by Pirateaba
There was no electricity in this world. But who needed that when magic provided an even steadier, softer glow? The hanging orbs of crystal shone even in the day, and some had been enchanted to shift color steadily, to catch and bewitch the eye.
“See the guards on patrol, Miss Ryoka? They’re fine warriors, all of them. As fine as you’d see in any Drake city! Some of them are retired adventurers, and but for a few old wounds they’re as dangerous as they were in their youth.”
Reynold pointed out a group of men and women marching smartly down the street. They certainly did look older than normal, but Ryoka saw the confident way each one walked. She saw them pass by as the carriage moved onwards.
That was another thing. The city had a street and sidewalk. There were no wagons mixing with pedestrians here—there was a separate route for vehicles such that they could keep moving despite the flow of foot-traffic. Ryoka saw a [Guardswoman] directing traffic and wondered if there were street lights too. That would be too surreal.
“I smell goat meat! And cow meat! And rat meat! And spices! Thyme and rosemary and paprika and qerix and bablyous!”
Ivolethe shouted and leapt from Ryoka’s head. She skimmed to an open stall and laughed as the vendor swore and tried to protect his wares on display. Ryoka passed by one of the open markets in the city and saw countless stalls like the ones in Liscor, all open, all filled with [Merchants] and [Traders] doing business with people there.
“How many people live here?”
She shouted at Reynold as he drove the carriage up a street. He had to raise his voice to reply.
“I couldn’t say how many, Miss! This city is so vast—and there are countless towns and villages only a stone’s throw away!”
It couldn’t be a million. Ryoka was sure…but well, why not? She knew cities like Paris and London had boasted over a hundred thousand people in the middle ages. This city was surely as large—no, larger than they were. If you counted the suburbs and outskirts, why not?
“Unbelievable.”
She whispered the words as the carriage rode on. Now Reynold was taking her into the heart of the business district, as far as she could tell. Shops passed by on the right and left and she heard people calling out to her as she passed.
“Milady, a moment, please! Would you be interested in the latest wares from Baleros? A shipment has come in from T’vault, please see!”
“I have the latest treats from Terandria, right here! Try our fabulous new treat, a frozen delight! You won’t be able to say no to another lick!”
The man was talking about ice cream! Ryoka saw it being served in a shop—the man there was putting it on little gold platters for people to sample. She looked over to the other side of the street and saw a huge plaza pass by. The people shouting there seemed to be aiming for warriors, judging by the calls.
“Want a Shield Spider? Invaluable protection—don’t fear it turning on you! An expert [Beast Master] has trained it to fight and obey your every command!”
“Our group is seeking work! A [Jarl] and [Raiders] are willing to fight at your command!”
“I have a pot of Everburning Flame here! Make me an offer, quickly!”
“The Windfrozen Riders are available for commission—”
“Hire the Celestial Trackers and we will find your quarry or your coin back—”
The voices were swept away as Ryoka passed by. She turned her head to look and spoke to Ivolethe.
“I might have to get an Everburning Flame while I’m here. It could be seriously useful, especially if I can build a primitive steam engine or something. Hell, I could probably find a [Blacksmith] to make me the parts.”
The Frost Faerie laughed.
“Hah! Yon fool lies. That pot is filled with naught but oil. ‘Tis an alchemist’s trick—it will burn for a week before running out.”
“Damn. How can you tell?”
“‘Twas not magic. And I caught the odor of the burnt oil as we passed. How could you not tell?”
Ryoka stared at Ivolethe, impressed.
“I’m going to take you when I go shopping.”
“After you buy me meat! You promised!”
“I need to take care of business first. Reynold, where’s the Runner’s Guild in the city?”
“We’re arriving at the largest branch now, Miss Ryoka.”
Reynold pointed, and Ryoka saw a large building to one side. It was painted like most of the buildings in the city—a light blue color, and she saw there were three sets of doors that were constantly in use as citizens came in to claim a package or have one delivered, and Runners went out to make said deliveries.
