Chapter 230: The Glossy Swallow
The sun had fallen well below the horizon by the time we made it before the city gates. The thick stone wall loomed above us like black curtains, obscuring any of the beautiful, twinkling lights that had been visible from above the city. The ironbound wooden gates towered thirty feet high, tightly closed against the wanderers of the night.
Sorrin strode up to a smaller access portal to the right of the gate. His knuckles struck the heavy oak with enough force to shake the door to the point I feared it might split.
A rectangular viewport swung open, and a flat, warty face appeared. Light streamed through the crack, providing just enough illumination to show the irritation on the guard’s face. "Scram, we closed the gates an hour ago."
Sorrin leaned forward, letting the light shine on his features. The guard froze, his expression morphing to panic.
"S-sorrin! I wasn’t aware you were returning tonight! Give me just a moment, and I’ll have this door open, and-"
"Just shut up," Sorrin muttered, sighing. "It’s been a long journey, and I’d hate to have my last memory of it be your sniveling complaints."
The guard’s mouth clicked shut, leaving the only sound the mechanical whirring on whatever contraption held the door. I stared at Sorrin, my tail twitching uncertainly. He was always cool and collected, never taking anything remotely similar to that tone even with Rasce or Dyson. And why did the guard seem to fear him? Sorrin was serious, but not scary, right?
The door swung open, bathing us in the magical light of a bright crystal, and I blinked, shielding my eyes against the glare. Demonkin eyes were far more sensitive than human’s, allowing us to see in the dark. But it made it all the more difficult to adjust to sudden changes of illumination.
"Come in, my good adventurers," the guard said, giving a slight bow and gesturing grandly. "I take it you’re here on guild business?"
"Record what you wish. We’ll be heading to the Glossy Sparrow," Sorrin replied bruskly.
"Of course." The guard nodded and made some notes on a clipboard.