Transcendence and Rebellion by Michael G. Manning

Author:Michael G. Manning
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: blood, action, magic, battle, warrior, dark, dragon, sorcery, wizard, knight

Chapter 27

They spent over an hour walking through the streets, following a route that Chad thought would garner the least attention on their way to the eastern city gate. Given the hour and the unusual composition of their group, they couldn’t avoid all scrutiny, however. Twice they were stopped by a night watchman, and the second time Chad thought he might have to resort to violence, until Roger stepped in and bribed the man with a few silver coins.

That probably wouldn’t be good enough once the news of the fire and the disturbance Chad had created reached all the watchmen, but they only had one last obstacle to overcome, the gate itself.

He looked over his companions again and sighed. There wasn’t a single good excuse he could think of for three women and a man covered in dried blood to be exiting the city at this hour. His left forearm throbbed, and he rubbed at it through the makeshift bandage.

The best choice would have been to find a place to lay low for a few days. He wasn’t in any shape for a fight, and his appearance was highly suspect. Every beggar, cutpurse, slam-thief, and street urchin in the city, not to mention the city guard, would be on the lookout for their group within a matter of hours. The Roach was almost certain to have contacts within the constabulary, and even if he was dead, some of his men would likely be able to use those contacts.

If he was dead. Chad was far less certain on that count than he had acted earlier. If that bastard didn’t break his neck in the fall, I can only hope the burns keep him in bed until we get out of here, he thought to himself.

“I only see a couple of men guarding the gate,” observed Carissa quietly. “It’s open. Can’t we just walk through?” She paused, then added, “Actually, why isn’t it closed? Isn’t that the whole point of having a gate?”

“Most cities only close their gates during time of war, dear,” explained Rose. “It’s far too much trouble the rest of the time. There’s always someone wanting through for something urgent after you close them. Besides, Iverly is far from the border and they haven’t faced a serious threat in generations. Even during the war with Lothion there was never an incursion into Gododdin itself.”

The ranger grunted. “Yeah, they only had to worry about their own priests cutting their throats.”

Carissa looked at him with sudden interest. “You mentioned the Shaddoth Krys earlier. Was that the priesthood of Mal’goroth?”

Chad shook his head. “No, they were religious assassins, sort of like the secret police of the priesthood. Most of them were just common cutthroats, dressed up and given a special place as enforcers, but some, like my cousin, were given special gifts by Mal’goroth himself.”

“Was he some sort of channeler?” asked Angela.

“Doubtful,” said Chad. “Oswald never had any special abilities as far as I know. He was just quick with his hands. Besides, the channelers lost their power once Mal’goroth died.

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