Despite their low stock, Del was unconcerned about food. Closer to the border, Gidura was less fertile. The thin forests were uncleared and mostly uninhabited. That meant good hunting. Usually. But by the end of that evening, they had only managed a scrawny rabbit that even Tafa was uninterested in.

“Perhaps you are becoming as slow as your ring?” Maug chewed moodily on hard cheese from his pack.

“Leave it with the ring already.” She kindly didn’t mention he had managed even worse than she had. Maug was touchy when he was hungry.

They fared much the same for two days. They passed two villages that barely deserved the name; a handful of wooden houses surrounded by farms that were little more than gardens. There was no food to be found for outsiders here either, and so close to the border, Del did not want to linger. In the second town, they spared themselves from that when Maug was caught with a farmer's daughter and the townspeople ran him out with shovels and pitchforks. Del found him not far from the main road sweaty and tired, but in a considerably better mood.

The road became wider by the morning of the fourth day, and the foot traffic gave way to large wagons and mounted Aurelia patrols in twos and threes. The patrol soldiers would harass anyone who wasn’t Aurelia and even some who were if they thought the travelers were too poor to retaliate. So far, they had been lucky to only receive shouts and the occasional poke with a long pole. A patrol had just passed when Del motioned and they slipped into the trees at the edge of the road.

“Time to change. We won’t get far in these,” she plucked at her long leather coat. Out of sight, she dug a bundle wrapped in twine from the very bottom of her pack. Inside was a deep red velvet dress, slightly worn from being crammed in her bag for so long, along with a small wooden box filled with vibrant glass beads. It took her nearly an hour to brush out her dark hair, braid it, and fit on the beads. The dress was too tight across the hips and felt far too heavy. She placed her daggers in hidden sheaths under the fabric of her skirts and pulled an ivory silk shawl over her shoulders. She grimaced at the sight of her tanned, callused hands over the cream.

“Stop fidgeting. You look fine.” Maug had thrown a painted leather vest over a blue linen shirt and now carried all their gear himself, but otherwise looked the same, down to his giant hat.

“I look like an idiot.”

“You look Aurelian.”

“Same thing,” she growled. He laughed and led the way back to the road.

They made it past two more patrols. The third to pass stopped, looking them over suspiciously. The older man, dressed in the red and white of the king’s guard and an open-faced golden helm over his salt and pepper hair, addressed Del.

“My lady. It is a hot day to be on foot and so far from Wessel.” Del looked up at him haughtily, shaking her braids over her shoulder and making her beads clink and sparkle in the sun. It drew the man’s eye as she intended, noting the material and colors with a practiced familiarity. Every Aurelia wore beads, but most were clay or stone, heavy and dull. Glass, especially colored glass, and crystal adorned only the wealthy.

“That goes without saying, sir,” she snapped, “do not believe I am here because I choose to be.” His eyes snapped back to hers and he inclined his head.

“Of course not, my lady. Is there anything we can do to assist you?”

“My horses were stolen in a border town two days past. There were no decent horses to be had to replace them, some sickness they claimed,” she sneered. “Cheap Giduran I say.” The guard nodded in agreement. “I sent my associate ahead to find more, but I could not stay in that sty one more night. Free or not, it smelled of cows.” She looked longingly down the road. “I expected to meet the man on the road, but alas, he has not been seen. And I dare not send away my servant to find him. He would probably become lost as soon as he is out of sight.” Maug stared at the dirt under his feet and said nothing.

“Perhaps we could look for your man, my lady? Which way did he go?” The other soldier asked. He was young, very young for a soldier, his cheeks still puffed with fat and covered with red spots.

“And if you find him?” She snapped. “How exactly do three men with horses somewhere else help me more than one?” Her eyes narrowed. “Or perhaps you hope to find an easy mark for free horses.” The older man started to speak, but she interrupted. “No, sirs. I think I will continue on to Wessel. I hear there is a magistrate in audience there. He should be able to help me with … many things.” She had no idea where Wessel even was, much less if there was a magistrate holding court there. But it didn’t matter. The men heard the intended threat and hurried to fix their mistake.

