"This must have been the main thoroughfare leading to the original site of Hamlet, and the checkpoints set up at different crossroads were probably equivalent to post stations or similar structures back then," Lance remarked. He stopped before a ruin, inspecting the collapsed debris. From the brick and stone construction, one could tell that Hamlet had been wealthy once, even using such materials in remote areas.
"Judging from these torch holders, there must have been guards here at night, or they were for the convenience of those traveling this road after dark, or perhaps they had a military purpose," Lance mused. He propped up a fallen torch holder, which was basically a wooden pole with a small frame supported by iron bars at the top. After inspecting it, he found nothing of value—only some charred marks from smoke and fire. However, he did find several of the old torches nearby, which, thanks to a resin coating, had not decayed and were preserved.
