Finn and Jon headed for the gates, but they found a crowd already gathered there. The usual evening exodus had turned into something else entirely. The city gate was now a bottleneck of workers being scrutinized before they could leave.
The guards were thoroughly checking as people departed the city. Not just glancing at tokens and waving people through, but actually examining them, asking questions, making notes.
The line moved at a crawl.
After what seemed like enough time to nearly reach curfew, it finally reached Jon and Finn's turn. As they stepped forward, Finn noticed a black-robed figure sitting by the gate, perched on a stool like a vulture watching prey. The figure's hood was pulled low, but Finn could feel eyes tracking him from within that shadow.
A named priest.
"Tokens," one of the guards said, extending his hand.
Jon handed his over first, then Finn produced his own.
