Sunlight streamed through the inn window, cutting long, slanted bands across the floor.
Odin glanced at the clock on the wall. Seven in the morning.
Ponzu was still asleep in the other bed, her hat hanging from the headboard.
He sat up and rolled his shoulders.
The city they had arrived in last night was called Bess. It was a medium-sized city with nothing particularly special about it, just a stop along the way to Yorknew City.
He took his phone out of his backpack and opened the map.
There were still more than two months until September. They had plenty of time.
Ponzu rolled over and woke up.
She rubbed her eyes and sat up, her hair a mess, then looked at Odin. "What time is it?"
"Seven," Odin said.
Ponzu yawned and climbed out of bed, then picked up her hat and put it on.
"Where are we going today?" she asked.
"This city doesn't have any particularly noteworthy sights," Odin said, "but there are a few places marked on the map. We could take a look."
Ponzu walked to the window and drew back the curtains.
Outside lay a street with few pedestrians. The shops were just opening.
In the distance, they could see a mountain, with the outlines of buildings on it.
"What's that?" she asked, pointing at the mountain.
"I don't know." Odin glanced at his phone. "It's not marked on the map."
"Want to take a look?"
"Sure."
They washed up, went downstairs for breakfast, then left the inn and headed toward the mountain.
After about half an hour, they reached its foot.
The mountain wasn't tall, and a flight of stone steps led upward.
Trees lined the path, their leaves glowing green in the morning light.
They began climbing.
The stone steps stretched