Page 39 of Dragon Unbound (Dragon Kings 3)
Chapter Sixteen
Before Cullen walked from the woods, his gaze scanned the top of the wall that ran from the mountain on the right and then curved to encompass the city before ending at the mountain on the left. The steep mountainside made it nearly impossible for a mortal to climb down to the city. That ensured the only way in and out was through the gates.
“What?” Tamlyn asked as they emerged from the forest.
“I was just thinking how the builders thought they were clever in how they designed the city to keep others out.”
She glanced at him. “They weren’t thinking about dragons.”
“No’ just dragons. Fae and Warriors could get in easily.”
Her head jerked to him. “Warriors?”
“No’ the kind you’re used to. These are skilled men and a woman who have primeval gods within them, allowing them special powers and abilities.”
“Are they your friends?”
“Aye.”
She nodded and faced forward. “Think we could invite them here?”
Cullen chuckled as they shared a smile. She was jesting, which was a good sign. The closer they walked to the gate, the tighter her hand clenched his. He heard her ragged breaths, her chest rising and falling quickly.
No words passed between them as they closed the distance to the gate. Cullen’s attention was diverted between Tamlyn and the soldiers who stared down at them. He counted five that he could see on the battlements, but there would be many more hidden. These men wore the same armor as those in the forest.
The helm was square with two holes, leaving the eyes minimally exposed. Two wide, wing-like ornaments were attached to the forehead area. The shoulders were rounded and large in size, the armor elongated. There were long, ornamental metal pieces on some as decoration. Cullen realized that it must be their ranking system. The more ornaments, the higher the rank.
Vambraces with many rows of small metal pieces that mimicked dragon scales protected the soldiers’ lower arms. Cullen’s gaze lowered to the breastplate made of two layers of metal that also mimicked dragon scales. It covered the soldiers from neck to groin. Cullen couldn’t see their upper legs, but the soldiers in the forest had had their upper legs covered by rounded half-cuisses. The lower legs by greaves.
These were men well acquainted with battle. An army didn’t create armor like that without reason. One wrong move and he and Tamlyn would be barred from entering.
“Trust me,” he urged.
A tremor went through her arm to her hand in his. “I don’t know why, but I do.”
He halted them and looked up at the soldiers. The men stared down at him, talking amongst themselves. His enhanced hearing allowed him to discern that they were betting on whether he and Tamlyn lived in the city or were only visiting.
“What business do you have here?” one of the soldiers demanded of Cullen.
He put a friendly smile on his face and copied their accent. “We’re visiting.”
Two of the soldiers laughed, and money exchanged hands as the soldier who’d spoken to him motioned to someone Cullen couldn’t see. A few moments later, the gates groaned loudly as they cracked open enough for him and Tamlyn to sidle in sideways. Other soldiers waited for them once they were inside the city. Cullen didn’t stop. He kept walking.
“I can’t believe it worked,” Tamlyn whispered, moving close to him as they passed a group of people.
He smiled at her as he pulled her to the wall to get out of the crowd. Cullen glanced toward the gate. “They see what they want to see. They believe that no one with magic would dare enter, and if one did, the soldiers believe they could stop them.”
“Look at all the faces,” Tamlyn said. Her gaze moved over those passing before them. “They have no idea what is really happening in the city, do they?”
“They might.”
Her head swiveled to him. “Then why don’t they do something?”
“Folks who have no training in battle going up against an army?” He gave her a flat look. “That is certain death. You said yourself that other villages are no more. I’m guessing most of them came here, believing they would have a better life. No doubt they learned soon enough just what kind of life it is.”
She inched closer to him. “Then why don’t they leave?”
“Where would they go? They’ve probably been told there is nowhere else for them to live. They can either lament their life, or they can make do with what they have.”
“Like me, Sian, and Jenefer.”
“Aye,” he said and met her hazel gaze. The sunlight brought out more flecks of gold and bronze in her irises.
Tamlyn drew in a deep breath. As she released it, her shoulders relaxed. “We’re in. Now what?”
“I want you to take me around the city. How many levels can we go up?”
She leaned her head back and pointed to the very top. “The four highest levels are for the wealthy. The temple is one below that. The fourth level is where the temple and priests reside.”
“What about the army?”
“Every level has a squad that consists of seven to fourteen soldiers.”
Cullen considered that information. “And the rest of the army?”
“There’s a lower level with the armory. There are also two sets of stables on this level for the soldiers—one on each end. The upper four levels have their own stables.”
“Is there just one way up to each level?”
She shook her head. “There is the main road we’re on now that switchbacks up each level. There are also stairs that can be used.”
“I take it we can rent rooms somewhere.”
Tamlyn scratched her ear and turned her head away when two soldiers passed and looked closely at them. “A few places. I have a couple of coins, but the place won’t be nice.”
“Show me the coins.”
