All is not as it seems

Escaping the palace was easier than expected. I used to think that this would be the hardest part of the plan. But that was before the palace was under attack.

Besides, Isayah had prepared practically everything for me beforehand.

When we stepped out into the light at the end of the long, secret tunnel, a carriage was already waiting for me there to take me the the hill down to the capital.

I should hide in the back of the wagon in case the guards tried to stop us. However, there wasn't a single guard anywhere to be seen on the way out.

I was slowly beginning to worry about the well-being of my friends. Had they fallen for this almost ridiculously obvious ambush? I was sure that all of them (except for Amadeus) weren't really that stupid and wouldn't fall for it. But even if they uncovered this lie, they would probably also get into a fight if they weren't careful enough.

I got nervous.

Would they be okay? They were all excellent fighters, so I really hoped they would make it. Besides, they would be able to protect each other.

If I had stayed it would probably be worse for them, because Cain's alter ego would use them as leverage to blackmail me. But if I wasn't there, he couldn't use them against me and would leave them alone.

While Cain's alter ego seemed rather unpredictable and irrational, he was not at all. His actions always had the background to corrupt me and make me dependent on him. So if he didn't know where I was and if I would even know what he was doing, he wouldn't hurt my friends. He would only do something like that if I met him in person again or if he knew that I'm watching. Besides, my friends were far too good leverage to just kill them right away without a specific reason. They would be safer without me.

That fact reassured me a little.

I was just sorry that I just left them without further notice.

…

When I got down the hill to the capital, it was already dusk.

Especially in the evenings, you quickly realized that autumn was coming to an end and that winter was gradually approaching. I probably would have been cold in my guard uniform, but luckily Isayah had put a warm jacket, some dried meat and money in the wagon for me.

Since my journey started quite abruptly, I didn't really have all my packed things with me. But thanks to Isayah, at least I had what I needed for my escape.

The best thing I could do with the money was to buy clothes that didn't show that they came from the palace and that'll keep me warm in the coming winter nights. Maybe I could also sell the high-quality palace uniform somewhere, although I rather doubt it. People will definitely be skeptical if you sell a palace guard uniform just like that. Maybe I could sell the shirt and pants separately. But I would never be able to sell the jacket and belt that featured the royal family coat of arms.

So at the moment it was just a matter of buying new, warmer clothes for me. I would get rid of the uniform later.

As I got out of the wagon, I wrapped my coat tighter around my body and cautiously looked around.

The city was as good as empty.

However, the few people who were still walking around and apparently had something to do didn't look as if they knew anything about the attack on the palace. They either looked calm or even bored.

Of course, the news would probably spread only gradually. Surely they would hear about it tomorrow. Right now nobody in the palace probably had time to inform the citizens of the capital about the incident.

Still, Most of the shops were already closed due to the late time, so I needed to find an open tailor's shop quickly. I should take advantage of the calm before the storm and get out of the capital as quickly as possible.

I hastily ran through the streets and looked for a tailor who was still open and found what I was looking for in the third side street.

It was a small, crowded shop that mainly sold clothes for ordinary people. Most of the clothes were brown or beige and rather basic and plain. That just suited me. I entered immediately.

A small bell on the door announced that someone had arrived.

"I'll be right there for you!" croaked an old woman's voice from the back room of the store.

So I stood there and waited. Meanwhile I took a look around: The store looked just as cluttered and cramped as it did from the outside. When I took a closer look at the clothes on display, I noticed that there was apparently also rough, hand-made jewelry for sale here.

Somehow the jewelry seemed strangely familiar to me. It reminded me a lot of the summer festival with Cain. I wasn't really sure, but I think I saw such a stand at the festival before that sold exactly-

"What can I do for you, young man?" A rasping voice suddenly interrupted me, making me flinch.

"You! You are the fortune teller! From the summer festival!" I exclaimed in surprise, recognizing the old witch as soon as i saw her.

"I seem to have left a lasting impression." The old woman chuckled.

I just stood there a little awkwardly. The witch now took a closer look at me and seemed to have already drawn her conclusions:

"I see your plan didn't quite work out the way you envisioned it..." the witch remarked while still eying me with great interest. I gulped.

"T-that's right. Unfortunately. I'm sorry…" I said with a slight hesitation in my voice.

"Don't be. You don't owe anyone anything. Don't apologize for something that was doomed to fail anyway..."

"You… you didn't expect that I could do it?" It kind of hurt me a little that she didn't seem to have believed in me to begin with. But on the other hand, I hardly knew this woman in front of me. Why should she even support me?

"I'm a witch. And like many witches, I have long given up hope of rescue or salvation..." The old lady explained, "... although I have the feeling that you don't seem to have given up as much as you think you did." She continued.

I just looked at her doubtfully. Did she give me any hints with her answer? What was she up to?

"What do you mean by that?"

"I can't tell you that, my dear boy..." said the witch with an apologetic look that made me slightly uneasy.

I had forgotten how annoying it was that this fortune teller always spoke in riddles.

"Do you think I shouldn't flee?" I asked her advice indirectly.

"I never said that." She answered simply.

"Then what do you mean?!"

"I mean what I said."

"But that doesn't make any sense! You say that you think I still have some sort of hope of saving Cain and then you tell me that I'd better flee! I do not understand!"

"I can understand your frustration very well. However, you have to make your own decision. I just told you what I saw in you. You have to go the rest of the way alone." said the fortune teller as she laid out warm winter clothes for me on the counter, "That makes two pieces of silver then." She said afterwards.

It was quite expensive for a simple pair of lined trousers and a knit sweater. However, I had the feeling that with this price I was also paying for her advice.

So I gave her the money.