1

The long two day walk to Verant City was mainly an uneventful one. About a day’s walk north of Golden Meadows, the Verant River Road started to bustle with people walking or on horseback. There were dozens of carts laden with good for the marketplace for even mile of the road. Verant City was the nexus of the empire. ‘All roads lead to Verant’ was more than just a saying, it was the literal truth. Verant was not just the physical centre of the empire, but it was also the centre of political life and culture. Markets, money, engineering and knowledge, this was the foundation of the Verant Empire. Verant City stood as the cornerstone that held it all up.

There was a special emotion that welled up inside of the companions as the traveled the well-groomed road northward. They were Verantian after all. They were going to see the capital for the very first time in their lives, second for Selby and Tram who lived there for a few months during the Mob Rule period of the civil war. Some citizens called that special feeling, pride. Others felt it was patriotism, but either way the feelings came from the gut. It lifted their spirits to new heights, while giving them a sense of renewed purpose in life and a solid faith in the Empire. The city was founded a thousand years ago and despite being sacked, by the Plain Elves twenty years ago and placed under Mob Rule only a year ago, not much had changed.

By the end of the first day, they had reached the Old War Line. It was the old border that separated the original two kingdoms hundreds of years before Dev-Ka was conquered and the empire became unified. A large carved granite block marked the boundary line.

Rith approached the stone, placing his hand upon it as if he was meditating. His voice sounded distance, coming from a place of deep thought. “This is it. We cross this boundary and we leave Militar Territory. I don’t know if we will ever be back.”

Elwin came up beside him placing a hand on his shoulder. “This is an important moment for all of us,” he said turning to the others. “We leave Militar, the only province we have ever lived in and adventure into the unknown.”

Anna stepped to the other side of the marked stone. Symbolically, she took a deep breath. She was awash with excitement. “Yes! It definitely smells like adventure!”

“Enough with the ceremony, let’s continue,” Selby shook his head with amusement.

Passing the marker stone, they left their old world, their families and fears behind. They stepped boldly into a whole new world. They took their first steps into the original Verant kingdom.

2

On the second day of travel, they began to get a giddy feeling of anticipation mixed with the impatience of youth. They would be at the gates of Verant by the end of that afternoon. The surrounding scenery was changing rapidly. This whole expedition, they had seen nothing but fields, forests, swamps and mountain ranges well into the distance. They had traveled over 500 miles, twenty full marches. It had taken almost three weeks by the Gaia Standardized Calendar. But aside from the odd town, they had only seen a scattering of villages and hamlets that had grown along the main roads. They were simple places that mainly catered to travelers and soldiers. Now the landscape was dotted with large farms, multi-storied taverns and estate houses that grew closer together as they got closer to the imperial city.

Ten miles from the city gates, they entered what the locals call Greater Verant. There was even a sign on the side of the road to mark it. The surrounding area had been built up over hundreds of years, adding to the sprawl. The imperial road was now a broad avenue lined with building. Various cross streets spread out in both directions. There were entire ‘shanty towns’ of tattered canvass tents and makeshift houses that people built out of anything they could find. Even the Verant army had small camps in this part of town. Verant City itself was walled twice over, yet still it was not large enough to accommodate everyone who wanted to live here. It was a lot easier and cheaper to buy or rent land outside the city.

It was believed that more than half a million people lived in Verant City, but it was impossible to know. Too many people were coming or going everyday to be sure. Besides only a third of them live inside the walls. Even then you had to be rich to afford that luxury. Of course, the richest and most powerful ruling families all had large estate homes in the famous Imperial Gardens Quarter. In fact, no one could say that their family was a ruling one without a Verantian estate home in the Imperial Gardens Quarter.

