Chapter 5: The Coins and the Priests

The town of Alric stirred with tension.

It seemed like half of the townspeople were out on the streets as Alex, Theresa, Selina and Brutus passed them by. Wagons filled the sides of the roads as people rushed back and forth between townhomes and businesses, stacking their possessions into the wagons and tying them down. Torches flickered on poles or in tightly gripping hands, and weapons that hadn’t seen the outdoors in years hung from the hips of many of the townsfolk.

Alex could feel the panic building.

“Make sure the silver’s close at hand,” a heavy-set woman told her husband as she finished hitching the horses to a cart. “With this many going to the continent, the shipmasters’ll charge whatever they feel to take folks across the channel.”

“It’s already in the front, just don’t let it out of your sight,” an older man grunted as he placed a heavy chest into the cart. He glanced around, scanning the other wagons and carts. His hand remained close to his club. Alex recognized the man; they had always nodded politely to each other and exchanged smiles in the mornings. Now when he spotted Alex, his lips rose in the same wide smile, but his eyes were anxious and agitated.

“We should hurry.” Theresa nodded to Alex. “Something ugly’s brewing.” She eyed their neighbours; her body tensed as though she was in the woods hunting on a moonless night. “Desperate people do desperate things. Let’s get to the gate quickly.”

Selina looked up to them. “Is there something wrong?”

Alex gave her another weak smile. “Everything’s alright, Selina,” he lied quickly. “Everything’s fine.”

The southwestern gate was not fine.

Despite there still being some time before sunrise, a large crowd had already gathered, forming a line that stretched from the wall and down several blocks. Many—it seemed—had the same idea as Alex: come early in order to beat the crowd. Now, they were all made to wait as the guards stopped each solitary traveller and family, recording the names of every person leaving. Likely, they were keeping an accounting of who would be staying in town and needing protection during these dark times.

“That’s it! That’s it! Order now!” he heard the guard, Paul, shout from ahead. “Keep order and we’ll have you on the road before sunrise!”

Normally, none of the gates opened until daylight, but Alex took one look at the large crowd and recognized how ugly things might turn if they were not allowed to pass through now. People were fidgeting in agitation; some watched the skies or the top of the walls as though monsters might come flying over at any heartbeat.

Most clutched their possessions, and a great many were counting the coins in their purses; having enough for the ship’s passage seemed to be on the minds of most. Alex stealthily patted the inheritance buried at the bottom of his rucksack, as well as the small pouch of coins on his belt, and he gave quiet thanks for his parents’ hard work. The four of them wouldn’t have to worry about passage.

As they stepped into the back of the line, folk took one look at the massive form of Brutus and quickly gave them space. The cerberus seemed proud of himself as he flopped down onto his haunches and tossed the broken pieces of bone onto the side of the road. His three tongues lolled from his mouths and he panted in the mild air of the summer morning.

“Good boy.” Theresa smiled and scratched behind one of his ears. He whined for more attention and pressed his other two heads into her waiting hands.

“Yeah, very good boy.” Selina copied the young woman by rubbing his haunches.

“Yeah, super good boy.” Alex reached out to pat his back.

Brutus gave a low growl.

Alex stopped reaching out to pat his back.

Instead, he chose to let his eyes wander over the buildings spread before the gate. He noted the stables and stalls usually staffed to serve travellers entering town. He noted the guardhouse, and the highchairs where ambitious town boys would shine shoes of any who could pay.

“I’m going to miss this place,” he sighed fondly.

“Already?” Theresa gave him a look. “We’re not even gone yet. Sure you don’t want to stay?”

He shrugged helplessly. “What would be the point? I wouldn’t get to stay here anyway.”

“Well.” She took a long look around. “Let’s hope that it’s still here when we get back.”

Alex reached out and gently rubbed her shoulder. “I’m sure it will be.”

“Next!” Paul shouted from ahead.

The line began moving.

“I hope so, Alex,” Theresa said in a small voice.

They moved toward the gate at a steady pace, and Alex took the time to consider their plan. It was about ten days on foot to the closest town on the sea, and it would be longer with Selina with them; she’d need to be carried part of the way, perhaps by Brutus if Theresa could convince him. They would have to be careful on the road too: the priests would be searching for the Heroes, and The Ravener’s coming would mean monsters would start to roam the land soon. Then there would be the bandits: all these folks on the road would make tempting targets. Anyone fleeing would have to move quickly and preferably in numbers.

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“Theresa, you’ve got better eyesight than I do. Maybe look around and see if there’s anyone close by that we know well; someone we could join up with for at least part of the journey. For safety.”

She glanced at him. “I was just about to suggest that.”

With predatory focus, she slowly scanned the crowd, letting her eyes drink in every detail. She was turning to look over those that had joined the line behind them when she suddenly froze.

“Alex…”

“What is it?”

“I want you to turn around slowly and casually, okay? Don’t panic.”

He nodded, feeling a knot tightening in his belly. He slowly turned to follow her gaze…and froze. At the end of the street, three white robed figures passed through the crowds, pausing to help and comfort those who were readying to leave. Though they were still distant, they were clearly headed for the line.

“Oh no,” Alex said under his breath.

Priests.