Have you ever looked back at any particular moment and thought to yourself “There. Right there, that's where I messed up.” Everyone has those moments; it’s possible you said something you shouldn’t have, or perhaps you forgot to remove that roast from the fire. Maybe it was as simple as taking a wrong turn through the forest. We all make those mistakes, the only difference is what those mistakes are and how bad they may be.

“Daniel! Keep your eyes on the road, they're catching up!”

Judging by my panicking assistant and the exceptionally angry tribe of harpies behind us, today's mistake was stopping to pick up that egg on the side of the road.

“Can't you just give it back?!?”

“First of all, they left it on the side of the road, that makes it fair game. Second, do you know how much harpy eggs are worth? There's no way we're giving it back!”

My assistant, a young elf woman named Friia, yelped as another spear clipped the cart.

“I am going to kill you if we die over an egg!”

“My dear Friia, I believe you’ve forgotten how death works.”

As I’m sure you’ve noticed, Friia is quite the worry wart. She's been my assistant for three years now, and I probably don't pay her enough for everything she's had to go through. Especially with that gorgon…

Another spear whizzing by my ear reminds me exactly why I shouldn't be spacing out right now.

“Daniel!”

Yes, Friia as well. Maybe she should take a vacation…

“Friia, how does a vacation sound?”

“Is this really the time?! Ask me when we're not in mortal danger!”

“You do have a point…to the checkpoint then!”

You don’t get as far in this job as I have without learning some fancy carriage driving. Bandits, timed requests, and of course angry, screaming crowds of monsters all play a part in needing to be quick with a cart. Ignoring Friia’s frightened yelp, I yanked our horse off to the left, surprising the harpies long enough to give us a decent breakaway lead. As we hit a rather bumpy spot on the trail, I could see the looming stone towers of Antiva City’s outer checkpoint. Once we got nearer, I had an idea.

Turning to Friia, I pulled out a small glass flask filled with a thick gray liquid. “Friia! When I say so, I need you to throw this bottle behind us!”

Taking it, she looked at me in confusion. “What’s in it?”

“Nevermind that! It’s vital that you throw it...now!”

Quickly tossing it in front of the crowd, the glass shattered, releasing a thick cloud of smoke that stopped the harpies in their tracks and allowing us to pass safely into the checkpoint. I carefully brought the carriage to a halt near one of the check-in stations and waved down a guard.

“Daniel...why didn't you use that earlier?”

“...I may have forgotten it existed.”

The guard approached slowly while Friia’s hand became acquainted with her face. Pulling out his checklist, he started inspecting the cart while asking the standard questions for entry into the city. “Name?”

“Daniel Neano.”

He opened up one of my trunks before asking “Status?”

“Traveling merchant, second class.”

“Business?”

“Setting up a stall. Here’s my pass.”

Nodding his head as he looks it over, he smiles up at me while handing my pass back.

“Welcome back, Daniel. Crazy trip?”

“You have no idea. I’ll meet you for drinks later at the usual place and fill you in. So long, Xavier.”

“Farewell, Daniel. And be good, you hear? There are some important people in the city today.”

Gently snapping the reins as I nodded, I eased us back into the city, ignoring the look of exasperation Friia was giving me.

“Crazy trip? That’s what you’re gonna sum that up as? Not frightening? Deadly? Not even a little unbearable?”

I had to cover my mouth in order to stifle the laugh that threatened to overtake me. “You say that as if it were the worst thing we’ve ever had to deal with.”

She continued to glare at me as she shook her head. “It’s in the top ten, and you know it.”

“Top twenty, at most.”

Amused as I was by our banter, I had almost missed the space we were assigned for our stall. Gently pulling the carriage behind it, I jumped down and tied our horse to the water trough nearby before heading back to where Friia had begun to set up our wares. After putting up my sign and banners, we took a moment to relax, sharing a couple mugs of mead from my personal stash.

Antiva City, despite being originally used as a small trading post, had grown rapidly in the last few decades; its impressive outer walls considered a beacon of comfort to those traversing the dangers outside. It attracted people from all races and walks of life, and is largely considered to be the sole genuinely neutral city on the continent. It’s the third largest city in the region, with the largest being the royal capital. I spent much of my apprenticeship here, learning from the various masters coming and going. This city gave me my start, so I feel a special attachment to it.

After a few minutes of contented silence, I heard Friia clear her throat and looked over.

“Daniel? Who do you think those important people Xavier mentioned are?”

I thought carefully as I took another swig from my mug. “Knowing Antiva City? Probably a noble from the capital. Or even a detachment from the Kingsguard. In either case, I doubt they’ll be troubled by a simple merchant and his assistant.”

Friia nodded in agreement before standing up to finish setting up our display. I only stepped in to help on occasion; after all, she was studying to become a merchant herself someday. Honestly I believe she’s ready, but she insists she has more to learn. You won’t hear me complaining though; I will use all the help I can get.