The line only moved slowly as a lot of merchants were standing and waiting for their turn.
Most travelers didn't have trouble getting into the Capital as they weren't carrying as much as merchants but they still needed to be checked.
One traveler could still have explosives in their bag if they had forsaken everything else they had with them.
Feyra was a little worried and looked through her bag full of herbs and ingredients. She had quite a few rare ones with her and also some that could sell for high prices.
Most of the merchants got through after thorough checking and noticed they had some people interested in their wares already.
Before Feyra would be able to enter she would have to wait till the caravan in front of her had been checked. They had wares ranging from food to even very peculiar items.
"What is that?", one of the guards checking asked, looking at some boxes that were a deep dark purple.
"Oh these are for some of our female clients interested in... Rather peculiar... Things...", the man leading the caravan stammered in explanation.
The guards tried to open the box but it was sealed with a lock. The key to it was held by the leader of the caravan who seemed a little anxious opening it in broad daylight in front of all the onlookers who were waiting to get into the Capital.
"Sir we need to check the boxes to see that there are no explosives. Please open them for us.", the guard repeated himself but the leader wouldn't budge.
"No no sir... These wares... Are really not for everyone's eyes. Some of these boxes also house spiritual items that need to stay sealed until the client opens them.", the leader tried to talk his way around.
Feyra was a little curious herself what was inside those boxes but from what she could get, it wasn't something used in broad daylight.
"What use is there for?", the guard asked visibly annoyed now.
"You see some of them go to clients in the red light district and others go to some people who do divination and that stuff. They're all of high value.", the leader said being embarrassed and looking at the faces of the others waiting in line.
Barely anyone noticed what was going on in the conflict or they just didn't pay it any mind.
"What is going on here?", a female voice came from the gate. A woman in full metal armour came walking over with a deep blue cape over her shoulder.
"Miss! This caravan doesn't want to let these boxes be checked for explosives.", the guard said.
"Okay. Let me check it. Sir are these boxes the mentioned boxes for the red light district and the divination tools?", the woman looked at the leader of the caravan who was more relaxed now.
"Yes Miss."
"Okay. Thank you for coming back. No need to be checked further. There should be 38 boxes in total. Count the boxes and if the number is the same then just let them pass. I'll check the travelers from here on out.", the woman said announcing the words to the guard who nodded and started counting before confirming there were 38 boxes in total.
The leader of the caravan got visibly relieved as he got the clearance for passing.
Now it was Feyra's turn. She walked up to the woman who had just recently come to check the caravan and help the guards.
"Please let me look into your bags and... Is that a pot on your back?", she asked a little confused.
"Yes it is. Is something wrong with it?", Feyra asked pointing at her back and looking at the confused face of the woman.
"I usually don't see someone carrying a pot like this. Do you know of the power to make things smaller? It's called Minimisation Power."
"Minimisation what?", Feyra asked clearly even more confused.
The woman looked at her with wide eyes. This can't be! Someone who doesn't know the Minimisation Power!?, the woman thought before shaking her head.
"Let me teach you this power later when I'm free. For now I need to check your bags.", she continued and finally got to see into Feyra's bags. One of them had only the map and the notebook while the other was a little more complicated.
"Those herbs and plants you carry could be deadly. What is the purpose you intend to use them with?", the woman asked handing the bag back to Feyra.
"I'm versed in medicine and cooking. I use them either as seasoning or for tinctures and salves. I do not wish to harm anyone with them."
Upon hearing this answer the woman nodded before taking out a small notebook too. "I'll have to note down that you carry these with you. Please forgive me if it seems rude. It's just for the safety of the people in the Capital and us too. Also please carry this permit around with you whenever possible stating you are allowed to buy these plants and also sell them."
Feyra took a piece of paper from the woman stating that the intentions of use for these dangerous plants was clear and no harm was intended.
"Before I forget it. Here. This is the address to the knight's accomodations. Ask for General Lydia and then I can teach you about the Minimisation Power.", Lydia said before giving another piece of paper to her.
Feyra took it with a smile before she finally got to go through the gate.
The Capital was big and a lot of people were walking around. Feyra was a little overwhelmed seeing how many people there were.
First I should find an inn. If I have a place to rest I can leave some of my things there and take one bag with me and the money I have. I should also look for some food later. Else my stomach will only annoy me again.
Having made up a plan she looked around if there were any signs leading her to an inn or something similar.
