The deep winter was a time of death and suffering, with endless days of cold and ice. For most of my life, I never appreciated the warmth the sun brings. But now, I find myself grateful to bask beneath it.
I rested on my back on a nearly flat plane of low grassland that stretched on for miles in every direction. The wind brought the earthy scent of fresh earth, greenery, and the sweet fragrance of decaying foliage. The sky above was clear, with not even a speck of cloud to detract from its azure brilliance.
The morning was so perfect, I felt compelled not to leave my spot. For over two months, I traveled, careful to hide my identity as much as possible. I took backroads, cut across forested land, and often went weeks without seeing a single other human.
When I stopped in a village, I was quick, gave no names, and had no conversations. The few times I had to speak to people, I posed as a man. Though at seventeen summers, I was blossoming into full womanhood, I still wasn’t a delicate beauty with the soft features that aligned to current standards.
My cheekbones and jaw were a bit too sharp. My eyes were too cold and challenging, even through all that, after slicking my hair back and affecting what I considered a decent male voice, I still couldn't convince myself that what I saw in my reflection was anything but a woman pretending to be a man. I even did the oil and clay trick to change my hair color from a deep black to a reddish brown.
Peasants were dimwitted beasts for the most part, but one or two would notice and remember. A random woman traveling alone was strange, but a woman dressed as a man traveling alone was even more so. So, I kept my hood down, eyes hidden, and spoke as little as possible. This overabundance of caution extended my journey by three weeks. Without any doubt, word of me was everywhere.
I stood and stretched, getting a satisfying crack out of my spine as I twisted to the left and right. Greystone, the capital of [] County, was but two days away by horse. Speaking of, Cole, my new mount, was off to the side, casually munching on some grass. He was an impressive beast. Strong, hardy, not as fast as Cloud, but he fought through the deep snow as if he was offended that it dared to hinder his path. He was a foot taller than Cloud, black as coal, and needed a stern hand to guide him.
I packed up all my supplies, mounted, and headed northwest. Since there was no one around and the plane was flat, I grinned, spurred Cole into a slow trot, increasing his speed until he reached a full gallop.
The wind whipped through my hair as Cole thundered through the field of grass. Once again, my attention returned to the sky. It stretched around me in all directions, feeling closer than normal.
‘What would it be like to fly?’
~
From atop a hill, I stared down at Greystone. I remembered my first time entering Lakeshore, which seemed massive and foreboding. The complex streets and compressed collection of humanity seemed to be unending. Greystone, however, dwarfed Lakeshore.
The city was split into two parts, separated by a massive river that flowed from west to east. On the south was a massive collection of buildings, homes, and businesses, I guessed to number between 15 and 20 thousand.
They seemed to build outwards in an unending sprawl. Navigating Lakeshore or Grenwood was a task that, to me, was daunting at first. But Greystone was a different beast altogether. There was no order or systematic arrangement of buildings to aid in navigation. The streets twisted and turned in every direction.
The city on the north side of the river was surrounded by massive fortifications, 10 feet tall, enclosing an area the size of Grenwood. Though it was hard to see, much of it was taken up by massive manor houses with large, lush greenery.
The central keep was a monstrous mass of grey stone towers.
‘One of those homes is where my treasure lies.’
Along the river were ten massive stone constructs, trapezoidal buildings spanning the width. I couldn't begin to understand the construction or even how a fully stone building could be built suspended above a 150-foot-wide river.
In the center of every building was a massive water wheel, each at least 200 feet tall, slowly rotating.
For a minute, I tried to deduce the purpose of such massive waterwheels in the middle of the river. Then I looked out at the surrounding fields, stretching for miles in every direction.
‘No source of wood, no coal mines in the area either, as far as I know. A massive energy furnace would be difficult to operate.’
I squinted at the rotating water wheels.
’Is it possible to generate primal energy using rotational force?’
