As our wagon slowly trundled its way toward the gates of Rhoscara, the spectacular view of the city faded. It was replaced by the less dazzling view of the walls that surrounded the city. The walls themselves were still made of the red stone that seemed to be so common in this city, from what I could recall of the view from earlier. The stone wasn’t quite as polished or as beautiful, however. Even from a distance, I could see that they were meant to be utilitarian and formidable. They were tall, reaching maybe thirty feet into the air, which seemed to me to be a nearly excessive height.

The road led directly to the gates of the city, which lay open and inviting. Standing guard outside of those gates were numerous well-armed dwarven soldiers, all of them adorned in shining silver plate mail and carrying spears. Over the top of their plate, each of the soldiers had a crimson red, gold-edged tabard, which was belted at the waist. On the tabard was the image of a black bird of some kind, captured in mid-flight. Clasped in the talons of the bird was a flower of some kind. Whoever had stitched the bird into the tabards had left the eyes the same color as the tabard itself, lending it an intimidating stare.

Visible past the gate guarded by the soldiers, I could make out a checkpoint of some kind. And beyond that?

The massive, sprawling, dazzling city.

I heard Azarus cough lightly. Turning my attention to him, I saw that he wasn’t paying attention to me and was intently watching the line of soldiers that blocked the way into the city ahead of us. “Better get down for now.” He muttered under his voice, presumably speaking to me. “We’ll tell ‘em about ya when they ask to inspect the goods and go from there.”

I let out a breath and decided to heed his advice. Nodding slightly, even though I knew nobody could see it, I slid down from where I had been crouching. Laying my back against the wall I had just been looking over, I made sure I was sitting in the center of it. Better to be fully visible when they came for me, I guess.

Before long, the wagon must have reached within shouting distance of the gates.

“Halt!” I heard a loud, commanding voice shout.

Seemingly complying, I heard Gren give the command he used to stop the wagon to his horses. Slowly, the wagon lumbered to a halt, creaking and groaning.

I heard Gren clear his throat before calling out. “Greetings!”

Loud metal-clad footsteps were slowly moving in our direction. From what I could tell, there might be three of the soldiers approaching the wagon.

“Is that you, Gren?” I heard the voice from earlier say, growing louder as it grew closer. “Oh! And Lord Azarus too! Guess it’s around that time, eh?” The voice was markedly friendlier at that.

“It is indeed,” Gren said to the voice with a smile of his own. “How fare you on this fine evening, Sergeant?”

“Oh, not too bad, not too bad.” The voice said in a relaxed manner. “You’re the first wagon we’ve gotten so far today.” The soldiers must have reached the wagon by now because their voices were coming from right next to Gren's side of the driving bench.

“Hmm, well, you know how it is. Most people, and even most goods come by boat.” Gren said to the voice casually.

“True, true.” I heard a shifting metal noise. “And how fare you, Lord Azarus? Safe journeys, I hope?”

I heard Azarus take a deep breath. “Aye. Wasn’t too bad.” He let out his breath. “But, I’m sorry to say that I’m going to have to make your day harder on you, Sergeant Hulisse. I’ve got some…sensitive cargo in the back that I’m going to have to speak to Captain Gastone about before we go any further.”

I directed a weird gaze in Azarus’s direction through the wall, even though nobody could see it. Azarus was speaking differently than I had ever heard from him before. He was enunciating clearer, and his accent was noticeably more neutral. It wasn’t as clipped as it was with the towns-dwarves from back in Addersfield, or as casual with either Gren, Grey or even me. I guess this was what he sounded like when he had to act like a noble. It sounded odd to my ears, like an act or something.

I heard multiple metal-clad feet shift around at Azarus’s words. “Well.” The supposed Sergeant Hulisse said carefully. “I suppose that can be arranged. The captain is just over at the checkpoint. I can have a runner go fetch him if you’d like.”

“I would appreciate that,” Azarus said shortly.

A short, sharp creaking noise followed his word before the soldier spoke again. “Private Umnir.” I heard Sergeant Hulisse say sharply. “Go tell the Captain that Lord Azarus is requesting his presence outside the gate.”

Another short creaking noise from what must have been one of the other soldiers that followed Sergeant Hulisse. “At once, sir!” A younger voice said excitedly. Loud clanking followed his words, as the soldier sounded like he took off at a dead sprint back up the road.

