Chapter 1133: Grandin
The morning soon came, but despite Pilos’ assurances, his promised guide hadn’t arrived.
“Wait just a little longer, King Leon, I’ll have him fetched,” Pilos promised.
Leon, already aware of how much time was passing—half of the time he had to return to Artorion had already been burned—was reluctant to give him extra time to find this guide, but without knowing enough about the city, he thought that finding a guide on his own would take too long. Waiting an extra few hours, in his mind, would be worth it if it saved him time on the ascent up the Lance.
After making his displeasure known with his expression alone, Leon gave Pilos the extra time he asked for.
However, by the time noon came, no guide had been presented to him. With growing frustration, Leon went to Pilos to thank him for his hospitality, and to inform him that it was time for him to attempt the ascent either with only his party or with whatever guide he could scrounge up on short notice. He couldn’t afford to wait any longer.
Pilos, looking panicked, accepted his decision, but at least told him where the guide he spoke of could be found, and offered to have one of his Red Sashes escort him there. Leon found it a little odd that he knew where the guide was yet couldn’t get him to the estate, but in the end, didn’t press the harried-looking Azadan for too many details, and simply accepted the man’s offer to have him taken to the guide instead of bringing the guide to him.
Regardless of how the meeting went, though, he and his people had to begin their ascent. Artorion remained stable, but that could change at any time.
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“What a seedy place,” Cosmo muttered as they laid their eyes on their destination, and Leon couldn’t help but agree.