Chapter 358 Revelations (1/2)
As Kaleesh led theh the city in search of a tavern, Arran could immediately tell that the captain was intimately familiar with its h Kaleesh had to stop a few ti his brow in thought as he perused distantin the city
At first, Arran felt soht run into h the Lord was dead, many of his ht yet know that their leader had fallen
Arran was confident that he could hts appeared — but he wasn't nearly as certain that Rannoc would overlook another few dozen dead Darians
Now that the battle was decided, any soldiers who remained in the city either already were or would soon be under Rannoc's coive the Lord far too convenient an excuse to demand compensation — perhaps in the for to earn Arran's distrust, but after their experience with Kadun, he had no desire to discover whether this new Lord's honor was feigned or genuine
But either way, Kaleesh soon put Arran's worries to rest
”We won't run into any soldiers in this part of the city,” the captain said ”And even if we did, the battle ended the moment Rannoc stepped into the city None of the soldiers would dare start a fight before they're certain what the new situation is”
Arran frowned ”Soldiers don't go here?”
He'd noticed that they'd entered an area that looked decidedly shabby, eather-worn buildings that possessed more character than they did space or luxury
Yet run-down though the area erous — and certainly not so much as to deter armed soldiers
”This is the outsiders' quarter,” Kaleesh explained ”The guards and soldiers don't think this place worthy of their attention — not unless soainst a true Darian”
”You're fa the answer
”I ah it doesn't look like much, it provides many opportunities to escape the Darians' notice”
Kaleesh spent another quarter-hour leading Arran through increasingly narrow alleys into a part of the city that appeared to be little more than a slum
Yet while Arran looked at the dilapidated and ras with an uneasy eye, the captain see in his step as they navigated the unevenly paved streets, and he looked at the buildings around theic
”You seem unusually cheerful,” Arran said, his eyebrow raised as he cast a curious glance at the captain
”I arin on his face ”When I lived here, I promised myself that I would one day escape and become every bit as powerful as the Darian soldiers”
”Then I'd say you've surpassed your goals,” Arran said
”Exactly” A sh I rown ain… it's a good reminder of how far I've come”
They followed the maze of narrow alleys for several more minutes, then finally came to a halt before a suely resembled a tavern Because as they stepped inside, Arran saw that it was little le small room, with bare stone walls, several pieces of rickety wooden furniture, and a small bar with a heavyset le custo man as hunched over one of the few small tables in the room, his appearance that of soht
As Arran and Kaleesh stepped inside, the tavernkeeper looked at them with a nonplussed expression
”My lords,” he said in a hesitant voice, staring uncomfortably at the weapons that Arran and Kaleesh carried, ”to what do I owe the unexpected pleasure of your co but a pleasure Though his tone was respectful, the look in his eyes all but told them they were not welconoring the man's suspicious stare
”The back room? My lord, I fear you are mistaken My establishment has no such—”
He was interrupted by the sound of Kaleesh slapping doo black coins on the bar — a sight that caused the o ith shock at once
”Save us the act,” Kaleesh said ”We're outsiders, just like you”
The fat man narrowed his eyes as he looked at the two black coins, and with only a shred of hesitation, he scooped the several seconds to study them
”They're real,” Kaleesh said ”No us to the back roolanced around the rooave Kaleesh a suspicious frown ”What did you do?”
Kaleesh let out a restrained sigh ”We do not bring trouble,” he said ”Weeyes”
The fat man seemed unconvinced, but nevertheless, he pocketed the two coins and gave the captain a short nod ”Give lance at his drunken customer, he said, ”Arvik, watch the door!”
At once, the other man stood up and took a position at the door — apparently, his drunkenness had merely been an act
Without any further words, the tavernkeeper faced the large wooden cabinet that stood behind hiroan of exertion, he pulled it to the side — revealing the narrow hallway behind it
”Hurry up, then,” he said, some anxiousness in his voice as his eyes were fixed on his comrade by the entrance
Kaleesh shot Arran a broad smile ”After you”
Arran frowned, but he stepped into the cramped hallway a moment later — from the tavernkeeper's nervous expression, it was obvious that he wished to get it over with as quickly as possible