Judd and Giordi had to take numerous backstreets until they were on the quarry side of Quarre and could reach the road that would take them out of the city without being spotted by the manor house. Judd hated not being able to speak to Aalis but he couldn’t risk being seen, especially dressed in armour with his sword on. Several residents spotted himself and Giordi but that couldn’t be helped. They jogged down the road where a pair of wooden gates, about half the size of the main ones, were left wide open, the slope they were on becoming steep.
“I know why they wear steel capped boots in the quarry,” Judd muttered as they stomped down the steps, slipping on the smooth parts, “it’s to ground you so you don’t fall.”
“At least you wouldn’t die,” Giordi nodded, “look, a dam.”
Judd peered over the edge of the road they were on. Dam was right. It was a dark pool of opaque water at the base of a manmade cliff.
“I wouldn’t want to fall into that or attempt to climb out.” Judd shuddered. “Those sides are steep.”
“It was probably the start of the quarry before it filled up with water…then they began to dig this way.”
It was a world of grey stone and dust and dangerous gravel on the slopes. Thankfully scaffolding had been constructed to take the place of all the stone that had been mined and there were numerous sections of steps leading down into the base of the newer quarry. Large piles of rocks were gathered together and an empty cart, not unlike the one they had seen leaving the city two nights earlier, rested quietly, ready to be loaded.
Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
“That must be the road around Quarre,” Giordi pointed then turned around, “where do we go from here?”
“We’ve got to head further back.” Judd decided and they crossed the abandoned quarry floor. No one was there and it was eerie quiet. “Can you see anything? A path? A cave…”
“Oh, I’ve got a cave!” Giordi exclaimed and propelled Judd around a stack of barrels. “Look, tucked away and covered with that netting. It’s almost impossible to see.”
“How in Maul did you spy it?”
“You said there might be tracks.” Giordi pointed down at the ground.
Judd squatted and gazed at the rather nerve shatteringly large wolf prints in the dust which led into the cave.
“That’s where it comes from,” he breathed, unsheathing his sword, “ready?”
“No.”
Judd steeled his spine and pushed the netting aside.
Back in Quarre, Verne stayed in the shadow of the tavern wall, able to keep an eye on the well.
“Any change?” Caste whispered.
Verne shook his head. “None.”
“Are they even talking?”
“I’m not sure Aalis is even sensible…she seems half dazed.” Verne glanced at Caste who was pacing, wringing his hands. “I’m surprised you’re this concerned about her. You’ve always been a bit suspicious of Aalis.”
“You can’t deny at times her conduct has been a bit suspicious.”
“Hardly worthy of condemnation.”
“Witches are condemned by the Order of the Grail and must be executed.” Caste declared quietly. “That is what I believe and Aalis openly said she was one.”
“Then why aren’t you throwing rotten fruit at her?”
Caste paced some more. “This isn’t an execution…it’s anarchy masquerading as control.”
They both looked up as the bell for curfew chimed.
“Well…we’re both on the wrong side of the law now.” Verne paused. “If you want to leave, then go.”
Caste shuddered. “I’d rather be here…than in that house…”
Verne was surprised by Caste’s fear, so strong it was palpable. He wondered just what it was that Clariet had said to the cleric that had terrorised him to such a degree.