Chapter 5 – The Guide
One pair of eyes wasn't enough for Maeve to look at all the dizzying activities unfolding in the streets of Southampton. Merchants with singsong voices boasting the quality of their products were stationed in many stalls on either side of the wide cobbled lanes, selling everything from bread, fruits, beans and meat to jewels, clothes, books and weapons, while others occupied small boutiques in two, sometimes three-story buildings that lined the streets with arched facades of all sizes and shapes. Colorful ornate signs with the shop's names either dangled above the doors or adorned the windows. Everywhere, people bought, traded and sold more goods than Maeve could sort out. Some weaved, carved and forged. Others painted portraits, mixed cures and took out teeth. Many wagons circulated up and down the alleys, carrying sacs of grains, barrels of ale, furniture and animals. Inns, taverns and restaurants with packed terraces also stood on many corners.
The city of Southampton, with its high, graceful architecture and maze of streets, was unlike anything Maeve had ever seen in her life. It was a teeming hive of elegant tall buildings with polished walls of soft colors and hundreds of lively citizens out and about everywhere.
Perched behind Robin atop his horse—they had switched places when they reached the city so Robin could better navigate through the urban maze—Maeve stared wide-eyed at all the wonders around her, her ears buzzing with all the noises. More than once they had to duck out of the way to avoid being run over by hurried wagons of busy merchants on delivery. Many inquisitive eyes peered up at them with the hope of selling them something and Maeve noticed that everyone, although discreetly, systematically bowed their heads with deference as she and Robin rode past them. She meant to ask Robin about it but there was something else that quickly spiked her attention and made her ill at ease: the way people looked at her.
Ever since they had entered through the main gates of the city, which was surrounded by high stone walls designed for long-term defense, Maeve had caught a mysterious glint in the eyes of every person they had come across. Each and every one of the gazes she had met had anchored and lingered on her with a mix of stupor, bewilderment and wonder. It completely baffled her, but she made a mental note to address the matter later because right now, navigating in the city required all her alertness.
"Welcome to the city of Southampton," Robin said to her over his shoulder as he motioned the horse down a street where a bunch of young children were playing with a ball amidst the frenzied commercial activity.
"It's huge," Maeve mused with admiration. "Is it the crown city of Kalladrell?"
"No," Robin shook his head with a slight chuckle. "There is no crown here, no royalty. The biggest and most active city of the island is Erindale, where the Central Council is seated as well as deputies and representatives elected by the people of every village and city on the island."
Maeve frowned at him as a young boy ran passed them after the ball. "You mean like a republic? Like in the ancient Kingdom of Endor?"
"Aye, with the right to one man one vote."
"Isn't the republic what caused the downfall of their kingdom? The system crashed down to a bunch of tyrannical factions." Maeve had difficulty conceiving how such a system could function without greedy souls seizing power through corruption and manipulation, and more importantly how it could last.
"And here I thought you were just another common mad woman with nothing better to do than get herself lost in the woods," Robin noted playfully, surprised at her knowledge about the history of long lost kingdoms. "You actually studied."
"I was the student of a very brilliant man," Maeve replied, sadly thinking about Dim-Dim.
"So I see," Robin waved his hand at an old, white-bearded blacksmith who was shoeing a dappled mare between two stands of iron tools. "We're all aware of what happened with the Kingdom of Endor. Our politics have their ups and downs, but nothing has gone out of hand so far. Besides, Kalladrell is a very prosperous island, mostly self-sufficient hence we don't have to rely on complicated trade alliances with other lands."
Maeve considered Robin's words, wondering how big the island truly was as he made another turn down another street where a wagon transporting baskets of fresh lettuce was rolling their way. The farmer holding the reins of the harnessed bay horse pulling the load bowed his head to them and smiled at her, and Maeve yet again noticed the mysterious spark in his round brown eyes.
"So, Robin," she began, curious, but also eager to shrug off the weird sensation she was getting from all the strange flickers in the people's glances. "What do you do for a living?"
"Can't you guess?"
"You're the town's resident rescuer of damsels in distress?" Maeve snorted.
"Occasionally," Robin chuckled at her tease. "But the pay is terrible, especially gratitude-wise." A special smile spread on his lips as he stole a glance at her over his shoulder.
"Robin!" A tall man wearing a deep blue shirt with neat, short blond hair and a smooth-looking face, struggled to make his way through the throng of people in the packed street.
"Simon!" Robin reined his horse to a stop as his friend finally reached them.
