Giant brass cauldrons sat atop tall brass columns at the city entrance. Throughout the city, similar columns towered over buildings. Great flames whipped the sky from the cauldrons every night. They flamed now at dusk.
Scott arrived at the edge of the jungle before the stone walled city. Figures in black cloaks stood aside the city gate. The gate spanned three dozen feet, and it was gridded with bars of brass.
A figure strode from the gate, and he waved in Scott’s direction. “Aye, welcome back!”
Scott knew he was well hidden. He could have only been spotted because of the guard’s abilities. Afraid the guard might have the Lesser Audial ability like him, he cursed himself with a thought instead of mittering aloud. He slunk deeper back into the jungle.
They thought he was someone else. It wasn’t that they’d seen him; no, Scott still wore his last clothes from earth. Carree’s cloak was too cumbersome to wear while traveling, so he kept it stowed. How did the figure sense him? What made him think Scott was someone familiar? Whatever those answers, another question had been answered by the encounter. No, Scott could not walk into the city through the entrance.
No longer able to see the towering columns of the city, so deep into the jungle he was, Scott trekked eastward. All night he prowled, edging ever closer to the edge of the jungle. Even by dawn, when he wended near the city wall, those columns still flamed up top.
There were no guards, so Scott approached the wall. He touched the blocks of stone, and he felt his ability’s unnatural adhesion between his fingers. The stones each were as large as a shipping container. They angled at each successive stacked block.
Barefoot, Scott climbed. His toes took the burden of his weight. Sometimes he slipped, and the edges of each block granted him a moment to gather himself. Without his ability, Scott knew he would be doomed to try and slip through the gate. His 10% improved grip and adhesion was just enough to keep him from sliding down the wall.
At the top, Scott crawled on his belly. Flames from the towering cauldrons basked the city in crashing oranges and yellows and reds. Each roof reflected a dull hue of firelight.
“Damn,” said Scott.
As far as he could see, there was no end to the city. It seemed to be filled with buildings and towers and columns all the way to the horizon. He was sure the wall encompassed it all. He wondered how long the city had been there; how much history this new world had.
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To the west, he spotted the entrance he’d avoided. Squinting, he could make out no figure aside the gates within.
One leg swung down over the wall, Scott lowered himself several dozen feet until he landed in the city. He wrapped Carree’s cloak tight to him, and he ambled through the city.
Houses were constructed purely of timber. Windowpanes reflected flashes of firelight from the flaming cauldrons atop the columns. Black shadows flickered between buildings. Starlight and firelight crashed altogether upon the cobblestones and clay roof tiles and oakum scented timber walls.
Scott darted his gaze about as he tried to keep his gait relaxed. Not a soul was out, at least in an area that seemed purely residential. Although the way of the tree lined street careened through the city, Scott resolved not explore down side streets. One way in; one way out.
Along his way, a pedestrian crossed the path. A cloak hung from their shoulders, too. They shared a glance, but Scott saw no definition in the figure’s silhouette. That the stranger paid him no further mind kindled hope. At least in seldom trod streets of the city, Scott might be safe. But better still be careful.
Splashing, slapping water echoed through another intersection. Scott gulped his dry throat. Ah, what a feeble attempt to deny his thirst! He turned toward the sound, and he crossed another intersection, and there he came upon a fountain of starlight and firelight dancing on water. He cupped water to his mouth, and up close in the needle point of white stars he saw the tinge of purple in the water. He drank, he drank, he drank until he felt his thirst slaked.
“Holy fuck,” he uttered, and he stifled a burp. “Holy shit, that’s good.”
Scott leaned on the wall of the fountain. Beads of water dripped from his chin. He cast his gaze about after a couple strolled around the far side of the fountain. They seemed to give him a cursory glance before turning down a street.
They strolled aside a large building of white stone which sparkled from starlight and firelight. Several rows of large round windows circled the building. A single wide arch extended the front of the building onto two columns. Between the columns at their bases, two dark doors were stopped open by rocks. The word library was in relief above the doors.
Scott wiped his chin. He puzzled over the city. A library? Open far after midnight? Well, what a good thing to know, especially if it housed books of noble work. He had two mind fortification potions to use.
A greater need spurred Scott back to the street which he had determined to follow until it was time to exit the way he had come in. A long bubbling growl churned his stomach.
He’d eaten his last king clam, and it had been quite a while since he’d eaten, and all he’d had was clam, and he felt ready to do most anything for a whole meal. He considered breaking into whatever grocery store look-alike this city had, just for some fruit, some vegetables, some red meat, some cheese.
He’d been starved his last year on earth, and with food so readily available, he had to act on it. Breaking into a grocery store was worlds different than fighting off armed men around a box of ramen.
