Chapter 26:Among Strangers
Selene walked a few steps behind Peter as they made their way through the town, heading toward the tavern the guard—who had introduced himself as Thomas—had mentioned.
Leaving the gate behind, they continued south along one of the city's main streets. A small crowd moved along the road, each person going their own way. Few paid them any attention—and if they did, it was only briefly.
Selene carefully observed the local buildings and infrastructure. The houses were built from wooden logs and had steep thatched roofs, very similar to those found in medieval Europe.
The main street was paved with flat stones and shallow channels, designed to make cart transport easier—like the one she'd seen pass through the gate. Numerous narrow paths branched off the main road, often made of packed earth.
Sometimes there were wooden planks laid down, allowing people to walk the paths without stepping into the mud during rain. At the ends of some of these lanes, she could see small gardens behind homes, enclosed by fences made from long sticks tied together with some sort of organic rope.
Selene was charmed by the town's atmosphere. She was particularly fond of the window frames, painted with white chalk. She also noticed that the farther they moved from the gate, the better the buildings looked and the tidier the area became.
It's as if the closer you are to the center, the more people can afford nicer homes, Selene thought briefly.
After a moment, she spotted a strange-looking building on one side of the street. It stood out from the others because it had no front wall or door facing the road—instead, it had a covered awning and piles of metal objects. There was also something resembling a cart depot, where wagons could load and unload without blocking traffic.
More people were gathered there than anywhere else so far. Several of them were speaking with someone who looked like a merchant—possibly the building's owner—but Selene couldn't hear what they were saying, as Peter didn't slow down for even a moment. They soon passed the odd structure.
All Selene could conclude was that the place was likely a local blacksmith's forge, judging by the amount of metal around and the building's structure. Recalling the image, she remembered that it was the only building with a clay-tiled roof instead of straw, and that it had several barrels nearby—most likely filled with water for putting out fires.
Those details only confirmed Selene's assumption that the building had been a smithy. But something else quickly stole her attention.
Up ahead, she saw the first multi-story buildings. The first was a long rectangular structure, which also had a cart depot. Unlike the one by the forge, however, this one was larger and featured a long wagon that looked as if it was designed to carry people.
There was also a small shelter with a roof, where those strange creatures that pulled all the wagons she'd seen so far were resting.
A chill ran down her spine at the sight, and she focused instead on the next tall building within view.
It was quite far away, and only visible because, in addition to a ground floor, it had two upper stories and an attached tower that rose two more levels. Both the building and the tower were made of stone and roofed with clay tiles. The structure looked important—its windows were evenly spaced in neat rows, and the tower looked like the seat of a ruler, adorned with reliefs and ornate decorations.
If someone had asked Selene what the building was, she would have guessed it housed the town council—or something similar. However, she didn't get the chance to take a closer look, as Peter turned right, toward the third building with an upper floor.
Above the door hung a shabby sign with the word "Tavern." Several tables with benches had been set up along the roadside, and a few men sat at them, watching Selene and Peter closely. They looked drunk, which raised the question of how they'd even gotten alcohol in a place like this.
One of the men gave Selene a lewd grin and waved at her suggestively, while another leaned in to whisper something in his ear.
Selene shuddered, but before she could do anything, Peter gave the man a look of clear disgust, grabbed her by the wrist, and led her inside. She had to duck under the low doorframe to avoid hitting her head. As she passed through, she caught sight of a strange symbol carved into the wood—something like a circle filled with what might have been animal shapes.
As soon as she stepped inside, her nose was assaulted by the thick smell of smoke, strong spices, and the sweat of many people who clearly hadn't bathed in days. It was oppressively hot and humid. She stayed close to Peter, unable to see much in the darkness, trusting that he could, thanks to his Aspect.
Though he had never explained the details of how his Aspect worked, it was somehow connected to enhanced vision—at least, according to what he'd said. When they reached the counter, her eyes finally began adjusting, and she was able to take in the tavern's interior.
While Peter spoke in a low voice with the barkeep, Selene took the opportunity to look around. Against one wall stood a stone fireplace with a fire burning and something roasting over it.
The chimney didn't seem to be doing its job very well—smoke filled the entire room. Near the hearth stood the largest table, surrounded by the largest group of people.
By the firelight, they were playing dice and laughing at something. The rest of the room was similarly arranged—wooden beams supported the ceiling, and tables were spread out at regular intervals.
Including the barkeep and themselves, there were about twelve people in total. Half sat at the largest table, while the rest occupied smaller ones, quietly eating and talking among themselves.
Selene turned her attention to the conversation near her, as the barkeep stepped into a room behind a door—probably the kitchen—and returned a moment later with an older man.
The man glanced briefly at them and seemed to assume Peter was the one in charge. In a rough, clearly irritated voice, he said:
"You looking for a room for the night?"
Peter responded in a neutral tone.
"Yes. Thomas Whitlock from the guard sent us. He said we'd find shelter here."
The innkeeper scratched his beard and, after thinking for a moment, replied:
"So, you're just another pair of poor souls who ended up here trying to figure out what's going on? If that's the case, you've come to the right place. I'll give you a room for one night. If you want to stay longer, you'll have to pay—or work in the kitchen."
His tone was firm, clearly not open to negotiation. Peter bowed his head in thanks and began to ask:
"Thank you. Is there—"
But the innkeeper cut him off.
"The rooms are upstairs. Yours is facing the street. Quiet hours start at sundown. You can keep candles lit for as long as you want, but don't use them all up or you'll be charged. The bath's out back—but fair warning, the water's cold as hell. The stairs are through that door on the right. Anything else?"
He pointed to the door furthest from the hearth. Peter nodded quickly.
"Thank you for your hospitality. If you'll excuse us, we'll head to our room now."
The innkeeper merely waved them off, grabbed a rag from under the counter, and walked toward the kitchen, leaving only the barkeep behind. At that, Peter headed for the door. Selene followed as he opened it and began climbing the stairs. She glanced back over her shoulder.
At one of the tables sat three men, dressed like laborers. One of them was watching her intently. When he realized she'd noticed, he gave her a filthy grin and turned away.
Selene shivered again and hurried after Peter up the stairs.