Chapter 48: Gold Coin
’Is that actual gold?’ He took it from her. It felt surprisingly weighty in his hand.
"It’s a royal coin from Lifewoods," she explained.
He turned it over and over. ’Looks real enough. But will anyone here take it?’ This wasn’t exactly a fantasy kingdom. This was, or used to be, a normal city.
Standing around wouldn’t get them anywhere, and he knew a place where people dealt with all sorts of things.
"Come on," he said, pocketing the coin. "I think I know a place we can ask."
She looked at him, her expression questioning but she didn’t argue. She just followed as he started walking, turning away from the main square. He led them down a side street that was a little less clean. The buildings here were still intact, but the people seemed different.
"This area feels... less orderly," she commented, staying a little closer to him now.
"Yeah, well, we’re not looking for orderly," he replied. He spotted the building he was looking for up ahead. It didn’t have a big sign, just a single light over a dark door. ’This is it.’
He walked right up to the door and pushed it open. A wall of noise hit them, people talking loudly and the clatter of something like dice on tables. He stepped inside, and Serian followed, her eyes wide as she took in the scene. The room was full of people huddled around tables, playing cards and other games he didn’t recognize.