Chapter 10 - Trip to the city 

Yue watched as her father loaded the wagon, her legs swinging over its edge. A week ago Yue found out her father was going to go to a nearby city to sell some wares as well as buy some merchandise. After finding out Yue started to beg her parents everyday to let her come, it took four days but Yue did succeed. Nik didn’t have the same luck. After finding out Yue was going he wanted to come too, but his parents wouldn’t allow it. Ink also wasn’t coming, Yue had gotten Nik to agree to look after him since Yue didn’t want to take the chance of someone taking interest in Ink in the city.

They were going to travel with a caravan that stopped the night in the village. Although her father was strong bodied as a blacksmith he would be no match against multiple bandits if they decided to attack. 

Heaving the last load into the wagon Brian smiled at his daughter. “Ready?”

Yue grinned wide and jumped down rushing to the driver’s bench. “Ready!”

Laughing at Yue’s excitement Brian climbed up next to her and took the reins. Clicking his tongue Brian gave the reins a slight whip of the wrist and the horse joined the rest of the caravan down the road. 

Originally Yue had been prepared for boredom and resorting to digging out a book to read. But to her surprise she ended up talking to her father most of the time. Ever since she was young Yue didn’t have much to say to her father. He was crafting most of the time when she was home leaving little conversation time. They talked at dinner and he explained what he was crafting when she had watched, but Yue never had a long conversation really. But on the road Yue and Brian talked, at first it was about school, training, and other daily activities. Then they talked about crafting although Brian still refused to allow her to actually start crafting till after the magic test at ten. As the conversation started to still, Brian started pointing out plants he recognized and what they could be used for. Before Yue knew it the caravan stopped and was set up for the night. 

The trip lasted five days, Yue spent the time learning from her father and reading some books that she borrowed from others in the caravan. There were a few wolf attacks however the caravan guards quickly and efficiently dealt with them. At the last day her father paid the caravan master the fee for traveling with the caravan.

Yue put her book away when she heard the crowds and looked up. Tall stone walls surrounded the city of Gallad. The caravan stopped at the end of a long line of people, wagons, and animals waiting to enter the city. Yue noticed that most of the caravan split off heading outward toward what looked like a large camp.

Brian saw where Yue was looking and explained, “That’s a camp that most travelers often use so that they don’t have to pay inn fees. We hopefully will find another caravan that will leave later today toward home but if not the caravan master offered us to camp near them for the night.”

Yue nodded and then examined the line of people in front of them. There were poor families, rich in carriages, merchants, men and woman in armor or robes, and children running about. Slowly the line moved and before long boredom led Yue to pick up her book again.

Reaching the front of the line Yue watched as a solider came up to them. His eyes were half closed as he raised his hand to hide a yawn.

“Welcome to Gallad, what have you come here for?” The solider asked.

“I am here to buy and sell wares then hopefully leave with a caravan after.” Brian said.

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“Alright just sign your names here and be on your way.” The solider hands Brian a sheet with hundreds of other names listed on it.

After signing Brian and Yue entered the city. Yue winced slightly at the roars of the crowds of people as they slowly made their way though the city. It slightly hurt Yue’s pride since ‘Sarah’ was from a modern and much busier city, but after living in a quiet village for so long the sounds seemed deafening. The stall merchants were shouting out sales, people yelling to each other, children and messengers running around. Luckily Brian led them down a less busy street and before long stopped the wagon in front of a shop. From the sign of sword and shield Yue easily defused it was a weapon shop to sell her father’s works.

Jumping down from the wagon’s bench Yue followed her father inside. 

“Brian!” A big bear like man shouted out from behind the counter. 

His hair was a long messy brown with a beard to match. Thick muscles and six and a half feet tall it almost wasn’t even a surprise when Yue heard her father address him.

“Bear! How have you been? I got the weapons I promised.”Brian walked over and gave a firm handshake.

“Great, I’ll have my boys bring them in.” Bear turned his head toward the open doorway to the back of his shop and bellowed, “BOYS! Get Brian’s  merchandise in here!”

Yue quickly pressed her hands over her ears and moaned, he was louder then the crowds outside for pete’s sake. 

Bear heard the moan and noticed Yue for the first time. “And who is this little one?” Bear questioned knowingly and then scooped Yue up and twirled her around. 

Brian laughed at his daughter’s dizzy face and answered, “This is Yue, my daughter I’ve told you about.” 

Yue was finally set down and wobbled as she tried to regain focus, she valley heard her father and bear talk about the prices, family, then her father telling her he would be right back. When the room stopped spinning Yue noticed she was alone but could hear her father’s voice coming from the back of the shop.

Taking her time Yue examined the weapons on display. There weren't any fancy weapons, but rather each and everyone looked sturdy and battle ready. They ranged from staff, sword, to gauntlet or shield. Yue noticed that all the enchanted items were in display cases and nearby them was a note saying that if you are looking for something stronger to ask the shop keeper.  Yue was looking at a group of duel swords when her father came back with Bear and young man in his twenties. 

“Yue, I am going to catch up with Bear and his son Hiram offered to do the shopping for me. Do you want to stay here or go out with Hiram?”

Yue didn’t have to think much about it. What was the point of coming to the city if all she did was stay in one shop? “I want to go shopping!”

Brian showed a slight smile showing he already knew Yue’s answer and replied before leaving with Bear, “Don’t stray from Hiram or go off with strangers. Here’s some money if you want to buy anything.”

Yue looked up at Hiram as she followed him out. Unlike his dad he was clean shaven and quiet. He had his brown hair cut short and seemed disinterested in her. A sword was at his side and like his father had large muscles. If Yue had to describe him she would say he looked more like a solider than the ones at the gate.