Chapter One

Chapter One


The wooden wheels of the cart rolled and grumbled as it ground its way along the gravel road. The small caravan was nearing one of the major stops on its route to the great planes. Dusk had already fallen and the road was only lit by the last dregs of twilight and by the moon. It was not the safest time to be traveling, but after the delays they had when they set off and one of the short cuts that the party would have normally took had been washed out the previous season, they were behind schedule. They could have set up camp but they wanted to get to the next town so they could be ready for the market the next day. As they came over the rise of Caratci hill and the city of Belandor came into view, a young man sat up from where he had been laying in the back of a cart. “Are we there yet?” “No we’re not, we’re still moving! But that is where we are going if you must know” replied the burly party leader. You can see that it’s Belandor by the twin light towers on each side of the harbor entrance. “Light towers?” “Yes those tall white towers over there, the ones with fires burning at their tops.” The young man squinted in to the distance. “Hey they are kind of big” Yes they are the second biggest light towers along this coast.” “Hmmm. Ok. Can you wake me up when we get to the city gates?” The young man said as he flopped back down. The party leader just shook his head paused and then chuckled to himself. He was a nice enough passenger, a little odd but pleasant enough to be around. He couldn’t shake the feeling though that there was more than meets the eye with him though.

As the gates of the city loomed up Farren the party leader banged on the side of the cart and told the traveler haul his ass out of cart. Otherwise he would be charging him extra to cover the cost of paying the gate cargo tax on him if he continued to lie there, doing such a good impression of a sack of potatoes.
With a jump and a half twist the caravans passenger had somersaulted out off the cart and was standing beside Farren with a couple of copper and silver coins in his hand. “That should cover what I owe you” “Yes that will do.” The young man started to walk off and was about to be lost in the hustle and bustle of those entering and leaving the city when he stopped and turned. Looking back at Farren and his men he took a custard apple out from his jacket pocket and tossed to Farren. “Here this is for you and your daughter.” “Oh, um thank you!?.” “Ok Go enjoy yourself in Belandor, keep out of mischief”. But by then he was gone. Looking down at the piece of fruit, Farren shook his head. Where did he find a custard apple in these parts? Didn’t he know how much one of them cost?? Shrugging his shoulders he turned back to his men and hurled some abuse at them to hurry up and get a move on they had a big day ahead of them tomorrow.