Squish.
Ralph dismounted from the carriage; right before him lay Lavren, the destination of this journey.
Unlike Cassandra, which boasted churches and castles, here there was only a uniform landscape of low stone buildings. Several swarthy-skinned peasant women poked their heads out from behind their doors, sizing up the government official who had just descended from the carriage—an uncommon sight for outsiders here.
The construction of roads had not yet begun, and the village was still lined with dirt paths. Even this main artery, used for transportation, was mired in mud. Ralph breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, long years of work habits allowed him to move quietly and with care. During the process of alighting, only the very bottom layer of his riding boots became coated with a splatter of mud.
Splat!
