Chapter 46:

  A Proper Tour

  The entire Claybrook family, along with Halius and myself, made our way down the coastal road toward the city of Salt Brine.

  Hershel and Granny Claybrook rode in the wagon, which was pulled by the ever faithful mule, Clyde, while the rest of the family walked alongside it. Conversation flowed easily as we traveled, and everyone took turns entertaining the three young heroes, who constantly demanded another round of play.

  “You said your name’s Halius Fisher?” Hershel asked as he stuffed a fresh bundle of reeds into his mouth. “That mean you’re old Leonis’s boy?”

  Halius perked up at the question, clearly proud to be recognized as Leonis’s son.

  “Yes sir, I am,” he replied. “I’m his eldest.”

  Hershel spat to the side and nodded.

  “My sons and I did some work up in the valley some time ago,” he said. “Working on those hilly homes of yours was a pain in my arse. Why not just build on top of the hill? Would’ve been the sensible thing.”

  He shook his head, chewing thoughtfully.

  “We had to dig into the damned hills just to make some simple repairs, and they never did tell me why they built those homes that way.”

  Hershel’s sons, Theodore and William, shared an exhausted look, as if merely talking about it forced them to relive the experience all over again.

  “Working there is what drove our older brother, Thaddeus, to start specializing in runework, he’s off studying in the capital now” William said with a hint of pride. “He figured adding the finishing touches to homes was a far easier, and more profitable way to make a living.”

  At the mention of their eldest son, both Granny Claybrook and Hershel seemed to deflate a little, as if the wind had been taken out of their sails.

  “Sorry, Ma. I know it’s a sore subject,” William said gently. “We all miss him. He’ll be back before we know it.”

  I turned to Ariel, but she only shook her head at my unspoken question.

  “Another time,” she whispered, before raising her voice to address the rest of the family.

  “So, what’s the plan when we arrive?”

  Serena, Neil and Ariel’s mother, answered cheerily, gratefully seizing her daughter’s lifeline at the change of subject.

  “Well, I believe us girls will be going to the spa,” she said. “After that, we’ll make our way to the town center to visit that delightful little bakery, and then we’ll gather somw ingredients for you to experiment with for tonight’s supper.”

  Ariel went pale at the prospect of cooking for everyone.

  “But we have guests,” she protested, her voice slipping into a whine as she appealed to her mother. “What if it turns into a disaster like last time?”

  “Don’t you worry, child,” Granny Claybrook said reassuringly. “I’ll be there to guide you. You need to practice those skills of yours if you’re going to make carry on my recipes.”

  Ariel’s expression shifted to one of quiet determination as she nodded seriously at her grandmothers words.

  “Well then… alright, I’ll do my best Granny.”

  After a little while longer, Hershel spoke up from the front of the wagon as the eastern gate of the city came into view.

  “I’ll take the rest of ’em with me,” Hershel said. “I need to stop by the smith for some tools, and pick up a few more supplies around town.”

  He whistled sharply at the three boys.

  “You three, in the wagon. And don’t you go straying too far from your Pa while we’re in town.”

  After a silent, well practiced look from their father, the boys piled into the wagon, grumbling their displeasure at being forced to sit still.

  “What about you, Halius?” I asked as I considered what I might do while we were in town.

  “Well, I suppose I’ll give you a quick tour,” he said. “And I’d like to visit the Church of the Path, if we can. I’ve a skill or two and a level to take care of while I’m here.”

  He paused, then glanced my way.

  “After that fight yesterday, I imagine you have a level to deal with as well, am I right? The first ten come quickly, but it slows down after that.”

  I shook my head.

  “I’m… fine, actually. I’ll take care of it another time.”

  Halius studied me for a moment, clearly skeptical, but chose not to press the matter.

  “Dad, is it alright if I go with Sam?” Neil asked eagerly. “Last time Ariel gave him a tour, he nearly died. I promise to do better than that, at the very least.”

  Ariel scowled at her brother, which only made Neil grin in satisfaction.

  “If it’s alright with Sam, I don’t mind,” William said. “Just be sure to meet us by the fountain around the fifth hour.”

  Neil turned to me expectantly, and I nodded my approval with a smile.

  Eventually, we reached the city gate where I had previously come to blows with Rolin just a few days before.

  The city’s stone walls were bleached pale by salt and sun, its ironbound doors stood open to the road, and the numerous guards stationed here waited in quiet vigilance.

  As we approached, the familiar face of Guard Captain Torren stepped forward out from the cluster of armored men that flanked the entrace of the gate.