Simon looked up to address Robin but stopped dead in his tracks when his eyes, a striking vivid blue that contrasted with his creamy pale skin, went wide and fell on Maeve. His jaw slowly dropped and Maeve saw the strange flicker shine in his gaze like she'd seen in everybody else she'd met so far. But the tall blond man, with a natural friendly disposition emanating from his kind features, quickly gathered his composure again. "I see hunting was good today," he commented pointedly, eying Robin intently.
Maeve's eyebrows both went up at the comment and Robin cleared his throat, probably giving his friend an intent look of his own to get him to focus his attention back to what it was he had come to tell him in the first place.
Taking the hint as he straightened his back and rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, Simon turned serious again. "I've rounded up the group of volunteers. Leo, Coop, Mark and I will have everyone ready to leave by dawn. Is that all right with you?"
Maeve felt Robin tense in front if her in the saddle as he spoke grimly. "How many?"
"About a hundred men, give or take, with a few women and children. Plus our men, that makes about three hundred total." Simon answered.
Robin looked away and shook his head. "You know that the smaller the group, the better the chance we have at making it through alive."
"I know," Simon replied with a wince. "But these people have families back there. They want to help. They know the trek will be risky but they're ready to face whatever dangers might await them."
"Can the men fight?"
"They're all familiar with swords and we have a little bit of time to teach them archery. I think they'll be of useful support to the soldiers," Simon said confidently.
"Good," Robin nodded, though rather reluctantly. "We leave at dawn then."
"At dawn," Simon repeated with a nod.
"I'll stop by the barrack after lunch," Robin informed his friend as he motioned his horse in a walk again. Simon waved at them and disappeared in the mass of people, but not before letting his stunning blue gaze linger on Maeve.
Averting her eyes from the blond man, Maeve studied Robin closely from her seat behind him. "You're the guide?" she observed wryly, both surprised and slightly offended that he hadn't told her sooner.
"I am," Robin admitted shamelessly, keeping his eyes ahead and careful not to bump into anyone with his horse.
"Why didn't you say so in the first place?" Maeve wondered in puzzlement. Earlier in the woods he had clearly insisted that to cross the Blind Mountains safely she would need an experienced guide, so why had he overtly omitted to mention that it was him?
"I like to be mysterious," he replied simply, and Maeve could tell he was grinning smugly as he did, eliciting a roll of her eyes in return.
"You're going to Denwood?" she inquired although the answer was quite evident.
"Aye," Robin nodded, turning down a quieter street where a restaurant with a packed terrace stood on the corner. He led the horse towards rudimentary stables in a side alley where other horses were tied down and nibbling at hay. Although many people still traveled up and down the lane, Maeve was glad for the calmer and quieter vibe of the street. When they were off the main road and into the little alley, Robin swung his leg over the horse's collar and leaped down. Holding the reins, he waited for her to dismount.
"I'm coming with you," Maeve declared, and she was not asking for permission.
"I figured you would," Robin said, the corner of his mouth twisting up in a smile as he untied his gear from the horse's saddle and then went about the task of removing the tack.
Maeve watched him quietly. "How much do you charge for the crossing?"
Robin looked to her, puzzled. "What?"
"The crossing," Maeve explained. "I take it you charge people to bring them on the other side of the Blind Mountains, seeing as it's so dangerous. What's your price?"
Robin removed the bit from his horse's mouth and replaced the bridle for a halter. He then tied the horse with a leash to the fence next to the other horses and flung the tack over the railing along with the other riders' equipment. "Do you even have money?" He asked when he finally turned back to face her, and the way his entire body tensed at the mention of all the dangers lurking in the mountains wasn't lost on Maeve.
"No," she replied firmly. "But I intend to earn my passage nonetheless, so name your price."
Robin eyed her carefully for a moment, his blue eyes keen and piercing, with the shadow of quiet restlessness hidden in their depths as if he wished he could spare her the crossing altogether if he could. "I don't charge women. Your ticket is free."
But when he walked past her to end the discussion, Maeve grabbed his arm to stop him. "I insist."
Robin shifted on his feet uneasily, leaning back slightly as he studied her again. "We're crossing the Blind Mountains to bring aid and support to the villagers left in Denwood. I don't charge people for humanitarian trips, especially when there are about a hundred of them willing to put their lives at great risk to help others in need. I would be selfishly abusing them if I did."
Maeve quietly appraised him in return, a small smile curving the corner of her mouth. "Arrogant and noble," she mused. "Not bad."
Robin averted his gaze with a slight huff, a shy smile nonetheless stretching his lips as the matter of the crossing was officially closed. "Are you hungry?"
Afraid he would never ask, Maeve let out a weary sigh. "Starving."
"Well then, come along," he declared as he placed a hand at the small of her back and led her towards the crowded restaurant that stood on the corner of the street. "I know the man who makes the best bean salad in town."