Of Sword and Shadow by A. L. Sowards

Author:A. L. Sowards
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: 2021-01-04T18:26:51+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

Gil had been right to worry about our entry into the Cadmea. The Hypsistai Gates had double the normal guard.

“I recognize the blond one in the back,” Gil whispered from behind me. “We crossed swords at the Ballester villa.”

“Did you have to break off to help me?” Otherwise I suspected Gil could have won the duel. I’d watched him fight. None of Ballester’s men had Gil’s level of skill.

Gil’s hand found its way to my shoulder. “You were the most important thing to take from that villa.”

I nodded. “We went to find information on de Lenda, and I was the one who had it.”

His hand moved to my upper arm in what felt like a caress. “No. Because we were part of a team. And because you’re my friend.”

We’d walked to six of the seven gates of Thebes. Every one of them had a soldier who would recognize one or both of us.

“Shall we check the last gate?” Gil asked.

We went, but when we arrived outside the Elektrai Gates, it was immediately clear that we couldn’t enter there. It was guarded by Pertusa.

“He’d recognize both of us.” I crossed my arms and leaned against a stone wall where the men at the gate couldn’t see us. “We could split up.” I didn’t want to, but I didn’t think the guard at the Hypsistai Gates would recognize me, not while I was wearing the plain tunica and veil of a Greek peasant. And unless the guards had changed, Gil could probably get through the Borraiai Gates. “Or I could tell Don Oliverio that he needs to smuggle you in on a cart.” Don Oliverio was already inside Thebes, but he could come and go as he wished. He was Catalan himself, and none of the other Catalans suspected his connection with the Navarrese.

“They’re searching the carts. They might even check one full of manure today.” Gil chuckled. The sound lifted some of the trepidation I felt but not all of it. Our actions at Ballester’s villa had made us a wanted man and woman. I was fairly certain I could sneak in through at least three of the gates, but Gil’s height made him stand out, even though he wore peasant clothes now instead of the Catalan styles he’d worn at de Ardoino’s and Ballester’s villas. Even someone who hadn’t seen him before might question him if they had a description.

I glanced at Gil. “You sound so cheerful, even after checking all the gates.” Sneaking into Thebes shouldn’t have been so difficult. The cut in my side hadn’t healed enough to leave me free of pain, and that discomfort flamed my frustration.

Gil shrugged and led us down the road, away from the Elektrai Gates. “It’s a beautiful day, and I’m with pleasant company.”

Dark clouds hung in the west. “The company at any of the seven gates won’t be pleasant, and a storm is coming. That’s not so beautiful.”

“There is beauty in a storm. Danger too. Just like a woman.”

“Women don’t rain on you.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.