Ed and Ren reached Silt a short time after nightfall. Their journey had been delayed between their battle and taking breaks for Ren to recover. She swore to Ed that she was just bruised and would be fine.

They spotted Silt just before it started to get dark. A thin column of black smoke rose in the distance, pointing to some human settlement.

It was pure luck that it turned out to be the town they were looking for.

We got four honest answers from the drifters then, Ed thought. Making light of the situation just made him feel worse.

Most of the trek was due east but without any roads. Ren found it surprisingly difficult to stay oriented during the day. Ed had repeatedly corrected her direction since she refused to follow behind him.

He had quipped about her bad sense of direction, which she didn’t appreciate.

“I was raised with different, much more valuable skills than you,” she’d said dryly.

From a distance, Ed could already discern that Silt was different than any place he’d ever seen. It rose from the dusty plains like a monument, starkly contrasting the wild beauty surrounding it. A wide and well-traveled dirt road led directly to the front gates. It bustled with activity, dirty-looking men traveling to and from. Torches lined the street, placed at seemingly random spots. They flickered in the gloomy night, casting shadows over the raucousness surrounding them.

Most people shot Ed and Ren unpleasant glances as they passed by. Especially Ren, which she shrugged off. Ed figured she was used to standing out in public. Her shadow cut a massive figure across the bazaar as she passed by the torches, garnering surprised glances. Ed thought she was doing it on purpose.

A few beggars approached them, asking for coins or alcohol. Ed ignored them, but Ren shooed them away with a look of disgust.

Wagons loaded with ore hobbled along the path, cutting deep ruts into the ground with their wheels. Merchants had makeshift shops set up about the road, displaying random assortments of goods while accosting travelers. The air was filled with the sounds of loud conversations and yelling, clattering wagon wheels, and the hammering and metallic clanks of industry.

The scents of metal, sweat, and dirt hung heavy in the air, combining into a singular earthy and unpleasant smell.

Inside the walls, the town was littered with cheap, almost identical buildings. Living quarters for the workers, Ed assumed. But one building rose above the rest, cutting a sharp contrast to the efficient and soulless hovels around it. It was as tall as any building in Telmaris, sans the castle, and was meticulously constructed.

It reminded Ed of the vulgar wealth of the royals in Telmaris, but somehow darker. Four spires lined the square-shaped building, adorned with intricate dark stonework that seemed to absorb any sunlight. Grotesque sculptures of monsters lined the exterior of the buildings. It was beautiful in a sense but filled Ed with an ominous feeling.

It was garishness among austerity. Like Telmaris, the wealthy few sat in their gold-laden rooms, sustained by the blood and sweat of the many.

Ed looked away from the building and spat angrily on the ground. This looked like evil to him. No wonder Somnia’s influence was afoot.

Ren had a different reaction.

“Holy shit, look at that place!” she exclaimed with as much excitement as Ed had ever heard from her.

“It looks evil, Ren,” Ed said.

She looked at him like he had said something stupid.

“It looks like a palace. We should go there right away and meet with their king.”

“We should find somewhere to rest for the night,” Ed said. He hesitated before continuing. “And probably look for an apothecary.”

“I’m fine,” Ren said, without the usual bitterness.

“Tell me right now you could swing your scythe without doubling over from pain, and I’ll drop it.”

Ren didn’t respond; brow furrowed into a frustrated scowl.

“That’s what I thought,” Ed said, a little too smugly.

She punched him in the shoulder, causing him to wince.

She barely put any effort into that… Ed thought, rubbing his throbbing arm.

“Punching me doesn’t make me not right,” he said back at her.

Ren huffed and walked towards the massive front gate of the town. Ed followed, and the two entered the town of Silt together.

The town was bustling. The narrow and crowded streets made them feel busier than the big road outside. He let Ren take the lead this time. Her imposing figure cut an easy path through the crowds of people. If someone didn’t move, she would butt into them with her shoulder.

They walked for a time, navigating the snaking streets of the town. Men crowded around open bars, drinking and cheering in groups. Others were with their wives and children, going in and out of shops and eating food.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

It reminded Ed of the carnivals they used to throw in Telmaris.

A friendly-faced older woman smiled at him from outside a bakery. Ed smiled back and took the opportunity to ask a question.

“What’s with all of the celebration?” he said.

“Oh, it’s the Last Light Festival!” the woman said, her weathered face scrunched into a smile. “You’re not a miner then, I take it?”

“No, just visiting a friend,” Ed said, returning the woman’s warm smile. “Why do they call it the Last Light?”

“Well, it’s the last full day of sunlight before the men return to the mines for the season.” The lady scratched her chin. “Although, it does go on for three days. So, I guess that’s not technically true…”

“And which day is this?”

“This is the first day!” she replied.

“I see. Thank you for the information, ma’am!” Ed said, trying to be cordial. He bowed and immediately regretted it. He hoped she didn’t think he was mocking her.

Stop being so awkward.

The older woman blushed, calling out to Ed as he and Ren walked away.

“Make sure to try the Aurumglo ale!”

Ed and Ren sauntered about, both getting caught up in the festivities. Ed saw some kind of play that looked interesting. The small crowd watching was wracked with laughter. Ren was enticed by the drinking games the hardened men partook in.

“This doesn’t really seem like Somnia’s vibe,” Ren said as they watched two men race to chug down mugs of golden beer. The winner wiped a hefty dollop of foam from his grizzled beard, eliciting a cheer from the others seated by them.

