Chapter 83: Rat(1)

    "Hey, lad, fill my cup, can''t you see how light it is? Or perhaps your only skill is stealing?" Egil chuckled, lifting his cup and signaling Ratto to refill it. It had been a while since they all enjoyed such a lively dinner together. The tension of battle had dissipated, leaving behind a pleasant weariness, as all the adrenaline gave place to an uneasy sense of peace

    "Take it easy, now. We don''t know if the enemy decides to have a try during the evening " Jarza cautioned between mouthfuls of meat. He was usually a man of few words, but when he spoke he was always heard

    "Chaning topic " Clio leaned in, his eyes gleaming with curiosity as he turned toward Egil , "how''s your foot holding up?"

    With a mischievous glint, he lifted his bandaged foot onto the table. "Good as new," he quipped, earning a collective groan of disgust and a demand from Alpheo to keep it down and avoid disturbing their meal.

    "You were lucky..." Clio remarked, a note of seriousness in his voice. "If those arrows had been a bit off-target, it might not have been your foot but your neck or shoulder."

    "Thank the gods for small favors, thank yourself for the big ones " Egil replied with a grin, taking a sip from his cup. "What a day, eh?" he declared, raising his cup in a toast. Nne?w n0vel chapters are published at novelhall.com

    The others echoed his sentiment, though Alpheo''s was evidently less jumpy . Seeing this , Jarza prodded him, and after some reluctance, Alpheo admitted his concerns. "Their side has been too quiet," he explained. "It''s troubling."

    "Maybe they''ve realized further assaults would be futile," Egil suggested optimistically, though it was clear he couldn''t shake off his friend''s worries.

    "They know reinforcements are on the way," Alpheo reasoned. "They wouldn''t risk losing more troops with another failed attempt.From what I know our enemy has been throwing rings around our employer for long enough..."

    "Then why are you so worried?You''ll get wrinkles if you keep this up''''

    Alpheo paused, his expression tense as he considered his response. "Something changed," he finally replied, his voice laced with apprehension. "They are planning something. I can feel it, but I don''t know what it is." He punctuated his words with a loud crunch as he took a bite of bread, his jaw working furiously as he chewed, though it sounded more mechanical than anything .

    "You''re overthinking it," Clio interjected, attempting to assuage his friend''s concerns.

    "Maybe I am, maybe I''m not... It''s just a feeling, after all," Alpheo conceded, though the worry still lingered in his eyes.

    Ratto approached quietly, refilling Alpheo''s cup before unexpectedly addressing him. "What about you?" he asked. "Do you have anything to add or ask? Sometimes the mind of a boy discovers something that old men can''t see." He shook his head in denial

    Alpheo''s brow furrowed as he considered the implications. "Are you sure it wasn''t just some encounter with a whore?"

    Asag''s response was firm. "It was a male figure, and unless he''s a sword-swallower, then yes, I''m sure."

    The others looked in confusion at the exchange , though they kept silent. Alpheo took a moment to collect his thoughts, closing his eyes briefly before addressing the group. "Ratto, please fetch another chair. We''ll have a guest joining us shortly."

    Without hesitation, Ratto hurried from the room to fulfill Alpheo''s request. Meanwhile, Alpheo turned his attention back to Asag. "Tell Fahil to join us for a meal. Tell him I need his counsel on certain matters. Bring some men with you, but keep them outside. If he refuses to comply, have them enter and rough him up on the edges ."

    "As you wish," Asag nodded, rising from his seat to carry out Alpheo''s instructions. However, before he could leave, Alpheo halted him with a raised hand.

    "But before that, there''s something I need you to prepare," Alpheo added.

    The room fell silent for two long hours before the heavy wooden door swung open once more, breaking the tense stillness with a loud creak. Asag strode into the room, his dark expression unreadable as he led their guest, Fahil, through the doorway. The newcomer''s posture was rigid as he surveyed each man sitting at the table, guided by Asag to his designated seat.

    "I have been told we would be discussing matters about the city," Fahil said in a low voice

    "You have been told correctly," Alpheo replied smoothly, taking a sip from his cup before continuing. "In a few days, your prince will be arriving to relieve the city and we can all go our separate ways. Normally, I would be more than happy for that... if it weren''t for something that has just come to my attention."

    "What is it?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady and posture upright .

    "Well, it appears , but take this with a pinch of salt.... that our enemy is planning an attack on the city tomorrow," Alpheo revealed calmly as if discussing nothing more significant than the weather.

    ''''You appear sure of that, why''s that?''''

    Alpheo''s enigmatic smile remained in place as he leaned back in his chair, seemingly unperturbed by Fahil''s reaction. "Rats are always easy to catch " he added cryptically, his gaze drifting up towards the roof as if searching for bats.

    Suddenly, he put two fingers in his mouth and let out a whistle, shattering the heavy silence in an instant. Two figures appeared from the kitchen door, dragging a bloodied man between them. Fahil''s eyes narrowed as he wondered who he was.