and slid down to the bottom. When none of the soldiers stirred, the rest followed. The first soldier that Urake shook mumbled a little and rubbed his eyes wearily before settling into a more comfortable position. The next behaved a little more irritably yet dropped off again mid curse.
“Are you all sure that you aren’t feeling sleepy?” Urake scrutinized the party intently.
“No, but Sasha is.” Aleest cradled the little fox that was trying to tuck her nose into her tail.
“Bani is all right.” Cero lifted the flap and let the little green dragon out onto his shoulder.
“Be careful. Someone could see him.” Inadar cautioned Cero with a scowl.
“There isn’t anyone around to see except for us.” Cero scowled back.
“You can’t know that.”
“Oh whatever, let’s go into town.” Cero retorted as Bani scrambled down to the ground and stretched his wings. There was a farmer slumped in his wagon on the side of the road behind his dozing set of oxen. Further on a milk maid was awkwardly laying across a basket of eggs. She only opened her eyes a moment before returning to sleep as Emeck lifted her into a more comfortable position against a nearby clump of grass. Around the next bend, a half dozen children were laid out with fishing poles in hand by a stream that bent near the road.
“This is strange.” Aleest laid Sasha down on some grass before going to the creek edge. Wading in, he reached into the water and pulled out a limp fish.
“The fish are dead?” Emeck queried with a puzzled expression.
“No, just sleeping.” Aleest had no need of further explanation as the fish began wiggling lethargically. A moment late, Aleest dropped it back in the water and waded to shore. Tying his boots on his pack, he went on barefoot. They all stopped uneasily as they approached the town. There was no sound to be heard. None of the usual stray dogs that announced any visitors. No birds chirped and even the insects were eerily absent. When they finally made up the nerve to go into the town, they paused to inspect the guardsman slumped in his shelter. Everywhere, people were sound asleep in the various attitudes of daily life.
Urake left the group a moment to look into a tavern. Inside what looked to be a busy establishment, an odor of stale food and cloying wine tainted the air. There were several patrons snoozing with their faces resting in their food. Cringing, Urake stepped back out onto the street. Wherever they went, it looked as if life had been arrested in its track.
“We should split up. We can cover more ground that way.” Emeck declared that he and Aleest would be a good team. Urake agreed and told Cero and Inadar to behave themselves if they were going to be on their own team. Cero made it clear that there was no reason for Inadar to start giggle before he stormed off down the street in one direction with Inadar in tow. Urake was about to go down another street when he happened to glance over his shoulder at Emeck and Aleest. They were walking and chatting one moment, but then they collapsed a moment after. Rushing to their sides, he was relieved when shaking returned them to the land of the waking.
“What happened?” Urake inquired as the two at up and rubbed their eyes.
“We were just talking about how hard Cero is trying to make everyone believe that he doesn’t like Inadar when Aleest started yawning then the next thing I knew, you were shaking us.” Emeck shook his head.
“I am not tired anymore.” Aleest stood up after inspecting Sasha for any injuries that might have been sustained during the tumble.
“We need to find Cero and Inadar. They could be asleep already.” Urake briskly strode off in the direction that the two had disappeared with Emeck and Aleest hurrying to keep up. After that point, they vied for the position between Urake and his shadow. Turning a corner, they were struck with a wave of putrid odors the same time they discovered Inadar and Cero picking through the market. There were stalls of food and wares with evidence of a bustling midday trade by the number of people strew about.
“Oh good, you are here. Look at this fishmonger’s stall.” Inadar pointed them towards the aforementioned merchant and his moldering wares. Fighting down the urge to lose his breakfast, Urake stepped close enough to see that the fish had once been