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After several hours of traveling, with a brief stop for lunch, Lily noticed that they were exiting the forested area. Soon after, she saw a crossroads up ahead. She asked if Mia knew which way to go, and her companion answered that she knew this area well, as this was the road from Lundin to the capital, where she had studied. All they had to do was turn left and they would be in her hometown soon. She explained that the road they came from was the old road to the capital, which fell into disuse when the new, shorter road was built through the mountain passes. The brigands must have used the old one because there were no checkpoints, and because there was less traffic, which would make it easier to smuggle Mia into the capital. Soon enough,her words proved true, as Lily spotted other carriages and riders traveling along the road. The pair made their turn, and Lily was amazed at the change in the landscape. No longer were they on a thin dirt track surrounded by tall trees or thick shrubbery. Instead, the carriage drove on a wide cobblestone road, spacious enough for more than one vehicle. The forest was replaced by pleasant green hills dotted by fields of golden wheat. Here and there, one could spot lonely farmhouses and animal pens breaking up the seas of grass. It was springtime, and she could smell the flowery scents of the blooming orchards and the vibrant fields where cattle grazed. She saw some farmers working the fields, while others walked along the road, taking cattle to the town markets.

Lily didn't know how long she spent lost in thought watching the idyllic landscape, but Mia's hand on her shoulder snapped her out.

"Look ahead, that's Lundin!" Mia exclaimed, shaking Lily, as the carriage crested a small hill. True enough, Lily saw the sprawling town in the valley below. Stone and brick houses lined the cobbled streets, while taller spires rose from the larger, more impressive buildings. She could see that the town had outgrown the old stone walls that had once protected it. She wondered if it was safe for houses to lay unprotected like that in a world of monsters, but then remembered that there were no large monster incursions since the Deluge. Let's hope it stays that way, she thought as she remembered the potential threat Dahlia told her about. As they got close, Lily noticed guards posted at the town's edge. They stopped people who were trying to enter the town, checking their cargo and papers before letting them pass inside. Lily pointed in their direction and asked: 'Is that going to be a problem? I have no papers or documents of any kind, and we are in a stolen carriage."

"Don't worry about it, just leave the talking to me," Mia answered instantly. She seemed confident, so Lily didn't press her further. Soon, they joined the queue of carriages and people waiting for inspection. Lily was glad that it wasn't long, because the sky was starting to get filled with heavy,dark clouds. Mia told her that thunderstorms were not unusual this time of year, and that this one would likely start in the evening. After a short while, it was their turn, and a short,burly guard motioned for them to move into the area next to the road, and exit. Mia complied, and the two girls disembarked. The guard started moving towards them, but he was frozen in shock when he got a better look at Mia.

"Lady Dawnheart, thank the gods you are safe," he exclaimed, after recovering."We got word that you had gone missing yesterday.".

Mia gave him a stern, dignified look, before answering:

"I was indeed kidnapped yesterday, but I am safe now, no thanks to the City Watch." She let her words linger for a moment, before speaking again: "The Watch's ineptitude aside, I need to speak with someone more senior. Take me to your captain.". The guard only nodded when he heard the demand, and motioned for them to follow him. They followed him to a nearby house, and after exchanging a few words with its guards, he led them in. Inside, Lily saw an older, dignified looking woman discussing something with a younger man over a table.They were both clad in the same gray uniforms, but hers had a different shoulder insignia.

When she heard them entering, she turned around and immediately asked:

"What is it now Jacob, I am rather busy?" The guard saluted before answering:

"Captain, I am sorry to interrupt, but Lady Dawnheart is here,and wishes to speak with you."

At the mention of her name, Mia stepped forward, and both the captain and the man she had been speaking with froze up when they saw her

"Are you the senior officer present?" Mia asked before they could recover.

"Yes, I am Watch Captain Aria White, at your service my lady," the older woman blurted out.

"Good, we have some things to discuss," Mia said, and started recounting the tale of how she got there. She told them about her kidnapping, Lily's rescue and the subsequent fight with the bandit. She explained how she managed to injure one of her attackers, along with his horse, before she was incapacitated. She left out details about Lily's identity and the fact that she used Soul Link on her, however.

Everyone present listened to her story in silence, and at the end, she asked the captain:

"Did the Watch manage to apprehend the third thug who attacked me?"

The older woman shook her head as she answered: " I am afraid not, my lady. Guards rushed to the scene when the sound of spells and combat was reported, but by the time they got there, everyone was gone. We raised the alert, but the thugs managed to slip out of town before we even knew you were missing."

She looked very unhappy admitting this to Mia, and Lily sensed a hint of shame in her voice.

"So the Watch not only managed to let three criminals into town, but also failed to capture anyone, despite one of them being injured? Not your best work captain White, I must say," Mia said with an acid smile. The guards in the room bowed their heads in shame, and the tension was palpable. Obviously, Lily thought, Mia's even more important of a person than she told me.

"No matter," Mia continued after a pause, "Mistakes happen. Thanks to Lily here, everything ended well. I am sure there will be an official investigation into the matter, but for now, I would very much like to get back home. Could you provide transport for me and my friend?"

"But she hasn't even been checked out properly," the male guard spoke up for the first time. "We can't just let a stranger into town after what happened."

"Do you doubt me or my honor?" Mia said in an angry voice, "Lily will be a guest at my father's estate. Surely the word of House Dawnheart is enough of a guarantee."

The man's face went pale at the mention of Mia's father, and the captain quickly stepped in before he could respond

"There is no need for suspicion, Richard. My lady, we will gladly provide transport for you and your friend. Furthermore, I will personally make sure Lily here receives a proper reward for your rescue, and the return of stolen property. We will also have the thugs' inventories sent over for appraisal at the Adventurer's Guild, and pay out a reward for them," she said in a conciliatory voice. Hearing that, Mia calmed down a little, and the captain turned to Lily.

"You have the gratitude of the entire Watch for rescuing Lady Dawnheart and taking those criminals out," she said,and bowed slightly before Lily.

"I am sure any upstanding citizen would have done the same," Lily spoke up finally.

Hearing her voice, a hint of surprise showed on the captain's face, but she said nothing. Instead she ordered the guards to prepare transport, and then asked a few questions. She wanted to know if Mia had been tortured or injured in any way. The girl gave her a few curt answers, still obviously unhappy with the Watch in general. Soon a guard reported that a carriage was ready, and before parting the captain promised to send someone over to take their full statements once the official investigation was underway. The girls exited the guardhouse and were led to a much nicer carriage than the one they arrived in. It was getting late, so they got underway immediately.