The carriage clattered through the night, carrying Ashlynn, Nyrielle, Zedya and Heila across the city into a district that was less brightly lit and well maintained than others. While there were no signs of public disorder, no trash in the streets or buildings in disrepair that Ashlynn might have expected in less prosperous districts of human cities, the lack of care could be seen in other ways.
Far fewer lamps illuminated the night here, not because any had been neglected, but because there simply weren't as many. The boats that moved about the district's canals were smaller and showed signs of being repaired several times and the facades of many buildings looked like they could benefit from a good scrub.
"Where are we going?" Ashlynn asked, peering outside the carriage windows. Several people stopped to stare as they passed by but, seeing the glyph of High Lady Erna emblazoned on the side of the carriage, no one dared to make any threatening movements in their direction.
