The marketplace was livelier than it had been that morning, the mist having lifted to reveal bustling stalls and the steady hum of trade. The air smelled of fresh bread, roasting meat, and a hint of sea air.
Melissa stretched, rolling out her shoulders. “Alright. Shopping time?”
Julia glanced at the list in her hands, mentally calculating how much they could afford. “We should start by selling the jewelry. Then we’ll get supplies and head to the stables.”
Melissa nodded. “Lead the way, fearless leader.”
They made their way through the rows of stalls until they found a jeweler tucked between a cloth merchant and a weaponsmith. The shop was small but well-kept, the counter gleaming with polished silver and gold trinkets.
The shopkeeper, a wiry man with a sharp gaze, appraised their offerings carefully. Julia handed over a pair of earrings and a silver ring they had brought from Earth. The jeweler held them up to the light, humming thoughtfully.
“Fine craftsmanship,” he finally admitted, running his fingers over the ring’s inlaid tone. “Where did you get these?”
Julia didn’t flinch. “Family heirlooms.”
The jeweler gave her a suspicious look but didn’t press. “I can give you two gold pieces for the lot.”
Melissa scoffed. “Two? You and I both know they’re worth at least four.”
He smiled thinly. “Three, and I’m being generous.”
Julia considered for a moment before nodding. “Three gold, and we’ll take it.”
Coin exchanged hands, and after a few more stalls, they had their money. With their new funds, they stocked up on supplies— bedrolls, dried food, extra waterskins, and a small cooking pot.
They still had a small fortune by the time they reached the stables, and Julia was feeling relatively satisfied. They had everything needed for the journey ahead— finally, something was going smoothly.
The thought was immediately shattered with the sight of far too many legs dropping from the rafters above.
Julia didn’t even have time to react before something large and fuzzy tackled her to the ground. “AUGH!” She flailed, trying to shake whatever it was off of her, but only succeeded in coming face-to-face with it.
The creature— a massive spider, it’s body covered in thick black fur with light brown markings— clung to her tunic, its many beady eyes blinking curiously.
“Melissa!” Julia shrieked. “Help!”
Melissa, to Julia’s continued horror, was grinning. “Oh my God,” she breathed, eyes shining. “Look at him!”
“GET HIM OFF OF ME!”
Melissa reached out and— technically helping Julia— gently scooped the spider into her arms like a puppy. “Who’s a good boy?” she cooed. “You are! Yes, you are!”
Julia stared, aghast. “Melissa, that thing just tried to kill me.”
Melissa snorted. “He did not! He just wanted to say hello.” She held the spider up to her face, grinning. “I’m naming him Gorgoloth Bigofars. Get it? And he can go by Gorgoloth for short.”
Julia made an utterly disgusted noise. “We are not bringing that thing with us.”
Melissa turned to the stablemaster, who had been watching the entire exchange with an expression of mild amusement. “How much for him?”
Julia gaped. “You are not seriously buying a spider!”
The stablemaster chuckled. “Normally, he eats the rats in the hayloft, but if you want to take him? Five silver.”
Melissa slapped the coins into the man’s hand before Julia could protest.
Julia groaned into her hands. “Why are you like this?”
Melissa grinned, cradling the giant spider like a prized pet. “He loves me, Julia. You wouldn’t understand.”
“I hope he eats your face in your sleep.”
“That would make sense. I just know he has a very refined palate.”
The stablemaster cleared his throat, clearly very entertained. “You came primarily for horses, did you not?”
Julia reluctantly switched focus, rubbing her temples. “One horse,” she corrected. “We did not come all the way to Al— Ismay’s Landing for arachnid adoption.”
The stablemaster led them to a row of stalls, where several horses shifted in their pens. Julia took her time appraising them, scanning for strong legs, alert eyes, and steady temperaments. Eventually, she settled on a powerful dark bay gelding with a white blaze down his nose. “That one,” she said, nodding.
Melissa leaned in, scratching Gorgoloth’s head aimlessly. “Can he have a stupid name, too?”
Julia scowled at her before patting the horse’s neck. “His name is Bucephalus.
Melissa rolled her eyes. “Of course it is.”
The stablemaster named his price— four gold, with tack included— and Julia handed over the coins.
