Elijah remembered something as he went to pick up his mace and coiled his minions around his arms again. He arrived at the cart and jumped on, taking his place next to Junip who was already holding the reigns and was ready to set off.
He put his hand on Junip’s shoulder as he looked him in the eyes and said, “Thank you for not turning me in.”
Chapter Begin
Three hours later they arrived at Ravenholm. One of the feyls had been shot in the leg and despite the healing potion Junip had poured over the wound, the feyl needed some time before it was able to use the leg as usual. Apart from the feyl’s hesitation to put weight on the freshly healed leg, they also moved at a slower pace because both Elijah and Junip kept a constant look at their surroundings to avoid another ambush.
Junip had told him that the bandits weren’t bandits but part of a slave trading organization called the Eternal Cycle. The tattoo of two overlapping black cycles Elijah had spotted on their wrists was the symbol of the group. According to Junip, they have numerous people working for them and probably tried to sell Elijah because of his wooden body. Elijah didn’t know what someone would want with a wooden humanoid but there were surely some crazy people with peculiar interests.
The fact that slaves existed surprised Elijah at first but after some consideration, it was to be expected. Certain types of slavery still existed even back on Earth and there would always be some shitheads who would try to force innocents or weaker people to do as they say. This only added another reason for Elijah to get stronger. He had no clean record himself and had stolen a few things or beaten up people here and there, but the thought of slavery made even him sick.
“We’re here,” Junip said with a sigh as they both looked at Ravenholm. Similar to Whisperwind, the city was surrounded by a wall. While the wall around Whisperwind stood at around fifteen feet in height, the one in front of them was almost twice as high and built of dark reddish material. What kind of material is this? Elijah thought as his eyes wandered over the wall before they landed on the gate Junip led their cart toward.
The merchant saw Elijah’s questioning look before he pointed at the wall and explained, “Bordeaux is the color of the Eternal Flame guild. I like the color.”
“Looks better than Whisperwind’s walls,” Elijah answered with a nod. The Eternal Flame guild was a Tier 6 guild with their leader being Tier 7. Mark had told him about the guild but Junip provided more information and even had a friend at Tier 3 who was a member of the guild.
True to the information Junip had provided him with, Elijah spotted members of the guild acting as city guards as soon as they were close enough to make out the guards patrolling on and in front of the walls. The leader of their guild, Lord Candle, was also the mayor of Ravenholm and turned the whole city into his guild’s territory. Elijah wondered how something like that was even allowed and had asked Junip about the matter. Apparently, Lord Candle had negotiated some deal with Lord Malakar, the Duke Aric had spoken about a few days prior, who turned a blind eye to the matter.
Alex is a good friend of this Lord Candle, even though he has such a deal with Lord Malakar. Elijah knew that one shouldn’t form an image of a person based on such facts but still decided to keep this information in mind.
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The duo waited forty minutes in the queue. Elijah spent the first five minutes looking at the guards who wore red, sturdy cargo pants and bronze-colored tight turtlenecks with leather armor covering parts of their legs and torso. The symbol of a burning flame was depicted on the back and both arms and all guards carried a spear with a flame-shaped spearhead. After another ten minutes, the idea to practice his manipulation skills came to Elijah’s mind and he started to try carving various animals on his skin. They reminded him of the drawings of a child.
Junip was acquaintanced with a few of the guards and talked with one of them whose name was Gary. After a quick check of the wagon and their identities, Elijah and Junip entered Ravenholm.
“Do you know a good inn?” Elijah asked as he took in the city. Narrow streets wound their way into the deeper parts of Ravenholm and all kinds of people were bustling about, going about their daily activities.
Junip led their carriage along the wall to a huge square that was packed with other merchants as he answered, “There is an inn called Gorgeous Lady.” Elijah snorted as the merchant continued. “The owner is anything but gorgeous.”
They both laughed, drawing the looks of a group of men they passed by before Junip added, “He should give you a discount if you tell him that you’re a friend of mine.”
“Thanks, Junip. I’ll help you unload before we part ways. Let's share IDs.” Elijah tapped against his Nexus Watch as he offered to stay in contact. The two got along very well and Elijah felt that he got along better with Junip after only four hours than with the other three with whom he had spent days.
Junip agreed and after arriving at his destination, Elijah helped him unload his crates before he put three hundred credits in the merchant’s hand. “We agreed on 100 credits, I won’t take more,” he furrowed his brows as he protested.
Elijah took a step back and pushed Junip’s hand away as he answered, “Take it, I would like to give you more but I need the rest to buy a slot.” I hope the rest of my credits are enough to afford a slot. I still have to pay for a room in the inn and food for the next few days.
“I can’t accept this,” Junip said. “You need these credits more than me.” He took a step forward and tried to convince Elijah of taking back two hundred credits but Elijah only shook his head. Eventually, Junip let out a sigh and gave up. “You’re too stubborn.”
Elijah only chuckled as he extended his hand. “Thank you for everything. We’ll keep in touch.”
Junip smiled as he shook Elijah’s hand and answered, “With pleasure. Take care.”
The way to the inn was short. Mid-way Elijah asked a stranger for the way who laughed at the Gorgeous Lady Inn’s name before he gave him directions. The inn was anything but gorgeous. It looked like a convenient inn located near the gate they had entered through and Elijah had the feeling that the inn acted as a cheap place for merchants to spend the night before they left for another city the next day. It was the perfect place for him and the rundown place even reminded him of their gang’s restaurant he had worked in on Earth.
A man in his forties stood behind the counter and eyed him as Elijah approached. Elijah wore the same outfit as yesterday and didn’t look like the usual customers of the Gorgeous Lady with his black pants and a white, short-sleeved shirt. The man raised an eyebrow at his newest customer who looked like a youth living in town rather than a merchant staying only for a night or two.
“Junip recommended me this place,” Elijah said as he saw the man’s expression.
Hearing Junip’s name, the man raised both eyebrows before he nodded in understanding. “Ahh, you need a cheap room?” He smiled at Elijah as he spread his arms. “There’s no better and cheaper place in this whole city than the Gorgeous Lady!”
While Elijah doubted that, he was delighted. The place was cheap, indeed. He only paid thirty credits for a night and booked a room for the next few days. A meal only cost him five credits so Elijah added two daily meals for the next four days, spending two hundred in total for his accommodation. He had paid thrice as much for his room in Whisperwind.
After a surprisingly delicious meal, Elijah asked the owner about the rift and learned that it was inside the Eternal Flames guild’s headquarters. He would go there after a quick shower.