Rat(1)

"Hey, lad, fill my cup, can't you see how light it is? Or perhaps your only skill is stealing?" Egil chuckled, lifting his cup and signaling Ratto to refill it. It had been a while since they all enjoyed such a lively dinner together. The tension of battle had dissipated, leaving behind a pleasant weariness, as all the adrenaline gave place to an uneasy sense of peace

"Take it easy, now. We don't know if the enemy decides to have a try during the evening " Jarza cautioned between mouthfuls of meat. He was usually a man of few words, but those times that he spoke people around him usually listened. 

As Egil started reassuring Jarza of his state , Clio leaned in as he turned toward Egil, "how's your foot holding up, by the way?"

With a mischievous glint, he lifted his bandaged foot onto the table. "Good as new," he quipped, earning a collective groan of disgust and a demand from Alpheo to keep it down and avoid disturbing their meal.

"You were lucky…" Clio remarked, a note of seriousness in his voice. "If those arrows had been a bit off-target, it might not have been your foot but your neck or shoulder."

"Thank the gods for small favors, thank yourself for the big ones " Egil replied with a grin, taking a sip from his cup. "What a day, eh?" he declared, raising his cup in a toast.

The others echoed his sentiment, though Alpheo's was evidently less jumpy . Seeing this , Jarza prodded him, and after some reluctance, Alpheo admitted his concerns. "Their side has been too quiet," he explained. "It's troubling."

"Maybe they've realized further assaults would be futile," Egil suggested optimistically, though it was clear he couldn't shake off his friend's worries.

"They know reinforcements are on the way," Alpheo reasoned. "They wouldn't risk losing more troops with another failed attempt.From what I know our enemy has been throwing rings around our employer for long enough..."

"Then why are you so worried?You'll get wrinkles if you keep this up''

Alpheo paused, his expression tense as he considered his response. "Something changed," he finally replied, his voice laced with apprehension. "They are planning something. I can feel it, but I don't know what it is." He punctuated his words with a loud crunch as he took a bite of bread, his jaw working furiously as he chewed, though it sounded more mechanical than anything .

"You're overthinking it," Clio interjected, attempting to assuage his friend's concerns.

"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not... It's just a feeling, after all," Alpheo conceded, though the worry still lingered in his eyes.

Ratto approached quietly, refilling Alpheo's cup before unexpectedly addressing him. "What about you?" he asked. "Do you have anything to add or ask? Sometimes the mind of a boy discovers something that old men can't see." He shook his head in denial

The question drew a chuckle from Egil though . "You've not even seen twenty winters yet. What old man are you supposed to be?" he quipped.

"I feel like I'm past fifty already. Being wise does that, apparently "Alpheo replied with a wry smile, shrugging off the jest.

Egil snorted, then turned his attention elsewhere. "Where is Asag?" he inquired.

"He should be arriving soon. I've already sent for him,"

"What about Captain...Shahil?'' Egil asked 

'' Fahil" Jarza interjected, correcting the slip of the tongue.

"He hasn't been invited, and I doubt he'd entertain sharing food and drinks with some lowly mercenaries," Alpheo remarked, taking a sip of his drink. He remembered assigning Fahil command over twenty archers during the siege, a decision that likely didn't sit well with the captain. He wanted more but that was what he was going to get. 

"Well, who cares?" Alpheo mused as the door finally swung open, signaling the arrival of their missing companion.

Asag entered the feast hall with a confident stride . His eyes lacked any mirth as they locked with Alpheo's. 

Egil's face lit up with a warm smile as he spotted Asag entering. "Ah, there he is! Come and join us," he beckoned, gesturing to an empty seat at the table.

He made no sign to move, he instead turned to Alpheo his gaze intense and focused. "We may have a problem " he stated matter-of-factly, his voice carrying a weight of concern.

Alpheo's sigh echoed through the room, his demeanor shifting as his gaze turned cold. "When did it happen?"

The room fell into a heavy silence, tension palpable as the others exchanged uneasy glances, sensing that something was amiss.

"A few hours ago," Asag replied, his voice steady but tinged with concern.

Alpheo's brow furrowed as he considered the implications. "Are you sure it wasn't just some encounter with a whore?"

Asag's response was firm. "It was a male figure, and unless he's a sword-swallower, then yes, I'm sure."

The others looked in confusion at the exchange , though they kept silent. Alpheo took a moment to collect his thoughts, closing his eyes briefly before addressing the group. "Ratto, please fetch another chair. We'll have a guest joining us shortly."

Without hesitation, Ratto hurried from the room to fulfill Alpheo's request. Meanwhile, Alpheo turned his attention back to Asag. "Tell Fahil to join us for a meal. Tell him I need his counsel on certain matters. Bring some men with you, but keep them outside. If he refuses to comply, have them enter and rough him up on the edges ."

"As you wish," Asag nodded, rising from his seat to carry out Alpheo's instructions. However, before he could leave, Alpheo halted him with a raised hand.

"But before that, there's something I need you to prepare," Alpheo added.

The room fell silent for two long hours before the heavy wooden door swung open once more, breaking the tense stillness with a loud creak. Asag strode into the room, his dark expression unreadable as he led their guest, Fahil, through the doorway. The newcomer's posture was rigid as he surveyed each man sitting at the table, guided by Asag to his designated seat.

"I have been told we would be discussing matters about the city," Fahil said in a low voice

"You have been told correctly," Alpheo replied smoothly, taking a sip from his cup before continuing. "In a few days, your prince will be arriving to relieve the city and we can all go our separate ways. Normally, I would be more than happy for that... if it weren't for something that has just come to my attention."

 "What is it?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady and posture upright .

"Well, it appears , but take this with a pinch of salt.... that our enemy is planning an attack on the city tomorrow," Alpheo revealed calmly as if discussing nothing more significant than the weather.

''You appear sure of that, why's that?'' 

Alpheo's enigmatic smile remained in place as he leaned back in his chair, seemingly unperturbed by Fahil's reaction. "Rats are always easy to catch " he added cryptically, his gaze drifting up towards the roof as if searching for bats.

Suddenly, he put two fingers in his mouth and let out a whistle, shattering the heavy silence in an instant. Two figures appeared from the kitchen door, dragging a bloodied man between them. Fahil's eyes narrowed as he wondered who he was.