Everyone had their backs turned to the Guard unit and seemed not to notice them. Darius stood up in the saddle, trying to see what had caught the attention of the gathering.
Above the heads of the crowd, Bleist spotted four people arguing with one another. Just in front of the inn’s entrance stood a well-dressed, burly dwarf in an apron, brandishing a metal ladle. Opposite him were two sturdy lads who seemed to be letting their emotions get the better of them. The third party in the argument was a man in priestly robes, alternately calming and reprimanding the participants in the feud. The violence and scale of the conflict effectively drew in everyone hungry for entertainment.
Darius merely nodded to his deputy, who slowly moved forward. At the same time, the unit slightly spread out its formation. Two heavily armoured men stopped close to the colonel, another pair took up position at the rear, and the rest took up positions on the flanks, shielding the members of the Azure Guard.
Rex’s Chimera approached the crowd, remaining unnoticed the whole time. It was hard to believe, but Bleist saw it with his own eyes. Logic dictated that even a monster moving so quietly should have attracted someone’s attention, even if only one person’s, but that wasn’t happening. The row outside the inn was clearly more interesting and engrossing.
‘What's all this commotion!?’ The corporal’s voice rang out across the square, drawing the attention of everyone gathered there. Those closest to him began to flee, screaming, to get as far away from the chimera as possible. The panic grew when the crowd realised that the monster nearby was by no means the only one, and others were blocking one of the roads leading to the square. ‘Calm down!’ Rex’s magically amplified voice made the air tremble, and the residents and merchants bowed to its power. Silence reigned all around, broken only by the weary panting of the mounts. The Guard looked around at everyone. ‘Who owns the inn?’
The question sent a shiver through the crowd. People glanced at the
