Piv saw the flash of anger in Maya’s face at the guard’s insinuation and lurched forward before she could say anything that would get them into trouble. He nodded to the guard and tugged on Maya’s hand. “Thank you Sir. Come on then Miss, best be getting to the inn.”
The pair shuffled away under the watchful gaze of the guard. Once out of ear shot, Piv turned to Maya, “Well done, playing the awestruck tourist, that was quick thinking.” Maya smirked, “Not just a pretty face eh? Anyways, I am an awestruck tourist, this place is straight out of a fairy tale! Except for the way he spoke to you, or to be more accurate, they way he blanked you on purpose.”
“Try not to let yourself get too worked up about it. We don’t want to draw any extra attention to ourselves.”
“Yeah, I know, but it still isn’t right.” After a short pause to take in the path ahead Maya skipped a couple of paces and turned to Piv, “So, where are we going then? I’m assuming not The Violet Oak?”
“No,” Piv smirked, “Not The Violet Oak, not even Doreton. We are going to Gomin District, there are a couple of inns there more within our price range, plus I’ve thought of someone that might help us.”
“Another Togi?”
“No, a Misvan, but a nice one. They do exist. Her name is Valar, she used to do maintenance all over Nurba, fixing things for people. Hopefully she is still about.”
“Hopefully! Lead the way.”
Maya motioned for Piv to step ahead and made a show of marching along behind him. The pair walked in silence both taking in the spectacle of the city as they approached. After about twenty minutes they reached the second set of gates, marking entry into the city proper. Even though it was still technically a bridge wherever you were in the city, once through the second gates, it was a fact that could easily be forgotten. Even at this late hour the city was bustling. Markets and taverns lined the wide central road that lead all the way from the gates to what looked like a walled palace at the centre of the city.
Piv noticed Maya staring, “The Manor. Home to the Principal of Nurba, and about three thousand Hierarchs and their families. Congratulations, by the way, you’ve now seen as much of the Manor as I have.”
“The Principal? Like a king, or prime minister?”
“Yes, like a king, and the Hierarchs are like nobility of sorts. Except they have roles, and responsibilities in the city. They report to the Principal. Oh- this way.”
Piv turned off the main thoroughfare and into a smaller street headed south, motioning for Maya to follow. Although still busy enough for the late hour, the streets quietened more and more, the further from the main road that they got. As they walked, Maya became slowly aware of a presence a short way behind them that persisted despite their changing direction a few times. A dread fell over her, and her heart began to race. She nudged Piv and whispered, “I think we’re being followed?”
Piv gave a small nod, but did not turn to look. “Since just inside the gate I think. I thought it was a coincidence, but we’ve looped back on ourselves twice now and they are still with us. Likely wanting to see where we are headed. I don’t want Valar getting any trouble, so we will need to lose them.” Maya’s heart pounded even harder as she tried her best not to keep looking behind. “How do we do that?”
“In a moment we will be turning left, as soon as we round the corner, run. About three doors down in that road is a Tavern, straight after it is an alley. We should be able to make it to the alley before our stalker makes it to the corner. With any luck they’ll think we’ve gone into the tavern. The alley goes through to a parallel road, we cross that road, find another alley. Then we can get a couple of roads over and see if we are still being followed.”
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
With no better plan of action to offer, Maya gave a curt nod and braced herself. Moments passed and they reached the corner. Maya and Piv burst into a sprint as soon as they turned. The pair barrelled towards the still open tavern as three patrons stepped out. Maya narrowly dodged hurtling into the group, but could not avoid their drunken shouts of surprise. Past the tavern, Maya dashed to the alley, grabbing the wall with one hand as she swung herself round into it. It was a couple of seconds before Maya realised she was running alone. She halted, twisted and looked behind her. Piv had not entered the alley. After a split second of hesitation, Maya turned on her heels and headed back the way the way she came.
She reached the road and quietly poked her head around the corner, scared of what she might see. Piv was suspended in the air, held by the scruff of his neck by one of the three drunkards that had stumbled out of the tavern. His legs and tails dangled, as he clutched at his satchel, the three men poking at him, jeering. Piv seemed to just tense up, preparing himself for an inevitable beating. He didn’t fight, he didn’t argue, he just hung, limp, letting those morons do whatever they liked. Maya locked eyes with Piv and after a second his widen as he registered her presence. He shot her a look. One small twitch of the head that said, don’t get involved, don’t do anything stupid, stay out of it. One look conveyed so many sensible instructions, that Maya almost felt bad for dismissing them in a instant. An odd sense of loyalty rushed through her, and Maya leapt from her hiding.
“Put him down!”
The three men turned, confused. The one holding Piv swung him round like a rag doll as he turned. After a moment to process the young girl with huge pink hair marching toward them, the taller of the men stepped forward.
“Who the hell are you?!”
“Put him down!”
Piv called from behind the taller man, “Stay out of it!”
The drunkard still holding Piv grinned and shook him gently. “I’d listen to your friend if I were you kid. His lot needs to learn their manners, reckon we’re going to teach him.”
The third man chimed in, “Reckon we’ll have to teach you too if you don’t hop it.”
“Put. Him. Down!”
Maya stopped about three metres from the men and swung her backpack round to her front. Reaching in, she pulled a bright yellow vial from its depths, that shimmered in the odd mixture of candle and moonlight. Maya held out the vial threateningly at the men. Two of the men laughed, however the third did not. The taller of the men that stood closest to Maya stared at the vial. He stuttered as he spoke, “You- you’re, you’re a hazemaker?” He stumbled back, as the laughter from the other two died down. Piv dropped to the floor with a thud, but quickly pulled himself to his feet and dashed over to Maya. She stood firm, still waving the yellow vial at the men as they tripped over one another to get away.
Maya felt a tug on her trousers and looked to see Piv pulling at her to follow. “You should not have done that. Those men will talk. The hazemaker girl with pink hair will be famous in the taverns of Troust. Come on, I think they scared off our friend, but we should still be careful.”
Maya followed as Piv skipped through the alley, and replaced the vial. “You expected me to just leave you?!”
“Well, yes. A few bruises is nothing compared to what the Fylguard might have in store if you’re caught!”
“Fylguard schmylguard, they were gonna batter you! You’re welcome by the way!”
“Oh don’t be like that, you know I am grateful, but it doesn’t make it any more sensible!”
“I don’t care about sensible, nothing about all this is sensible.”
Piv skipped through a second alley and out onto another road then slowed to a walk.
“A few idiots in Troust is one thing, but what if they’d known what the haze was. Unless you had the luck of Eris and pulled one that was appropriate to the situation, it would become immediately clear you didn’t have a clue what you were doing.” Piv sighed, “But still, I appreciate the gesture. Keep an eye out in case our companion catches up to us. I think we should be alright, but you never know.”
The duo walked, eyes peeled for another half an hour before Piv stopped at a corner. “Wait there, I’ll call you over in a moment.” The small togi darted off and climbed the steps outside a building with a large wooden sign hanging above the door. Maya waited, eyes glancing around like a lookout as Piv knocked three times.