Chapter 34: Ch 34: A City of Gold and Silver

It had been a restless night filled with questions for Baldeur. In the morning everyone else in their group seemed refreshed and ready to go.

"Maybe next time, young man." After finding out the sleeping arrangements, Sigurd offered his condolences.

"What next time?" Aisling glared at him and Sigurd just laughed in reply.

Aisling spent the day ignoring Baldeur. She would travel next to Haydn and Derbail and the two of them would look back and Baldeur every once and a while with knowing smiles.

Baldeur would have to be a complete idiot to not realize at this point that Aisling had a crush on him. He just wasn't sure how serious it was or if she would even admit it.

He decided to play dumb and just wait for her to come to him. All the while teasing her along the way.

Finally after 15 days of travel from the capital, they arrived at the entrance of the Hoernter mountain range.

The full range spanned nearly a third of the continent, cutting it in half. It was divided into three main regions.

The outer valleys were large and close enough that the kingdoms and empires next to the mountains had some semblance of control over them.

The inner passes were much narrower and the valleys they led to were smaller and less hospitable. The communities that lived in these areas were mostly independent.

Last of the regions were the central peaks. The hazards of this region were deadly for most people. But it also meant the resources were higher quality and rarer.

The group they were looking for would have gone as far as the inner passes where the Blue Rooted Elm grew.

Before they fully entered the mountains, they'd have to pass through the city of Kolder, also known as the city of gold and silver.

Sitting between two large mountains, the city was this kingdom's entry to the mountain range. One mountain contained vast amounts of gold and the other contained vast amounts of silver. Due to this, it was famed for its artisans and large wealth.

The city itself was divided into three districts. The center of the city was where the merchants and the master jewelers lived. Next to them were the other artisans and blacksmiths. Then came the slums closest to the mountains where the miners and other workers lived.

As they entered the city, Baldeur saw the great disparity of wealth among the citizens. Those with any amount of wealth would show it off through clothes and jewelry.

When those with less wealth interacted with those with more, they would be very humble. Only to turn around and be arrogant towards those with less than them. Everyone seemed to be giving side glances filled with envy to each other.

With what Baldeur had seen since entering this world, there was a very good chance that these emotions were being farmed with Accursed Stones.

Zeerous had a larger presence here but still didn't have their own dorms. The group ended up at an inn where they would be resting for two days before heading into the mountains.

The group was allowed to explore the city as they saw fit, as long as they didn't get into any trouble.

Baldeur decided to casually walk the city to see if he stumbled across anything related to everything he had seen thus far.

After a day and a half nothing eventful happened. Well, he was jumped by a few people near the slums, flirted with a few prostitutes who tried to lure him into a dark ally, and had to slip away from a few merchant guards who felt he wasn't respectful enough.

Nothing he couldn't handle.

At this point he was beginning to think that fate didn't want him to get involved in the mystery of this world. But when he arrived back at their inn the night before they were meant to leave, fate intervened.

"Baldeur there's someone that wants to meet you." Piaras was waiting for him with their company's representative in the city.

"This is an opportunity for our company to make friends with some powerful locals." The representative said.

"Does this have to do with that prophecy? I thought we agreed it was nonsense." It was the only reason Baldeur could think of for someone wanting to talk to him.

"Whether it's nonsense or not, it seems that the locals are putting stock into it." Piaras said.

"Don't worry this will just be a simple meet and greet with the local religious leader. It will help us establish a good relationship with them." The representative said.

Baldeur could only sigh and go along with it. The three of them then made their way to the center of the city where a large cathedral dedicated to the seven spirits was.

This time the meeting was held in one of the offices in the back and not in the main chamber.

"It is wonderful to meet someone related to a prophecy from our sacred texts." An older priest was waiting for them.

"I hope that I can help your people in whatever way I can." Baldeur was actually hoping to have nothing to do with them after this.

"It seems that high priest Sansone was unable to give this to you. It will help you obtain aid from the faithful. Though it may also bring scorn from the heathens in the mountains, so be careful who you show it to." The old priest handed over a disc with a diamond in the middle and the names of the seven spirits.

When Baldeur took it he didn't feel the Infernius tracking spell he felt on Mathys' one. Either this one didn't have it or was better made. He'd have to take a detailed look at it back at their inn.

"And there is one more thing. And this is a great honor. One of the seven saintesses just happened to be in the city and heard about you. She'd like a word with you." The old priest had a look of reverence on his face when he talked about this person.

Immediately, Baldeur had a bad feeling.

Only Baldeur was allowed to accompany the priest to the inner sanctum where the saintess was staying. On their way, the priest went over the etiquette for meeting her.

Two female paladins were guarding the door to the inner sanctum. They gave him stern looks as the priest knocked and waited for a response.

When the door opened, Baldeur was ushered into a well decorated room with a lone woman sitting on a couch. Even though she was currently veiled, he could still recognize the figure of the most beautiful woman he had seen in this life.

The woman from the carriage, who was collecting Accursed Stones, was a leading figure of this kingdom's religion.

This was going to be interesting.