Tales of Darkness and Light (Book 1 Complete)

Chapter 5: Of Lords and Secrets

Chapter 5: Of Lords and Secrets

Salt City was a small trading city on the outskirts of Perrnath, but it was unlike anything that Addy had seen before. The air smelled faintly of fish and salt - hence the name - and the marketplace was more crowded than Moonlight City the day of a new play opening.

Addy and Lillian would have stuck out like a sore thumb in their armour and robes, so they changed when they checked into a small inn. The walls of Addy's assigned room were more than a little moist, and she couldn't help but shudder about sleeping there tonight, but she had a rapidly dwindling supply of coins. Plus, beggars couldn't be choosers.

Lillian pulled out a small, yellowing roll of paper. Glancing over her shoulder, Addy could just glimpse the words: 22nd on 3rd street - you can't miss it! written in an untidy script. She frowned. There was just something so familiar about that handwriting... She shook her head. Now wasn't the time.

The pair of girls did their best to blend into the crowds. Salt City had seen little of the Great War, being in the heart of Perrnath. Save for a few city guards, no one carried weapons, and the citizens seemed relaxed.

There were no war orphans running around with wide eyes and gaunt faces, no shops burned down by the fire of Mordan soldiers. It was comforting, to take in the smiles on the faces of so many of the people and know that this city was safe from harm.

Hopefully her home- Addy yanked herself out of her thoughts, as viciously as she was able. She didn't have a home, not anymore. Her own arrogance had seen to that.

"I know where I'm going, alright!" Lillian's unbidden cry of frustration attracted the attention of a few nearby shoppers.

Addy raised an eyebrow. "I never said you didn't," she said.

In truth, seeing Lillian so frustrated was more than a little amusing. Ever since she had met the priestess last week, the girl had seemed unnaturally cool and collected, so good at everything she attempted. It was nice to see Lillian was just as human as the rest of them.

"I could tell you were thinking it."

"I never realized you could read my thoughts. What a rare talent."

"The sarcasm is not appreciated," Lillian said through gritted teeth.

"I'm terribly sorry for offending you."

"Addy, I will knock your teeth out, and I mean it."

"I was being serious!" 

    The two girls glared at each other for a brief moment before they both realized the absurdity of the situation and descended into giggles. This attracted, once more, the attention of passersby. Though the girls were wearing fairly standard attire, their weapons could only be concealed so well under ill fitting cloaks. Addy caught more than one person who stopped to gaze at her sword, before being thrust forward by the horde of shoppers.

"Alright, let's switch," Addy said, and Lillian handed her the map. "You keep a lookout for any suspicious types."

    "Oh, thank Galina," Lillian muttered.

The navigation went much better with Addy at the helm. After a few blocks, they stopped walking on circles and made it to third street. There was an instantaneous change. The townhomes and shops that decorated the other streets, full of life and vibrant colours, were gone. The houses were much, much larger now, the sort that only the wealthiest of merchants or nobility lived in.

They had gates at the front, stables and fountains, and an air of isolation that even being only a few blocks away from the marketplace couldn't erase. Addy could almost feel a pang of homesickness, despite Salt City, the small trading city by the sea in Perrnath being nothing like Moonlight City. That was the capital of Alura, where she had grown up.