03

The bartender and the girl emerge from the front door of the inn, before turning into a back street and quickly navigate through alleyways and yards, ending up on the rooftop of a bakery somewhere near the middle of the town.

"Did you have to say all of that? I had it covered, you know." Elyra says.

"Well, I know you did. but it'd take too long to negotiate terms with a greedy old man like that, and we were already out of time." The barman replies.

"But the clergymen are still about five miles out-"

"That was thirty minutes ago. Even the lowest tier of the clergy are still skilled in movement-based magic, Ely. I assumed you knew that when I asked you that question earlier."

"I'm sorry, boss." she says, looking away.

"There's not much to be sorry about, Ely. Look down there." He says, pointing down to two men dressed in clergy robes, looking around the busy streets.

"They're here already?" Elyra says in shock.

"Well...even you could cover that same distance. It's no surprise they could try to do it. But their aura signatures are too weak. They won't catch on to us anytime soon. Not with these dampener cloaks we've got on." He says, looking at the hooded cloaks he and Elyra are wearing. "Come now, Lyse and Gav are at the square already."

They take off again, from rooftop to rooftop, silently and undetected. It isn't long until they arrive at the square, even busier than the market streets.

They drop down into one of the alleyways, before walking out stealthily and as naturally as possible.

"Well, you certainly took your time, Ryn-love. We're near the gates, next to the watermelon stall." A voice coming from the barman's wristband goes.

"We'll be there in a bit." He responds by holding the wristband to his mouth.

The two walk towards the specified location where there are two people seated on heavy bags and waiting. One of them is a hulking figure, hunched over. He has short black hair, cold,grey eyes and fair skin with hand scars, the other is a slender woman with fiery-red hair, emerald-green eyes and beige skin.

The large man stands up, his shirt barely containing his body. "Well, that took some time. At least we'll be leaving Grimeford soon, right, Arryn?"

"Not exactly, Gav. We'll be discussing the details when we get back on the road, but for now, where is Hector?" He says.

"Should be on his way; said he had a few people to 'greet' before we take our leave." the red-haired woman answers.

"And you let him go? We'll be here for hours, Lyse!" Elyra complains.

"Hey, don't blame me. He'd find a way to give me the slip no matter how you slice it. Just sit back and pray the clergymen didn't get him."

"Nah!" A voice echoes from behind them. They all instantly recognize it as the voice of Montie, the missing member of the crew. He is sitting atop the gatehouse, looking on at the square.

"They'd never have the strength to actually catch me." He continues.

"Nice entrance, Montie." Lyse says,as he jumps down to meet them.

"Great, everyone's here now. So let's grab our stuff and leave this place before we attract any unwanted attention." Arryn declares.

The group of five splits their load and they all take off from the city and onto the road.