The group knew they didn't have much time. By lingering around the streets, Harold and Edwin knew that the word of them running amok had reached everyone. They knew that if they stayed there a bit longer, it would only take moments for the authorities to catch them.

For John, it was an easy decision to make. "We leave by sunrise tomorrow," John said. Everyone knew that he would say that. In fact, Harold was rather surprised that they were rather delayed.

"Why not now?" Harold said to his uncle in their room. The only reason why Harold didn't shout was out of fear that others would listen.

"I've overheard the guards; they are beginning to suspect that we are the ones that they are searching for," John said to the group. Agnetha always looked all the more worried, which made Edwin notice her. Edwin merely shook his head, knowing that Harold's excuse could only hold for so long.

"So, all the more reason to leave now," Harold said.

"And how do we get past the guards?" John replied, having enough of his nephew's temper. "The moment they will see our faces, they will catch us straight away,"

Harold stood there dumbfounded. He knew his uncle was quite right, so much so that he actually agreed with him. But then, he did remember whom he talked to in the morning.

"Perhaps I know someone that can help us, an Eldunian man who is a peculiar thief," Harold said. John's eyes lit up; the word 'someone' either infuriated him or intrigued him. "You told someone about our plan?" John demanded angrily.

"Not precisely, I told him it was just mercenary work," Harold retorted. "He seems to know a lot more about this place,"

"What is he exactly?" John asked precisely. "A man from Eldunia, calls himself Faizal," Harold explained as John was only more confused. Why would someone from a faraway land want to do business here?

"An Eldunian? Why should we employ his services?" John asked once again. He never liked the idea of having another man in his group. Means have to share more, or worse."He seems to be a very coy thief; we could use someone like that," Harold stated.

"Someone who can help us sneak past the guards?" Edwin asked, who was beginning to catch up on what he was saying.

"Precisely, they won't even notice," Harold said with confidence. His uncle did not find much to object to, but he was still hesitant nonetheless. It's either that or direct combat. And John knew that since Jernby is such a heavily populated town, they would be overwhelmed with guards for sure.

"Bring me this Faizal tomorrow, then we shall see, " John said, and thus they retired for the night. As Edwin also prepared to retire, he couldn't help but notice Agnetha looking at a corner, with her mouth moving. As if staring at other faces, Agnetha looked focused, fixated on talking, as her face looked worried.

"I won't fail you..."

"Agnetha?" Edwin asked as the lady gasped all of a sudden. Her body moved away from him instinctively, despite Edwin's calm approach to her. She got up and left without words, leaving Edwin all alone. He did not even have the chance to explain to her. With this, Edwin merely sat down, sighing at himself and wondering what he did do wrong.

"Might as well just retire for tonight," Edwin thought as he got up.

As the crow signals a new day, Harold and John both went to the tavern as fast as possible. John made it clear to Edwin that he should stay behind for Agnetha. After all, he could tell merry tales to her to pass the time For Harold, knowing what kind of people mercenaries are, he did tell Faizal that he might accept him, but he knew very well not to be easily convinced.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"Sneak past the guards?" Faizal asked as he sipped his ale, this time having less confidence than before. But Harold and John were at both of his sides. Faizal couldn't just leave them.

"You said yourself you are quite a thief," Harold said. "This is different; my skills would most likely be challenged by this."

"Why not? How hard could it be for you?" Harold said.

"A thief for the common folk, yes," Faizal replied sternly. "But this is guards we are talking about, very difficult,"

"You have a general idea, then?" John said.

"I think so, but I wouldn't necessarily agree with it myself," Faizal admitted, seeing how there were only three guards now. "By an hour after dawn, large groups of miners and travellers will be heading out to work. It's a perfect time to blend into the crowd," Indeed, Jernby was rather a large, profitable town for Westhaven. Its profits alone almost made the empire break even with its immaculate expenses from the war.

"Perhaps, we can do that, blending in," John said, as he was convinced by nodding his head. There were quite a number of Westerners like them after all. Harold himself was rather shocked, that he could make such an observation even though living here for only a while.

"So, we could just blend in without notice," Harold asked.

"Either that or risk direct combat," Faizal continued. Which the latter would result very likely in death. His ideas as a thief even saw combat as heretical to his methods. "Even if they spot us, we could be... just past the gate. We would be fleeing them by now,"

John looked more sure, as he found some kind of coherence in the plan. However, there was another problem for them, as Harold noticed the horses, reminding him of Mary.

"The horses, what about them?" Harold replied as John tsked when he heard that. "You couldn't possibly leave Mary behind,"

"Damn it Harold, this is a matter of life and death!" John whispered angrily, as the Sun was quickly rising up. There wasn't much to debate now, as Harold's mind has not changed.

"Mary is coming with us," Harold said one last time, as John could only accept his nephew's request regretfully.

...

"You're ready?"

"Indeed," Agnetha said to Edwin, as she packed her cloak to her belongings. She now looked rather humble enough to not attract any suspicion. Harold touched his Mary, Not wanting to let go in any way.

"The moment the miners and travellers move in, you must also move quickly," Faizal said, as they were already on their way. Sure enough, a large influx and outflux of people were shuffling through the gate.

"Now's the time!" Faizal said as the group walked into the crowd of people. Most of them are both Nords and Westerners alike, haggard in appearance as they were all carrying pickaxes with several guards escorting them. And the others were travellers like them. Harold noticed a group, all Westerners with a Nord having a rope strung around his neck. He can only imagine what the colonial troop will punish him, as only Western mercenaries would keep someone alive if they are worth more.

"You don't mind haggling with us normal people, princess?" Harold said as Agnetha could barely keep up with them. There were rather a lot of them, but the reward was that they could slip past them unnoticed. Still, at this point, they would rather barge through the gate and hope for the best.

"Just keep walking... Don't stop..."

"You there," a guard said, as Harold was frozen stiff. The guard waddled among the crowd, as he reached to John personally.

"Is there anything to help?" John said, with his head bowing to him.

"I'm afraid you can," the guard said, as his eyes looked rather suspicious. John itched for his bow, his heart pounding as he could only think of the worst things that could happen right now. He signalled to Harold and Edwin via his hands, giving them the much-needed warning to prepare for the worse.

"May I ask what was your purpose here?" the guard asked, as Faizal's eyes widened in surprise. Harold himself does not know what to say, except to smile at him politely.

"We were just passing good sir, I believe that we have said that before," John said, lowering himself as the guard looked at each of the group. His eyes then focused on Faizal, whom could only do nothing as the guard walked towards him.

"I am afraid you have to come with me," the guard said, as Faizal looked back at his Western and Nord friends.

"What for?"

"I know your bloody face, thief! " the guard grabbed Faizal as they both scuffled into a brawl. Faizal was tackled to the ground as the Eldunian grabbed a knife at his waist, and jammed it into the guard's own.

"What's happening?"

"Go, damn it!" Harold said as Edwin grabbed Agnetha away. The scuffle attracted everyone as the group warded away from Jernby as far as possible. It seems the Eldunian has paid his part of the deal after all.