Page 27 of Cursed Dreams
For once, sleep came easily, and this time, there were no strange dreams to unsettle her.
Chapter 10
The next morning, they set off for their final leg of their journey to Vertrose.
The others chatted excitedly, but Thalia remained mostly quiet, too embarrassed to talk to Vaelith and too focused on what lay ahead to join in with their merriment. She had avoided his gaze all morning, keeping her attention on the road ahead, her pulse quickening with each passing mile, nerves beginning to get the better of her.
Just as the midday sun was at its peak, she saw them, the first spires of Vertrose rising in the distance, their pale stone glittering under the sun. The sight stole her breath.
The landscape had changed gradually as they travelled, the thick forests of the borderlands giving way to rolling hills and cultivated farmland. Now, as they neared the city, the air carried the mingling scents of fresh bread, blooming flowers, and the faintest hint of coal smoke from the homes inside the city she assumed. Roads widened, becoming well-maintained paths lined with merchant stalls, farmers leading carts of goods, and travellers heading in and out of the capital.
Excitement surged through Thalia, as the sheer size of the city began to dawn on her.
The others seemed to share in her anticipation.
"Gods, it's even grander than I imagined," Nyla murmured, her dark eyes bright with wonder.
Cellen let out a low whistle. "I hope they have decent taverns."
Roina rolled her eyes. "You're going to be in training, not drinking yourself into oblivion."
"I'm a man of many talents, I can multi task" Cellen quipped, flashing a grin.
Thalia smiled at this but kept her gaze fixed on the city, drinking in every detail.
Nyla, riding nearby, turned to Vaelith. "You’ve spent time in Vertrose, haven't you? What’s it like?"
Vaelith, who had been riding slightly ahead, glanced back at her and gave a small nod. "I have. It’s a city of knowledge and commerce. The Grand temple sits at its heart, one of the oldest structures within its walls. You'll find scholars, merchants, and diplomats alike walking its streets."
Nyla looked thoughtful. "And the humans? How do they feel about us?"
Vaelith's expression was unreadable, but his tone remained cordial. "Most accept our presence. Some tolerate it. A few… do not."
That sobered the mood slightly, but it didn’t last long. The energy among them was too high, the pull of the grand city before them too strong.
The city gates loomed ahead, towering constructs of pale limestone reinforced with iron and carved with intricate Fae and human script entwined together, speaking of old alliances and treaties that had long bound the two peoples together. Thalia’s could feel her heart race as they approached, her eyes trailing over the ornate patterns of swirling vines and celestial symbols carved deep into the stone. It was one thing to read about Vertrose in books, to memorize its history, its laws, its grand significance to both human and Fae alike, but another entirely to see it for herself.
As they passed beneath the massive archway, flanked by human guards in polished steel and Fae wardens clad in deep blue, a strange sensation settled over her—a mix of exhilaration and trepidation.
She was in human lands now.Trulyin them.
The moment they entered the city proper; a cacophony of sound and scent overwhelmed her senses. The streets were alive, merchants shouting to advertise their wares, the scent of fresh bread and roasting meat mingling with the spice of incense burning from shrines scattered throughout the city. The roads were paved in smooth stone, wider than the cobbled paths of her village, with grand buildings rising along either side, their facades adorned with banners, sigils, and carved motifs of both Fae and human design.
“Ahh, civilization,” Cellen sighed dramatically, stretching his arms as best he could from his saddle. “You can justsmellthe opportunities.”
Lina shot him a dry look. “That, or the horse dung.”
“Opportunities come in many forms,” he quipped with a wink.
Thalia found herself smiling despite the knot still coiled in her stomach. The city wasbeautiful,a stunning blend of Fae elegance and human practicality. Winding streets wove through towering structures, some were built of pale stone that caught the sunlight, others of dark timber and iron, their rooftops adorned with colourful cloth awnings shielding the storefronts below. She glanced at the street vendors lining the roads, selling everything from fruits and spices to jewellery and enchanted trinkets, their goods displayed on carved wooden tables or suspended from delicate silver chains. She had never seen anything like it .
“Over there.” Vaelith’s voice cut through the bustle, he inclined his head toward a shop with dark wooden beams and a hanging lantern with a glowing blue gem encased within it. “That’s Edric’s Arcane Emporium. He deals in enchanted objects and rare alchemical ingredients. Some of the best in the city.” Thalia followed his gaze, eyeing the shop with curiosity. The windows displayed shimmering vials of liquid, books with thick spines, and small carved figures glowing faintly with magic. "There are many stores her you will find both helpful and fascinating, but I highly recommend Edric, he is knowledgeable and fair with his prices” Thalia nodded and stored the advice away for later.
The road sloped downward, leading toward a grand square where two temples stood opposite each other, their towering columns reaching skyward.
To the left, the Temple of Iku, the God of Death, loomed in solemn beauty, its dark stone walls etched with symbols of passage—river currents, open doorways, the phases of the moon. Priestesses dressed in flowing black robes embroidered with silver moved silently through the temple grounds, their faces painted with pale markings, their hair braided with delicatebone charms. A group of mourners ascended the steps, their heads bowed as they carried offerings, bundles of dried herbs, coins, and small effigies to honour their lost loved ones.
Thalia bowed her head in respect.
