Chapter 32: Food and training
It took them a while to backtrack to the stair, as Irwin had forgotten a few bits of it, but eventually, they reached the square. It was quiet now, but the torches were still burning. The area was deserted, the building quiet and still.
Irwin stared at it, then turned to Daubutim. "You just want to go inside?" he whispered.
Daubutim nodded, and Irwin internally groaned.
They snuck one after the other along the buildings until they reached the first of the torches. Irwin noticed something odd about how it burned, but he couldn't figure out what was wrong. Then Daubutim prodded him, and he continued to the building.
The windows had shutters, but most were ripped off or swung wide open. Irwin took a deep breath and looked through the nearest window.
There were a dozen or so Galub sleeping on the ground. Empty flagons and tankards lay strewn around them, as well as, what he hoped, were puddles of drink. Dull metal kegs lay against the side beside wooden boxes. Irwin saw some of the orange things the Galubs had been eating stick out.
They continued to the entrance, then stopped. Daubutim put his head closer to his and whispered, "I'll stay here and get ready. Grab a box, then get out." He stuck out his hand to Irwin's sword.
Irwin swallowed, nodded, and reluctantly handed over his sword. Then he looked at the closest box. He almost wanted to say he couldn't lift it, then held back. He'd managed to lift Greldo, and this wouldn't be that hard… hopefully.
He snuck forward, dodging around a puddle, and past one Galub that was snoring loudly. He took a look, but its back was turned to him, and he reached for the box. The top was ripped off, but a part remained with some etched writing. Though he couldn't read it, he knew instantly it wasn't the same as what he'd seen before. Instead of flowing lines, the characters and symbols were blocky and angular.
The things inside were a sort of root or carrot that he'd never seen before. Dull and wrinkled, he wondered if they were edible to them or only the Galub. Keeping an eye on the nearest Galub, he lifted the box, making sure nothing lay on it that could fall off. It was heavy, but not so much that he couldn't lift it, and with it in his hands, he turned around to head back and froze.
A Galub at the other side was stretching, letting out a groan as he blinked around blearily. In the entrance, Daubutim was beckoning him, and Irwin snuck forward, praying the Galub wouldn't see him. He got halfway when there was a surprised shout.
"Carded! How?"