my pack and wrapped it around my body to conceal the weapons. Before the road changed from dirt and rocks to smooth stone, I happened by a beaten tree branch that served as a walking stick, and my makeshift disguise was complete.
My stomach growled angrily and reminded me of lunch. I guessed there were a few more miles to go until I reached the city and I still hadn't puzzled out getting past the army. There looked to be confusion around the entrance to the distant gate, so I gambled I would be able to walk in unnoticed if I exuded enough confidence. As I worked out the plan in my brain, I heard horse hooves far ahead of me. It drew my attention out of the future and toward a new possible threat.
Two dozen Losher riders rode down the path on leather-armored mounts. The road was still busy with refugees and no one seemed to be concerned in the throng, so I just bowed my head down and kept walking toward the city. The riders passed without appearing to notice me or the other refugees.
"Why didn't they attack us?" I asked a beaten down group of men that walked past me.
"The king has surrendered the city to the Loshers. They have stopped their siege," one of the men said.
"The king is alive?" I asked in surprise. This was a version of the tale I hadn't yet heard. Jessmei would be extremely happy if it was true.
"Aye. He surrendered so he wouldn't be killed."
"Naw. The king is dead. The prince is the king now, and he surrendered," his friend yelled at me like he was deaf and didn't realize the volume of his own voice.
"I heard that the princess was joined to the Losher war chief. He took her in the king's own bed with blood still on his armor. That's why the Loshers stopped attacking," another man said with confidence. I smiled and thanked them for the info.
As I neared the walls, I saw that the north gate was closed and appeared to be guarded by twenty Losher soldiers. The majority of the army camped next to the east entrance of the city, so I took a wide detour through the field that surrounded the walls.
As I approached, I noticed citizens entering and leaving the gate via the throng around the Losher camp. I didn't know what the code of conduct was for situations where a human army has conquered another human army and now needs to live with them. All of my memories involved conquering Elven tribes and then massacring their men, women, and children. We had no need for friendly rapport or diplomacy.
The Losher people had dark black hair, wiry muscles, and rich bronze complexions. They would have reminded me of Vanlourn men, save the Vanlourns I had seen were of a darker skin color and shorter than these Losher men. The invaders paid me no mind as I walked through their camp toward the entrance to Nia. Cooking fires burned, music played, and small clusters of warriors engaged in gambling: either with dice, cards, or fist fights.
In front of the massive gate stood half a dozen soldiers of Nia. The guards seemed nervous but looked into the campsite, and the various Losher women that flitted about in leather riding pants, with interest. I ducked my head down and nodded slightly as I made my way through the raised portcullis into the body of the conquered city. The plan worked even better than I expected.
The main street was called the King's Road, and it ran north and south. I entered Nia on the Queen's Path, it would take me straight through the heart of the capital and into the back side of the castle, wrap around the inner courtyard behind the interior wall, and then continue west through the opposite entrance. When I dashed through the city evading my Elven pursuers during the night of Jessmei's kidnapping, I had not spent much time examining the condition of the city, but I recalled it being well-kept. That night the streets were clean, the homes and buildings had been in good repair, and the flags of the country flew glamorously from every structure that stood over forty feet tall.
After three months and a siege,
My stomach growled angrily and reminded me of lunch. I guessed there were a few more miles to go until I reached the city and I still hadn't puzzled out getting past the army. There looked to be confusion around the entrance to the distant gate, so I gambled I would be able to walk in unnoticed if I exuded enough confidence. As I worked out the plan in my brain, I heard horse hooves far ahead of me. It drew my attention out of the future and toward a new possible threat.
Two dozen Losher riders rode down the path on leather-armored mounts. The road was still busy with refugees and no one seemed to be concerned in the throng, so I just bowed my head down and kept walking toward the city. The riders passed without appearing to notice me or the other refugees.
"Why didn't they attack us?" I asked a beaten down group of men that walked past me.
"The king has surrendered the city to the Loshers. They have stopped their siege," one of the men said.
"The king is alive?" I asked in surprise. This was a version of the tale I hadn't yet heard. Jessmei would be extremely happy if it was true.
"Aye. He surrendered so he wouldn't be killed."
"Naw. The king is dead. The prince is the king now, and he surrendered," his friend yelled at me like he was deaf and didn't realize the volume of his own voice.
"I heard that the princess was joined to the Losher war chief. He took her in the king's own bed with blood still on his armor. That's why the Loshers stopped attacking," another man said with confidence. I smiled and thanked them for the info.
As I neared the walls, I saw that the north gate was closed and appeared to be guarded by twenty Losher soldiers. The majority of the army camped next to the east entrance of the city, so I took a wide detour through the field that surrounded the walls.
As I approached, I noticed citizens entering and leaving the gate via the throng around the Losher camp. I didn't know what the code of conduct was for situations where a human army has conquered another human army and now needs to live with them. All of my memories involved conquering Elven tribes and then massacring their men, women, and children. We had no need for friendly rapport or diplomacy.
The Losher people had dark black hair, wiry muscles, and rich bronze complexions. They would have reminded me of Vanlourn men, save the Vanlourns I had seen were of a darker skin color and shorter than these Losher men. The invaders paid me no mind as I walked through their camp toward the entrance to Nia. Cooking fires burned, music played, and small clusters of warriors engaged in gambling: either with dice, cards, or fist fights.
In front of the massive gate stood half a dozen soldiers of Nia. The guards seemed nervous but looked into the campsite, and the various Losher women that flitted about in leather riding pants, with interest. I ducked my head down and nodded slightly as I made my way through the raised portcullis into the body of the conquered city. The plan worked even better than I expected.
The main street was called the King's Road, and it ran north and south. I entered Nia on the Queen's Path, it would take me straight through the heart of the capital and into the back side of the castle, wrap around the inner courtyard behind the interior wall, and then continue west through the opposite entrance. When I dashed through the city evading my Elven pursuers during the night of Jessmei's kidnapping, I had not spent much time examining the condition of the city, but I recalled it being well-kept. That night the streets were clean, the homes and buildings had been in good repair, and the flags of the country flew glamorously from every structure that stood over forty feet tall.
After three months and a siege,
Similar Books