“Looks like that’s my stop. Should I wait for you there?”
“I’m afraid I will have to park this carriage at a spot designated for Lady Reinhart’s vehicles. Please do not wait for me. Instead, if you will accept this seal, I will locate you.”
Reynold produced one of Lady Magnolia’s iconic seals, half-gem, half-silver. Ryoka eyed the translucent sapphire melted together with shining silver metal into a single disc.
“Expensive. Are you sure I need it?”
“It will allow you unfettered access to many establishments, I think you will find, Miss Ryoka. Of course, Lady Reinhart asks that you not make any claims against her name with her token—lending it to you is an act of great trust.”
“And it has a tracking spell, doesn’t it? That’s how you’re going to find me.”
“Yes, Miss. This is most convenient in such a large city.”
Ryoka sighed, but took the token reluctantly.
“Find me as soon as you can and we’ll go visit that enchanter.”
“Yes, Miss Ryoka.”
“And stop calling me Miss!”
Ryoka shouted as she leapt out of the carriage and Reynold drove off. She sighed as Ivolethe flew down and landed on her shoulder.
“Are ye going to take long in yon building?”
“Not too long if I can get past the receptionists without too much fuss. But they’ll have to tally all the deliveries I’ve got…look, just get inside my pouch and wait, alright?”
“Ach, the things that friendship requires.”
Grumbling, Ivolethe flew into Ryoka’s pouch. The Runner adjusted her belt, and then strode into the Runner’s Guild.
Whatever she had been expecting, Ryoka hadn’t quite expected the scope of this Guild. She stared around for a second, blinking, as her eyes took in the main Runner’s Guild of Invrisil.
“Wow. That’s a lot of Runners.”
There had to be over a hundred people in the building. That was three times as many as Ryoka had ever seen in Celum’s guild at any one time, and this was only the main building? She saw Runners coming and going, people of all species. A Gnoll with a package tied to a sling around her chest brushed past her, and Ryoka realized there was a steady stream going in and out the doors.
Quickly, the young woman stepped towards the receptionists. There were quite a few of them, and they were dealing with Runners quickly, changing seals for coin, handing out deliveries, and so on. Ryoka stepped into line and found herself advancing in the queue at startling speed.
There was no waiting long in a Runner’s Guild it seemed. Ryoka could already see the brisk [Receptionists] talking with Runners at the front. They seemed older than the normal group of young women, and there were men in the mix as well.
Ryoka fidgeted as she reached for her Runner’s Seal and bag of holding carrying all the deliveries from Ocre. She still hated talking to new people, especially when it came to Receptionists. They were so chatty—
“Next! Over here, Miss.”
Two receptionists finished with their Runner at the same time. Ryoka walked over to a woman in her mid-thirties. She was a String Person, although interestingly, she had pale skin, rather than Octavia or Revi’s dark tone. She held out one hand where all the fingers had stitches where they met the hand.
“Your seal, please.”
Ryoka placed
her personal Runner’s seal on the counter. The [Receptionist] snatched it up and produced a magnifying glass to study it in an instant. She only gave it a brief look before sliding it back towards Ryoka.
“Ryoka Griffin? You’re a long way from Celum. Are you transferring, or doing a delivery? We didn’t receive word you were heading this way.”
Ryona blinked. This receptionist was far more business-like than Ryoka was accostumed to. She hesitated a bit on her reply.
“I’m not transferring. I—was in in Ocre and had the chance to come here. I’ve got a bunch of deliveries from the guild there.”
“Really? May I see them?”
Ryoka produced her bag of holding. The [Receptionist]’s gaze sharpened and she held out a hand.
“Wait. Are any of the packages marked confidential or otherwise uniquely addressed in any way?”
“Not that I was told.”
“Very well then. Proceed.”
