Young Writers Society

In a matter of twenty minutes, Devlin had procured the meat and veggies for Miles. They tossed them in a rough knapsack. With no care as to how much they spent, it not being his own coin, Devlin hadn't even haggled for prices. Malcolm followed behind, struggling at times to keep up with Devlin's pace. They were now on the edge of the vendors. The palisade wall stood thirty feet in front of them. For the most part it was nothing but solid beams with a narrow walkway attainable by ladders spaced out every hundred feet or so. A sally port stood beneath each ladder.

"What now?" Malcolm asked.

"If Eridan coming through, he could probably knock that palisade over with no problem." Devlin said.

"We're not really sure how strong he is. How do you know he could do that?"

"We don't know for sure, besides what we've seen him do, but why would he want his companions on the inside if he simply intended to burst through?"

"Maybe he wants to get people prepared? You know, ready to riot, or something like that."

Devlin raised an eyebrow. He had assumed this was about a secretive entrance, but perhaps Malcolm was on to something.

"We'll have to keep both options in mind. These palisades offer good visibility on this end of the city. If he were to make either type of entrance from this side, he would need to slip in at night. On the north side, the river divides into several streams and creeks. Some of them run into the city, do they not?"

Malcolm shrugged. "How would I know? Never been here. What does a creek have to do with anything?"

"If this city uses flowing water as much as wells, then there's a spot that it runs through the palisade. That could be a place to sneak in."

"Wouldn't those be guarded?"

"Yes. But the army is more focused on its captors inside, not outside threats."

"But if he is sneaking in, how is he going to take the whole city? The inner city on the hill has stone walls. You think he can knock those over to?" Malcolm asked.

Devlin put his hands on his hips. "I don't know. I don't know much, and that doesn't sit right with me. We need to talk with someone who knows this city inside and out."

"We don't have enough time to do that before we meet with Miles," Malcolm said, pointing at the sack of food.

Devlin waved a hand. "He'll be alright if we're a little late. And if that storm gets here we'll lose all visibility. Eridan could be in before the night's done."

Devlin's hand went to his side. "I really wish I had a weapon," he muttered as he led the way back up the city.

"So, where are we going?" Malcolm called from behind as Devlin strode through the crowd. He waited until they had cleared the vendors and were on the less busy street and asked again.

Devlin shot him a glare. "You've got to stop shouting. We're trying to blend in here."

Malcolm huffed. "Maybe if you weren't moving so fast I wouldn't be so far away."

Devlin bit his tongue and slightly lessened his pace. He spoke in a low tone, leaning in as he said: "To the magistrate. There's no way that Boui- that Xerdex doesn't know about possible security breaches in the city. "

"You think he'll let us back in? I didn't get a very warm invitational tone last night."

Devlin laughed. "No, but if he knows what's good for him, or rather his army, he'll talk."

"What do you mean by that? His army rather than himself? You don't think he cares?"

Do I tell him?

"You get in the position that Xerdex is in by playing your cards right, keeping the right people happy, and convincing the rest that you're on their side. Even if he only cares about himself, if his men fall he's dead as well. In the interest of himself he will need to take care of his men."

"So you don't think he cares about his soldiers?" Malcolm cocked his head to the side.

"I think he cares about survival."

"Uh. don't we all, Devlin? I mean, everything we're doing is to survive."

"Yes, but it's because a powerful man that did something to both of us. They are the aggressor without a legitimate cause." Devlin felt his voice rattling ever so slightly.

"They? do you know Xerdex? You seem to know a lot about him as a person."

"I know the type. They're all the same."

"But then, why are you trying to save him?"

Devlin laughed, but there was no humor in it. "I'm not trying to save him, I'm trying to keep us from dying. You think that Eridan will stop here, or at the Royal City? You don't know what power does to a man. And unchecked power goes even further. But enough of that." Devlin waved his hand in the backward direction of Malcolm. "The priority right now is to figure out where Eridan will come from."

"Do you think that storm is him?"

"I'm trying not to think about it."

Malcolm pressed on. "If it is, this whole idea may be a waste of time."

Devlin gritted his teeth. "I am aware."

"I mean, Miles lulling the townspeople, us trying to find a hole in the wall, talk-"

Devlin spun on a dime. "I know Malcolm! I know." He took a deep breath. "But what are we to do? Inaction will get you killed just as easily as action. So follow my lead, and hopefully, we can stay ahead of this before it gets ugly."

They had already passed the inns at this point and were arriving at the gated house of the magistrate. Devlin marched to the door and pounded on it without a second's hesitation. The peephole slid open, and before the guard could even speak, Devlin was already answering his question.

"Don't know the answer to your riddle unless you're stupid enough to keep the same passcode from day to day. I'm working with the magistrate, and we need to see him immediately."

The guard, whose eyes, nose, and half his grizzled upper lip were visible, wrinkled his face. "And just who might you be?"

Devlin shook his head. "Of course, you're a different guard on a different watch. Look, we don't have a lot of time here. Simply tell the Magistrate that the private from last night needs to speak with him right now."

"And what of your little friend? Doesn't look like a private to me, unless Astoria is really that desperate for fresh meat on the lines. I don't know who you are, but no one simply demands an audience with the magistrate. Now go away before I lock you up for disturbance."

Malcolm stepped out from behind Devlin. He gave a shrewd smile to one side.

"I'm not a private. Please excuse Devlin here. We've been on the move all week and are in a bit of a rush. What he meant to ask you was if we could have an audience with the magistrate, now if possible. If you want to verify who we are, you can ask Merl, one of the guards at the east palisade gate. or even the butler would recognize us from last night. The password was 'ore the sea the gull flies, and thinks I'll have myself a snack.'"

Devlin raised an eyebrow. and gave Malcolm a sideways look.

The guard cleared his throat. "It'll take me all morning to figure that out. Truth be told, the magistrate isn't here, he's at the Red Keep this morning. If you can get into there, you deserve an audience with him. But if you're impersonating soldiers you may never get out of there."

Malcolm nodded. "Of course. We won't disturb you anymore."

With that, he was walking to the right. When they were out of eyesight and earshot Devlin grabbed Malcolm's arm. "What was that?"

Malcolm shrugged. "I dunno. Miles said that tone can be everything. Thought I'd test that theory out." He started walking again, "You're welcome, by the way."

Devlin laughed. "I suppose you're nothing if not a fast learner."