Ethan clenched his fists, his anger simmering just beneath the surface.
"Here..." Evelyn, standing beside him, handed him a small wooden box.
Ethan paused for a moment, then quickly understood. Evelyn was giving him something to bribe the gatekeepers with.
They had just witnessed the group ahead of them being forced to hand over their belongings. Everyone had to pay up, no exceptions.
One group, traveling together, had tried to negotiate, but even their leader's offerings weren't enough. If you didn't pay, you weren't getting past the iron gate.
Ethan knew his backpack only had basic supplies—nothing of value. But the three of them had come prepared.
Originally, these items were meant to grease the wheels, to help them gain entry into one of the powerful families. But now, before they'd even set foot inside, they had to hand them over to these thugs.
It stung, but there was no other choice.
