Just after nightfall, Adam and Valerian arrived at a bustling market set up alongside the Trade Road.
Serving as a way station for travelers, the settlement was alive with activity despite the late hour. Merchants hawked their goods beneath lantern-lit stalls, caravan guards shared drinks around campfires, and weary travelers sought food, rest, and shelter before continuing their journey.
For those traveling between cities, it was a welcome haven amid the long road.
Adam entered the market with four horses in tow.
Dealing with the bandits had been easy. Catching their horses, however, had proven far more troublesome.
As it turned out, there were very few things capable of stopping a terrified horse from bolting across an open plain. By the time the fight ended, most of the animals had already vanished into the darkness, fleeing as fast as their legs could carry them.
