Free Benjamin Ashwood by AC Cobble Page A

one. 
Most of these challenges take place in the Colleges with referees and medical
personnel standing by.  The contest only goes until one combatant yields, but
it is not required to be like that.  A challenge can happen anywhere at any time. 
Without the necessary skill, one is not likely to survive long wearing the
glyph in public.”
     
    The
closer they got to the coast the more frequently they passed through small
towns.  Most were close to the size of Farview and each seemed to have it’s own
commercial specialty.  Rhys explained that the towns supplied merchants in
Fabrizo with goods that they shipped across the Blood Bay to other large
cities.  There was one town that specialized in lace and several that made
various types of glass.  The glass is what Fabrizo was known for and according
to Rhys, the glass makers they were passing were among the best in the world.
    They
had little time to stop and explore these towns because Lady Towaal pushed them
hard to make Fabrizo.  She did allow a few stops to eat as their supplies were
dwindling.  Ben found Rhys had been correct when he said back at Murdoch’s that
it was mostly fish and wine on the coast.  But for Ben, it was an incredible
experience.  They ate spicy fish stews unlike anything he ever had in Farview. 
Alistair Pinewood maintained a wine cellar but he was one of the only ones in
Farview who did so.  He mostly kept it for himself except for the rare special
occasion when he felt like sharing.  Usually it was on his own birthday.
    Ben
began to think of himself as somewhat worldly, travelling with such experienced
companions and trying new things.  But the small towns clustered near the coast
did nothing to prepare him for the wonder of Fabrizo itself.
    They
awoke the last morning on the road camped on sandy soil under massive, moss
hung oak trees.  The air was heavy and had an odd tang to it.  In a rare friendly
moment Lady Towaal mentioned it was the humidity and a combination of mud and
saltwater in the Bay.  They’d be in Fabrizo by early afternoon and Ben couldn’t
wait.
    As
the day wore on and they approached the city, the oak trees faded away and were
replaced by tall, thick marsh grasses.  The road was busy this morning with
merchant trains coming and going from the city as well as travelers like
themselves.  Ben observed them closely but was disappointed to see that aside
from small changes in their clothing, these people could have grown up in
Farview and would not have been out of place.
    The
little towns almost ran together as they got closer.  They passed through
several of them in the last few bells before finally approaching something
new.  In the distance, over the tall grasses, Ben could see large buildings
rising up.  He hopped up and down trying to catch a better glimpse but stopped
when he saw Amelie grinning at him.
    Rhys
noticed as well, “they’re warehouses, grain silos and the like.  The merchants
store their goods there.  It’s too expensive in the city.  There’s also housing
for the dock workers, sailors and the rest of the grunts.”  Rhys slapped him on
the back and continued, “that’s where I’d recommend you spend your time in most
big cities.  Those people know how to have fun.  But I think you’re going to
enjoy Fabrizo.  Nothing quite like it.”

Fabrizo
     
    Ben
tried to stop himself from staring as they passed the hustle and bustle of the
warehouse district.  Most of the wagon trains turned off to head towards the
massive cluster of buildings.  The huge structures dwarfed anything Ben had
ever seen.  Murdoch’s could easily fit several times over into the largest
ones.  There were also towering poles bobbing in the distance and Ben realized
that they must be ships.  Farview had a few small boats people used for fishing
and carrying supplies on the Callach River and he knew about ships, but he
couldn’t fathom the size of one that stuck out above the tallest of