Chapter 6: The Grey City

The brush helped conceal their tracks, even though a fine layer of snow covered the ground.

After running for a while, the trio slowed down to a fast walking pace.

Though she was wearing the thick, stolen cloak, Rhen was freezing like never before; her boots and leggings were wet from the snow, and her face prickled in the cold air.

Pulling the cloak tighter around her, she shivered a little.

The thick, grey cloak helped some, but they would need to find shelter soon... or the cold weather might really hurt them.

She glanced to Victor, who seemed almost unfazed by the cold.

He wore the second cloak, and though his garbs were better suited for the weather than Rhen's, he should be freezing almost as much as she did.

Was it his magic, she wondered?

"So, what is your name?" she asked, turning her gaze to the halfling leading the way.

He too seemed untouched by the freezing air around them - but this at least made some sense, with him likely being both used to it, and dressed for it under the leather armor.

"Kister," answered the halfling,

"Merip Kister. And you two are...?"

"Rhen, of House Amerial..." she replied,

"Not that titles matter much here, I guess."

"Nay, not a whole lot when you're from a different world. Sorry lass." said Merip, before he glanced to Victor.

"And you?"

"I am Victor Amerial, older brother of Rhen." replied her brother,

"Thank you for helping us, Master Kister. I fear that we can pay you little for your troubles."

The halfling waved a gloved hand dismissively.

"No need. I'm sure we will be able to help each other in the future."

Victor nodded at that, and fell silent as he eyed Merip for a long moment. He eventually went on to keep an eye on their surroundings instead.

"We are grateful, Master Kister," said Rhen,

"But I'm curious... did you find us by chance, or...?"

"Oh, a sharp one!" Merip chuckled in his helmet,

"When my associates and I noticed the sky going dark, I decided to go have a look. If I managed to find you before the Hunter scum, I'd take a look and see if you were someone we could use. And if not? Well, easy thing for me to slip away in the night. I was pretty impressed by what I saw though."

"And what would you and your associates 'use' us for?" asked Rhen, a little on guard.

"It's more like us helping each other, miss Rhen. We provide you with a safe place to stay, food, a bed... and you help us with various little tasks in return. It's not up to me to decide these tasks, but it'll be something befitting your skills. And trust me... this is the best chance you'll get in a land you don't know, where the soldiers and nobles want nothing but to hurt you for the way you look."

It made sense, she thought.

Sure, it might be suspicious, but the halfling was right.

If the rest of the soldiers in this land were like the Hunters, then they would be in danger no matter what.

Better to be with a group... and if this group could not be trusted? Leaving was likely an option.

Or so she hoped.

"Seems fair enough." she could see her breath in the air in front of her, and hoped to the gods that shelter was right around the corner. Or the next tree, rather.

It wasn't.

Dodging the Hunter groups made the trip take longer, and the trio walked, ran and snuck through the woods for another two hours.

Then, finally and with clattering teeth and frozen boots, they reached the edge of the forest.

A plain stretched out in front of them, taken up by farmsteads, little houses, and behind those, a huge, grey city.

A great, circular stone wall formed a barrier around the city, leaving some of the houses outside of it in permanent shadow.

Ash grey banners flew on top of the walls, and small groups of soldiers could be seen patrolling up there, mostly centered around the great, wooden gate leading into the city.

"Welcome to Korr Dalga," said Merip,

"We will not be using the front door."

Rhen stared at the enormous, walled city, and felt a sense of calm dread in her gut.

There was something very ominous about the place.

"I don't like this place..." she said.

Merip nodded.

"Good. Remember that feeling. Now come, this way. And toss the cloaks unless you want to risk getting caught. Remember, those are only for guards!"

Reluctantly, Rhen removed the cloak and let it fall to the ground.

The air immediately assaulted her, and she shivered in the cold.

After tossing his own cloak, Victor glanced to Rhen, and asked: "And what of her appearance? If we run into someone, they are sure to at least get curious."

The halfing nodded, and waved Rhen closer.

"Down, miss Rhen. Let me help you."

She did as he asked, and crouched as he reached behind his back and withdrew a small jar.

Merip uncorked it, and dipped his fingers in the contents, a muddy, dark substance.

"Sit still." he said, as he reached out towards her face with the same hand he had just dipped.

Not loving the idea, but more fearful of what may happen if she was discovered, Rhen let the halfling smear the substance onto her face.

He took a few moments, covering her up as much as he could.

"There we go... this is used for camouflage, and will hide your features somewhat. Keep your eyes down and don't look at anyone, and you should be fine. We'll try to avoid people as much as we can."

Rhen nodded, and stood back up.

"Yep. Masterpiece as always." the halfling chuckled as he studied her face.

She felt the corner of her mouth twitch, almost resulting in a smile. This little man really wasn't so bad.

They walked on then, towards the enormous wall, but not the great wooden gate.

Whenever a farmer or another person walked by them, Rhen would look down, avoiding their gazes as best she could.

Luckily, they did not run into any guards on their way.

As they reached the wall, Merip glanced to the top. When he found no guards peeking, he rushed towards the wall, crouched down, and began moving some stones and branches.

He quickly uncovered a grate, very much like the ones leading to the sewers back home, Rhen thought, and flung it open.

"Follow." he said, and proceeded to climb down.

"And close the grate after you!"

Once they had descended, it became clear to Rhen that this was, indeed, the entrance to a sewer; as Merip lit a torch on the wall, part of it was illuminated, revealing a long tunnel splitting into multiple other tunnels.

More than likely, this sewer network spread out underneath the entire city, which made it absolutely enormous.

A few wrong turns down here, and it may be very difficult for anyone to get out again.