As they traveled closer to the city, the traffic grew heavier. Dozens of carts and riders filled the main street. Even at over thirty feet wide and paved with cobble stones, it was slow moving. The companions were overwhelmed by the sights and sounds. They had never seen so many people in one place before. Hundreds of people from all over the world filled the streets. They saw races they did not even recognize. They saw humans with different coloured skin, people of every class in society mixed in the street. They could hear strange accents and even odder languages. They were stunned by it all. If they did not see it with their own eyes, they would not have believed such things were even possible.

3

Without even realizing it, Anna had gotten close to Elwin, gripping his cloak tightly. It was a weird mix of exhilaration and fear. Unconsciously, they had all pulled tightly together. No one wanted to get lost in such a strange and unknown place.

“By the Gods!” Anna muttered to herself. Her mouth was agape. She pointed to a group of slaves, chained together and led by a slaver. She had heard of slaves, but had never seen one. Slavery was an accepted part of Verantian society, but slaves were expensive, both to buy and maintain. There were laws that stated that a master must provide food, clothing and shelter to his slaves or they could be taken away from him. Anna’s home village of Lola Hills had been a poor place. No one owned slaves there. Most people would never consider the possibility. Despite the legality of slavery, there were still some who opposed the notion entirely. Anna was one of those people, the whole idea of slavery was abhorrent to her.

They saw other strange sights as they continued to move with the flow of the crowd. People with tattoos on their bodies, piercing all over their ears, nose and face, but none of them knew what such things could mean. They saw armed guards and soldiers dressed in full scale armour riding on horseback.

Rith claimed he saw a wizard, but no one else seemed to have seen him. In the story books they were always old with a bushy grey beard, maybe a long flowing robe and a staff.

There was an excitement filling the air. The afternoon was dragging on as they continued towards the gates. In the distance they could see one of the aqueducts that came up from the south into the city. Gone were the shanty towns of tents, now large old log and field stone buildings dominated both sides of the road. Businesses selling wares, more taverns and inns, brothels and blacksmiths all filled the scenery.

The general mood on the street was one of relief mixed with reckless celebration. Seven long years of civil war had ended in a new emperor and a new way of thinking. Verant was once again united under this new ruler who, after executing the leaders who opposed him, granted amnesty to anyone else who had followed them. This generous and diplomatic gesture had not gone unnoticed, it put many people at ease. More importantly, it meant that a bloody purge would not follow the war. The people of Verant were once again happy, optimistic and in a genuinely good disposition. The city reflected that new attitude.

4

Out of the crowd, Emerson was suddenly approached by an incredibly beautiful woman. She put her long thin arms around his neck, pulling him close. Her long red hair waved in the breeze. She wore make-up and ruby red lip stick. She smelled of sweet cheap perfume.

“Well, hello there stud!” She said with an airy feminine voice.

Emerson was shocked. He had no idea what was going on or how he should react to her. He just stood there dumbfounded. Back home women were never this bold. Make up was rare, if a woman even had any, it was for important events.

Selby searched the crowd wondering if they were being set up by thieves and pickpockets. He watched the woman’s hands closely.

The woman looked to a building on their right. Upon the balcony stood two other women. They waved down to them. They wore pink pastel silk robes that flapped in the wind revealing much of their legs. “Why don’t you come in and join us? For ten gold, you can do whatever you want with me.”

An entire week’s wage for a normal labourer! Now Emerson understood. A big smile crossed his face. These women were prostitutes, they were looking for business.

One of the women called down to him. The companions looked up at her. Suddenly she opened to top of her robe exposing her naked flesh. Large milky white breast hung out briefly before being covered back up. With a laugh she winked at them, signalling for the men to come up and join them.

Anna stood, mouth agape. Her face went red with embarrassment. Flustered she said to Elwin. “I don’t like this! Let’s keep moving. These women have no shame!”

Emerson looked Elwin in the eye pleading.

Elwin shook his head no.

“Come on! We have been on the road for weeks! How can you say no to them?” Emerson complained.

“We want to make the main gate before nightfall!” Elwin reminded him.

“Please Elwin, just give me an hour!” He begged.

