ride on the back of a dragon

Where the desert in the southwestern part meets the mountainous plateau in the central part, there are continuous mountains.The temperature dropped gradually, and there was no warm clothing in Carat's backpack.This place is different from the clear blue sky in the middle of the desert. Even in the daytime, the sunlight will be blocked by the wandering clouds. Walking to the backlit side of the mountain, Carat feels a bit cold on the tip of his nose.

Hill looked back at him from time to time. Carat was intoxicated by the lush forest path, with tall trees on both sides that he had never seen before, and wild flowers and grass in the forest filled all the gaps under the trees.The air here is also different from the desert, with heavy water vapor. Carat sniffed and felt that the respiratory tract was covered with a layer of water.Hill suddenly shook his hand: "Is it cold?"

Carat shook her head: "It's okay. What kind of mountain is this?"

"Abyss." Hill looked up at the sun hanging on the top of the mountain: "We will be there soon."

Walking to a high place, the beautiful scenery of the mountain stream made Carat a little unable to move his legs.Several waterfalls pour down and converge into a meandering and shallow creek flowing to the lower place.Unlike the calm lake in the desert oasis, the water here is changing and has sound.Carat threw the backpack to Hill, jumped down with the help of a branch, and stood by the stream in a few steps.The side of the irregular stone under the feet was rounded and smooth by the water flow, and a layer of green moss grew on the side close to the shore, which was more slippery than water when stepped on.Carat felt as if she had fallen into the world in the book, even if a few elves with transparent wings appeared at this time, she wouldn't be surprised.He took off his shoes and stepped into the cold water. It felt amazing to feel the trickle rubbing against his ankles. After walking a few steps in the middle, the clear and transparent stream could only reach his calf.He looked up and saw Hill was resting with his eyes closed, leaning against the tall and straight tree trunk on the hillside without any intention of urging him, so he lay back in the stream with confidence.A little farther away from the waterfall, you can hear the sound of gurgling water, accompanied by the quiet birdsong.In the dense woods, Kela didn't feel nervous even if she couldn't see the shadow of a bird.

"Let's go." The light dimmed, and Carat climbed up in time to wake Hill up.The other party opened his eyes and saw the wet man stunned: "Isn't it cold?"

Carat was brave: "It's not cold." After staying in the desert for a long time, he was used to the scorching sun there, no matter how wet he was, he could be dried quickly.But here is filled with mist, and the sun comes and goes, and the wet and cold clothes are likely to stick to the back all the way.All he could do now was pray that there would be no wind.

Hill took off his cloak and wrapped it around his wet clothes, brushed out his dripping long hair, and randomly found some flexible weeds to help him tie into a low ponytail. Fortunately, they were not in a hurry: " It's okay. Bailu Town is ahead, we will rest there."

Bailu Town is named after the lake under the waterfall. Bailu is a migratory bird here. It inhabits here in spring and summer. It leaves for the southeast in autumn and spends the winter.It leads to the capital of the mountain plateau in the east, the desert in the southwest, and the ice field in the north.Merchants and travelers all replenish their supplies here, and it is bustling all year round, especially in autumn.

As soon as you enter the city, there is a huge market.As the sky was getting darker, someone stepped on a high stool, ignited the pine cones in the tray, and threw them as kindling into floor-to-ceiling torches as tall as a person.The torches made of fir supports gave off a faint woody fragrance when burning, and soon the whole market was lit up by a circle of torches around it.

Carat squeezed into the bustling crowd and was a little dazed. The street vendors on the roadside looked at her enthusiastically. Carat felt that everyone was greeting her kindly, like a long-time friend.

"I like it here!" He grabbed Hill and stopped in front of each booth.The hub town, where businessmen from all over gather here, is full of things that Carat has never seen before.He excitedly shuttled through the square surrounded by torches, feeling that his clothes would be dried by the enthusiasm here.

"Let's find a place to stay first. Now it's their bonfire festival, and it's hard to find a room. The market will last until midnight." Hill dragged him to an inn, took silver coins from his pocket, and stuffed them with him. Push him into the door: "Go."

Carat was a little apprehensive but excited.He showed his most proud smile: "Hi, may I stay for one night?"

The proprietress is a middle-aged woman with a graceful figure, wearing a pair of metal frames.She leaned over from the bar and stared at Cara from head to toe for a long time. Cara felt that a layer of her skin would be peeled off by her gaze, and she was a little timid, so she hurriedly put two silver coins in front of her: "Yes. Is it?"

"Of course my dear." The proprietress went around the bar made of oak barrels and pinched his waist: "Are you alone? From the capital?"

"No, I'm from the desert." Carat dodged to escape from her hands.Everyone in the room was looking at him, the waiters at the hotel, and the guests drinking at the bar, and he didn't understand why.

"Desert? You don't look like people in the desert at all. They are not as beautiful as you." The proprietress blinked with one eye, and Carat felt that the enchantment of this woman was different from that of the little women in the desert.

"I'm not alone!" Seeing that she was about to make a move again, Kela hurriedly retreated to the door and pulled Hill, who was watching the excitement, to her side: "Two people, two people."

"There is only one room for two silver coins. You know, it's a very special time." The proprietress glanced at Hill, as if deciding that the other young man was not easy to get along with, and moved to Carat's side.

"It's okay, we live in one room." Carat said.

There was a moment of silence in the room. Carat didn't know what he said wrong, and everyone stared at him with a little playfulness.Then someone started whispering.He glanced at Hill for no reason, but the other party said nothing, so he relieved himself and urged, "Where is the room?"