Ryoka carefully took wrapped item after item out of the bag of holding, piling it up on the desk. In the end the receptionist had to call for a bin—she began transferring each package into it with quite deliberate movements.
“Well, that accounts for every package we had coming this way. I suppose we’ll get less on the weekly delivery.”
The [Receptionist] idly commented as she peered at the bin full of deliveries. Ryoka had to smile a bit; she could see some of the other Runner’s staring jealously at her. The [Receptionist] nodded as she tallied up each delivery on a receipt and stamped it.
“Not bad. But a Courier could have done it just as quickly. If you’re going to make a long-distance trip in the future, please inform the Guild so they can send a message, Miss.”
The smug smile on Ryoka’s face vanished. The woman at the desk looked only vaguely impressed with Ryoka’s feat. She handed the receipt to Ryoka.
“You may exchange that for coin now or at any guild, as I’m sure you know. Now, was there anything else, Miss?”
Caught off-guard, Ryoka thought quickly.
“…There is one thing. Do you happen to know if the Courier Valceif Godfrey is in the city?”
The woman at the desk raised her eyebrows.
“Valceif? His usual circuit is closer to First Landing, but he comes here regularly for deliveries…I haven’t seen him of late, which is unusual, but I will ask about his location. If you return here later, I, or another receptionist at the desk will know more.”
“Thanks.”
“My pleasure, Miss Griffin. Next!”
Bemused, Ryoka wandered away from the desk, seeing a rather battered-looking Dullahan step forwards. She heard him beginning to complain about being attacked by dogs again before she stepped out of the guild.
“I guess a big city means the Runners here are that much better.”
“Bah, ‘tis not as if they can run that fast.”
Ivolethe poked her head out of Ryoka’s belt pouch as the young woman stood in the street. Ryoka shook her head; she thought the Runners in that building might all be at Fals’ level, or better. If that was the case, they were all nearly as fast or faster than she was.
“I’m starting to really feel like a country yokel seeing the city for the first time. Until Reynold finds us, how about we go look around? You can get something to eat, and I’ll…take in the sights, I guess.”
Ivolethe happily agreed, and so Ryoka set off down the streets. At first she was uncomfortable, but she quickly got used to the flow of the city.
This place reminded her a lot of New York. There wasn’t any stopping and chatting here, not with such a press of people. If you didn’t walk fast you got dirty looks—or pushed. The sidewalk was crowded, and when the wagons on the street halted to let pedestrians cross you moved fast or you got shouted at.
Ryoka had the insane urge to shout ‘I’m walking here!’ just for the hell of it. But that would probably get something hurled at her head by one of the drivers. They certainly traded insults with the foot traffic in a refreshingly familiar way. Although, Ryoka had to admit, she had never seen a pedestrian throw a ball of magic at a driver who shouted obscenities at him.
But aside from the city press, the city of Invrisil was still a city. And Ryoka had grown up in the urban sprawl. There was places to get food on the sidewalk, and in no time she was eating her own hot skewer and quickly sliding off hot chunks of meat to cram into her belt pouch from another.
Her pouch was going to get greasy and disgusting, but Ivolethe seemed only concerned about the food. Ryoka could feel her rustling around and making happy noises as she ate. And a happy Frost Faerie was one that wasn’t freezing your stomach and giving you horrible bowel movements.
“Where to next, I wonder?”
Ryoka stopped in a busy plaza, looking around for signs, perhaps to the market, or maybe to a specialized store specializing in magical artifacts. She had coin after all—a lot of it. It might not be enough for a powerful magical artifact, but it was time to buy a ring or—or enchanted clothing perhaps. What about a wand—
“Watch where you’re going, Troll!”
An outraged shout made Ryoka’s head turn. She saw a group of armored men and one woman—adventurers?—standing in front of…
Ryoka had to rub her eyes. It was a Troll. Or—no, not a Troll maybe, but a half-Troll?
