That morning our party is quickly reformed and we are heading towards the capital at good speed. According to Kamas, travelling at the standard pace puts the capital around two weeks away, but if we keep up a good, running pace for most of the day, we should reach them before we reach the capital.

Because Bern and Larn have a tougher time keeping up, not only in terms of stamina and speed, but also because Larn is injured, we split up and Kamas and I go ahead and for the next five days we travel quickly along the stone road. On the way, we often encounter people, who try to speak with us, but we ignore them and push on. I wonder if it's considered common sense to have a quick chat with whoever you encounter on the road.

Unfortunately, we don't encounter any thing that could be used to transport a prisoner, before we the reach the gates of Roxburg. The gate and walls of the city are massive. Compared to the wooden palisade surrounding Brahms, this city has massive stone walls, looking to be easily 30 feet in height.

Just before the capital, there are a lot of converging roads, causing there to actually be a lot of traffic, something I haven't really seen in this world. Tons of people, mostly with carts being pulled with them are leaving and entering the capital. There are two different checkpoints with guards to enter the city, and Kamas directs us to the empty one. The other has a semi-long queue, with tons of carts filled with stuff.

"This one here is for association members and nobility only" Kamas explains, as we approach. "The other checkpoint you are checked and tolled for any wares you bring through. Though, if you are a hunter and try to pass through with goods to sell, there will be hell to pay if you are discovered" Wait, so if nobility travels the road, they get a free pass on paying toll? Sounds hard to compete with.

We show our association tags to the guard. It is the first time I see Kamas' and to my surprise, he is only second rank. He pulls it out from his mane, which looks a little surreal. After receiving a nod from the guard, Kamas asks if there has been any suspicious carts lately, that got a free pass, but the guard refuses to answer. He seems to have an obvious disdain for Kamas, probably due to him being a Silvester.

"Not that much of a loss" Kamas says, "They probably didn't even use this entrance. There is one for nobility only, that leads directly into their district." That's not the case in Brahms, where you have to go through the city to reach the inner noble wall.

What do we do now? I go sullen, thinking we have lost our chance. If she has already been delivered to the noble. We had trouble with one talented person employed by the local lord. There's bound to be tons more of those in this city that's many times larger than Brahm. If I remember correctly, it is said that there were a hundred times more people in the capital, making it a population of one million.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

A large hand is upon my shoulder. "Cheer up, let's kill some time, there's a certain place we might be able to find help, and maybe even Bosir too". That's right, Bosir is here in the city. It seems impossible to just stumble upon him, especially since he is probably among the nobility.

And so we walk, Kamas shows me the marketplace. It is an incredibly large and bustling place, so much so that I have no idea just how many people are present here. Most of what seems to be sold is foodstuffs, but there are also a few places selling skins, horns, jewelry and other knick-knacks. According to Kamas, most permanent, crafted stuff are sold in stores, and the market is mostly for food.

I have a hard time enjoying anything, filled with anxiousness over the fate of Atna. I already severely regret my decision to participate in this nonsense. Atna and I could have just run away, if she liked me. I feel stupid for risking everyone's life just because I wanted there to be sports, to race like I did before.

Eventually, Kamas guides us to the hunter's association, or rather, one of them. They apparently have five separate buildings in the capital. Here we get some of the bad, cheap food that was also offered in Brahms, except it costs two red coins instead of single.

Kamas walks around and tries to gather some information in the vastly more busy branch, than the one at Brahms, while I sulk over the current situation. Eventually he comes back, considerable time have gone by.

"Come, they should open soon" Kamas pulls me along.

"Where are we going?"

"Someplace that deals in information. It's pretty expensive, but we have to do, what we have to do." He says while pulling a painful expression.

We go down various, curved alleyways with few intersections after that. Just like in Brahms, apart from the main roads, the layout of the city is incredibly confusing, but Kamas walks with a steady gait and no hesitation, so he probably knows where we are going.

We happen upon a door quite unlike any other I have seen. it is made of metal, and the house of stone, compared to the wood usually used in these buildings further away from the main road. Kamas immediately knocks upon it and a slit in the door opens.

"Member?" a sound comes from the door.

"No" Kamas replies, and holds out 5 blue coins.

The slit is closed, a few sounds of sliding and clicking are heard and the door opens. "Come in" says the same voice which asked us before we entered. It is revealed to belong to a Tarrun, and this individual is looking creepy, even more so than the usual member of the species.

The small, child-like body that bears an adult, bald face is normal, but this guy has a few nasty scars on his face, one running over his left eye, which has last all color and doesn't move like his right one. It gives me the creeps.