Part Seven: Hydlaa
So now here she was, a few remaining belongings, no money, no food, wet, cold and in pain. They had not even had the decency to leave her a potion to heal herself. Arka was angry. If this is what Hydlaa had come to? But she needed to get out of the cold. Looking around, she found a straight, slender length of wood that would support her weight. She hauled herself to her feet, leaning heavily on her makeshift staff. Painfully, she made her way to the city gates. Thankfully, it had stopped raining and mist was rising from the forest and blowing along the road. Far from the welcoming place it had seemed last night, the city appeared grey and austere. Dark towers appeared between the mist and swirls of smoke from the early morning fires.
After what seemed an age, she was at the gates. There was no sign of life in the city, just two guards at the gate. One was a man, the other female. Arka found herself staring. They let women in the city guard! Things had changed!
?What?s your business here?? said the woman officiously.
Arka licked her swollen lips, ?I?ve been attacked? need some help,? she muttered.
The woman looked at her distastefully. Arka was acutely aware of how ragged she looked. She?d spent the last year sleeping in the open and last night hadn?t helped her appearance. ?I just need to get cleaned up,? she said. For a moment, she thought she would be arrested as a vagrant, but she waved her through.
?Try Kada-El at the tavern,? she said.
Wearily, Arka made her way past the tower. At least that hadn?t changed, though many of the surrounding buildings were new. Kada-El? That was a new name to her. Old Grunwell would have died years ago, but she thought maybe his family would have taken on the Tavern. What was his son?s name? Garwin? Gronwin? It was so long ago. He was a good boy, she remembered. Helpful, and very able. He would have been about ten when she last saw him. No, he would be dead now too.
Getting down the steps was almost too painful to bear. There was a Klyros at the top and he had helped her down. She winced at every step.
?How did you get those injuries?? he asked.
Arka was in no mood for conversation, especially with a stranger. But this one seemed kind, especially for a Klyros. She would have to get used to this new Hydlaa, which had changed in both good and bad ways.
The stranger introduced himself as Ozbi. ?Take it easy,? he said, ?I understand it?s hard to talk.?
He took her to the foot of the steps that led to the Tavern. They were more worn than Arka remembered, but they were the same steps.
?I?ll be fine here, thanks,? she said. She waved him away.
?If you are sure?? began Ozbi.
?No, really, I?ll be fine,? said Arka, lying. She just wanted time to be on her own.
Ozbi bowed, ?I?ll keep an eye out for you,? he said.
?You are kind,? said Arka, ?but I?ll be fine.?
Ozbi disappeared towards the square. Arka looked around. Down here, the buildings were as she remembered. The huge statue stood in the centre of the plaza, with its six sides. At one end was a new building. Arka could just make out the top of the spire. It was rust coloured, as if made from raw iron. That must be the famous Laanx Temple. She had heard of it on her travels. The old stone building must have been demolished, as it stood on the same spot, over the well. She closed her eyes as a new wave of weariness swept over her.