“I meant no offense, my lady,” the young one said, face pale under his spots now.

“He spoke in ignorance, my lady. Please allow us to help in any way we may. A lady as yourself can not be in this heat and dust for long.” He dismounted and bowed lower to her. “Please take my apprentice's horse. He can walk back and retrieve it for his insolence.” For the first time in her life, Del was happy Aurelias were such horrible people, even to each other. This ruse wouldn’t have worked otherwise.

“And what exactly is my man to do,” she gestured to Maug, “run beside me all the way to Wessel? He would die halfway and I do not intend to arrive without a clean dress to change into. Should I carry my own things?” Her face hardened in contempt. The old man jumped from his horse and gathered its reins and the others.

“Of course not, my lady. Forgive me, I wasn’t thinking. Your man can use my horse. The walk is not far for us and it will be all the more barrable knowing you are comfortable and safe.” He handed her the reins with another bow. She couldn’t help but notice the young man behind him looked less than pleased.

Once Del and Maug had settled into the high, hard saddles of the soldiers' horses, she nodded to the men.

“I will mention you upheld your duties well when I meet with the magistrate, sirs.”

“Thank you for that kindness, my lady, but we are only doing what duty entails.” Entails for the wealthy you mean, Del thought scornfully. “Leave the animals at the stables of the Lamplight Inn and we will retrieve them in good time.” Del nodded again before kicking her horse to a fast walk.

Once they were out of sight, Maug allowed his horse to catch hers and they trotted side by side for a while. He looked down the road moodily as they walked, but stayed silent and refused to look at her. Finally, she sighed.

“This was your idea, you know.” He grunted at her. A mile later, he finally spoke up.

“You took too big a chance getting a second horse. It was suspicious wanting your man to ride, too.” She tried hard not to roll her eyes. He hated playing the servant.

“But it wasn’t, was it? Did you want to walk? I couldn’t have let you ride with me. That would have been suspicious.” He didn’t respond.

They walked in silence for a few more miles until the road before and behind them was empty. Without a word, Maug veered his horse into the hedges, looking for an opening. Once he found one, he motioned to Del and took off across a rolling field of tall grass and as far away from Wessel as they could get before nightfall. The sun was setting when they saw lights from a town in the distance. Relieved, Del turned them back to find the road again.

“We’ll stop there for a minute so I can change.” She pointed to a small copse of trees some distance from the road. She dismounted and took a moment to stretch her legs. It had been too long since she rode, and she was sore to the bone. Then she pulled the dress over her head and put it on again, inside out. She’d had the dress made specifically for this purpose; two fine dresses for the space of one. Worn this way, the dress was black silk lined with red velvet. It was also much more uncomfortable. She fidgeted with it, trying to stop the velvet from rubbing and sticking.

“Is my lady satisfied with her finery yet?” Maug asked. He was working on changing the saddle blankets and hiding the emblems engraved on the pommels.

“You know very well they’ll be out looking for an Aurelia lady in a red dress. You should put on your other hat, too.” She set to pulling her hair into an elaborate knot.

“I don’t like my other hat.” He grumbled but stuffed his floppy leather hat in his bag and donned a wide-brimmed hat of felt that still covered his hair but left his face more exposed.

“I would like to remind you, again, this was your idea. You know in Aurelia I have to play the Aurelia and you have to play the…”

“Servant,” he grumbled.

“Yes, the servant.” She sighed as he turned his back on her to stroke his horse’s mane. Honestly, she didn't blame him. She’d have a hard time bowing and scraping and keeping her mouth shut too.

They had tried once to dye her hair before crossing the border, so they could both travel as servants. They’d spent a pretty penny on some red langberry paste. Turns out it doesn’t work on black hair and Maug spent the next three weeks with hands that looked like he had just butchered a pig.

