16 Everstin
The merchant city of Everstin stood on top of a small hill in the middle of an open field. Pockets of green forest clung all around the city without getting too close to its mighty stone walls. Old and numerous tree stumps sat on the outskirts, a silent warning for any unlucky trees crazy enough to grow within its reach.
People of all walks of life entered and left the city. Merchants dressed in exquisite gowns exited in gold-encrusted carriages. Ordinary folks bunched together as they jingled bags of coins that they had saved up for buying different things. Women scolded their husbands about spending too much while their children begged to differ.
But one thing remained constant as the executioners approached the gate: Everyone avoided them like the plague. Merchants quietly ordered the horses to move faster as woman tucked their noisy children behind the folds of their dresses. It was even more apparent when the bronze-clad gatemen pressed themselves out the way and lowered their heads.
Zabeth approached the guards with a steady pace. One of them, probably a new recruit, snapped his spear in front of her, abruptly stopping her advance. A deep frown spread across the recruit's face underneath his armored helmet.
"Halt. Who are you? State your name and business," the younger guard ordered. The older guards paled as they watched the young boy question the woman in black. One of them even tried to pull the boy, but he shrugged them off, clearly annoyed.
"Who do you think you are, just stepping through the gate like it's nothing?" the young recruit continued as his hand reached for his short sword. However, the other guards now looked ready to tackle the boy.
Amused, Zabeth gave the boy a heart-melting smile. "Oh, my apologies. I thought I messaged the captain of the guard of our arrival weeks ago. Did the message never arrive? No worries, no worries, I have some identification," Zabeth responded while reaching into her cloak.
"No need for all of that!" a voice rang out from inside the city. Everyone turned and watched as a company of bronze-armored troops walked towards the gate. They were led by a tall warrior with a red cape and orange-tipped, white feather on his helmet.
The gate guards all stood at attention. The leader looked between the recruit and Zabeth and lowered his head into a respectful bow. The guards that accompanied him followed suit.
"You have my deepest apologies, Captain Elizabeth. I thought I filled everyone in on the details of your arrival," the captain harshly glared at the recruit before continuing, "Rest assured, that boy will be punished for disrespecting our esteemed guests."
Zabeth laughed softly to herself. "It's quite alright, Captain. Mistakes happen from time to time, so I'd prefer if you'd just let it slide this one time. Do you have our accommodations ready?"
"Of course. Follow me." The captain of the guard swiftly lifted his head. Before turning around, he gave the recruit one last glare. "Let this serve as a lesson that 'The Order' is more merciful than you'd expect."
As the executioners followed the guards through the gate, the recruit's face paled and his lips trembled as he realized who he had just stopped and threatened. Just before they had all entered the gate, Annie playfully growled at the scared recruit, who screamed and fell to the ground.
Annie giggled for a bit before Frank gently smacked her in the head. They continued down the busy cobblestone streets of Everstin.
They continued for a bit until that came to a mighty stone fountain carved into a warrior carrying a spear. Zabeth halted the group at the base and motioned for everyone to gather around.
"Before we go any deeper, I need some people to run some errands. We'll be staying in this city for a while so these are essential," Zabeth said once everyone was gathered. "Kalim, I want you to go to the noble house and inform of our arrival. Murlith, contact Southern headquarters and see if they have any new intel. Annie and Frank, survey the city and return with a detailed report of everything. And finally…"
Zabeth pointed toward the back of the group. "Rikkard, I need you to ask the tourist if they have seen or heard anything exciting. Destroyed villages. Corrupted sightings. If it's related to the 4 unknowns, I want to hear about it. Understood?"
His first assignment. Best not to screw this up. Straightening his back, Rikkard gave a respectful salute in the Executioner fashion.
"Yes, ma'am!" Rikkard yelled out with a puffed chest. Zabeth proudly smiled at her executioners.
"Will you need any help? I can always have Welters come with you if necessary," Zabeth concernedly asked. She dropped the commanding voice and switched over to her familiar soft, yet caring tone.
"Nah, I got this," Rikkard reassured. Zabeth smiled again and nodded her head once.
"Very well. We'll be probably be stationed near the barracks of the city guard. Return no sooner than sunset and don't be late." Zabeth made her way over to the twins next.
"Try not to cause any trouble, you two," Zabeth soothes as she rubs Annie's head. Annie frowned at the gesture but her body language said otherwise. Frank saluted in agreement and with his sister in hand, disappeared down a different path. Zabeth took the rest of the squad and followed the city guards deeper into the city.
Rikkard briefly watched them go before heading off to complete the task he was given. Immediately, he talked to merchants and vendors, casually asking them if they had seen anything strange on their travels. Hidden around corners, he carefully listened to the slur conversation of drunk men.
There were rumors of King Galatine, King of Draxia, trying to marry off his daughter to some nobles in Hallotin. Other rumors were about strange beasts in the northern region that appeared one moment and gone the next, only for the Order to come and sweep up the area. While he didn't think any of this was important, Rikkard decided to note it for later.
Hours of stalking and talking later, Rikkard had reached the end of daylight and the sun began to sink into the horizon. Gathering everything he learned, he slowly detached himself from the stone wall.
He made it around a couple of blocks before someone shouted. Curious, Rikkard, cautiously but rapidly, trailed the source of the screams, which took him to a less populated part of town and into an alley.
