Goldentracks

Chapter Twenty-Two

It was almost noon when Sabrina arrived at the town gate. She hadn't slept much, and had left the cottage near the farmer's hut early that morning. Though the gate was open, there was a guard standing on either side of its archway, and an oxcart stopped at the entrance. Taking a deep breath, Sabrina composed her features into the most calm and neutral appearance she could command as she walked up to the gate. She stopped when the guard to her right signalled her to do so. He looked to be in his late twenties and, though not very large, stood like a man who knew how to handle himself in a fight.

After scrutinizing her clothes for a moment, he asked, "Who are you and what is your business here?"

"I am Sabrina Melchiore and I am here on the invitation of Lord Sandford of Eastwin."

With a small start of surprise the guard walked to the opposite side of the gate to confer with the other guardsman. After a few short words, he walked quickly back to her. "Follow me." Turning on his heel, he set a brisk pace. Snapping to, Sabrina followed him into town.

As they walked down the dirt street, all sorts of people went about their business around them. Sabrina took note of every alleyway and crossroad. If she had to disappear quickly she needed to remember at least one way out. Houses, bakeries, merchants' and artisans stalls, barbershops, and taverns crowded every street. And though her attire was odd for a girl, no one paid her much attention as peddlers tried to entice passersby to look at their wares.

When they reached the town square she saw market stalls with all manner of produce and goods. Beyond the market was the town church. Connecting to the square were two more main streets. The guard led her toward the one forking to the left. Though the town wasn't the largest she had ever seen, it was still bigger than she'd expected it to be. Perhaps it has many close ties to another larger trading town and has absorbed its grander ways into its quaintness, she thought as she walked on.

In time, the guard led her off the main road onto side streets and alleyways. Though not exactly scary, the seemingly meandering route was worrisome. By now, Sabrina had mostly given up on the idea of keeping a mental map of the town in her head. All the buildings were made of wood and every new bend led to a street similar to the one before. Easy escape was now becoming less and less feasible. The last turn took them to a tall stone wall that travelled the entire length of the street. The only opening in the wall was blocked by a thick wooden door. The guardsman knocked. A few seconds later, a man opened a small panel in the door and looked out. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at the southeast gate?"

"This here is one of the girls we were instructed to take to the lord's home if she showed up at the gate."

Instantly shutting the panel, the inner-gate guardsman unbarred the door and opened it. "Identify yourself," he said as he sized her up.

"I am Sabrina Melchiore. I was invited to meet Lord Sandford," she replied mirroring the guard's tone.

The two men exchanged a quick nod. The guard who had guided her to the inner gate left them to return to his post. The other stepped aside and waited for Sabrina to enter the courtyard. Once he'd barred the door again, the guard walked her down a well-worn path along the wall. The courtyard was large, at least four times the size of the farmer's plot of land. It had manicured shrubs and decorative trees. Though the path they were on continued along the wall, it also branched toward a red brick manor home. Very different from the grand homes in Tahlia, where the roofs were either domed or square, it had a rooftop composed of a maze of triangles in a forest of chimneys. At a quick glance, the three-storey manor looked large as though it could easily encompass five the merchants' townhouses. The guard led her down the path to the manor. As they neared the building they continued following the path, which snaked around the side of it. Sabrina could see people coming and going in the rear courtyard. Some were servants, others were guards. Looking back at the manor as they continued, she felt certain that her gamble would either ruin her or save her. Taking a deep breath, she turned her attention back to the direction in which the guard was leading her. They were moving toward another large building. Simpler in its construction, it being a half-timbered hall, it was about a third of the size of the manor house and only two storeys high. Sabrina guessed it to be the guards' barracks. As she and the guard drew closer to the hall, more and more people on the grounds seemed to take notice of her presence, and Sabrina was uncomfortably aware of her singular appearance, a girl in breeches equipped with a bow and arrows. It was an unusual sight. Her being led to what appeared to be the town garrison didn't help either. It is a good thing I kept my short sword inside my bag, she thought as she ignored the second glances and the open stares.