While in Vellai Castle, Iris informed everyone present of their impending departure. Not far away from the forest where the castle lay, Haren and Edýia continued their journey in utter silence.
Haren seemed to have fallen deep in thought, and now Edýia was wondering what was going inside that giant skull of his. Her lips itched to ask more questions, but she was afraid to open her mouth.
Dawn was slowly creeping in, the sky was changing its colours fast, and Edya felt grateful even though she was hungry and tired. They were closer to the forest.
"We'll stop in the next village for food and a change of clothes!" Haren's voice broke the silence. Edýia raised her head to look up, and a village lay up ahead.
" Sounds good!" her voice faint, almost as a whisper.
" Coins? Do you have any? ' she asked a little offhandeshly
"Just enough to pay for food and clothes. We'll have to see if there is an inn or something' he paused for a moment " if not will have to haggle with the villagers. It is still early in the morning and we will catch them before they leave their homes to do their work.' he reasoned, although he sounded a bit uncertain of his decision.
" How long until we reach the woods?" her voice was wavering as if she was afraid to ask the question.
Haren turned his head to look at her " A day, maybe a day and a half! You're slow, so a day and a half !" he concluded looking ahead of himself.
" If you're tired, we can stop for a rest in the forest past the village.' he finished speaking.
" I'm a bit tired and hungry, but we can rest once we get there!" she seemed uncertain of her own words. Her eyes wandered from house to house but didn't settle on anything.
Her weary expression and dark circles under her eyes were evident. A clear sign that she was far from alright. Haren thought as he turned to look at the village in the front of them.
" We stop for rest after we get the clothes and the food!" sounded a little distant.
Edýia nodded and followed Haren as they walked through the village. Not far from where they were, a woman put washed clothes on the fence in front of the house to dry.
" Good day, woman! Where can we get some food and clothes in this village?" Haren rasped with a smile on his lips, stiff as a wooden plank.
The woman wearily smiled " Not in this village! You'll have to travel to Ullenhall for clothes.' she replied pointing at the hill behind them " there's a market, and there you'll find what you need!' the woman stopped speaking and picked up some more clothes to put on the fence to dry.
" How far is Ullenhall?' his voice sounded distant as he looked in the direction the woman pointed earlier.
' Oh, not far. A man of your stature can be there before the sun is high in the sky!" she mumbled, focused on her task of putting on clothes on the fence to dry.
" Can we trouble you for a piece of bread for this one? She is about to lose her senses, and some food will do her good!' Haren dryly chuckled at his own words.
The woman narrowed her eyes at Edýia and looked as if she was observing her, but she didn't say anything. She nodded and walked inside the house and came back with a piece of bread, and handed it to Edýia.
Edýia smiled " Thank you!" she said, her voice a whisper, she looked weary, sickly even.
" Now, leave me to do my work! I have a long day, and I ,don't have time for idle talk!" the woman chided, picked up her basket and walked inside the house.
" We are grateful for your help!" Haren said loud enough for the woman to hear and turned to Edýia.
" Hop on! I'll carry you since you move like a slug, and we don't have time to waste!" he said as he turned his back to Edýia for her to jump on his back.
Edýia shoved the piece of bread in her mouth. Even though it wasn't enough to satisfy her hunger. It was enough to settle her grumbling stomach for the moment. She jumped on Haren's back her arms around his neck.
" Won't it take us longer to reach the forest if we go to Ullenhall?" her words were muffled as she was still chewing on the piece of bread.
" Will carry on from there and enter the forest there!" he explained as he turned his head to the side to look at her.
" I thought that we couldn't enter the forest. Rom said that it is enchanted or some sort!" she remarked with her chin on his shoulder as they approached the hill.
Haren scowled and halted his steps at the foot of the hill that lay beyond the village " I'm sure your beloved is not all-knowing and will find a way inside the forest." he grumbled as he reprised his steps, walking up the hill.
Haren wasn't pleased with her mention, and it was evident to her Haren was begrudging Rom.
The sun climbed up the clear blue sky, and when it was almost at its zenith. Haren, with Edýia on his back, finally entered Ullenhall.
Haren let go of Edýia's legs so that she could stand on her own two feet and searched the market with his eyes.
The village was bustling, and the market seemed to be in full swing. Merchants sold their goods, spices, fabrics and all sorts of things that made Edýia's eye gauge out of their sockets at the sight of all the items displayed in the market.
Her eyes darted from one stall to another so fast that Haren quickly lost track of where she was looking.
" Spices, come get your spices!" one merchant shouted in the market to attract customers.
The enticing smell of food and alu wafted in. the air, making Edýia's mouth water at the delicious aroma of warm cooked food, and her stomach loudly grumbled in response.
" Come, let's have some food!" Haren pulled her hand to one of the stalls with cooked birds hanging up on the poles holding the cover over the stall.
Edýia eyed one small bird and pointed at it " What is that? she asked the merchant, hungrily eyeing the bird.
" Ooho, You have fine taste, milady! That's fowl, freshly caught this morning! It is delicious!' the merchant praised his goods.
" How much for the fowl and grouse?" Haren asked as he fished a pouch of coins out of his tunic.
The merchant's eyes shined with greed at the sight of the pouch " three gold coins, milord!" he stated his price as he still looked at the purse in his hand.