The driver’s seat really makes your butt hurt, and these country roads are super bumpy!
Just that is enough to make me think less of Carlton’s lord.
“We’ll reach Carlton soon,” Maggie’s father tells us, so I lift my hips a little to look ahead.
“Zoe! You’ll fall if you stand up,” Maggie warns me, so I sit back down. I can see walls appearing in the distance.
“It’s surrounded by walls!”
Lang Village has walls too, sort of, but they’re wooden ones that would probably break if a Big Boar charged them. Actually, they’re more like a fence than proper walls.
Carlton’s walls are made of stone and quite tall.
“Carlton’s the regional capital, you see. If something happens, nearby villages evacuate here.”
Does he mean monster rampages? I’ve read about those in stories sometimes.
“Wouldn’t it be safer to just live in Carlton then?”
Maggie’s father chuckles wryly at my simple question.
“Zoe, you silly thing! Buying a house in Carlton is expensive. And the taxes are high too!”
This might be common knowledge to Maggie, but it’s news to me.
Come to think of it, does Selina even pay taxes? Well, she’s an adult, so she must have it figured out somehow.
“So are all the people in Carlton rich?”
Both Maggie and her father laugh.
“There are poor people in Carlton too. In fact—” Her father glares at Maggie, so she clams up.
When I give her a look asking “What?” she responds with her eyes saying “Later!”
This is the signal Maggie uses when customers visit Hannah’s sewing class during winter and she has lots she wants to say. Seems like it’s bad manners for children to speak up when adults are present.
Then after the customers leave, Maggie fills me in on everything.
Hannah scolds her when the gossip gets too nasty, but in Lang Village there’s no privacy, so everyone knows everything anyway.
Since Maggie’s family runs a general store, they gather a lot of village information. They seem to know about Carlton too.
Hmm. If there’s an Adventurers’ Guild, there might be taverns and such.
Adventurers appear in the novels Selina reads too. Though most feature knights, mages, and nobles.
Sometimes there are stories where adventurers become heroes through their exploits.
“This was clearly aimed at boys,” Selina had said dismissively, but she let me read it because there weren’t many risqué scenes.
Well, if it bored Selina, it was probably just a simple success story.
Me though? I knew nothing of the world, so the tales of adventurers and guilds were fascinating.
“Are there lots of scary rough types at the Adventurers’ Guild?” This is important to ask, since I’m planning to become a mage and an adventurer.
Maggie replies, “Can’t say. I hear orphans become adventurers too, so it’s probably not all scary people. I’m sure other kids won’t be so frightening.”
Orphans! Right, I was taken in by Selina, but there are orphans out there.
“Don’t they get cared for at orphanages?”
Maggie doesn’t seem to know the details either. It’s about another town, after all.
“I think there are orphanages, but... I’m not sure.”
Maggie’s father explains. “Orphanages only keep children until they’re ten. After that, they either go into service or become adventurers.”
So that’s how it is for adventurers. I’m an orphan too, so I guess it’s not all that different—but for some reason, it still hits me.
While I’m still reeling from the thought, the wagon rolls on toward Carlton, where there’s a line of cargo wagons and travelers at the gate.
“Hey, Uncle. What’s that about?” This is my first time at Carlton, so I’m surprised.
“Ah, they’re making sure no criminals enter Carlton. And they collect money from outsiders too.”
What?! Money!
Right, Selina sometimes pays the guards when she goes to Lang Village too. Not every time, and just a small tip, but still.
Oh, I get a pass because I’m a child.
“Haha, Lang Village residents don’t pay since we’re all subjects of Viscount Carlton.”
I’m not so sure about that myself. I don’t get the feeling Selina pays taxes to Viscount Carlton. But I’ll keep quiet about it.
Maggie’s father’s turn comes. “Jim from Lang Village. Bringing timber.”
I’m all nervous wondering what to do, but the guard just says “Pass through!” and waves us on.
Is this really okay? But Maggie and I are just girls, and we’re not criminals. I guess it’s fine.
We pass under the shadow of the gate and emerge into the heart of Carlton.
“Wow, there are so many people!”
Maggie has been to Carlton several times before, so she’s laughing. “Zoe, you’re such a country bumpkin!”
I mean, I’d never even been to Lang Village until this fall.
“I need to unload the timber, so Maggie, go sell what’s in the baskets,” Jim says.
The wagon stops in front of a timber yard. Maggie shoulders the heavy basket full of pelts and tries to pick up one light basket of dried herbs in each hand.
“I’ll carry one for you!” I put on my own backpack and take one of the baskets from Maggie.
“Thank you!”
“Don’t even mention it! After all, you brought me to Carlton.”
We meet each other's eyes and share a laugh.
Friends really are wonderful!