We did have to go back to Ladris. I asked Redwar if I could stay outside the city that night, in the direction of Terreth.

I knew it wouldn't make much of a difference. But it would make me feel better. Redwar said I could.

The next day we set off again. I would have loved to gallop all the way, but of course our horses wouldn't have been able to sustain that.

"Twitchy" would have been a good word for me.  I could not stay still, unless it was to sleep.  And then, I'd lay awake, staring at the stars, wondering if I'd find Derrek.  

"There it is."  

My head came up from Axe's mane at Redwar's voice.  My eyes widened.  "It's huge."  

Spread out before me in the middle of the plains was a walled city, with many surrounding buildings.  But more than that was all the farmland that spread around it.  Being a girl who'd lived in or around the forest her whole life, it was weird to see so much farmland. 

Redwar and Valeria watched me with amusement.  "You think that's something?" said Valeria.  "Imagine three times that.  That's how big the capital city of the Seven Clans of Thathia is."  

"Wow," I breathed.  The next moment discouragement crushed my wonder flat.  "How are we going to find Derrek in all that?"

"We will," replied Redwar confidently.  "And if we don't find him there, we'll search the next town, and the next one after that, until we find him."  

I'm not an introvert.  But that does not mean that I like being pressed in on all sides by people.  It does not mean that at all.  

I was seriously tempted, as I waded my way through the pressing bodies, to draw my sword and cut a wide swath around me.  Okay, maybe not actually cut a wide swath, but threaten to.  

I was wading my way through the city market, to see if I could spot Derrek, but it was now obvious this was not going to work.  I'd only been here five minutes and felt like screaming.  Why, oh why did we have to come on market day?  

I fought my way to the city wall and plastered myself against it.  I moaned and closed my eyes.  The smell of sweating humans in close quarters was overwhelming.  I was having to fight the urge to flee back to my quiet forest dwelling.

I pressed a hand to my forehead and wiped away the sweat, as I fought to think.  Height.  That's what I needed.

The city wall would be a good choice, but I didn't know how to get up there.  I decided to see if I could scale someone's roof. 

Twenty minutes later I'd made my way up on top of the roof of a tanner.  It was the only roof I could find that I could get up and that didn't have a thatched room.  Those things will make you itch like crazy.  

I sat down on it, satisfied, and began scanning the crowd below. 

I sat there for three hours.  The sun inched towards the horizon, and still I didn't see Derrek.  The crowds began to thin out, but I still didn't see him.  Sometimes I'd catch a glimpse of someone that looked like him and my heart would leap, only to be disappointed again.  

I did spot a familiar face at the end of my three hours.  It was Redwar, weaving his way through the market in his self assured way, looking for me.  

"Ravine! Ravine!" He called.  

I scampered down off the roof before calling to him, not wanting to draw attention to myself.  "Over here Redwar!"  

We met near the edge of a vendor of grain.  "Did you find him Redwar?"  I asked, hoping against hope.  

He slowly shook his head.  "No.  None of the people Valeria or I asked have met him."  

My disappointment was almost too much to bear.  But bear it I would have to.  

That was the end of our first day of searching in Terreth.  I was tired, angry, and sad.  I had given no thought as to wear we would sleep that night.  

But Redwar had.  

As he walked in front of Valeria and I, she whispered to me.  "Where are we going to sleep tonight?"  

I shrugged.  "I don't know," I mumbled listlessly. 

Sensing I was not in a chatty mood, she didn't ask any more questions.  

We found ourselves in front of a tavern, which also functioned as an inn.  Redwar turned to us.  "Wait here, I'm going inside."  

I leaned against the side of the tavern, hearing the sounds of happy, if not a little drunk, men inside.  I closed my eyes, depending on Valeria to be alert because at the moment I didn't think I could be.  

About ten minutes later Redwar came out of the establishment.  "The manager has graciously allowed us to stay in two rooms and stable our horses, provided we repay him with our service," he said.  

Service?  What did he mean by that?  But I was too tired and depressed to ask or care.  

We followed him through the tavern to the back stairs, weaving in between tables laden with card games and ale.  I perused the many faces there, although I didn't think Derrek would be in a tavern.  

We tromped up the stairs, and Redwar led us to two doors.  "This is your room," he said, tapping on the door with the number five.  He handed Valeria the key to it.  "I'm in room right next to it, room six." 

"Alright.  Goodnight, Redwar," said Valeria.  

"Night," I mumbled.  

He nodded and turned to go to his room, but I put a hand on his arm.  "I appreciate all that you've done, Redwar.  I'm just too tired and sad right now to properly express it." 

He smiled down at me.  "I know, Ravine.  We will find your brother."  

I slept like a rock through the night.  Valeria had graciously allowed me to have the bed, provided that I gave it to her the next night.

I woke up to sun rays pouring their way through the window.  I remembered the day's events before, and turned away from the rays.  They seemed too bright and cheery for my despair.  

But then I thought about all that Redwar and Valeria had done for me, and realized it would be a disservice to them to virtually give up after just one day of fruitless serving.

So, as best I could, I pulled myself together.  Whatever happened, I could not give up hope.  I turned to face the sun.  

After laying there a moment and enjoying the wonderful feeling of a proper bed, I slowly pulled back the covers and stuck my feet over the edge.  I looked down to find Valeria looking up at me.  

"Morning," she murmured.  

"Morning.  Sleep good?"  

"Well as can be expected."  

"Thanks for letting me have the bed last night.  I'll sleep on the floor tonight."  

"You bet you will."  

I giggled at her sarcasm as she lifted herself off the floor, propping herself on her elbows.  I then asked her an earnest question.  

"Why are you helping me find my brother?"  

She shrugged.  "Several reasons.  For one thing, I don't have anything else to do.  For another, this is going to be an adventure.  And finally, I know you'd do the same for me if I was in the same situation."  

Her estimation of my character and our friendship honored me, it made me wonder how worthy I was of it.  

Just then we heard knocking on our door. 

"Yes?" Called Valeria.    

"Breakfast in twenty minutes," came Redwar's voice.  

"We'll be there," she replied.  

We each washed our faces in the wash basin, wondering how long it would be till we got a proper bath.  But this would have to do for now.  I combed my greasy hair and braided it anew.  

We met Redwar out in the hall.  

"Good morning," he greeted us.  

"Morning," we responded in unison.  

He began walking down the hall.  "We'll have breakfast first, then we'll see what service the manager wants us to do."  

"Service?" I asked, a little confused.  

"Yes, the work we'll do in exchange for the rooms and stabling.  

This was news to me.  I was about to say that I didn't remember Redwar saying anything about this, but then I remembered he'd said it last night and I'd been too tired to care.