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The cobble path turned into a road flanked with low walls on either side. Statues of royalty long dead hailed the travelers, and held up lamps to light their progress. These were in the process of being lit as Saure's cart rolled past, the lamplighters in green garb. The road began to slant upward on the hill. Nora was built first as a fortress, after all, and if one were to breast the highest tower, they would be able to see the famous mountains, plains, forest and sea. Saure herself could not see much just yet.
Saure began to get a wee bit nervous as they neared the great gates of the city. The guards there were stopping travelers in front of them to inspect their carts and bags. They mightn't let a huge puma into their midst outside of a cage. Fred thought in silence for a moment, then assured Saure all would be well. He went about digging in the various bags and trunks, and found two belts which Saure fashioned into a collar and lead. She slipped the collar around Fred's neck, fastened the lead to the cart, and prayed it would fool the guards.
"Over here, miss! Halt, if you please. We must inspect your things. Queen's law." One of the guardsmen called as she neared. They were decked in shiny, intricate armor- but even Saure could see these men never saw battle. Not with weak silver as their only protection. Their swords looked new, and the sheathes looked as if the swords had never been drawn from them- no signs of wear at the tops. One guard kept watch before and behind the cart, whilst the second went about inspecting. Upon unveiling the back of the cart, he gasped and yelped in surprise. Fred merely lay where he was and regarded the man with a sleepy gaze and a nonchalant yawn.
"Oh, don't mind Fred. He's trained. Just so long as you don't threaten me or try to take anything, I doubt he'll bite your limbs off." Saure reassured.
"Ah. Jolly good. All seems well enough." He dropped the canvas hastily and strode jerkily back to his post, mail
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clinking noisily against his decorative armor. "On ye get, and good luck, m'lady."
"Thankee sir, and pleasant nights." She flicked the reigns, clicking her tongue. They proceeded past the gates and into the bustling confusion of carts and bodies.
Immediately, Saure was assaulted with ten million sights, sounds and smells. Callers crowded in on the new traffic entering the city, holding up their wears and proclaiming them the best in Nora, if not all the Noran lands. Jewels and bright metal glinted in torchlight, freshly baked goods and freshly cooked meats steamed and wound their tantalizing aroma tightly around the stomach, bells tinkled and tolled from carts, wrists, ankles and the collars of various animals. Color exploded from every kiosk and sellers’ bench. There were languages printed on these that Saure could actually read, but some eluded her. She was overwhelmed in the sudden sensory overload, and felt lightheaded for a moment in her frantic attempt to take everything in all at once. Her head jerked to this, then to that, hearing and seeing and smelling and feeling the heat and cold of various drafts from open doors and barren alleys. Never in her many trips to Nora had everything been so new, exciting, confusing and frightening. Before she had stayed obediently put in the back of the brush wagon till her parents had gotten their bench set up. This time, she had come alone, and just before most shops' closing time- when business was at its busiest.
"Fred… Fred I think I may faint."
"No, you won't. Focus on the cart in front of you. We'd do best to find an inn and stables first. Save the purchasing for tomorrow when the hoards are docile. We could do for some meat and mead as well, methinks."
"Definitely."
The inn cum tavern was dubbed The Heathermoor, and had spacious stables. Saure was welcomed by an eager innkeeper- a balding but charming old woman in dark green robes. She ordered a young lad with silvery bluish hair to carry Saure's things up a flight of spiraling stone steps to a
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