Chapter 322 - The Verses of Victory (III) (1/2)

”Do you think it was the Djinn that convinced him to have this rigid monstrosity of an Eastern Mansion, or do you think it was all him?” asked Sevis.

Tigin looked up towards the third-floor balcony where a guard they were currently trying to avoid the scrutiny of paced, ”I think it was all him. Do you see any Bein here?”.

”Do all Easterners live this way?” asked Sevis as he peaked inside, turning his nose up at whatever he found there, ”It's so dark and ugly. Surely the vermin are rampant”.

Tigin sighed, ”As much as I admire your architectural taste, we have bigger priorities here”.

A boom of another building falling echoed in the distance.

Sevis glanced in the direction of the dust cloud, ”They'll level the city at this rate”.

The Guard turned towards the noise too, ”Best we get out before then, yes?”

Sevis nodded, moving forward with Tigin inside one of the side entrances and into a main hallway.

A main hallway crowded with servants and guards. Tigin's first instinct was to freeze and turn around, but Sevis pushed him forward through the throng. It took a moment for Tigin to realise that these Tribesman weren't in the least bit concerned with what Tigin and Sevis were doing, they were too panicked in their own jobs to do much else.

”Buckets! We need more buckets headed for the lake!”

”Towels and clothes to be soaked head for the river!”

”Lady Aberlea is asking for Guards to help with her silks!”

”Guards to the West Sector to help contain the Tribesman!”

Orders were shouted left and right. Never from the same person. The mansion was far more chaotic inside that it appeared on the outside. Though, Sevis and Tigin had taken a path that Aegin had 'cleared'.

Sevis and Tigin found a staircase to the second floor fairly quickly. From the tower image that Aegin had drawn, they were pretty sure they'd have to climb the floors higher to reach Rima.

”Oi Big Man!” called an older woman. Sevis and Tigin paid her no mind. But the old woman was faster than she appeared, she caught up with them in and instant and spun Tigin around, dumping a basket of towels into his arms, ”Help me take this to the river already”.

”Come on, quickly!”

The old woman turned back towards him and saw the hesitation on their faces, ”Hold on, do I know you?”

Tigin realised his mistake and opened his mouth to reply before the woman's eyes narrowed on bands on Sevis' bicep.

”Red-Eyed Snake…”

She appeared shocked for a moment, then conflicted. Then, right as Sevis shifted forward to prevent her from calling out, she stepped forward and took the basket off of Tigin. She nodded in the opposite direction to where Sevis and Tigin had been heading, ”The Princess is that way, in the reception hall with Gryffyn. I'd get a move on if I were you”.

Then she spun and headed off.