“Are we there yet?” Narisse whined.

“Narisse, please have some patience.” Mrs. Midgley said impatiently. “We’ve only just started today.”

“Are we close?” Roskva hazarded to ask.

“About another hour and you’ll see the spires of the castle.” Mr. Midgley said. Roskva leaned forward to search the horizon for any type of construction cresting the hills. She had to wear a blanket over her shoulders to keep warm in the early morning. They’d left the second inn almost before the sun rose. Hurrying to arrive in time to peruse the markets and see some part of the pre-coronation celebrations.

“What’s the city like?” Roskva asked. “Is it big?”

“Huge! You have to stay in a group or you’ll get really lost.” Narisse said sternly.

“Are there lots of stalls?”

“Hundreds! Thousands! Selling everything you could ever possibly imagine! And several things you never could!” Mrs. Midgley said excitedly.

“And people? Lots of different types?”

“The city is a hub for travelers from all over. You never know who you’ll meet or where they’re from.” Mr. Midgley said grandly. Roskva took a deep breath in awe.

“Ooh! I can’t wait!” Roskva squirmed in her seat, imagining what kind of jewel of the kingdom they were going to find.

“Me either!” Narisse squealed, equally excited. “When I get big, I’m going to live in the city!” Her parents shared an uneasy stare but looked back at the road.

“What about you?” Narisse asked.

“Me?” Roskva asked.

“Yeah, are you going to move now that you’re big?” The girl asked.

“Narisse!” Mrs. Midgley hissed and turned around to glare at her daughter.

“No, it’s okay.” Roskva laughed awkwardly. “It’s only natural to be curious.” She laughed a few more times and thought through the question.

“I guess I’m not really sure. I don’t know what Aneira would do without me.” She said finally.

“Oh yeah, maybe you two should move together then!” Narisse said excitedly. “I wish I had a sibling. It must be really fun. Sleepovers every night!”

“Yeah. It is.” Roskva forced a smile. “But I can’t imagine how fun it is to be an only child! Always having your parents to yourself, lucky!”

“Yeah, I guess that’s true…” Narisse said thoughtfully. Roskva smiled and turned to look at the road as the cart reached the top of the hill. She gasped in amazement.

“There it is!” She pointed to the tall towers of the beautiful castle that seemed to reach the skies.

“There it is.” Mr. Midgley said with a small nod. “Ain’t she a peach?” Roskva laughed and stood up to look down into the valley. The kingdom’s main city rested in a peaceful little valley surrounded by hills and mountains. A little river found its way through the mountain valleys to reach the docks of the eastern side of the city. From the hilltop, Roskva could see the river led to a glittering lake, just between the emerald hills.

As the cart traveled down the hill, Roskva could see the city sprawling and taking up every inch of the valley. Shining with promise as the light of the sun crept to make every window of the castle glitter.

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“It’s wonderful!” Roskva leaned over the driver’s seat to try and see better.

“I know right!?” Narisse stood up and leaned with her.

“All right you two, sit down before you fall out.” Mr. Midgley said and Roskva sat though Narisse leaned farther.

“Can we be there yet?” Narisse asked excitedly. “Can we go faster?”

“No, now sit down. This is steep.” Mrs. Midgley said sternly. Narisse finally sat down with a huff.

“What’s that at the bottom of the hill?” Roskva asked, pointing at the little cluster of people and buildings.

“Customs. We identify ourselves and what we have and our business for being here.” Mr. Midgley said. “It won’t take long.” Roskva wiggled in her seat as the cart approached the line for the customs building. Finally reaching the customs where the officials stepped forward and looked into the cart.

“Names?” Asked the official holding a clipboard and pen. “Cadoc, Daniela, and Narisse Midgley. As well as Roskva Marwol.” Roskva waved excitedly.

“It’s my birthday!” Roskva squealed excitedly.

“Congratulations, young lady.” the official nodded at her with a smile. Marking down the names. “What’s your relation to this family?”

“They’re our friends and neighbors.” Roskva said. “I’ve turned eighteen and now I get to see the city!”

“I see. I guess that answers my next question.” The official laughed, marking down the answer on his paper. “Well, enjoy your first trip in Tyrsande!” The official waved at the gates and the doors opened for them. Roskva could hardly sit still as the gates opened and she got her first glimpse of the city.

Everything she saw shone brightly. Every wall held vines with well cared for flowers. Every window had boxes full of plants of every kind. These outer neighborhoods held the loud and the smelly professions. Leather tanneries and blacksmiths, the smell was sharp and made Roskva laugh at how awful it was.

“It smells!” Narisse whined, covering her nose.

“It’s so offensive!” Roskva laughed so hard she teared up. Her laughter rang out among the rhythm of the neighborhood. With her voice over top it almost sounded like music. The noise of the neighborhood slowed as the cart drew to a slow and parked into a boarding stable.

“Everyone out.” Mr. Midgley called,

“Hooray!” Roskva called and leapt out of the cart. “What do we do now?” She asked. Looking everywhere and trying to see everything all at once.

“We have to visit the inn and get our rooms, as well as drop off our things in the rooms.” Mrs. Midgley said, grabbing a bag. “Everyone grab something.” Roskva ran and grabs all the bags in the cart and hoisted them all on to her shoulders.

“All right! Let’s go!” Roskva said. Shrugging the bags more comfortably.

“Can you carry all that?” Mr. Midgley asked, surprised.

“Think so,” Roskva said with a forced smile. Struggling under the weight but too excited to be stopped. The family and Roskva made their way through the streets to the tall and busy inn. Where people came and went in a buzz of noise and laughter. Roskva got only more excited as she walked around. The people paused to stare with a wondering eye at her carrying all the luggage into the inn. Dropping it all at the front desk.

“Sorry!” She said quickly.

“We’ll all help carry things from this point.” Mrs. Midgley said gently. Mr. Midgley went to the desk and checked them in. Getting two rooms, one for the family and one for Roskva.

Roskva took her modest bag to her room and looked around it curiously. She’d never been in an inn before. She looked at the empty dresser and looked back at her bag curiously. Wondering if she was supposed to put her clothes in the dresser or if she was supposed to ignore the dresser entirely.

In the end she decided to ignore it, after taking a moment to make sure her hair was brushed right and her clothes were smoothed out. She ran to the Midgley’s room and knocked on it.

“Yes? Who is it?” Narisse asked from the other side of the door.

“Roskva! When are we going out!” Roskva asked excitedly.

“Mum and dad are taking a little nap, so I can’t go anywhere right now.” Narisse whined.

“That’s all right, you guys can catch up!” Roskva said. “If all else fails, I’ll meet you back here at the end of the day!” She skipped out of the inn. Standing on the doorstep and breathing in the busy city air.

Everything was moving, the city had a pulse that drove people around in a set pattern. At the very center of it all was the marketplace, the beating heart of the city. Streets were filled and every inch was cluttered with shops and stands. The smells of food of every kind filled the air and drew Roskva in every direction. In the end she found herself standing in dumbstruck awe of the marketplace.

Not noticing in the noise that there came a sound of a horn playing. Nor did she hear the sound of the horse’s hooves. She didn’t notice the people around her clearing out of the way. Leaving her alone in the middle of the street.