Dawn of Adventure {Book One of The Paths We've Traveled}

Chapter Nine: Grimstone Manor

Two and a half weeks after the group started heading south and a week after the run-in with the bandits, they arrived on the outskirts of a massive estate, Grimstone Manor as it was known by the locals. Erza had heard the name from one of the other patrons at the inn the night before, and she had quickly learned more about the place they quickly approached.

"The closest big town twould be ol' Grimstone Manor, and the village around it." The gruff farmer pulled in a draft from his pipe, dark eyes scanning Erza's face as he obviously debated how much he should tell her. He would have offered his information for something different from the gold Erza hid under a hand, but a look at her dark haired husband sitting beside her had him quickly realizing that his best bet was with the money. Of course, he wasn't to know that Gray was only there to keep Erza from doing anything rash, but his assumption worked in their favor.

"What else can you tell us about this 'Grimstone Manor?'" Erza's face was the perfect picture of innocence, leading to the farmer relaxing his guard and his tongue.

"Travelers, are ya? Must be if ya don't know about Grimstone. A few miles south o' here, Lord Ajax has been ruling over his patch of land for a couple decades now, he and his son Verlane. Big, massive building, it's been around for a long time, it has. But I don't think that family really took control of the area until, oh a hundred years or so. From then on, they've had lots o' us farmers working their land for them and all the oth'r merchants in that town they took over making whatever they want. That's bout all I know bout Grimstone; not really that impressive, if I'm being 'onest." Erza shot Gray a quick look from under her lashes before nodding at the farmer, sliding him the stack of coins from beneath her palm. As soon as the coins left her hand, she and Grey stood and returned to the room they were sharing with the rest of their team.

From atop the hill they had paused on, Natsu surveyed the sprawling village before them. It didn't look like much, but then again, his companions were a lot more powerful than they looked. In the center of the shacks and small farms, a massive stone manor rose up towards the sky. It looked completely out of place here in the middle of this impoverished town, seeming more fitting for one of the old cities back in Fiore. In fact, the more Natsu looked at it, the more this manor reminded him of Lucy's house, the Heartfilia estate her father owned before he went bankrupt.

"It reminds me of where I grew up," Lucy whispered, taking the words right out of Natsu's head like she had done so many days ago. He nodded, throwing her a glance before going back to study the scene before them.

"I don't think this Lord Ajax is going to be as welcoming as Queen Hisui," Carla added, eyeing the distant estate with distaste. "I mean honestly! Look at all the finery of that manor and then the shambles the town has been left in!"

"This has to be the place," Wendy mumbled, raising her head briefly before letting it drop against the pillow that had been supporting her head for the past few weeks. "I've never felt so awful." Gray looked back at the girl in concern, hiding the emotion so she couldn't tell.

"Well let's go!" Happy started running forward toward the manor only to be stopped by Erza grabbing his bag and lifting him onto the wagon next to Carla.

"We can't just go rushing in there! We need to come up with a plan of action first. Let's go back down the hill so no one from the manor can see us." Lucy voiced her assent, and with a few mumbles and grumbling from Natsu and Happy, they all managed to gather in a circle at the base of the hill, Wendy sitting right next to the rim of the wagon. Gray rubbed his temples, trying to fight off an awful headache that had only started to grow in the past week.

"So what's the plan?" Natsu asked, leaning against the wagon, staring wistfully at the small bag of food a few feet away from him.

"I don't know," Erza admitted, fidgeting with her dress and scowling at the rough material. "God, I hope we're not stuck with these clothes for much longer."