Damsel in Distress The day was slowly nearing its end. Golden sun rays slid across the rooftops of Ragnan houses, throwing webs of shadows into the streets and lanes. The tall walls and the entrance gate played their role in this light-play as well. Eagle and Jackal were impatiently waiting for the tower at the main square to chime eight o'clock. They couldn't wait to get out of the place where they spent thirteen hours every day. It was the stony arch of the town gate which was also the only place where they could find some retreat from the warmest days. While Eagle was leaning against the wall in the passage, looking utterly bored and silently enduring the last minutes of his duty, Jackal's nerves couldn't stand it any more, so he had found something with which to pass his time. It was quite a while since he had started counting the stone blocks of the passage arch. “One hundred an' forty four, one hundred an' forty five, one hundred an' forty...
