South Cimavetta

As we get further into the afternoon and closer to the mountains, the forest around us is gradually receding and being replaced by grassy knolls.

The terrain has become a lot more uneven. We are going up and down over soft hills.

Cimavetta is taking up a considerable amount of my vision now. It is no Himalayas, but that doesn't mean the Cimavetta is not a majesty to behold.

The summit of the tallest mountain peaks through the clouds. Rivers and valleys weave through the range. At the base of it all, I am beginning to see some structures.

Some distance ahead down the dirt road, there are clusters of houses scattered around the mountain-foot. A few colored patches of what seems to be fields of crops sit around these clusters, and a web of roads connects them all together.

It definitely has a different feel from Alventyr. There aren't any organized streets. The whole town is spread organically around a few curved roads going up the side of a mountain. Each of the houses' foundations conforms smoothly up the slope of the ground.

Also, unlike the mostly wooden houses of Alventyr, the ones here are made of bricks and stone.

It's not that big of a village. There are maybe a few dozen homes in total.

One building stands out from all the others. It sits above and looks over the entire town at the top end of the longest road and has a unique pointy roof with a bell on top. A church, it looks like, and down the road beside it, there is a small mansion.

I turn around to the cabin and say, "We are getting close to the Village of Cimavetta."

Faye looks out of the window on the side of the cabin.

"The Village of South Cimavetta," Astra says.

"What?" I ask.

"There are two villages," she explains, "The one we are going to right now is South Cimavetta. Once we cross the highlands, we will arrive in North Cimavetta."

"Oh, alright," I say and turn back to the front.

Not too far ahead, I see a wooden pillar on either side of the road with a plank in between, and on it is a banner that reads, "SOUTH CIMAVETTA". Just as Astra said.

The forest is behind us now, and soon, we enter the village through the gate. The road becomes paved with stones, amplifying the hooves of the horse and the wheels of the carriage.

I see a few people out and about on the roads, working on their farms, or chilling outside their doorsteps. Some give us a swift glance as we ride past them.

These are actual humans, not at all different from the people on Earth, except for their clothing. As Faye said, my color of hair is very rare. Everyone else's range from jet black to light brown.

There are also a few elves in the mix. They don't stick out as much as I had thought. In fact, I can't even tell whether some of them are elves or not from a distance.

A young man walks along the road in front of us. I pull up the carriage beside him.

"Excuse me," I ask, "where is the stable?"

He points up the hill and says, "It's right down this road on the right, sir, and if you are staying, the inn is right across from it."

"Alright, thanks," I say and continue with the carriage.

"You know, the Cimavetta mountain range is also well known for its natural hot springs," Astra says.

Is that the kind of information the Goddess's mortal brain can hold? Why do I feel like there should be more room for the important stuff?

"Hot springs?" Faye asks.

"Yeah," Astra says, "They are like springs, but hot."

"Up in the mountain?"

"Yeah."

"How is that possible?"

"Beats me, but they are cool."

"What do you do with the hot springs?" Faye asks.

"It's just a better hot bath."

"Ooh, I like hot baths."

"So does my brother Kris. Maybe you two can go together."

"What?"

What?

"I'm kidding," Astra says, "that spot is reserved for Lohikaarmi already."

"Um…"

"Unless you all want to go together. In that case, I might as well join in on the fun. What do you say, Kris?"

I stop the carriage and I turn to the window.

"If you like hot springs so much, how about I ask Lohikaarmi to boil you alive in a tub?" I say.

"I will if you are in the bowl with me," Astra says with a giggle.

Faye clearly does not look like she is enjoying this conversation.

"Alright, enough, you lunatic. We are at the stable. Time to get off."

I put down the reins get down from the coach seat.

There is a horse barn in front of us, and beside it is a row of parked carriages.

As the girls get down from the cabin, the barn doors open, and a burly middle-aged woman comes out from it. She is in a dark blue dress, much better than what we have on.

I also get a peek into the stable. The horses in there are strange. Not only are they much smaller, but they are also covered in thick, long hair, almost like mops.

"Afternoon, sir," the woman greets and walks toward us.

"Hello. Can I have my horse rest in the stable for one night?" I ask.

"Sure thing. That will be fifty iron coins," she says.

That's certainly a change from Alventyr.

"Alright," I say and open the pouch by my waist.

Yeah, there is no way I have fifty coins of iron in this little pouch.

"I don't have fifty irons coins. Can you take a copper one?"

"Yeah, that'll work."

"Here," I say and hand over twice the asking price.

What a busted system. Who in their right minds would carry around a couple of pounds of spare change?

"Thank you. Is you sir trying to cross the highlands?" She asks while pocketing the money.

"Yes."

"Then that horse ain't gonna do. You'll want one of our mountain donkeys," she says and points to the stable.

Ah, that's what they are.

"Can they pull a carriage?"

"Yes, but not up the ridge. You see, we have two routes to North Cimavetta," she says, "one goes through the valleys all the way around three mountains. Takes about a week, but the road is low and a carriage can cross. Then there's the other one, which goes right across the snow over that mountain ridge there. Gets you to the other side in two days, but you'll need to ride the donkeys without load."

"I see. We will take the ridge then. How many people can one donkey take?"

The woman glances over at Astra and the others beside me, who have gathered around.

"One each, but the little pie there can ride with one of you," she says.

"Alright. We will leave tomorrow. Can we have three donkeys ready by then?"

"Sure thing, sir. It's fifteen copper coins for one, so that will be…" she begins counting up with her fingers.

"That's forty-five," I say.

"Yeah? Forty-five coppers then."

I let out a sigh and hand her a silver coin.

"A silver? I ain't got the change."

"Don't worry about it."

"Really? You sir sure is generous."

"Yep."

This does not feel as satisfying as giving away that gold coin. I am starting to think that cheating people out of change is her business model.

"Is there anything else I can help you sir with?" She asks.

"No, that's all."

"Great. I will get the horse in, then. May the Goddess look upon you favorably," she says and walks toward our carriage.

Yeah, that's not happening anytime soon.

"You just got robbed blind," Astra leans in and says.

"It's not my money to begin with. Come on, let's head to the inn."