As they rode onward, the horizon gradually revealed a line of tall, imposing walls. Atop the walls fluttered flags, visible yet too distant to discern their symbols or colours. Luke squinted, curiosity piqued, and before he could voice his question, Gareth began to explain.
"That's the Fortress of Edenhide," Gareth said, his tone carrying a mix of respect and resentment. "It's a stronghold of the Antinoirist faction, so you shouldn't draw too much attention to yourself."
Luke nodded, taking in Gareth's words and the sight of the fortress. It loomed large, with its stone walls rising high, almost merging with the sky. The architecture was both majestic and foreboding, a testament to the fortress's strength and the vigilance of its inhabitants.
"The fortress is heavily guarded," Gareth continued. "They've got battlements, watchtowers, and a moat. The place is practically impenetrable. And those flags you see—they represent their power and their pride. But despite all their strength, they've refused to help us in Purewood."
Luke noticed the bitterness in Gareth's voice and the disdain in his eyes. There was a palpable layer of resentment in his description of Edenhide, a fortress that symbolized both safety and abandonment.
"Why won't they help?" Luke asked, his curiosity overcoming his hesitation.
Gareth sighed, his expression hardening.
"Edenhide is ruled by Antinoirists. They despise us in Purewood because we're Noirists, believers in the magic and the gods. They consider us heretics, unworthy of their aid. Despite being our closest neighbours, they've refused to help protect us from the monsters and beasts that threaten our city. They've got the power and the resources, but they'd rather see us suffer."
The injustice of it all was clear in Gareth's voice. Luke felt a pang of sympathy for the people of Purewood, left to fend for themselves against the dangers from the east.
"And it gets worse," Gareth added. "If people from Purewood stop in Edenhide, they face discrimination and harassment. It's gotten so bad that we've had to find alternate routes to avoid them. It's not just indifference; it's active hostility."
Luke absorbed Gareth's words, the weight of them settling heavily in his mind. The fortress of Edenhide, with all its grandeur, now seemed tainted by the prejudice and animosity it harboured. He glanced at Gareth, whose eyes were fixed on the distant fortress, a flicker of old wounds and unspoken battles reflecting in their depths.
As the carriage drew closer, the reality of the fortress and its implications loomed larger. For now, they would pass by without incident, but Luke couldn't shake the feeling that Edenhide was a place where the past's shadows lingered, casting a long and unforgiving pall over the present.
As they neared the imposing walls of the Fortress of Edenhide, disaster struck. The right rear wheel of the carriage snapped, its frame giving way and causing the entire structure to tilt violently sideways. The sudden jolt threw both Gareth and Luke from their seats. Luke tumbled across the ground, the rough terrain scraping his hands and knees. Gareth, however, let out a sharp scream of pain as his injured leg was the first to hit the ground.
Tora, the tiger pulling the carriage, began to thrash in panic as the weight of the tilting carriage pulled on him. Luke, shaking off his pain, scrambled to his feet and rushed to Gareth. Seeing the blood beginning to seep through the bandage on Gareth's leg, Luke hesitated.
"Unharness Tora first!" Gareth instructed, his voice strained but urgent.
"But your leg—" Luke started, but Gareth cut him off.
"Just do it, Luke! Tora's in pain!"
Reluctantly, Luke turned his attention to the frantic tiger. With quick, precise movements, he unfastened the harness, freeing Tora from the burden of the broken carriage. The tiger calmed almost immediately, stepping away from the tilted vehicle and shaking off the tension.
Luke then grabbed the bag of bandages and medicines from the carriage and rushed back to Gareth. Kneeling beside him, he handed over the supplies, watching as Gareth tried to manage his pain.
They settled on the side of the road, both catching their breath and reassessing their situation. Luke took the lead in re-bandaging Gareth's leg, carefully applying pressure to stem the bleeding from the reopened wound.
Gareth winced but managed a small smile.
"You're getting better at this," he said, attempting to lighten the mood.
"Not exactly the kind of progress I was hoping to make," Luke replied, trying to keep his tone light despite his worry.