As if on cue the woman looked at Elwin with pouting lips. “Yeah, Elwin! Just one little hour! The gates will still be there. They never close,” She blew him a kiss for good measure.

Elwin shuttered inside. She even mimicked Emerson way of pronounced Elwin’s name foregoing her own Verantian accent, similar to Levka’s accent. Man, these women are good and they move fast, he thought.

“Let go,” Anna said. The anger beneath her voice was seething.

“Sorry,” Elwin said to Emerson. He continued to shake his head.

Emerson looked the woman up and down one last time. “I’m sorry. Perhaps another time?”

She nodded, kissing him on the cheek. “You know where to find me,” She whispered in his ear. She nodded towards the building. The sign above the door read, The Gilded Pixie.

She let go of Emerson and disappeared into the crowd as quickly as she had appeared.

“Why do you have to rain on our parade?” Emerson said to Anna once they had moved up the street a little way.

Anna grabbed him by the cloak sleeve. She scolded him. “They are whores Emerson! They’ve already moved on to the next man. They don’t care about anyone! Certainly not you!”

“So, what!” Emerson replied shrugging off her grip.

Elwin knew his friend well enough. Emerson did not see what the big deal was of course. The whole incident was harmless. These women may have been immoral in Anna’s eyes, but under Verantian law they had done nothing illegal.

They continued to walk along the road, but Anna was upset and did not want to let it go. “Did you see the girl on the balcony! That was disgusting! Women should not act like that. That is not right,” Anna said. She held herself tight.

Elwin watched the conversation bemused. Anna was raised the traditional way. Women did not act that way where they came from. Back home they were proper and loyal. Morals dictated that showing flesh like that was not right. Sex was for married people in the privacy of their bedroom. It was not even discussed in polite company. Civilized people did not talk of such things. Yet plenty of people disregarded such beliefs. Verant society was teetering on the edge of change. Traditions were sliding and being replaced with new freedoms. The closer they got to the city the more apparent it became.

“People need to make a living, even whores. Who are you to be so judgemental?” Emerson questioned her.

Elwin knew it was easy to pass judgement on someone else, but was it right? He wondered. After all, Emerson could be judgemental himself. Still in this case he believed people had the right to earn a living as best they could, even if it was a little on the immoral side. It’s not like they were murdering or stealing. Selling sex was not illegal in the Empire of Verant, Emerson firmly believed that what they were doing was not wrong and Elwin found himself agreeing with him.

Elwin thought it funny that Anna was furious. He figured she was mad because Emerson may have had a good point. She did not say anything further, but he noticed her smouldering like coals of a fire in silence.

“No more fighting! The gates are only a mile or so away. Let’s just get inside and find an inn. Then you can argue to your heart’s content!” Selby berated them all, just for fun.

“I heard that the emperor has three wives,” Rith commented. It was a rumour that had been circulating.

Elwin glared at him. “Rith, what did Selby just say? Not you too.”

“What?” He protested. “That’s what I heard!”

“Can we just drop the subject, alright?” Elwin demanded.

He could hear Emerson laughing.

“I thought you were on my side!” Anna murmured to Rith under her breath.

5

They continued in silence for a little while, but soon they could see both the walls and the massive archway of the southern gate. As line ups began to form for entry to the gate, the street was lined with people trying to convince citizens to join their cause. On one side a priest stood high above the crowd on a platform before a podium. He preached to the captive audience waiting for entrance.

“Repent your sins! The Fire Lord accepts all who come to him willing! Come to the Grand Temple of the Fire Lord and pray! Touch the black granite and ye shall be cleansed and purified!” As the short speech continued for a few more lines before coming to an end, he paused and then began repeating it over again.

From the other side was a soldier dressed in full plate armour. His helmet was tucked under one arm while he held his sword in the other. He encouraged people to join the army. He droned on about pride in your Empire or some such nonsense, but the companions tried not to pay attention to either of them.

