Land of Athlora

*Chapter 11 - Tessa Mountain Range

After Wren handed over the 2 copper coins and bags of food to the child, the child had wordlessly thanked her in disbelief, before scurrying away into the crowd. Wren did not criticize the child's action as she understood the fear of his things being stolen. But nonetheless Wren honestly wished the child the best of luck from the depths of her heart.

Wren leisurely munches finishes the two fruits, before getting up and heading down the cobbled street towards the guard post. Still left with a handful of sweets, Wren makes her way to the already formed queue as she chews on her sweets. Despite the wait the line is neatly formed as the Guards of Olden-Rise were famous for having little patience with impertinent travelers.

The start of the line begins to move as Wren lines up behind a large group of merchants. The well-trained guards with confidently strides past in routine check carrying powerful enchanted weapons. The experienced guards' eyes study the group for any sign of suspicious behavior. A tall guard with a youthful face and twisting locks of brown hair approaches down the side of the line towards Wren. The young faced guard stops in front of her and pointedly clears his throat as Wren pointedly ignores him back.

Clearing his throat again the youthful faced guard says, "What is a young child like you doing in line? Don't you know a child is not allowed to enter and travel through the mountain pass by themselves?"

Wren's stomach sinks, but Wren wasn't one to be easily be shaken by the guards. There were plenty of run in's the capital and Wren did not necessarily have a good impression of them. Nevertheless, Wren also knew that the guards were quite easy to handle if one knew what buttons to push.

Faking a child's innocence, Wren's eyes widen filled with awe. "No, sir, I am just waiting for my guardian. He took off for a bite to eat and is running late no doubt. My uncle enjoys the company of theirs a bit too much for his own good," Wren cheekily said.

The guard with a youthful face nods in understanding as he had seen similar situations before. The guard firmly says, "Fine then. In that case, please step out of the line and we'll wait here together for your guardian."

Wren grinds her teeth in slight annoyance. This guard is really turning to more trouble than he is worth. It's just her luck. Probably on any other day, she would have been able to safely pass through the toll all by herself if for not this guard's turn to be on duty.

Putting on a pair of fake cheerfulness, Wren beams in joy at the guards concerned actions for her well-being. "Why thank you sir, for your concern. I happy to know that such fine officers such yourself still exist in the world caring for all of us common folk," Wren said with childlike awe in her voice.

The youthful faced guard, blushes slightly at her innocent praises. Wren cackles darkly in the depths of her heart, before rapidly becoming sullen. With reluctant hesitation on Wren's part, Wren moves to step out of a line when a firm hand clamps itself onto the youthful faced guards' shoulder.

The guard with the youthful face turns around and doesn't see anyone, but the top of a hood. The youthful faced guard frowns in annoyance and glares down at the owner of the hand. A short man only just over a meter tall with a stout face and a sturdy body greets the guards glare with a friendly smile. Pulling back his hood, the middle-aged man's face can be seen. A long nose with dirt colored eyes and graying peppered streaked wiry hair.

Wren sniffs the air in suspicion as the smell of earth and metal wafts into the air. Wren recognizes the scent from some of the girls at the brothel, it was the scent of dwarven folk. But unlike them, he didn't look much like full-blooded dwarf. No, he was much too tall and too slender to be a full-blooded dwarf.