As they worked, the imposing walls of Edenhide loomed in the background, a silent witness to their misfortune. The conversation from the previous night lingered between them, unspoken but heavy in the air. The incident had temporarily shifted their focus, but Luke knew it was only a matter of time before they would have to confront those unresolved issues again.
For now, their immediate concern was the broken carriage. Luke surveyed the damage, noting the snapped frame and the tilted structure. It was clear they wouldn't be able to continue without repairs.
"We need to fix this wheel," Luke said, glancing at Gareth. "But we can't do it here. Not with your leg and..."
"There's a small village not far from here, just past Edenhide. They might have the tools and materials we need," Gareth nodded, understanding the implications.
Luke surveyed the broken carriage with growing concern. The wheel was beyond repair here, and Gareth's leg was in no condition for a long trek. Gareth, reading the worry on Luke's face, suggested an alternative.
"Luke, you should take Tora and ride to the nearest village for help," Gareth said, his voice steady despite the pain.
Luke looked at the towering Fortress of Edenhide. The fortress was close, yet Gareth's suggestion to seek aid elsewhere underscored the deep-seated distrust and hostility towards the fortress.
"You're really suggesting I go to a village instead of that fortress?" Luke asked, pointing towards the imposing structure.
"Yes, the village. The people in Edenhide definitely will mock us if they saw what happened, and it's not worth the risk," Gareth nodded.
"I can't leave you here alone, Gareth. What if something happens?" Luke hesitated.
"What's the worst that could happen? I'm a knight, remember? I can handle myself. Plus, if you stay here any longer, it won't change a thing," with a chuckle, Gareth replied.
Luke sighed, knowing Gareth was right. He walked over to Tora and gently mounted the tiger.
"Alright, I'll go. But I'll be quick."
"Follow this road, and you'll reach a small village called Pathaven. Find a man named Milton and tell him Gareth sent you. He'll know what to do," Gareth pointed down the road.
Luke gave Gareth one last look, the first friend he had made in this strange new world. Gareth's calm demeanour and reassuring smile gave him the courage he needed.
"I'll be back soon," Luke promised, nudging Tora forward.
As Tora carried him away, Luke glanced back at Gareth one last time. The knight was sitting up, already checking his leg with a stoic determination. Luke knew Gareth was tough, but the situation still gnawed at him. He turned his focus ahead, urging Tora to pick up the pace.
The road stretched out before him, winding through the landscape towards Pathaven. Luke's mind raced with thoughts of the previous night's conversation, the broken carriage, and Gareth's unwavering resolve. He had to find help quickly and return before anything else went wrong.
The journey to Pathaven would be a test of Luke's determination and newfound adaptability in this world. And as he rode, he couldn't shake the feeling that the real challenges were just beginning.
The ride was surprisingly smooth, Tora's powerful strides eating up the distance with ease. The landscape around Luke began to change gradually, the dense forests giving way to open fields and scattered farms. The setting sun cast long shadows, painting the world in hues of orange and gold. Luke's mind wandered back to Gareth's words about the fortress and the village.
The distrust between the City of Purewood and the Fortress of Edenhide ran deep, but Luke couldn't fully grasp the extent of it until now. Every detail of Gareth's cautious instructions underscored a long history of animosity and survival.
As Pathaven came into view, Luke felt a mixture of relief and urgency. The village was small, a cluster of cottages and a few larger buildings huddled together amidst the fields. Smoke rose from chimneys, and the distant sound of livestock added a sense of normalcy. Luke guided Tora towards the village centre, scanning the area for any signs of Milton. He couldn't afford to waste time when Luke frantically asked every person he met since Gareth was counting on him.
Finally, one of the people directed Luke to an older man with a rugged, authoritative presence, deemed to be the Milton he was searching for. Luke dismounted and approached quickly, explaining Gareth's predicament. The man listened intently, his expression growing serious.
"Can you help?" Luke asked, to which the man nodded. "Oh... a... Gareth sent me. We need help with our broken carriage."
Milton wasted no time, rallying a few villagers to gather supplies and prepare for the journey back. Luke felt a wave of relief wash over him. Help was on its way, and soon they would be back on the road to the City of Purewood.