Jessica Robinson
Stories
9
Chapters
2,697
Words
1.2 M
Comments
0
Reading
4 d, 6 h
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It had been almost three months since Brym had left Rhodanos. Now, he found himself in a nameless little forest on the western foot of the Sallqata Mountain Range. Until recently, this place was untouched by civilization, far away from any cities controlled by nobles, or any sites of pilgrimage. No major road led through the area either. It was truly the middle of nowhere. However, there was a good reason for him to take a detour in between visiting the cities of northern Medala and make his way here.…-
138 •
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For a full trium after the arrival of the scholars, Rhondanos had turned from a vibrant city into a stale pond. After most enjoyable things in life had become illegal over night, the citizens had retreated into their homes and waited in trepidation, hoping that their lord would soon restore order in the city. Yet when even the lord's city guards showed subservience towards the scholars, they were stuck, unable to fight back. Anyone who fought back by that point would become a target for the scholars to…
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138 •
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Inside a nameless shack in the eastern part of Rhodanos, an almost eerie quiet had taken hold. Usually, this place was bustling, filled with the smell of booze, sweat and copper. After all, everyone in the area knew that this shack was owned by the Portside Gang and operated as a gambling house. Yet tonight, none of the usual gamblers were here to throw away their hard-earned savings on dubious chance. None of the croupiers were manipulating the dice rolls to make sure the house would always win. At…
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138 •
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What had happened? Why was this guy suddenly so nice to Inti, when he had been so mean to Brym all this time? Wasn't he a traditional medalan warrior, who all looked down on women? Or was he just horny, and that was why he went easy on her? He did have more lovers than fingers, after all, so that made sense. "Lady Inti truly is powerful, just as the rumors had said," the lord flattered in the meantime, which made Brym only more suspicious. "This old man was no match, as expected of General Atoc's…
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138 •
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In Brym's opinion Lord Gratidia looked like a bum. Without any tension in his body — much unlike his vigilant appearance when he had first entered the room — the lord sat slumped in his chair and stared at Brym with murky eyes. Since he didn't have any time to get dressed, his clothes were simple, thin robes for sleeping, which made the combative lord in his fifties look like he was well over sixty. Sure, they had surprised him in the middle of the night and caught him probably at the worst moment,…
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138 •
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"Arria." As Lord Gratidia stroked the cold and empty spot next to his own on the bed, he remembered that this was the room of one of his lovers, a place he had used to hide away from his responsibilities. After years of erosion, the King of the North could now exert almost as much power as House Gratidia within the city of Rhodanos. Even so, there was nothing the lord could do to stop their further encroachment. When the northerners had sent the newest batch of scholars, they had proven to be…
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138 •
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For a while, the desk-carrying group continued to walk in relative silence, until the young commoner stopped in front of a large, brightly lit courtyard. Not long after, the group was inside the private residence. While the guards were setting up the new furniture based on the commoners' wishes, Inti and Brym stood aside to continue their conversation. "They really are living simple lives, and in such a large courtyard to boot," Inti commented. She looked around, and indeed, the new table fit in…
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138 •
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Traveling through Rhodanos had been an unwelcome return to normalcy for Inti. Ever since the start of her vacation, she had enjoyed long periods of relaxation, accentuated by short bouts of excitement or challenge. Yet as she walked through the half-empty streets of this city, she felt like she was back in the side-alleys of Arguna. The roads felt dim and dangerous, as if evil minds were spying on her from every direction. She wasn't being paranoid either. After all, Inti had been taught in…
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138 •
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Depression, loneliness. A dying star in the night sky, surrounded by darkness. A walled desert, surrounded by fertile land. These were Brym's first thoughts after a look at his empty shop. All along the walls and atop the shelves, items worth thousands of Sila were lined up, all of them desirable to the people of the city just outside the door. Yet not one of them was here to be enticed by these wares, not one would waste their hard-earned silver on his luxury goods. It was enough to make a grown man weep.…
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138 •
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After the incident in Huaylas, the relevant parties soon went their separate ways. In the end, Inti managed to convince Avitus and his wife Mellana to leave their new home, though they only agreed out of concern for their unborn child, and only after Inti had insisted that the quality of doctors in the south was higher. As Brym had suggested, they would travel south to Saniya, together with Naoka, who would make sure they wouldn't make any more trouble. Meanwhile, Inti herself followed along with Brym's…
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138 •
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