From behind, they could hear a sudden disturbance. Someone was not happy about the size of the line up.

“Come on people, clear the way! Can’t you see, I’m an important citizen!” The group turned to see what was going on. There was a middle-aged man being carried in a covered platform. Four slaves held up the platform that had been covered with pure white gossamer. They could only see the shape moving around inside, but his head was stuck out the side seeing why they could not proceed any faster. He was a fat man with a balding head crowned with short white hair. He shook his head with dissatisfaction, muttering to the nearest slave about how ignorant people were these days.

None of them had ever seen someone being carried like this before, but they had heard a tale or two around the campfire. It was called a litter, but it was nothing more than two long poles that were used to do the carrying. On top was a wooden platform with sides that came up about a foot. It was large enough for a person to recline on a pile of cushions comfortably. Then a frame was over head supporting all the gossamer that obscured the view, so it was hard to tell exactly who was inside. Only the rich could afford to travel in such style.

“Make way!” A slave yelled to the crowd. “House of Nord-De-Alize coming through!”

People in the crowd muttered under their breath, but slowly they began to part. Even the companions stepped aside, letting them pass. The five friends were strangers here. They did not understand all the customs, but the wealthy were of a high class that commanded respect. Everyone else gave way so they followed suit.

Elwin commented that they should just do what everyone else does for the time being. If the crowd moves, they move. Selby added that Elwin was giving good advice. Verant city could be an unwieldy place sometimes. If you do not understand what was happening, it was better to just go along.

A short time later, as the crowd was processed into the city, they got close to the walls. They were massive, standing nearly forty feet high. The entire outer wall was made of field stone and cement. They had heard that it was nearly ten feet thick, holding secret passageway within.

Elwin marvelled at them thinking that it seemed impossible for the Plain Elves to have over run them twenty years ago. It was a different time back then, a time before any of the companions were even born. The walls looked old, like they had sprouted out of the very ground itself they had been there so long.

Elwin was in awe as he looked up at the massive archway. The gate itself was even higher than the walls, towering another ten feet above them and stood over twenty feet wide. Made from poured cement, it had been carved with the skills that only a master mason could possess. Statues of fierce warriors atop horses, charged frozen in time, rested on top of the arch. Below the statues, carved in bold letters were the words ‘Pax Verantica’, a very famous phrase in the Empire from the original tribe dialect. It roughly translated to the Verantian way. What the phrase really meant was that no matter where a Verantians went in the world, they should keep their homeland close to their heart. On the pillars, which were ornately carved, was the initials V.F.L.F. which stood for Verant First Last Forever. Elwin knew this meant that the Empire was always strongest when its citizens believed in it. The words echoed in Elwin’s mind. This place was more than just bricks, stone and cement. This was a holy city founded by the Fire Lord himself who came to the tribes in the olden days as a mortal man to impart knowledge upon them.

Elwin only had an average education. He could read and write well enough, but religion was not of much importance in his household. His mother and father valued hard work above all else, religion not as much. But now he felt almost as if he was having a religious experience. He knew a little about the Fire Lord, but now he yearned to know more. He longed to see the famous Tomb of the Fire Lord.

He snapped out of his daydream when they were almost in the gates. The gatehouse was one of the largest they had ever seen. It had several rooms and a hallway that lead to the streets inside the walls. There were dozens of armoured guards with sword strapped over the chain mail shirts. They looked suspiciously at everyone that passed by. The six friends huddled close together, almost holding each other.

6

Eventually they reached the front of the line where they were confronted by a government official sitting at a small wooden desk. He had several more guards standing behind as well as flanking him. The official was a middle-aged man with greying hair. He wore thick glasses. He also wore a medallion bearing the symbol of the imperial family, a rider holding up a trident on Griffin back, same as the symbol on Emerson’s cloak.

Elwin stepped forward. “My companions and I wish to enter the City of Verant.” He was not sure what he should say, but he had heard someone ahead of them say something to that effect.

