Cassian had been walking for a while now. He hadn't expected it would take this long, finding whatever civilization had placed that offering. He'd seen nothing so far. No building—not even discarded ones, no signs of life. None at all.
He was starting to doubt if there was anything near. Just because he saw a shrine, didn't mean there were actually people living nearby.
Maybe the Archon was right. He should've never followed those black birds.
No. Cassian the believer was dead. All that remained was a man of logic, not superstition.
The birds were just birds, and the shrine had been impeccably maintained. That alone was cold, indisputable proof that someone had been there recently.
He kept walking.
Gradually, the canopy thinned, the dense green of the forest giving way to sparser woodland. People chop down trees when they build.
A sharp rustle of dry leaves cut through the silence behind him. Cassian spun around instantly. He was unarmed, but he found himself praying it was just another boar.
Through the brush, he caught a flash of brown hide and thick, heavy legs—far larger than the beast he'd killed when he actually possessed a weapon. All he had now were his bare hands.
The brush parted, and the creature stepped into the light.
It wasn't a beast. It was a man.
The man froze when they locked eyes, like he'd seen a ghost or some other unworldly thing. It was a fair reaction. He was dirty, smelly and, Cassian imagined, he looked no different from a crazed spirit.
He would've reacted the same.
"Hello Sire" do they even speak the same language here?
"Who are you"
They did
"I'm Cassian"
"You're not from around here" he eyed him with obvious apprehension. As if he wasn't suspicious himself.
He was barely covered, dressed head to toe in fabric that only covered his essentials. Everything else was exposed.
"Yes. I was on my way to the east, when my Carriage was attacked by looters. Very dangerous men. Luckily, I managed to escape. I've been roaming for days. Hence the… look"
"Really" There was still skepticism in his voice. Don't they have looters here?
"Yes. Now I was wondering if you would be so kind as to guide me to your village or settlement. Please."
The man scoffed.
"Village? What era do you think this is? The people of the east are quite advanced."
And they still dressed like troglodytes?
"We have a city." The man added. " Not a village, or a Settlement. "
"Then your city it is."
The man paused a while, taking one more look at Cassian before he started walking
"Follow me strange boy"
"Right behind you" crude villager.
Cassian followed behind the man. It was a while before he started hearing sounds.
Then he saw them.
There were buildings, of varying heights and colours, scattered within a small wooden barricade .
It was different from Norrath, where everything was black and white. It was messy, and the man was a liar, it was a village.
They walked through the gates. They didn't even have guards, or sentries. Poor security. What would happen if someone were to raid the city?
There were children outside, some his age. Some younger. All in proper clothes. People who, back at Norrath would be at the temple. They all stared at him as he walked past, like it was something more than mud on his face. Like there wasn't a man half naked beside him.
The man waved at some people as they walked. Thankfully poor taste in clothes was a trait specific only to the man.
They stopped at a door. The man brought out keys and opened it.
"This is your house?"
"Yes"
"Thank you very much for the help, but I'm fine now"
"What?" The man turned around before letting out a laugh
"You didn't think I'd actually just walk you right into our City did you?"
Village.
"You're a funny lad, you are. Thinking that somehow I'd overlook the fact that you're a security threat and just let you roam the streets."
He talked about security as if they didn't just walk in without any checks
"Here in Eveldor, everyone knows everyone. The moment you walked in, you were already an outcast"
Nothing new there
"Besides, you need a shower. You smell like animal piss"
Cassian didn't argue with him. He did need a shower.
"Change into these"
The man handed him clothes when he was done. Actual clothes. Nothing like the ones he wore. Praise Dea. He walked to another room.
She'd been quiet for a while.
"You don't have anything to say?" He said, calling out to her.
"What is there to say?"
"You're always so quick to laugh when things go wrong but suddenly you're quiet?"
"My apologies. Congratulations on surviving. May the trials ahead be less arduous"
"Trials?"
"Did I say trials"
He was reminded again why he hated talking to her.
"We'll meet the chief in the evening."
The man walked back in and placed some food on the table.
"Eat. You'll need all the strength you can get. So you don't stutter when you talk to the chief"
Cassian didn't need any more instructions. He was already wolfing down the food. It burnt his tongue, but he didn't mind. It was a ray of sun in a land frozen.
"Just know this boy. If the story you tell the chief doesn't tally with what you told me, you will be killed. On the spot"
Cassian paused
"Seriously? No trial? Laws of Korvus?"
"Ain't no Korvus here. Just a simple rule. You threaten Eveldor, you die"
They started towards the chief's building. According to the man, he lived in a building separate from the others. Outside the walls.
"So who takes care of the shrine?" He couldn't help but ask. If these men didn't believe in korvus, then who put the food there?
"I do."
"But you said no Korvus."
"Yes"
"And that was a shrine of Korvus"
"So?"
Cassian paused before responding.
"Nothing"
What reason could he possibly have to take care of the temple if he didn't believe in Korvus?
"We're here."
They had stopped in front of a building. It was larger than all the others and it was white. The same colour as all the other buildings up North. Cassian wanted to ask why, but there was no time for questions.
He had a chief to deceive.