the turns of the seasons, however, the wealthier townsfolk—merchants, clergymen, officials and the like—purchased the properties. Most of this area now contains large mansions and villas. It is referred to as Old Town, which is odd as it is hundreds of winters younger than the Warehouse District.”
“As the winters passed, Mocley became a center for trade. With the added income, the magistrates commissioned some truly magnificent buildings. During this period, the Grand Coliseum, the Great Palintium, and even this Chandril’elian were all constructed. The wide paved roads, the large fountains, and the interconnected sewer system were all added or upgraded as well. A new third outer wall was erected to encompass this new construction and is referred to as New Town, though much of it, such as the Grand Coliseum, is well over a thousand winters old.”
“The final outer wall we have currently was added a few hundred winters ago. This newest addition to the city was designed to promote trade and commerce. It contains the Bazaar, the large area set aside for the buying and selling of products and produce brought in from the surrounding farms and steads. The Gem District is where everything dug up in the mines of the Morlis Mountains ends up. The Crafters District houses most of the blacksmiths, carpenters, dyers and clothiers, cordwainers and coopers. This is also the area that holds the prominent Merchantillian, which contains the most prosperous merchant shops in the entire Plane.”
“Over the last few hundred winters, the city has continued to grow outside the boundaries of the outer walls. Gatetown, a group of a hundred or so buildings, surrounds the main gates to the city. On the bay side, you will find Fishtown and Gullstown. The poor, as always, build their hovels and shacks against the walls wherever they find room. At the council meeting this morn I recommended that a new fifth wall be considered for—”
Alant abruptly stopped talking. “Well, I did say I do little outside of my studies.” A sheepish tone crept into his voice, and a thick, leather-bound book came into view. “I am reading from one of my lesson books, Mocley – A History, by Minroehe Granger. Sier Granger was a teacher here until not long ago.”
Standing in the middle of the dirt field, hoe in hand, Arderi’s thoughts shattered when a man yelled, calling an alarm. Someone grabbed his arm and he almost lost his footing.
“Pay attention, son!” Arderi looked into the worried gaze of his father. Releasing the boy’s arm, Tanin jogged off toward the wagons on the far side of the field.
Glancing around, Arderi realized that most of the men from the work crew had already made it to the safety of the wagons. He jumped when a scream of pain sounded from his right. Spinning around, he looked at the tree line some twenty paces distant. Horses bayed and men shouted within the dense foliage. The sharp snap of breaking branches emanated over the field, and Arderi caught a glimpse of movement through the foliage.
“Come on, boy!” Even though Tanin was yelling for him, Arderi paused.
Stealing a glance over his shoulder, Arderi saw his father sprinting away. Turning his attention back to the trees, he stood rooted. A crash made him leap back and raise his hoe for protection. Smashing through the underbrush, a horse and rider tumbled sideways, then danced backwards down the small rise that separated the copse of trees from the plowed field. The steed reared up and slipped on the mud of the steep slope. The guarder in the saddle grasped a large fur bundle tightly to his chest. Letting out a cry of pain, the man toppled over the horse’s rump. Horse, rider, and furry bundle all smashed to the ground. The man’s shriek ripped across the field as they went down. The horse landed on top of him, cutting his scream short. The horse thrashed about trying to regain its footing. Fear evident in its wide, rolling eyes.
That is when Arderi saw it.
“As the winters passed, Mocley became a center for trade. With the added income, the magistrates commissioned some truly magnificent buildings. During this period, the Grand Coliseum, the Great Palintium, and even this Chandril’elian were all constructed. The wide paved roads, the large fountains, and the interconnected sewer system were all added or upgraded as well. A new third outer wall was erected to encompass this new construction and is referred to as New Town, though much of it, such as the Grand Coliseum, is well over a thousand winters old.”
“The final outer wall we have currently was added a few hundred winters ago. This newest addition to the city was designed to promote trade and commerce. It contains the Bazaar, the large area set aside for the buying and selling of products and produce brought in from the surrounding farms and steads. The Gem District is where everything dug up in the mines of the Morlis Mountains ends up. The Crafters District houses most of the blacksmiths, carpenters, dyers and clothiers, cordwainers and coopers. This is also the area that holds the prominent Merchantillian, which contains the most prosperous merchant shops in the entire Plane.”
“Over the last few hundred winters, the city has continued to grow outside the boundaries of the outer walls. Gatetown, a group of a hundred or so buildings, surrounds the main gates to the city. On the bay side, you will find Fishtown and Gullstown. The poor, as always, build their hovels and shacks against the walls wherever they find room. At the council meeting this morn I recommended that a new fifth wall be considered for—”
Alant abruptly stopped talking. “Well, I did say I do little outside of my studies.” A sheepish tone crept into his voice, and a thick, leather-bound book came into view. “I am reading from one of my lesson books, Mocley – A History, by Minroehe Granger. Sier Granger was a teacher here until not long ago.”
Standing in the middle of the dirt field, hoe in hand, Arderi’s thoughts shattered when a man yelled, calling an alarm. Someone grabbed his arm and he almost lost his footing.
“Pay attention, son!” Arderi looked into the worried gaze of his father. Releasing the boy’s arm, Tanin jogged off toward the wagons on the far side of the field.
Glancing around, Arderi realized that most of the men from the work crew had already made it to the safety of the wagons. He jumped when a scream of pain sounded from his right. Spinning around, he looked at the tree line some twenty paces distant. Horses bayed and men shouted within the dense foliage. The sharp snap of breaking branches emanated over the field, and Arderi caught a glimpse of movement through the foliage.
“Come on, boy!” Even though Tanin was yelling for him, Arderi paused.
Stealing a glance over his shoulder, Arderi saw his father sprinting away. Turning his attention back to the trees, he stood rooted. A crash made him leap back and raise his hoe for protection. Smashing through the underbrush, a horse and rider tumbled sideways, then danced backwards down the small rise that separated the copse of trees from the plowed field. The steed reared up and slipped on the mud of the steep slope. The guarder in the saddle grasped a large fur bundle tightly to his chest. Letting out a cry of pain, the man toppled over the horse’s rump. Horse, rider, and furry bundle all smashed to the ground. The man’s shriek ripped across the field as they went down. The horse landed on top of him, cutting his scream short. The horse thrashed about trying to regain its footing. Fear evident in its wide, rolling eyes.
That is when Arderi saw it.
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