There was an old worn pathway that connected Meteli to Phoenix Drip. When the old lord family was still in power, it was used frequently. There was often trade and communication traveling back and forth between the two villages. Now that Phoenix Drop had been abandoned for so long, and under new leadership as of current, the pathway soon became forgotten about. Depending on age, some may not even know of the pathway. Others, forgotten of its existence.
To Alex, it was the one thing that connected her to her siblings. After Laurance moved to Phoenix Drop, Hayden had been angered. Two months after this, Cadenza moved away as well. Hayden cut Alex off completely from Phoenix Drop in anger towards her siblings. It was hard for him to grow accustomed to his children breaking off onto their own. This angered her as she was eighteen.
Hayden was away, doing a business meeting elsewhere in the village. This wasn't uncommon. Hayden often worked long hours as lord in a smaller house in the center of the village. This left Alex alone in their own home.
Today she was through with the forbiddenness. There was snow on the ground, but Alex knew the trail like the back of her gloved hand. So with her jacket sung against her and scarf firmly in place, she set out to the back of the village that was long forgotten about.
Phoenix Drop was different from what she remembered. Some buildings were new or fixed up, but it was clear many were aged or forgotten. A new house sat at the top of the hill, and she assumed this was the new lord's home. They hadn't decided to reside in the old one. Alex didn't know the new lord, but she had seen her through windows and heard of her through Laurance.
“Who goes there? What's your business?”
A voice startles Alex. It was one she hadn't heard before. She didn't feel as though she was brave like her siblings, so the authoritative voice plays with her nerves.
“I'm looking for Laurance Zvahl.”
She found the voice. It was quick to learn that it was a guard, standing nearby where she had entered. Alex hadn't made it very far in before she was stopped.
“Relation?”
“I'm his sister.”
The male shuffles towards her. It was obvious she didn't cause a threat. She didn't even carry a weapon for self defense. He thought this was a foolish idea on her end. She looked both young and small to him. In a way, he didn't want to see her harmed. Perhaps a young female like herself reminded him of his own sister.
“You must be the youngest. He speaks often of you.”
For a second Alex is flattered, but it soon turns into sadness. “I'm glad he hasn't forgotten about me. You clearly know of me. Who are you?”
The man comes closer to her, closing a great deal of the distance that was once between them. They were still strangers to each other, but he was at least able to identify her as Alex.
Looking at her, he saw little resemblance to Laurance. She had brown eyes while he had green. Her hair was blonde while his was an ugly dyed orange. When his hair was growing brown at the roots, he noticed that it wasn't his hair color. They shared the same nose, he believed. Otherwise, it was only the fact that they both had long hair that they shared. With her, it was tied back in a long braid with a ribbon.
“I'm Garroth. I'm the head guard. I've been so for quite a while.”
Alex nods. “Even while there was no lord? Strange you didn't become one yourself.”
“I've never been one to become a lord.”
Alex understood. She felt she was closer to becoming a lord than he ever would be. Alex was third in line, the youngest. She'd never get that far. Though, Alex was unaware of Garroth’s past. He liked it better this way for everyone. Only Kandi knew of his true past, but that was because she was his sister.
“Besides Laurance, why are you here?”
“I haven't been here in years,” Alex says. “Back when the old lord was in charge. I needed an escape. I've been in Meteli for so long. Besides, I snuck off without my father's knowledge. I'll have to return soon before he notices my disappearance.”
“Phoenix Drop isn't much different.”
Alex shakes her head. She knew it wasn't much different than Meteli. Sure, Meteli faced more water. A third of Meteli was surrounded by water compared to the small amount of Phoenix Drop. But Phoenix Drop wasn't Meteli, and that was something.
“No, but it's something else. I know there's more out there beyond the water. It's just a matter of what,” Alex admits. “I know there's more than O’Khasis and Scaleswind. Though, I doubt I'd ever see those areas either.”
Garroth grimaces. Alex catches the slight shift of his body, but she can't see behind the helmet. He had been in the process of keeping it off, but together he felt like he should've had it on.
“O'Khasis isn't everything it seems to be.”
“You seem to speak from experience.”
“I've gotten around.” Garroth dismisses the topic. “Laurance will be on duty soon. He should be in the guard tower. Feel free to enter. When you're ready to return, come back to the guard tower. I'll escort you back to Meteli. I know you didn't bring a weapon. These woods can be dangerous.”
