He took a deep breath this was it, he could see his target coming out of Haurel’s the best the east side had to offer. He started walking in his direction and tipped his head in signal as he got closer, he could see him clearly now, it was an older gentleman with a top hat, a fine tailored suit, and the watch chain just peeking out of his pocket. He has to be a regular, old Haurel must be making a killing with all these new rich merchants popping out everywhere thanks to all the crap the horiens kept importing. Must be good to only worry about the quality of your clothes.

Just as he was getting near he tripped and fell right into his target. The old man went down with a surprised look on his face, but he couldn't let him fall and hurt himself that would just create more attention. He quickly threw his hands in support just before the old guy hit the ground.

“I’m so sorry, are you hurt sir?” He said while keeping a hand on the old man's back.

“Yes, I believe so,” the old man said, still trying to orient himself.

Before the man could get his bearing he apologized again and quickly went on his way. He didn't want him to find anything wrong with the situation. As he walked away he could still hear the old man grumbling about gangly kids and bad manners. He kept walking until he was near one of the bridges that led into the west part of the city.

The city of Tivazyl was bisected by a river that separated the east and west parts of the city, or as most people liked to call it, the rich and the poor. Right now both sides were bustling with people, here in the North it was cold and snowing year-round but we were reaching the end of trading season, and that means that you better stock up before the bay freezes over and you had to wait months before it opens up again.

“Nico, slow down!” He stopped and turned around just as Sy came running towards him. His best friend looked like he run to the north gate and back and he told him so.

“I thought one of the guards saw me, so I looped around through the eastern port,” Sy said trying to get his breathing under control.

“And you decided to run the whole way.”

“Pretty much ye. But more importantly, did you get it?” He looked at him expectantly his eyes twinkling with greed.

“Not here you moron, look where you are,” Nico said gesturing with his head towards the horien recruiting tent. They were all over the city, recruiting poor souls into joining their expeditions. Some said that you could get riches beyond your imaginations and strength to rival the old nobles but Nico was very skeptical, no one ever returned from one of those.

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Sy blanched and started to stiffly walk towards the bridge, he just sighed and followed him. “Why can't you just act normally, you look like your shit your pants.” He looked at him affronted.

“Well, I’ll have you know this is how I normally walk. Now hurry up those blue freaks give me the creeps,” Sy said and walked faster.

Most people saw the horiens with distrust and fear but Nico quite liked them. He wouldn’t be making friends with any of them but as far as alien overlords go the horiens were pretty good. Ever since the end of the war, things just kept getting better year after year. They kept bringing products from outside Vostok especially fruits and grains to shore up our deficiencies our planet's soil never was the most fertile, or at least that's what the old hands back in the port said.

Sy calmed down as they neared their hideout. Some of the kids were hanging outside and saw them coming. It was an old abandoned house towards the west wall, half the roof was missing as were the windows but it was all part of the disguise. Nico ushered everyone inside towards the back of the house and pulled open a trapdoor. He made sure that he was the last one in and closed it behind him.

This was their home, it might sound like a tight fit, fifteen kids in a basement but it really was very spacious. Nico guessed it might have belonged to smugglers or one of the old gangs pre-war but no one ever came asking for it so they didn’t go looking either.

“Alright, is everyone back?” Nico asked as he made his way towards the table in the middle of the room. Reaching it he started to empty his pockets, a coin purse followed by a golden pocket watch.

“No way, is that what I think it is?” Sy said as he rushed to take the watch out of my hand and bite into it.

“This is gold! We are rich” Nico just smiled at Sy’s enthusiasm, everyone knew that they would only get a fraction of what it was worth when they fenced it to one of the gangs. Still, with this and everything else they had saved, they had more than enough to last the whole 6 months of winter after the trading season was over.

“Where is Josh?” Nico looked around and asked.

“He’s been working for that carpenter guy, said he might not come back tonight.” Good, Nico thought, Josh had been trying to get an apprenticeship from the old carpenter two streets down, so far he only let him sweep around but if he was letting him sleep in the workshop he might have been able to finally wear him down.

“Alright everyone let’s see what you got,” Nico said and everyone started to empty their pockets into the table. It seemed like he wasn’t the only one with a good day.

“Nico, one of Mr. Colton's guys came by earlier looking for you and Sy, said it was urgent to get your asses there tomorrow.” Now it was Nico’s turn to pale. Dammit, they were having such a good day.