The heart of the capital revealed itself long before Ivelle and Liriel reached its busiest streets.
From a distance, the city had appeared impressive enough, but standing within it was an entirely different experience.
The farther they walked, the more the world around them seemed to transform.
The roads widened until several carriages could travel beside one another without slowing. Tall buildings of polished stone rose on either side of the streets, their enormous windows reflecting the afternoon sunlight until the entire city seemed to glitter beneath the sky. Golden ornaments decorated the roofs of merchant houses, elaborate signs swung above luxurious establishments, and enormous banners bearing the crests of wealthy families fluttered from balconies high above the streets.
The capital was beautiful.
Not the quiet, gentle beauty of Briarhollow.
This beauty was overwhelming.
It was wealth displayed without shame.
Everywhere Ivelle looked, there were things she had never seen before. Women dressed in expensive gowns walked beside men wearing tailored coats embroidered with silver thread. Merchants stood behind counters overflowing with imported goods.
Elegant carriages rolled along the streets, their polished wheels flashing beneath the sunlight, while servants hurried behind their masters carrying parcels and baskets.
Even the buildings seemed to compete with one another.
One was taller than the next.
One was brighter than the last.
And above them all, the great towers of the capital rose into the sky like monuments to wealth and power.
Ivelle slowed her steps.
Her eyes traveled upward.
"So this is the heart of the capital."
Liriel stood beside her, equally stunned.
"I think I’m going to be sick."
Ivelle turned toward her.
"From excitement?"
"From looking at how much everything costs."
Ivelle laughed softly, as they continued walking, weaving through the crowd.
Despite the beauty surrounding them, neither forgot why they had come.
They needed work.
Real work.
Something that would pay enough for them to stop worrying about whether they could afford their next meal or whether their landlord would decide to increase their rent again.
Liriel glanced at the buildings around them.
"We should split up." She said to Ivelle suddenly causing Ivelle to look at her.
"Are you sure?"
"If we search together, we’ll only cover half as much ground." Liriel explained to her thoughtfully.
Ivelle considered it.
She didn’t like the idea of separating in a part of the capital neither of them knew, but Liriel was right.
"We meet here."
Liriel pointed toward a large building across the street.
It was a three-story inn with dark wooden beams and a polished sign hanging above its entrance.
The sign displayed a golden lantern surrounded by curling vines.
"The Golden Lantern," Liriel read.
"We’ll meet here before sunset."
Ivelle nodded.
"Don’t wander too far."
"You either."
"And if you find work?"
"Then I’ll drag you back and make you apply too."
Ivelle smiled.
"Deal."
They clasped hands briefly before going in opposite directions.
Ivelle watched Liriel disappear into the crowd before turning toward another street.
Her confidence lasted exactly three minutes.
Then she soon realized that she had absolutely no idea where to begin.
She approached the first inn she saw.
The place was smaller than the establishments surrounding it, but still far more impressive than anything in the district where she lived.
She stepped inside.
The smell of roasted meat and freshly baked pastries immediately reached her.
A middle-aged woman stood behind the counter, counting coins.
Ivelle approached carefully.
"Excuse me."
The woman looked up.
"Yes?"
"I was wondering if you were hiring."
The woman looked her over.
"What kind of work?"
"Anything."
The woman frowned and repeated quizzically. "Anything?"
"I can clean. I can cook. I can serve customers. I can wash dishes. I learn quickly."
The woman sighed.
"We’re full."
Ivelle’s heart sank.
"Perhaps you could keep my name in case someone leaves?"
"We’re not expecting anyone to leave."
"Oh."
Ivelle forced a smile.
"Thank you anyway."
She stepped outside.
The door closed behind her.
She stood on the street for a moment before taking a breath.
It was only the first place.
There were dozens of establishments around her.
She could not give up after one refusal.
So she continued.
At the next restaurant, she received the same answer.
At the one after that, the owner barely let her finish speaking.
"We aren’t hiring."
At another, a young man laughed when she asked about a position.
"Do I look like I’m running a charity?"
Ivelle lowered her gaze.
"No."
"Then why are you wasting my time?"
She apologized and left.
The words stung.
But she kept walking.
By midday, her feet hurt.
By afternoon, her throat had become dry from repeating the same words.
I’m looking for work.
I’m willing to do anything.
I can learn.
Please, if there is an opening...
