Wynessa kept one of her daggers drawn at all times over the next day and a half until they finally saw the walls of the northern gate into Riviera. Their travel since the thwarted attack was silent and cold, she kept herself away from the two who had kept such important information from her, and their betrayal cut deep.
She had been ready to gut the half-elf right there on the cart before Miklian spoke up, defending him. Somehow, the fact that he knew and had kept it from her hurt more than knowing Timias was half Warlock. What other secrets were they keeping?
Even in her pain, she did not dare expose the giant's lineage. Knowing that she knew who his mother was, knowing that she could reveal such a crucial detail of his life, knowing that a person he called family was so heartless and cruel...
Why did he not tell her?
The gate was guarded by at least a dozen of the city guardsmen, the crest of the city emblazoned on their shields, matching the banners that flew from the towers flanking the gate itself. As they approached, Miklian was once again in the back, sitting upright and in full view while Timias sat beside Wynessa who held the reins to the great beast who stood taller than the guard who came to check them.
"Hail. What brings you to Riviera?" The voice beneath the helmet was calm, simple, but dedicated as he spoke.
"Fleeing violence, sir. Seeking refuge and passage west through the mountains." Her voice was limp and cold as she responded, the heavy bags under her eyes caught the guard's attention more than the giant in the cart behind them.
"We will have to search your cart, ma'am. For contraband and dangerous materials, you understand." He raised a hand to pull forward another pair of guards who flanked the cart and pulled themselves up into the wagon.
"Yes, we understand. We are not carrying any contraband, any weapons we possess are for personal defense, and honestly, we just want to get to safety." Timias spoke up, pulling aside the corners of his jacket to reveal he was unarmed as Wynessa beside him pulled her twin daggers from their sheathes and displayed them to the guard.
"And the giant?"
"He is fleeing violence as well, sir." The elf spoke before his human companion could open her mouth. The guard nodded and turned his attention to the pair that had searched the crates and barrels with the giant's help, hopping off the cart and nodding to their superior.
"All clear, sir." They moved around the cart back to their posts by the gate as the one who stopped them nodded.
"Right then. Welcome to Riviera. Please see the customs agents at the building just inside the gate. Two buildings down on the right, symbol is a coin and a book with a quill. Hard to miss." He waved them through the half-open gate into the bustling midday city.
Timias had been right in that the beauty of the city was hard to ignore. Great marble pillars and statues gleamed in the early autumn sunlight, easily taller than two giants stacked on top of each other. The road was cobbled and clean as they urged Brute in towards the customs building they had been directed towards, passing a tall iron gate that seemed to lead to one of the gardens of Hightown.
The river brought seabirds inland and their screeching overhead was stunning, mesmerising Wynessa more than the crowds of people thronging together in the streets. They passed a couple of market stalls, at least one of which was being run by a goblin and at least one other that was guarded by an ogre but seemed to be owned by an elvish woman. Haggling, advertising, calling out to potential customers, all of it was new to her and overwhelming. She held tighter to the heavy leather in her hands, her knuckles slowly turning white as she focused on the building they aimed for.
Pulling to a stop just outside the doors, she noted they were most definitely not built for giants or ogres, but a window at about eye-height for Miklian held a sign that asked "those of larger stature" to ring the bell just by the window and an agent would be out to assist. Wynessa glanced back at her giant before hopping off the cart and moving towards the doorway.
"I'll just wait with the cart, then." Miklian called after her. She made no indication that she had heard, but he knew she was upset with him and did not move to repeat himself or chase after her.
As soon as she stepped into the building, the air was stifling and smelled of old papers and ink. The room she stepped into held a number of stations with velvet rope on stands dividing up the space to form lines. Behind a podium near the door, a young woman with long orange hair and a cap hiding her ears spoke up cheerily.
"Welcome to Riviera Customs, miss! How may we assist you today?" Her voice was practiced and inviting.
"I just arrived in the city with two other travelers, one who used to live in the city, one who has also never been here before, like me. The other one who hasn't been here before, he's a giant. He's outside with the other one." Wynessa stated flatly.
"Lovely! Will you be needing someone to help you with the papers needed to permit your stay within the city? We have translators for most common languages, and orators for those who cannot read yet." The girl was rather good at her job, the smile plastered across her face did not appear forced.
"I can read just fine, thanks."
"Lovely! Please feel free to step up to the counter whenever you are ready and I will get someone to assist your companions!" Her chipper voice was accompanied by a smile that scrunched up her eyes, and before Wynessa could explain that they were no longer her companions, the girl had already skipped off towards a door.
She sighed, stepping into line behind a man with a small child in his arms, likely less than a year old by the size of the small thing. Glancing around at the inside of the dimly lit building, she could see that the stones that made up most of the walls of this level were old and looked similar to the stones the statues and pillars outside were made of. Pale with grey flecks.
"Next." A woman called out to the man and child, who stepped up to the agent who spoke as an elvish man stepped past him.
"I can help who's next." Another voice called out to Wynessa and she made her way over to the petite creature who sat behind the counter. Her skin was a pale blue, as though she was partially frozen, and her hair was a darker grey than Miklian's. The woman was taller and slightly broader than Wynessa as she stood staring at the woman. "How can I help you miss?"
"Oh, erm, I just arrived and was told I needed to come here."
"Welcome to Riviera. How long do you intend to be with us in the city and are you here on business?" The woman beamed, smiling broadly as she filled in some of the questions on the sheet before her.
"Erm... A week or less? Two weeks at most. Just passing through really. No business, just visiting." Wynessa tried to crane her neck to see what was being written out, but the counter was slightly too tall for her to make it out fully.
"Our shortest visitor permit is a month, but this allows you full access to all visitor locations and as many services at the temple as you need during this time. Do you know where you will be staying?"
"Is there an inn nearby?"
"Absolutely! Do you need a stipend from the city for lodging? We have multiple options available for visiting nobles, dignitaries, persons of political interest, an-"
"No, I'm fine. Thank you though." Wynessa cut her off quickly, trying to move the conversation away from ways she could possibly have to see the two men she had traveled with again.
"Alright, no problem. Lastly, I will need you to spell out your name, please." The agent behind the counter moved swiftly onwards, offering a small paper and charcoal stick for Wynessa to write down her name.
Awkwardly, she took the writing tool and the paper, placing them on a lower area of the counter that seemed made for just this purpose. The letters that eeked out were difficult, but legible as she spelled out her full first and last name. She was obviously out of practice.
"Miss Wynessa Lyrdottir?" The woman asked the pronunciation, prompting a correction. She had pronounced it "Wine-nessa Lire-dot-teer" which was not accurate at all.
"Wynessa, the Y is like a short I, and Lyrdottir, like leer-daughter." The words flowed easily as she repeated what her father had taught her when she was young. He wanted her to be as educated as he could offer and had spent much of her childhood teaching her how to read and write as well as basic maths and some other scholarly things.
A moment longer and the woman handed over a stamped and signed paper with a wax seal at the bottom. The form included a physical description and as soon as she touched the paper, a small box filled itself with a drawn portrait of her face and shoulders.
"It's enchanted to be fireproof and water resistant as well. We have a copy here in the office as well in case you misplace your form. This is required for admittance into the temple, and if you show this to a guard they can direct you anywhere you may need to go. On the back is a map of the city as well." She beamed at Wynessa proudly as she explained. "And it looks like your companions are all set as well! Thank you for visiting Riviera!"
"Yeah, thanks for the help. Have a good day." She rolled the paper up carefully as she moved towards the door.