CHAPTER TWO
Keswick loomed before Aramis and Melchiades like a mountain.
Gray stone walls, taller than anything Aramis had ever seen, stood vigilant guard around the port city. It was supposedly second in size only to the capital of his kingdom. Judging by the massive stretch of coastal land that the city covered, Aramis wouldn’t be surprised if the city of Keswick was larger. Spaced every few yards a guard tower rose from the wall. Aramis wasn’t sure, but he thought he could see shrouded figures atop them. A massive portcullis, wide enough to comfortably allow four carriages through side by side, was halfway down.
“That’s odd,” Aramis said. “Why would the gate be closing so soon?”
Mel shrugged. Exchanging glances, they both urged their mounts to pick up the pace. As they approached th
