Iosef, the hob, clung to one of the great walls that constituted the Marble Castle's power with an ear cupped.  The murmur of thousands, regardless of how loud the king was speaking, was deafening enough.

Still, he wanted to be faster than most in the pursuit, and as soon as the name Earthrent came into his ears, he was paying attention.  He'd probably miss out on the lordship and the castle, given his demi-human status, but if those 200,000 bars of gold could buy him holy charms to defend his village against the likes of his mother, by all means...

The Endless Deserts?

Iosef dropped off the castle walls, and into the crowd.  Like a few dozen others, he was sprinting, bobbing, and weaving his way out.

Could he steal a horse?  Maybe.  Just when he was farther out the city walls.  Lord knows how much sprinting that would have to take...