They were doing it. They were getting out of there.

The last stop they were making in the town was at a horse trader that Ercole and Shani had spotted the previous day. A long walk through the city crawling with guards.

Two things, however, gave them a chance.

Firstly, Ercole had gathered new cloaks for Hreysti and Dyo. That should hopefully make them a little less recognisable. Then, secondly, it had started to rain again.

Everyone outside had their hoods up or were covered by the tarps over their wagons, either way protecting them from the downpour. All of them making the five of them far less conspicuous.

So maybe, just maybe, they had a shot at getting out.

It was still risky, but anything at this point would be risky. So that was why they were doing it.

Sliding through the streets following closely to Ercole with Shani leading, spear out acting fully as a guard. All in the hope that it would drive away the city watch. Ercole reasoned that they were usually a lot less likely to badger official-looking nobles about their business than commoners. Even if they were a foreign one and they had inquisitorial orders to question.

They’d gotten over the bridge at least and were moving through the financial district to the north of the city. So far, so good.

No guards had questioned them, and some people had even made way for their small procession. But none of the troops they had seen had been the black-cloaked secret troops, nor the white-clad regulars. All of them had just been the city watch.

But as they moved into sight of the bank plaza Dyo felt his stomach sink.

Right there were the white-clad Inquisition troops and a set of church acolytes. Seemingly manning a part guard, part recruitment station. Every person that went by it was forced to take off their hood.

Shani’s eyes drifted over to them as she muttered, “Cautious fucks…”

“Makes perfect sense for them to do it,” Ercole replied, “It’s just a good job they seem to be having some trouble with getting the doge to agree. Then there’d be the city watch to worry about.”

“And why would they refuse a request that is supposedly so important?”

Ercole shrugged, “He might not want to admit that there is a person whom he considered to be dangerous wandering around. It wouldn’t exactly help if the first big catch of the Inquisition was admitted to having slipped out of their grasp to the local nobility. Especially if that information then managed to escape that small circle.”

She slowly nodded, “That… I know that well… So that’s why they didn’t hire a local company to help them too?”

Ercole paused for a moment, “I didn’t expect you’d have experience with these sorts of “incidents” to be honest.”

“Well, mercenaries don’t often get hired on jobs like that unless they’re expected to die. Those sorts don’t get a lot of offers but there was one time when I was with the Horned Hippo Company where we were hired to provide protection to some explorers.

The thing is they were exploring some tomb. Can’t remember which dynasty it was from, but it was an old one. Though not too old with it being in some cliffside near an oasis deep in the copper desert. Inside it…”

Her body shivered slightly, even as her expression remained calm.

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“Inside it was treasure, sure, but monsters too… I’ve never seen anything like it after, they were just this mess of legs, mouths, and bone that cracked with every step. Hell, I think some of them were coated in parts of linen and mummified flesh… I’d explain the empty coffins, but I never looked into it. All I know is I’ll never abandon my shield because of that.”

“Did they not want the news of those monsters getting out!?” Agrippa asked.

Shani shrugged, “I think that was one of the things. The bit they really didn’t want to get out was that they explored that tomb at all. Turns out they were more grave robbers than adventurers. The company didn’t care, and I didn’t at the time, but I don’t take those sorts of jobs anymore. Too many unscrupulous fucks who don’t care about anyone but themselves all the time.”

They nodded, the two’s eyes focusing back on the road ahead.

So far, no interference from the Inquisition guards and they had nearly crossed the plaza. Every step bringing them closer to getting out of the danger. Then it would just be a little longer to the horse merchant, then it would be a matter of getting out of the gates…

But, constantly in the distance, they could hear the preaching of the holy men. An impromptu sermon rising up as onlookers lay rapt in its snare.

“You think they could be a little quieter over there?” Shani cursed, trying to turn away from the zealous chant, “What are those “Hanged Men” anyway!? They some sorta cult!?”

Ercole nodded, looking down, “They’re a sect of the Charins that most consider to be heretics. As you might know, there are only three major prophets to most of the sects, but some believe in others. The followers of the Hanged Men believe in one of these “false prophets” who was executed by hanging, hence the name. From what I can remember the peasantry are where the main body of their followers are from.”

“But most are executed when found?” Dyo asked.

“Exactly that.” He sighed, his eyes returning back to the road ahead, “Almost none of the other sects and cults accept them, other than the other ones centred around their own new prophets.”

Dyo shook his head, “They can’t just get along-“

“Holy man front!” Shani hissed, cutting the two’s conversation short.

Right there, loudly marching down the street with a full procession of guards and brothers was the inquisitor himself. Like last time he wasn’t on horseback, instead, walking between the guards in front and scanning the crowd. All of them heading straight towards the plaza right towards them.

Dyo’s brain quickly moved into action as thoughts streamed through his head. The most important one screaming in his head.

That he wouldn’t let them lay a finger on everyone else.

Ercole started to pull his horse to the side as he turned back to say, “Let’s take the other-“

“Ercole,” Dyo’s voice was cold and firm as he cut in, his eyes locked with the inquisitor, “Would he be in range of sensing us?”

“I- Maybe!?” He stuttered, “But maybe only that there are magical people here!”

Hreysti turned, panic starting to grow in his eyes “Dyo, you’re not thinking of-“

“If I draw their attention, it’ll give everyone else enough time to get out, right?”

“Maybe!” Ercole spluttered.

“And you might not get out without-“

“I’m fine Hreysti,” Dyo snapped back, “I’ll find a way out. Just get back to this square as soon as you can with the horses!”

“And if you have to run somewhere else!?”

“I- I’ll figure it out, just they’re getting closer so go now!”

Shani and Ercole swore under their breaths as Agrippa had to pull Hreysti away as he looked into Dyo’s eyes. The two meeting each other’s gazes until Dyo finally had to act.

He just needed to get them to focus on him and only him…

Uh-

He whipped around, looking for something but finally, with a grimace, he realised the most obnoxious option would be the best.

He pushed into a person walking by, just hard enough to knock his hood off. The poor woman he bumped into then stumbled back, opening their mouth to curse, before stopping as he saw Dyo. Noticed his wide purple eyes filled with terror, noticed the curled horns on his head.

They started to stammer as they stared. Drawing only more and more attention to the demigod. Some muttering between themselves, some loudly asking if they were a fae or a satyr, and others screaming about the “daemon” that had revealed itself.

All of which most certainly caught the attention of the Inquisitor and his followers. The chant having stopped and being replaced by the horse yells of the man for the guards to apprehend the “daemon”. Yells then followed by the stomping of boots, ringing of bells, and a different, somehow even “holier” chant.

So, now came the next part of his “plan”. The trying not to get killed part.

He turned, pushing straight through the crowds as he tried to push his way back further into the plaza.

It was a fucking stupid plan. A really, really stupid one but he’d be at quite the advantage over his assailants if he managed to do it. Though getting out of there would be another matter entirely to him. That was part of the reason why it was stupid. The other part was if he’d actually be able to get in there, given how guard it was on the inside.

His eyes were focused on the fort-like building that towered over the plaza.

The bank.