  “Hello there, Claybrooks, and hello to you as well, Mr. Garner,” he greeted warmly. “How are you all faring this day?”

  “I reckon we’re doing alright,” Hershel replied, with a voice that was far less friendly than usual. “Where’s that boy, Rolin? I’ve got some words to say if he’s around.”

  I felt no particular stir of emotion at the mention of Rolin’s name. Whatever had existed between us had been settled in the courtroom, at least as far as I was concerned.

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  My sentiments however, were clearly not shared by the rest of the family.

  I noticed hands curl into fists as jaws tightened and shoulders squared in quiet, wordless agreement. Even Neil, who was usually all laughter and easy smiles, had gone still, his expression hardened in a way I had never seen before

  “Now, now, no need to get in a fuss,” Captain Torren said in a calming tone. “Sergeant Rolin has the day off and has been reassigned to a new station til winter. He’ll be posted well out past the dungeon, in Salt Crest.”

  He paused before adding,

  “He’s just settling his home affairs before heading out on the morrow.”

  At the mention of Salt Crest, a slow smile spread across Hershel’s face, the lines at the corners of his eyes creasing as if the name itself carried weight.

  “Well, that’ll do, I suppose,” he said with a satisfied nod. “Good day to you, Captain.”

  He snapped the reins, and Clyde responded at once, hooves clopping steadily as the wagon rolled forward through the gate.

  As the family passed throught the gate, I lingered a moment longer at its threshold before turning back to speak privately with Captain Torren.

  “I hope I didn’t cause you too much trouble,” I said earnestly, and extended a hand towards the man. “I just wanted you to know I appreciate your willingness to do what you could in the courtroom the other day,”

  Captain Torren smiled warmly and clasped my hand in return.

  “Don’t worry about it. It was the least I could do for a young man like yourself,” he said. “We here at the guard also owe you our thanks for how you handled Rolin. He didn’t deserve the mercy you showed him, but he’s our brother in arms nonetheless, and you did more than right by him… especially where his mother is concerned.”

  I glanced around and noticed several of the nearby guards nodding in quiet agreement.

  “Well, it was for the best,” I said. “I started that fight, and again, I do apologize for that. I’ll be sure to start fewer problems in the future for you all to deal with.”

  Captain Torren studied me for a long moment, one brow lifting slightly.

  “Most people say they won’t cause any more problems,” he said. “That was a bit open ended.”

  “I suppose it was,” I said with a smile, as I turned to walk away.

  With that settled, I hurried to catch up with Halius and the Claybrooks.

  Upon officially entering the city of Salt Brine, I let out a contented sigh. It felt as though I were finally completing a goal that had long been overdue. The Claybrooks proceeded to split into their respective groups, as each had their own errands and plans for the day.

  I smiled warmly as I caught sight of Granny Claybrook leaning over to give Hershel a quick peck on the cheek before climbing off of the wagon. The old man straightened at once, chest puffed out as he cast me a sly grin, clearly pleased to show that he was firmly back in her good graces.

  Ariel’s gaze met mine for a brief moment. She smiled softly, then turned away to answer a question her mother had directed her way.

  “Well,” I said, “I suppose we should be on our way as well. Neil, where are we headed first?”

  Neil perked up at once and wasted no time assuming command, hurrying ahead as he led us through the city streets.

  “First things first,” he said seriously. “We need to buy snacks. It’s my fee for showing you around.”

  I rolled my eyes and silently thanked the Path that I had remembered to bring my coin purse with me that morning.

  Neil led us straight toward the heart of Salt Brine, weaving through foot traffic with the easy confidence of someone who had lived near the city all his life. Before long, we were standing before a large stone fountain at the city’s center, which I immediately recognized as the same fountain where I had once sat with Ariel.

  From that point, the city seemed to unfold outward in a deliberate pattern. Four broad thoroughfares branched away from the fountain like the points on a compass, each one wide enough to carry wagons, foot traffic, or even ranks of soldiers toward a different end of the city with remarkable efficiency.

  The northern road led back toward the front gate and the numerous collection of taverns and restaurants I remembered from the night we first entered the city. To the east lay the coastal path we had just traveled, which led not only to the Valley, but to the local dungeon as well. The southern road sloped gently toward the docks, which gave the road an interesting scenic quality as it opened up towards the sea. Finally, the road to the west led toward the Duke’s manor, which was a place I had the unfortunate privilege of touring only days before.

  Around the circumference of the city’s center, shops lined the perimeter, offering a wide variety of services. Tailors called out from open doorways, alchemists advertised tonics and powders from shaded stalls, smiths displayed weapons and armor, and food vendors competed loudly for attention. One large stone building stood out among them all, its size and the steady flow of armored individuals marking it unmistakably as the local Adventurers’ Guild.

