111 Talen (1/2)
Shadowy figures silently moved crept along a long irrigation trench next to a field of native grains. The man tall stalks of yellow-green crops swayed gently in the early morning wind and the six figures appeared next to a row of wooden fences.
”Sun's up in an hour or so. We are going to wait for the gates to open, then we are going into the city in groups,” Tyrier said the team, ”keep hidden till then.”
Soon, the sky lightened up, the clouds turning red and the thin fog slowly dispersing and people started arriving in small groups to the town gates. The three stories tall wall festooned with arrow slits surrounded the whole town of roughly 20,000 inhabitants together with a moat. ”Let's go,” Tyrier waved everyone up and walked out from the grain field towards the small queue forming at the gates.
Tyrier's boots squelched as the morning dew and water from staying hidden in the irrigation trench had seeped into his boots. He ignored the cold and wet feeling, joining behind a couple of chatting gatherers with a large pile of firewood tied to their backs.
Hitsu formed up beside him, his hand gripping the pommel of his sword. ”Relax,” Tyrier whispered, glancing behind them to see the rest joining the queue behind them. Tyrier stepped up right behind the two wood gatherers and gave a polite cough, making the two gatherers to turn and look at him with curiosity.
”Greetings good sirs,” Tyrier gave a disarming grin to the two old aged men dressed in coarse wool country clothes. ”I have been on the road for some time, so I was wondering if you could shareany recent news of the town?”
Both the gatherers looked at each other and hesitated, but their faces quickly turned to smiles as Tyrier flipped a silver coin to them. ”Well, kind sir, what do you want to know?”
”What's the latest news and happenings around here and the town,” Tyrier asked, ”I been away for weeks with my friend here, so we are lacking news of the area.”
”Oh, well, the Duke lost some kind of major battle down south with the rebels,” One of the older gatherer whispers, ”But don't go talk about it in the town, if the guards hear you, they will take you away, or worst!” He made a throat slitting motion.
Both Tyrier and Hitsu nodded, ”What other news?”
”Well, spring is here, so the goblins are out in force now,” The older gatherer said, ”Other beasts are also roaming around too.” He scratched his head as he thought, ”Well, rumor has it that the Duke has gone missing.”
”I see, anything else?” Tyrier asked.
”Well, the army has left, thank the heavens,” The other gatherer spoke up, ”It is more peaceful now that they have left.” He looked closely at the two, frowned and whispered, ”Are you two deserters from the army?”
”Heavens no!” Hitsu cried out, ”What makes you think so?”
”Well, you have the feelings of a warrior,” The gatherer rubbed his head in embarrassment. ”Well, the guards are checking and arresting any army deserters.”
”I see,” Tyrier grinned, placing his hand firmly on to Hitsu's shoulder. ”We used to be part of the Goldrose Army, but now,” He gave a shrug and continued, ”We are working as adventurers and problem solvers.”
”Ahh, I see! My greatest apologies!” The two gatherers quickly gave a bow to them, which they hurriedly stopped the two.
”It is aright, it's all in the past,” Tyrier said, ”You don't have to bow to us anymore.”
”We just want to thank you for your brave efforts against the Empire,” The old man whispered, looking over his shoulder to the walls. ”Be careful of the guards, they might mistake you all for deserters!'
”It will be fine, we have traveling papers,” Tyrier grinned, touched by the sincerely from the two gatherers. ”We will be fine. Can you recommend any inn for us to stay?”
”Hmm, you can try the Prancing Pony down by left of the main street after you pass the market stalls, you can't miss it, it has a sign of a prancing pony,” The old man rubbed his chin said, ”Tell the owner, that Old Raggins recommended you. He will give you a fair price.”
”Thank you, good sirs!” Tyriers dipped his head in thanks and pointed to the front, ”Look, the gate is opening.”
A thick wooden drawbridge was slowly being lowered by two sets of iron chains set on each end of the drawbridge. It came to a stop with a crash and the gates of Falledge swung open, and a metal portcullis was lifted up slowly and several guards could be seen behind it.
The queuing crowd started to stir, some getting up from where they sat waiting, others started shouldering their bundles and goods while cart drivers woke their dragons up from their nap. A voice shouted from across the bridge, informing the queue that they can advance.
The drawbridge barely creaked as Tyrier and his men shuffled down the line towards the gate. The guards checked the identity papers of each person entering the town and soon the two gatherers turn were over and Tyrier and Hitsu stood before the guards who waved for their papers impatiently.
Tyrier and Hitsu handed over their scroll cases containing their travel papers and discretely observed the gatehouse, finding dozens of murder holes on the ceiling and a stout looking metal reinforced door at the side, most likely leading to the control room with the windlass which lowered or raised the bridge.
”Purpose?” The guard with a red cloth slash across his half plate asked snobbishly as he glanced at their traveling papers.
”Work,” Tyrier said truthfully. ”We are adventurers and problem solvers. He gave a slight bow to the guard.
”Oh,” The guard raised his eyebrows, ”You look more like soldiers than adventurers...”
”Kind sir, we just want to find some work to support our bellies,” Tyrier gave his best smile, and clasped the guard's hand, handing him a small pouch of coins.
”Hmmm,” The guard turned to the side and deftly checked the contents of the pouch, where a few gold nuggets could be seen and seemingly satisfied, nodded and returned the papers into the scroll cases, handing it over to Tyrier and grinned, ”Welcome to Falledge. Word of warning, don't get into any trouble, or we will throw you in the dungeons! Next!” The guard turned attention to the next in line, waving for them come forward.
Tyrier looked at Hitsu who gave a shrug and they entered into the town.