Dusk approached, and the bell tower of the church rang out the night's bell sound, while crowds still gathered near the soup kitchen by the city gates.
The autumn chill was seeping into this city, recently a survivor of war, but thankfully the large pots of rolling hot soup, and the rich aroma of wheat dispersed the cold from the people and their worries about the future.
Most citizens' faces showed a dull pallor, yet there was at least a trace of vitality in their eyes.
Holding rough clay bowls, they gathered in groups of three or four, swallowing the hard-earned food while exchanging the latest rumors in hushed tones.
"Hey, have you heard?"
A well-informed, skinny man spoke first, lowering his voice with pride, as if sharing an earth-shattering secret.
