In front of the gates of Truwenreuth there were about thirty to forty wagons as well as a considerable number of travelers on foot.
The travelers further ahead already looked as if they had been waiting for a long time. Children whined, horses pawed the ground impatiently and many people stood with slumped shoulders and slightly bent backs as if an invisible burden lay on them. Dissatisfied murmuring also hung in the air.
At the sight of the waiting people I was relieved that at least the weather was cooperating. It was quite cool and cloudy that day even though it was still summer. A hot day would have made the waiting nearly unbearable.
We joined the queue at the very end. Even though I knew that we would probably have to wait for quite a while my heart was already pounding in my throat. I wiped my sweaty palms on my already dirty trousers.
Then I spoke in a muted voice to a traveler who was wrapped in a dark brown cloak and carried a simple leather sack with her:
"Excuse me, is there a new inspection at the entrance that it is moving so slowly here?"
She nodded with a pale face while casting a quick glance to the left and right before she answered in an even quieter voice:
"Yes, have you not heard? Since… well… the upheaval you have to show a pass almost everywhere. Not only in larger towns anymore."
For a brief moment I could not breathe and my stomach almost turned while my back grew hot.
Instinctively I turned my head toward Marcy and Kiyan.
Apparently Marcy had not heard us because she was still staring into the crowd with a pale face and a tense posture.
Instead Kiyan's and my eyes met. For one heartbeat I held his gaze but his eyes did not reveal even remotely what was going on inside him. Since the eye contact with him made me uncomfortable I quickly looked away again.
The newly gained information explained quite a lot. But instead of answering some of the questions in my head it only multiplied them uncontrollably. Apart from that it also meant that our problems were greater than we had assumed.
The traveler in front of me had already turned forward again after our short conversation. However I spoke to her again in a whisper:
"I am very sorry to bother you once more. But what happens if you do not have a pass with you?"
"Then you do not get into the city" she explained to me.
I thanked the stranger and avoided looking at Marcy or Kiyan. Behind us more travelers had joined the queue by now. Among them was also a merchant's wagon.
Passes were not entirely unfamiliar to me since I had always needed them when I wanted to go to Grania but I had never had to deal with the case of how to get in without one.
While I chewed on my finger and tried hard to find a solution I suddenly heard Kiyan's very quiet voice next to me:
"Do you have a plan?"
Startled I jerked and almost bit my finger.
Then Marcy chimed in:
"What is going on?"
"Everything is fine. And yes I have an idea" I answered the two.
But my idea was not easy to carry out. I looked around the queue in front of and behind us. My gaze remained on a supposed merchant with his wagon. At least that is what I assumed since his cart was loaded with several barrels sacks and crates. Some people seemed to belong to him as they stayed close to him. In front of him were several riders who had dismounted from their horses as well as a smaller group that apparently traveled on foot.
"Be right back" I murmured in Kiyan's and Marcy's direction.
As I walked away I heard Kiyan hiss in a muted voice:
"Wait. What are you doing?"
Something seemed to brush against my cloak but I did not let myself be stopped and stepped next to the merchant. He sat slightly leaning forward on the bed of his wagon with the reins in his hands. The merchant had a slender build and an equally slender mustache rested on his upper lip.
When he noticed me he cast me a quick glance and asked grumpily:
"What do you want?"
"Sorry" I began speaking in a muted voice "we unfortunately do not have a pass. Would we be allowed to stand with you? In return we are happy to help you with the load or work off our debt in some oth—"
"Forget it" he interrupted me with a dismissive gesture "Find someone else for that."
I forced a tired smile and thanked him. Just as I was about to return to Marcy and Kiyan to look for someone else at a later time a man on the wagon behind called out:
"Wait!"
I slowly turned toward him. An unpleasant tingling ran down my neck and my shoulders tensed noticeably.
He was in his late thirties had dark skin and equally dark hair and wore a coarse vest over his linen shirt. On his wagon he had loaded some sacks. In contrast to the other merchant only a single woman with her horse seemed to travel with him and she looked very similar to him. From time to time she coughed.
Hesitantly I approached the wagon.
He leaned forward and asked very quietly:
"You need someone who has a pass?"
I flinched slightly. Had I not spoken quietly enough?
"Janosch what are you doing there?" the woman next to his wagon spoke up.
"I take your reaction as a yes" whispered the man who was apparently named Janosch with a smile.
I pressed my lips together before I carefully and making sure to speak quietly answered:
"Yes but we have no money."
"I figured as much. You look like you had a few tough days behind you. How about you help me unload the grain sacks in return? My sister has not been feeling well for a few days. A break would do her good."
Surprised I raised my brows.
His sister said with a disdainful snort:
"Hm it is not that bad."
In fact her skin was quite shiny as if she were sweating her nose was running and her eyes seemed reddened.
I hesitated. On the one hand this seemed a convenient opportunity on the other hand the possible illness the woman might have put me off. However it looked more like a flu or a simple cold to me. I was not sure if he was simply extremely helpful or desperate enough to make us this offer. There was of course a certain risk but how else would we get into the city?