She looked around various corners but most of the houses around were normal houses people lived in.
Across another corner there were bakeries and bars and some smaller restaurants. The streets in the Capital could really resemble a labyrinth. One needed a map for almost every single district.
I should ask around if someone knows a place...
Feyra went up to a lady who was putting apples in a basket. "Excuse me Miss. Do you know where an inn is?", Feyra asked and the lady looked at her.
As she turned around a smile graced her face and on her chest, wrapped in a cloth, was a baby that was sleeping soundly.
"An inn? There is one near the government district which is near the centre of the Capital. You just need to walk straight ahead on the main road and then there should be a big market where merchants like to sell goods. Just behind that market is a street going to the government district with an inn and other buildings for meetings.", she said showing in the directions while she explained the way to Feyra.
"Thank you. May I also ask how I get back to the main road?"
"Oh you just need to walk down this street and then turn right. You should be on the main road once you've walked that street to the right.", the woman said.
"Thank you again. Please stay healthy and let your little one survive.", Feyra said before walking off.
My little one? He is sleeping so well. Did she feel anything off?, the woman asked herself looking at the apples again. This woman she had met had been truly peculiar. If there was ever anything she worried about could she go to her?
The woman was a little confused on what she had meant.
"Either you or your little one will suffer from a disease in a few days.", a black figure appeared next to her. This figure had a black hood over themselves and seemed out of the ordinary scaring the woman a bit.
It stayed silent between them for a while before the woman started stammering, "Tha... Thank... Y... You."
The black figure disappeared just as fast as it had appeared leaving the woman confused and worrying behind.
What is up with these peculiar people coming to the Capital!?
Feyra walked the path as the woman had described it. She soon found the way back to the main road and saw the big market. Multiple merchants she had seen earlier waiting in line before the gate were now putting up their wares to present them to potential clients interested in them.
Though she didn't see the caravan that had previously blocked the way and figured they may have brought the 38 boxes to their respective buyers first. Feyra wondered if she may meet them again.
Not long after did she also find the inn the woman had mentioned and walked inside.
"Welcome.", the receptionist said before looking Feyra up and down.
"A traveler? Or here for business?", the man asked before looking at a notebook. "We only have a few rooms left. A lot of traveling merchants like to take rooms here. What would it be?"
"I would like to have a room. It doesn't need to be the best room you have.", Feyra answered and the man looked through the notebook. In the meantime Feyra studied him a little based on his looks.
He was young, in his late twenties, wore a suit and gloves, had a monocle on his left eye and his hair was mostly short with only a rat tail lying over his left shoulder. Overall he gave off a neat impression.
"We still have three rooms. One of them is a low class room with only a bed and a toilet. The shared bathroom is a level lower.
"The second room we have is one of the higher rooms with their own bathroom and living space. And as for the last room it would be a suite.", he said.
Feyra was thinking for a while. "What about the prices?"
"Our lowest room goes for 300 coins per night, excluding food. Food included would make it 375 coins. As for the higher grade room it would be 500 coins per night and 575 with food included. The suite on the other hand is 800 coins per night and 875 coins with food included."
Feyra was a little lost on which room she should take. She still had 15.000 coins to spare but she didn't know how long she would stay.
Having my own bathroom would be good as I usually get curious looks in shared spaces. However, it is also costing 500 coins per night and I would like to include food so it would be even more. If I want to buy some things in the Capital I should best save some money... But... I guess I can treat myself. Who knows if I meet someone who pays again for it or gives me even more coins.
"I take the higher class room with food included.", she finally answered after deliberating for a while which one to take.
"Okay. Do you wish for payment upfront or payment after your stay?", the man asked politely noting down which room Feyra would have.
"I'll pay afterwards. I don't know how long I'll stay in the Capital.", she answered before the man nodded, noted it down and gave her the keys to the room.
Feyra took them and went up the stairs to the higher class rooms and turned the key in the lock before entering the room and looking if the price class fit for once.
As described the room had a bedroom, a living room with a table and some card games as well as its own bathroom and a toilet.
Actually I could just take a normal room with only a bed... If I had my own bathroom... A toilet is a little unnecessary for me but humans still need them.
She looked around the room and then at the table. The card games were the usual ones she could find in most places. Even Buck's crew had played some of them.
Finally Feyra moved over to the bed and put her stuff down before letting herself fall onto it. "Finally I have a bed for rest! But first I want to look around the Capital!"