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It looked just like a village from those ancient texts! Had it really survived since before The Fall … just hidden away in this crazy forest?
"You — live here?" I stammered.
"In there," the old man said, pointing at the massive structure. An elderly woman walked up from a small stone guard post to the right, smiling as she passed Alpha Blackwood a bundle. He shook it out, slipped it over his head, and Faera followed suit.
Tunics, just like the other mages were wearing, shapeless enough to fit most bodies, and convenient enough that it would be easy to find or replace after shifting.
Smart!
Gesturing for us to follow, Alpha Blackwood led the way down the slope and into the outskirts of town. I stared as we moved, soaking it all in.
We wove our way between dozens of smaller stone-hewn buildings, following along quiet streets full of stalls, wagons, and vendors preparing their wares for sale.
A bald man wearing an apron grinned and pointed to a pile of orange gourdes as he yelled out prices and gestured for us to come closer.
I smiled and shook my head as we passed.
A few streets later, the crowds grew as townspeople started moving about their days.
To our right, a small group of kids played with a leather ball while their mothers lectured them and filled small packs with books and papers. And to our left, an older couple sat in chairs in front of what I could only guess was some kind of potions shop, rocking and laughing at the kids' antics.
They all wore simple clothing, eschewing the confining slippers and boots common within the Empire for more breathable fabrics and sandals.
Hundreds — maybe even thousands — of people went about their daily lives here.
Was this what life was like in the Mage Era?
I wanted to pause and stare, but the streets were growing more crowded, and I didn't want to add to the congestion.
"We'll leave the fleirals here," Alpha Blackwood said, gesturing to a small stable.
Nodding, I dismounted, rubbing Jax's haunches as I tried to put my thoughts in order.
Jaiel hopped down beside me, and his familiar presence sent heat down my spine, making that damn charisma bubble again as it drowned out all other thoughts.
As though in response, the bond to Tye pulled insistently inside my chest, clashing against the charisma there.
Forsaken hells! Something must have changed when Tye shifted to make this connection between us so intense.
Dealing with the mate bond pull and the charisma heat was going to be … a challenge.
But at least we were in the right place to find the answers. And could it really be any harder than fighting off wraiths and hunting dangerous relics in crumbling, trap-ridden ruins?
Rolling my shoulders, I let out a slow breath and felt for my korra, focusing on it until those distracting sensations calmed and I could think again.
We were safe, and Jaiel was back in working order.
Once we solved whatever was happening with Tye, we could be on our way. Perhaps our gracious hosts could even give us some information about that hermit El — Liam had mentioned.
Standing taller, I slipped my pack onto my back and reached for Jax's reins, intending to lead him into the stable.
A young boy with dark hair and a wiry frame grabbed them first, though, and grinned up at me, mischievous yellow eyes glinting.
My mind stuttered. I … how … he had the same eyes as Tye!
What were the odds? There were some strange eye colors in the Empire, but yellow had always been unique to Tye.
Could his family have been from here?
