Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Soren and I weaved through the streets for hours. Nothing looked quite the same. Houses made of stone lined every road, yet none were identical, just like the people. A vast majority harbored the pointed ears of the Sidhe nationality. However, there were others, some with the half-pointed ears of crossbreeds. Some with the sharp teeth of the Lysians and some with the dull teeth and ears of the Bavadrins.
"Do all the races get along?" I asked Soren under my breath after catching a glimpse of children playing with a ball. They kicked it around a small courtyard. Dirt caked their skin and stained their clothing, clearly marking them as coming from less fortunate families. However, their smiles appeared genuine. Their laughter and spirit spread through the surrounding streets, bringing a certain charm to the area. But most remarkably, all races made up the group of children.
"They do," Soren stated, glancing at the kids before turning back to the street. "Here, we do not separate based on race." The way he said it was as if an underlying meaning was hidden amongst the words.
"And how are you separated?"
"We keep apart the gifted from those without conjuring abilities."
I turned to him. "So everyone within these mountain walls..." I couldn't finish the sentence, for it scared me.
"Is a conjuror," he confirmed.
So many. Thousands of people, all conjurors, all under the Sidhe King's command.
As we weaved through the streets, we eventually made it to where the roads and buildings ended and trees began. A forest took up a chunk of the valley surrounded by mountains. Dark, green, and lush, it breathed a sense of freedom into the city perimeter. Offering an escape, even while within the mountain-made walls.
Shay released a soft whine, looking from the forest at me. Her tail rhythmically swayed side to side.
"Is it safe in there?" I asked.
Soren glanced at Shay before turning to me. "Your wolf will be fine."
I looked at Shay's wide, awaiting eyes. "Would you be able to find your way back to me?"
She released a soft snort and dipped her head.
"Then you may go."
The wolf shot forward, rushing into the woods.
"I take it I can also explore if I ever felt the desire?" I asked, shifting my attention to Soren.
He folded his arms across his chest, skin marred by intricate cuts from blades. His gaze held mine, though I could not read him. "You too could explore whenever you would like. But I would advise you not to go alone or risk getting lost. The forest is quite extensive. And if you wish to go on your own hoping to find a secret way into this city, then allow me to save you the trouble and tell you that you will not find one."
