Chapter 498: The shadow of death
Laiyite Suoluo hung his waterskin and bag of bean cakes on his camel horse, then mounted and slowly headed toward the city gates.
It had still been light when he arrived in the city. Entering through another gate, he had intended to spend the night at the local church, but the priests there had not dared shelter this awe-inspiring Holy Knight. They had gone so far as to refuse to let Leit through the door.
By the time Leit found a tavern to rest briefly and replenish his supplies, darkness had fully fallen.
Cities near the border generally had walls, but at night, a relatively narrow passage was usually left open at one of the gates. Unless military orders dictated otherwise, leaving the city was generally unrestricted, while entering required a much stricter inspection.
Managing the traffic through the gates at night was also the main source of illicit income for the soldiers on watch.
Some people who wanted to enter would rather endure a night outside, but there were always those with urgent business or enough money not to mind the toll. That made night watch at the city gates a lucrative posting.
Cities near the border generally had walls, but at night, a relatively narrow passage was usually left open at one of the gates. Unless military orders dictated otherwise, leaving the city was mostly unrestricted, while entering required a much stricter inspection.
Managing the traffic through the gates at night was also the main source of illicit income for the soldiers on watch.
Some people who wanted to enter would rather endure a night outside, but there were always those with urgent business or enough money not to mind the toll. That made night watch at the city gates a lucrative