It was said in the old days, the people practiced magic. They possessed abilities unseen since. They vanished, like so many things, following the sudden end to the first age of steam.
It is stated with empirical fact now that these 'Tovanaar' do not exist, and never did for that matter. The progress of technology and our own understanding did away with childish and outdated belief in the supernatural
---- an excerpt from the book "The Modern Triumph of Man: How We Conquered Nature"
Braeden, the mythical village of inventors. The ancient village, the fairy-tale village. One of the two legendary towns that produced the ideas and technology that launched Prydain into the first age of steam, both since lost to time and memory.
Was this man saying he was from Braeden? It was impossible. Just like his flying machines and the ability to shoot fire from seemingly nothing and his vanishing sword, it was all just impossible. If Braeden really was like in the stories and not just a normal place, then surely the existence of magic-users would be a known fact. Another impossibility.
"You really say you're from Braeden?" Sophia was surprised, "and it really is like the stories and not just a regular village? They say most of it was destroyed in an avalanche or industrial accident or something. It's still on the map, but it's just a place that no one goes to, it's too remote. It can't actually be like the stories."
"It is true," Brom smiled, "our village has been left alone by the outside world for centuries. Please, I'll explain on the way. You are all very cold and it can get colder still out here when night fully sets in."
Luca had helped Zooey limp to where Alexandra and Sophia were talking with Brom, "it might be a trap," she said loud enough for him to hear.
"No trap," he was quick to assure them, "we would not dare."
"I don't know," Alexandra did not think it was worth the risk, she could hardly believe they were alive as it was.
"These are the people you were looking for," Sophia spoke softly, "this is the north, it goes no further. The answers we've been looking for have to be here or they are nowhere."
"But..." Alexandra did not want anyone else to get hurt.
"I want to find out," Sophia told her resolutely.
"I'm in too." Luca would not be left behind.
Zooey took back her sword, "someone's gotta make sure you all come out of this okay, the crazy bunch of you."
"What about my pendant," Alexandra turned back to Brom, "can you tell me where's it from or maybe where it was made?"
"I can," Brom's answer surprised Alexandra, her heart beating faster, "but please, night is falling and it is not exactly a short walk to Braeden. Please, come."
"Okay," Alexandra dared to hope, the answers she had looked for so long were maybe near, "Zooey, are you all right to walk?"
"I'm fine," she sheathed her sword and stood on her own, "nothing can keep me down."
"Are we actually going to see Braeden?" Luca was ecstatic about the possibility of seeing a town populated with magic-users.
"We are very fortunate," Sophia was referring to all the wonderful and strange things they had seen since leaving Avindr, despite the hardships. "I can't believe we get to see Tovanaar."
"If they really are," Zooey was still not totally convinced, "it's probably just a normal place. No one goes here because it's ridiculously cold and useless. But, we might as well have a look."
"Nothing's ever boring for us," Alexandra ribbed her, knowing it was actually very true.
Brom was smiling as they walked, the spirit of this group was indomitable, just as should be expected. He did feel bad though, he had raised his hand in violence towards Alexandra and that was inexcusable, he hoped she would forgive him someday.
"Tell me," Alexandra asked as their little procession weaved along the path up the mountainside, "how is it that Tovanaar are in Braeden and if they are who they say they are, how does no one else know?"
"Back in the old time," Brom loved telling stories of the old time, "when the great Willem Arkland still lived, he wished for mankind to progress, to pull itself out of the primitive chaos that we were all engulfed in. He made research a top priority and fostered a great spirit of learning. It was an exciting time: for the first time, the inventors and the dreamers could pursue their goals. The slate was blank and we were making the first lines of a new drawing upon it. In order to free themselves of the everyday, these creators and inventors congregated in more secluded towns and villages to focus on their work. Many different veins of research, many different ideologies all being pursued and expanded. A small town, built into the very Mountains, Braeden was an ideal location for the inventors to work in peace and quiet. The men gathered there sought understanding with nature and the forces within it. Eventually, two distinct schools of research emerged, the mechanical and the natural. A village far south west pursued the path of metal and steam while those in Braeden preferred to look within for power and within nature. What you call the first age of steam began, with many turning to belief in the mechanical. The research done at Braeden faded further into obscurity until most people would not give it a second thought."
