Chapter 66 Leaving the Stronghold (1/2)

Three months had passed since Arran escaped from the prison, and by now, he had recovered alh he would sos of pain if he moved too quickly, he knew that for soh to travel

That he remained here was in part because he wanted to recover fully before braving the dangers of the road, but mostly, he was reluctant to abandon the peace and safety of the stronghold

After the stronghold had fallen to the prisoners, surprisingly little had happened

Arran had been unconscious during the final battle for the stronghold, and after he came to, it had taken some weeks before he had been able to leave his bed

When he finally got the chance to explore the stronghold, he found it alined, the stronghold was more like a small town, albeit an unusually well-fortified one

If the streets weren't exactly bustling with traffic, they were by no means abandoned either Merchants and farmers sold their wares at thefood of questionable origins

Even e of leadershi+p in stride once it beca the stronghold to descend into an orgy of pillage and murder

While many of the prisoners had left, the ones who chose to re little in the townsfolk's affairs other than to buy their goods

Those few prisoners who did cause trouble were quickly dealt with by the others, and the sight of their bodies hanging froe further violence

The signs of battle had not been cos still bore scars fro attacks, and in several spots the buildings had been destroyed co

Yet e had disappeared within weeks of the battle, and had it not been for the presence of soes, one could alhold for a normal town

Initially, Arran had feared that the Acadehold, but when he shared his worries with Panurge, the e explained it, the prisoners who had taken control of the stronghold were strong enough to defend against anything short of a h such an attack would coanize it

Arran wasn't fully coe, after all — but if an attack did happen, he should be able to flee before battle broke out

Moreover, leaving would not take hi able to handle any bandits he encountered, there was still the matter of his involvement in the fall of the prison

Most of those who knew his role had died in the fight against the Archle person informed the Academy, he had no doubt that there would be few places in the Ehtened by this — by now, he was used to the idea of the Acade to kill him — but he still cherished the opportunity not to have to think about the Academy for a while

As he spent his days within the walls of the stronghold, Arran sought little contact with the prisoners and the townsfolk

A few nights he spent drinking in the few taverns the stronghold counted, but other than that, he spent his dayson his recovery and occasionally practicing hisfor the Shadowfla