NOVPUB
Chapter 170: Elmond’s Rest
The interior of the carriage was more luxurious than it appeared on the outside.
Thick cushions lined the benches, and there was even a small rack for storing weapons and satchels.
It was clearly meant for long travel.
Zayn stretched out and kicked his boots up on the bench. "So, how long till we get to this mystery town?" he asked.
Tobias, seated directly across from him, checked the map again. "We’ll be on the road for about three days if nothing slows us down. Once we reach the border town of Elmond’s Rest, we’ll continue the journey on foot through the marshes."
"Elmond’s Rest?" Elisse echoed. "Sounds... peaceful."
"It’s not," Yua cut in, her tone dry. "It’s a trade town at the edge of the eastern wetlands. Dangerous folk pass through there. It’s where information dies, not where it spreads."
"Well, I feel reassured," Zayn said, sarcastic.
They all laughed softly, the mood lightening slightly.
...
The third morning broke with a chill in the air, the kind that seeped through cloaks and clung to the skin.
Mist curled across the fields outside as the party’s carriage rumbled along the worn eastern road, wheels creaking with every pothole they struck.
Zayn balanced a cup of tea in one hand, his other braced against the wooden frame of the window.
The biscuits he’d been enjoying rattled slightly in the tin on his lap, but the tea didn’t spill — a small victory in what had been a bumpy ride.
"Final stretch," Tobias muttered, lifting the curtain on the opposite side of the carriage to look out.
Ahead, nestled in the low basin of two hills, was a modest town bordered by pale fields and twisted trees. 𝒏𝒐𝙫𝙥𝙪𝙗.𝒄𝙤𝙢
Stone buildings with pointed roofs dotted the landscape, smoke curling from several chimneys despite the hour still being early.
A cracked wooden sign creaked as the carriage passed it: Elmond’s Rest.
The name was inviting, but the atmosphere less so.
The carriage gave one last groan before slowing to a stop at the edge of the main square. Zayn sipped the rest of his tea and glanced around as the others began to stir.
Kara rubbed her eyes.
Bran yawned loudly, stretching until his back popped.
Elisse carefully gathered her healing satchel, and Seren sat up from where she had been quietly dozing against the side wall.
"Up and at ’em," Tobias said, pushing the door open and stepping out into the morning light.
The driver, a balding man with a nervous laugh and sharp reflexes, hopped down as well and began unloading their packs.
"Timberstead’s only a three-day return from here," the man said, placing Bran’s axe and Zayn’s pack down on the stone. "I’ll get going before the sun hits noon. Roads aren’t so friendly after dark."
Tobias nodded and handed him a few extra silver pieces. "Thanks. Safe travels."
The man tipped his hat and clambered back into the seat, urging the horses forward.
They were gone within moments, leaving the party standing in the center of a weathered town square that smelled faintly of wet earth and old smoke.
Elmond’s Rest might not have been as large or lively as Timberstead, but it had an honest charm to it.
The buildings were closely packed, their wood and stone weathered by time and wind.
A few townsfolk wandered past — mostly older men and women carrying baskets, and a few kids who ran off laughing when they spotted the group.
"Feels like a sleepy place," Bran muttered, his eyes scanning the rooftops. "Though... a little too quiet."
Zayn nodded slightly. His instincts were twitching. This place was fine on the surface, but beneath that surface was something else. Something off.
"It’s dangerous," Tobias said as if reading their thoughts. "Elmond’s Rest is the last safe settlement before the western edge of the Eastern Marshes. A lot of trade routes used to go through here, but after an incident years ago, many merchants started avoiding it. It’s quiet because most folk know better than to stick around."
Seren raised an eyebrow. "And we’re walking into it?"
"Not into the town. Into the marsh," Tobias replied. "But first... we need a map."
They made their way down the cobbled path toward the market street, where a small number of stalls were just opening for the day.
A merchant woman with thick gray hair and a face carved from frowns looked up as they approached.
"Looking for travel goods?" she asked, not unkindly.
Tobias nodded. "A map of the marshes. We’re heading south."
She narrowed her eyes. "The Eastern Marshes? Can’t say that’s smart. But I’ve got a few old hunting maps. Folk used to track beast herds through the outskirts."
She ducked under her stall and returned with a rolled-up scroll sealed with wax.
"This one here’s the most detailed. Shows the old hunter’s trail, water points, and elevation. But... no guarantees. The marsh changes."
"We’ll take it," Tobias said and paid her without haggling.
Zayn glanced over his shoulder, feeling the weight of unseen eyes.
Nothing appeared immediately suspicious, but his instincts weren’t fading.
"Let’s not linger," he said.
"Agreed," Tobias replied.
They found an inn a little further down, a squat two-story building called The Stump.
The name wasn’t exactly inviting, but the interior was clean and warm. A plump innkeeper with rosy cheeks greeted them.
"Two rooms? Or three?"
Tobias hesitated. "We’ll take two. One for the girls, one for us. We leave first thing tomorrow."
The woman nodded and charged 3 Silvers, Tobias paid them and she handed them keys with their room number engraved on them..
After a brief inspection of the rooms and a hot meal that tasted better than expected, the group gathered in the room meant for him, Zayn and Bran where Tobias unrolled the map over a table.
Zayn leaned in, his eyes narrowing.
"The Marsh spans across here," Tobias began, tracing the southern path that curled around Elmond’s Rest and slipped into a network of muddy trails and ridged banks.