Everyone either sat or stood around in awkward silence for a few moments until Sergeant Hulisse broke it by clearing his throat. “Ah, is the cargo perhaps…dangerous, Lord Azarus? Should I gather a few more men?” He asked politely.

Azarus sighed. “That won’t be necessary, Sergeant. It’s not that kind of sensitive.”

Everyone either in or around the wagon waited in awkward silence while the private fetched the captain. After a few minutes of waiting around, I heard the sound of more people approaching the wagon.

“What’ve you done now, Azarus?” A new voice asked tiredly. “Let me guess, it has something to do with the third person I sense in the back?”

I heard some muttering from the other soldiers outside along with the shuffling of feet.

Gren cleared his throat. “Ah, captain…”

Azarus cut him off. “I’ve got this, Gren.” With a grunt, I heard and felt Azarus jump down from the wagon. “C’mon, Enzo.” I heard Azarus walk away from the wagon, off to the side.

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Captain Gastone sighed. “You, you.” I heard him say. “Back in formation. Sergeant, stay with Mr. Freelith.”

I heard multiple sharp, creaking noises followed by exclamations of, “Captain!”. Afterward, two sets of feet walked in the direction of the city, while another walked off in the direction that Azarus had.

Azarus and Captain Gastone must have walked out of hearing range of the wagon because I didn’t hear anything of their conversation. I waited around, mildly anxious, while they presumably discussed whether I’d be allowed into the city. After a while, I heard them walk back over to the wagon. Azarus sounded like was walking around the back towards me, while the Captain sounded like he was walking to the front of the wagon.

“Sergeant.” The captain sounded even more tired than he had been earlier. “Take this,” I heard the clinking of coins. “And head into the city. Go to Madam Bella’s, and buy a cloak with a high neck and a mantle. A nice one, mind. Bring it back as discretely as you can.”

“Captain?” I heard the Sergeant ask questioningly.

“Go.” The Captain’s voice hardened. “You have your orders.”

Another short creaking noise. By this point, I’m guessing it was that arm-bar salute that I’d seen the guards of Addersfield do. “Yes, Captain!” I heard the Sergeant jog away.

“Sorry about this, Captain.” I heard Gren say, with a slight pitying note in his voice.

The Captain just sighed and began walking around to the back of the wagon. By that point, Azarus had reached the back of the wagon as well, where I could see him. I didn’t say anything to him, I just splayed my hands out in a wordless questioning gesture. He just shrugged at me and waggled a hand. The Captain reached the back of the wagon while Azarus and I were pantomiming at each other, allowing me my first look at him.

My first thought was that he looked like a tired office worker. Short-cut black hair, plain brown eyes, and the kind of face that seemed the definition of average, even on a dwarf. He was leaner than I was used to seeing on most dwarfs, with heavy bags under his eyes. But looking closer, I could see that he was more alert than he seemed. There was a sharpness to his gaze and his bearing that reminded me of a razor. He was outfitted in a similar set of plate mail that the soldiers had been wearing, except everything was slightly more elaborate, including the embroidery on his tabard. In addition, he had a bright crimson cloak thrown over his shoulders, with a sword in a scabbard tied to his hip instead of carrying a spear like the others.

I met his eyes from the back of the wagon and tried to smile at him. From the look on his face, it must have been more like a grimace. He hauled himself into the wagon and made his way back towards me. Taking a seat on one of the crates inside, he leaned forward to inspect me silently for a moment. Under his gaze, I felt like he knew everything about me. Logically, I knew he didn’t. Ever since I’d gotten the hang of my Status hiding skill, I’d made sure that my Precursor status was always hidden. Even if he was Observing me, I didn’t have much to worry about. Still didn’t stop me from squirming slightly under his intense gaze.

Captain Gastone sighed. He seemed to do that a lot. “Mr. Hart, was it?” At my silent nod, he continued. “Azarus has informed me of your plight. I’m not unsympathetic, but you must understand that the city of Rhoscara has always strongly decried the practice of slavery. We can do nothing about it legally, but that would not stop others from acting on their own if they caught sight of you.”

I piped in. “So…if I go into the city, I would be in danger?”