So I replied:
"That is very kind. Does the offer also apply to my travel companions?"
"Of course. More helping hands certainly cannot hurt. But stay near the wagon" he said.
His sister however seemed dissatisfied with the situation because she noticeably contorted her narrow face.
I looked around for Kiyan and Marcy. A bit further ahead they were still standing at our old spot. Both were facing us. I waved them over but they hesitated.
So I walked over to them. As soon as I arrived Kiyan hissed at me in a whisper:
"What were you thinking?"
He looked extremely angry.
My heart almost jumped out of my chest. I had not expected so much displeasure.
Marcy looked between us with furrowed brows and asked:
"What is going on here?"
With slightly trembling hands and a muted voice I answered:
"The problem with the pass is solved. We can join the merchant back there but for that we have to help unload the cargo."
I pointed behind me.
"Okay that sounds reasonable does it not? I mean if even Nova does not have another plan…" Marcy replied and gave Kiyan a worried look.
Kiyan however pressed his lips together and remained silent. Reluctantly he came with us as we moved to the wagon of Janosch and his sister.
During the long waiting it turned out that the two were traveling merchants and that Janosch's sister was named Lia. We on the other hand introduced ourselves with false names. The whole time we stayed close together but were always careful to behave inconspicuously. Marcy clung to my cloak while Kiyan occasionally ground his teeth. But I would have to deal with that whether I liked it or not even though my discomfort kept growing.
Whenever the guards' gazes happened to fall on us I smiled politely or even greeted them.
When we reached the checkpoint at the city entrance the sun had already sunk considerably lower. The first orange and reddish colors adorned the sky and the air grew cooler. The city gate consisted of an archway with thick walls. At the very top an iron portcullis was installed its spikes hovering threateningly above us. Right at the entrance stood a roughly built table which the captain and the scribe used to process the papers of the people. Behind them several sacks and crates were piled up.
Aside from the other guards who were positioned around the entrance two Veylan soldiers stood to the side of the gate. They were equipped with halberds and let their gazes sweep over the crowd.
Lia suffered a coughing fit which made the guards and the scribe twist their faces in disgust. Even the guard made sure to keep enough distance.
Kiyan, Marcy, Lia, and I stood at the back of the wagon while Janosch explained that we were working for him.
"It is all right you do not have to be afraid" I heard Kiyan whisper to Marcy behind me.
Lia was standing a little in front of me at the moment so she took no notice of his words.
Not a single sound came from Marcy. Worried I turned my head toward them. She pulled her cloak tighter around herself and clenched her fingers in its fabric. I heard her breathing irregularly but she smiled at me when our gazes met.
Even Kiyan looked tense though he tried to hide it as best he could.
"Papers" demanded the broad shouldered guard with the pronounced chin. Janosch climbed down from the wagon and handed over the required documents.
My ears were ringing and I felt sick. Every breath seemed to become heavier but I forced myself to keep my gaze straight ahead.
Janosch had to answer a series of questions regarding his trade goods and the length of his stay.
One of the guards slowly walked along the wagon and inspected the sacks closely. Then she examined the underside of the wagon. When her gaze brushed past us I met it with a smile. Kiyan nodded respectfully to her. He always made sure that his uniform remained hidden under the cloak.
Fortunately the guard paid far more attention to the coughing Lia. The scribe a tall narrow man recoiled from her instantly. The guard shot Lia a brief glance twisted his face and waved impatiently.
While he gave Janosch one last once over he said:
"Move along."
The checked papers were then stamped and handed back to Janosch. He thanked them politely took his place on the wagon bed again and set the horse in motion with a short tug on the reins. Barely had we passed the entrance control when I exhaled in relief. When I turned to Marcy I also saw relief in her face.
"Stop!" the guard suddenly shouted.
We froze. Marcy hooked her arm through mine and squeezed so tightly that I grimaced in pain. But since I had my back to the entrance the guards could not see it.
Kiyan who was standing slightly ahead next to the wagon already had one hand resting on his sword.
"Don't" I whispered to him barely audibly.
A small crease formed between his brows but at least he did nothing reckless. He watched the guard attentively.
Janosch had gotten down from the wagon and walked toward the guard. Marcy and I did not dare turn around.
I heard him say:
"Is there a problem?"
"You forgot to fill out this line" said the guard.
Then someone rustled papers.
Janosch answered:
"Indeed. I apologize I must have overlooked that."
"If you fill it out for me now I will overlook it. But pay more attention next time" the guard warned him sternly.
Relieved I turned toward the entrance. Janosch was bent over the table filling out the document. When he finished he handed it to the guard thanked him politely and hurried back to us.
As soon as Janosch was sitting on the wagon bed again and the wagon started moving we were able to breathe again.
The city greeted us with a whole series of impressions. Wagons rattled over uneven cobblestones while pedestrians pushed their way through everywhere. It smelled of hay and livestock. In the distance dogs were barking. The tavern doors stood open so loud laughter and the scent of beer drifted out onto the streets. The houses stood tightly packed together and displayed the typical architecture of Grania consisting of horizontally layered interlocked wooden beams that often rested on a masonry base. Almost every window was decorated with flower boxes which gave the city its own special charm. Despite the late summer the flowers were still in full bloom.