"All very interesting," Alexandra spoke up, "but that doesn't exactly answer the question."
"It goes into it," Brom continued his story. "Ignored and forgotten, the men at Braeden continued their studies unabated, making new discoveries daily. Then turmoil hit the nation. Following the death of Willem Arkland, there was uncertainty and for a while progress slid backwards. During this time, the elders of Braeden decided that it was best to be separate, to not be mired in the constant troubles of the rest of the nation. We stopped all communication with the outside world and blocked most of the paths to the town. We made the one remaining path an unpleasant one and quietly allowed ourselves to fade away from living memory. This allowed us to continue our work in peace and without distraction. These days, Braeden is simply ignored by the outside world, our ways something no one really believes in, which is just as we like it."
"But there is belief in magic in the north," Alexandra said, "they always said the superstitions came from near the Mountains."
Brom nodded. "We are not totally unnoticed. But, steam holds the hearts of most men, it pays little attention to us for the most part."
"Why do you want to be apart?" Sophia did not understand, "why not try to help others?"
"Man turned to steam, we turned away," Brom simply stated, "people are not prepared to understand or tolerate our ideologies."
"Can you do magic?" Zooey was to the point, "are you saying it's real?"
Something was bothering Alexandra as well this whole conversation. "Brom, I see metal on you, pipes wrapping around you and metal braces on your legs. You said your village turned away from steam, but it looks like some kind of devices are built right into your clothes. Was that fireball you created made with magic or with a device hidden in the metal gloves you're wearing?"
It was true, Brom's outfit incorporated an interweave of steam pipes and small devices throughout the fabric. Neither the design or appearance of these pieces of technology gave no explanation as to their purpose.
"Ah, let me tell you of a saying we have in Braeden: any form of advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
"Makes sense," Alexandra understood that.
"The reverse of that is also true," he winked.
"Great," Zooey sighed, "yet another who is incapable of giving someone a straight answer about anything. Does anyone just speak normally in this country?"
"I am a Tovanaar, and so is everyone in Braeden. We claim to possess and to control magic, an art that is said impossible by the modern world.. Whether or not you believe it to be true though is up to you as individuals."
"But personal belief does not alter an objective truth about something," Alexandra pointed out.
"Magic does not exist," Brom said suddenly, "the world and rational thought have decreed it so, and so therefore it does not. We use advanced technology, developed away from the world and unknown to it. Where technology ends and magic begins though is a line that is different for every person and something they must discover on their own."
They followed Brom a long ways along the snowy path, ever climbing up the mountainside. The city of Alloa had long ago faded away behind them, no longer visible at all. The snow was still falling gently and it was even colder than before somehow. Alexandra reasoned they must be at a very high altitude by now, they had been hiking at an incline for a long time now.
The worry kept nagging at her that perhaps Brom was leading them all into a trap but she did not believe that was the case. It was true he had attacked her, but something had changed. She sensed he was telling the truth when he apologized and that they were guests. She could not explain how or why, but she believed him to be sincere, but she was dying to know what had caused his sudden change of mind.
They reached a plateau and the path came to an end.
Brom stopped walking and pgestured proudly ahead of them. "We have arrived, the town of Braeden."
Luca, Sophia, and Zooey jockeyed for the best viewing spot among the group. Honestly, Braeden was not the overwhelming sight one would expect from an isolated village of purported magicians. The homes looked normal, mostly of the two-story construction, with snow heaped heavily on their pointed roofs. The mountain path they had been climbing for so long deposited them at what appeared to be the main road of town, with several other paths branching off into the village with more houses lining those.
