“I would be calm if you went to the city with us.”
Yurion hit the ground with his hoof, his face distorted by a grimace. Rage consumed him, making his blood boil and his fists clench. He did not want to be alone and, he did not want to go to the city with us. The centaur’s dissatisfaction was visible to the naked eye; I didn’t have to ask the fluffy to translate his gestures. I tried my best to calm him down.
” Yurion, if you do not want to go with me to the city, then stay here, in this dense forest planting.”
Neither my calm voice nor friendly claps on his mighty rump calmed the centaur. His powerful muscles tensed as if preparing to leap, and his fiery mane moved in the wind like the flames of a roiling fire. The centaur’s eyes flashed with anger, and his breathing became heavy and uneven as if thunderclaps were approaching our small group.
The tension in the air grew as if the charged energy in the air was ready to tear everything around apart. Yurion stood there, in all his might and fury, as a symbol of the strength and savagery of the wild, refusing to obey my request. He towered over us, his chest heaving, and his eyes sparkling with hostility. Powerful hooves stomped on the ground, creating a menacing rhythm. His powerful human half expressed irritation, and his horse half shook his tail. He let out a deep and dissatisfied sigh as if the entire world did not live up to his expectations.
“Yurion, I understand you are angry with everyone, and above all, with me. I cannot return you to your human appearance. You must understand the importance of this task for both of us. We cannot afford to doubt or hesitate. Difficulties and dangers await us on this journey, but I know that you can overcome them with me. Returning to your human form depends on the success of this trip to the blacksmith Maleus. You must be with me, support me, and help me overcome all the obstacles in our path. Dissatisfaction only makes it more difficult for us to return to normal life, to human existence. Remember, Yurion, that you are more than just a centaur. You are my friend, my ally, and my strength in this arduous journey. Let us overcome all the obstacles that arise before us, and we will achieve our goal. You have to pass this test. So far, you, Yurik, and you, Lyon, are doing a good job. Calm down and behave yourself. These forest depths are tranquil. You don’t need to worry. Stay here, enjoy this moment. We will meet again when we return from the city. Give yourself a rest, enjoy this nature, and gain strength and patience. It is not by my free will that I am here and traveling with you. A coincidence of circumstances brought us together as one team, and we must be united until the end of our difficult journey.”
During my passionate speech, the fluffy yawned several times demonstratively. Little hooligan! My words had the desired effect on the centaur. He calmed down and, through Tuch, assured me that he would be waiting for our return. Then he turned around sharply, showing us his horse’s butt, and noisily rushed away.
Fluffy grinned funny and pretended to walk with a confident gait towards a huge settlement, called a city in this world. After taking a few steps, he turned around and climbed up my pant leg onto my back.
Compared to the village of Yellow Roofs, the city had numerous houses and occupied a larger area.
We were approaching the city, and each step we took increased the size of the houses, giving them clearer outlines. I walked on dry grass that crunched under my feet. Fluffy was hiding behind my back, nestled comfortably in the hood of my cape. The grass crunched loudly and broke. Rain was a rare guest in these places. This continued until we reached the road leading straight into the city. It was straight and very dusty, due to the many feet of people and animals that became our traveling companions. Nobody paid attention to me. Obviously, for numerous caravans, one person did not pose a threat.
A trade fair was planned in the city, as in Yellow Roofs. The dust raised by the feet of the heavy bulls dried out my nose, I wanted to sneeze all the time. Many bulls were pulling the carts, they walked in an endless line.
I already had some idea of the goods sold at fairs, so I focused all my attention on the city buildings. There was nothing unusual about them. I have seen many foundries with molders filling casting molds with a mixture of dry sand and clay. Near each workshop, fuel stones — coal — were piled up in black heaps.Fluffy. [https://i.imgur.com/w19Erlg.jpeg]
It seemed to me that only miners lived in the city. Coal was everywhere. In baskets, in carts, just lying on the pavement. Every street was scattered with heaps of coal. Pottery workshops, which made ceramic dishes, also utilized coal. It was not in vain that the merchant took up this business, only this time his caravan did not reach the city.
I walked along ancient pavements, paved with rough stone, which had lost its shape under the influence of time and the continuous movement of crowds of inhabitants and merchants. All around me rose houses of wood and stone, with thatched roofs packed together to protect from the wind and rain. On the streets of the city, there were trading shops and workshops where blacksmiths, potters, and weavers worked on creating their products.
A market where merchants offered their goods in many tiny stalls: leather bags, pottery, weapons, and jewelry made of copper and bronze occupied the center of the city. In the distance, on the edge of the city, a castle rose, dominating the entire settlement with its massive walls and towers, a symbol of power and protection.
I looked at the castle with interest. Who rules the city: man or servus? No matter who he is, he still obeys the dragon. As the headman of the village of Yellow Roofs. Perhaps the ruler has more power and more opportunities. Although, he interests me the least now. I need someone who can show me the way to Maleus. Perhaps I can meet him at a fair or in some local pub. Here in the city, some people are not averse to drinking an intoxicating drink. But it’s morning, many people are working, and anyone I require is spending time in the pub.
