Chapter 8
The Gatekeep
The further Nicolas moved away from the forest, the less tired he felt. The open plain, and the sudden expanse of night sky and fresh wind—as cold as it might have been—was a welcome relief from the closeness and darkness of the forest’s enclosure.
Nicolas caught up with the tall man and the donkey after a hundred yards or so. He couldn’t help but stare in awe at the quickly approaching fortress which made it hard to keep his eyes on the road. Occasionally, Nicolas had to leap to the side of the roadway to avoid running into the donkey’s hind flanks as it ambled peacefully along behind its master.
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St. Wulf’s-Without-Aldersgate was massive.
The gatekeep eventually blocked Nicolas’ view of the walled city, which lay in deeper shadows beyond the gate’s immense
