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	The walk to town wasn’t long, no more than ten minutes, and Jack passed no other travellers along the way. The medieval-like village, as would be an apt description, was actually quite spectacular, if not modest. A quaint, pretty riverside community with a backdrop of forested mountains that rose to jagged rock peaks that towered like stone knives cutting though small islands of fast moving clouds. It may have been windy all those miles high, but there was barely a breeze to be felt at Jack’s level where he stood for a while on the stone bridge at the entrance to the village. 

The morning air was fresh, crisp and clear, and the few trees that lined the riverbank did very little in obstructing the pristine view of this pretty hamlet. For the moment he hadn’t been noticed, so he took advantage of that to observe all he could of the buildings and activity before entering. 

The main road through town was hard dirt with sparsely laid shades of blueish grey cobbles. Nearest the river, just off to the right of the bridge, was a stone and timber stable that housed a few animals, one of which appeared to be the horse Theolan had been riding, and two other animals of similar size but comparatively different species. Opposite the stables was the gated entry to a timber mill with two great waterwheels. The mill span a portion of the left riverbank and up behind what looked like a Blacksmith establishment. Beyond the blacksmith and stable was a mix of both homes and other businesses, most of the buildings constructed of timber logs, mortar and wood-tile roofing, though with a few exceptions, such as the grey stone walls and steep slate-tile roof of the most prominent structure in the village - likely a tavern of sorts with possible rooms for rent - and positioned between the main road and the water where, farther upstream from the mill, the river meandered toward the rise of the lush foothills. 

A few residents were out and about, including the blacksmith, his current hammering of metal was one of the few sounds Jack could hear over the sound of the river rushing beneath him. He also noticed a stable hand - a young lady maybe in her teens - delivering water to Theolan’s horse. There was also another woman, who from a distance appeared older than the stable hand. She was making her way up the road from the tavern towards the blacksmith and passed by three men who had grouped to converse by a horse and carriage, one of whom turned to greet the woman. She stopped to reciprocate with a small curtsy before continuing on her way. Overall, there seemed to be much ado about nothing in this community at present, no one seemed to be out sorts or in any type of panic over to the earlier gunfire, which was very good, and so Jack took it in his stride to walk right into town like nothing at all was a matter.