Fluffy whispered something, I couldn’t hear him well.
“Repeat what you just said, louder.”
“Girlfriends are here.”
“What girlfriends, Tuch? We are looking for a guide. Wait! Are you saying that Dionela is in the city?”
Fluffy, instead of answering me, jumped onto the pavement and ran down the street. After a moment, I lost sight of him. I was stunned. My friend abandoned me in difficult times when his help was so needed.
“What will I do in the city without an interpreter? And where did he run off to?” — these thoughts did not give me rest. I stopped, blocking the passage of people hurrying about their business. The stream of people split into two parts, skirting me. At some point, I had to come to life and clear the roadway, allowing the heavy black bulls — Tuftons — to pull their load.
As a small troop of servus passed me, I felt the tension in the air become thick, like a heavy haze. Their unfavorable glances and conversations in an incomprehensible language hinted at something unpleasant. They did not hide their contempt for my clothes, appreciating every detail. The captain of the squad, distinguished by his arrogant posture, approached me like a spider, ready to. Bite at any moment. His eyes sparkled with hostility, and the smirk on his lips was filled with challenge.
“What are you doing here, stranger?” — he asked with proud contempt in his voice as if he was going to challenge me to a fight. His voice resembled the creaking of a rusty wheel, high and shrill, it grated on the ears.
I tried to remain calm, although a hurricane was raging inside me. I wanted to throw up my hand and shout:
“Ignis!”
So that the fire from my hand will burn these insolent people. But I understood that a fight on a street filled with passers-by merchants and buyers was not the best option. After all, I did not know the total number of servus walking along the streets of the city. It might turn out that there are many more disgusting creatures around the corner than I could have imagined.
“I’m just a passer-by,” I answered calmly, “and I have no intention of joining your game. Do you know Mr. Trot? I’m his friend.”
Hearing the name “Trot” the Servus retreated. The captain of the Servus detachment, hearing the name of the military leader, shuddered. His face suddenly changed expression. There was a flash of bewilderment and even alarm in his eyes.
“Trot…” he said as if remembering something from the past. Suddenly, as if by magic, the arrogance, and defiance in his eyes disappeared, replaced by a kind of fear and indecision. The servus, previously aggressive, began to move uncertainly as if contemplating their actions.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
The name of the military leader was well known to this detachment. The fame of his cruelty and ruthlessness leaked even to these remote corners. The Servus heard stories about his cruel deeds and ruthless actions, about his ability to mercilessly kill his opponents. He spared neither people nor his fellow tribesmen. Thus, knowing that Trot was one of them, but at the same time despite it, instilled in the Servus a certain fear and determination not to confront him, realizing that he posed a serious threat even to his fellow kin.
The Servuses did not think about how a person could become Trot’s friend. They simply retreated, cowardly, with their tails between their legs.
Getting to the fairgrounds was easy. You just had to follow the heavy bulls for a while. After walking a hundred steps, they stopped, finding themselves among a dozen of their brothers.
Arriving at the city fair, I felt like a traveler immersed in a sea of hustle and bustle. Human voices merged, creating a roar like the roar of the ocean, where one couldn’t distinguish individual sounds. Only isolated fragments penetrated this sound barrier — the shouts of traders, the negotiations of clients, and the buzzing of insects in the surrounding shops.
My intentions were pure and straightforward: I only needed a guide, but in this overwhelming ocean of popular opinions and bustling merchants, I felt lost and unsure of where to find one. Wandering through the shopping aisles, I felt like a stranger, lost among the variety of objects and conversations, finding nothing that would arouse my interest.
The trade fair seemed to me an enormous labyrinth of possibilities, but I was in it like a lost traveler, lost among a sea of shopping arcades, looking for a way out of this bustle. Despite the absence of city walls, the city was lively and noisy, full of everyday activity and movement. Here, among the narrow alleys and dusty alleys, I felt the pulse of life, where every stone and every house had its history and meaning.
Arriving at the city fair, I felt like a visitor to a flea market, where everything seems familiar, but has its special value. In this sea of bargaining and bustle, I was as if lost among treasures, lost in a sea of objects and conversations, in search of something that could attract my attention.
The aisles reminded me of the shelves of a flea market, where every item, be it an antique book or a dusty rug, could become a prize for someone who was looking for that particular relic. However, amidst all the variety, I directed my attention solely to one item — the dress that I had promised Ulie. It seemed to me the only meaning in this sea of hustle and bustle, the only anchor in the turbulent flow of trading opportunities.
Buying a dress turned out to be simple — just a few copper coins and the new dress was mine. Surprisingly, it was cheaper than many of the things I bought in Yellow Gables Village. Joy welled up inside me as I held this dark green dress in my hands. It seemed to me the perfect choice for Ulia — its shade and style would highlight her natural beauty and grace.
