Rise of Fire: Dragons Reborn [COMPLETED]

Chapter 31

Nico bundled his cloak around him as he took a seat at an empty table. Lotus sat opposite him. Her eyes darted to every corner, her hands were constantly moving. She was incredibly nervous which was in turn making him nervous. Arboros was a turbulent city full of unhinged people. The few who were also sitting within the Inn had a look about them, they were just as dangerous as he was. Or Talia. Killers were adept at recognizing each other.

"Are you sure this one will be safe?" She whispered urgently as she eyed the waitresses. The women tending tables were wearing commoner dresses, dull brown and white colors draped over dirty bodies. They were supposed to be in the upper districts yet all he saw was poverty and strife.

"No. I'm not sure of anything right now. But Arboros is one of the only large cities that may have enough supplies to see us through the plains and up towards the dwarven mountains. We have no choice but to try our luck here." He rest his hand on the hilt of his dagger which was hidden beneath his dark cloak. He wasn't as skilled as Talia at slaughtering but he knew his way around a knife.

"Do you think we could get what we need tomorrow? I don't want to stay here more than tonight. This city feels like death. And not in a good way. Gods that sounds odd doesn't it? I can't explain it." She tapped her fingers on the table as she continued to study the Inn closely. He knew what she meant. The city felt like the undead, artificially alive.

"I don't know, we'll have to see. We'll try to be fast, I don't want to risk discovery. Now if they'd just bring us some damn food we could get to bed and sleep through the night." He watched the waitresses with growing ire. He was tired, sore, and more than a little hungry. He didn't like being away from Talia's side for too long. Or maybe it was more like he didn't like being alone for too long.

"Maybe you can sleep but those men back there keep giving us a look that I just can't trust means well. Their eyes are... Glowing." Lotus pointed behind him to a dark corner. He turned his head slightly to peer at them from the corner of his eye. She was right, three men with glowing eyes sat at a round table with full mugs of beer resting in front of them. They didn't touch the mugs or the now cold food that was also sitting there. They stared intently back at him, not a single one blinked the entire time he studied them. With a slow shudder he turned back to Lotus.

"Maybe we should move on up the way." He stood, grabbed her by her arm, and then lead her back out into the streets. Wherever they had gone there was always someone giving off a vibe that screamed 'danger' to him. He wished Talia were with him. He never feared with her by his side, no enemy was too powerful for her. But if multiple men were to attack him and Lotus they would likely struggle to survive.

"At this rate we'll never find a place to eat and rest." Lotus followed behind him with dragging feet. He could hear her stomach gurgling in anger much like his own. He bit back a sharp remark, she wasn't experienced in the world as he was. She didn't know just how dangerous the city could get. She didn't know about the demons. She had a lot to learn.

"If we don't so be it. So long as we live to morning we can gather what we can find and be on our way. Living is a lot better than sleeping in this instance." He eyed the street up and down for Inns that they hadn't already tried. There was no higher to go unless they wanted to end up at the castle doors. There was nothing left.

"I don't know if I could even sleep in this city... These people have odd eyes. I've never seen people with glowing eyes. Except Talia maybe when she's angry." Nico stopped suddenly with a slight smirk.

"Do you not know? I mean... Really?" She was a mage after all. How could she not know?

"Know what?" She asked incredulously with pouty lips. He sighed,