The Iron Skeleton

Chapter 28

Minutes later, Brant and his five companions found themselves immediately outside the city walls. They stood before an open gateway, pausing for a few seconds to read the sign arching over it. The placard bore lettering in both the Kemarian and Jasmidianite languages, neither of which Brant understood. 

He glanced at Chariya. "What's it say?" 

The princess met his gaze. "It translates to 'cozy river town'." 

The Jasmidianite soldier raised an eyebrow at her. "Really? To me, it reads, 'home of the waters'." 

Aaron chuckled. "It seems your two peoples can never agree on what to name things." 

Chariya nodded. "Apparently so." 

"Are we ever gonna go in?" asked the other soldier, a pale man of scrawny build, "I'm ready to warm up here!" 

"As am I." Chariya replied, "Let us go." 

With that, the party stepped through the entrance and into the bustling town inside. A duo of shaggy-maned horses passed before them as they approached the nearest road, pulling a carriage behind them. Inside sat a young couple who buried themselves in blankets while also cradling a trio of swaddled babies in their arms. 

Chariya laid a hand on Aaron's shoulder. "Alright, you and Brant should go find that fuel. I will wander about with these three and see if I can gather some more recruits." 

Aaron nodded. "Sounds like a plan. Good luck." 

"May the luck of the gods rest on you as well." 

The burly man's nose wrinkled. "Yeah...of course. Anyway, onward." 

Brant and Aaron turned to search the scenic town for possible retailers selling fuel. A crushing silence lingered between the two men as they walked. They studiously avoided eye contact and instead studied the buildings and people surrounding them. 

Many of the townsmen had a uniqueness about their features, possessing thinner hair strands and almond-eyes typical of Kemarians, but with generally darker skin and robust builds more commonly found among the Jasmidianites. 

Brant's features brightened when he spotted a homey music shop several blocks down. His thoughts darted to Hannah as he eyed the rows of guitars hanging for display before the front window. A colorful sculpture of a Kemarian court jester stood before the door and beckoned him in. 

Brant said nothing to Aaron, but merely waited until they walked down the road a ways. As they passed by the storefront, he unceremoniously pivoted and opened the wooden door. 

Aaron frowned at Brant, but followed him anyway. "What's in here?" After taking a second to take in his new surroundings, he smirked. "Okay, then. Doesn't seem like your kinda place, but I guess you learn something new—" 

"You're right." Brant said, "This isn't my kind of place. But there's an injustice that needs to be rectified." 

With that, he pulled a guitar off the rack. Aaron laid eyes on the instrument, widened his eyes and mouth, and nodded. 

"I see what you mean. My goodness, that's pretty." 

Brant nodded, still studying the guitar's beauty himself. The body was constructed of a dark walnut, the already beautiful wood additionally perfected by a stain that accentuated the arched grain pattern. The fretboard's widening divisions were marked by shiny brass frets that formed an aesthetically pleasing contrast with the dark wood surrounding them. Finally, the hand-carved headstock completed the instrument, with intricate curves and sweeping lines cut into it.