Morning greeted Evelyn. She heard the familiar chirping of birds and thought it was Andlenore. It took her a few moments to recall they were in the cottage.

She got up to see Edwin was sitting with his legs crossed and hands on his knees, thumb touching index finger, eyes closed. He was meditating.

"Good Morning Evelyn."

She was astonished to see him speak.

How did he know I was awake?

"Good Morning."

Evelyn set to the task of making some light breakfast, as Edwin went out to tend to the horses.

They left soon after the breakfast. The rest of the journey was almost completely uneventful. The road got a bit better as they came closer to the town. They stopped briefly during lunch, let the horses roam and resumed again. It soon turned to even.

The forest gave way as the road became wider. The tree cover started growing spare and occasionally a trunk cut slant or a pole could be spotted. Single storey houses could be seen through the evening mist.

Wheatbridge.

There were no signs showing them that this was Wheatbridge, no town gate. It seemed that the town did not welcome visitors. And it did not. The townsfolk did not look at them with welcome eyes. They looked at the travellers as if they might be a live threat. The atmosphere was particularly heavy. Some of the houses in the first border had ashen burn marks on the walls. As they got to the inner circles the burn marks had been covered with lousy paint.

"So this is Wheatbridge," Edwin said.

"Wheatbridge has always been like this; the last time I came here it was the same."

Evelyn knew a little about the town. A tributary ran through its heart dividing it into two. Initially there was just a bridge that connected the opposite banks. It was barely even a village at that point. It was only after the discovery of an iron mine there that the land became a town. It had the potential to become city, but the iron mines ensured that regular raids from a thief's guild that was out large along these parts. The Capital state did not see enough economic gain in the iron mines, subsequently the forces they sent were not near enough. Rumour spoke that bribes from the thief's guild further ensured it would remain that way. So all Wheatbridge was close to becoming; was a town. It was in fact, smaller than Evelyn had last seen it.

It will be a bridge again one day. The day will be a happy one, as the thieves will turn penniless with their revenue gone. It's just a matter of time.

Evelyn didn't want to think of the possibility that the thieves would eventually take over the iron mines.

"The inn must be along the banks," asked Edwin.

"I don't know. I have never stayed here. Just passed through once."

They reached the bridge that was the centre stone of the town. It was wide enough to let three carts pass through at the same time. There was a low traffic of people. Hawkers seemed to like the bridge. They had set up stalls along it. That was a good place to do so as most of the people passing through would go to the bridge. But that was not a given any more after three other bridges had been constructed to connect the various parts of town.

It certainly is much bigger than Andlenore.

They started going along the banks to the river till they spotted an inn. The sign declared it to be inn Mist Light. Two torches hung low at the either side of the door. The door looked heavy.

Just as unwelcoming as the people here.

"This seems like a good place."

****

The inn proved to be a more cheerful place than the outside declared. Edwin seemed liked a changed person as he talked with the people in the inn. He seemed to mingle easily with the townsfolk. He talked at length with everyone about seemingly commonplace things. Evelyn was more anxious to return to her room.

They got a good room with a view of the bridge. Evelyn wondered if it was Edwin's communication skills that were to be praised for that. They ordered dinner to be delivered to the room. The meal proved to be good as well.

"Not as good as mine though. They have a lot to learn."

"How about you try and teach the cooks here. I will be relieved of a heavy burden as well."

Evelyn narrowed her eyebrows at that and modulated her voice, "I am a traveller at heart. My soul craves adventure." She looked at the ceiling changing her expression to a determined one.

Edwin laughed aloud.

"You are a gifted actress, you know?"

"That I am."

"And I haven't given you more content to brag about now, have I?"

Evelyn giggled.

As night came, Evelyn was sure she would find a more sound sleep that day.

Edwin said, "I will be out for a bit, talking to the townsfolk in the inn. You go to bed."

"Haven't you talked with them enough already? You should sleep today Edwin. We can stay a bit more here if you are tired and wish to rest. You were awake all night yesterday."

"Yes, sleep I will. But we will not wait. We depart tomorrow morning."

"Are you sure?"

"It was your command, milady!" Edwin said with his mocking tone as he left and shut the door behind him.

What is so important about talking to townsfolk who he will not meet again probably for the rest of his life? You need some sleep mister.

Evelyn could conjure sleep easily that day just as she had predicted.

But little did Evelyn know neither she nor Edwin was destined to sleep that night. A danger much greater than a mindless troll, loomed in the darkness of the forest.