There were no huge structures, or really anything to indicate that this place was inhabited by those who claim to be Tovanaar. The homes looked like the ones that could be found in any northern village. It was quiet though, even the wind had seemed to die down a bit. Men, women, and children were out walking the streets and for all appearances, it looked like a normal village right before dusk.
To say the least, Luca was a bit disappointed. He was hoping for soaring towers containing dark secrets, men in scary cloaks, summoning fire and lightning from their very fingertips, what they got instead was a peaceful northern village with no hint of the unusual at all.
"Ah man," he let out a sigh.
"Not what you were expecting, was it?" Brom had noticed his sad face, "like I said, Braeden is a quiet place, well forgotten by man. It is the perfect place to find nature, and the natural forces that flow through the world."
"You mean magic?" Alexandra figured 'natural forces' was their scientific name for the impossible abilities they claimed to posses.
"If you believe in that sort of thing," Brom must take pleasure in being enigmatic.
"I like it." Sophia was peering past Alexandra at the village, "it's so quiet, it's even better than Alloa."
The quiet village life would suit Sophia better, she was a quiet girl herself who enjoyed long walks, reading, and spending time outdoors. The slum life in Avindr was completely at odds with her nature, and even the big city of Alloa, though miles better, was still not her preference.
The snow fell gently, one could barely call it a snowfall, a few snowflakes would occasionally drift lazily along down to the ground.
"Ugh, another boring place," Zooey lied, in truth she was relieved it was so quiet, nothing leaping out to attack them. To not be on guard every hour of the day would be a nice change of pace.
"Why do you try to keep people out?" Alexandra demanded, "why do you kill people who come up the path?"
"The kind that come up the mountain are usually the people we mistook you for: treasure hunters or adventurers looking to make a name for themselves. Also there are explorers who attempt to probe the depths of the Rotsen Mountains. The Mountains are ours, their mysteries and secrets belong only to us. All those kinds of people would disturb and disrupt our work."
"But, like you said," Alexandra pointed out, "no one really believes in magic now. Do you really get that many people up here? Braeden still exists on the map after all. Why would they come if they don't believe it? There doesn't seem to be anything of value up here."
"Because even if they don't believe, their spirits of greed and ambition drive them, the lusts of the human heart are infinite. We here in Braeden followed the path of nature, not of steam, and therefore it's secrets belong to us."
"That's selfish," she folded her arms as she surveyed the town, "if you have the power to help people then you should help them."
"You assume there are people worth saving," countered Brom, "we see much from our vantage point so high in the Mountains over Prydain. We've watched as the herd have let their freedoms be taken away one by one, too ignorant or too unwilling to face their own mistakes. We've watched as House Cornelius has tightened its grip over the nation's economy, technology, and the very lives of the people. All the while the people have done nothing."
"We've seen some of what House Cornelius has done." Alexandra did not like to think about it.
"Their attack on the Watchers and you in the hallowed Winnowing Chamber," Brom suddenly set out a list, "when they tried to burn down a house with a child in it in Gylesemoore, when they started whipping that girl down in Alloa, just to name a few."
"How... how did you know all that?" Sophia was taken aback by this stranger's intimate knowledge of their travels so far.
"We've become aware." Brom did not elaborate further on the point, but continued on his original thought. "But that is only a small sampling of their cruelty. To the east they have descended upon remote and helpless villages, dragging the people off to places unknown. Along the many highways of Prydain, demanding goods and money from travelers, imposing restrictions on free travel. In the south, they are strangling the sea trade along the shores of the Saile, seizing any ship that refuses to pay their new taxes, all the money going to House Cornelius' coffers. In the capitol they solidify their control over the Landskyp as well as their military control over the city. Their guards now control all major points in Avindr. Of course there are all their past sins as well."
