Chapter 89: Lord Byron
The town of High Valley was laced with rivers and canals, weaving a web of waterways adorned with as many bridges as roads. The sprawling Norns River bisected the town in two even halves, its course graced with an elongated stretch of land rising out in the middle. The island was home to both the wharves and the merchants, as well as the seat of the government. An arched bridge connected the riverbanks, stretching for nearly a quarter mile to reach the island before bounding across to connect the opposite bank, its majestic arc soaring fifty feet above the bustling barges traversing the waterways below.
As we crossed over, I couldn’t help but lean over the raised stone railing and peer at the river as a long barge crossed beneath us. A surge of dizziness caught me off balance, tugging me forward as though compelled by one of the passing barges below. Soltair pivoted as my forearms grazed his, face going pale.
"H-hey!" he cried, leaping forward to grab my arm, pulling me back from the edge. "Snap out of it!"
Clinging to him, I shut my eyes tight as the barge continued its journey down the river. After a few moments, the disorientation passed and I regained my footing. I pushed him away, face flushed with embarrassment, as Trithe crossed her arms, a grin teasing her lips up.
"Scared of heights?" she asked coyly.
Ignoring her, I returned to the edge of the bridge once more, eyes tracking the departing barge. Their cargo was hidden beneath heavy tarps, yet I could feel a distinct resonance with something onboard. My vision took on a golden hue as I activated the Eyes of Fate, but I couldn’t penetrate what lay beneath.
"What is it?" Soltair asked, coming up beside me. I could tell he was tense, likely ready in case I decided to dive for the river again.
Shaking my head, I finally averted my gaze as the barge vanished around a bend. "I can’t explain it clearly, but something reached out to me."
Trithe broke out laughing, but her smile slowly faded as she realized I was serious. "On that barge? Nothing there but ores and wheat. Are you sure you got enough sleep?"