Shadow Blades (The Cimmerian Cycle #2)

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

They arrived into city under the cover of darkness. It always chilled the girl to see the sun setting over the horizon. The sun never gave any assurance that it would return. It would remind her of the times not so long ago when the sun never used to rise and she only ever knew darkness. She moved closer to one of her companions who placed an arm around her shoulders. For him it was more like greeting an old friend as the moon rose behind the mountains and the sun sank beneath the sea. He had lived for years by the light of the moon.

The travellers were weary, the return journey had taken longer than they would have liked. It also didn't help that none of them had been to the city before. The five boys and one girl entered the lower city just as the street lights flickered into life. The streets were nearly empty, only a few people milled around.

The group quickly located the closest tavern and made their way inside. They paused in the doorway, a little uncertain as there appeared to be a bloody brawl going on in the far corner. The girl whispered something to her companion as a bench was snapped in half. Her eyes never left the brawl.

A china jug flew through the air and cracked against the wall sending its contents dripping down onto the flagstones.

The companion took the girl's hand, "Kiayani and I are going to get a room, she really doesn't feel like eating."

The others made no comment as he weaved through the crowds of drunks pulling Kiayani behind him. He approached the man at the counter and began to talk hurriedly to him but he didn't seem to hear them. He was very distracted by the fight and the mug he was filling was overfilling onto the beer stained bench. He winced as a table collapsed under the weight of two wrestling men and placed the jug down.

After a moment he realised that Kiayani and the boy were standing there, waiting impatiently. Kiayani was staring at the wall and the boy who was in his early twenties kept taking sideways glances at the fight. With raised eyebrows he exchanged a key for a handful of gold. Waving to their fellow companions they both made for the stairs. The relief of being able to get away from the noisy room filled her face.

"Koran are we getting anything to eat or not?" The youngest boy whined and glaring up at Koran who was evidently the leader of the group.

Koran was fixated by the fight and he narrowed his eyes. His friends found seats in the other end of the tap room and Koran went to see about ordering them some food.

"We'd like one jug of ale and a plate of whatever hot food you've got," Koran said uninterestedly.

Food was generally the last thing on his mind. It did not do well to dwell on an empty stomach and he had gone for much longer without a substantial meal.

The other boys had saved him a seat for when he returned. The other two boys were at first glance very difficult to tell apart as they were identical twins, both broad shouldered, large and intimidating. The younger boy was sitting across from them, his head on his arms. Smiling Koran poked him hard in the back.

"You're not going to fall asleep before the food even comes out Leo?" He asked.

Leo grunted a reply, "I dunno about you but I haven't had a full night's sleep for a while."

He glared at the twins in an annoyed sort of way before lowering his head back onto his arms.

Across the room, slouched in a far corner, was a young man watching them with apparent interest. Cormac Pond lifted his mug off of the table just as the brawlers slammed into the bench opposite. He took a glance at the boys who had accompanied the girl. They were all well-built and armed to the teeth with daggers and, surprisingly, slingshots.