Warrior Priest of Dmon-Li - Brian Pratt [149]
“…now that he’s back, the alliance will stand firm…”
“…can’t stand the waiting! Wish it would begin so it…”
They sit and listen to the conversations around them while they have their meal. For the most part, the people seem none too worried about the army sitting across the river. From what they hear, the people in Lythylla have great faith in Lord Pytherian and the alliance.
“Hate to think what would’ve happened if Lord Pytherian hadn’t returned,” remarks Miko between bites.
“I know,” Jiron replies. “This city probably would’ve fallen already. From what we’re hearing, he’s their strength, their will to fight.”
They continue to listen to the conversations around them until they’ve finished their lunch. Miko sits back with a contented look on his face. “Ready to go?” asks Jiron.
“Sure,” says Miko just before letting go with a loud belch. He gives Jiron a grin, “That was good.”
Outside the inn, they again mount their horses and continue their way along the street bordering the wall. They eventually come to another gate situated on the south side, the one they’d originally come through the day before. The stream of humanity coming in through the gates continues, the guards doing their best to keep the gates clear.
“I don’t know if I would come here if I were them,” Miko says.
“They may have no choice,” Jiron replies. “A walled city with ample soldiers and a strong leader is preferable to being out there unprotected, even if the city is on the verge of being attacked.”
“I suppose so,” says Miko.
They move past the gate as they continue following the road. Some of the houses have been built against the wall and may afford a way out, providing of course that the enemy hasn’t taken the walls yet.
The eastern gate, when they reach it, has a stream of people leaving the city. Some of the people have wagons and carts, while the greater majority carries bundles on their backs, holding what few possessions they can take with them.
“Jiron, over here,” says Miko pointing to their right.
Looking over to where he’s indicating, he sees a small grate set in the side of the street which allows excess water to flow into the sewers below. He dismounts and then moves over to inspect it. Kneeling down, he takes hold of the grate and then quickly looks around to see if anyone is watching. Once he’s certain of not being observed, he tries to pull up the grate.
Straining as hard as he can, he’s unable to budge it. “Not this way,” he tells Miko. “I think it’s bolted or secured in some fashion. It’s not going to budge.” Getting back on his horse, he leads them further down the street.
Now that they’ve seen one, they begin to see others of those grates positioned periodically along the side of the street.
“Too bad we can’t look inside of a house,” Miko says. “There could be an entrance to the sewers.”
“Possibly,” agrees Jiron. “But I don’t think we’d want the kind of trouble that could bring right now.”
“True,” says Miko.
Suddenly, Miko exclaims, “Tarts!”
Jiron turns in his saddle and glances over to him, “What?”
“Look!” he says as he points to a boy walking down the street eating a berry filled tart. He moves his horse over to the boy and asks, “Where did you get that?”
The boy looks up at him, some of the filling smeared around his mouth, and says, “Nannie down the street sells them.” He points back down the way he had come.
“Thanks,” he says to him.
“What’s that all about?” Jiron asks.
“I’m going to get me some tarts,” he explains. “I’ll get some for James too, he likes them.”
Jiron just shakes his head but since the shop is on their way, doesn’t argue. When they come to the shop with the tarts, he waits outside with the horses while Miko goes inside.
Several minutes later, the door to the shop opens and Miko walks out with a large bag stuffed with tarts. Smiling, Jiron asks, “Think you got enough?”
“Hope so,” he replies not even realizing Jiron was being sarcastic. He puts the tarts in one of his saddlebags before remounting. Having a tart in one hand makes mounting difficult but he