Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 141

Chapter 141

The light leaking from inside was dimmer than moonlight, yet the man’s face was still discernible—the bold one who’d sat like a grim reaper in the tavern, the prime suspect for the “Hidden Ally” quest.

Tensed and elated, Nataek unconsciously gripped Medeus’s hem; feeling the tautness at his chest, Medeus glanced down and laid a rough palm on the back of Nataek’s hand, patting as if to calm him. Nataek withdrew his hand with an awkward half‑smile. Voices drifted from the shabby gate.

“I told you not to come.”

“You’re not alone—how can you think only of the general?”

“Damn it.”

The man scanned the area warily. “Come in.”

He opened the door just a crack—enough for one—and the proprietress slipped through, then the door shut. Following Medeus’s hand signals, Nataek crept up and crouched beneath the window. They listened.

“I brought some food.”

“No need.”

“Don’t say that! Eating is strength. For Lord Nammu‑wa too. It’s poor appetite that slows recovery. Ah… if only I could house you…”

“Don’t be foolish.”

“My heart only meant so. Oh—Lord Nammu‑wa!”

“Shuran. Is that how you treat those who help us? We owe you again. Thank you.”

“It’s no burden—only what’s right.”

Dishes clinked.

Shuran. Nammu‑wa. Familiar names Nataek had collected in his rounds.

“Then what of Ur’s commander? Was he executed?”

“Commander? You mean Lord Shuran?”

Their eyes met. This man was indeed Shuran, Ur’s commander and general. Nataek’s heart raced. Was he the Hidden Ally? With a temper like that, he might cause as many flare‑ups as aid.

But there was no choice. They had to make contact.

“Shall we knock?”

“If we do, we’ll be fighting before we’re talking.”

They whispered low.

“Then what?”

“If what we heard is true, the proprietress is aiding them. Going through her might work.”

“Are we certain she still stands with Ur?”

“We need to watch a bit—”

A rustle across from them. A boy in ragged clothes, carrying a bucket, pushed through the brush.

“Ah! W‑who are you?!”

The bucket fell; liquid splashed, the hollow metal clattered.

Nataek and Medeus looked at each other.

“Run?”

Hand at his belt, Medeus stood slowly, eyeing the boy. “Better this way. We have something to confirm.”

Nataek rose with him. The voices inside cut off. Nataek stuck close to Medeus and called clearly for those within to hear:

“We come at Pumarsin’s request. We mean no harm—only to talk. It would be best if you came out before we open this door ourselves.”

As Nataek listened, his brows knit; the words were polite, but the ending sounded like a challenge—come out, or we go in. He remembered the trait he kept overlooking: Medeus had a knack for infuriating nobles, as in Uruk and Kish. Still, it worked quickly—the door flew open. A burly man, sword drawn, glared with murderous eyes.

“Who the hell are you—and how did you track us?”

“Leave a trail and it gets caught,” Medeus said, jerking his chin toward the room. The proprietress flinched and hugged her arms. The man raised his blade toward Medeus.

“What are you?”

“We told you. Here at Pumarsin’s request.”

“Nonsense. Pumarsin isn’t in Ur. Why believe you?”

“If you don’t, you’ll be the one losing out.”

This won’t do. He’ll ruin the plan.

Nataek tugged Medeus’s arm. “Let me speak.”

He tried to pull Medeus back, but the stone‑solid body wouldn’t budge, so he stepped in front.

“Please calm down—and check this first. A necklace from Lord Pumarsin.”

He held out the token Pumarsin had given him.

“He said it was an oath‑gift with his wife—and that this would make you trust me.”

The man took it, suspicious—then his eyes widened at the overlapping house crests.

“You really are sent by Lord Pumarsin…”

“Yes. Will you let us in? Standing here risks discovery.”

After a moment’s hesitation, the man took the necklace inside. A soft, ailing voice followed:

“Let them both enter.”