‘It’s not impossible, heat was just movement in the end. How hard would it be to create an arcane formula that absorbed rotational energy? If I could just get a good look at the formula….’
The base of each building was walled off, and while I couldn't see much from miles away, no doubt it was guarded. I was mildly nervous since this would be the first time in months that I would be around civilization.
‘I can’t operate like I did in Grenwood. No cutting deals or working with others like Derek or the Baroness. I’ll have to rely on myself and only myself.’
It seemed a monumental task, but like learning magic, I broke it down into smaller steps.
‘First, find somewhere to rest my head. Probably somewhere cheap, rundown, where people don’t pay attention to others. Then learn as much as I can about the city, its people, and most importantly, what is being said about Myr.’
I took a deep breath and spurred Cole into motion, heading down the hill towards Greystone.
~
‘So, many people.’
I walk through the street, dragging Cole by the reins. He was a bit antsy from the crowd, but a firm hand was enough to guide him properly. The road was wide and made of compacted dirt. People: men and women of all ages, walked in all directions. Merchants sold their wares on the side of the street, their unending cries blended, adding to the strange and familiar atmosphere.
Though the southern part of the city had no walls. It didn’t have the squalor and desperation of Grenwood. They were homeless and desperate, of course, but the beggars usually had one or two people drop a bronze bit into their outstretched hands.
After a few minutes of walking, I finally spotted someone I was looking for.
A boy, roughly ten summers, sat on the side of the road, cup outstretched. To his side was an older girl, perhaps his sister. Both had brown hair and wore cheap canvas clothing; clearly, they were desperate. And in desperation lay opportunity.
The two sat close together, both held out cups, and occasionally a passerby would take pity and drop in a bit.
I walked over, dragging Cole behind me; neither looked up from their cups until I dropped five bits into the boy’s cup.
The boy's large brown eyes bulged as he looked up at me. I wore my hood low, hopeful that most people would assume my eyes were dark brown instead of black.
“Thank yuh….” He paused, trying to look into the shadow of my cloak, “Milord?”
“I ain't no lord, friend,” I said with a male tamber.
“What you wan’t?” The girl asked. "No one drops so much coin, just like that.”
“I’m looking for an Inn, somewhere out of all the hustle and bustle. Five bits each if you find me somewhere.”
Coin was coin, and soon enough, the girl abandoned her suspicion and eagerly looked at the boy.
“Shelly or Bran?” She asked him.
“Does it need to be all fancy?” He asked me.
I shook my head, “Can’t afford all that.”
Simultaneously, they nodded, “Shelly, it is. She doesn’t put rats in the stew, and the beds ain't got lice, but it's far into lowtown.” The girl said.
I nodded. From what I knew, Greystone was a trading city, so most wouldn't even look twice at a traveler. The siblings hopped to their feet and said, “Come on, let's get to it.”
~
As we walked through the complex maze of dirt streets and ramshackle homes, I tried with all my will to remember the complex network of corners. I eventually learned their names.
“So, where ya from?” Gorell asked.
“Up north, about a week's travel from Heatherwerry,” I said, taking some random village from the north as my origin point. “Any news in the city? I’ve been on the road for a while.”
Urn shrugged, “Eh, not much.” His eyes widened as he recalled something. “The emperor is lookin’ for a bride, got the Dukes and Counts all whirled up in their nickers.”
Gorell sniffed, “We can ‘ope that there ain't another war brewin’ like the last one.”
The Emperor or Empress consort was an incredibly sought-after position. Counts and dukes would offer anything and everything to have one of their daughters married to the reigning emperor.
As we walked, I paid close attention to my surroundings, mostly to the people. They were poor, but I found it unnerving that eyes weren't watching me with hateful envy. Eyes, which usually meant that if they had the chance, they would rob me without a second thought. Perhaps I was too used to Grenwood.
“Any other news? I heard there was some war down south.” I probed.
Gorell shrugged, “Eh, some baron’s fightin’ for somethin’ or another. Them nobles always be findin’ some reason to kill each other.”
