[His eyes haven't left the fountain and the patrols around it. Logically, Marika's suggestion makes sense. It just the sort of conspicuous landmark that would probably hide something, but if it was something the patrols were trying to protect, they wouldn't be so scared of it. That was how you acted around something you didn't particularly want, but wanted other people to have even less.]

I don't think it's the way out, but I also don't think they want us anywhere near it. You said you got close enough to read it, right? Anything interesting?