Each time, she received a different variation of the same answer.
No vacancies.
Positions already filled.
Come back another day.
We’re looking for someone with experience.
We’re not hiring women.
We already have enough servants.
Try somewhere else.
She tried.
Again.
And again.
At one establishment, she was told they might need someone in a few weeks.
At another, the owner took her name and promised to send someone if a position became available.
At a third, the manager asked whether she had references.
Ivelle stood silently.
She had come from a small village and had never worked in a respectable establishment.
She had no influential family, nor wealthy acquaintance.
No letter bearing the seal of a noble household.
The manager immediately understood.
"Never mind."
She thanked him anyway.
By late afternoon, the glittering capital had begun to look different.
The sunlight had softened.
Golden light spilled between the tall buildings, painting the streets in long shadows.
The crowds had grown even larger as people began leaving work and shops prepared for the evening.
Ivelle stopped outside another restaurant.
She stared at the sign above the entrance.
Then she took a deep breath and walked inside.
The place was crowded.
Servers rushed between tables carrying trays of food while customers talked over one another.
A man stood near the kitchen entrance, shouting instructions.
Ivelle waited until he passed before approaching.
"Excuse me, sir."
He turned.
"What?"
"I heard you might be hiring."
"We aren’t."
"I can work in the kitchen."
"No."
"I can clean."
"No."
"Serve tables?"
"No."
Ivelle’s shoulders sagged.
The man sighed.
"Listen, girl. We’re already understaffed, but that doesn’t mean we’re hiring. We’re expecting two people to start tomorrow."
"Oh."
She stepped backward.
"I’m sorry for disturbing you."
"Come back another time."
Ivelle nodded.
"I will."
She left.
The moment the door closed behind her, she leaned against the wall.
Her eyes closed.
Another rejection.
She had lost count.
For a moment, she thought about returning home.
Then she remembered the broken stall.
The scattered merchandise.
The money they had lost.
Liriel’s trembling hands.
No.
She couldn’t go home empty-handed.
Not yet.
She straightened.
The sun was already sinking.
She glanced down the street.
She needed to return to the Golden Lantern.
Liriel would be waiting.
At least, she hoped she would.
Ivelle made her way back through the crowded streets.
The capital looked almost magical beneath the setting sun.
The upper windows of the great buildings caught the remaining light and reflected it across the streets, making the entire city shimmer. Lamps were being lit one after another, turning the roads into winding rivers of gold.
It was beautiful.
Yet Ivelle felt no wonder this time.
She was tired.
Her feet ached.
Her stomach growled.
And despite having spent the entire day searching, she had nothing to show for it.
When she finally reached the Golden Lantern, she stopped beneath the hanging sign.
She looked around.
The street was still crowded.
People moved past her in every direction.
She searched the faces.
No Liriel.
Ivelle waited.
Perhaps she had gone inside.
She pushed open the door and looked through the crowded common room.
Nothing.
She stepped outside again, Perhaps she was delayed.
Ivelle leaned against the wall beside the entrance.
A few minutes passed.
Then ten.
Then twenty.
The sun disappeared completely.
Darkness spread across the capital.
The lamps grew brighter.
The crowds changed.
Workers hurried home while others emerged from taverns and restaurants.
Ivelle continued waiting.
She folded her arms against the evening chill.
"Liriel..."
She looked down the street again.
Still nothing.
Her brows slowly drew together.
Liriel was many things.
Stubborn.
Talkative.
Reckless when frightened.
But she was never careless about keeping her promises.
They had agreed to meet here before sunset but it was now well past that time.
Ivelle pushed herself away from the wall.
She walked a short distance down the street, searching between the passing crowds.
Nothing.
She returned to the inn.
Still nothing.
Her uneasiness began to grow.
Perhaps Liriel had found work.
Perhaps an employer had kept her longer than expected.
Perhaps she had gotten lost.
Ivelle tried to convince herself of each possibility.
But the longer she waited, the heavier the feeling in her chest became.
She hugged herself tightly.
"Liriel..."
Her eyes moved toward the darkening streets.
For the first time since they had arrived in the heart of the capital, Ivelle wished she had not agreed to separate.
Because now, standing alone beneath the glowing sign of the Golden Lantern, surrounded by thousands of strangers, she suddenly realized just how little she knew about this part of the city.
And her friend was nowhere to be found.