It's only been a week since we graduated from the academy and our group is already in the thick of it. Our first mission was supposed to be a quick snatch-and-grab without anyone being the wiser. We were to hop over to the nearby Sultanate of Ris and grab an artifact that had been intended as a gift to the old Duke of Kaland back in the Inesenor Empire. At this point, I'd say we've effectively screwed the pooch on the second part of the mission. Why, you ask? Oh, only because we're now running like mad trying to escape the city guards who nearly caught our thief! I swear if he wasn't with us, I'd probably kill him myself. Sadly, per my contract and general morality, I have to save his scrawny hide and make sure they never know where we're from. My bosses would prefer we not start an international incident or lose any members on our very first mission.

"Take a left here and get ready to jump, Cullen," our thief says using my name, "or this will end very quickly!"

"Thanks for the warning, Vic," I respond sarcastically, "I'm so glad you know what you're doing!"

As the turn comes, I slide slightly on the worn dirt street, regaining my footing just in time to see the jump a few dozen meters ahead. The divide in question happens to cut over a lower street that extends roughly twenty feet down. I sprint to make the jump, leap at the last possible moment off the half-wall that's clearly there as a safety feature and launch myself headlong across the chasm. I roll, keeping my head covered, and spring up to my feet again, with Vic following suit. We don't stop to look back, but I do peek over my shoulder to see if our cargo is still intact after that landing.

"How's it holding up, genius?" I snap my question at him.

"The book's resilient, I'll give it that," he responds, "but I'd rather not count my chickens just yet, thank you!"

That's the first reasonable thing he's said since we got to Alossin. I can still hear at least one set of footprints behind me as we continue. Another joins, telling me only two of the three guards chasing us took the leap, or maybe the other just didn't make the leap after all. I imagine the guard in his black tunic and dark leather armor lying in the lower alley in pain, and a cruel part of me smirks, just happy for one less pursuer. I push those thoughts away and focus on just getting away from the guards and out of the city. We spring down the steps ahead of us two at a time and find ourselves on the lower street, about two blocks from where we’d lept over the wide alleyway. Another right turn at the end of the block got us to within sight of the city gates. As they were being blocked off, I noticed scaffolding leading up to the walls and parapets. That was our chance to make a break for the exit. We only had one chance at this and it had to be good. Like clockwork, I heard the voice in my mind I’d been hoping for.

”Cullen, does Vic have the item,” they started their string of questions, “and where are you? We’re outside the wall. Should I look for a sign? Feel free to respond.”

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Internally I respond, “We’re coming up on the Westgate, I found some scaffolding that may be on fire momentarily. We have the item and guards chasing us!”

I must have looked more focused than a moment ago because Vic turns to me with a quick, curious look. I nod my head to the left and quickly give orders.

”Come on, we’re going up and over the wall,” I say, “quickly and in a blaze of style.”

Vic cinches down the straps on his backpack where he’s keeping the item and follows my lead. We run left toward the scaffolding leading up to the parapet on the southern part of the Westgate. I jump to grab an outstretched piece of rebar and fling myself onto the first level, as he follows me, sticking the landing better than I did. We both toward the far end and start climbing the ladder, hitting the end of it, three levels up, with one more on the far end of the scaffolding. The structure shakes slightly as the two guards start climbing at the base, causing us to stumble briefly. Continuing to move forward, we see the ladder shift down, making it less than safe to climb at just the wrong time. I point to a rope a few feet away from the edge, giving Vic an idea of what I'm planning.

As we hit the edge, we both leap and catch the rope, with Vic sliding slightly as my force swung it away from its origin point. With the initial momentum, he was first to get onto the parapet by clutching the edge as the rope swung up and quickly found himself in hotter water, finding himself on the business end of two guards' swords. As I fall with the rope, I slide to where Vic had been and counter-swing myself for added momentum. I catch some more air with the one and manage to twist and kick one guard into the other, knocking them both off their feet. I roll with the fall and spring to my feet again. Now caught on the wall, I look over the edge to our cohort sitting in a wagon outside the gate. Thankfully the message has been received loud and clear, as a couple of carts full of hay have been placed a few dozen feet. I nod to Vic as we both glance over to the guards who are getting back to their feet. We take a few steps back, run to the edge of the wall and jump out, freefalling. While I try to go as flat as possible, Vic tries to adjust to a sitting position given his precious cargo. We land with less softness than expected, but still not as rough as hitting the ground from four or five floors up. Groaning, we get out of our respective carts, not even bothering to dust the straw off of us as we rush to the wagon.

"Now would be a good time to move!" I yell as Vic and I run toward our party.

Vic loosens the straps and takes the backpack off his shoulders as he jumps up onto the wagon. Releasing the clasp, he reaches into the bag and pulls out a case the size of my head. He unlocks it with a quick motion and opens it up. Revealing a brilliant string of opalescent gems, he sighs with relief. Our Elven druid, Sarah, takes the reins and gets the horses underway. In the back now, the Half-Orc warlock nudges Vic who sneers at him.

"Everything accounted for," the Half-Orc asks, "or did we do this for nothing, Viclamir?"

"What do you mean, 'we'," Vic shoots back, "I don't remember seeing you in there, Ferrik. Yes, everything seems to be intact."

"Good," I respond, "Then we can get paid once we get back and hopefully get some downtime too."

The horses speeding down the road, we put some good distance between us and Allosin, finally headed back to Kaland in the Inesenor Empire. Being on our way home, I sit back and relax a bit more. The closer I get to a bed the better I'll be.