Chapter 10

WHAT would have been an hour’s travel, turned into several, but the Sybils finally made it to Willow Village. The familiar atmosphere greeted Nyla like a pleasant host. The scents of herbs, strong in the air, drifted in the breeze. Vendors still standing, business continuing as usual. Not much had changed since last Nyla was there, save for the fact that the people seemed slightly on edge. News must have reached them. They looked at the Sybils with concern. Some of them began ushering their children inside, whilst others continued as though all was well. Nyla didn’t blame them. She too would have taken precautions if she had heard that villages were being attacked. They probably feared that they would be next. Still, she tried to reassure them by smiling at those who would make eye contact with her.

After they walked through the village, Nyla, who hardly ever strayed, found her way to a vendor selling silk ribbons. She picked up a dark navy blue one to examine it closer.

“What you looking at, Petal?” Rowan asked beside her before he saw the ribbon in her hand. “Don’t you have like a hundred of these?” Nyla rolled her eyes as she placed the ribbon in its original spot and turned away. When she was out of earshot Rowan turned to the vendor. “I’ll take it,” He whispered.

After a few minutes, Rowan joined his companion, chewing on some sort of chewy candy. “I’ve found us a few horses and a place to stay the night.” Ezra said.

“We still have a way to go, so make sure you rest up,” Enid said.

“Nd where exaly in Keset Valley ar we goin?” Rowan mumbled between tight jaws thanks to the candy.

Nyla tried to spot the stall that sold the candies. If she bought some, she’d finally found a way to keep Rowan from talking for the rest of the trip, but she soon lost hope when Rowan handed the packet to a little boy who was passing by, a look of frustration on his face thanks to his inability to talk properly. Nyla caught herself from laughing when she saw Kai’s shoulders sag slightly with a disappointed look on his face. Clearly, he had had the same idea as she did.

“You’ll see,” Enid smirked.

***

The trek through Kesmet consisted of travelling through various villages. One thing Nyla could identify for sure was that they kept heading south. Multiple stops along the way to water and feed the horses along with themselves, allowed the foreign Sybils to explore the region more than they had before, and Enid, being the proud chauffeur that he was, showed them all the monumental sites.

Enid showed them the oldest blacksmith shed in all of Melgaesia, which was run by an old blacksmith, Smith Reynold. He informed them with a gruff smile that he had been working as a blacksmith for over sixty years when he took over from his uncle. He even showed them the sketches he had of the many weapons he had designed and forged for the reigning Preators. Nyla had asked to see the sword her father had asked him to forge for Nolan for when he was to take over the title of Preator, but Reynold smiled and said he was still in the process of designing a masterpiece for the young Sybil. Nyla pouted at the old man before going to inspect some of the daggers on a shelf nearby. After making a generous purchase for a new set of daggers, Nyla was finally ready to retire for the evening.

“I don’t think I have ever seen a Lady gawk at blades in my eighteen years of existence,” Rowan said as he took a seat opposite Nyla, who sat at an empty table in the tavern they were spending the night. The smell of musky ale wafted through the air accompanied by the occasional smoke of tobacco pipes. In front of Nyla rested an ale along with a plate of grapes and cheese, her late-night snack before she would go to sleep in her room upstairs.

“Yes, well, I’m sure you’ve met your fair share of women.” Nyla sheathed the dagger she was admiring.

“I guess you could say that.” Rowan grinned, “How about you?”

“Oh, sure, I’ve met many wanna-be Ladies fighting for my brother’s hand.”

Rowan chuckled. “That’s not what I meant.”

Nyla sighed. “No. I have not. I was too busy training to even bother thinking about seeking out a suitor for myself.”

“So, I still stand a chance then,” Rowan smirked.

“Don’t get so confident. I have high standards.”

“And I have low ones.” He winked.

Nyla’s eyes widened as she scoffed. She threw a grape at Rowan who laughed. “Jerk.”