  “Here’s where we can grab a quick snack,” Neil said, already angling us toward a nearby food stand. “The shops here get a lot of business, but they aren’t the only ones in the city.”

  He gestured vaguely as we walked.

  “You can think of Salt Brine as having three layers. This inner circle, then the specialty shops and taverns farther out, and finally the residential outer ring.”

  Neil pointed toward a small stand where several skewers of questionable meat sizzled over an open flame. The man tending the grill had dark, sun weathered skin, the sort that spoke of long days outdoors. Standing beside him, I was keenly aware of how pale I still was by comparison, my own complexion stubbornly refusing to darken no matter how much time I spent under the sun.

  “On nights Ariel is in charge of cooking, I try to get whatever food I can beforehand… just in case,” Neil said with a sly grin before shoving me forward to do the paying.

  “That’ll be three copper,” the man at the grill said flatly. “Pay before you touch, or I’ll be taking the hand.”

  Three copper felt a bit steep for three skewers of mystery meat, but faced with Neil’s eager expression, I relented. I handed over a silver coin instead. The man bit it between his teeth, nodded once in approval, and returned seven copper pieces as change.

  I hesitated as I took my skewer, watching Neil immediately tear into his with reckless enthusiasm. Halius followed suit, clearly unbothered by the meal, and given how busy he’d been since morning, I couldn’t entirely blame him.

  Before taking my own bite, I turned back to the man at the grill to ask the question that had been bothering me since I first laid eyes on the skewers.

  “So… what kind of meat is this?” I asked.

  The man smirked.

  “Don’t worry,” he said in a thick accent. “Most of it’s beef.”

  He then turned away from me, already preparing fresh skewers to replace the ones he’d just sold.

  With a resigned sigh, my hunger took over and I finally took a bite. Whatever doubts I’d had vanished instantly as the flavors burst across my tongue. The meat was rich and well marinated, and tasted well enough that I decided, quite deliberately, to no longer care from where it had been procured.

  Our group ate in silence for a time, as we moved to take a seat along the side of the the massvie fountain.

  Afterwards, with our light meal finished, the three of us continued around the circle, peering into the various shops as we passed. I didn’t have any pressing need to step inside most of the shops, but it was useful to know where everything was for future business.

  That being said, I did take a special interest in a general goods store whose wide display spilled out onto the street, offering everything from spices, wheels of cheese, and other necessities a home might require.

  Noticing my lingering gaze, Halius spoke up, sparing me the trouble of stepping inside.

  “Don’t worry about buying those things here,” he said. “Just speak with Aldus. He’ll make sure the traders bring whatever you need the next time they visit the valley.”

  He paused, thinking it over, then added,

  “He can even request the Priests of the Path to make a visit if enough people have need of their services. It’s more efficient for everyone that way.”

  Halius glanced around the city before giving a small shrug.

  “That’s what I’d normally do myself, but since I’m already here…”

  I nodded at that bit of information. It made sense. The valley had its own unique relationship with the city and was largely sel -sustaining in all the ways that truly mattered.

  “Speaking of which, where’s the Church?” I asked, “I had expected it to be somewhere close by.”

  Neil perked up at the question and pointed toward the distant docks.

  “That way,” he said cheerfully. “Right across from the brothel.”

  That was… certainly an interesting place to put one.

  Then again, it wasn’t as though the Church served as a moral authority. According to the priest back in Wheat Hollow, the Church’s true purpose was to guide and shepherd each person along their Path, and then recording their discoveries and progress within their holy text, The Book of Myriad Steps.

  Though, according to Father Elias, it seemed the King had complicated their role, and was causing a great deal of frustration among its members.

  “Halius, let’s go pay them a visit, and then check out the docks,” I said. “I only saw them from a distance before, and I’m curious to get a proper look at that vault beneath the city.”

  Halius nodded in agreement.

  With our destination set, we turned onto the southern thoroughfare, and allowed the city to slowly open up around us as we walked. The air grew heavier with the scent of salt and brine the farther we went, as the pungent smell of fish began to waft with unrestrained glee down the open road.

  Buildings gave way to broader streets, warehouses began to replace homes, and I could hear the distant cries of gulls echoing somewhere beyond the rooftops above.

  I found myself slowing without meaning to, taking in every sensation that I could as I stood in the bustle of a city that had endured storms, wars, and the march of time itself.

  “Sam, keep up!” Neil called out, as the energetic youth surged ahead into the crowd. “The Church is just ahead.”