Fate Bound

part 4 chpt 15

The road up to the main gates into Glassea was uncommonly packed. Josiir had flown above to scout the area out early before sunrise, so they had prepared accordingly, and stashed the less than appropriate things for merchants to be carrying into the necessary hiding places. Colt had taken the time to apply his new disguise.

When Josiir had flown down from his survey of the area, Colt’d felt a little poke of pride in his chest as the winged fellow had literally taken a step back in shock when he saw the scruffy dark-skinned man he’d changed into.

Yes, his skills were still up to standard; good enough to fool a mage. Even if the mage is one that repeatedly denies being one. Colt pondered again about the other’s elusiveness about his own powers.

The gates were packed as the registration took longer time than usual. The people and carts lining up at the gate were all silent, shuffling forward every now and then as another group was let through.

Colt eyed the line of Guards stationed under the twin stone arches of the gateway. Each Guard was standing at perfect attention, grey uniforms soaked with sweat, but the ones that were not standing guard were moving about with impatience and anxiety in their tones of voices. He scowled inwardly and made eye contact with Josiir, who was struggling with the weight of both of their packs on his back, as the line moved a step. He had not expected that many Guards.  Something is up.

“Next!”

Colt allowed a calculative gleam to shine in his gaze, keeping thoughts of money and money-making as he walked up to the pair of Guards seated at the registration stand.

They had discussed and come up with a strategy they agreed upon. Jossir only had the ability to appear as two other different personalities, and using that ‘little trick’ would cost him quite a bit of energy. So Colt had helped disguise his bright hair as dank brown locks that straggled over his now gaunt and hollowed cheeks. Colt would play the part of a middle-class merchant, come to Glassea to find new manual labor, leaving Josiir to act dumb and stay mum.

Colt rubbed his hands together. Oh, what fun.

“What is your business in Glassea?”

The Guard interrogated them with a loud voice, asking them question after question, to which Colt replied with a heavy accent, sometimes slipping into Jahkaril on purpose. The Guard, sure enough, got tired of Colt’s half-answers and groveling stutters, and gestured to his assistants to check their packs.

Colt stood by and made the appropriate noises of distress as their ‘precious products’ were manhandled. Inwardly, he mocked the clumsy Guards. Just you oafs try and see if you can find anything suspicious. He was the Grey, well-renowned in the underworld trade.

The Guard inspector gave a huff and stamped their entry passes, and waved them through the lifted barrier. As the two of them passed through the gateway, he ‘accidentally’ got knocked by the packs his ‘slave’ and brushed against a Guard. He felt the suspicious gaze of another soldier eyeing them even as he apologized profusely to the great and honorable Guard. Colt bit back a grin and aimed a rough kick at Josiir’s behind with a scowl.

“Hurry up you stupid Kacas! See your foot! Waste money –!”

Colt continued his rant, running through his entire repertoire of Jahkaril vulgarities. Even when he felt the scrutiny lift off his shoulders as they headed towards the nearest inn, he kept up the facade of a miserly merchant. He had a little fun watching frustration grow in Josiir as he haggled over the cost of their rooms before finally settling on an agreed price.

He barely kicked the door of their shared room shut when Josiir let the packs fall and his body collapsed onto the yellow-stained sheets of the nearest bed. Colt let his mirth shine through, smirking at the groaning man, as quickly latched the door.

“Goddess! Remind me to never let you have your way, ever again.”

Colt ignored the laments. He slid out the map he’d nicked from the Guard from his sleeve and spread it out on the bed beside the red-head. His finger pointed at faded brown markings.

“This here is Glassea. About two miles North here is Forest Silva. I planned for us to slip out under the cover of night, but that has changed.” For obvious reasons.

Colt turned his gaze to find his companion studying the map intensely, weariness gone. Good, he recovers fast. He traced a line from the main exit gates West-ward to a point in the wall.

“There is a hidden gateway around here, if it still exists. The last I knew was that a group that organized all illegal dealings in this town controlled the passageway. An acquaintance of mine moved here; he owes me unclaimed debts.”

Josiir gave an uncharacteristically solemn nod.

“While you find that contact of yours, I think I should take a look around, find out why the Guards are here, and restock our supplies. Of course,” he added with the return a familiar grin, “I wouldn’t want to ruin your touching reunion with your beloved friends.”

Colt almost felt tired as he aimed a swipe half-heartedly at his head.

-

Colt asked the motherly innkeeper for directions to the rowdier town taverns, unlike the quiet dining area of the inn, and stepped out into the cool evening air. He stood still for a moment, watching his breath wisp away into the night, hand twirling his bow.

That crazy guy. I still can’t fathom his mind’s workings. Josiir had run out of the room earlier, giving a vague reply that he would be back by sunrise.

The afternoon had been spent sorting up their meager supplies, discussing their next steps, and then they did their private things.

Or rather, Colt had cleaned and oiled his weapons, then did his training; going through his forms and different stances, while Josiir had lounged in his bed, making comments that made him wonder to sigh or grate his teeth. The winged man surprisingly fell silent, leaving him alone when he started his meditation.

The muted sounds of bawdy ballads and drunken laughs floated into his ear.  Sighing, Colt strode down the street towards the bar, deliberately crunching the sand beneath his boots to mask the obnoxious music.

Colt knew they were already on a journey bound for trouble and more, but he sincerely hoped none more serious would befall them.

Of course, with the uneventful way this trip has been, my luck is probably about to run out. That barmy Fated probably did something to upset the dear Mistress of Thieves. 

(AW YEAH! I AM BACK! :D hahah....er..hi! exams over~ ... >< -flees- )