Five familiar wagons followed the gently sloping bowl valley down toward the city of Valoria. The hills were covered with grass. Here and there clusters of trees, flowers, or herbs grew abundantly.

  From a distance the city loomed over a small lake, that stretched out behind it.

  Drew’s eyes kept snapping back to a group of horned rabbits that were hunting for something in the field to their right.

  Their wagons were too far away for the monsters to notice them.

  A sudden movement startled Drew and he turned to see a flock of green Flamingoes fly and roost in a copse of trees.

  Drew sat back and relaxed as best he could.

  At least all beasts aren’t dangerous.

  “How are you coming along with the Memory Scroll?” William asked. “Did you repair it?”

  Drew looked down at the stone scroll in his claws. He had nearly forgotten it was there.

  “I haven’t made much progress since yesterday,” Drew said.

  Drew’s eyes snapped up to check the surroundings again. The Horned Rabbits were not any closer.

  Flashes of goblins dying, and unending waves of Skeletons startled Drew. But he grit his beak and burned away the bad memories with sheer willpower.

  “I haven’t been able to focus on it since… since we escaped the dungeon,” Drew said.

  “Well I want to know what’s on there!” William said, oblivious to Drew’s internal plight. “Aren’t you excited?”

  Drew plopped the stone memory scroll down beside him on the bench for William to see.

  New Item: Enchanted Stone Rod (Damaged)

  “Isn’t it just going to be a speech or something?” Drew huffed.

  “It could be anything! A speech was just an example,” William said. “It could be notes on a crafting process, a description of a monster, a spell, or any memory or dream.”

  “Alright. Alright.” Drew said and resumed repairing it.

  The wagons pulled to a gentle stop to let the cart in front of them leave the road. Its wooden wheels left ruts in the soft mud as it meandered away. Hundreds of travelers sat and rested along the road. Some were taking a short rest and others were camping. Here and there, as far along the road as Drew could see people watched as a line of wagons and carts inched along to Valoria.

  “Why aren’t they waiting in line?” Drew asked. “Aren’t they heading to the city?”

  “They likely cannot afford to enter,” a John said. “It’s a silver a per person and 5 copper per garnt and wagon.”

  “And there are inane rules within the city walls.” Damien grouched to himself.

  “Some folks are leaving, some hoping to enter. They are saving some money by camping out one last time before entering the city to find lodging,” another John said.

  “Couldn’t they camp outside the city each night?” Drew asked.

  “There’s a law mandating a fee to enter and exit the city,” a John said. “And you cannot camp within the shadow of the city walls.”

  “Why would there be a law about camping near the city?” Drew asked.

  “It’s not a law,” John replied, “there’s a lake surrounding the whole city.”

  “Anyone who brought a boat could save a fortune on room and board,” William replied.

  “Most captains wouldn’t dare anchor near the city. The lake has huge schools of fish. And they are very aggressive at night.” John said and pantomimed a fish with big puffy puckered lips and sharp teeth.

  Another John laughed and continued the explanation. “There are not any ports in the city. And all boats are dry docked well away from the shore each night.”

  Drew peered ahead where the sunlight glinted off the lake. He could just make out the boat houses and dry docks clinging to the far shore.

  “What possessed them to build the city in a lake?” William asked. “Or does it float on top of the water?”

  “Ha! A city floating on a lake! That would be a sight to see!” Marcus swooned.

  “They have them in the baronies of Callapeia.” Scarlet said as he marched beside their wagon.

  “Ha! Old wrecks tied together hardly compare.” Thrain scoffed from the lead wagon. Krag grunted to show he agreed.

  “The first time they started building the city it sank into the lake,” John said.

  “So did the second and fourth attempts,” Damien said.

  “What happened to the third one?” Drew asked.

  “That time the city burned down, fell over, then sank into the lake,” John laughed.

  “Again. Why would anyone build a city here?” Drew asked.

  “Each and every one of them are nearly mad.” Damien said.

  The group ground to a crawl as they cought up with the slower flow of pedestrians. They all would eventually reach the long stone bridge that crossed the lake to Valoria.

  Drew spotted a robed figure moving down the line, and then a second one. Their yellow robes covered them from head to toe. He squinted and could just make out yellow masquerade masks covering half of their faces.