We did not have to walk far to reach Lia's and Janosch's destination which our tired blistered feet were very grateful for. Not far from the gate was the city's granary where the siblings were supposed to deliver their grain. It was a stone building with wide wooden doors in front of which several wagons already stood. Even before I caught sight of the granary the air seemed very dusty and the smell of grain rose into my nose.
Of course we could have simply disappeared and left the two of them in the lurch but being honest as we were we kept to the agreement. After all we felt a great deal of gratitude toward them. Who knew whether we would have made it into the city so inconspicuously on our own.
After the work was done and while we were brushing the dust and dirt from our clothes Janosch came around the wagon patted the neck of his brown horse and then asked:
"Where will you stay tonight?"
I looked up at the sky. By now it glowed in a deep orange.
So I answered:
"Oh we will find something."
In truth I had planned to visit my family's friend before he closed his shop. But since the sun was already very low that would have to wait until tomorrow. Had I been able to reach him in time we most likely would have had a place to stay for the night.
"We for our part will stay at the inn 'The Tavern'. The innkeeper is an old friend of mine. And he has a big heart. I am sure he will let you sleep in the stable with the horses. Then our Berta here will not be so alone."
He patted his horse affectionately on the neck which caused it to give a contented snort.
Uncertain I glanced at Marcy and Kiyan. Marcy smiled and even Kiyan seemed to have no objections. After a week of having to make do with the forest floor a sleeping place in hay sounded very comfortable to both of them as well.
So we accompanied them.
The stable lay in almost complete darkness. Only through the gaps between the coarse wooden boards did pale moonlight seep in casting silver lines across the floor. The smell of hay dust and animals reminded me of home. Now and then one of the horses snorted or pawed at the ground.
Despite the exhausting week behind me the sore feet and the tired legs I could not fall asleep. The thoughts in my head were too loud circling endlessly. How had Val and Lucian been since then? Was Val in trouble? Was Lucian angry with me? Had he heard who I was supposedly said to be and if so what did he think of it? Would he tell Val? Would she think differently of me too?
And slowly I began to worry about my father as well. Of course he was certainly not in any trouble and he could take care of himself. But he had not heard from me for so long that he was surely wondering what had happened.
I kept telling myself that with some luck I would soon be able to send them a message. But no matter how often I repeated it it did not calm me in the slightest. My heart was beating so fast and loud that I was no longer even tired.
So I decided to get some fresh air and go outside.
The moment I pulled open the stable door I heard Kiyan whisper:
"Where are you going?"
None of your business, I thought.
But I was too polite, so instead I said quietly:
"Outside."
"Oh really" he replied with a mocking undertone.
That reaction was in a way provoked by my answer yet my hands tensed and a small sting went through my heart.
Not far from the gate I could make out his silhouette. He was sitting on the floor leaning against the wall directly across from the hay the innkeeper had brought down from the hayloft for us.
With crossed arms I leaned against the closed side of the stable door and replied:
"Do not worry. I am not going to burn the house down while everyone is helplessly lying in bed."
"Very funny" he said in a dry voice.
I was just about to head outside with a sigh just as I had intended from the start when suddenly something soft brushed around my legs. When I looked down I recognized in the faint light a dark cat rubbing against my leg and purring loudly.
"Oh where did you come from?" I asked happily and crouched down to stroke her smooth short fur. The cat circled me a few times arching her back each time my hand ran along it.
I looked toward Kiyan and next to his silhouette I saw two smaller ones that were a little lighter. When I pricked up my ears I heard more purring from his direction.
"Ah so you have found new friends" I said with a smile.
The cat walked back toward Kiyan so I followed her and sat down a little distance from him against the wall as well. My cloak snagged on the rough wood in places but as soon as I sat down the cat jumped onto my lap and demanded more petting.
Now that I had come closer I saw that a cat was also lying on Kiyan's lap letting herself be scratched under the chin. The other sat next to him and looked at me contentedly.
For a moment his face took on softer features. He almost looked peaceful.
After a while the other two cats also wanted my attention so they came over to me and all lay down on my lap at the same time. I could barely keep up with all the petting.
A quiet snort escaped Kiyan barely audible as if he had stifled a laugh:
"They seem to like you more."
Surprised by this behavior I turned my head in his direction. With a mischievous smile I replied:
"Well maybe they just prefer people who do not have such a grumpy temperament."
"I am not grumpy" he defended himself.
Since our first encounter it was the first time his voice carried a hint of lightness. And if I had not mistaken it in the darkness there must have been the trace of a smile playing around the corners of his mouth for a fleeting moment. Was this really the Kiyan I knew?
"No not at all" I laughed.
That answer would have fit both matters.
For a long while we sat there in silence while I enjoyed the time with the cat. Eventually when she seemed to have had enough of me I stepped out into the cool night air.
It was one of the last moments in which I could still be as carefree as possible. At least as far as the circumstances allowed it. I had not been even remotely prepared for the dark downward spiral that would open up the next day and swallow me.