With each step towards the ideal, the fair became a more balanced and peaceful place, as if the magical power of the dress had already begun its work, penetrating through its fabric and spreading throughout the city.
Walking past the shops, a piece of jewelry, an elegant brooch with an emerald heart, caught my attention. Her brilliance and beauty seemed to beckon to me, like a mysterious lure. The embellished emerald brooch I chose seemed like it was made for this dress. Its shine added sophistication and elegance to the dress, like the finishing touch in the paintings of great masters. I involuntarily stopped, looking at her with enthusiasm, and suddenly realized that I wanted to eat.
Various aromas of food floated in the air, filling the streets with the city fair. Fresh tortillas, freshly baked and hot, exuded the aroma of warmth and comfort. The smell of meat soup boiling in large cauldrons made my stomach growl with hunger. You could also smell the aroma of fresh fruits and spices, awakening your appetite and bringing a pleasant feeling of satisfaction.
I was already fed up with fried meat, and my choice settled on a cauldron with aromatic soup. A red-faced, smiling woman gave me a generous portion of soup in a clay pot. The addition was a wooden spoon and fresh, soft flatbread. I needed a place to sit for lunch.
As I enjoyed the aromatic soup that seemed prepared, I thanked the red-faced woman for her kindness. The pleasant warmth of the soup spread through my body, filling me with a comforting feeling. I found a free and comfortable place to sit down and enjoy this magnificent lunch.
Sitting down on an old but cozy bench at the edge of the fair, I grabbed the pot of soup in my hands, feeling a pleasant warmth, and ate slowly. With every sip, I felt the strength return to me, warming me up from the inside. The flatbread, soft and flavorful, was the perfect accompaniment to the warm soup. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the fair, I enjoyed a moment of calm and tranquility, immersed in a magical world of tastes and aromas.
After the third spoon, my little furry friend, Touche, perched on my shoulder and whispered that his life was in danger and I should drop everything and follow where he pointed. He snatched a piece of flatbread from my hands. My little pet is a glutton. He ran away from me as soon as I entered the city, and now he showed up.
It was nice to feel the warmth of my faithful friend, Touche, on my shoulder, even if it meant an unexpected interruption to my lunch. His appearance always made me smile, but now he brought with him something unsettling.
I realized that something serious was happening as I listened to his anxious whisper, and I understood that his life could indeed be in danger. I couldn’t help but smile when he snatched a piece of flatbread from my hands. My little friend always seemed to be ready for a treat.
Regretting that I had to interrupt lunch, I decided not to let anyone hurt my little friend. As long as he is with me, no one can harm him. I understood that the solution to his problems lay on my shoulders, and I was ready to take this responsibility upon myself.
After I finished the last sip of the delicious soup and thanked the cook for her efforts, we headed to where my friend showed. It saddened me that I couldn’t bring such a magnificent soup with me on the road.
We reached the slave market after passing rows of pottery and places where livestock and fish were sold. My heart sank with anger and regret when I realized what a world we live in, where people trade living beings as goods.
Thanks to Tush’s tips, I found myself near a wooden cage where his little comrades, the furry Ursi tribe, were sitting. Among them were several funny, furry creatures, their small eyes looking at me with curiosity. The cute and confused fluffies had scared and lost expressions on their faces.
Realizing that these were female beings, I realized that Touche’s words, “girlfriends are here,” made sense. These little creatures were friends of my faithful companion, and he wanted me to help them.
As I approached the cage, I smiled at the girls and tried to calm them down with gentle words. All I had to do was hand over a few large copper coins. The merchant of live goods did not understand why I needed translators in large numbers when just one was enough.
When I freed the furry creatures from captivity, the joy of the little furry creatures was genuine and contagious. They jumped around me and squealed with happiness, attracting the attention of other shoppers to us. My new little friends, so gentle and loving, instantly clung to me, like little teddy bears come to life.
Feeling uneasy about my lack of familiarity with these creatures, I was amazed at the furry creatures’ selfless devotion and joy. They hugged my legs with their little paws as if they were afraid that I would change my mind and demand my money back.
Their voices were like the singing of little children — gentle, innocent, and full of wonderful magic. I felt love for these little creatures growing in my heart, and I was willing to do anything to protect my new pets.
I looked at my pet and scolded him in a stern voice:
“You ran away without telling me where you were going. Is this what real friends do? If you had explained to me what kind of girlfriends you were talking about, I wouldn’t have wasted my time. Don’t do that again, please.”
“Sorry! I lost my head when I heard the call coming from these little Ursi. It seemed to me that you were not interested in the freedom of these cute girls.”
Instead of answering, I spanked Touche’s little ass.
My heart sank with guilt as I scolded my pet Tusha for his disappearance. There could have been so many opportunities to free my faithful friend’s tribesmen if only he had shared the information with me sooner. Torn by feelings of remorse and bewilderment, I heard my name called several times — Oris.