Chapter 141

Though night had not yet fallen, there was not a street vendor in sight, and most shops stood empty. Compared to Anatol's bustling market, which teemed with hundreds of merchants even in midwinter, the town looked utterly desolate.

Gazing at the packed row of houses on either side of the road, Ruth scratched the back of his head. "It seems we're spared from camping tonight."

True enough, less than half the houses had smoke drifting from their chimneys. There were enough empty lots to accommodate at least a thousand of them.

Maxi tried to count the hundreds of dark windows before halting in the square. Having found a fairly large inn, the army had stopped marching to speak with the innkeeper. She swiftly dismounted to allow Rem a moment of rest.

The empty market was bathed in the glow of sunset. Maxi peered through the knights standing in measured ranks, all the way to the head of the army, where Ursuline Ricaydo was conversing with a wealthy-looking man.