The Barrier: The Teorran of Time: Teen Fantasy Action Adventure Novel by Unknown Page A

replaced with neatly put together store fronts. Fruit and vegetable stands speckled the walkway. Fresh baked breads, pastries, and roasted meats, now replaced the musky stink of the working district.
    "We're now in the Commerce District" Deagan announced, shifting the pole to the other side.
    Shaz sat in silence as they rounded the next bend. The same young woman stood in the alley. Her long brown hair glimmered in the new rays of the sun. Shaz didn't understand his intrigue with her. He rarely thought of girls, why now? Why did she flex emotions he'd never known before?
    When Deagan gazed at Shaz's expression he could tell it was more than a pretty face. "Do you know her?"
    "Hum? Uh no."
    "You seem intent on that one." Deagan said.
    "She is familiar to me somehow, but I've never been here before."
    The boat bobbed around another bend and Shaz put his chin in his hand.
    "How much further?"
    "We're here.” Deagan said.
    "Oh, sorry." Shaz said, throwing his satchel over his shoulder. He pulled out some coins Grandfather gave him, and handed a few to
    Deagan. "Thank you for the ride."
    Shaz slapped him on the back as he climbed out of the boat.
    "My pleasure sir." he said, quickly shoving the coins in his pocket and shoved off.
    "Hey, where do I go from here?"
    "Twenty blocks through there." Deagan said, shouting back, pointing to a narrow alleyway.
    Shaz made his way through the people, when he saw the young woman again from the corner of his eye. She was giving a piece of fruit to a small boy who was ragged and unkempt. He moved quickly toward the shop on the other side of the plaza. As he approached where she had been, she was gone.
    "Blast"
    As a hunter, he hated it when he lost what he was stalking.
    "Did you want to buy some fresh fruit?" asked a friendly voice from behind the cart.
    "Do you know that girl that was just here, the one with a purple cloak?" he asked.
    The woman shook her head. It kind of bothered him, he’d spent so much time thinking of someone he didn't even know, and would probably never meet. He realized the time was getting late and he had better get to Mrs. Bailey's. He started back toward the narrow alley. The alley had a unique feel to it. It was close and tight.
    Lanterns hung on the walls slightly higher than the doors. Little light shone on the shaded corridor. House numbers were etched into stones, and small windows sat next to the doors. Stairways led up to houses sitting on top of the ones on ground-level. He was amazed that so many homes fit into such a small area. As he examined the new buildings, he decided, he would rather live in one on top like his tree house back home.
    The door of sixty-two, had a small flower pot with a bright pink flower, sitting half wilted, on a stool next to the door. Light pink lace covered a window in the center of the door. He knocked, using the little knocker and stepped back. A little round woman opened the door with a big smile.
    "Ah, you must be Shaz." she said, her red cheeks getting a little redder. "My you’re a handsome one you are."
    Shaz shifted his pack uncomfortably.
    "Come in, come in." she said.
    The house was warm. Soft pastel colors decorated the rooms. The aroma was delicious, but seemed to have an off-flavor hanging in the air.
    "Thank yo-" Shaz began.
    Mrs. Bailey waved her hands.
    "It's no trouble. My brother speaks highly of you. It's an honor really." she said, between breaths. "Here, come let me show you to your room."
    Shaz followed her up a flight of stairs to a small room. The room had a decent sized bed, a side table and an armoire. Quaint and comfortable, just the way he liked it.
    "Now, dinner won’t be long, so get cleaned up."
    She motioned to a wash room across the hall and shut the door.
    Shaz put his pack on the bed and pulled out an extra tunic and a pair of trousers, he had been given from the rescue crew. The trousers were a little too short but they were clean. He took them across the hall. He poured water from a pitcher