The ship went into the harbour and anchored. Feyra was one of the first to step down and felt slightly weird and wobbly on her legs.
"Is it normal I feel like I can't walk straight?", she asked trying her best to not look like she was drunk.
"It's normal if you have been on the sea for a while. Nothing uncommon. I also had to get used to it. Or better said... Even now I'm still not really used to it.", Michel said honestly and showed her that he also struggled a bit.
After a while they stopped having problems and Buck also joined them.
"I guess it's goodbye for now.", he said looking at Feyra who was relieved she got used to land again.
"This will be the start of my journey. At least the one I'll take alone. I hope that nothing will happen to you in the time we don't meet.", she said smiling at Buck and Michel.
"Alright. If you ever need someone to bring you somewhere you can ask us.", Buck said pointing his thumb at himself.
Michel came over to Feyra and held something in his hands. "Here something for you. It'll help on the journey.", he pushed a bag towards Feyra who took it and looked at it.
"Thank you. If you ever need help of any sort just send a letter pigeon looking for a peculiar traveler in leather armour with a peculiar hair colour.", Feyra said before finally saying goodbye.
She took the bag and put it over her shoulder and adjusted the strap slightly that it was hanging at her waist rather than her legs.
Feyra went through the streets seeing countless merchants that were calling out to buy their wares and products.
"The best porcelain you can find here! For only a price of 5000 coins or less!"
"Fresh vegetables from the most fertile soil! Now for only 100 coins if you buy three different sorts!"
"Shoes! Come here to let your measurements taken and get some fine shoes! The best in the town!"
"The best paint across the whole world! Just take a look at these bright and long lasting colours! Only available here!"
Many more merchants were calling out for various things they had. It ranged from food and simple necessities to even things such as paint, furniture and tableware.
At the end of the long road with merchants lining the sides was a small restaurant with an old man in front of the door.
"Hm? A young one?", he said as Feyra passed by.
She turned to look at the old man and analyzed his looks. His eyes were drooping down a bit but he seemed to smile which was also visible with his mouth. He had a bent back and needed a stick to walk. He held his left hand behind his back but didn't move.
"Old man... I have some questions.", Feyra said and the old man nodded listening to her.
"I see. Are you looking for something? A lot of people come here to share information. This is a restaurant after all.", he said and showed with his stick to the plaque above the door.
"Where are we? I have only come here today and still don't have a map and am not versed with everything here.", she said in a polite tone a bit unable to form the words in her mouth.
"Where we are... We are in a small village near the coast and behind us we're near the border to the Alliance. If you need a map I can look if I still have one.", the old man said and went into the restaurant. Before he went too far in he looked back and waved at Feyra to come in too so they could sit down.
Feyra went inside the restaurant and saw the space around her. It wasn't as spacious as some really big restaurants in the kingdom where royalty would dine occasionally but it was not shabby and small as some restaurants in villages only supporting themselves with family.
The old man went somewhere in the back and came back with a piece of paper in his hand. "This is a map of this part of the world. It shows the countries next to us and if they belong to the Alliance or not."
"May I ask who the Alliance is?", Feyra said being a bit confused. In the time she had lived, there hadn't been anything called the Alliance yet. It was likely that the Alliance was established after certain events took place.
"You don't know about the Alliance?", the old man looked at her a little confused too. "You look too young not to know. Where are you from?"
"I'm from the Kingdom."
Silence filled the room as the old man switched through various expressions ranging from confused to enlightened and back to confused again.
"If you're from the Kingdom you should usually know what the Alliance is. The Alliance and the Kingdom aren't the best friends after all and I heard that the people in the Kingdom are taught about reasons to hate the Alliance.", the old man said walking towards the bar and getting some water for Feyra and himself before returning and sitting down.
"Well... I... I really don't know about the Alliance.", Feyra said, at first wanting to explain she was a little older than she looked but in the end she still didn't know if she could trust the old man or not.
"Alright. If you really don't know then let me explain. The Alliance formed around 720 years ago. Multiple small countries and places ravaged by war formed together and helped each other. Later every country sent a representative and they pledged allegiance to help each other and also made some other various points. Most people don't know what was spoken about but after everything was settled they took an area lying in between those countries and built a capital which is not belonging to any of the small countries.
"Till today the Alliance has sworn to be neutral unless there is a case where someone is wrongly accused. They want fairness and rights for the people, peace and no war.", the old man said taking a sip after this explanation. It was a lot to go over and Feyra seemed to sort some of the information in her head first.
