The red sunset had fully sunk behind the western hills when the large caravan that had left Eldridge finally arrived at the main gate of Silvermist City. The tall, sturdy grayish-white stone walls rose majestically before them, their smooth surfaces reflecting the golden-orange light from the large torches burning along the defensive walls. The night air was beginning to turn cold, carrying the distinctive scent of a trading city: a mixture of baked bread, spices, horse sweat, and wood smoke from the residents' stoves.
Because of the fairly large number of people and carts, perhaps more than a hundred souls, the process of entering the city moved very slowly. The gate guards, dressed in blue-gray uniforms with a silver moon emblem on their chests, inspected the caravan one by one with care. They collected a small entry fee of a few copper coins, occasionally asked about their origin and destination, and randomly checked belongings to prevent stolen goods or prohibited weapons.
