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.