Hunting for courage

Chapter 4

Being the capital of the Nadim province, Bolduf was much bigger than Rhawe. Royce's town with its dozens of houses could cover barely one-six of this city.

''How could so many people stay together in one place?'' thought Royce. He had not visited other cities. Most times when he left Rhawe it was just to venture into the woods near the town to hunt. He wasn't going to go further. You didn't want the night to find you away from home, especially in these parts. Not only because of the cold, although it may very well kill you, but because of other things.

Diana stopped the horse to let a carriage pass. It was drawn by two horses, white as milk. Marvelous! Forget about the frames and door handles made of gold, those white horses were more valuable than his whole house. How could someone be so rich? He should be some prince or a nobleman of high rank.

The horse advanced again, and Royce, still staring at the carriage, almost fell from the saddle.

''Hold well, '' said Diana. '' And don't let yourself get distracted. ''

''Sorry, but you saw it, right? I think a prince have just passed before our eyes. ''

''Maybe the prince of some bar. If it would have been a real prince, we couldn't have come close to even a hundred meters from him. There is a big difference between a nobleman in a small town like this and a prince. ''

Small town? This?! He didn't come to believe that this was "only" a little lord of a "small town".

The horse marched slowly and behind him were Ays being followed by Awan. Around them, people of all nations passed without even noticing the group. Most of those who passed by were Thell, with their green eyes and black hair, but among them Royce could distinguish unique groups.

Aliah, and with their blond hair, were in one group, sitting at a table inside a cafe, with a small tube in their mouths. They seemed to inhale hot streams from something that was boiling inside a glass pot. Orange and purple fumes came out of the men mouths while talking. They were all dressed in furs, not caring if they show wealth. Maybe this is what they wanted.

There were also Pahs with their white hair and beards, beards that were trimmed short. They were in the corners of the streets, trying to sell people all kinds of strange things from their country. Awan frowned when one of them tried to sell him a stick with some balls caught around it. He swore in a language unknown to Royce and he sent the horse in the opposite direction.

''From warriors to merchants, '' Awan murmured.

Royce smiled and turned his gaze to the other side where three giants were standing, with short blue hair and black eyes with that little touch of blue in the centre. What could some Fhaa people do through these places? Yes, Ays was a mercenary, it was understandable why he was here. But they?

Looking more closely, Royce noticed some paper in their hands that they were trying to give to the people, but the crowds didn't even seemed to notice them. They were invisible. Ays greeted his brother, closing his left eye and nodding his head up and down, and they, in turn, greeted by closing the right eye and nodding their heads from left to right.

" What's the meaning of that greeting? " said Royce.

"This one? Well, my dear Royce, it is a symbol of the god Fhaa. He sleeps with one eye closed and one open to see the coming of the Eternal Night. Nodding up and down is a reminder of our god effort, and nodding from left to right means the recognition that the Eternal Night did not come. "

" And the paper in their hands? "

"These are prayers. These brothers of mine are missionaries trying to preach to the world before the arrival of the Eternal Night. "