Julia looked out of the carriage window, the vast fields were slowly being sprinkled with small patches of woods. This was her first time to Manthenill, but she knew from her studies that these were signs that they were getting close to the Manthenill’s forest. The Maneater Forest, it was called.
She had read stories of the great fighters and legendary parties that traveled here to fight the creatures of the forest. Her time to make the journey finally came as part of her duties as a Matchmaker. Her training behind the safety of the walls of Orthenill had finally ended. Her personal level had reached fifteen, not exactly a milestone of the realms, but one within the schooling of Matchmakers.
She had been chosen to travel to Manthenill and be their annual Matchmaker. This assignment was dangerous, but the queen had long treated Manthenill as a treasure and Julia was considered a prodigy. Julia had the option to turn down the assignment, she was young and still considered a low level. Her teacher had advised her to take the assignment.
“Favor with the queen,” Julia said to herself, a small smile on her face.
Julia wanted adventure, a life behind the walls could drive anyone insane, especially when you’re reading about the adventures of others. It was time for her own journeys. Maybe she would even end up writing her own great story, and have bards sing about her in the taverns back home.
She examined her visual window displaying the hour in the day, the symbols within the translucent display indicated 144th hour. Less than 23 hours left till the last sun before nightfall fell. They’d be there within 10. She closed her eyes, the carriage movement slowly rocking her to sleep.
Julia awoke to the familiar chime of a notification. A new translucent window hovered in her view in stark contrast to the dimly lit carriage. She looked at the ornate line, the message letting her know that they had entered The Maneater Forest.
"Journeyman Julia, we've entered The Maneater Forest," one of her guards announced.
"Thank you," Julia responded as she stretched her legs a bit in the spacious.
The traveled a few more miles, the road growing darker as the trees started blocking the light of the sun. After a few more hours the carriage came to a stop and she heard the guard talking to someone.
"We're the escorts for Journeyman Julia of Orthenill," the leader of her escort told someone.
There was some back and forth, nothing more than greetings and she heard a woman with a rough voice call out for the gates to be opened. She heard the sound of creaking wood and then the carriage started moving forward again.
Julia pulled back the curtain from the carriage window to peek out again, she caught sight of the people from the village powering ward stones along the wall. With the last sun of the week setting, she knew they'd be powering it to last for the entire month of Sethen'nu. A lot of that energy came from Orthenill, by the queen's orders.
As they moved past the gates Julia laid eyes on Manthenill for the first time. A quaint place, by comparison to the capital of Orthenill, but she could see the influences of Orthenill's architecture and city planning in the stone buildings and roads.
After the long journey from the city to here, she had learned to appreciate a well paved road.
The carriage stopped in front of a tavern, and one of the escorts opened the door for her.
"Here is your stop Journeyman Julia," one of the guards said. "Make sure you stop by the cities Waystone so you can make your way back to Orthenill after you've completed your duties. And please let the queen know about your experience with our escort services. We look forward to providing more for Orthenill's nobles.
"Thank you very much, sir," Julia said as she took his hand, allowing him to aid her.
The carriage continued down the road and Julia turned to enter the doors of tavern.
When she pushed the door to the tavern open, the aroma of lavender hit her almost as fast as the greeting from a small goblin woman.
"Welcome to The Morning Bell," the goblin said, guiding Julia in and closing the door behind her. "The Elder told me you'd be arriving. I've already prepared a meal and a room for you. We'll make sure your bags are brought to your room as well."
She made a clicking noise with her mouth towards the bar, a young man there jumped before running over, grabbing Julia's bags, and rushing up stairs.
The goblin showed Julia over to a seat and then seemed to vanish behind the bar. Julia was used to being attended to, but had never seen a goblin in person. She knew that goblins were dungeon mobs, but that Manthenill was one of the first settlements that had goblins living amongst the human population. In fact, she couldn't think of any other place that had goblins living amongst the citizens.
She waited and let the goblin do her job. Before long the goblin was back, putting a bowl of stew in front of her.
"This is special pork stew," she said, with a smile, as she set the spoon in front of Julia. "We also have the Blue Wizard Hat Morret."
Julia watched the goblin pour the drink for her before the goblin stepped back and looked up at her.
"Thank you miss..." Julia said, hoping to get the goblin's name.
"Bel!" Bel shrieked, her green face somehow turning red. "Bel of Manthenill, daughter of Bax."
"Oh," Julia said, "Thee Bax, Master Trader?"
"The very same, ma'am."
Julia realized she was technically talking to Manthenill nobility.
"Well thank you for your hospitality, the food looks amazing and I love a Blue Wizard Hat," Julia said as she turned her attention to her food.
Bel left her side as she started to eat.
Julia didn't know if cooking was a specialty of the goblin species, but the stew tasted better than anything she had ever had in the capital.
Down the road, Du'Vel, the elder of Manthenill, made his way over to The Morning Bell. He had spent most of the day preparing the town hall for the Matchmakers Ritual, and was told by a runner from the guard that the matchmaker had arrived. He had received word that the matchmaker was the first Journeyman to be sent to Manthenill and he was excited to meet her. Although he had never been the adventuring type, Du'Vel loved the concept of something new. As he opened the door to the tavern he was Bel behind the bar, waving over at him. A young woman was sitting at the table nearest to the bar, her dark pink dress showing quality you could only see on nobility. She noticed him and immediately rose from her seat to greet him.
"Evening sir, I'm Journeyman Matchmaker Julia of Orthenill," she said with a low curtsy.
Du'Vel bowed back at her, a smile on his face. He knew the queen had a long history with Manthenill, but didn't think she'd send someone from a high ranking noble family to Manthenill. He couldn't hold back a chuckle.
"Lets move over to the town hall Journeyman Julia," Du'Vel said, gesturing to the door. "We've got families waiting to meet their new arrivals."
Julia gave a small bow to Bel, and then followed Du'Vel out of the tavern and out towards the town hall.
The town hall was at the center of the Manthenill, and the walk was quiet and quick. Julia nodded at the line of people outside of the hall as she entered the building. The town hall was beautifully decorated, the seats of the chamber where in a circle where Du'Vel motioned Julia to proceed to.
"Everything should be up to your specifications." Du'Vel said to her.
Julia walked to the center of the room, her attitude shifting into work mode.
She had a duty to perform and she was ready to show that she was more than worth of the trust she had been given by the queen herself.
Julia pulled the summoning stone from her bag of holding. The large stone fell heavily to the center of the room, the carvings giving off a slight glow in the dim lit space.
She had carved this circle herself, after years of learning as a novice and then an apprentice. Every line carved with her intention, every symbol with direct meaning and purpose. She had complete confidence in her ability as a caster and in her knowledge in Heart Magic. She turned to the Elder.
"Bring in the first," she said.