“You know, we could get you a nice breastplate in the next town. Instead of being my servant, you could be my guard. You look more guard than servant, anyway.” She said it thoughtfully and was glad to see a small smile as he considered it.

“I’m not lugging around steel plate on the road.” He shook his head. “And I’d have to carry a sword on my hip and everyone would call me sir.” He gave a dramatic shudder. “No, I’ll stick with a servant for now. It’s lighter. Now come here and let me fix your hair. You look like you got into a fight with Tafa.”

He was in a much better mood when they finally entered the town.

They did little more than walk down the main street of the town. They kept a ‌distance from each other and quickly stopped at the shops still open to buy what little they could afford from what even less they offered. Full night was just falling when they made their way back out onto the road heading north. They wouldn’t be able to sleep in a town for a night or two, but that was a small price to pay for two mounts. They rode a suitable distance from the town until they found a small stream to water the horses and rest until daylight. Neither slept. This close to the road, it was a mistake to close your eyes at night. Unless you wanted your horses gone and maybe your throat cut for good measure.

The first farmers' wagons began rumbling by just before dawn. They stiffly saddled their horses and were back on the road before the sun reached the horizon. All day they rode, only stopping to feed and water the horses and themselves and only passing through one small village. Nightfall found them in a clearing in the thin beech wood on one side of the road.

“We have to sleep tonight,” Del said wearily, “or I may fall straight off my horse tomorrow. I’ll take first watch.” She was sitting with her back up against a scrawny tree, throwing saltfish to Tafa.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“Fine, but tomorrow we stop at the first town we come to. I don’t care if the inn is a one-story shack with dirt floors.” He groaned loudly as he laid down, “I think my saddle sores have saddle sores.”

In the end, Maug did care about the town. He agreed to pass through the first one they came to, mumbling that its inn probably really did have dirt floors and something about fleas. Del knew the real reason. Traffic on the road had been growing steadily for most of the day, and dark-haired Aurelians outnumbered other travelers now and the guard was particularly thick. They were close to the border and even she had to admit the meanest Aurelian inn was a treat compared to where they’d been lately.

Just after midday, they passed the guard house marking the border. The guards haughtily looked down at the passer-bys but rarely bothered to speak. Since most of the traffic was mounted now, they had little worry about anyone spotting their stolen horses. Still, a few miles past the guardhouse, they stopped so Del could change her beads and place her magic ring on a leather cord around her neck and Maug could put on a new vest. This one was deep blue embroidered with gold vines and a little ragged from age. It would due from a distance but only a long one.

“You need a new one,” Del gestured toward the vest. Maug snorted and patted his mount's nose before climbing in the saddle again.

“Yeah, wouldn’t want anyone thinking you couldn’t keep well-dressed servants, your majesty.” He looked abashed as soon as he was done. “Sorry. I’m hungry and I’m tired. Let's sort that and then we’ll find a job that pays enough to get new clothes. Or maybe you could use your ring on a well-dressed nobleman? I’d be set with fancy knickers then.”

“I don’t use the ring…”

“In Aurelia,” Maug monotoned. “Yes, yes. I remember. I still say it’s highly unlikely some random merchant will recognize the thing.”

“It’s unique.”

“It’s not that unique,” Maug muttered, but let the matter drop. It was an argument he knew he wouldn’t win.

The first town they came to wasn’t exactly grand by Aurelia standards, but it was a dream compared to the farm villages of Gidura. There were two inns, three taverns, and a green with a sizable outdoor market. Maug had stabled his horse and found a dice game under an enormous tree before Del made it through the gate. She marveled at his ability to do anything but find a room and lie down. That is exactly what she did. The first inn on the main street was the ‘King’s Keep’. It was dry, and it smelled good. That was enough for Del. She ordered a plate of roast and two ales to her room.