  Just then, the two robed people sprinted back to the gate house at the foot of the bridge.

  “Oh would you look at that.” John said. “It’s a fools day.”

  The two robed figures walked down the line of travelers until they reached the next group again.

  While they spoke to a group of Ressians Drew noticed that one of them was standing strangely.

  The Ressians presented their papers to the robed person on the left and after an inspection and short exchange they were allowed to step forward.

  Seems easy enough, what are they talking so long about?

  A pair of travelers were rejected and forced to step out of the line. A nervous energy passed from person to person down the line.

  “How long will this take?” Drew asked.

  “All day if we are lucky,” A John replied.

  The John riding a garnt read Drew’s expression and pointed to a flag flying over the gate.

  “There’s a fools day today,” he said as if that explained everything.

  -

  The wagons rolled forward for a couple seconds after another group of adventurers stepped out of the line to make camp.

  A peddler with a small booth beside the road waved to Thrain as his cart approached. The peddler quickly averted his eyes and bowed deeply at the waist.

  Drew caught the grimace on Thrain’s face.

  Drew watched closely as the peddler recovered and fixed his eyes on a John as he rode the next wagon past the makeshift booth.

  “Good sir!” The peddler said. “Fine pack of Garnts you have sir. Would be expensive to bring them to the city and stable them all. I could help you part with them.”

  The John kept his wagon rolling as the mounted brother sauntered over.

  “We have a broker in mind,” He said. “But we could part with one or two for the right price.”

  The peddler smiled crookedly, and revealed an arrangement of dried bundles, choctchkas, vials with odd monster parts suspended in oil, and other crushed alchemical powders.

  “Detect.” Drew said under his breath.

  “Choose what you like.” The peddler squealed gleefully. “Best prices this side of the lake.”

  John looked at the grotesque display for a moment before he grimaced.

  “I have no need for your home brew remedies. I might trade for coin and information. We have been away from Valoria for over a year, what news from the Arcane Isle?”

  Far ahead, the two robed officials held up the line again. One inspected a man’s heavily loaded pack. While the other held a gaudy box for a slender man to reach inside.

  The peddler jumped at the chance for a captive sale.

  “Much has happened in the last year even. Why you may hardly recognize the city!” He reached into his robes and produced a rolled up scroll.

  “I have here a map that will be of great use to you. Worth more than two, or three garnt’s. Easily!” He said.

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  Drew discretely set down his stone scroll and hopped closer to where the John and Peddler were talking.

  The map made no sense to Drew. It was drawn with three different weighted lines, each a different color.

  It was so chaotic that he saw no pattern of roads or buildings at first. Then it clicked for him like a magic eye puzzle.

  “Now! That’s a real map you have,” the John said leaning closer to get a better look. “I’d say it is even older than the one I have. It couldn’t possibly have any current information.”

  Drew flew closer and landed on the Garnt’s saddle.

  “How much?” He cawed.

  The peddler smiled and tossed Drew a copper coin, that he deftly caught out of the air with his beak.

  Quest: All that Glitters: (19/99)

  “Good fools day to you fella!” The peddler said, but his smile did not reach his eyes.

  “I’ll take the map for a silver and a copper.” John said. “A baker’s share.”

  The peddlers eyes gleamed then and he nearly threw the map to John in his haste to take the two coins.

  “Good fools day to you too sir!” The peddler cried and shrunk down behind his stall to pack up his things.

  “Playing the fool John?” Thrain chuckled.

  “More like paying the fool.” The other John said.

  John cantered his Garnt up to the lead wagon and gestured with the rolled up map.

  “You know how it is,” he said with a flourish. “A few extra coins burn a hole in a man’s pocket.”

  “You can always spend some of that money at my cart then!”

  “But I thought my credit was good with you?” John gasped, pretending to be offended.

  “Did you find something good?” The other John asked. “Bring it over here.”

  “I’ll bring it.” Drew offered and scooped the map up from John where he held it up to him.

  New Item: Old Map of Valoria (Annotated): Good Quality.

  Drew dropped the map into John’s hand and sat on the backboard beside him.

  “It is a good quality map,” Drew said. “It looks like a jumbled mess at first.”

  “Oh you can see some method to this mess?” John said. “I’ve seen several maps of the Arcane Island but no two have ever looked the same,” John said as he unrolled the map.

