Alysana
The great city of Théas was, like almost all cities of its size, lined with a wall that separated the outskirts from the city proper. And, as Alysana’s sister, Mordha, did for the city of Annoch, a number of humans were outside guarding the entrance to the City of a Thousand Towers. Though, unlike Annoch, there were no great gates to keep out intruders.
The northern entrance to the city was marked by two towering white walls that formed a corridor through which travelers could pass, ten horses wide. On either side of the walls, archers stood calmly surveying the land below them. And guarding the corridor were a number of well-armored guards variously armed with pikes, spears, and swords. The breastplates they wore were forest green with black on the sides and back—the colors of the Deathdancers of the Théan Brigade.
A mustachioed soldier approached them with an outstretched hand.
“Ho there,” he said, eyeing Kethras suspiciously. “If you’re here for the slave auction, you’re a day early. And you’ll need to make the proper filings with the city magistrate.” The rope that Alysana had fastened around Kethras’s neck had done the trick. Dailus, still tied up, opened his mouth to speak, but Alysana spoke over him.
“Yes, of course,” she said, nodding at the guard and elbowing Dailus for silence. “Where can we find the magistrate?” She shot a look at Thornton, piled in back with Elyasha, which said, Trust me. Or so she hoped.
“In the city center, by the statue of Araeas the Deathless. Follow this road,” he said, pointing with his entire hand, “until you reach the Fountains of Thenn. Turn right, and you will see the statue. The magistrate’s office faces it. You can’t miss it.”
“Thank you,” Alysana answered with a crisp salute, her right fist connecting with a creak as it struck the leather armor on her left shoulder.
The guard nodded. “Though your timing could have been better. I hear they have a Farstepper up for auction,” he said, eyeing Kethras again. “Any other time and your bounties might fetch a higher price.”
Alysana’s eyes opened wide, but she did her best to mask her surprise.
“I will keep that in mind,” she said.
And will most likely empty out my coin pouch in the process, she thought.
A captive Farstepper would be worth far more than she was as a guide through the Wastes.
The guard was wrong—their timing couldn’t have been better.