As they left the stables, Julia leading Bucephalus and Gorgoloth riding on Melissa’s back, Julia sighed deeply and looked at the sky.
“Why,” she muttered to herself, “is this my life?”
Beryon led Annemarie and Brandon through the winding streets of Ismay’s Landing, his stride steady and unhurried. The town felt different in the afternoon light— livelier, the smell of baking bread and damp wood mingling in the air. Children ran through the narrow alleyways, and traders hawked their wares in the market square. It wasn’t home, not yet, but it felt… real. Settled. Like a place people could build a life.
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
Brandon had barely stopped grinning since Beryon mentioned the empty cottage. Annemarie, for her part, wasn’t opposed to staying in Ismay’s Landing— far from it. She just wasn’t sure what that meant yet.
“You’ll like this place,” Beryon said, glancing at them with an easy smile. “Been empty awhile, but it’s got good bones. It’s close enough to the main square that you won’t feel isolated, but far enough out that you’ll have privacy. Perfect for a fresh start.”
They passed through a quieter part of town, where the houses were smaller but sturdier, set between gardens and winding stone paths. The cottage itself sat at the end of a narrow road, nestled against the curve of a hill. It was made of rough-cut stone, its wooden shutters a little warped with age, its thatched roof in need of some repair— but it stood, solid and waiting.
Brandon exhaled, eyes scanning every inch of it. “This is perfect.”
Annemarie raised an eyebrow. “You haven’t even seen inside yet.”
Beryon chuckled and pushed open the heavy wooden door, letting them step inside first. The air inside was cool and slightly musty, dust lingering in the sunlight that streamed through the front window. The cottage was small— one main room with a hearth, a worn wooden table, and a few shelves along the far wall. There was a small alcove for sleeping, partitioned off by a curtain, and a doorway leading to a cramped storage space. It wasn’t much, but it was theirs.
Brandon ran a hand along the edge of the table, eyes alight with excitement. “I can fix this.” He turned, scanning the walls, the ceiling beams, already making a list of repairs in his head. “We can fix this.”
Annemarie crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe. “You really want to do this?
Brandon turned to her, expression softening. “Don’t you?”
She hesitated. She had imagined a quiet life, somewhere peaceful, where they could just be without the weight of expectations or student loans or looming danger. She had wanted something like this.
But after last night— after the glowing eyes, the cryptic words, the feeling of something too big stirring inside her— was that even possible?”
Beryon, perceptive as ever, spoke up. “Nothing’s permanent, you know. This house’s former residents picked up and left for Emin. You stay as long as you want— if it doesn’t work out, there’s always somewhere else to go.”
Annemarie looked at Brandon. His eyes were full of hope. Maybe they could have this.
She exhaled, rolling her shoulders. “Alright,” she said finally. “Let’s do it.”
Brandon grinned. “Yeah?”
She smirked. “Yeah.” He pulled her into a one-armed hug, pressing a kiss to her forehead before letting go.
Beryon clapped a hand on Brandon’s shoulder. “Good. I’ll help you get sorted with supplies. There’s plenty of work to be done, but this? This is yours, now.”
Brandon turned back to the cottage, eyes bright. For the first time since arriving in Aleria, something felt certain.
The Hammer’s Respite was livelier than it had been that morning, the low murmur of conversation replaced with bursts of laughter and the clatter of tankards against wooden tables. The air was thick with the scent of roasting meat, spiced cider, and the ever-present tang of ale-soaked wood.
Julia and Melissa stepped outside brushing off the evening chill. Julia sighed, already bracing herself for whatever ridiculous thing Melissa would say this time. The massive spider riding her back wasn’t helping.
Sure enough, heads turned.
“What in the ever-loving fuck is that?”
Melissa grinned shouldering Gorgoloth. “This? This is our sweet baby boy.”
The voice came from a nearby table, where four figures sat: three men and a woman, all dressed in worn but well-kept traveling gear, the telltale look of soldiers about them. The man who had spoken— a broad-shouldered fellow with auburn curls and an easy grin— leaned forward, eyebrows raised in blatant amusement.
The man beside him, lighter-built with sharp features and curly black hair, stared at the spider with open horror. “Melissa,” Julia muttered. “Take him outside.”