Even being an Oonskat, the change in Avindr had been obvious to Alexander. "Is it really that bad out here" I thought maybe just because it was the capitol, near them, that's why Cornelius had so much power."
Brom scoffed at that. "They hold equal and greater power out in the country as well, those in the capitol are so insular they do not see it. The people of the land are made to suffer under the thumb of House Cornelius, and yet no one does anything."
"There are good people out there!" Alexandra was upset at his insinuation, "people who don't just blindly follow House Cornelius!"
"And where are they?" Brom shook his head sadly, "the evil deeds grow worse every day and no one lifts a finger to stop them, they are too afraid of the monster they have allowed to grow in their very midst. Many have died silently by Cornelius' hand, unseen by a blind and impotent Landskyp. Countless more have vanished, there are towns and villages under Cornelius military control. People have been brought to financial ruin, their spirits crushed by the overwhelming march of the seemingly unstoppable House. Prydain is stumbling over itself to give up its freedom out of fear of the future ever since House Archdeacon was destroyed. They look for stability even if that stability is misery, they go blindly into the night."
Sophia refused to believe things were that hopeless. "It can't be that bleak. Prydain is a beautiful place filled with wonderful people."
Alexandra smiled, even now Sophia's spirit was unbreakable.
"Perhaps," Brom did not feel like arguing the point any further, "but please, let me welcome you to Braeden. Please feel at home here."
"Awfully generous," Zooey was still a little upset over the being attacked incident, "considering just a few hours ago you were trying to kill Alex."
Brom did seem deeply shamed by that. "I do not deny it, we only ask that you allow us to make up for our mistake."
"By trying again..." began Zooey.
"Zooey," Alexandra turned to her, "it's okay, I think we're okay."
"Fine," she huffed, "but if I wake up dead, I'm killing you."
"That's fair," she laughed then turned back to Brom, "sir, this pendant..."
"Please," his voice was kind suddenly, "I know how far you've come and how much you've all suffered because of it. But please, you have had a long journey, not any easier thanks to myself and my comrades. Let us take you to a place where you can rest and eat. I will fetch our town leader, he will be able to weigh the truth about your pendant."
"She came all this way," Zooey went on the offensive, "you don't even know what she's gone through. Don't you dare make her wait!"
Alexandra was surprised, Zooey had been keeping her at an arm's length since they arrived in Alloa but now she doing this. It just confused Alexandra, but it did feel good knowing Zooey still cared that much for her.
Brom too seemed to appreciate her fire on behalf of her friend. "Be at peace and do not worry. We can indeed help with your quest to learn about this mysterious pendant, but you do need food and rest, you're not invincible."
"Yeah she is," joked Luca.
"I am kind of hungry." Sophia was worn out from the rigorous uphill climb they had been on for most of the day.
"This way please," Brom led them down the main, snow-sprinkled path into Braeden.
They were led down the main road through the middle of the town. It seemed as if it were built on the very side of the mountain itself. The town as a whole sat on multilevel plateau, with houses built all around with small winding paths going between them. The town was actually of quiet modest size but was very compact in its layout, being on a mountainside and all.
Alexandra could not fathom how this town was originally built in such a remote location, it would be nearly impossible even by modern methods. The people of Braeden stopped and watched as the newcomers passed by for it had been years since anyone new came to the town from the outside world. The villagers looked normal, no strange glows or otherworldly phenomena to suggest they were Tovanaar as they claimed to be. There were even children out walking with their parents, skipping along in the light snow that had fallen on the dirt paths of Braeden. It was all strangely normal.
Luca was still disappointed, he wanted to see some magic.
Brom finally stopped at a single-level home towards the other end of town on the second plateu, a simple brown and light-blue painted structure with a healthy coating of snow on the roof. He explained that the building was usually just a place for storage, to keep things out of the snow but had been quickly converted for use by the visitors when the flying machine pilots reported back what had happened.