  “See here?” He said pointing at a blue area of squares and winding alleys overlaid with two opposing sets of black-inked city streets. “This blue area was flooded at the time the map was made.”

  “Did the lake rise?” Drew asked and traced the area with his wingtip.

  “No the levies failed.” John said solemnly. “Hundreds of people on the lower levels died over night.”

  “So the city is underwater now?” Drew asked.

  “Oh not at all. The courts have enough earth mages to repair the levies in a matter of weeks. And they have the water mages to drain the city once the levies are back.”

  “So then the cartographer updated the map after the city was restored.” Drew said nodding back to the map. “But then why aren’t the streets and buildings the same?”

  “Oh well you remember the different courts in Valoria?” John said.

  “Courts that make the laws.” Drew said uncertainly.

  “Yes and no.” Marcus said. “The courts all have their own power and authority in Valoria and they each have one seat on the council. The council makes laws.”

  “Or they try to,” Damien said. “They have enough laws, bylaws, precepts, and codes, articles and provisions than you could shake a stick at.”

  “That’s why the council has two Sticks of Law.” The other John said.

  “What does all that nonsense have to do with the map?” Drew asked, trying to get the old enchanter to stop grouching and get on topic.

  “That means, once they were done deliberating on which court would rebuild, they still pent weeks disagreeing on how they would build it.” John said.

  “Before the construction, there, a boulevard would have connect two districts, afterwards? Only alleys would connect them. A cart would have to move up or down a layer before it could find its destination,” Damien said.

  “That’s crazy.” Drew said. “How does anyone get a wagon through?”

  “Most don’t,” John said as he rolled up the map. “They hire a second cart and a crew of laborers to move their inventory through the alley.”

  “New arrivals learn the new routes eventually.” John said. “But we have a local guide.”

  -

  What felt like an hour later Drew put down the stone scroll again. He had meticulously repaired the engravings, ensuring they were as stark and crisp as he could possibly make them.

  By his assessment he had perfected the entire top half of the scroll but nothing had changed. The enchanted stone rod was still damaged beyond any further recognition.

  Drew took a couple calming breaths and then stored the scroll, mana lens, and his tools in a bag.

  Their wagons had progressed halfway to the bridge by this point, due mostly to more and more travelers giving up on the wait under the hot noon day sun.

  The two officials in yellow robes had left and come back three times and were now speaking with a group of dwarves riding small lizards.

  “It’s the most up to date codex on the courtly procedures.” A peddler said.

  Drew turned and focused both of his eyes on another shifty looking man. He was leaning over a young girl and practically pushing her over with a slim rough bound booklet.

  Drew activated Detect Truth on them and listened in on their haggling.

  “That must be too expensive for me, I barely have enough coin for the entrance fee sir.” She mumbled.

  “An enterprising girl like you couldn’t miss an opportunity like this. I’m leaving Valoria to live with my sister and her daughter in the south. Why she should be just about your age. I have no need for this codex.”

  Drew flew closer and circled above the pair as the girl hesitated some more. She wanted to leave but did not have the presence to disengage from the pushy peddler.

  “Come now, you would be doing me a favor. It’s a win win. A little more coin for my trip and you can come up within the city like a rising star,” He said.

  “No-no but thank you sir, I’m sorry -“ she said but he cut her off with a smile.

  “With this codex you could even gain entry at a discount.”

  “False!” Drew cawed, trying his best to not seem like an unusually eloquent demon bird.

  The peddler glared, then tossed him a copper for fools day as he landed on a signpost.

  “Good fools day to you! Child of Miia!” The peddler said. “Return to the skies and enjoy the day.”

  “Bad deal.” Drew said and ruffled his feathers at the peddler.

  “I can spare 3 copper.” The girl said.

  “A silver and it’s yours.”

  “Five coppers.” Drew said and threw his own coins to the peddler.

  The shifty man was surprised by the sudden appearance of the coins but he caught them anyways and gave the girl the codex with a smile.

  “Miia smiled on us both today girl.”

  “Thank you sir!” She said and hurried back to the line with her prize.

  Drew flew back up to ride on the top of Thrain’s wagon. Thrain held the wagon back so the girl could have some more space to stand in line in front of them.

