Korn pointed towards the sack of clothing next to him, one of the coats having fallen slightly out. The sack's multitude of colours was out of place in the room; it only held the colour brown.

"What's with the clothing?" He asked Norbert.

Leaning back in the chair, déjà vu hit Norbert as the boys approached. "Aren't you wondering where the other candies are?"

"Heard you gave them to Mord, planned on him distributing," Korn said. He was tapping the cloaks again, bringing the conversation back to his question at hand.

"The cloaks, well, you must navigate this city somehow. Well, I need to, at least, and with the Kreevss last time searching for me, this was an idea that I came up with," Norbert explained to the boy.

"A stupid idea, but go on." Korn flatly said.

Norbert looked at the boy, opening his mouth before finally closing it, not wanting to get into an argument with someone who looked two steps away from death's door a moment ago. "After we go to the below casino –"

"No", Korn interrupted Norbert.

"That's how we're getting out of there. We need to get to the casino below, take a portal for Alasium, and from there … it doesn't matter. You need to go down there," Norbert said, not seeing a point in explaining the plan further if there was a hiccup like this.

Staring at the boy, who didn't want to say anything, Norbert sighed, knowing this was a hurdle he didn't think would happen.

"Why don't you go under there."

"People don't return." The boy shivered.

Norbert opened his mouth, remembering the first time that he went down there when nearly assaulted him, someone in a random alley assaulted him.

"Small groups of five to ten I can handle." Norbert gave back.

"No"

"I've been down there. I have some people I might be able to call on."

"How often?"

"I just came from there, having been about ten times. There are no issues. That's part of the reason for inverting the cloaks. The colours stand out way too much with the dreary colour scheme they like down there," Norbert added, hoping part of his plan would help convince the kid.

"Two at a time." The kid almost growled to Norbert.

Closing his eyes at hearing it, Norbert nodded his head as he considered the logistics of having that many people moving about, thinking he would need to hold them somewhere.

"And while I fetch the others?" Norbert asked, hoping it would go differently than they had said.

The boy looked over Norbert as he thought it through, judging Norbert's reaction to the news.

"We'll wait on the other side. How well do you know the casino owner? Not much is known about them other than people liking their games." Korn asked.

Norbert shrugged his shoulders, "Enough to have something on her so that we can help each other out when needed." He added, "I'm not looking forward to what this bill will cost me, though." He slightly shuddered at the thought, hoping the fox had something up its sleeve to help with the payment.

The two sit in silence as the coughing and wheezing outside slowly abate. Norbert is at least happy that these kids won't be hit with whatever is given.

"The plan, then, is to take two at a time, take you through the portal, and drop you off," Norbert said, counting the stops internally.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Receiving a nod in reply as the boy looked squirmish, "Ever taken a portal before?" Norbert asked the kid.

The boy suddenly looked five years old, rather than the thirteen Norbert would have stuck him by only a slight nod.

"The first one will be rough, but you have enough time to get over any sickness." Norbert tried to convince the boy that it was safer, not knowing if he was doing a good job.

Seeing how it wasn't helping, Norbert sighed again, "How many kids do you have here?" Norbert asked.

"Hundred and thirteen, but could have some more stragglers unaccounted for popping up when the word spreads," Korn provided.

Norbert whistled at the number, wondering how long it would take him to escort that many people. He was happy at least that more candies were given, but he did not know how Flare-dew would handle the increase in people.

Focusing on one problem at a time, Norbert slapped his hands on his face, pepping himself up for the many walks up the steps he would need to take. He knew he would need to go to the Pudgy Patron first and maybe meet up with a particular vampire who could give assistance.

"So, which two will be first?" Norbert asked as he looked around, staring at those there. Who would be the unlucky ones to be first chosen?

His eyes went to Korn. The boy stuck his arm up as he stood up, heading outside. Norbert stayed where he was, taking one of the cloaks from the bag.

I heard Korn talk aloud to his group about the plan. He tuned it out as he continued to look about, wondering what would be needed.

The bird looks up at him, and Norbert sees Obsius land on the table. Picking the bird up, Norbert places her on his shoulder and lets the bird cuddle. "Is it safe down here now that people are being cured?" Norbert asks the bird.

The bird did not say much as Korn returned. A small girl followed him.

"You the first two?" Norbert asked.

Korn stiffened up and nodded. Norbert continued his train of thought. "And the order is made?"

Another nod from the young leader's head. Norbert nodded in return as he picked up two cloaks, throwing them over to each of them.

Catching it out of the air, Korn quickly wrapped it around his body, the colour on the outside making his skin and clothes look dirtier than before. With the cut just under his knee, Norbert looked to the more petite girl, seeing that hers needed to be tied up or else there was a risk of someone tripping on it.

Sliding down next to the girl, Norbert quickly tied up the loose fabric. The design was slightly ruined, but it was better. Standing up to his full height and reaching back to pick up his hat, Norbert walked out of the room with barely a nod.

Quietly speaking to Obsius, I added, "Can you navigate me around this city? I need speed over anything. And did you listen to the plan?" Norbert asked the bird.

Norbert looked at it as the bird stared back at him like he was a fool. He nodded his head as he turned to Korn, who still stood inside, looking at Norbert with a face mixed with fear and anxiety about finally leaving this old city.

Obsius was taking flight as Norbert watched the bird up above him. He changed his vision so the speck came into view, and then he started walking off in the most direct path, making his way through an alleyway.

Turning behind himself, seeing Korn and the girl standing there waiting for him, Norbert wondered what was going on when he realised it, the two of them stopping as he looked up, seeing it was a dead end.

Sighing at his instructions to the bird, not seeing a point in making himself known, Norbert turned around and headed to them. "Do. you know how to get to the Pudgy Patron?" Norbert asked.

The boy smiled slyly in response, leading the party from the front.

Norbert just smiling, happy that at least something was making the previously destitute boy seem much more chipper.

***

Standing at the entrance, Norbert looked back to Korn and the girl, neither wanting to walk through.

Norbert grabbed both of their hands, sighing once more before pushing through the swinging doors. Once more, the sounds inside quieted as the current guests looked at the newcomers.

Dismissing them, knowing the stares were following him, Norbert headed towards the bar, sitting down as he waited for Brezan to come to him. Having one last look around the bar, he slowly made eyes with everyone there, hoping the death stare he was giving would be enough to keep them in line.

"Didn't expect ever to see you again." The bartender told Norbert, the annoyance of what the human could rope the establishment into once again at the forefront of the bartender's mind.

Placing the hat by the side, Norbert spun around, forcing himself to smile as he looked at the bartender, making sure not to look down at his hand. Something the two children by his side could not do, both of them watching as the hand was stuffed inside the glass with the rag, the habit formed of cleaning it out.

"A welcome surprise, I hope." Norbert tried to tell the bartender charmingly.

A grunt was returned from his efforts. "What's with the kids? Didn't take you for a kidnapper?" The man said.

With that, everyone else in the bar perked up. Norbert was now aware of the reason why they were all on edge. Dismissing the thought with a wave, Norbert provided, "Just guiding them to the casino down below. Them and another hundred." Norbert added at the end, wanting to get the cat out of the bag before he started appearing time and time again.

With that, Obsius came swooping in as the door opened once more, Norbert turning around. The group of people he didn't want to see had just entered the bar. With nothing hiding his face or disguise, Norbert could only swallow as he sent the energy around his body, making sure the purple wasn't visible in his veins, fingers crossed that his identity wasn't realised yet.