“So you see,” Barry told Julian as he walked confidently in front of their group through the city streets. Julian, Rufus and Bronwynn were following Barry and Lomen as they made their way north-east. “That is why the North Sumbria Mercenary Guild is a foolish place to start looking.”

“He’s actually right.” Lomen said, sounding surprised himself. Julian felt the sentiment.

“That’s right I’m right!”

They’d found themselves here because Suki the fox had adamantly argued they begin, as Barry scoffed, at the Mercenary Guild. They could look for clues, check over any logged quests, and try and figure out if any of the current contracts were helping the Blackfog.

Hireling contractors were the norm for the Blackfog up until this point, so it's seemed reasonable. Mercenaries and assassins and merchants could accept quests without much worry of repercussion as long as the paperwork was appropriate and they were kept in the dark on any underhanded dealings. The Continental Council promoted a very lenient-to-the-ignorant government. No sense sentencing someone who was just doing their job.

It created an interesting problem where a lot of hired workers were constantly getting arrested for doing their job, but were set free because they'd just been doing their job. It promoted a healthy work life balance because the guilds didn't want to risk their workers getting arrested for good and anyone corrupt enough to break the law didn't want to get on the bad side of a guild. Those who were in the know were in the know, and everyone else was not.

So almost everyone's contract jobs were regulated, above board, and with benefits. It meant each kingdom was forced to target the leaders and the money behind any corruption if they wanted to actually defeat criminals... instead of throwing away a random unsuspecting hireling here or there. Still, the Blackfog used the guilds, so it was a good place to start.

Barry thought otherwise, insisting the first place they go check should be the port side city gates. The city wasn’t directly on the ocean, but it was close enough to be considered coastal. Julian didn’t have a view of the sea from his west-facing window, but the north and east towers could spot the blue expanse over the treeline.

Instead of arguing and wasting more time, two search parties were formed. One with Chloe, Wendy and Hana led by Suki, and the second was Julian's group.

“The [Void] Mage is a teleporter, and the city is teaming with magical interference. Especially after the Spring Ball.” Barry pointed at the city gate as it came into view up ahead.

Julian’s mother had been so angry at the fiasco that was the kidnappings at her Spring Ball that for this event she’d created portal control across the city. One could still portal in and out through regulated areas overseen by her personal knights, or portal within the bounds of certain area’s like combatants who were fighting inside the area, but there wasn’t much use wasting an expensive portal scroll inside the city.

It would just fizzle out.

Of course, after the Summer Solstice was passed the city would resume to its usual lax approach, but while under threat all measures were being taken.

“There will be hundreds of contracts to go through and it's a waste of time either way. The best option for carting someone out is by the port side. The gate inspectors are mercantile, and easier to subdue. Any merchant worth their salt could slip out a kidnapped countess.” Barry stopped a few buildings down from the gate itself and turned to face them. “Besides, going to the Mercenary Guild will be just what the spies are expecting.”

Bronwynn said, “Well that’s good then. They can draw attention away from us.”

“Here we go.” Lomen whispered under his breath.

“Suki arriving at the guild is going to officially announce that you are looking for the countess, sure, but as soon as Suki walks through those doors it's going to turn into a race against time."

"How is that any different from right now?" Bronwynn raised an eyebrow.

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"Because they are going to find out that you're working with mercenaries that have previously worked with the Blackfog!” The swordsman made a circle with his thumb and index finger and scanned the street ahead of them. There were two wagons unloading at the storage bays just past the gate, and at least twenty people were going about their day's work on the street. Barry continued, “So now we have half the time to search before they get wind someone who actually knows what they are doing is searching. No offence.”

“None taken.” Julian answered for everyone.

Barry finished scanning the general area and then turned his attention to the rooftops next. “What we should have done is create two teams but send the other team through the main gate and then take round about way to the road to the docs and then scout from each direction.”

“We didn’t though,” Rufus spoke for the first time. He was bringing up the back. “So if everything you say is correct, we should focus on speed over secrecy.”

“Exactly.” Barry smiled. Whatever ability he’d used was done and he patted his palms twice before settling one hand comfortably on his sword. Then he jumped, landing easily on the rooftop directly overhead. “So try to keep up.”

Lomen cursed under his breath and started whispering a spell. Soon, he was elevating up to the second story high roof and disappearing out of site.

Julian turned to see Rufus and Bronwynn eyeing the ascent, and the bard shaking her head. There was a sudden *pop* and Rufus poofed into his folk form. He was still blond with gold eyes, but he was shorter and furless.

“We’ll just head over naturally I think.” Rufus offered his fiance an arm and they casually turned the corner, walking straight towards the district. "Maybe head outside the gate so we can do damage control if things don't work out.

Bronwynn pitched her voice just so as they walked away, “Do you really think we can find work during the festival? Who needs more guards when the city is already crawling with them.”

Rufus replied, “I do. There is always work at the docks, you know that.”

“Alright.” She sighed wistfully, “But we should save up more next year. I want to celebrate the entire week.”

Julian activated his own movement ability and left the couple to go in as undercover hirelings searching for work. It wasn’t a bad plan, but the fact that Bronwynn was a famous musician might backfire on them. Still, worst case they’d make a fine distraction.

He caught up with a quietly arguing Barry and Lomen.

“Your Grace.” Barry only spared a single glance behind Julian before accepting that the others weren’t coming. He turned and pointed at two wagons inside the city gate. “Lomen is going to search those while you follow me.”

“Where?”

Barry pointed at the storage bays. “I’ve done three smuggling trips through North Sumbria as a Mercenary, and we’ve always used that–”

The sentence ended in a muffled mumble as Lomen’s hand whipped out and covered the human’s mouth. The elf managed to sound like he was shouting at an impressive whisper, “You didn’t have to tell him that! Now look what you’ve done!”

A silver arch appeared on Barry’s forehead with a thin black dagger through it.

Barry poked his forehead and Lomen confirmed Julian’s suspicions when he added, “The [Betrayer] Mark. What about your stats?”

Julian was not surprised to find out that the two were, in fact, in the know.

“Nothing majorly inconvenient.” Barry shrugged, “I was tired of being a Mercenary anyway.”

“So you think the best way was to betray your confidentiality contract instead of, I don’t know, quit like a normal person?” Lomen scolded. "You couldn't also just said 'Let's go look in there'. You're impossible."

“Gentlemen.” The duke’s voice remained neutral as he interrupted, “Need I remind you that time is of the essence?”

“Ah, yes, sorry.” Lomen waved for Barry to continue.

“As I was saying,” Barry walked over to an alley that was closest to the storage bay and sneaked a peek to make sure there wasn’t anyone below. “We need to check the bay before they move the goods. And if the bay is empty, we should head straight for the docks without stopping. You can even run ahead, Your Grace.”

Julian crossed his arms. “And leave you two free to escape?”

“I think your sister's safety is more important to you than our escape.” Barry reasoned. He shot a smile at the duke before stepping over the ledge, Lomen right behind him.

The swordsman was right, and Julian sighed once before jumping after the man.