My feet stomped down with uneven rhythm. My heart even throbbed more with the non-sequential grace. It was the height of my worry.

The rider rode the barouche with expertise to tend my weary and sooth my ill feeling. His carefulness yet was the last thing I needed.
I needed peace. Rina's elope hadn't offered me such mercy.

The abrupt gallop of the carriage drew my mind back into the dark-blue vehicle. I cursed with annoyance. The driver bellowed apologies from outside.

I wiped the fleck of sweat upon my face with a sigh. It wasn't the riders fault. The street was rowdy with the usual presence of merchants, transiting people and other forms of businesses.

All this stress. All this worry and strive. The seer had told me so...South was full of trouble!

As we moved through the cobbled street I took appraisal of the new city. Although it had its peculiarities, it wasn't so different from that of Kedrone. Their dressing was part of it. While ladies were adorned with bright dresses, men wore fitting suit or jerkin -- most with varying kinds of headdress...unlike the long outer garment wore by most men of Kedrone, save for soldiers and officers.

I pondered over the words of the seer as our vehicle struggled through the street. A tide was heading for Kedrone and the Houses in North. Whichever way the war would reach the Plains and the clans thereof...Gezon inclusive.

Shouldn't I be North joining this fight?

No. The monarch Karmadin had now the power to crush whatsoever threat came for the lands. This wasn't my war anymore.

But Dakor! The seer had spoken of his presence. She had foretold my eternal victory against the champion should I heed and head back North.

Regardless of her words, I had sealed up my mind and taken South as my course...and now I laid in Vernise.

I didn't know what exactly now to consider myself. Foolish? Arrogant? Ignorant? Or perhaps all three? The first days of my travels down the land held several feelings: regret, guilt, anxiety, confliction.

I cleared my head howbeit with the reason that I was doing this not for a mere passion, but to shame the gods as well.

Yet, Rina had done her work on me dutifully. She had locked my heart with hers and made me her slave. A slave to her charms...such that I could give up my long upheld quest in her search.

But many things still incited my sojourn to this  city. The woman had left without a word. It had been my responsibility to guide her home. Heaven knew my guilt would be unending should I learn anything bad had happened to her.

I needed to find her. I needed to know why she had eloped without a word. And why she had set me up with the strange woman Lyra.

Lyra. The thought of her sparked an annoyance. Not because I hated her...but because she was the fruit of Rina's own deceit. Rina had made a big fool of me indeed. I was purposed to find out in the end, the rationale behind her selfish actions.

I dipped my hand into the pocket and brought out the purple parcel. Tossing it up, it descended on my palm with multiple clinging thud. I smirked. It was the souvenir Rina had left me with. Three hundred silver coins...as promised!

Our vehicle stopped suddenly. The driver dropped from his seat and approached the door.

"We are here sir," he proclaimed upon opening the carriage's door. "The heart of Vernise."

I exhaled, then took my little load and stepped down. Sparing the man few coins, he grinned with satisfaction and a bow. 

As soon as the driver rode away, reality dawned on me. I was alone in this strange land. Where would I start the search? Who even knew Rina amongst this multitude of hundreds...perhaps thousands, roaming the street?

I took my things and began pacing through the lane...in my heart, gathering all the knowledge I felt I knew on her. A mere handful though. It was a bitter revelation, howbeit the truth -- I knew very little of Rina.

I remembered she spoke on few occasions of her father being wealthy. Also picking inferences from the events at Anthera, I knew he was a Lord. Perhaps a very high lord among several courtiers.

I sighed while holding my pace through the roadway. My sight was greeted with several red faced butchers. Strings of sausages and bacon decorated their stores. Soaked to the elbow, they apportioned heavy haunches of meat to costumers.

At the other side of the street, crafts stores bloomed with several varying products. The smiths were putting finishing touches to their artistic work and magnificent carvings.

I stumbled upon few food vendors, jewelry sellers, and many other business. It made me understand Vernise to be a trading and commerce land. I huffed, as I caught a pile of women, making their way to the perfumery with an effeminate swagger.

I stilled when I came to the next shop. The weapon stall bristled with pikes, swords, hatchet, daggers, axes. They weren't yet what truly drew my attention. The set of firearms in glass-lined show cases gleamed with intriguing brilliance. The stock were carved beautifully. Most were painted in black and maroon color. But I took preference with the barrel engraved with a pheonix.

  "How much?" I asked, pointing a pistol.

  "Too much for you mate," the shop owner spared me no gaze. "These weapons were designed specifically for our worthy officers. Although I wish I could sell, but I hate being owed."

  "How much?" I demanded again, hardly this time. Digging my hand into my pocket I drew out the little sac of coins.

  "Thirty seven silver coin." He turned to me.

Heavens,  it was too much! I wouldn't debate it yet. I had committed myself to this, my ego was surely on the line.

   "Just that!" I hissed with a frown. I counted the coins. Begrudgingly I dropped it on his desk.

"Make this sharp!" I demanded then, passing him my Kris. His eyes bulged with surprise when he saw the blade. For a trained blacksmith as himself, he could tell rightly the worth of the piece in his hand.

He bowed while taking the piece and moving for work. I had earned my honor at least. But if only he knew the weapon was a souvenir from my raiding years. I still remembered the wealthy merchant I had taken the piece from. I shook off the memory. I should let the dead be in peace.

  "You are new here, I presume." He said to me with a warm tone now. I knew well he was seeking to gain my favor. I was sure to deny him that.

  "My name is Anderior, and as you can see, I  am one of the best blacksmith traders here in Vernise." He told.

I remained silent whilst testing my newly acquired piece.

  "I can agree with you, for the sole sake of this magnificent piece," I boomed in.  "Not like the rest of your stock are bad, am certain they would be well as this one." I said to him. I was sincere, and I could see his satisfaction for my word.

  "This is a magnificent blade." He told.

  "Aye, it is!" I simply answered.

  "Do you mind me asking where you had this made?"

  "A far place from here mate." I said, twirling the pistol in practice manner.

The brusque rush of a man pass us, halted my practice. Another man pursued quickly. Then another fellowed. And yet another chased. In a moment, a rail of crowd was charging pass us.

"What's going on?" Anderior spoke to a passing man.

"The high Lord's eldest daughter with her betrothed are riding our street. The cheerful prince may me compelled again to spray few coins today." The man responded in rush whilst zooming off.

I strangely found myself drawn to this growing scene. I was new in Vernise after all. Who knew what knowledge could help in my little quest.

Abruptly I demanded Anderior "Sword!"
He complied quickly and passed me my piece.

I charged for the growing crowd. From where I was, I could see their entourage of armed horsemen clearing the way. But the high lords daughter and her supposed betrothed were wedged right at the center of the soldiers, and I could see only but a glimpse of what I desired.

I struggled hardly into the grounds, straining my eyes to pick clarity for this whole drama. At last, their horses were almost reaching where I was, and my desires for a look had reached its zenith.

In a moment, the horses came closer to view. I took my peer, but froze. My world stilled at the strange sight.
  Rina!

This was a dream. A lie. No! It was reality -- my reality. Slowly I drew out from the crowd, as it washed over me proper. In confrontation to this absurdness I had learnt the bitter truth; Rina would never be mine!