The not-immortal Blacksmith

25th of Arah, 2291 years since the new gods came.

The city is crowded. It's not even that big. I think that's the biggest change from back home. It's like a barrel of fish that the fisherman just had to pack "one more" into. With few exceptions, the people are nice. Most buildings are at least three stories tall; I counted five stories in one large row house. I find myself worried about fires with all the wood being used in the buildings.

We have purchased coach tickets to head east in the morning. I hope the coach isn't as crowded as the city.

26th,

The day dawned bright and clear. And a bit chilly. The coach was fairly new, and didn't smell bad. Our driver was running a team of six horses. We traveled 17 miles to the next sizable town; the coach stops for the night in larger towns. Every three miles or so there was a hamlet surrounded by fields. If this holds true for the rest of the trip, I think the population here far outstrips the population back home.

I really haven't thought about home that much this last year. I kind of miss it, but not as much as I would have expected. The trees here are the same, but different, as are the flowers, crops, bushes, and birds. The biggest difference I've seen so far is the lack of animals. Or I should say, the lack of wild animals. I have seen a single deer; the coach stopped so people could gawk at it, as it crossed the road; but not a herd like we would see back home. No wolves baying in the night. Nothing. We passed one twenty-acre place that was fenced off as a "Nature Preserve". I've never even heard of something like that. I suppose when there are so many people around you need to have places where nature is preserved? Supper was a stewed pork and turnip dish. It was…okay.

27th,

More of the same today, with the exception that we switched out teams and driver a few hours back. We will be driving the next leg of our journey at night. We did pick up a guard who will be sitting on the top of the coach, just in case something happens. The road is good here, but we seem to be hitting less bumps than I expected. Maybe our driver is just that good?

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

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Max awoke to the baying of wolves. No, not wolves, wolf dogs? As the coach accelerated, he heard the twang of a bow string from the roof, and a yip as the arrow struck flesh. The coach began to lurch back and forth as the driver struggled to keep the horses under control, until there was a loud Crack, and the front of the coach dropped several feet to the road.

With Brianna and Grendel now awake, Max stepped from the coach, and surveyed the area. A ball of fire in hand to illuminate the gloom of the night, he could see the reflection of a dozen pairs of eyes. Eyes that were red, and glowing.

Bri slipped from the coach behind him, bow at the ready. Twang, twang, twang, went her bow, and three sets of eyes closed for the forever nap. As she continued to fire, Max began exploding what he could see, until, a few moments later, there were no eyes.

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Coy-wolves. An unholy mix of coyote and wolf. Not my sort of wolf, no, the wolves of fairytales. Big. Mean. Somewhat demonic. Our driver is okay, but the escort has a broken arm. In the light from my fire, I got a look at the underside of the coach. Long flat metal plates, tempered to be springs. That was what was making the ride so smooth! It's ingenious! Much easier to make than the coils I was told about.

28th,

We waited for sunrise before attempting to fix the coach. With the drivers help, I was able to knit the wood back together. The coachman thinks it's stronger than previously.

I can see why no one drives this leg of the road in the daytime. It's spooky, with never ending banks of smokey fog drifting between tall stones that jut from the earth like teeth. The driver informed me that some of the fog clouds are poisonous, but for some reason, the fog disappears at night. This scarred section of land is some ten miles wide at this point (the narrowest spot), and stretches more than a hundred miles in either direction. No one knows how it was formed. Maybe some corrupting influence like the demon lands back home? I have set a wind barrier for the day; we will set out just after dusk.

29th,

We arrived at our next stop around midnight. That land was just wrong, and I dislike it immensely.

32nd,

We arrived in the capital city of Helsbury today. There is no wall, and the castle is a ruin. I find it very interesting. There are eight distinct districts, each with a bustling market. There are no "slums" per say, just less nice areas. I find myself somewhat concerned as to what they do with the homeless and destitute. Some sort of "workhouse" or some such? We will be staying for a few days, before continuing on to Wiganmouth and then north to Soneby.

Ps? I have found out that the ruined castle actually has a museum of sorts on the property and is open to the public! It also is supported by donations. We Will be going there tomorrow.