Chapter 13: Scouting
The faint gray light of dawn hadn’t yet touched the horizon, but Geb Fortress was already alive with activity. The distant clatter of carts and voices called to one another in the early morning bustle. Inside the modest inn room, Alex stirred from a dreamless sleep.
He sat up silently, his movements efficient and precise. Nyxara curled at the foot of the bed and stretched lazily before hopping down the floor.
"You always wake up this early," she teased, her voice sliding smoothly into his mind. "Do you even know how to relax?"
Alex didn’t answer immediately, pulling on his cloak and tucking away his few belongings. "There’s no time to waste," he said simply, his voice in her mind steady as ever.
Nyxara let out a mock sigh, her tail swishing lightly. "You’re lucky I’m naturally a morning tiger. Otherwise, I might protest this relentless schedule of yours."
Alex’s senses extended outwards as they entered the hallway, scanning for anything unusual. The faint sound of snoring from the neighboring rooms and the creak of the innkeeper moving about downstairs were the only signs of life.
The fortress was already energizing when he made his way to the street. Merchants were setting up their stalls, their voices rising above the din as they barked prices and haggled over goods.
The smell of freshly baked bread and roasted meat wafted through the air, mingling with the sharper metal tang from nearby blacksmiths.
Nyxara perched herself on his shoulder, her golden eyes taking in the lively scene. "You have to admit, this place has a certain charm," she said, her tone light.