“Have you been here before?” The official asked him.

“No, none of us have.”

“Okay, enter is pretty simple. You can carry your weapons in, but they are to always remain sheath in public except where permitted. All pistols, muskets, and crossbows must be registered here before entry. Do you have any of those weapons?”

“None, only swords,” He pointed to Anna. “She has a short bow.”

“Short bows are fine, but same rule as the swords, no use in public. Understood?”

The party nodded.

“Good. Now I have a few questions to ask you and a quick document to fill out, assuming you can read and write. And a fee to be paid. Then you may enter,” The official said. He had a playing card sized stack of paper in front of him. A feather with an ink well stood next to it. “Alright, now do you have Yellow Fever, Red Speckle or Black Buboes?”

He had listed a series of diseases. Elwin told him no. None of them had.

“Good,” The man said. “Have you now or have you ever had the Crimson Death or the current plague?”

Two more illness. The plague had killed three of Elwin’s and Rith’s family members, but they had never contracted the disease themselves. Neither had anyone else in their group.

“Good,” The official continued. “Just fill out your name, occupation, place of birth, age, and answer any other questions printed on the card. Once they had done that the only thing left was the entrance fee, one gold coin per person.

Selby stepped forward and filled out the card. Afterwards, they paid the fee and left the building entering the streets of Verant City.

7

And that was it. They were inside the walls of the city. They found themselves standing on the edge of a large plaza that was flank by tall buildings. In front of them, two streets split off in a V design. It was an incredible sight for a group of farmers. A large wooden sign proclaimed this to be the Merchant Quarter.

People around them continued to pour in and out of the gates. They looked around noticing labour recruiters scattered about the plaza looking for help with construction projects throughout the city. However, construction did not interest a group of adventures such as they were. They walked around looking for post signs, anything that could tell them how to find important places. They had no map of Verant City, a place that measured almost eight miles east to west and six miles north to south it was a gigantic place to wander around lost.

Elwin felt very intimidated and out of place.

“Oi! Aye mates! You citizens in need of a guide?” A young boy shouted at the group. He wore a brown hooded cloak which was pulled up partly covering his filthy face.

“Who are you boy?” Emerson spoke up.

“Simon is the name, friends!” The boy flashed a sheepish smile. “I’m a tour guide! I know the city better than the back of my own hand, I do! I’ve lived here all my life and I can take you anywhere you want to go!”

“A bed would be nice,” Rith half joked.

“Oi! No problem my lord! I can take you to any number of inns nearby,” the boy said with all seriousness.

“How much?” Emerson demanded.

“A mere five gold coins my good sirs!”

Elwin tittered, wondering if there was a form of address the boy had not used yet.

“Five gold!” Emerson exclaimed. “Are you mad child! He means to rob us Elwin, let’s go!”

“Alright, alright! I can see you’re a shrewd person indeed! I’ll take you to the Grand Bazaar for two gold coins. There are dozens of taverns and inns surrounding the plaza. You’ll have plenty of choice!” The boy insisted. He pulled down his hood to show he had nothing to hide.

Elwin figure he could not be more than ten years old.

“Alright Simon,” Elwin said, but he insisted. “We pay when we get there.”

“Whatever you say sirs and madam! I’m at your service!” Simon made a sweeping bow.

The boy took them up the street that led off to the northwest. He explained that they had entered from the southwest gates. There were five gates entering the outer wall and four that enter Old Verant Quarter. They walked along massive flagstone streets. Some were so large a horse could stand with all four feet on the same stone. Elwin found himself fascinated by the engineering. Or was it just Magic? He thought. Either way it was impressive.

As they went along, Simon chattered away in his strong Verant accent. “This part of the city is the Merchant Quarter, of course. Not much here, but warehouses and workshops. This is where goods are either produced or stored.”