The roast was burnt, but the ale was cold and, after finally being able to remove her stifling dress, she was feeling better about their prospects here than she had since Maug suggested they cross the border. She hated her homeland and its people, but their arrogance made them easy marks. It would be nice to have more than pocket change for once. As Tafa hooted over her own plate of roast by the window, she drifted to sleep with the setting sun.

Del tossed and turned with dark dreams filled with familiar voices she couldn’t place, but she could recall little about them when she woke at daybreak. Tafa was still fast asleep in the middle of her roast plate when Del sat up stiffly. She played with the ring on its cord around her neck while she tried to shake the last of the dreams from her mind. Its cool, soft silver and luminous green stone made her feel calm and safe. Then she spotted the dress lying over a small stool by the door and groaned. It was just too risky to hide her Aurelian skin and dark hair in Aurelia itself, even on the road. Hopefully, they would find a quick mark, make their money, and she could strong-arm Maug back across the border. Maybe to Vintera, this time for real. She did miss the wine.

She dawned the dress again, red side out. As she settled Tafa into the hood of her black cloak, she told herself it was because it would look suspicious for an Aurelia lady to be seen in the same dress two days in a row, but honestly, she just couldn’t face the hot, itchy velvet against her skin another day. The smirk on Maug’s face when he saw her enter the common room said he knew it too.

He lifted the bags at his feet when she approached and bowed grandly. She ignored him and settled with the owner. In Aurelia, they did a dance no one saw, but everyone noticed. As long as they did the steps right, they would stay invisible. Maug seemed to be taking his role especially seriously this morning. Del eyed her companion suspiciously as he ran, without one mutter or any grumbling, actually ran to retrieve their horses. And again when he helped her mount and bowed to her, and with a smile. She kept her questions to herself as they rode out of town.

They traveled in silence, enjoying the bright morning sun. Riding was always more enjoyable after a proper meal and bed. Del was about to suggest they head for one of the bigger border cities. That was their best bet for a big enough payout to get Maug out of Aurelia.

“I think…”

“I stocked up our supplies last night,” Maug interrupted, “even found a little cannis.” He patted the saddlebags behind him.

“Um…good. I’m glad you found some. It’s been scarce for weeks.”

“It cost a pretty penny, but I made gold at dice last night, and I knew you wanted some.”

Del raised an eyebrow but said nothing. A few minutes passed before the elf spoke again.

“I brushed out my vest this morning.” He pulled his cloak aside to show her. It looked as ragged as ever, if a bit more clean. Del still said nothing. “I asked around the stables last night, discreetly, of course,” he chuckled. “It seems no one has heard even a rumor of a horse thief near Wessel. So, it looks like we are safe.” He turned and smiled at her. Not just any smile, the smile Maug used to melt hearts. The one he used to distract, to get what he wanted without a fuss.

“What is wrong with you?” It took a few paces before Maug realized she had stopped. He turned and trotted back to her.

“What do you mean?” He asked, still smiling.

“Stop that. And I mean, what did you do?” He continued to look at her with innocence in his golden eyes. “Ok, what do you want?” That had the effect she was looking for. She saw his smile slip just a hair. A faint whisper of guilt behind his eyes.

“I don’t know what you are talking about, Del. I only wanted you to feel safe. Is that…”

“Maug.”

“What? You know I got some cured ham too? I know you love…”

“Maug.”

“And pickled…”

“Maugrian!”

“What!”

“What do you want? And stop trying to soften me up. You know I hate it when you do that shit.”

“I wasn’t trying to do anything…” He stopped when he saw how close Del was to yelling again. “I was just going to tell you about an interesting rumor I heard over dice, and at the tavern…and in the stables.”

“Sounds like more than a rumor, then.”

“Indeed.”

“So, what was it?”

“Well, you know how these things are Del, they get confused from person to person. An inn keep listens differently than a stable hand and a wench even different still…”

“Maug.”

