THIEF OF BREAN (VOL-1)|✓

THE CHAOS OF SILENCE- X

The ride crossed the city of Lucan and vroomed through byways of countryside with vast fields of cotton grass. Snowfall was heavy with icy winds in the next town. The air was making his skin go numb. It must have been the worse of the cold he had faced until. Carl shivered inside his woollen coat and scolded himself for forgetting to wear the new pair of gloves that Garry had handed him the previous day.

They passed one town to another, Carl going over and over again through the military map or staring pensively at the streets that were full of stalls and people. After good seventy minutes into the ride, the car had to slow down due to the congestion created by the snow. The Vermit men were working with their sleighs and trying their best to clear roads and sidewalks off the snow. But he biting cold had made their movements painfully slow. Carl cursed when the car halted behind a van carrying the poults.

"How much more is it?" He asked, eyeing the stagnant traffic ahead.

"Without the congestion, roughly seven minutes."

That settles it, Carl made a quick decision.

"I'll get down here," he said clicking the door of the car open.

"It shall only take few minutes."

"Oh, it's not the hold-up," said Carl. "Umm, it just happened to occur to me that it would be better if I did not use the military car while going after a murderer." He said and stepped down to the road.

"Thank you so much for ride, Sentinel."

Balin nodded with a teeny tiny hint of smile. He raised his arm and touched his fingers to his forehead. "Anytime, Officer."

Carl tipped his hat in response.

He stepped heavily over the thick blanket of snow on the road. Stepping over the sidewalk he ran his eyes across the still vehicles and spotted another military car standing far behind to that of Balin Grey. The car number was a match to the number given by Giles for the one with the backup. Carl did not make a move toward it just yet. Instead, he walked to one of the moving shop serving hot drinks and snacks and ordered a cup of tea. He sipped it as he waited for the traffic to clear.

"Pepper candies?" the shopkeeper asked him.

"Isn't that supposed to be spicy?" Carl asked trying his best to keep his teeth from chattering.

"You seem to be new to the place," said the shopkeeper. He took a quick a look at his bare palms and grinned. "Pepper will help with the cold. The sweet will balance the spice."

Carl picked up the wrapped pieces from the glass jar and shoved them into his pocket. He paid the shopkeeper and walked back to the sidewalk when the congestion started to loosen.

As soon as Balin's car took off, Carl hopped down to the road, and jogged through the vehicles slowly waking to life, to the other military car. Two juveniles, fresh-faced, high spirited and callow Sentinels were seated inside. The boy on the passenger seat, black haired and sparkling green eyes, greeted him avidly.

Carl narrowed his eyes at him. "How long will it take to Prunell borders?"

"Good twenty minutes from the dot street," the boy replied.

Carl drummed his fingers on the door, thinking. Spying on Balin Grey's activities around the borders was one way he had found to deal this now. "Alright," he told the boys. "Drive me to the place."

"We need to drop by the constabulary first," the one in the driver seat, who looked a little weary averred as Carl clambered into the back seat. The other one hissed at him to start the car. "But we need to add our names in the registry," he retorted quite childishly.