They walked along a street that went east. It seemed to Elwin that it was up hill the entire way. After about half a mile they came to a massive cement bridge, larger that anything they had ever seen before. It scared Elwin a little bit and he took a tentative step onto it.

The boy laughed. “It’s alright my lord. The bridge has been here for a hundred year. It’s safe and all. I assure you! I cross it myself every day I do!” As if to prove it, he ran across, stumping him feet to emphasis his point.

From the other side of the bridge, they had an incredible view. They were at a high point in the capital which looked down on some parts of the city. In the distance they could see one of the Wizard’s Towers. It pierced the sky like a shard of glass, standing several hundred feet over everything else. In front of it that could see the southern aqueduct arch over the city wall, ending at the reservoir next to the tower. To the northeast they could see the Imperial Palace. It sat up high dominating the core of old Verant. Elwin figured it to be about two miles away. The river drifted underneath the bridge. The banks were fifty-foot cliffs with the bridge arching another ten feet higher. This allowed even tall ships to pass below without losing the crows nest. The bridge bore the name ‘Emperor’s Skyway South’.

Elwin asked Simon if that meant there was another similar bridge to the north.

“Of course!” The boy said as they continued. They walked beside the Old Verant wall, Simon kept talking about the history of the city. “The north bridge is where the army made there stand against the Plain Elves and held them off. The Merchant Quarter was never captured by them. Neither was the Wizard Quarter. The Elves never captured either of the towers! There’s a lot of magic in this place! Oi!”

They walked for a mile before coming to the entrance to Old Verant City, the core of the city. There was not security check point here. They simple walked in. Within a few hundred yards the street broke left and right.

Simon told them that it did not matter which direction they took, both streets went to the marketplace. It was the same distance either way.

Before them was the imposing stature of the Imperial Palace grounds. They stood at the southern end, where the royal stables were kept.

As they walked along the one side of the palace, Simon explained that the pyramid-like steps that lead up to it were over a hundred feet in height. It was purely man-made containing various servant’s quarters and the kitchens deep within. The white gleaming marble palace sat on the plateau at the top. It formed the shape of a T with two separate wings. The palace itself was at least four stories high, the roof covered in red clay tiles. It dominated Old Verant as it was the tallest building in the area. The wizard’s Tower was slightly taller, but it stood in Verant Proper the area between the inner and outer walls.

The entire palace complex was itself walled for protection, with gates at several points surrounding it. Atop each gate was a marble statue of one of the past Emperors, usually riding a horse charging into battle.

“That’s where Xander the Second lives?” Rith said marvelling at both it’s size and beauty.

“Yes, my Lord,” Simon replied. “He’s not in the palace at the moment though. A month ago, he went to Palantine to claim the family estates down there. He’ll be back in another month or so we hear. But that fine, since there is a council that run the day-to-day operations of the empire, so he doesn’t always need to be here.”

The companions had trouble taking it all in or focusing on anything in particular. There was simply too much to see and they had only just arrived. It was already past late afternoon and getting into early evening. They were all exhausted.

They told Simon to skip the tour. Just get them to the Grand Bazaar.

At the north end of the palace were the gardens with a large reflecting pool in the center. The street ended in massive hexagonal plaza over a hundred yards in diameter. The fenced gardens formed the south side while the Grand Bazaar formed the north. Four streets spread out in the other directions. The center of the plaza was dominated by a large fountain. The group had already noted several fountains at crossroads and plazas as they made their way to this part of the city.

Simon had explained that a series of underground pipes brought fresh water to all parts of the city. Another feat of engineering that left Elwin in awe.

“This is the Grand Imperial Square and it’s the physical heart of the city. The Grand Bazaar is that massive laneway right there,” Simon pointed to it. Indeed, it was gigantic marketplace, busy even at this time of the evening. Down the center was a row of booths where everything the companions could ever imagine was being sold. White pillars supported a red tiles roof that was at least two stories high, protected the booths from the sun and bad weather. The Bazaar was flanked by very tall buildings which were almost exclusively shops, taverns and inns. “From here you should be able to get anything you might possibly want. Most places close at sundown which will be very soon. However, that’s when the taverns do their best business. Every night is like a festival here! If you want to rent a room, suggest you move quickly before they are all taken.”