There was no other word for it. Ryoka hadn’t seen a Troll before, but she imagined they’d be a bit bigger, a bit rounder and more…monster-like. But while this…person wasn’t a full Troll, they definitely had some Troll blood in them.
It was hard to describe. Ryoka’s first impression was that someone had taken this poor young woman—a young woman with far bigger bones than even Garia—and painted her a greyish color. But that alone wouldn’t account for her tough, almost pebble-like skin and towering height. She was over seven feet tall and she looked like a goliath. Not like a tall and lanky basketball player, no, Ryoka thought she looked more like a walking tank. Broad-shouldered didn’t even begin to cover it, and her arms were thick.
She was wearing rough, simple clothing that looked hand-stitched. The half-Troll was trying to step away from the angry adventurer she’d apparently run into. He wasn’t letting her go. He was angry, and, Ryoka thought, overly hostile towards her.
“Of course. Racism at its finest.”
“What is?”
Ivolethe poked her head out of Ryoka’s pouch, cheeks bulging. The second she saw the scene she went still. Ryoka shook her head as the adventurer began insulting the half-Troll girl.
He looked like he wanted a fight. Briefly, Ryoka considered stepping in. She had no patience for bullies. And she had a pepper potion and the other items Octavia had given her ready to be used. Except that this adventurer had a group of his friends backing him up. Ryoka eyed them and shook her head.
“Not my business.”
That was what Ryoka decided in the end. She could imagine what would happen if she picked a fight with real adventurers. She’d not only lose, but probably get hurt and maybe get thrown in jail. It wasn’t worth it.
“Don’t go! Stay! I want to watch!”
Ivolethe shouted as Ryoka turned to leave. The young woman frowned down into the pouch.
“Why? Do you want to help? I won’t stop you, but be careful. If they think that half-Troll girl is doing it, they’ll attack her.”
“What? Not the half-child, ye daft fool! I want to see what he does!”
Ivolethe pointed, and Ryoka saw to her surprise that the Troll girl wasn’t in fact alone. She hadn’t even seen the young man standing by her side; she sort of dominated the scene. But he was standing in silence, listening to the adventurer get angrier and angrier.
The adventurer was trying to pick a fight, Ryoka could tell. He had a sword and this half-Troll didn’t. He was a piece of crap, and she would have loved to drop-kick him and stomp on him a bit. But she had a feeling he’d kick her ass if she tried.
She didn’t want to stay and watch this unfold. And yet,
she watched the adventurer continue to pick on the half-Troll with narrowed eyes, unable to just walk away.
“Enough. Please stop bothering my companion.”
The young man spoke up at last. He seemed to be talking to the entire group, rather than the belligerent adventurer in front.
“She did nothing wrong. If she walked into you while escorting me, I apologize on both our behalf. But you have no reason to attack her like this.”
The other members of the group seemed to accept this, but the man who’d been knocked into seemed to find this apology too weak, or perhaps he just wanted to cause more trouble for the pair. He swaggered up to the young man, glaring.
“Is she your bodyguard? In that case, you should apologize to us directly! Don’t you know who we are?”
The young man turned his head towards the adventurer, and Ryoka blinked as she saw his eyes were closed.
“I don’t know, or particularly care. Please move aside—we are trying to go about our business and you should do the same.”
“What, are you too good to look me in the eye?”
Outraged, the adventurer seized the young man’s arm. Immediately the half-Troll reacted. She reached for the adventurer to push him back. He immediately leapt back and his friends grabbed for their weapons. Protectively, the Troll girl moved in front of the young man.
“Don’t do that! He’s blind!”
A blind guy? Ryoka had seen few people with disabilities in this world. She wondered if that was because of a lack of pollution or other genetic factors—or if such people died out because they couldn’t defend themselves or contribute.
Either way, the young man’s lack of sight didn’t stop him from being a target. The adventurer began mocking both him and the half-Troll girl, much to Ryoka’s distaste.