Melissa snorted. “Gorgoloth goes where I go.”
“God help us all,” Julia muttered, dragging a chair out and sitting down.
Gunnild appeared beside them, hands full of tankards, and grinned. “Ladies. I heard you’re heading to Di’raz— these are your travel companions. Rupert, Alina, and Tevon.” She gestured to the broad-shouldered man, the flame-haired woman with the same sharp blue eyes, and the thin, blonde man beside Alina. “And that’s Rickon, Rupert’s boyfriend.”
Rickon— the man with the dark hair— was still staring at the spider. “Rupert,” he said, voice carefully neutral. “If you bring that thing into our house, I will leave you.”
Rupert, delighted, turned back to Melissa. “How much do you want for him?”
“He’s not for sale,” Melissa gasped, clutching Gorgoloth protectively. The spider chittered, seeming to agree.
Julia dropped her head into her hands. “Saints above.”
Alina, Rupert’s twin, smirked. “You are aware that giant spiders aren’t exactly known for being good pets, right?”
Melissa scoffed. “And you’ve given them a chance? Where we’re from, plenty of people keep monkeys or pigs. They’re a lot of work, but people love them.”
Tevon, who had been mostly silent up until now, took a long sip of his drink. Without looking up, he said, “I respect the chaos of this decision.”
Gunnild snorted, setting the tankards down. “You lot are going to get along just fine.”
Julia sighed, eyeing the drinks. “Fine might be a stretch.
Rupert grinned, lifting his tankard to Julia in a mock-toast. “I don’t know— seems like we’re off to a great start.”
Melissa beamed. “See? He gets it!”
Rickon muttered something about finding a new boyfriend and ordered another drink.
Julia sighed, rubbing her temples as Rupert and Melissa continued their negotiation over Gorgoloth. The giant spider had taken it upon himself to crawl onto Rupert’s shoulder, his many eyes blinking lazily at the surrounding tavern patrons, most of whom were trying very hard to pretend they weren’t watching.
Alina, sipping at her drink, smirked. “I give it two weeks before you regret this decision.”
Melissa scoffed. “You underestimate my commitment to the bit. And to Gorgoloth, of course.”
Tevon, who had been quietly observing the exchange, finally looked up. “It is a bold bit,” he admitted. “One that may end up with someone being eaten.”
“Not if I feed him properly!” Melissa shot back.
Julia turned to Rickon, who had not stopped eyeing the spider warily. “So,” she said, hoping to redirect the conversation. “You’re not coming with us to Di’raz?”
Rickon finally peeled his gaze away from Gorgoloth. “No,” he said, shaking his head. “Rupert, Alina, and Tevon will be gone six months, and the baby’s due a month after they get back. There’s too much to do.”
Melissa blinked, momentarily distracted from her argument with Rupert. “Wait. Baby?”
Rupert grinned. “Surrogate.”
Julia raised an eyebrow. “And you’re just casually dropping that in the middle of a tavern conversation? Congratulations!”
Rupert shrugged. “You two are coming with us to Di’raz, right? You may as well know. But thanks.”
Tevon made a noncommittal noise. “We should probably talk logistics at some point. We’ll be heading out in three days.”
“We can fend for ourselves,” Melissa asserted. “No worries.”
Gunnild, who had returned with another round of drinks, nudged Julia as she set them down. “Oh, and you’ve got another travel companion,” she said. “Orri.”
Melissa perked up. “Who?”
“The bard,” Gunnild said, nodding toward a lanky, dark-haired boy who was currently playing a lively tune near the fireplace. When he caught sight of them looking, he gave a small wave before returning to his playing. “My man,” she finished with a sigh.
“Sixteen and off to bard school,” Rupert mused. “Ambitious.”
Melissa took a sip of her drink, then leaned back in her chair. She grinned. “Sounds like we’ve got quite a party.”
Alina raised her glass. “To impending chaos.”
Rupert clinked his tankard against hers. “To impending chaos.”
Julia sighed again, but smiled. “Saints help us all.”
As the night wore on, the tension of the last day slowly bled away. The fire crackled in the hearth, the ale flowed freely, and— for the first time since arriving in Aleria— Julia let herself laugh.