Elwin thanked Simon for his help, paying him the required two gold coins. Simon thanked them before quickly melted into the crowd.

8

Emerson said he’d pay for the inn room regardless of cost. The money he took from the dead warrior a few nights before was burning a hole in his pocket. He felt it was best to spent it on the party since he had more money than anyone else at the moment. Anna complained of only having a few silver coins left, Elwin and Rith both had less than ten gold coins to their name. Even Emerson’s money would not last very long in Verant.

Of course, then there was Selby and Tram.

“Are you sure you don’t want to join us?” Elwin asked Tram. We work well together. We could all make a small fortune adventuring.”

Tram shook his head. “No, I’m afraid this is where I have to part ways. I’m off to talk to Levka’s family. And then I must go back home. It’s been great working with all of you and I wish you the best of luck in the future, but I need to chart my own way. I need to go back home.”

Selby gave him a big hug, a letter and place to return letters to Selby. Tram said his farewells to ever one else and departed.

“Ah, who knows,” Selby said to them. We may cross paths again some day. It’s a big world, isn’t?”

“And what about you?” Elwin asked him. “We are four, but five is like some sort of magic number for a group of companions. Are you with us?”

Selby thought about it for a moment. It was cheeky and he liked that. He liked Elwin and his friends. But was that it? “I need time to think about it,” he said. “I have some things I need to do around the city. I’m going to stay here near the Grand Bazaar. I’ll probably be at the Lion and the Gladiator Inn. Perhaps we could all go out to the Crassidio one night?”

“What’s the Crassidio?” Anna asked.

“The best tavern in the entire city,” Selby replied. “Trust me I think you people would like it. It’s at the north end of the Grand Bazaar.”

They thanked Selby for his help on their journey to Verant City. Before he left them Selby said. “Oh, by the way, if you’re looking for good food, I highly recommend Vexin’s Café. And Emerson, if you’re looking for some other form entertainment then, I recommend The Royal Velvet! Although it might be out of your price range, the women are well worth it!”

9

The four friends only had each other as they gawked about in a strange city. Eventually they found a decent and reasonably priced inn. In Verant City, everything seemed so lavish. The standards were much higher than they were used to seeing. Even places that were considered cheap and lower class were better than any inn they had ever stayed in.

Despite the fact that Emerson was paying, he let Anna pick the place they would stay at as a gesture of good will. He even offered to pay for two rooms so she could have some privacy. Anna was grateful and this seemed to smooth things over after the argument over the prostitutes. Eventually Anna settled upon a tall three-story wooden tavern called The Griffin’s Tail. It appeared to be newer that some of the other buildings around it. They reasoned that it had probably been restored in the last few years.

They all agreed that the inn was very nice. By the door inside was a human size statue of a griffin carved with great detail out of solid red oak. The rooms cost two gold coins a night, double what it would have cost anywhere else in Militar province, but that evening’s dinner was included in the price. The innkeeper said that chicken was on the menu, a rare treat these days. The companions had not been served chicken since they had been at aunt Thessa’s farm. Out in the vast wilderness of the Verant Empire, hardy stews and mutton was the norm. The city was a lot different from the countryside.

Begrudgingly, Emerson paid the sum for two rooms that were directly across from each other. Anna, as promised, had her own room with a comfortable bed while the three boys stayed across the hall in a room with two beds. A cot was brought up, so no one had to sleep on the hardwood floor. Elwin volunteered to take the cot the first night. His concern over Rith’s experience with the druid had not subsided.

Elwin knew that tomorrow would be a big day for them all. They would have all day to wander the city streets looking for work and maybe some additional training. He hoped to find the guilds nearby.