Gold Crown by Alex Linwood

Author:Alex Linwood
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781951098131
Publisher: Greenlees Publishing

They searched through the city, finding their way to a busier section. They found the market where the farmers had set up, selling strange looking vegetables and strips of meat hanging from hooks, leather and fabric goods, long, dangerous metal utensils and pots, perhaps for a kitchen or a barn, and other things she did not recognize at all. But nowhere did they see signs of any humans, or any other captives.

Portia took advantage of the crowded market conditions to pluck a few coins from a lady’s purse, taking other coins from the pocket of a distracted merchant.

Mark did the same, slipping his hand out stealthily and pulling back quickly. If she hadn’t known the techniques herself, Portia never would have guessed he was stealing.

Magisend walked with them, oblivious to their industry, concentrating more on keeping out of the way of the Dragonoids. She backed away so obviously from each possible contact that Portia finally grabbed her, and held her still, making her walk forward and endure the slight touches. Magisend growled in irritation but did not yank herself free.

“Shall we eat?” Mark asked in the growling and spitting language of the Dragonoids.

Portia nodded. They should have enough coin now, and there was no surer way to get information than from someone deep in their cups.

They walked to the tavern that had rows of tables and benches outside, extending out into the courtyard. They picked a table near the edge of the market, just a few steps away from the crowd.

The table and benches were half-full with scattered patrons, a few in pairs but most sitting alone. The sun beat down on the tables so the hoods stayed up, another reason to not go inside. At the nearest table to them, a tipsy Dragonoid leaned heavily on a fisted hand, its elbow on the table, while his other clawed and scaled hand curled around a glass with just a few dregs at the bottom.

Mark held up a hand, getting the attention of the server who wound their way over, the normal brown robe that most citizens wore replaced by one with stripes of rusty red and brown. The same colors that hung on flags outside the doorway.

“Three good cups, and one for that one,” Mark ordered, pointing at the drunk patron.

The server nodded, barely slowing down before turning right around and going to the door of the establishment and entering.

“What are we having?” Portia asked, the question short, but still enough to hurt her throat trying to wrap around the strange language.

Mark shrugged.

The server delivered the glass to the Dragonoid at the next table over first, then pointed at Mark. The patron looked quizzical, then picked up the glass and gave them a nod before taking a sip.

Their own glasses were dropped off seconds later, the server rushing off without a question. Portia’s stomach rumbled, but they weren’t really here to eat.

They sat in silence, patiently sipping the tall glasses of cool, weak ale, almost a fruit juice. The sweetness went down well in the heat of the day.

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