Chapter 4

It had been the same for over twenty years; she was used to the treatment she was given. She was used to the look she was given, and the whispers.

“A place that can support a regular supply of goods to the North. Most of the items have to be food that can last months and should consist only of things that come from warm places.” This was enough to limit it to a few places. There was little land in the north near Biflten with large quantities of food. There weren’t many people who wanted to live close to the monster-infested lands.

“But why are you looking for this?” the knight asked suspiciously.

“To find a place to be married in,” she said.

The knight sneered. Ilyin wondered. The clerk came out again.

“Miss, you’ll have to be back in half a day,” he said.

It was quite obvious his Lord had refused to see her at the moment. She sighed. Ilyin looked around and saw no one approaching. “I understand that a large delivery is to head north,” she said.

“Of course,” said the Clerk, “Boro is our main destination.”

Boro estate was much closer to the capital than the Biftlen estate. It was closer to the central part of the capital than the northern part of the empire.

“I heard it’s headed further north than that,” she said. “I know that some of the carts are headed for Biftlen.”

It was impossible for Ilyin to say more without clarifying about her dreams. In Biftlen, even in summer, crops were unable to grow. So, it was clear that Biftlen had deliveries from different places. It won’t let its people starve just like that. Ilyin was sure that only very few people knew about these deliveries.

It wasn’t winter yet, but it was getting chilly. Maybe Biftlen would already be covered in blizzards.

“…Please wait a moment,” said the clerk, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.

The clerk went back inside. Ilyin was sure that this time she would be granted an audience. The clerk appeared a moment later. “This way, please,” he said and ushered her inside.

The clerk looked much subdued now. He led her through the curved hallway. A sign reading ‘Head of Merchants’ was hung above. It was flashy and self-assured. The clerk led her by it and into a small room at the side.

“My Lord,” said the clerk, “She is here.”

“Thank you,” said a man who looked simple enough. By the sign at the door, she had expected to see a huge, flashy, perhaps narcissistic gentleman. But the ‘Leader’ of merchants, dressed in a white shirt and active pants, looked very humble. She recognized him from her dream. The clerk bowed and left the room.

The Lord greeted Ilyin with a smile. “Did you say your name was Ilyin de Arlen?”

“Yes,” she said.

“It’s a sensitive matter so I have invited you indoors,” said the man, “We aren’t dealing with Biftlen.”

“That can’t be true,” she said, narrowing her eyes.

“First of all, our cart does not go to Biflten,” continued the man, “I’m not vicious enough to send my men to that barren, godforsaken land.” He smiled again. “It’s true that a lot of food is being delivered north. They are being delivered to the Boro estates and the surrounding lands. You already know the north is quite vast.”