11 Better than a chameleon (1/2)
The slowly setting sun painted the gray walls with a dull brush of silver, the shadows from the small trees reached down the hillside towards the town.
The city was surrounded by moat and walls made of stone. The only way into the city was through the huge main gate which was guarded by a group of guards. There were also guards on the circular tower overlooking the main gate and the city.
The guards didn't wear a full armor plate with chainmail rather a simple steel plate top of white shirt and black leather pants with big boots. The only noticeable thing about the guard was their steel helm with a 'T' shape nose cover, on top of the helm there was a bunch of feathers,
Some guards had blue color while some of them had white color.
Don and Uncle Dior followed a merchant caravan to the city gate, Don could hear grumble and growl from the caravan, he looked at the caravan through the gapes of the sheets which covered the caravan. Don could vaguely see some figures inside their mouths were taped up hence the growl and grumble.
He guessed this merchant's merchandise were not things but slaves. Don didn't know what race they were yet he knew he couldn't save them or not yet.
”Damned Slave traders” Uncle Dior cursed in a low voice.
The caravan stopped moving and the merchant took out a pouch and walked towards a guard with a small note in his hands. Don noticed that this guard had red feathers on top of his helm. The merchant addressed the guard with the utmost respect and handed over him the pouch, the guard seemed very happy and took the pouch and put it inside his pant pocket and nodded to the guard beside him to open the gates.
The merchant took the caravan and walked inside the city full of smiles, and the guard with the red feathers turned to look at Uncle Dior and Don, the smile he had just a moment ago magically disappeared and replaced by a stern look.
”State your business”
Uncle Dior knew Don was not a talkative type so he answered instead
”We are just wandering adventurers passing through Sir ”
The guard gazed at the two for a moment
”Twenty-five coppers, pay it or get lost” guard reached his hand out.
Uncle Dior took out some coppers from his side bag and paid the guard, the guard didn't even count them as he handed it over to the guard beside him, then the guard opened a small gate near the main gate and allowed them to enter the city.
The city had muddy roads which led to a very busy street, but fairly straight. A building with a board saying ”Blake bakery” was on the left next to an old worn-out building and the market square was a few hundred yards further in. Some buildings looked like they were made from red brick while others built using wood and mud, there were no structure or order in the buildings were built, they were jumbled together.
The people on the street were mostly humans but Don could see some demi-humans, halflings. The humans didn't strike him as rich they were all wearing some old clothes, their faces showed neither happiness nor sadness.
”Welcome to the City of Windsville gentlemen” a voice greeted Don and Uncle Dior from out of the blue as they looked in the direction of the voice to see a small boy.
”I am Rook, the best Windsville tour guide I'll be happy to show you around the city for eight coppers” the boy gazed at the duo with an ear to ear smile.
”No need for a tour just tell us where is the nearest tavern” Uncle Dior declined the boy's offer whilst Rook's ear to ear smile instantly vanished.
”Three coppers”
”Two coppers and you show us the way” Uncle Dior bargained with the little boy.
”Alright follow me” the boy started to guide them through a complex irregular network of path and passages they were quite glad to have someone like Rook to guide them in this labyrinth of a street, eventually they came front of a two-story building, there was a board named ”The Cob Web”.
”Hmm you look like someone who knows the city very well”
”Yeah yeah just give me my coppers I'll be on my way”
Rook seemed not very interested in chit chat.
Uncle Dior handed over the two coppers to Rook, the boy gladly took the coppers and put it in his pockets and took off like a bird to see his next customers.
”We should stay here for the night and try to get some information on Minister Brian”
Don nodded in approval while the two of them entered the 'Cob Web'.
The tavern evoked a sense of sadness and dirty debauchery, some people in the tavern were drunk some were depressed, in the corner there was even a bar fight going on. The floor was so dirty and muddy with boots marks all over it, there were two female servers in black maid uniform running around carrying drinks and foods while one server started to lit the candles. The bartender was a dark-haired woman who seemed to be in her mid-forties, she was serving a man and there were two free stools beside him.
Don and Uncle Dior sat down on the stools whilst Uncle Dior called the bartender
”What do you two have? special is 8 coppers stew would be six and 3 for beers”
”We have two beers thanks”
”Six coppers,” she said while filling two mugs with beer and handed them over to them.
Uncle Dior drank the beer in a single gulp, Don didn't drink it but listened to the discussions going around to see if there was any information valuable to him.
”Are young going to drink that?” while Don listening to other conversations,
the man beside Don asked him while pointing his fingers to Don's beer.
Don turned to face him and studied the man, he was a middle-aged man with curly red hair and a goatee, he had a joyful face and appeared to have an easygoing attitude so Don guessed he could get some information out of him.
”Sure take it” Don slid the mug to the man.
”HaHa, you are a good man” he took a sip from the mug.
”I am Mike” Don took off his hood and extended his arms.
The man glanced at the brown-haired youth beside him
”Akihiro the bright scholar, you can call me Aki” the man shook Don's hands.
”So Mike what brings you to this fine establishment”
”I and my friend here is just passing through”
Akihiro looked at Uncle Dior who was still wearing his hood.
”These are a dangerous time and place to pass-through Mike”
Don glanced at him like he is confused at what Akihiro said,
”Look you remember me my brother, so I'll give you some free advice”
Don glanced Akihiro with eagerness, Akihiro took another sip and continued
”There is going to be a war”
”I don't follow you, brother Aki”
”You know, war between Moon and the Start empire ”
Don knitted his eyebrows a little
”Aren't they always ?”
Akihiro took a long sip
”Yes, but this time they really going all out”
”How can you tell brother Aki?”
”How can you not? The taxes, weapon prices everything went high,”
Akihiro took a sip from the beer mug and continued
”When I first came here a year ago, I only paid ten coppers now what twenty-five Twenty bloody five”
Akihiro stretched the last part with a wave of slight anger in his voice.