Okay. The door wasn't loud when those two opened it, so we're both fine on that front, and the hallway... Well, crap, one set of stairs. If they're near the bottom, we're done for.

Still, the building looks well maintained, so we shouldn't give ourselves away accidentally with creaky floorboards or the like, so long as we're quiet. Karen looks at me, and I gesture to the stairs, and make tiptoe motions with my fingers.

We don't really have a choice. And each step feels agonising. Not just the tension, but those ropes were uncomfortable, and we didn't have time to fully get rid of those pins and needles. We can't hear anything right now, but that means nothing.

I hate it. I hate feeling this helpless, even though we've gotten this far. We're almost there, there's two rooms in sight, and-

"IhatethemIhatethemI'mgoingtokickhiminhisdumbstupidcrotchuntilhe-"

She catches herself, and looks at me sourly. Where did she get such a mouth, I wonder? Who was her etiquette tutor? I want to kick them in their dumb stupi-

"Hey, do you want a drink, boss?"

"Don't call me the boss, idiot, even when we're out of earshot. You give the game away, you're dead, got it?"

"Y-y-yeah. So, umm... Do you want a drink?"

"Lemme think about it for a minute."

I was right. He's the mouthpiece, and nothing more. But we don't have time to go anywhere but the nearest room. I point toward it, and we scurry toward the door, opening it as quickly and quietly as we can.

It's only when we've closed it behind us that I realise we're cornered.

This is the kitchen.

You know. Where you get water from.

Stolen story; please report.

And I can hear their door open. Dammit, dammit, where, where... Karen hisses to me from a cupboard, and I dart inside. Good job, Karen!

Footsteps. Wait, two sets of footsteps? I'm confused, but we don't dare open the cupboard, even a fraction. All we can do is listen, stay as quiet as we can, and hope they leave.

"Why did we pick those two anyway, bo- ummm..." An irritated sigh.

"They were simply targets of opportunity. Someone pointed them out while they were frolicking, the sheltered little lambs, and they'd make a win for us. Either we got the money, and left them here for their families to find, or we strung them up somewhere prominent, and left the kingdom for a few years and screwed over some other nobles."

Karen's turning purple, and I put a hand over her mouth, staring at her warningly. It's not that I'm not pissed off, because I am. This seems like a stupidly petty reason for things, and whoever "pointed us out" may have done so to hurt us. But getting out is the priority here.

Running water. Good. They might be leaving soon.

"But... I'm confused. Why are we going after noble kids anyway? I know this was off the cuff, bo-... But... Isn't this kind of dangerous?"

A laugh, surprisingly warm. "Danger's part of the fun! And besides... They've got lots of money, and there's no such thing as a truly good noble. A good merchant? Possible. A good freeman, or knight, or adventurer? Possible. A good peasant or slave? Possible. But nobles are at the top of things. They're responsible... Remember Hayes?"

I'm not paying attention, and nor is Karen, because we're both lost in thought. Baroness Hayes and her husband. I remember father talking about them, how they swore blind that they weren't in the slave trade, despite the evidence they'd foolishly revealed. But was it actually the-

"Good job, that. Heh, idiots. They didn't check the warehouse just before it was inspected, so we moved some of one kind of 'merchandise' from one warehouse to another, and the lesser crime they thought they were admitting to suddenly became the bigger crime." She's smug, and I almost admire her for a second. Then I remember that she's targeting someone who doesn't engage in such awful practices (and, judging by Karen's expression, hers don't seem to either), and I get angry again.

Another tap sound. Jesus, folks, just get out, my legs starting to cramp, and Karen's looking fit to explode!

"Let's check up on our little chicks, mmm? After all, if they've done something stupid, they'll be paying for it. I wonder how these privileged little shits are going to enjoy my rope skills, eh... Boss?"

A loud gulp, and the door finally opens. There's no real option now except to rush for the front door, and so that's exactly what we do. Run run run, so long as they're not quicker than we are, we can get out, worry about the rest later.

Oh, thank god, the door's not locked! Freedom never looked so-

A pain in my lower back, and a scream from Karen. Oh wow, freedom looks like hitting cobbles kinda hard and bouncing, huh? Looking back, I see Karen in midair, struggling as she's held up by that tall thug, and...

"Ahhh, figured this might happen. Sorry, chicks, I could hear you from the moment you went down the stairs." The lady is grinning widely now, and I'm terrified. This is not the smile of someone who wants to be reasonable. This is the grin of someone who's going to enjoy making you suffer. "So... We're going to plan B, which is to string you up anyway. You're good for it, right? Because if you aren-"

WHBOOM

The thug goes flying through the air, and Karen rolls away as he hits a wall. Huh, swordsmanship lessons actually taught something, who knew? But we don't have time to worry, we've got to-

"Run!"

It's Liz's voice, and we both take off.

Sorry, Liz. I'll try to get help.

Even if I don't think you're going to be there when it comes.