Only then did the proprietress come back to her senses, she smiled and took them to the end of the corridor on the second floor: "This one. There is a bathtub and the bed is big enough." She put the key into Carat's hand: "Do it yourself, dear." Said After turning around and going downstairs, before leaving, he slapped Carat's buttocks, and the slap scared him into a jolt.

Hill took the key and unlocked the door. The room was not luxurious but spacious and clean.Tables, chairs, cabinets, and beds are all made of tall spruce wood with fine texture and uniform color.There are all kinds of decorations hanging on the walls, wood carvings, bone, metal, in different styles.Large flowers were embroidered on the tablecloth and bed sheets. Clara was lying on the table touching the delicate stitches and marveling secretly, not noticing that Hill had already entered and exited a few times.

"Take a hot bath first. I'll go find two sets of clothes." Hill helped him take off his wet cloak and put it on the back of a chair. Carat turned around and found the big wooden barrel in the corner steaming.

"Ah? No need. Let's go out to eat! Are you hungry!" After so many days without eating well, Carla felt that Hill should have endured to the limit.

"Go after washing, or you'll catch a cold." Hill couldn't help but untied the ponytail tied up behind his head and pushed him to the tub: "I'll be right back. Close the door."

Clara took off her damp clothes and soaked in warm water.The clothes of the people here are very different from the light clothes and gauze in the early moon city. Cotton and breathable leather are the first choice for travelers.The women here wear all kinds of buns and decorate them with simple silver ornaments or wood carvings.The warm water made Clara feel drowsy. He leaned on the edge of the barrel with his chin resting on the back of his hands for a while, and then opened his eyes. There were several pieces of cotton clothes neatly folded on the chair in front of him, and Hill had fallen asleep on the bed.

Clara climbed out of the tub and wiped the water off her skin with a towel, then put on her clothes.A white lantern-sleeve top, black trousers, leather boots of the same style as Hill, and a soft creamy white vest.Carat touched the surface, which looked like some kind of clipped animal fur less than half an inch long.He opened the window. This place is not far from the market. Under the night, the city is brightly lit. Under the torches, there are smiling faces with different skin colors.The accents of the travelers were complex, and Carat sat by the window waiting for her hair to dry as usual, but it got colder and colder, and she couldn't help sneezing.

"Done?" Hill was woken up by him and went to the window for a moment: "Why don't you dry your hair? You'll catch a cold."

Carat didn't think too much about it: "I'm used to it. The desert dries up quickly, and the wind isn't so cold."

"Homesick?" Hill pulled a cloth towel to cover Carat's head, and rubbed it gently behind him.

"How could it be?" Clara leaned back in the chair, looked up at Hill standing behind him, the man lowered his eyes as if he hadn't slept enough: "Sill, I like this place. They don't seem to be I feel different."

"...Well. You are no different." Hill suddenly looked away, and turned to look out the window.Clara noticed that his ears were a little red.

"Are you hungry?" Carat grabbed the cloth towel and rubbed the ends of her hair vigorously a few times: "Let's go, let's find something to eat!" After speaking, he dragged Hill out of the room.

"Wait, don't leave important things in the room, take them with you. Otherwise, they will be stolen." Hill pulled him back: "Where's your bracelet?"

Carat rummaged through her backpack. She had eaten all the food, and there were only a few unusable clothes left.He put the metal pendant engraved with his mother's name into the pocket of his vest, and took out the bracelet that Hill inexplicably left him and put it on his wrist.He also accidentally found a small bag of gold coins at the bottom of the backpack. The sheepskin bag was given to him by his father before leaving. These gold coins are probably his father's wish.Carat thought for a while, and handed all the gold coins to Hill: "Leave it there." He didn't understand the market, but he knew that there is no business without profiteers, and Hill probably had to plan all the expenses along the way.

Carat led Hill through the market and into the alley.On the head is a wooden sign with the word tavern written on it.

Hill looked confused: "How do you know there is a tavern here?"

"It smells the most delicious here." Carat followed the smell of meat all the way to this place as soon as he left the hotel. Hill must be hungry after so many days without eating meat: "Go in and taste it!"

He entered the door first, the lights were a little dim, and there were quite a lot of people in the unremarkable shop, most of them were locals who were dressed up.The big-bodied chef stands by the oven and sweats profusely.

They found the only table left in the corner and sat down. After a while, a waiter greeted them with two glasses of water.

"Honey, would you like something to drink first? Beer?" When the young girl leaned over, the silver chain around her neck hung down, shining brightly, it was a bird.

"It's our first time here," Hill explained.

"Oh, sir, try our ginger beer, it's strong enough. It's perfect with smoked squab!" The girl winked at Hill, and then turned to Carat: "If you're afraid of strong, try kirsch? Add some honey Go in, the girls love it."

Cara was taken aback, and looked at Hill in a daze. In the darkness, the flames flickered from the corner of Hill's raised mouth, and the man couldn't help laughing.

"I... also want beer and squab..."

When Carat opened her mouth, the girl was obviously stunned. She suddenly moved closer to Carat's face and took a closer look: "Sorry sir, it was too dark for me to see clearly. Your eyes are so beautiful."

Carat was a little embarrassed at first, but when he heard this sentence, he suddenly became happy. No one had ever praised him like this.He smiled generously at the girl: "Thank you!"

The store was very busy, but there was only one waiter. The girl didn't stop, and quickly brought two glasses of beer and left.

Carat couldn't help but leaned over and whispered, "Hir Hill! She said my eyes are beautiful!"

Hill took a sip of beer disapprovingly, leaving a circle of foam on his lips: "Yes, I heard."

Honeymoon:

Carat: I'm so happy to be praised.

Hill: (Didn't I say it... It seems that there is really no... Shit, I was preempted...)