Chapter 39
With Anice in the lead, the two set off for the east side of town. As he’d done all throughout their walk, Alistar goggled at their surroundings as if they were a figment of his imagination. Life in Mayhaven was acutely different than life in Crystellum. Here, people laughed, smiled and socialized with one another. Everybody was beautifully dressed, and compared to what he was used to, even the simple clothes of the poorer folk gave off a warm and comfortable feel.
In Mayhaven, the children ran and played, laughing as their parents joked with talkative guards. Everybody seemed to get along. At least he thought so, until he caught a glimpse of a strange man in passing. He was shorter than most by at least a head’s difference, and his somewhat plain appearance lacked distinction, or at least it would have if not for the small horn protruding upward from his forehead. The horn, or what was left of it, resembled the stump that remained after a tree had been cut down. Most people ignored the man, but many cast irritated glances in his direction, and some exchanged words of disapproval with those around them.
When Alistar pointed it out to Anice, she laughed.
"It’s to be expected. He’s an Inverted, after all."
"Inverted?"
She drew up close and whispered in his ear. "You know, descended from demons? Father’s the only lord in the kingdom who’s willing to grant them living rights on his lands. Can you believe that the Church once threatened to brand him a heretic?"
"Uncle Caedmon?"
"Yeah, so he had the Inverted cast aside their faith and convert to Lucianism."
"There are other religions?"
"I don’t know. Apparently? Anyway, Papa made use of the words of scripture to make sure that they were left alone. Our uncles and our grandfather weren’t happy with him, but who cares what they think?"
"I’ve never read anything about demons. What are they?"