“Oh, fine,” he sighed. “Some rich kid, or man, it’s confused a bit on that point, really. Anyway, some rich kid has been kidnapped by someone, and his rich family is paying a lot to anyone who gets him back.”

“Why?”

“Whatcha’ mean ‘why’? Because he’s their kid.”

“I mean, why would they pay just anybody to get him back? Why not use the King's Guard?”

Maug shrugged impatiently. “They probably are, but you know how stupid they are.”

“Rich people or the King's Guard?”

“Both. Rich people are stupid enough to pay anybody and the King’s Guard are too stupid to find anybody. It’s a perfect opportunity for us.”

“How? Aurelia is a pretty big place, and if you heard this rumor no less than three places in that little town, it must be everywhere. The chances of us finding anything worthwhile are slim.”

“Ah.” Maug looked like he had been expecting this argument. “I didn’t get to tell you the rest of the rumor, though. One of the stable hands says his innkeeper has a patron who knows the kid was spotted in a border town just a few days ago.”

“It’s a big border.”

“Yes, but I also spoke with one of the same inn's maids…”

“Spoke?”

“Eventually, yes.” He grinned. “She said the patron mentioned Anwar and Settie. They wouldn’t be moving north. Nobody goes to the silent forest with a hostage. So, moving south, the next town would be Ashten, which is…”

“A day's ride from here.”

“Exactly.” He said excitedly.

“Well, at least we know where to avoid.”

“Oh, come on Del…”

“Come on what? You seriously think we have any chance of finding this kid? Even knowing what town he might be in, it’s a long shot. And the story stinks anyway. Why would they pay to get him back and expect him to stay alive? The only reason to kidnap a rich kid is ransom, so they probably dumped him after the first whisper they heard of people looking.”

“I wondered about that too, but Ceecee, the tavern girl, she said people have seen the kid…”

“Or man?”

“Whatever. They’ve seen him since the notice went out and with a heavy guard too. But not King’s Guards. And they put warnings out about these guards, too.”

“Who?”

“The King's Guard. The family. I don’t know. The point is, it means the kid was alive after. Maybe they think they can run long enough for the family to give in and pay.”

“What exactly are you proposing here? We run in, fight off a small army of kidnappers, and waltz the kid back to the capital?” She rolled her eyes at him. "I'm certain that will go wonderfully."

“I’m not a complete idiot, Del.” He ignored her snort of disagreement. “We don’t have to fight anybody or save anyone. All we have to do is find out where they are. Then we sell the info to the first greedy King's Guard we see. You know how they are.”

“Yeah, as likely to stick you as spit on you.”

“Not you,” he shook his head. “You’re a proper Aurelia lady. They wouldn’t stick you and they’d be more likely to buy from you, too.”

“Maug…”

“It’s easy money, Del. We’re good at ferreting information. We’re good at hiding in plain sight. And we’re good at finding things people are hiding. I bet we find the kid in an hour.”

The idea was completely absurd. Del knew they were likely to find nothing but haughty merchants and prickly guards looking for a fight in Ashten. Both could lead to trouble for honest, hardworking thieves. But if this did go sideways, which seemed very probable, it was the perfect excuse to leave Aurelia and not come back for months. She could be in and out in two, maybe three days. And since it was Maug’s idea, he wouldn’t be able to moan about it. He would, but she could ignore him without guilt this way.

“How are we supposed to know if we’ve found the kid? You don’t even know if he is a kid.”

“Shouldn’t be terribly hard,” Maug shrugged. “Well dressed Aurelian in hiding, plus armed guard. Should stick out, really.”

“You realize that even if this kid is alive, and if we find him, and if we do it without getting caught, we still have to find a guard that wouldn’t just kill us as soon as we give him the information.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Maug nudged his horse into a faster walk. “I’ll find the perfect guy. Seriously. We’ll be in and out in a day, two tops.”

She sighed, but quickened her pace to match his. This was going to go badly, but she at least hoped they got one more night in an inn before it did.