Chapter 4: A wall that can't be Overcome
The cart rolled steadily along the dirt road, wooden wheels humming softly against the packed earth. Braxon sat at the front, hands resting loosely on his knees. The reins lay untouched, Old Gray knew the way home without guidance.
The great war horse moved with calm certainty, ears forward, hooves finding the familiar ruts without hesitation.
Behind him, Kai and Anya leaned against the empty crates, voices still soft but full of energy.
"It feels strange," Anya said, swinging her legs gently. "The cart's empty now."
"But not sad," Kai added. "Just… light."
Anya nodded quickly. "Happy empty."
Braxon smiled faintly. "That's the feeling of a good market day."
They shared stories of the morning, replaying the bard's songs with exaggerated gestures and whispers. Anya mimicked the music, hands floating as if strumming invisible strings, while Kai hummed the melody, tapping his fingers against the wooden crate.
"Do you remember the part about the World Tree?" Anya said, her voice softening. "Where its roots drink all the bad things away?"
"And the beasts in the West," Kai replied. "The griffins. And the White King. That part was the best."
Old Gray snorted quietly, as if he, too, remembered the tale, and continued onward without breaking stride. The road stretched long and peaceful, fields rolling gently on either side. The afternoon sun warmed the cart, and its steady motion rocked them like a cradle.
Anya's words began to blur together, yawns creeping in.
"And then he said… fate sharpens its…" she murmured, eyes half-closed.
"Blade," Kai finished, smiling, though his own eyelids were growing heavy. Their voices faded into whispers, half-sung lines of the bard's song drifting between them. Soon Anya leaned against the cart's side, breathing slow and even, sleep claiming her without warning.
Kai stayed awake a little longer, staring at the road ahead.
"Dad?" he asked quietly.
"Yes?" Braxon replied.
"Have you ever seen the Knight King Garron?" Kai asked. "They say he's like a wall. A wall that can't be overcome. Is he really like that?"
Old Gray's ears flicked back once, attentive.
"A wall doesn't stand because it's unbreakable," Braxon said at last. "It stands because it chooses to hold."
Kai tilted his head, still half-curious, half-drowsy. "But… how did he stop the Empire of the Spire? Weren't they strong enough to conquer everything?"
Braxon's eyes softened as he leaned back, voice low and steady, weaving the tale. "Long ago, the Empire of the Spire sought to expand its floating cities, ruling not just the skies but the lands below. They had machines, ships, and spies everywhere. Many thought nothing could stop them."
Kai's eyes widened. "And Garron did?"
"He did," Braxon said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "The Knight King Garron didn't meet them with armies alone. He held the people and the plains together. He built walls, yes. But more than stone, it was the courage of the people, the loyalty of the Iron Host, and the watchfulness of every protector in the South. The Spire could see the land, but they could not bend it.
Garron's knights rode where others feared, guarding villages, caravans, and trade routes. They struck quickly, wisely, and with honor. Wherever the Empire tried to push, the Knight King and his host held firm. They were a wall—not unbreakable, but unyielding."
Kai blinked slowly, impressed. "So the floating empire couldn't take the land because… he and his knights were stronger?"
"In ways the empire could not see," Braxon said. "Strength comes in many forms. Steel and magic are one thing. But loyalty, courage, and knowing the land… that is what makes a wall that cannot fall."
Anya stirred, murmuring in her sleep, clutching a folded cloth like a miniature flag. "I want to be like him…" she whispered.
Braxon looked down at both his children, a quiet weight in his chest.
"One day, perhaps," he murmured.
"For now, it is enough to know the story. Even the strongest empire cannot stand where the people and the land refuse them. And even the bravest knights need hearts like steel, ready to watch, ready to protect, ready to hold."
The cart hummed along, Old Gray's steady pace carrying them through rolling fields bathed in the warm glow of late afternoon. Kai's eyes grew heavy, the images of floating towers, knights, and vast plains mixing with the songs of Bard Luise still ringing in his mind. Anya, already asleep, smiled faintly as the sun touched the horizon.
And so the Greyhold family rode home, carried not just by Old Gray, but by the tales of courage, loyalty, and unbroken walls that stood guard over Aethermoor.
***
The cart rolled steadily over the worn path, Old Gray moving with calm certainty, hooves finding the familiar ruts without hesitation. By the time the farmhouse came into view, the sun was dipping low, casting long shadows across the fields.
Aveline stepped onto the porch, her shawl over her shoulders, eyes lighting up at the sight of the returning cart.
"They're back," she called, brushing dust from her hands.
Braxon slid down from the front of the cart, moving carefully among the empty crates. Inside, the children were curled against the sides, heads lolling in deep sleep. Anya's fingers twitched as if she were still clapping to the bard's final chord, while Kai muttered a half-formed line of the song under his breath.
"They've completely fallen asleep," Braxon said quietly. "We'll need to lift them."
Aveline smiled softly. "Nothing unusual after a long day at the market."
Together, they lifted Kai first, carefully supporting his small frame against their chests, then carried Anya, who clutched a piece of ribbon from the day's stalls even in her dreams. The children's peaceful breathing and soft murmurs made the task effortless, and they barely stirred.
Braxon carried Kai to his room and laid him gently on the bed, tucking the covers around him. Aveline carried Anya up the stairs to her own room, laying her down and smoothing her hair back from her face.
"They'll dream of the songs and stories," Aveline whispered, brushing a hand over Anya's shoulder.
"They've learned a little about the world today," Braxon added quietly, standing in Kai's doorway. "And tomorrow, more awaits."
Downstairs, the empty cart still sat outside. Braxon and Aveline began counting the day's earnings on the table. Gold crowns gleamed alongside stacks of silver shillings and copper coins.
In Aethermoor, the monetary system is structured around three main types of coins, each suited to different levels of trade and value. The highest denomination is the Gold Crown, used for major purchases such as horses, land, or high-quality armor, with one crown equivalent to twenty silver shillings. The Silver Shilling serves as the everyday currency, exchanged for most goods in the market like food, livestock, tools, or artisan services, and each shilling equals twelve copper coins. The smallest unit, the Copper Coin, is used for minor purchases such as a loaf of bread, a carton of eggs, or tips for performers. This system allows farmers and merchants alike to handle both small, day-to-day transactions and larger trades, making commerce in Aethermoor flexible and practical across all regions and social classes.
Aveline stacked coins carefully. "The foal brought two crowns. All the eggs, milk, and butter are sold too. A full day's profit, comfortably."
Braxon nodded. "Old Gray deserves our thanks as well. He carried us there and back without complaint."
Aveline's lips curved in a quiet smile. "And the children… they are safe, asleep, and dreaming of the stories we will share another day."
The farmhouse settled into evening calm, the coins counted, the animals fed, and the children dreaming of knights, griffins, deserts, and the mighty World Tree.