They stepped into a cramped room with meager furnishings. On a long bench sat a refined‑featured man—more scholar than warrior—who introduced himself as Nammu‑wa, the deposed ensi of Ur. The man beside him was, as expected, Shuran. Nataek had found the right door.

“Are you truly sent by Lord Pumarsin? If you lie, the gods’ curse be on you.”

“Meat between the ears, is it? We’ve told you enough times,” Medeus snapped back.

Steel sang as Shuran bristled. “What did you say?!”

It felt like a preview of how Medeus goaded foes on the battlefield. As Nataek moved to interpose, a voice rang out behind Shuran:

“Shuran! Is this how you treat honored guests?”

Nammu‑wa cut in, and Nataek slipped close to whisper to Medeus, “Why provoke him? He’s to be our ally.”

“How do you know he’ll be ally, not foe?”

“I know. I can feel it.”

The quest name says so.

“So don’t pick a fight—soften your stance.”

Nataek was clinging to Medeus’s arm now; Medeus twitched a frown and looked toward the window. “…Fine.”

“Thank you.”

Turning back, he saw Shuran getting an earful from Nammu‑wa. Here or there, same story…

They spoke at length. To keep Medeus from lunging, Nataek held his arm throughout; as if it were a leash, Medeus behaved gently whenever Nataek pressed close—no more curt grunts.

After hearing of their journey from Kish and their earlier visit to Ur’s mansion, Nammu‑wa finally gave firm intel.

“If Sibiera serves someone, it is Lagab—none other.”

Nammu‑wa’s face was grave; it was, after all, an admission that a former subordinate now served another. At the name Sibiera, Shuran’s hand trembled on his hilt.

Watching them both, Nataek stroked and patted the back of Medeus’s hand once more; thankfully, Medeus held his tongue.

When the time felt right, Nataek got to the point. “Our aim is to retake Ur and drive out the Guti. We came as spies for that purpose.”

“Our aim is the same,” Nammu‑wa replied.

Nataek found himself gripping Medeus’s hand tight, then raised his voice. “Then let us send strength. With an ensi who knows Ur within, and us who can muster force from without—together, it’s not impossible.”

Please—say yes.

He stared them down, swallowing. A new nervous habit—he kept clutching Medeus whenever tension rose. Medeus, in turn, soothed him—patting his hand, stroking his arm—while they waited. Then he spoke.

“Have the cities ever been this united? Miss the moment, and hope cools.”

At last, Nammu‑wa stood. “I have already missed one chance. There cannot be a second failure. I will join my purpose to yours.”

At that, Shuran slid his sword back into its scabbard. “I will follow Lord Nammu‑wa’s will.”

As Nataek turned to Medeus with a bright smile—there it was, the welcome gleam:

[Hidden Ally] quest completed.

The first quest cleared in the last city—a victory meaningful in itself. The anxiety driven by Ur’s frantic pace blew away. With a lighter heart, they returned to their lodgings.

In the dawn‑steeped streets of Ur, not even a rat stirred; only a few Guti sentries stood watch in the distance. Stretching, Nataek looked up.

“One and three are done…”

By luck, one tailing run had yielded two results—quest and proprietress, both settled at once. Now only Lagab’s weakness remained, and…

He glanced sidelong at Medeus. Of course Medeus didn’t miss it; their eyes met.

“This time I’ll be completely honest. Please give me a few days.”

Dawn invites sentiment, but the cold wind of a strange land kept reason keen. It was the one moment honesty came easy without being swept away. Perhaps because a major knot had just been untied, courage rose in Nataek’s heart.

When would such a chance come again?

It felt like the moment to speak.

“…Medeus.”

“Mm.”

Nataek stepped to face him directly. Somewhere on Ur’s dark outskirts, they stood and looked at each other a long while. Nataek did not dodge the gaze.

“About the promise from before.”

“…Mm.”

There was no need to ask which promise.

“Will you hear it now?”