Page 23 of Fire and Fate
An ancient walled city rises from the base of the mountains like something out of a fever dream after another two days of maneuvering through the Shadowlands.
I have heard stories about this place, whispered tales in taverns back in Valoria. They call it the Edge, the last outpost before the true supposed wilderness of the Shadowlands ends and the dragons’ territory begins. The walls are made of stone so old that moss and vines have claimed large sections, making it difficult to tell where nature ends and human construction begins. Parts of the wall have crumbled entirely, leaving gaps that speak to either confidence or desperation.
As we approach on horseback, with me in my human form for the first time in days, I take in the variety of peoplemoving in and out of the small city. This is not a place for ordinary citizens. These are fortune seekers, their eyes gleaming with greed and reckless ambition. Researchers carrying leather-bound journals and strange instruments. The desperate, those who have nothing left to lose and everything to gain by venturing into territories that more sensible people avoid.
"It's busier than I expected," Kaia murmurs from her position in front of me. She donned the fabric wrapped around her head and face, hiding her identity the moment we left the last tavern. We’ve had a few close calls to people recognizing the Valorian princess but I’m actually surprised no one has come barreling through the Shadowlands, searching for Kaia.
"Word of your father's latest proclamation must have spread farther than usual," I say, keeping my voice low. "More warriors mean more opportunity for those who profit from their attempts."
We pass through one of the functioning gates, the city opening up before us. The narrow streets wind through the landscape, lined with buildings that range from sturdy stone structures to wooden constructions that appear as if a strong wind might topple them. Market stalls crowd the main street, selling everything from weapons to supposedly magical talismans to rough travel supplies.
I spot some of the warriors from the procession almost immediately. They're hard to miss, still wearing their ceremonial armor, moving through the crowds with the kind of swagger that suggests they think themselves invincible. But their numbers have thinned considerably. I count perhaps eight where there should be twenty or more.
"Where are the others?" Kaia asks, following my gaze.
"Dead, probably. Or injured badly enough that they turned back." I scan the remaining warriors, looking for the two that King Frederik pointed out as having the best odds. Theweathered man is there, speaking with a merchant about rope and climbing equipment. But the woman with the scarred cheek is nowhere to be seen. "The female warrior your father favored is gone."
Kaia is quiet for a moment. "Good."
I glare at her, but she doesn't elaborate. We continue forward until we find a stable that will house Kaia’s horse for the night. The stable master is a grizzled old Alpha who barely looks at us as he quotes his price and takes our money.
With that settled, we make our way to what appears to be the largest inn in the city. The sign hanging above the door reads "The Dragon's Rest," which I find to be a mixture of optimism or darkly humorous given the nature of this place.
Every table is full, conversations overlapping until the noise is almost overwhelming. I catch fragments as we push our way toward the bar.
"...heard the last group that went up into the mountains never came back..."
"...just stories, meant to scare us off the real treasure..."
"...saw a dragon once, from a distance. Massive thing, scales like living fire..."
"...they say the dragons hoard magic itself, not just gold..."
I’m not surprised to find a no-nonsense woman behind the bar, already clued into what I’m about to ask for. "Looking for a room?" she asks, her voice carrying easily over the racket.
"Yes. Something private, if you have it."
She names a price that's double what we paid at the last tavern, but I don't argue. Privacy is worth the extra money, especially with Kaia's identity to protect.
"Second floor, end of the hall. There's a lock on the door. Use it." She jerks her head toward the common room. "It gets rowdy in here at night. Don't want any trouble wandering into your room uninvited."
"Understood. Thank you."
I'm grateful when we finally close the door behind us and turn the lock, the chaos from downstairs muted. Kaia immediately removes the fabric from her face, sighing with relief. "I hate hiding beneath this thing."
"I know. But it's necessary." I move to the window, looking out at the chaos below. From this vantage point, I can see more of the settlement's layout. It's bigger than I initially thought, sprawling outward from the central market area. In the distance, mountains rise toward the skyline, their peaks shrouded in mist and shadow.
"Do you think we'll find what we're looking for up there?" Kaia asks, coming to stand beside me.
"I think we'll findsomething," I say carefully. "Whether it's what we expect is another question entirely."
The closer we get to the supposed dragon’s territory, the less I’m sure we’ll actually meet a dragon. We spend the rest of the afternoon resting, listening to the sounds of the city below. As evening falls, we venture back down to the common room for dinner. The crowd has only grown larger, the conversations louder with the addition of alcohol.
We find a table in the corner where Kaia can keep her back to the wall, her face partially obscured. A serving girl brings us stew and bread, both surprisingly good quality. As we eat, I tune into the conversations around us, picking up bits of information that might be useful.
A group of researchers at the table next to us is debating dragon biology with the kind of intensity that suggests they've been having this argument for days.
"They must have some weakness," one insists, a thin Beta with spectacles perched on his nose. "Every creature does. We just need to find it."