  “Best to take those peddlers down a bit before they cheat every passerby out of their next meal.” Thrain said with a wink to Drew to show he approved.

  -

  The wagon in front of them was small compared to Thrain’s, and pulled by hand.

  He’s a Callapeian merchant. Just like Maurice was. That guy was heartless but he could pull a wagon across the horizon.

  Something was not right when the two yellow robed officials inspected his papers.

  The little girl from earlier shrunk back from the commotion.

  The merchant tried to win them over with a smile, his teeth stark white against his ebony skin, but the two officials called the guards to inspect the wagon.

  The girl turned away from the scene and stared at Drew.

  Thrain saw her watching and chuckled to himself.

  “Seems you have an admirer.” He said to Drew.

  “You speak pretty good don’t you?” She said timidly. “You are a magic Skurr.”

  “He is,” Thrain said. “And he’s smart. Have you been walking long?”

  She nodded and Krag jumped down from their cart so she could climb up.

  The girl sat as tall as Thrain on the bench, but the dwarf didn’t seem to mind.

  She lowered the hood of her cloak and shook out her hair. It was tied back in two loose tails, one on each side of her head. Her hair was golden or amber in color depending on how you looked at it in the light. The few strands of her bangs that broke free held a gentle curl.

  “Thank you for the seat.” She said before burying her nose in the codex she’d just acquired.

  “Krag! Bring my guest and myself some ales,” Thrain said. “We’ve been out in this blasted sun all day.”

  “Oh no, thank you for your generosity sir. My apologies, I don’t drink ale.”

  “Would you like a biscuit?” Drew offered her his last mint biscuit from his gathering ring.

  She took it with a quiet thank you and nibbled it.

  “You don’t think I’m a demon.” Drew said astonished.

  “No. I’ve never seen a demon. But I did catch a magic talking fish before.”

  “You did?” Drew said. “I’ve fished before but mostly hooked logfish.”

  “I was fishing in a lake near the Barnaby Coast and hadn’t seen even a logfish all day. When I finally hooked a super strong fish. It was as heavy as a boulder! I pulled and pulled all day I finally got it on the shore.”

  The girl started off quiet and timid but as the story went on she grew more and more animated. By the time she got the fish on the shore she was standing up on the bench with her arms over her head.

  Marcus leaned across from the other cart, captivated by her story.

  “What happened next?” He asked eagerly.

  “Before I could club it, the fish promised me a mana crystal from the bottom of the lake if I set it free.” She said, catching herself and sitting back down.

  “And you believed it?” Drew asked.

  “Well yeah? It was a golden fish that could talk. And it practically glowed with magic!” She said.

  “Well? Let’s see the mana crystal!” Marcus said excitedly. “Do you still have it?”

  The girl blushed and sat back down.

  “No,” She said. “I released it and waited until dark but it never came back.”

  “Quiet over there!” One of the yellow robed officials said.

  The man was terribly bored, that much was clear to everyone that could hear him. Beside him a woman on stilts smiled from within her matching yellow robes.

  “Papers and purpose for visiting the Arcane Isle!” He said.

  “Good fools day to you!” She added cheerfully.

  The John on the Garnt trotted over and introduced himself, his brothers, and his customers, as he handed over a bundle of papers and envelopes tied together.

  “We are travelers from Rotterdale. With the Spear Brothers hired on as protection. We’ve come a long way these last five weeks and hope to deliver a few paying customers and spend our coin before leaving again.”

  The man took the bundle of envelopes and untied them. He looked at each one with a small lens.

  “You have half a herd of Garnts with you!” The stilted woman said.

  “That we do. Found a herd twenty times this size and spent a few days taming them,” John said.

  “Say no more. They are a silver a piece to enter the city,” She said. “Looks like you have 21, and four wagons are a silver each too, and the cart is 6 copper.” She said, pointing at each in order.

  Thrain held up his merchant’s badge and nodded to her. “Six of these beasts are with me.”

  “Good fools day, honorable merchant. You and your wagon can enter the Arcane isle at no cost but the additional Garnts will cost you five silver.” She said before turning back to John. That will be eighteen silver and 6 copper at the gate for your group.”

  “Who is she?” The man in the yellow robes asked and pointed at the little girl beside Thrian.

