Paths to destiny.

Chapter 2. Search the place!

Now Gabriel had to journey throughout the night and came before the country of Tadeas at noon the following day.

As he crossed the boundary into Tadeas through the northern part of the country which was the city of Ceevah.

Entering the city, many thought of him to be a buyer so the multitude of trades who were along the path began to call for his attention, along with others who had entered the city together with him. It was their market place, so it was busy as usual.

Since he was not there for the purpose of trade, he just ignored the calls from traders as he walked the market looking around the whole place. But he never made himself seem to people that he was coming there for the first time in life. So he just acted as though he had not seen the goods he wanted while he survived the place.

He was now getting to the end of the market which led into the main town yet he had not stopped by any of the traders to negotiate for goods although many were calling him and he was just looking at them pretending they did not have what he wanted.

Since he had not stopped by any store for goods and he was finally leaving the marketplace, he became the main force of trades because everyone who went through the direction he took always bought something before leaving. And they also left through the same route which they came. But his case was a different one, he had not even priced a single thing and now he was heading into the main town.

With the way he became the main focus of the people in the marketplace, he began to wonder why he drew so much attention to himself. First he took a second look at his appearance to check if it was any different from the way others dressed. But no, it was quite the same, there was not much difference.

While he stopped to check for a difference between himself and the other buyers, one of the female traders at the end of the market who sold diverse kinds of fruits took notice of him, and that he was quite confused as to the reason why he drew so much attention.

So she calls him in a quite distinguished manner from the way other trades called him. "Hey you…!" She made a single with her hands, implying that he should come.

And Gabriel was so moved to respond to her call. He did not know what prompted him to do so, because in the last fifteen to thirty minutes, a lot of people had been calling him and other buyers but he had not gone over to their stores or tables.

Something was really strange in the way the lady called him, and when he had come close to her store, she asked, "Hey you, what are you doing here?"

Then he became very confused as to why the woman asked him such a question. So he did not say anything in regards to it but mopped at her like a fool, pretending he did not hear what she said.

This idiotic expression which he made was because he wanted to woman to just release him.

But instead the woman asked him again, and this time she was more specific and explanatory, "What are you doing here? I have been taking a close look at you and you did not seem to have come here for commercial purposes. So who are you and state your business here.?"

Gabriel was then moved to stop looking like an idiot and became serious. "What do you mean by that?"

"Everyone who comes into this city through this route always came for the purpose of business, and since you have refused to buy anything and yet, you are heading into the main city. You have drawn the attention of so many people. To be honest, you are looking like a suspect to many, but I can help you only if you tell me who you are and what you're doing here?"

Gabriel turned his neck around to the left and then to the right. He noticed that he was still having many eyes on him which needed to be taken off, so he asked the woman, "How can I get them to take their focus away from me?"

"Not until you tell me who you are and your business here."

"I am Gabriel by name, and I have come to sojourn here. Now can you tell me how to get these eyes off me?"

"Not yet! You didn't tell me where you're from."

"Is that necessary?"

"I guess you are not serious," the woman returned her focus back to her business, as she continued trying to get the attention of other buyers.

Looking around once again, a few eyes were still on him, and it was not looking any funny at all. "Fine. I am from Gytle."

"What!" The woman returned her gaze at him.

"Is there any problem with where I'm from?" Gabriel asked, being very surprised at why she sounded that way. He really sensed that something was not good, and needed to know what it was.

"Nevermind… How much do you have on you?"

"Just a few coins, and they are for the inn."

"I bet you have some to spare because nothing comes for free."

"But you promised to help once I told who and where I'm from?"

"Sorry about that, I should have been more straightforward with you from the onset. You have to pay for the fruits I'm about to give you."

"But I don't need them?"

"Fine. Since you don't need them, you can be on your way."

And seeing the seriousness of the woman, Gabriel dipped his hand into his poke and brought forth a few coins, which he dropped on the table of the woman.

"I knew you were smart enough to make the right decision." She picked the coins he dropped and then package some mixed fruits and handed them over to him. "Take the second turn on your right, it will lead you to an inn where you can lodge."

After he had purchased those fruits from the woman, the attraction to him was drastically reduced, but not completely because he still headed into the main town.

*****

Following the direction of the woman from the market, Gabriel quickly located the inn. And there he sat in the place where people were served drinks and food without ordering anything. A lot of discussions were taking place at every corner of the inn, so he just paid attention to what people were talking about. His whole concentration was to check if there was a discussion concerning his father nor himself.

He had spent roughly four hours, sitting in the inn, listening to people's conversation, yet he still hadn't heard a word concerning the information he seeks, nor was he even aware of the city he was in. All he knew was that he is in the country of Tadeas and he should compulsorily get information concerning his father's identity.

As the cloud was getting dark, and people were beginning to leave the inn, a servant in the inn approached him. "Excuse me sir."

Gabriel turned to the young male servant who had called for his attention, "Is there still a vacant room? I would like to pay for it."

So the servant instantly forgot what he wanted to say to him, as he rather replied to his question. "Yes sir, there are still a few rooms available."

"I'd like to pay for the cheapest one."

"How long would you be staying sir?"

"Maybe two days or more." Gabriel blurted out without thinking it over. Whereas, he never had any idea of how much their services cost. He had already sent part of his money on the woman at the market.

"Okay sir, come with me." The servant walked towards the spot where payment for rooms was being made and Gabriel had to follow him because had no choice.

*****

As the sun rose the following morning, Gabriel was still resting in the room which he had rented. The room was on the first floor of the inn, and its windows were facing the main street.

While he laid on the bed close to the window, he began to hear some strange conversation coming from outside the inn window. So he got attracted to listen to what the voices were saying.

"Will you stop lying to me and bring out the Gytlean boy?!" The voice that spoke sounded very angry.

And another calm voice was pleading, "Sir you know there is no way I will lie to you. I know the consequences. Believe me, there is nobody from Gytle in my inn. You and I know very well that the people of Gytle do not come here. They have everything they need and there is nothing that could bring them."

"Are you saying that I heard wrongly?"

"No sir, that is not what I am saying."

Then Gabriel had to look through the window, behold it were soldiers who were asking the inn owner and his servants about him. At this point he knew that he was in the city of Ceevah through the uniform of the soldiers.

"Search the place! Make sure you bring him out!" The captain of the soldiers commanded.

And the inn master was pushed aside and the soldiers entered the inn. With them were two citizens who from the presumption of Gabriel were the ones who had informed the soldiers about him being there.

When he looked carefully, he saw the woman from the market who directed him to the inn; she was also amongst the soldiers that had come. Instantly, he recalled the words of his dying father 'do not trust anyone from the country of Tadeas'.