Inside it was warm, a small fire burning in the hearth that lit up the whole single room of the interior. There were chairs randomly sitting about and a table. In the corner were several beds with blankets heaped on top. The wooden building felt old, with the years worn into the plain wood that made up the buildings construction, but it seemed somehow even sturdier for the fact.
"How long are we staying?" Zooey did not think they would be there long enough to need a place to sleep.
"As long as you like," Brom answered from the door as they entered. "It is getting dark outside, so we'd advise against a night descent back down the mountain. The path is rather treacherous even in daylight."
"Thank you," Alexandra appreciated the efforts of hospitality.
"Food will be around shortly and we'll discuss the pendant and many other things a little later in the evening. Until then, please feel free to roam the town. I'm sure everyone would be excited to meet you."
"Why?" Alexandra could not think of why anyone would want to meet her.
"You're special," was the short response.
"It's just because they haven't seen any new faces in awhile," Zooey had already made herself at home, leaning back in one of the chairs. "Boring village life they have and all that."
Brom smiled and closed the door behind him.
Sophia was standing at the window watching the snowflakes dance on the gentle breeze. "I love it here. It's so peaceful. No crowds or the sounds of machines filling the air."
"Yeah," Alexandra joined her, "for them going from trying to kill us with spears and fire to offering us a place to stay. I like it here too."
"Really?" Sophia was happy her friend felt that way, "you'd stay here?"
"Definitely," she nodded, "it's beautiful up here, the whole town dressed in a gown of snowy white. I think we may be far enough away from all our troubles too, I doubt anything could touch us up here, including House Cornelius."
"Maybe Patrik could come...?" Sophia mumbled slyly.
Alexandra would like that, but she was worried he would mad at her after she had just left. Why did she leave without seeing him? She had said it was because she didn't want to hurt him, but was she really trying to protect herself from getting hurt? Is that just what she told herself? If she left without seeing him again then there wouldn't be any chance of it.
"Come on, I want to go see the town," Sophia opened the door, giddy at being in such a legendary town from the storybooks, tugging on Alexandra's sleeve.
"Okay, okay," she allowed herself to be pulled out the door, "Zooey? Luca?"
"I'm good," Zooey was already half-asleep in the chair, her legs propped up on another.
"And Luca?" Alexandra looked around but did not see him.
"He left already," Zooey mumbled, "all excited about seeing some magic or whatnot, he darted out that door again as soon as we got here. He's already got a head-start on exploring."
"Okay then, see you when we get back!" Alexandra waved as the door closed.
Zooey was already sound asleep.
Luca had decided that 'up' sounded like a good direction and started out walking up one the paths that went further up in the town to the next plateau. He cheerily hiked along, excited to be in such a different and unique placed. While it was true he had not seen any powerful displays of magic yet, or anything that would rally indicate that the people could do magic, just the fact he was in Braeden was enough to get him excited. No one would believe him if he told them, but no one ever believed him anyway outside of his friends because he was an Oonskat and had nothing to say that the commoners or nobles wanted to hear.
He loved the snow, it was rare to have it in the south where he had spent his entire life growing up. He liked the way it crunched under it shoes, he liked the cold in the air; this was such a wonderfully foreign place.
He passed by the last of the houses and found himself at the very 'top' edge of the town. Looking to his left he saw what he was hoping to find. Not magic, but the town horse stables. There were many beautiful horses, each well-built. Some had lighter shades, others the color of dark chestnut, and several sporting even darker, more lustrous hides. They were standing patiently in small wooden pens with a group of men and women feeding and grooming them.
"Hi there," he approached guilelessly, "I'm Luca."
"Welcome," one of the women stepped forward, "I am Forleyla."
"Do you take care of the horses?" He peered past her at the wonderful creatures.
"Yes," she could see his enthusiasm, "myself and this group here take care of Braeden's animals." The group were wearing warm winter coats of a deep blue fabric but all wore aprons to protect themselves from the mud and manure. "I can see you share our love for the majestic beasts."