‘No mention of me, perhaps they were slower than I thought. Or most likely these two peasants are ill-informed.’
“I think they just bored living in their castles and such,” Urn said.
“Speaking of a castle, what’s that monstrosity? And what about those water wheels?” I said.
“Aye, now that's an ugly one, ain't it. It's why the city is called Greystone.” Urn said. He took a right down a narrow street. The conversation paused as I escorted Cole through.
“Scary lookin’ beast, but you got ‘im trained well,” Gorell said.
“He’s all pretend ain't nothin about him scary.”
After exiting the alley, Urn continued. “Them water wheels for the Magi, don’t know much, but I hear they made a lot of magic stuff. ”
“Really?” I said, faking enthusiasm, “I have never seen magic before. I’d love to catch a glimpse.”
“Same as all of us, but we aren't allowed in without a pass.”
‘That’s good enough for now, let's not spend too much time prying.’
“Know anywhere good to eat?” I asked to change the topic.
“Shelly’s got decent food, anywhere else, and you don’t really know what they puttin’ in the pot,” Gorell answered.
“Anything close to the bridge will be good if’n you can afford it,” Urn added.
“Here we are,” Gorell said suddenly.
I glanced at the building, bemused. It looked nothing like an inn. Just a larger-than-normal ramshackle house.
‘I suppose beggars wouldn't have the best taste in inns.’ I shrugged, ‘This might actually be to my benefit. Where I rested my head matters little so long as no one asks questions.’
There was a post out front where a few scrawny nags and a donkey were tied to.
“What are the chances of my horse being stolen?” I asked the siblings.
Both shrugged, but Urn answered, “Prolly won't get stolen. Most people ‘round here decent, but ya never know.”
‘No matter, I can always buy another horse.’
“I believe we had a deal,” I said, dropping six bits in each outstretched hand.
They both grinned, and Gorell said, “We're out there every day, including Eight-Days. So if’n you want more ‘elp still, ya know who to ask.”
I nodded and turned to leave, “We never got yer name,” Urn said from behind me.
“Rene,” I said as I entered the building.
~
It was just an exceptionally large home turned into an inn. To the left was a hearth and a small sitting area where a few people ate bowls of steaming stew. To the right was who I assumed to be Shelly. She was a portly woman in her forties, with greying brown hair, stirring a large cookpot. She looked me up and down at my approach, then asked, “What can I do for ya, son?”
“I need a room. Do you have any open?” I asked.
“Aye, that I do. How long you be wanting to say?”
‘How long would this take?’
“How long would 20 bits get me?” I asked.
She looked surprised.
‘Was that too much?’
“A week, that sounds alright to you?” She inquired.
I pretended to have some internal dialogue, then said, with some hesitation, “Comes with food?”
She nodded, “Whatever I got in my pot. Once a day.”
I shrugged and said, “Let’s start with four, if I can’t find any work, we'll go till the end o’ the week.”
She shrugged, clearly uninterested.
~
I stepped into a room; the rear of her home was sectioned off into rooms five feet wide, eight long. There was a poorly made bed to the left, just wide enough for a person. And a small window, only a foot wide. To the right corner was a brazier to provide warmth.
‘My, how far I have fallen.’
Immediately, I got to work. I drew a simple circuit on the floor in front of my door and, with some effort, forced a small sliver of silver into the door itself. If opened, the silver would enter the sphere of influence, and the circuit would attempt to pull it into the center.
It served as a simple alarm; if anyone entered the room through the door, then I would feel the flow of energy as the circuit worked. I repeated the same trick with my window, binding the two in series so I only needed to focus on one binding. Which, at that point, I could maintain without any effort.
I peeled myself out of my armor, grimacing at how I smelled. Two months of travel with nothing but a cloth and water to clean myself did me no favors.
After changing into simpler clothes and redonning my cloak, I entered the main room.
