Norbert looked about the filled room, kids lying down as they tried to regain their stomachs after the first step through the gate. Knowing that wasn't the most excellent experience. However, Elizabeth has set up a smooth ride, which wasn't as important as having the system Norbert could tell. As he waited, the last one, once more Mord, came through the gate, where it finally shut off.
Norbert looked, slightly surprised that Count von Count was still here, the vampire not having run off by now. Making his way through the knee-high sea of kids, Norbert approached the vampire, asking the question on his mind: "How come you're still here and not run off up the staircase?" Norbert asked as he pointed towards the staircase leading to the exit that they would take, a similar one Norbert knew the vampire took to get down into the other portal room.
Count von Count indicates to all the people around him, "It looks like you will need a bit of a hand moving them around."
Norbert opened his mouth to rebuttal before closing it as if the vampire was proper. Moving this many people would be hard enough as it is; Norbert’s plan so far was to head to the inn Martitia owned, hoping they would have enough room for it.
With nobody in this city actively out to get him, Norbert found he had a better chance of making it here. Nodding his head that it wasn’t a foolish plan and not wanting to spend the entire night moving kids about like he did during the day, Norbert raised his voice so everyone could hear.
“In three rotations, we are moving out, so limber up, people!”
Korn pushed his way through the crowd, Norbert watching the crowd as the big old one stood next to Mord, the two seemingly inseparable at the moment.
“I’ll be part of the first group.” Korn said to Norbert.
“Good, because there is only one group,” Norbert told the kid.
His mouth opened up as Norbert took his hat off his head and lightly whacked the boy before he could talk. “Don’t want to hear none of it. We must move out of here while the casino is still in our graces. Count von Count here will assist with the herding, and we will take the main streets. The bird watching from above nobody will get lost.” Norbert told the kid, not leaving even a moment for a reply.
“Two Rotations!” Norbert shouted out, the time having gone, causing everyone to stir. Those who were the worst were now being held up and moved to their feet, ready for the big procession out of the casino.
“Someone’s toughened up” Count von Count whispered to him.
Norbert turned to his friend, shrugging his shoulders. “I gave them enough time already, with only two coming down at a time instead of ten. I need to make up the time and let these kids sleep somewhere,” Norbert said, looking around as some tried to fight back yawns.
“So sweet, you're still so kind.”
“I never stopped being kind; I don’t know if I ever really started doing it,” Norbert said, half thinking about his past actions.
Count von Count shrugged his shoulders at the comment Norbert made.
“Can you take the rear?” Norbert asked Count von Count.
“Thought it was already a given?”
Norbert just walked out, waving his hand to the vampire as he headed to the stairwell. Shouting out over the crowd, Norbert told them, “And now we depart. Heading to an inn that hopefully holds all of you before moving to the next town.” Norbert told all of them.
And with that, Norbert moved off, taking the stairs up the winding staircase. The guards here are staring at him. “There’s going to be a lot of traffic. Might be best to move off the stairs.” Norbert provided them.
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The guards stood utterly still in response, not moving off their base. Norbert shrugged as he continued. It would not have been his fault if a warning hadn’t been taken up. The first set of kids now followed behind him. Norbert watched the guard's eyes grow wide, but he was unable to move now as children swarmed them.
Making sure not to leave anyone behind, Norbert took slow steps, knowing that now was the time when nobody would get lost from him. Looking back, Norbert said aloud, “Invert the cloaks when you have the chance.” Thinking ahead to the street, at least the bright colours would make the task of spotting those that had them and decrease the chance of losing a kid just that little bit more.
He made his way up to the landing, heading down the hallway with the straight torches, wondering what a sight he would be exiting into the casino with an entire crowd following him.
Stepping through, he was thankful to be able to see out the other side so the kids wouldn’t be as scared. The sound of the casino hit him, and the first ones noticed Norbert and the stream of children that followed him.
“Swap the cloaks around,” Norbert said aloud. The first few kids did so as Norbert continued to walk forward. Obsius was still on his shoulder as the bird looked around. Norbert felt the bird move about, ready to take off into the air and watch the procession.
The change flowed down as Norbert turned around, seeing the kids appearing, looking ahead, seeing the changeover and doing so and looking in the crowd, seeing Korn walking, trying to keep them together in the centre.
Waving to the two guards at the door Norbert made his way down the steps, looking both ways as he tried to remember the best way to navigate, looking up at the tree Norbert made his way that way, before turning around on his heel, remembering it would be the quicker way.
Obsius took off from his shoulder as Norbert started to walk out. The procession of kids behind him followed him along the street. Seeing the river of colour following after him, he made sure that nobody was diverting as he turned back around, slowly making his way across so as not to lose anyone.
***
The thankfully peaceful walk through the city over, some people asking what was happening, but most of them going with a dismissing comment and a wave of his hand. Norbert stands in front of the inn, hand raised, ready to hit it. Looking behind him at the small sea of colour pooling around him, having underestimated the size of the people that he had under his watch.
Needing to continue, Norbert still banged his hand on the door, the sound of it rattling once more. Standing there, waiting for someone to come and move the piece of the wood that closed the door.
Once more, he heard movement from someone walking down the stairs. Norbert looked out at the moon moving over the city walls, thankful that Count von Count wouldn’t be burning to a crisp if they had to wait some more.
The door opens, and a woman looks back at him.
“Is it all good if I hold a couple of people for the night?” Norbert asked Martitia in front of him.
The scout leader, looking like she was too deep in a wine barrel, recently swayed slightly as she looked at the crowd outside. Groaning, she stepped aside, keeping the doorway open. “You don’t have another place to keep them for the night, don’t you?”
Norbert waved them inside as he stepped forward, holding the door as the kids streamed inside, one after the other. “Knew I didn’t need a second place,” Norbert lightly exclaimed to her, to be heard over the footsteps coming through.
As the crowd came in, so did Obsius. Looking at the bird, Norbert asked, “Did anybody get left behind?”
A negative in the chirp came back out. Norbert smiled as he rubbed the bird's head. “Can you locate your Traveller buddy?” Norbert asked.
With a residing chirp, Obsius flew off once more into the night air, Norbert quickly losing track as he saw Martitia’s reaction to his conversation.
“How do you know a Traveller and move this many? That’s why it's only for a night.” Martitia said, starting to connect the dots.
“I don’t know one. Obsius does. I'm doing a favour to move them over to Flare-dew, and yes, that’s why it’s only for a night.” Norbert added as the final people came through.
Martitia looked at who the last one was. “Oh, of course, you’re here as well.” Looking towards Count von Count as she did so.
“Sounded fun, and Libitina was getting a bit boring, with this one no longer being chased by the Kreevss.” He said, pointing towards Norbert with a thumb. As he sidled towards the bar, one of the kids jumped off the chair to allow the vampire to sit.
Reaching over, he took a bottle and poured himself a glass before finishing. Grimacing from the alcohol going down his throat.
Norbert leaned around so the vampire could see him. “You coming to Flare-dew?”
“But of course, why else would I trek out here?” Count von Count said, almost like Norbert was a fool.
“Well, I’m planning on staying for at least a day, so you need to wrap up,” Norbert said, flinging his sunhat over to the vampire.
They landed on the head with a slight tilt, a groan coming out of the vampire in confirmation.