Ad aspera

The eastern district of the city is not the most welcoming place, but it is relatively peaceful, especially considering that all the merchants traveling from the northern kingdoms pass through the eastern gate. However, this is not a district for merchants or travelers, but for guards. They are everywhere: patrols are changing, a guard is on duty at the gate, crossbowmen leisurely patrol the city walls, occasionally glancing around furtively, stopping to rest their legs at one of the towers. Knull doesn't seem to interest them; only one of them looked at him with disapproval, as people look at beggars or stray dogs, snorted, and continued on his guard duties.
The first somewhat remarkable place that Dunkaniël encountered was a wayfarer's inn: a stable and an inn in one place. Merchants arrive here, and one can leave a horse, livestock, and non-living goods here, and stay overnight without amenities, but at a low price. Judging by the size of the stables, one can also buy or rent a means of transportation. In the morning, there don't seem to be too many people; the merchants will start arriving around noon.