The guards at the city gate of Uhlheim paid no attention to the exhausted boy who dragged himself into the city. They were busy checking a carriage. This was covered by a Tarpaulin which was drawn halfway back. Different sized boxes and baskets could be seen under the tarpaulin. When Rovan passed the guards he saw four Mahjagoth keepers trotting on their horses from the city center to the guards at the gate. The foremost of the keepers shouted: "Stop! We control the carriage." The guard, who was leaning over the crates on the carriage, straightened up and nodded curtly. He got down and took up position with the second guard in front of the horses, so that it could not go on under any circumstances. The keepers jumped off their horses and a young keeper, obviously a squire, took his comrades' horses and led them aside.
The keeper, who had first spoken to the guards, quickly ran to the gate guards and unearthed a scroll from his pocket tied to his armor. "Give this to Commander Eckwon." The guards looked at one another, and the older man who had checked the carriage nudged the younger one. "Go." The young man nodded, saluted, and ran to the City Guard Command Tower. The older guard frowned at the keeper and asked, "Is there a reason that the guardians want to do the tedious customs work?" The keeper came close to him and spoke in a low voice: "An evil artifact had been stolen and is somewhere in our city. Colonel of Stormrock herself arrived a few hours ago to pursue this matter. It must be found. We must not let it leave the city and the Empire under any circumstances." The guard swallowed and uncertainty spread across his face. "Do you know what it is? What are we looking for?" "We do not know. But we will feel it when we see it. For this reason, the guards must now strengthen the city guards." Rovan had passed the guards and followed the main street into the city center. The Torqua Temple would certainly be in the center of the city. He had to get rid of the stone. But he also had to urgently inform the keepers or the guards that Auenfries had been raided. He had completely forgotten this when he staggered through the gate. Barely 100 paces further on, he saw a division Mahjagoth keepers coming up to him. They trotted slowly along the street in two rows. Since the streets were overcrowded, they could not go faster. A Rittmaster rode ahead. He recognized her by her helmet. The ranks of the keepers could be recognized by the helmets. They certainly had other signs of their dignity, but Rovan only knew this.
He dragged his steps towards her. "Venerable keepers," he called in a weak voice as they trotted past him at 3 meters. "Venerable keepers!" He repeated in a louder voice. The Rittmaster slowed her horse and turned her head back to him. Rovan raised his hand weakly and called again: "Venerable keepers!" The department stopped and the Rittmaster jumped off her horse. She ran to Rovan, who could barely stay on his feet and stood there crooked with his hand raised and his eyes down. She tucked the helmet under her arm and put a hand under Rovan's chin. "Boy why are you calling us?" Rovan sighed and let himself sink to the floor. "Auenfries was attacked. Auenfries was attacked. ", He spoke in a toneless and weak voice. The keepers formed a circle around him. The Rittmaster said to them: "Help him up, we have a survivor here." Turning to Rovan, she spoke softly: "We already know. We are on our way to Auenfries." Rovan looked up at her: hope rose in him. If the Guardians already knew, his friends and mother might still be saved. And Lenja.
The captain looked at Rovan carefully, then her face softened. She grabbed the arm of a passer-by. This started up in alarm. She said to him: "Take the boy to the" Oldman Rest ". He is totally exhausted and must eat and sleep. Make sure he get a warm meal and a quiet sleep." With these words, she pressed a coin into the man's hand. The latter nodded hastily and stammered: "Of course Rittmaster." To Rovan she said gently: "Go, rest. When you have eaten and slept, go to the keepers and tell your story. You will be heard." Then she turned to her men: "Sit on, we are moving to Auenfries." The man in charge looked at Rovan: "Come fellow follow me." Rovan nodded weakly and staggered after the man.
They followed the main street for a while and when they arrived at a large place where the barns and trading offices were located, they turned into a side street. After another 50 meters they arrived in front of an Inn. Words were written on an old bronze shield and the image of a man sitting on a sleeping place was engraved. This had to be the "Oldman Rest" hostel. Rovan's companion opened the door. They entered a taproom that was now moderately filled in the early afternoon. The man led Rovan to the counter. There was a pretty-looking woman with blonde hair in her twenties. She wiped a jug with a cloth and looked at the two with a smile. "Ungat, what are you doing here at this time? Arina is not here yet, she only has her job in the evening," she said with a mischievous grin. Rovan's accompanied grinned and blushed slightly: "I know. I am here to bring you this boy, Marta. The keepers entrusted him to me. You should give him food and give him a bedroom for him alone. He is probably important" Marta looked at Rovan curiously:" So so. The keepers are interested in the boy? Well, then I want to take care of him." Marta went around the counter to Rovan and Ungat. Ungat holt out the coin: "They gave me that for him." Marta looked at the coin in astonishment." I understand he's important." Then she smiled at Rovan. "Sit down at the counter with me." Rovan looked at her exhausted. "You are too kind mylady, but I would prefer to rest first. I walked here all night and all day from Auenfries." Marta nodded: "Indeed, you look very exhausted. Come on I will make you a cozy room." Telling so she reached out to him. Rovan took her hand and turned to Ungat. "Thank you for bringing me here, Torqua bless you." Marta giggled and Ungat grinned broadly. "I liked doing that boy. Now relax and do not forget to go to the keepers when you have rested, just as the Rittmaster ordered. "
Ungat turned to Marta: "Take good care of him, I'm leaving." "Until tonight Ungat," replied Marta with a wink. Ungat left the hostel and Marta went up a wooden staircase from the taproom to the first floor with Rovan by the hand. Once there, they followed a short corridor, which had doors on the left and right. Arrived at the end of the aisle, Marta brought out a keychain from her apron. She pushed a key into the rear door lock and turned it over. The lock opened with a metallic crunch and Marta pushed the door open. Behind it was a small room, 2 by 3 meters with a simple bed, a small wooden cabinet next to the bed and a large wooden chest on the other wall of the room. The room had a window at its short side with locked wooden shutters. There was a bowl of water on the wooden cupboard and the simple bed had a simple pillow next to the straw mattress. Rovan went into the room and sank onto the bed with a sigh. Marta took the bag from him and fingered his belt to detach the cassette. Rovan put his hand on hers: "Thank you Marta, I'll do it. Thank you very much. Could you check on me in two hours? I want to go to the keeper tonight and have something to eat beforehand. "
Marta let go of him and looked around the room. Then she looked at Rovan: "Of course, I will wake you. What's your name?" "Rovan," he replied, yawning. He quickly put his hand over his mouth. Then he grinned crookedly and a bit stupid and said: "I just have to sleep a little now. I can't keep myself awake anymore." Marta went to the door and turned around again. Rovan had already sunk back on the bed and slipped off his shoes. Marta left the room and went back down to the taproom. What kind of boy was that she thought? Rovan was a rare name. So, he came from Auenfries. He had no luggage and his parents weren't here either. He was pretty young to be traveling alone. Once at the bottom, a guest called for her and she forgot her thoughts about the boy and continued to work. When Marta left the room, Rovan straightened up again. He was afraid to sleep with his two valuable possessions. He had never been to a strange city or had slept anywhere other than in his own bed. Still, he was tired and had to sleep. He wondered what he could do. Then his eyes fell on the metal water bowl. He pushes the cupboard in front of the door and place the water bowl on it. Then if someone opened the door, the bowl would fall off and make a lot of noise. That would surely wake him up and you would probably even hear the noise below. Rovan was happy with this idea. He pushed the cupboard out of the door and tied the pouch and the cassette from his belt and lay on it. Then he pulled the grey wool blanket over himself and fell asleep immediately.