Chapter 319: The Plot Of Rebellion
Kasmer and Nasser sat at a corner table in the bustling common room of the inn, the morning sun spilling through the tall windows in golden slants. The scent of fresh bread mingled with the sharper aroma of fried eggs and sausages, but it did little to improve Nasser’s mood.
"I still can’t believe Matthias thought we’d tolerate sleeping behind a workshop," Nasser muttered, jabbing his fork into a boiled potato like it had personally offended him. "The soot, the smoke, the rats. I’m a merchant, not a blacksmith’s apprentice."
Kasmer chuckled.
Matthias felt humiliated by Nasser’s endless complaints. In the end, he agreed that the room behind the workshop was indeed not suitable for the two merchants, so he arranged for them to transfer to an inn that was the nearest to the Norse estate.
The news of the arson and murders travelled fast. It reached Nasser’s ears while they were enjoying their meal at the inn before going to the Norse estate to continue meeting with Lara and her brothers about the collaboration on the iron horse, which Gideon wanted to call m-tryke. He said that m-tryke sounded cool.
The clatter of cutlery and hum of conversation swirled around them, but both men turned their heads when a shrill voice cut through the room like a blade.
"Have you heard the news? Four people died in the fire last night. They said Prince Alaric orchestrated it. There are witnesses." A plump woman did not linger in the inn. After delivering the news, she exited and proceeded to the next shop.
"Damn it! Did you hear that?" Nasser was fuming. "How could these idiots believe the lies being spread about Alaric rebelling for being banished?"
Kasmer’s eyes darkened as the words pierced the air. Behind his calm facade, a storm was brewing—one that twisted beneath his ribs and clawed at his composure. The shadows in his gaze deepened, as though a hundred memories flickered through him at once.