Chapter 380 - Chapter 376 – Night at the Cold Iron and the Shadows Watching

Night fell over Ironvale faster than they had expected. The overcast sky that had blanketed the city all day now turned into a deep, starless black, illuminated only by small lamps hanging from street posts and oil lanterns glowing in front of every house door. Their light icy blue, faint purple, and warm yellow blended together, casting long, slowly dancing shadows across the wet stone sidewalks. The bustle of the central market began to fade as vendors closed their stalls one by one, rolling up canvas awnings and clearing wooden tables, though the lively noise hadn't completely disappeared yet. From a tavern at the end of the street came the sound of an old guitar and hoarse laughter, while from the small workshops the final hammer strikes still echoed before the forges went dark.