Where The Sand Ends

People were watching as they travelled through the villages. The caravan had finally crossed the border to the province of Kalltre, they were on their way to the second city close to the sea besides the port Amelia Opera. Pon was mainly used as a large trading post for the large amount of slaves brought into the country through the nearby city harbor. It was because of the large amount of slave trade in the south that the revolution was able to be so successful. For the first time, the population of slaves visibly outnumbered the commoners wherever they looked.

The unusual sight of the city amazed Alya. It was constructed in the middle of wide plains, only small groups of trees grew between the fields of grass and wheat. Large wooden towers overtopped the city walls, which would otherwise mirror the walls of Kyrna. People were climbing around parts of the towers, with wooden hammers. Red flags fluttered in the sky, a barely visible black mass was imprinted into it. It reminded Alya of her cape, but the black had a different shape.

A soldier at the gate greeted as he saw Cal walking up to him. A linen garment emblazoned with a black key as his coat of arms fell down to his knees. The soldier wore tough leather beneath parts of plated armor. It looked to be more satisfactory than any armor she had seen a revolutionary wear.

From the wagon, Alya understood little of the words exchanged. After a short time, the steel gate started being pulled up. It opened up into the lively streets inside the walls. As the first part of Pon, the market welcomed guests with a range of necessary goods. Bread, meat and fish layed around the stalls. The streets were filled with dark hair colours, like most of the times the people were still distuingishable as slaves or common people.

Inside the villages they bypassed, Alya had been wondering about the small population. It was obvious now, they had come to the city to prepare for the battle. With determined gazes and energetic conversation, the streets in here contrasted the outer lands and wilderness. It was crowded and loud. Even Kyrna felt cold and sad when compared to the contagious atmosphere in Pon.

Forced to traverse without the wagons, they continued travelling by foot and chair. They followed the main road down the middle of the city up to a large stone building, or a rather small castle directly in the middle of everything.

From that far into the inside of the walls, Alya could see the large wooden towers beeing build. The constructs turned out to actually have wheels.

"While the rest of our force clash on sea, we plan to invade the city from land. Even if it's only a distraction, since we are so few people in the city, at least they won't be able to afford going all out in the water. You guys could've joined our sea force, but you are too late. I trust you already have weapons and armor. Shelter and food will be taken care of if you just talk to Dillarian." The short lady spoke fast and precise. It felt like she was ordering them around, but she had the authority to. A golden key dangled down from her neck.

Before anything else could be said, they were already in the next room.

"Tell me what you bring to the table." Dillarian was in charge of distributing and catalog the city's supply.

"Forty-three men and four women." Cal grunted, he seemed to dislike getting ordered around.

"What are they capable of? Im not only here to gift you guys some snacks. We need to know what we can plan for." The man in light purple robe looked down at his writing.

Begrudgingly, Cal continued talking, "We know how to work in a group. Teamwork and killing."

Dillarion scribbled something onto his paper before turning towards Alya, "And? What can you do?"

"Uh... Archery." She remembered.

"Like, in a squad?"

"No, I'm alone."

"Great." He wrote two squiggly words down, "Just follow him with whatever he does." He gestured to Cal.

After a short pause, the man Alya now dubbed Dill continued, "Do you need anything? Weapons or something?"

"Food would be nice." Alya quietly answered.

"Right, each of you will get a proper leather armor since you are lockpicks, anything else?"

Alya looked at Cal, he looked back.

Cal sighed, "Just bring us to where we can sleep."

"Okay, follow me." He stood up and hurriedly walked out of the room, quicker than Alya could follow, "The shelter should have more than enough space for your troops. It's over there." The man stopped at a window, he was pointing outside. Alya could not see, but there seemed to be a building near the castle.

"Well, Good luck." Dill walked away.

Cal looked at Alya, "This is not fun at all." He turned around to the steep staircase behind them, "Wait here, I'll get Roland to carry you back down."

After he left, Alya looked back to the window. She could not see Pon since she was sitting, but a large stone beside the ocean was visible in the distance. A large, historically impenetrable fortress and their target. It was obvious why the revolutionaries wanted to fight on water, they would have no chance otherwise. There was no ladder large enough to reach the top of the walls, only a large, dark dome jut out behind it. The rest of the city was safely covered.

The female commander said that Pon was low in numbers. It reassured Alya a little, she did not want to face the sleeping mountain head on.