“Hmm. She could be a drunk for all we know,” Ed argued.

Ren laughed. It was the first time Ed had heard her do so.

“Come on, let’s grab a drink,” Ren said, grabbing Ed’s arm and pulling him towards a bar counter.

“Shouldn’t we find someplace to rest for the night? Considering all that’s happened,” Ed said, trying and failing not to be pulled by her.

“We’re going to find somewhere to sleep whether we have a drink or not. Why not have a bit of fun first?”

Ed obliged. He much preferred beer to wine anyway. Memories from the dinner washed back into his mind. Thoughts of the wine he’d promised Lila he would drink. He shoved them away.

They found two open seats and sat down at the counter. Ren looked comically large on the tiny bar stool, towering over the bar’s patrons. Everyone there was aware of her, shooting side-eyed glances while conversing.

Ren pounded her fist into the table, summoning the bartender. He was a tiny man, short and well-dressed, unlike his slovenly clientele. He had a wide mustache, styled and greased into two pointed tips on either side.

“What’ll it be, miss?”

“A Telmarin red,” Ren ordered.

The man looked at her strangely.

“Can’t say I’ve ever heard of that one. Is that one of those frilly wines?”

Ren blushed. Ed wasn’t sure if she was embarrassed or frustrated. Probably both.

“Two Aurumglo ales,” Ed said, raising two fingers at the bartender.

The bartender smiled. “Now that I can do. Comin’ right up.”

He returned moments later, setting two hefty mugs of golden ale on the counter. He pulled two gold coins from his pocket, making a show of plunking them into the glasses.

“What the hell did you put in my drink?” Ren barked at him.

He shot Ed a confused glance. Ed shrugged at him.

“Uhh, it’s a gold coin. That’s what we do with the Aurumglo—”

“I’m supposed to drink a dirty coin?” Ren continued.

“Well, no. But it’s not real gold, obviously. Just some sugar candy. It dissolved in the drink. The wives make them in batches in preparation for the festival.”

“It’s fine, Ren. Let’s just drink,” Ed urged her.

He raised his glass, toasting the bartender. The man nodded at Ed and walked off, mumbling something under his breath.

“I bet you make a lot of friends acting like that,” Ed said, downing his first swig of the beer.

Ren glared at him, and he raised his glass to toast her in response. She reluctantly toasted him back.

Ed liked the beer. The sweetness was a nice touch, as far as he was concerned.

“This tastes like shit,” Ren said, sticking her tongue out and smacking her lips.

“It tastes like beer with a sugar cube dropped in it. What happened to enjoying ourselves?”

Ren kicked back her glass, downing the rest of her beer in a few seconds. Ed watched wide-eyed.

“How’s that for enjoying myself?”

Ed, suddenly feeling competitive, took a hefty chug of his beer. It wasn’t even half empty when he sat the glass down, and he felt like he would be sick.

Ren watched him, eyebrows raised.

“Is that it?”

“We didn’t drink much out in the desert. And Lila only liked wines, so we never went out like this,” Ed said.

Ren’s face soured at the mention of Lila.

“You honestly, truly had no idea what she was doing?” Ren asked quietly, her tone somber.

“No.”

Ren didn’t follow up on her question, which Ed appreciated.

He finished his beer silently while Ren ordered some other beer he’d never heard of. They finished up, and the bartender prompted them for payment.

“That’ll be seven silvers.”

Ed realized he had no money on him. He looked at Ren, desperately hoping to see her pulling out a coin purse.

She was making the same face back at him.

Shit.

The bartender had seen that look many times before.

“Are you going to pay for those drinks?” he said, raising his voice. A few men sitting around them stared.

“We, uhh. We were mugged on the way in,” Ren said, stumbling over her words. She hiccupped loudly.

Ed cringed.

“You were mugged? I find that hard to believe,” he said, eyeing Ren suspiciously. “And even if that wasn’t a lie, why the hell did you come to my bar and order beers with no money?”

More people were looking now.

“Wait here.”

The bartender stepped outside for a moment, waving at someone.

“God damn it,” Ren muttered.

A group of men entered the bar, wearing fine leather armor embroidered with a pickaxe symbol. There were four of them.

“What seems to be the problem?” one man asked. He had a well-trimmed beard and bright blue eyes. He had a slight grin that seemed like the default look on his face.

“These two can’t pay,” the bartender said, voice short, pointing at Ed and Ren.

Everyone in the bar was looking now. Some of the men were snickering quietly.

The blue-eyed man approached them.

“Is that so? What makes you think you can get away with not –”

He stopped mid-sentence as one of his companions tugged at his shoulder.

They exchanged hushed whispers while eyeing Ed and Ren as they talked. The bearded man’s grin disappeared.

He jostled a coin pouch from his pocket and tossed a few silvers to the bartender.

“Their drinks are on me tonight.”

He turned to Ed and Ren as the other three men surrounded them.

“You’re both coming with me. Don’t resist, or you’ll have to kill every man in this bar.” His jovial tone from being was rigid and stern now, almost soldier-like.

He man wasn’t some townsperson or miner.

An Enclave man? Ed thought.

Ren hadn’t moved the entire time. Ed couldn’t glean what she was thinking at all. He braced himself for a fight, expecting her to retaliate.

“Fine,” Ren said, standing up slowly. The lumie on her shoulder whimpered softly, looking at Ed with frightened eyes.

It’s alright, little guy.

They were escorted out of the bar, leaving the cheers and festivity behind.