Phoenix

Chapter 9

   Kamillo wasn't only one who ran around city. Samael had similar situation though it was caused by different things. At first young man bumped into two serious looking merchants and they almost called guards. Then someone tried to steal his money, but he somehow managed to turn around in same moment and broke few stealthy fingers in same time. Thief ran away with great fear and pain.

   And only because of some mysterious fortune he turned into small street right in time to see his acquaintance from short journey down river running away from something. Or someone. First wouldn't be surprising because of clear mess that was on street. From some point of view people fighting over bunch of apples looked very comical. Then Samael noticed woman standing up from ground. She shouted something that sounded really similar to name of cleric.

   Shape shifter didn't hesitate for a long time. Instinct told him to move. He walked around biggest mess, his sigh didn't leave female even for a second. She already started to walk, slowly it looked like she didn't want to follow cleric at all. Or maybe she just thought that it's not suiting for her. That could be possible though she didn't look aristocratic enough to make him sure. Or maybe it was just her look not real she. But after all aristocrats always have servants so they have no need in running around.

   While Samael wondered about this all woman turned to one of main streets. This city seemed to have strange king of streets. It looked like it was started to build with wishes of very geometrical right structure and sharp lines. And, yes, there were few streets like this that were called main. They made almost perfect squares that formed all city. But their number wasn't big and between them there was usual mess that can be found in all cities, when houses are built first and only then people think about placing streets. So livers of capital stayed in their usual and well known disarray.

   Our two little parts of city kept moving forward. Samael tried to keep his eyes on female all the time, it was very hard but because of giant crowd that surrounded them. Though crown had one good thing, it hided young man better than anything could. So when woman looked around few times she couldn't see anything special. With time she started to glance around more and more. Maybe she felt that she is followed?

   After some time of randomly turning around, getting slower of faster Samael started to think that he made giant mistake. How foolish it was to follow someone in such giant city without any information. But curiosity won. And soon it was rewarded.

   All of sudden woman turned aside and walked in near tavern. It didn't look like worst place but carried nothing extraordinary in itself as well. Tavern was called "Ink and feather". So when young man entered in it he wasn't surprised to see people in colorful but cheap looking clothes. Without doubt those were all kinds of theater people. Old and young actors, writers and owners of troupes. They were all chatting, reading their works loudly or simply drinking all kinds or wine. Of course cheapest one.

   Only thing that made him surprised was why female walked here. This wasn't real place for lady like her to be in. Of corse there were some women here but they were workers or members of troupes. Samael walked between tables looking down at his shoes. No one paid any attention to him, he wasn't most interesting person here.

   Actors (those who wasn't drunk) had more important thoughts in mind. Like remembering their definitely too long roles or laughing at new writers that were full with enthusiasm but not so much with talent.

   Woman walked to table at corner ignoring men that tried to call her to their tables. She sat down not bothering herself with ordering something. Samael sat near her trying to think about anything to do now. He ended up with ordering cup of red wine. It was quite hot day and all this running around city made him thirsty. While sipping from his cup something attracted his attention. With corner of his eyes he noticed movement at table of female.

   Now there were three people sitting there. Samale didn't notice how males walks inside but now they were there. Trying hide their obviously aristocratically looking clothes. They leaned in and started to talk in quiet voices. That how female acted around these two showed everything clear. She had same status as they or even higher.

   Normal human would have no chance to hear what they were saying. But luckily for him Samael wasn't human. So leaned backwards and got ready for long time of listening.