Four silver erids!" he haggled, " Not big enough to be worth that much." he added, narrowing his eyes at the merchant, and the merchant reluctantly nodded with a semblance of a polite smile
" Where can we get a horse?" Haren asked as he rummaged in his leather pouch and pulled out four erids.
The merchant took the coins " There is a stable next to the Gold Finch Inn. You will be able to get horses there". The merchant said as he pointed towards the end of the paved alley to a building with a golden finch on the front door.
" We will be faster by horse. We will reach the forest before sundown." Haren said, taking the fowl and the grouse from the merchant, feigning a polite smile.
" Good day, milord, milady!" the merchant curtly bowed and turned to other customers.
" Thank you!" Edýia shyly muttered as Haren pulled her by the arm toward the inn.
" When can we eat? I'm starving!" Edýia cried
" Will eat on the way. We don't have time to waste, and we still have to get clothes! These can stand on their own!"
Edýia cursed and made some more noise " Stop your wailing. Next time you think of running away, you may think twice." Haren scolded, stopping in front of the stable and eyeing the horses.
" They don't look sturdy enough to carry both of us, and we don't have enough coins for two horses. I'll have to walk while you ride the horse." Haren shoved the birds in her arms and walked inside the stable to speak with the merchant.
He returned with a black mare, with a white patch on her forehead, in the shape of a star.
" She is beautiful. She could use some hay and oats!" Edýia said as she stroked the mare's neck.
" Does she have a name?" she craned over the horse's neck, on her toes.
Haren hummed, " Yala!" he took the reins and walked " Let's get something to wear. We don't have many coins left, so we will have to settle with what we can get. I won't be much, but they will be clean." he said, as he was eyeing a stall with clothing not far from where they were.
" Stay here with Yala. I'll be back and then will go.." he handed the reins to the horse to her and stomped through the crowd.
While waiting for his return, she looked around, and Edýia realised that she had never seen so many people in one place, living their lives peacefully, unaware that somewhere in the North, trouble was brewing.
Sooner or later, as the northerner numbers dwindle, the monsters will cross the border and make their way into other kingdoms.
" What are you thinking?" Haren's voice interrupted her thoughts. " You look worried! Is it Dak? He will be fine! He can take care of himself. These lands will turn into dust if the North can't hold them off any longer." he said as he tied the bag on the horse and put her in the saddle.
Haren took hold horse's bridle and turned it around on the alley, and they began making their way out of Ullenhall.
Edýia looked over her shoulder one last time before stepping through the gate of the town, back into the main road, which was filled with carters, and wagons coming and going out of town
" This was once how Gaerwen used to be. Full of life, but now it is just a ruin trampled by creatures," he grumbled doleful as he walked along the mare, resting his hand on the neck.
" Maybe one day will return to how it once was" she sounded hopeful, but he doubted that would ever happen.
They wasted a lot of time in the southern lands and still had no answers. They were chasing ghosts and myths and legends as the people of the North battled to stay alive.
Edýia sighed, and she looked at the birds in her hand. Suddenly she wasn't hungry or tired anymore. Although the town was flourishing and everything looked lavish, the thought of her people struggling left her dull and cold.
" Pass me a leg?" Haren said as he extended his hand towards her.
Edýia sighed again and tore off a leg, and handed it to Haren, who put the entire leg in its mouth a chewed on it, humming at the taste of it.
Edýia's stomach grumbled again, louder this time," Eat! Sulking won't keep you full." reaching with his hand again for her to hand her some more meat.
Edýia finally began to eat, and soon enough, they stepped away from the main road, returning to their previous route, which led to the forest.
With Edýia on the horse, Haren lunged with his long legs and made up the lost time. The sun was finally setting down for the day when they reached the forest, and Dak halted his steps right at the edge of it.
The forest looked out of place, in his opinion. There was a plain, and suddenly, there was the forest, completely different with trees he had never seen before. Haren couldn't hear birds singing, he spotted a rabbit from afar, but it didn't seem like there was much inside the forest.
He remembered Edýia's words and cautiously approached the forest with his hands forward. His entry into the forest wasn't met with resistance, so he walked back and took the horse harness and pulled Edýia into the woods, but as soon as they stepped inside, a zinging sound rang in the air. Soon a sheen of light covered the forest and changed its colour several times, finally settling on blue.
Haren frowned and took some steps back and approached the veil that looked more like a pretty coloured wall to him. He reached with his hand to touch it, but when his hands got too close, he was thrown in the air and into the nearest tree.