The guard started to walk away and Boyce laughed a little to Lloyd and Empal, then the guard turned around once more and showed Empal a small triangular device, slowly rubbing his finger over it.
"Don't forget to pay the tax cleric when he comes around."
The guard continued to walk away from the stall and Empal filled the basket with the rest of the fruit that the two men ordered.
Boyce cautiously winked at Empal and spoke to him in a taunting voice.
"Old man …" he said. "Where can my friend and I get lodging and a bath?"
Empal stopped for a moment and looked around, then he pointed across the square to a small side-street.
"Down that way is a tavern called The Lion's Skull Inn. The owner should be able to put you up there for a few days. Just tell them that Empal sent you."
"We are greatly obliged … Empal!" exclaimed Boyce and he took the basket of fruit and they made their way around the square to the small street where the tavern was located.
Boyce had thought it to be an odd sight, seeing some of the old familiar people, who were now older, still working their same kiosks, and some of the stage shows that he remembered were still exhibited for the people, but now just a little different and less spectacular. Of course, he thought that they lacked spectacle value since he was now older.
He turned around for a moment and looked towards Empal, standing with a tall Cardinal beside him. The Cardinal was collecting the church's share of the tax.