Free Web NovelChapter 41: Frosthold, the Capital of the North...
The group moved along the main road as the enormous stone wall loomed closer and closer before them.
Nox had seen large cities in his previous life as Tyler.
He had seen photographs, movies, and videos.
But this was different.
The wall seemed to stretch for miles in both directions.
Watchtowers rose above the gray stones covered in snow.
And beyond the gigantic entrance, an immense city could be seen, filled with buildings, chimneys, and people.
"Welcome to the Capital of Frostgard."
Catherine smiled while carrying Felix in her arms.
"The great walled city of Frosthold."
Audrey slowly raised her head.
"It’s huge..."
Even Nox stood there staring for a few seconds.
"Yeah... it’s much bigger than I imagined."
Misty looked at them with an amused smile.
"Are you two seriously reacting like that? You look like a pair of farmers who have never seen people walking down a street before."
Nox laughed.
"It’s my first time in a city this big."
Then he pointed at Audrey.
"And she literally lived in a cabin on a mountain."
Audrey crossed her arms.
"Besides, my sisters never even let me meet the people they traded with. I practically grew up interacting with animals more than humans."
"That explains a lot."
Misty said.
Audrey shot her a threatening look.
The dancer simply kept smiling.
Tessa looked toward the enormous main gate.
"We should try to be less noticeable."
"Less noticeable?"
Nox asked.
The former inquisitor pointed at the group.
"We have a horned demon. A woman whose outfit screams ’I live in the mountains.’ A dancer who apparently became some kind of celebrity. A girl who lives with wolves. And a former inquisitor—which would be me."
Nox nodded slowly.
"When you put it that way, it sounds reasonable."
"Because it is."
Tessa replied.
Misty looked at the people walking nearby.
"Besides, people won’t stop staring at us."
Nox followed some of those gazes.
And indeed, many citizens were watching them.
Some with curiosity.
Others with fear.
Others simply with surprise.
Even though animal-hide cloaks covered much of their bodies, they still stood out quite a lot.
Catherine let out a small laugh.
"It’s not exactly the fashion of the Capital. But I know someone."
"Someone?"
Audrey asked.
"A person who can get you clothes very cheaply."
Nox smiled.
"That sounds exactly like what we need."
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Several streets later, the atmosphere had changed completely.
The main avenues were far behind them.
Now they were walking through narrow alleyways.
Old buildings.
Dim lanterns.
And dirty snow covering the streets.
Finally, Catherine stopped in front of a strange building.
Its roof was shaped like a giant hat.
Nox raised an eyebrow.
"What kind of architecture is that?"
"A very ugly kind."
Catherine answered.
"But it works for Ellen."
Misty looked at the shop.
"We don’t have much money, but we’re not planning to take anything without paying."
Nox shrugged.
"I don’t think that’s such a bad idea. We still have to figure out where we’re sleeping."
Tessa sighed.
"The important thing right now is blending in."
Catherine knocked on the door.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Several seconds of silence followed.
Then a raspy voice echoed from inside.
"Come in."
The cat girl opened the door.
A cloud of smoke immediately escaped outside.
Nox coughed.
"What the hell?"
The interior looked like a cross between a tailor shop and a smoke factory.
Mannequins.
Dresses.
Coats.
Fabrics.
And in the middle of everything sat a woman smoking an enormous pipe.
Gray hair.
Square glasses.
An elegant dress.
A generous neckline.
And sharp, piercing eyes.
The woman slowly walked toward them.
"What do you want this time, Catherine?"
Then she looked over the group.
"And who are these people?"
Catherine smiled.
"They’re friends. They helped me rescue Felix."
The woman raised an eyebrow.
"Friends?"
Her gaze moved across Audrey.
Then Misty.
Then Tessa.
"These women look fairly strong."
"What could they possibly need from me?"
That was when Nox stepped out from behind the group.
"We need something that helps us blend in."
The pipe fell to the floor.
The woman’s eyes widened.
"What the hell?"
"Literally."
Misty muttered.
The woman took two steps backward.
"What is someone like you doing here?"
Nox put a hand over his face.
"I knew it. Everyone says the same thing."
He began mocking her in a high-pitched voice.
"’What is someone like you doing here?’ ’Why is there a demon here?’ ’Are you actually a demon?’"
He let out a long sigh.
"That’s not important. Can you help us or not?"
Catherine stepped forward.
"Please, Ellen. They helped me. If it weren’t for them, I would’ve been left all alone."
The woman’s expression changed.
"Alone..."
She looked around.
"What happened to your siblings?"
Catherine lowered her gaze and didn’t answer.
The silence was enough.
Audrey spoke.
"Some bastard murdered them."
Tessa added,
"One of the Church’s heroes."
Misty smiled.
"And we’re going to deal with that idiot."
The woman remained motionless for several seconds.
Then she picked up her pipe.
Carefully brushed the dust off.
And finally smiled.
"I see." frёewebηovel.cѳm
She placed the pipe back between her lips, took a long drag, and released a cloud of smoke.
"So you’re enemies of the Church."
"Correct."
Nox replied.
The woman let out a raspy laugh.
"Then you’re my kind of people."
Everyone blinked.
"What?"
Audrey asked.
"You heard me."
Ellen said.
"The Church has been ruining lives for years. So if you’re against them..."
She smiled again.
"...you can trust me."
Catherine sighed in relief.
"I knew you’d help."
"Of course I’ll help."
Ellen replied.
Then she carefully examined the group, like an artist evaluating a canvas.
Finally, she stopped in front of Nox.
Circled around him several times.
Then raised a hand.
She touched one of his horns.
"Yes..."
She murmured.
"We’re definitely going to have to do something about these."
Nox raised an eyebrow.
"My horns?"
"They’re rather eye-catching."
Ellen replied.
"I think I already know what to do."
Nox smiled.
"Thank you very much, ma’am."
The woman stared at him.
"Ma’am?"
"Yes."
"Do I really look that old?"
Nox looked at the gray hair.
The glasses.
The pipe.
And the tired expression.
Then decided that the correct answer was probably not the honest one.
"Uh..."
Too late.
Ellen had already crossed her arms.
"Don’t call me ma’am. I’m not even that old."
Nox laughed.
"Whatever you say, ma’am."
Ellen immediately grabbed a measuring tape.
"Seriously, I’m going to kill you if you say it again."
