their banter always ends up into a heated argument.
"I still think his money is wasted on you though." Cassana added.
Ashvell jeered and teased. Lira stared at Minos, expecting him to snap back at her, like usual, but he simply waved his hands.
"Wait, do the poops just all stay there?" Robb stood up from his seat, oblivious to the shift of their conversation. His mind was still transfixed to the previous matter at hand. The young boy gazed upon the approaching gate as the wagon slowed down, "Like they all just go underground? Does the city just sit in mountains and mountains of poop?" Everybody else burst into laughter at his silly conclusion.
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Every soul who would enter the city of Soliton was heavily inspected and questioned. When it was Cassana and her group's turn, they were all pulled aside and interrogated one by one.
"What is your purpose in your stay in Soliton?" asked an officer to Cassana as she and Robb were invited into a big office by the gate along with the others.
"We're here to secure a passage to Ad-Nilem, we'll ride a ship on the harbor. Our... friend is sick and we need to bring him to The Tower," Cassana answered.
"Why The Tower?
"His ailment is... kinda... magical," Cassana said, suspiciously careful with her words.
"Where is this friend of yours?"
"He's at our wagon outside." Cassana glanced around, there were six other desks in the room, all serving the same purposes. On the one next to her, an old man and a middle-aged woman were being questioned by another clerk. She found Lira and Ashvell sitting on the third desk on her other side.
"This... sickness, is this something contagious?" The clerk was a young man who only looked a few years older than Cassana. He flipped through sheets of paper and alternately wrote down notes with his quill.
"No, no, it’s not, I got it under control. I'm a wizard actually."
The officer shot a look of surprise at what she said. "Do you mind if we look at your identification?"
"Sure, but wait, let me clarify, I’m not a wizard yet."
"I thought you said you were a wizard."
"Not yet. I still have to take the Ranking Exam, but I am currently on-leave from the Academy."
"Let me just warn you that the city has strict rules against renegade sorcerers..."
"I'm not a renegade."
"Can you bring out your Focusing Stone.?" The clerk raised his hand and called for his colleague from another desk.
"I don't have one. It was exhausted. So no, don't worry, I won't be doing magic in your city."
The other officer approached and they both talked out of Cassana's earshot. When they were done, he returned to the redhead while a second clerk stood behind her.
"How about you, boy, you have papers for travel?"
Robb nodded, doing exactly what Minos prepared him to do. He pulled out a piece of paper from his backpack and showed it to the officer. Back when they were at Mugendale, Minos managed to secure identification papers for Ashvell and Robb, knowing that these will be necessary for them to continue traveling.
The officer read and inspected Robb's papers, nodding accordingly. "Can I see the rest of your bag?" he asked Robb. "You too, ma'am," He pointed at Cassana.
They both lifted their bags and placed them on his desk. The officer took a one-foot long wooden stick and used it prod through their belongings.
"Excuse me, ma'am, would you mind showing us your mark?" The other clerk behind Cassana asked her, as he tapped her by the shoulder.
"Sure," she answered. The young wizard pulled her hair to the side and bared the back of her neck. The officer produced a small stone, and held it a few inches above her nape. As he flicked his fingers a small glowing rune appeared on Cassana's skin. It was her Wizard Mark, which was grafted onto her, and all the other Wizard students, during their first year in the Academy. This was all the identification she needed.
The officer pulled the stone away and nodded to the first officer. "Thank you." He thanked Cassana before stepping aside.
The desk officer was finished with their bags and started pulling out papers from under his drawer. He drafted them on the table, writing down notes, before stamping a wax seal bearing the emblem of the city.
"These will be your gate passes to the city. Marked here are the places you are allowed to visit during your stay. We will only allow you up to six days inside the city and you will have to surrender this paper on your way out, either through one of the gates or at the harbor. If you fail to surrender the paper after six days, the city guards will hunt you down with extreme prejudice, and you will face severe consequences. Are we clear?"
"Understood," answered Cassana, while Robb nodded. They both picked the papers being handed to them.
"Kindly escort my colleague here to your wagon, he will be the one inspecting your sick friend, alright?" He added as the two stood up from their seats.
"Of course."
"Welcome to Soliton." The officer concluded with a rehearsed smile.
As Cassana was walking out, she noticed two officers rushing into the room, moving through each of the clerks behind the desks, discreetly passing a message to them one by one. After exiting the premises, she and Robb lead the second clerk to where they parked their wagon. He climbed up and did his routine as the two waited on the side.
The two could see the stone gate they passed from where they were standing, as well as the long line of visitors waiting for their turn to enter. The sun was quickly setting and the shadow that the buildings cast on the cobblestones were getting longer and darker.
Several mounted guards burst through the streets behind them, Cassana and Robb turned around and watched some of them enter the building they just exited from. Others ran to the gate and passed a message to the other guards manning it. One of the guards motioned for the queued people to stop and told them to step back away from the gate while the other disappeared behind an entrance.
A few moments later, Robb heard the heavy clanking of metal gears as the gate's massive iron portcullis started descending down from above. The crowd's murmuring grew louder and the people on both sides started asking for explanations as to what was happening. A few of those from the outside attempted to jump the crossing but the guards pointed their spears toward them and shouted orders for them to step away from the closing gate.
The portcullis finished its slow descent and locked itself in place. As the guards moved back to their positions, the people left outside stepped forward and pressed their bodies against the thick iron bars, asking for the guards and shouting their pleas as to why they should be let in.
Meanwhile, a sharp sound of a bell rang through the crowd and another rider appeared on their side, this one not dressed in armor. As soon as the attention of the crowd focused on him, he put the bell away and pulled out a scroll from his jacket.
"Hear 'ye, hear 'ye!" the herald began, in the loudest voice he could muster, "let all be known that beginning this day, our great leader Burgrave Reiner Durchdenwald is placing the Free-City of Soliton under martial law. Henceforth, every denizen is requested to return to their homes and remain there to await additional pronouncements. All the establishments are hereby ordered to close by sundown, and on every succeeding sundown hereafter.
"No individual, denizen or alien, will be allowed to loiter in the streets during the dark. Moreover, the gates will be closed and no soul will be allowed in or out of the city. The Burgrave requests every citizen's cooperation as we face this period of uncertainty together. Any person to be found in violation of these provisional rules shall be arrested on sight and will be imprisoned and punished with no promise of trial.
“Signed on this day, the thirty-second of Markelus, 765th Year of the March, and approved by the High Assembly, under guidance of the Church of Soteira; witnessed by the gods of the heavens above and beyond."
"What the-?"
Robb felt Cassana's hands squeeze his shoulder tight as she processed everything that the herald announced. The officer that was with them also appeared surprised, and he climbed down and hurried back to the building leaving no explanation behind. Robb and Cassana looked at each other with worried confusion.