Chapter 66: New Rules It rained from morning until evening that day, as the group was forced to endure the relentless downpour throughout the entire march until, finally, sometime after nightfall, they reached the clearing where Garron intended for them to camp.
Fortunately, by then, the rain had weakened considerably, allowing the exhausted children to begin gathering whatever branches and timber they could find beneath the surrounding trees, using which Garron somehow started a fire that was big enough to survive the occasional droplet falling on it.
For several minutes, Garron allowed them to rest, as the children used the heat of the bonfire to dry themselves.
However, once everyone had settled down and eaten their evening meal, he finally stood up before the campfire and clapped his hands together.
ClapClap
"Alright, everyone, listen up."
Garron said, as the conversations around the campfire gradually disappeared while every child turned their attention toward him.
"Tomorrow is going to be one of the most important days of our journey so far.
Because tomorrow, for the first time since leaving Ashfang Village, we’re going to enter another human settlement."
He explained, as several children immediately straightened their backs.
"We’re going to reach the lawless town of Stoneville."
Garron declared, as excitement instantly spread throughout the camp.
"A real settlement?"
One of the younger children asked, as several others immediately began whispering among themselves.
"Do you think we’ll get to sleep inside a proper building with straw for bed?"
Another child wondered.
"Maybe we’ll finally get some properly cooked food that has seasonings."
Someone else added, as the possibility of eating a warm meal seasoned with something other than burnt wood immediately caused several children to laugh excitedly.
Even Riven found himself sitting slightly straighter.
As after more than a month of sleeping beneath trees, marching through mud and washing whenever they happened to find a suitable river, the thought of seeing another human settlement sounded almost too good to be true.
However, Garron merely raised one hand and killed the chatter.
"Don’t get too excited."
Garron warned, as the conversations around the campfire immediately quietened.
"This isn’t going to be a leisure visit.
We’re entering Stoneville for one specific purpose, and the moment that purpose is fulfilled, we’re leaving."
He explained, as his expression gradually became more serious.
"And before any of you start imagining warm beds, cooked meals, and wandering around shops trading whatever herbs you have picked up during the journey for measly bronze.... understand something very clearly."
Garron warned, as his gaze slowly moved across the children.
"Stoneville is more dangerous than the forest."
He declared, as the excited expressions immediately disappeared.
"The wilderness is honest.
A hungry beast attacks you because it wants to eat you.
A poisonous mushroom kills you because you were stupid enough to swallow it.
A river sweeps you away because you underestimated the current.
But Stoneville isn’t like that."
He said, as the children listened carefully.
"Inside Stoneville, someone can smile at you, offer you food, ask where you’re travelling, and spend the entire conversation deciding whether you’re worth more alive, dead, or chained inside the back of a wagon."
The campfire crackled between them.
Nobody spoke.
"Stoneville was built by mercenaries, beast tamers, bounty hunters, independent cultivators, and merchants who needed somewhere to rest while travelling through this region.
Over time, more people arrived, businesses opened, mercenary companies established permanent bases, and eventually the settlement became one of the largest trading points anywhere near this part of the wilderness."
Garron explained, as he slowly paced around the campfire.
"You can buy almost anything there.
Weapons.
Aether medicines.
Information.
Captured beasts.
Slaves.
And if you’re willing to spend enough silver, probably things I don’t want any of you knowing exist yet."
A few nervous laughs escaped from among the older children, however, Garron did not smile at his own joke.