The Captain looked surprised for a moment. “Ah, no. You would be perfectly fine, if not buried under a landslide of attempts to help you. No, it would be Azarus and Mr. Freelith who would bear the brunt of the citizenry’s displeasure. Azarus would likely suffer a hit to his reputation that he would never recover from, as while he’s generally well-liked, he still bears some suspicion due to his paternal ancestry. He could bear it, but Mr. Freelith on the other hand could potentially be in a great deal of trouble. He would likely lose a great many contracts and revenue streams from his patrons in the city, and could face potential ruin if his involvement in this issue came to light.”

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly to tamp down my anxiety. “All right. Then what’s your plan? I’m guessing you have one if you’re not just turning us away at the door. Metaphorically.”

“I do.” Captain Gastone nodded. “Azarus is an extremely straightforward thinker, more than willing to take a hit and bear it. On the other hand, Mr. Freelith is a strangely straightforward merchant, disinclined to more…clandestine maneuvers. I’m sure it didn’t occur to them to present you as anything more than you are. Much less simply arrive separately on foot." He sighed. "I, on the other hand, am more than willing to help in this manner. No, rather than let them take a blow like this, we’ll simply…pretend you’re not a,” He grimaced. “Slave.”

I tilted my head in thought before remembering what I’d heard earlier. “You told that Sergeant to go buy a cloak,” I muttered before looking back up at the Captain incredulously. “It can’t be that easy.”

Captain Gaston grinned at me. “It is, indeed, that easy. The only people that can truly sense the presence of a slave collar are the Principality's highly-trained slave catchers. And they are barred from entering the city. I would suggest, however, that you attempt to change your demeanor and bearing as well.”

“In what way?” I asked him curiously.

He shrugged. “Perhaps attempt to emulate a noble? All the better, if the people think Azarus is aiding a mysteriously cloaked foreign noble, fleeing his homeland for even more mysterious reasons. I would rather that than people gossip about how he’s trafficking in slaves.” He paused for a moment, tilting his head. “Ah, here comes the cloak.” He turned around and raised his voice. “Azarus! Go get the cloak!”

I saw Azarus shove off the side of the wagon from where he’d been listening in. “Yeah, yeah.” He walked around the wagon, out of sight. A moment later, I finally heard the sound of metal-clad feet nearing the wagon that the Captain heard before me. Azarus must have intercepted him before he reached the wagon because all I heard was muffled conversation out of earshot. After a moment, Azarus came walking back around into view, this time carrying a folded pile of brown cloth. Without a word, he chucked it at speed towards the Captain. He caught it without blinking an eye.

Handing me the presumed cloak, the Captain said. “Here you go, try it on.”

Unfolding it, I could see that cloak was honestly pretty nice. Made from a rich, chocolate brown color with gold accents, it didn’t appear to be the type that clasped together. Rather, it had a visible mantle that you were supposed to poke your head through, with a stiff, high collar that would presumably hide my own slave collar.

I bet this thing will make me look like a vampire.

Mentally shrugging, I put the cloak on. Once I’d done so, the Captain adjusted it slightly, I guess to better hide my collar. He stood up afterward and took a step back to look at me with a critical eye.

“That’ll do.” He nodded, after a moment of staring. “Hulisse picked a good one for you.”

“Uh, thanks,” I said, somewhat self-conscious.

The Captain took a breath. “All right. Well, let's hope this works. Once the wagon is in the city, I’m guessing you and Azarus are going to head to the palace while Mr. Freelith gets his goods inspected. Hop out once you’re at the checkpoint, and hopefully,” He said the last word under his breath. “Azarus can handle it from there. Good luck.”

With one last nod at me, which I returned, he turned around and strode out of the wagon. After a last whispered conversation with Azarus, he disappeared out of my field of view. A few moments later, I heard Gren speak.

“Ah.” The Captain's footsteps stopped momentarily. “Thank you for your consideration, Captain Gastone.”

“Hmm.” Was all the Captain said, before moving on.

I guess Gren had heard most of my conversation with the Captain, then.

Azarus had moved around back towards the driver’s seat and hopped back up.

“All good, then?” Gren asked him.

“All good,” Azarus answered.

With a shouted command from Gren, the wagon was back underway.