“Right on time, dear.” She said, handing me a bowl of steaming stew. After sitting at one of the long tables and ignoring the other patrons, I shoveled stew into my mouth. To my surprise, it was decent. It even had salt, which was a luxury.
I sat at the table and mindlessly spooned the stew into my mouth. After five minutes of eating, two men entered, young and strong-looking.
“Hoy ma’ got any left for us?” They asked.
“Aye, Aye, just enough,” she said. They joined me at the table and struck up a conversation with the two other patrons.
“Jess, how’s work?” The older of the two patrons asked.
“Decent, Namir’s a right bastard, but the pay is good,” Jess said.
The two went back and forth, complaining about everything. Their wives, sisters, women, and taxes; It was mildly therapeutic to hear such normal conversation. I stayed in the main room in hopes that I would hear some town gossip, and already, I learned where to get boots, clothes, and weapons.
“What’s that bounty at now?” Jess asked.
“500,” the old man, Carson answered.
“Who knew one woman could be worth so much?”
I paused momentarily, then I kept eating. “Bounty for a woman?” I asked.
They turned to me as if just now noticing my presence. “Aye, Ser?” Jess said.
“Just Rene,”
Jess nodded, “The maiden’s been the talk of the town for a while. There’s even a song.”
My heart rate increased for a moment, “Maiden?”
Jess nodded, “Aye Aye, The Madian o’ fire, or Myr as most call ‘er.”.
‘There's a song about me? How amusing’
“What's got the empire offering a bounty for her?”
The older man lauded, “That lass is an apostate, wanted for over 80 murders.”
I whistled, “80? Damn, she's a real demon then.”
Jess shrugged, “I don't know, I never trust what the crier says anyway. Heard, she saved some women down south, and what was that baroness's name again?”
He snapped his finger several times, “Harlock! She's been kicking up a fuss about the magisterium tearin’ up her capital, lookin’ for ‘er. Damn near blew up half her city. The whole thing is a mess. Hell, apparently, she was helpin’ people in the deep winter, ‘till the magisterium showed up. ”
‘Well, color me surprised, the baroness kept her word.’
I leaned back as if surprised by the tale. “So, some magus went rogue or somethin’”
Jess shook his head, clearly enjoying the storytelling, “Nah, they sayin’ she learned on ‘er own.”
“Lies! No one can just learn magic, I thought…”
“This one did. Some commoner girl done did the impossible,” The old man said, interrupting me. “I’d shake her hand, damn magi been keepin’ power to themselves for generations.”
I whistled as if amazed by the tale. “Not gonna lie, that 500 eagles sounds quite nice though.”
All the men laughed at my words, “It ain't 500 eagles,” Jess said, paused for dramatic effect, then announced. “It’s 500 golden royals, a noble title to pass down to your children, and land to call your own.”
I didn't have to pretend to be surprised. That was an incredible fortune, exceeding the wealth of many minor nobility.
“That’s something all right,” I said.
“Best not get your head too high, boy. They don’t call her the Maiden of Fire, cause it sounds fancy. They say her magic can turn a man to ash in seconds. Not even the magisterium managed to kill her.” The old man added.
“Still, though, worth the risk.”I mused. Every man nodded in agreement.
“What does she look like?” I asked the men.
“Northern lass; normal height, though apparently, she disguises herself often so she could look like anyone. Hell, if I had a bounty like that, I’d go runnin’ for the hills.”
“She’s probably south, maybe Helios by now.” Jess’s brother Elor, added. We all nodded in agreement. “Ferosia’s probably best, that far south in lands not kind to magi. It's ideal,”
“Damn here I was thinkin’ of becoming a nobel.” I sighed in mock defeat.
“Aint that the truth, woulda been interestin’ to meet ‘er though. Can’t imagine what a lass like that is like.” Jess said. Every man stared dreamily off into the distance.
A small smirk crawled across my face, “Neither can I.”