Unsettling encounter

Ironfall- Stygian West Frontier...

"Please be careful." Blake was held out his hand to give her support to get off her horse.

He was careful to not let others know much about her.

There was more danger to her outside of the fortress.

She looked around the townsfolk. They were indeed outcasts, abandoned illegitimate children, former slaves, demi humans and even former criminals who were exiled to this place.

One could say they were those people whom the world shunned for their very existence. Those that were wanted took refuge under Erebus' rule were free to live a normal life only of they obeyed him.

The buildings were old and looked strange with repetitive maintenance. There wasn't much of a sight to look around.

Blake had told her that most of the livestock was raised here and as the name suggested, it was the largest producer of metal products like armory and construction tools and cookware.

It was home to most of the smiths.

He guided her to the main smithy. The workshop was bigger. There was a large shed attached beside the main building.

They were welcomed by two smiths.

"To what do we owe your pleasure of visiting this humble place ma'am?"

The smith asked and introduced himself as Ralf. He was a former slave from the southern parts of Wahrheit.

Later on he became a wanted criminal until he begged Erebus to live in Stygian.

He now had a family.

He was a huge man who was even taller than Blake and the guards who stood behind her.

He had bald head and had dark skin. He had traits of Kemetians.

He showed them around his workshop that he treasured.

The quality of metals as she was told was overall passable.

The ironware was indeed of better quality than others that were a mixture of many metals.

She saw various products hung by the wall.

He proudly told that the neighbouring territories were theirist frequent customers for their alloy shields.

But the business was not really successful in recent years since the introduction of new weapons.

"We need money for mining and retrieving better source of metal. However three mines have already become useless. They no longer have iron stores in them. It's been five years with no luck. And the remaining five of them will sooner run out metal ores than we anticipated." He sighed hopelessly.

"Were there no other things found? Like minerals?" Luciana pointed out a few of them namely those that were most commonly found and had most basic uses.

He told them about a few like copper, tin, coal, and quartz.

He showed them the samples of the ores and minerals that were frequently mined.

She carefully picked them and observed them one at a time starting from copper.

He described their uses base on their preferences in the market.

She could tell by their feel on her fingertips. The metal felt cold on her hands.

Finally she picked up a black rock.

Ralf did not have any knowledge regarding the smooth, black rock. It was not an ordinary stone either. Nor was it a metal.

It was a mineral by her guess. She had pretty much guessed what it was even if she did not have extensive knowledge over minerals.

-"Cornelius would've known what it is."

She asked the smith for a sample piece of black rock. She kept feeling it's surface. Even that small piece in her hand was heavy.

Blake took the piece and wrapped it in his handkerchief.

It was a long day as they inspected the town. They heard from the townsfolk about their lives.

She felt sorry for the children that there was no educational facility or a medical center for their aid.

There were a few apothecaries that visited Stygian mostly for herbs. There were two physicians who resided in the port town.

They provided help to the people from all over Stygian. The women who knew some knowledge on herbs treated the injured when need arose.

There was a species among livestock she had not seen before or knew about. These were mostly mountain goats or yaks but some of them had red flowers blooming on their large humped shoulders.

The flowers were rare herbs. They were parasites that fed on blood of livestock but were beneficial for demons.

These weren't entirely effective but they proved to have healed most of the folks.

She had seen them in Darian's workshop.

"My lady, the sun is past its prime. It is better if we returned before evening fall upon us."

Luciana was exhausted after a long walk. It was refreshing to see the scapes and the beauty outside of the gray walls.

The effect was nearly wearing out.

She felt famished and thirsty at the same time and made a temporary stop by the inn.

Blake requested to borrow the kitchen as he himself learnt a few dishes from Zehel. He was glad his skills came in handy.

He served her fresh barley flatbread with finely sliced meat that was cooked the right way she like it. It was seasoned with smoked nutmeg and some salt.

There was celery soup but no dessert. The chef was happy about the good harvest they had than last year.

After her lunch she she talked to the inn owners. They were elderly couple who were outcasts accused of illegal trade.

They told her about their three sons and four daughters. Two of their sons were in service to Erebus as soldiers. Whereas two daughters were maids in the fortress.

The others exept for the last son who stayed with them we're married and lived in different villages.

After wrapping up from the inn she stumbled upon the merchant. She looked at him and was taken aback.

Even with his apology she kept staring at him. Blake stepped in to inquire about them.

-"Dusky pink eyes...Am I mistaken?" She felt a lump forming in her throat.

Blake learnt that they were the merchants who came from human realm.

"Octavius..."she mumbled.

-"This person can't be him! There's no way he would be here. He has hair with color of warm sunlight." She convinced herself by looking at him twice.

He had curly black hair.

"Um... Please forgive my impulsive behavior my lady. Are you really alright?" He asked her in his usual polite manner.

-"His way of speaking...is the same."

"You look pale-" Blake suddenly interrupted him and quickly escorted her out and gave him a look of disdain leaving them speechless.

"My lady. The lord will soon be back. We must hurry."

Luciana tried to remain composed. But she felt her legs were giving away.

Blake helped her up her garron and was careful to keep himself close to her incase something unsettling happened.

Tired of her day. She and Nemesis fell asleep for the rest of the day.

She had the same dream once again. She woke up sweating.

She felt a big calloused Hanscom her cheek that was warm.

It startled her. She found Erebus sitting beside her in his robes. His hair was wet from the bath. Then looked at Nemesis soundly asleep.

She did not refuse his touch.

But tears wouldn't stop falling from her eyes.

She put her hand over his. None of them spoke another word. With Erebus who was flustered to see her cry and did not know how to comfort her while Luciana was relieved to see him back alive in one piece.