ROLLING INTO EVERSHADE LIKE IMPORTED GOODS

The two came across a cart that had Hay stacks at the back and it was unattended.

The old man thought of stealing the cart and having a new means of transport until they noticed a man at the far trees taking a piss.

"The cart must be his,"the old man uttered being audible enough for Ravan to atleast hear.

"Should we make a run for it with the cart while he takes his time?"Ravan asked.

"Ofcourse you'd think like that,"the old man replies to Ravan.

"What if he wouldn't want to give us a ride?"Ravan asked.

"I'm also assuming you don't have any cash on you, what if he asks for payment?"Ravan added.

"Its not like you have money either,"the old man taunted Ravan as they kept their voices down.

"Well if I was a Zenith, you'd be swimming in it,"Ravan said but the old man didn't carw to respond this time.

"Okay, I say we hide in the Hay and have him transport us to Evershade,"the old man finally said after contemplating.

"But what if he's not heading to Evershade?"Ravan asked.

"Oh, so now you use that head of yours..."the old man said sarcastically.

'Why is he cranky all over sudden, can't blame him though, in this dire situation I would be too.'

"We will have to worry about the destination later, for now we need to rest just for a little while and wherever the cart stops we get off and find Evershade,"the old man said to Ravan as he nodded.

The old man and Ravan, after a long time take into contemplation, found themselves hiding in a stack of hay on a cart.

They had slipped in unnoticed while the owner had gone to relieve himself, and now they lay low, hoping to avoid detection.

'I don't know how, but my trust in this man is different compared to others I have encountered.'

'Could it be because he put his life on the line to save me?'

'But more than that, he's the one father said he'll be coming for.'

'For now I'll have to accept tha fact that I'm in his care, but also taking every opportunity to care of myself,' Ravan thought whilst pushing himself against the Hay.

The sound of the cart owner's returning footsteps made them tense, but he climbed back onto the cart without noticing the hidden stowaways.

As the cart jolted into motion, Ravan and the old man remained perfectly still, hardly daring to breathe.

The cart owner, talking to his horse, muttered, "Is it just me, or has the cart gotten heavier?"

The horse neighed in response, as if in agreement, but the owner shrugged it off and continued on.

Time passed slowly as the cart bumped along the road, and the light of dawn began to illuminate their surroundings.

The old man cautiously peeked out from the haystack and whispered, "Evershade."

His intuition had been correct; the cart was headed for the small town of Evershade.

He turned to Ravan and spoke softly, "When the cart takes a corner, we'll jump off and roll away. Stay close and follow my lead."

Ravan, his hearing keen and heightened by years of compensating for his other weaknesses, nodded, catching most of the old man's words.

'My ears might have been tempered with by the Valhein but my hearing is far better than the average person.'

He prepared himself, muscles tensed and ready.

The cart soon took a sharp turn, and the old man gave a subtle signal.

In one swift motion, they rolled out of the haystack and off the cart, hitting the ground and rolling to a stop.

They quickly scrambled to their feet, blending into the early night shadows of Evershade's streets as the cart continued on its way, the owner none the wiser.

Breathing heavily but relieved, Ravan looked around at the quaint buildings and quiet streets of Evershade.

The old man placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"We made it," he said quietly.

"Now let's find a place to rest and plan our next move."

The old man and Ravan walked through the cobbled streets of Evershade, the early morning light casting long shadows.

The town was beginning to wake up, and a few bypassers were already going about their daily routines.

The old man approached a kindly-looking woman carrying a basket of bread.

"Excuse me, ma'am," he said politely. "Could you direct us to an inn? We're looking for a place to stay the night, not too expensive."

The woman smiled and nodded.

"Of course. Just go straight down this road, take the second left, and you'll see the Evershade Inn.

It's a decent place and won't cost you too much."

"Thank you," the old man replied, tipping his head in gratitude.

They followed her directions and soon found themselves in front of the Evershade Inn.

The building was modest but well-kept, with a sign swinging gently in the breeze.

As they stepped inside, they were met with the murmur of conversation and the clink of mugs.

Patrons were already drinking and chatting, filling the room with a warm, lively atmosphere.

The old man and Ravan made their way to the counter, where the innkeeper, a burly man with a friendly face, greeted them.

"Welcome to the Evershade Inn. What can I do for you?"

"We'd like a room for the night," the old man said, placing a few coins on the counter.

The innkeeper counted the coins and nodded. "That'll get you a room upstairs. One bed, I'm afraid."

Ravan and the old man exchanged glances. "We'll take it," the old man said.

They headed upstairs to their room, the argument about sharing the bed starting as soon as the door closed behind them.

"There's only one bed," Ravan said, frowning.

"I don't want to share."

"Neither do I, but we don't have a choice," the old man replied, setting his bag down.

"We'll have to make do."

After a few more moments of bickering, they reluctantly agreed to share the bed, finding the situation odd but necessary.

'I'm sleeping on the floor.'

Suddenly, the door to their room burst open.

A man stumbled in, holding a half-drunk bottle of beer. His eyes were bloodshot, and he reeked of alcohol.

He looked at Ravan with a sneer.

"Hey, aren't you that trashy kid from the House of Zenith?"

Ravan's heart sank, his mind racing as he stared at the man.