So the Alliance has really been made after all that happened... A shame... If I hadn't been locked up I could've went there.
Feyra's mind was starting to become a mess trying to sort everything. It seemed that there had been more of an impact when the princess had disappeared.
"Did this have anything to do with the princess of the Kingdom from all those years ago?", Feyra asked in hopes to have a bit of a start on information.
"The princess? The lost princess of the Kingdom that is said to have disappeared 721 years ago?", the old man asked stroking the few strands of beard on his chin. His hair was thinning which could also be seen on his head.
"The lost princess? Do you know her name?", Feyra asked being unsure if they spoke of the same person she thought of.
"Sadly I don't know her name. The Alliance knows. They have kept various information stored over those years. They should know more.", the old man said before rubbing his elbow. He had just hit it against the table.
"Thank you. I should likely go to the capital then. Old man... Are you alone in this restaurant?", she asked and looked around.
The old man still rubbed his elbow but soon let go of it. "I'm not getting younger but I'm not alone. It's just... The waitress took some vacation for a while and I need to do everything alone for now."
Feyra came a thought to her mind. She was short on money anyway so perhaps she could help out.
"Say... May I help out in the time the waitress is on vacation? I'm a little short on money and if it's okay I would also love helping.", she asked and the old man looked perplexed.
"Hm... That should be fine. She is only gone for a week. If you find an inn just put the bill on me. I'll pay for you. My wife is no longer with us and we have no children. All the money we have saved would else go to waste.
"That reminds me... My wife wrote me a lot of letters when she had to be in the capital. If you really help me then I'll look for them in that week and see if you could gain some more information from them.", he said standing up and taking the empty glasses with him.
"For now you better find an inn first and rest a bit. You must've traveled quite far. Whatever was on your journey it's best to rest first. Ah... I almost forgot... What is your name, child?", he asked.
Feyra froze slightly at the word "child". For this old man she would truly have to seem like a child still but that old man was likely younger than she was.
"My name is Feyra. What about you?"
"My name... André... Yes that was it. My apologies. My memories and brain are a bit slow nowadays. Getting older is truly like regressing. As my grandmother always said... When you become old you become like a helpless child again."
After that Feyra was going through the city and looking for an inn. She occasionally looked at the map she had gotten and soon found her way to one that was near the restaurant.
"Hello and welcome dear guest.", the receptionist said with a smile.
"I'd like to have a room.", Feyra answered closing the map in her hand.
The receptionist looked at her. "One night is 200 coins. Money upfront or payment afterwards?", she asked looking down at a notebook.
"Oh it's going on the bill of André, the old man from the restaurant.", she answered and the receptionist seemed surprised.
"It's been a while. Are you here to help him out? No need to worry. We'll take good care of you. Given that old André always likes to spoil his helpers you'll get one of the better rooms for 300 coins per night.", the receptionist said writing down the name and room number before retrieving the corresponding key.
"I hope you can enjoy your stay. And don't fret coming to ask for anything you want.", she said smiling brightly. It seemed that hearing the name of old André made her happier than ever.
"Thank you. Ehm... Could I ask if you could find a travel bag for me? A simple one that isn't expensive is enough. I plan to travel later again and I don't think I can carry everything with me with only this one.", she hinted at the bag she had gotten from Michel earlier.
"Of course. We'll take care of that. Any price range?", the receptionist asked again.
Feyra thought for a moment before shaking her head.
"I'm sorry I'm a little short on money so I can't say for sure now.", she answered honestly and the receptionist nodded in understanding.
"It's fine. If you're lucky old André will pay for that too. Ever since his wife died he has been generous to his customers and helpers. I'll ask him. But I don't want to stop you any further. Please go ahead to your room and rest. You must've had a long journey.", the receptionist said pointing towards the staircase.
Feyra thanked her and went up looking for her room.
As she turned the key in the lock and opened the door she got stunned seeing how big and luxurious the room actually was.
That is only 300 coins per night!? Never! This room would be more like 650 coins per night. Did the receptionist lie or... Do they just have lower prices?
Feyra went inside and looked around before putting the maps on a table and lying on the bed. She was tired and exhausted from all the traveling but she also wanted to first sort her thoughts.
A few hours passed and the sun was setting as she remembered that a restaurant opens around this time.
I almost forgot I would be a helper! Damn it... I need to be fast!