The inside of the carriage was comfortable. The seats were made of nice leather; the carriage itself was carpeted, showcasing a level of class and prestige without being elaborately decorated.
Within the carriage, Talen sat across from me, seeming to have lost his arrogance. After seeing the barbarian, he regarded me with much higher standing. I appreciated this change, as his previous condescending attitude would've driven me mad.
I asked about what Blackmarr was like from his perspective, curious about his reaction to the troop encounter. Turns out, the main town in the barony is pretty normal, just a bit larger and more prosperous than regular towns. This surprised me, given the rumors I had heard about that place.
Talen, in turn, didn't show much surprise when he heard my mention of those rumors. In fact, he chuckled in response. My confusion worsened when I learned that the rumors were true: the villages in the Blackmarr barony had to pay 60% of their crops as tax to the Baron. However, the villages didn't mind paying the tax, as they were usually blessed with good yields, which they attributed to a blessing caused by the Blackmantle name.
Being born in an outskirt village that had recently been absorbed into Blackmarr, Talen had grown up hearing about the greatness of the Blackmantle name and how they blessed the land they ruled. He truly believed this as well, as he had seen the change with his own eyes. Supposedly, the village struggled to get enough food each year, and it got so bad that they would often go to other villages to beg. That was until they heard the rumors of the miraculous Blackmantle name and decided to join their territory.
I guess their original king didn't have much of a choice.
I was suspicious of how the Blackmantle's territory achieved this feat. Surely, it was limited in power; otherwise, they wouldn't just be a barony. However, it also reminded me that military might was not the only factor in territory development. Look at Talen, his admiration for the Blackmantle name bordered on obsession. Even with the ridiculous tax and the bad reputation their region had, he would gladly sacrifice himself for his lord if asked - probably.
We talked throughout the day, stopping at times to let the horses break and feed. During these breaks, Baron Blackmantle provided me with meals. The food was decent, which was impressive, considering how it had been stored in a carriage.
During the breaks, I chatted a bit with the driver. He was a shortish man with blond hair. His name was Thorfinn, and at one point, he said something about having no enemies and didn't elaborate. I liked this Thorfinn guy; he may be a bit odd, but he's a chill guy with some crazy stories. Apparently, the reason the tip of his ear is missing is that, one time, when he was working on a farm, some guy was paid to get a reaction out of him and ended up cutting a piece of his ear off. Absolutely insane.
The first day came and went smoothly. The land was flat, and travelling through the small forest would've been faster, but the horses and carriage weren't suited for it. We set up camp on the side of the path and spent some time gathering twigs and dry grass to start a fire. The air wasn't cold, but the fire helped keep stray animals and bugs away. The three of us sat around the campfire chatting for a while until we retreated to our own tents. The Ironwake kingdom was surrounded by a massive wall that kept out the truly dangerous threats, so there was no need for a night watch. Maybe this trip wouldn't be so bad.
I woke up to the smell of something burning.
I hurried out of my tent and saw that the other Thorfinn had done the same. Talen had either woken up earlier or hadn't smelled anything. Looking around, I didn't see the source of the smell, so I chalked it up to Talen burning something on the fire. Pulling some jerky out of my pocket, I walked over to last night's fire pit. Unlike me, however, Thorfinn, seemingly thinking of something, rushed toward the fire. I was stunned, watching his extremely fast figure dash off.
He's rather fast, even for someone who used to be a farmer. I wouldn't be surprised if he could beat Timothy in a race.
When I reached the fire, I saw Thorfinn squatting to the side, piling up dirt. As I got closer, I saw that he was putting dirt onto his hat. His hat looked much darker than it had yesterday.
"My hat must've been blown into the fire," he said, still piling dirt over his hat. "It didn't look too good when I took it out, but she should be fine."
Such optimism. I wish he could share some of it with me.
With the hat matter solved, we got back on the road. The sun was already climbing, casting long shadows across the flat terrain as we continued our journey. Days and nights passed without noticeable events.
By the time we passed the borders of Blackmarr, and the main town came into view, we were well into the third day. I wasn't sure what to expect. Rumors painted a picture of a grim, cold place ruled by a tyrant cloaked in wealth and power. However, conversations with Talen and Thorfinn had crafted a conflicting image in my mind.
The sight before me was unlike the rumors. The town sprawled out before us, its cobblestone streets bustling with life. Farmers carted vegetables and grain through the streets, and traders shouted their wares at passersby. The air was thick with the smell of baking and spices from a nearby market.
The buildings were well-kept but practical, made of stone and wood. The streets were wide and neatly kept, and despite the influx of people moving about, everything seemed to function in harmony.
Talen, ever the proud Blackmantle loyalist, straightened in his seat as the town came into view, a glimmer of admiration in his eyes. "You see?" he said, as if I had doubted the prosperity of the place. "This is the power of Blackmantle's name. The Baron ensures that every village is well-tended."
The town felt off; everything seemed a little too harmonious.
As we entered the main square, the hustle and bustle of the market began to thin out, and the streets grew quieter. We passed by well-kept stone fountains and statues of past Barons, their cold stone eyes staring down at us. Eventually, the cobbled path gave way to a long avenue lined with neatly trimmed trees and larger estates. The towering town hall loomed ahead.
The town hall itself was imposing. It was a large building of polished stone, with a high central tower in the middle, covered in windows that let in streams of light. The Blackmantle crest was prominently displayed above the entrance, a constant reminder of who ruled this land.
Thorfinn had informed one of the guards of their arrival, and they returned after a while. A few mutterings later, he leaned into the carriage, giving me a quick glance before speaking. "The Baron is expecting us." His tone suddenly became more serious. We had spent the last few days in casual conversation, but now, in the shadow of the Blackmantle crest, his posture straightened, and his demeanour had stiffened.
As the carriage came to a stop in front of the massive double doors, Thorfinn quickly hopped down from the driver's seat and began to help us disembark. As I stepped onto the ground, my boots sank slightly into the soft earth while being led toward the town hall.