Howard, leading Redfeather, walked past Duduro out of the inn, but his steps halted abruptly not far from the entrance.
He heard the sound of bells.
Rodel indeed had a clock tower, managed by someone specifically for the job, chiming punctually at morning, noon, and evening.
However, this was not the time for regular chimes, and the sound was not the deep, resonant tone of the clock tower—a sound Howard had clearly remembered from the day before.
This bell, in contrast, was sharp and urgent.
Dong—
Dong—
Dong—
Often, such bell sounds portend dire news.
"This is the alarm bell!"
Duduro's voice came from behind, and when Howard turned around, he saw the smile had vanished from Duduro's face, replaced by a look of solemnity and seriousness.
"And it's a second-level alarm, signifying an emergency situation that could cause severe damage to the city."