  The young girl looked up from the codex she had been frantically reading and squeaked.

  “Just a friend we picked up along the way,” Thrain said.

  “You girl. Where are your papers?” The man asked. “What is your purpose for entering Valoria?”

  He stepped forward aggressively and the girl hopped down from the wagon to dig through her bag.

  “My name is Andie. I have my papers here,” she said and produced them from a Mishroom leather bag. “I’m seeking to enter the duelist tournament.”

  The man passed Andie’s papers over to the robed woman.

  “You are a bar maiden?” The woman asked as she looked over the papers. “You look a bit young to work in a tavern let alone win a duel.”

  “I’m in my twelfth year, ma’am!” Andie said hotly and held her cloak around herself tightly. “There is a letter of merit from the inn in my home town.”

  “Sandlebar?” The woman said. “Never heard of the place.”

  The line ahead of them took a few steps forward and Thrain spoke up.

  “If the girl’s papers are in order we’d like to move ahead, if we may?” He said.

  “Yes, yes,” The man said. “Go ahead.”

  He turned to the two Johns and looked at them for a moment. If he was surprised to see twins he didn’t show it.

  “I have no tongue, yet speak in crowds. I walk the streets without a face. Known to beggars, kings, and thieves, but vanish if you name my place. What am I?” He said.

  Without missing a beat, the Johns both answered differently.

  “Summer’s heat.”

  “Sweaty feet.”

  The guard nodded and handed them back their papers.

  “Welcome back to Valoria,” He said. “Move along.”

  He waved their next wagon forward and when Seraphina opened the door to her wagon and it let out a cool breeze.

  “It is stifling out here.” She said to her John.

  The robed man spoke a new riddle to the third John, Marcus, Seraphina, and Damien. They each had answers ready immediately.

  “I mark the doors that must not close. I trade no coin, yet deal in trust. I live in code, in oath, in hush, yet betray me once, and I am dust. What am I?” He recited.

  “A budding flower,” the third John said.

  “Fresh downey snow,” Seraphina said.

  “Frosted window panes,” Damien said.

  “Fallen amber leaves,” Marcus said.

  Through this whole charade, little Andie stood to the side of the road with the robed woman on stilts. When William rolled up with his cart she stopped him.

  “You and the little lady are both new to the city,” She said. “All new persons must draw a ribbon from the box.”

  “I’m new too,” Drew said as he flew down to William’s shoulder.

  “Good fools day!” The woman cheered. She tossed Drew a copper coin and nearly toppled from her stilts.

  The official regained their balance and presented the colorful box. It was decorated with a patchwork of garish fabrics of different patterns and textures. There was a round hole in the front and several ribbons could be seen jumbled up within.

  “What’s in the box?” William asked.

  “I read about this a bit in my codex. They are court ribbons,” Andie said.

  “Everyone must align with a court for the duration of their stay. Your tithes and taxes will be allocated to your court,” The robed woman said.

  “And you get discounts at affiliated court businesses,” Andie said. “Try to get the fall court, they are currently in the majority.”

  “All newcomers have one chance to put their hand in the box and draw out their selection.” The robed man said and produced another equally ostentatious box of ribbons from under his cloak.

  “Ladies first,” William said. “Drew, you may as well go first too.”

  Andie plunged her hand into the box the woman held.

  A moment later, Drew hopped onto the box the robed man held and stuck his head in.

  He was immediately transported to a fine ballroom.

  Live music assaulted him.

  Drew staggered on his feet, disoriented by the sudden change; from being upside down with his head in a box, beak firmly clasped around a velvet ribbon, to standing in a large golden ballroom.

  The air was tangy and aromatic. Nearly electric.

  Strange ethereal music reverberated around the room, the warm fast notes con espressione were alien to his ears.

  A hundred bespoke dancers cascaded in an intricate waltz. They changed partners frequently without missing a step.

  What the heck happened?

  Drew tore his eyes away from the mesmerizing dance. He watched a man with a 1966 Batman-style masquerade mask framed with black feathers stare dumbly back at him.

  Drew reached up to touch the mask on his face and his reflection followed him.

  The phantom pain of his tail feathers flared as he tried to balance and stand up strait without them. He was able to grab hold of the golden wall until the vertigo passed.

  Word count vs frequency