"Oh yes indeed," he nodded, "I'd never even been on a horse up until a short while ago but I think I've gotten pretty good."
"You are very welcome to join us Luca," she stepped to the side and motioned for him to enter the pens as well.
"Can I?" he was hesitant, "is it okay? I mean, I'm new here and you don't know me, and..."
"It's okay," she assured him, "you and your friends are our most honored guests, we would be pleased if you would join us."
"Why are we your honored guests?" Luca was not sure why that would be the case or what that truly meant.
"Because you are," was the non-answer.
That was okay to Luca though, he was just excited to help out with the horses.
"This is Firestorm," she pointed at a black steed at the end of the stable, "the light gray one here is Snowcloud. This here with the blue eyes is Rainfall, and the one with the shiny brown coat at the other end is Whirlwind."
"Great names!" Luca loved them, just what one would expect supposed Tovanaar to ride.
Now closer, he noticed that each of the horse's legs had pistons that seemed to just come out of their legs. Luca could not even imagine what kind of advanced technology this was.
Forleyla introduced Luca to the others, they all were happy to meet him and welcomed him warmly into their crew. He helped feed the horses their dinner and then went to work with others brushing down their fine flawless coats.
They were all very interested in hearing Luca's stories, all about the slums in Avindr and all his travels since then. The people of Braeden apparently knew much about what was going on in the nation, an uncanny knowledge of it in fact, but they were very interested in his personal first-hand account of events. Luca enjoyed being the center of attention and told them all about what it was like being an Oonskat, what happened when they went to Lerwick, how great it was traveling with the trade caravan, and how they narrowly escaped several times from the soldiers of House Cornelius. He regaled them at length about the fight in the Winnowing Chamber and how Alexandra saved Geir from the burning house in Gylesmoore.
He was right in the middle of telling them about what happened in Alloa when a villager arrived up the path wearing a long black cloak and clothes that looked like Brom's from earlier with gears on his belt and small pipes woven through the fabric.
"Luca, this is one of our most experienced horsemen, Tryen."
"Please to meet you," he shook Luca's hand, his hand weathered but strong. "How have you found our town so far?"
"I like it very much sir," Luca bowed in respect, "if it's not impolite to ask, but where are you off to?"
"Up the mountain," Tryen pulled his black gloves tight, "just on patrol."
"Patrol for what?" Luca could not picture what might live in such an inhospitable place.
"Trespassers, dangerous animals, just anything. The Rotsen Mountains are vast and full of the unknown even to us who have made them our domain. Better safe than sorry."
He stepped over and hopped up on Whirlwind.
"What kind of animals live up here? We haven't seen anything living except for you lot since we started up this mountain."
"Stand back," Tryen reached over and flicked a small switch that was protruding from the horse's bridle.
That's when Luca noticed the horses' hooves for really the first time: instead of normal horseshoes, there was what appeared to be steam pipes running around the length of the horses' feet, not just along their legs. The horseshoe itself was a golden-colour metal that looked hollow, small gears visible inside through the tiny gaps. The horse trotted forward and faced the mountain.
"There's no path," frowned Luca, "where's he going?"
"Just watch," Forleyla seemed amused.
The horse started forward, beginning at a trot but began picking up speed. Luca was confused, the path ended at almost a vertical rock face, where was he riding to? Maybe he was going to turn around? Among the small explosions of snow kicked up by the horse as it ran, Luca could see steam shooting out of the small pipes that curled around the horses' feet. The pistons on its legs were pumping at full speed. Tryen also looked like he was whispering quickly into the horse's ear as he rode.
Suddenly, the horse lifted from the ground!
It looked like it was galloping in the air, it's legs still moving at full tilt. It cleared the rock face and continued higher along the face of the mountain before disappearing in the snow clouds that swirled at the higher altitudes. Forleyla laughed as Luca just stood there dumbfounded by what he had seen.
