Ambrosius finally arrived at the outer row of scrolls with Grewen as they met Brimmelle reading his favorite verses from the courtyard’s carvings. The Fir’s glee at the monuments to his faith came through his loud reading of the words to his bored student, Avanda.
It wasn’t long before she slipped away to see everything she could with the remaining light of the day.
Following Ambrosius, Grewen turned sideways to work his way between the large stone scrolls, into the courtyard and then up to Wess’ roaring fire at the top of the stairs near the entrance of the city.
The city looked so empty compared to the last time Ambrosius had visited. “The survivors must have abandoned the city after the attack.” He didn’t see any traces of them. Everything looked as though they left without any provisions. “Although there doesn’t seem to be enough damage to warrant an evacuation.”
Wess passed Ambrosius and Grewen on his way down the stairway as he went for more firewood. “Where is everyone?” he asked in passing. He only received a shaking of the head from Grewen implying he didn’t know.
Upon reaching the top tier, Ambrosius and Grewen rested on a stone bench as they watched the last two Nums work their way around the lake toward them. “Keep your eyes open my friend, we may not all be what we appear to be,” Ambrosius quietly commented to Grewen.
“It would seem unlikely these little ones are anything but what they seem. Are you sure you aren’t just becoming paranoid after this last incident?” Grewen calmly replied as he reached over to grab a flaming stick out of the fire and began using it scratch between his toes.
“I’m not sure who I can trust anymore.”
“You must trust those that have earned it.” The giant wrinkled his dark leathery face with pleasure from the toe cleaning.
“I’m not sure I can do that.”
“What’s your other option? Live on your own, always fearing that everyone will back-stab you? That’s no life. That’s self-inflicted torture.” Changing hands, Grewen started on his other foot.
They quieted down as Wess returned.
Wess tosses an armful of sticks near the fire. “Where’s Gluic?”
Grewen and Ambrosius looked at each other in question before looking about the open gardens. They soon surmised that she must have entered the city. With the evening light fading and dark soon to set in, Grewen removed the flaming stick from between his toes. “Grab a torch; it looks like we’re heading in.”
Wess still had a lot of distrust for the two, but he knew Brimmelle would take it out on him if his mother was lost. So, he followed the other two into the city in an effort to find Gluic.
Chapter 16
Abandoned City of Kingsfoot