The nearer she got, the more people she met on the road. They walked quickly and silently with their heads down. Tia did the same. She passed through the towering town gates and onto crowded, winding streets lined with houses and shops, inns and workshops. The streets were built in a series of rising circles that led up to the castle. Tia walked up and up, wondering why the town was so quiet. She’d never seen so many people in one place. But they didn’t often talk, and when they did they looked around as though they were frightened of being watched. Tia was so lost in thought that she almost stepped on a brindled dog sitting in the road. ‘Sorry, dog,’ she said and stretched out her hand to pat it. It snarled, showing its pink gums and pointed teeth. Tia jumped back. The dog slunk towards her, growling. ‘Come in here, girl,’ a voice said from behind her and Tia found herself dragged backwards into an inn. A big, grim-looking woman had pulled Tia inside and now she was pushing her onto a bench at a table by an open window.