"But..." Luca had to search for the words, "but... how?"
"We're Tovanaar, lad," Forleyla reminded him, tapping him gently on the forehead.
"But that... that couldn't be magic," Luca still was not sure he believed, "I saw the horseshoes, they were steam-powered and they had gears! It was technology that did it, not magic."
"Just because we decided long ago to listen to the natural world does not mean we hide from technology, we just do not let it dominate our lives. We use technology when we see fit."
Luca was trying to get this all straight in his head. "So it wasn't magic then?"
"Come on," Forleyla motioned to the stable, "we still have three horses to groom before night."
Luca took one last look at the sky before grinning and returning to the stable.
Forleyla and the others were already back to their normal cleaning of the stalls. "We need to finish grooming Rainfall at least before you'll want to rejoin your friends."
"What?" something was obviously going to happen.
"The Lederan has been summoned," she said as she picked up the brush,
he will see your friend's pendant. I assume you'll want to be there for that. So let's go, one more horse then go fetch your friends."
"Right!" Luca nodded, beginning to vigorously brush the horse down.
Alexandra and Sophia had been wandering around Braeden meeting the locals and seeing what there was to see. Everyone they met, young and old, were very kind and made them feel welcome. The younger ones especially seemed excited to meet people from outside of the village and demanded stories of the faraway places in Prydain. The two girls did their best to tell some short exciting stories while leaving out the many unfortunate events they had faced on the long and strange journey that had brought them to this town.
The snow was still lightly falling and was even more beautiful now that the sun was setting. The white of the snowfall shone out in the dying light, contrasting with the deepening shadows as the sun dipped lower. Since they were so high up, they could watch as the sun set in the southwest, bathing the town beams of orange light as they pierced the thick clouds that hovered around the Mountains. Alexandra watched, amazed that the same sun had shone on the slums where they once lived. It was a strange thought to think of the two places being connected like that.
There were several shops in Braeden, if shop could be the right word to describe them. Braeden existed as an insular society, they did not use money because of it. The 'stores' were more like supply centers where the people would come and take whatever they needed at the moment. Alexandra and Sophia had checked out a few of them, they all seemed to carry quite ordinary items. Shovels, wood beams, foodstuffs mostly, no magic artifacts, spellbooks or anything of the kind.
After wandering aimlessly around the quiet streets, they had found a spot near the edge of the plateau where Braeden was situated so they could sit and watch the last little bit of sun disappear. Just as shadows overtook the town, the streetlamps around Braeden all suddenly flickered on at once. It was odd, there was no pipes or anything feeding the fire, or anything even indicate how they had all started at once. The streetlamps just became lit as it grew dark.
With there being nothing else to see, they decided to meander back to where they had been put up and see if Zooey had woken up yet or if Luca had made it back.
Opening the door to their lodgings they discovered that Zooey was indeed awake and Luca was back at well.
"There you are!" he sounded like he had been waiting for them.
Zooey yawned. "Thought you guys got lost."
"What's going on?" Alexandra looked at Luca.
"I guess the town's leader is supposed to be on his way," he shrugged.
"Hmm, I wonder what he's like?" Sophia was imagining what kind of leader of an isolated town full of purported magic users would be.
"I dunno," he shrugged again, "I just told he was on his way."
"He's sure been taking his sweet time," Zooey leaned back in her chair.
"Zooey, be kind," Sophia reminded her, "these people have been very good to us since we got here."
"After almost killing us," Zooey prodded.
Despite the provocation, Sophia would not budge on the issue. "Yes, after that."
Alexandra was starting to get nervous and reached up unconsciously and touched her pendant. ."I wonder what he'll say? I wonder if he'll even know anything."
Was she ready to know? What if the truth was not something she wanted to hear? What if he could not help at all?
Suddenly the door opened to reveal Brom once again.
"There you are, I'm glad you're all together. The lederan is here."