Hey here is the next chapter! Sorry for the delay everyone but I've been busy with stuff and the Wi-fi has been going haywire at my place.

Chapter 10- A Dangerous Idea

When nightfall came, Lyra was found to escort Markl towards the east side of the dock to where they knew they wouldn't be bothered and where Colin was waiting for them. Nobody would be able to see them coming from that direction since the lampshade only gave off light in only a certain area. As they were hidden away from the shadows, Lyra began to ponder another thing: how on earth would they be able to lead Markl over to the men without raising suspicion. If he went willingly to them, they might think something would be off and it would raise an alarm. However, Lyra didn't want the men to hurt him either.

"How exactly are we to approach this?" sighed Lyra, leaning over a wall of an alleyway and palming her face with her hand, "If you go to them, they're bound to be suspicious, and possibly hurt you so they could coerce any information out of you."

"I was thinking..."began Colin, "If you were to go up disguised as a beggar boy or some other and that would let their guard down and try to…er…help you."

Lyra stared at Colin almost affronted, "But that still wouldn't take away the fact that he will end up getting manhandled and possibly thrown somewhere where we won't rescue him!"

"It's the only chance we've got Lyra, I don't like it either and I-

"I'm going to do it!"

Lyra and Colin stopped talking and slowly looked at Markl in surprise, "W...what?"

"I said I'm going to do it, what other choice do we have?" said Markl fiercely, "And besides, there isn't much time before they come back, so I just have to be strong!"

There was a silence in which Colin and Lyra didn't say anything, only looking at each other surprised and yet a little nervous. Markl stood, staring at them slightly breathless with a thin determined look at them waiting for their answer.

Lyra sighed and looked away at the small child. But Markl knew he had already won.

"Alright," said Colin hesitantly, but in a firm voice as he looked at the young child before him and placed a hand on his shoulder, "If you agree to it, then I guess we have no choice but to let you."

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Markl stood while Lyra attempted to fix his clothes in places. They had all agreed that he was to change clothing to make him more suitable for his role as a beggar. Now he was in clothing that was torn purposely at the edges but enough to distinguish his look of a small orphaned child who had been forced to roam around in the streets.

-and we'll be following you in day and night." Assured Lyra as she put put both her hands on his shoulders comfortingly. "So don't worry, we will never abandon you!"

"I know you won't, because you and Mr. Slenderman are strong and brave! If I need to grow up to be strong like you two, I have to learn not to run away!" he exclaimed.

Lyra paused briefly staring at his fierce, determined eyes of such a young person before suddenly hugging him. Before she pulled away however, she pulled the thing she had been saving from inside her robes.

"Is…is that for me?" gasped Markl, eyeing the treasure that Lyra had produced. It was the red dragon hilted dagger she had received previously for Markl's sake.

"Well, I thought since we are chasing bad guys…you should be prepared in case me and Colin can't be around with you." Said Lyra smiling as Markl looked at his present with an incredulous and ecstatic look and was suddenly met with a hug and stuttering of thanks.

"Don't worry, whatever will happen, I won't let them get away from us!" said Markl, now with a fresh determination as he clutched his dagger in the sheath. "I'm not afraid of them!"

Lyra looked torn between deep worry and yet amusement before hugging him once again. "That's the spirit! But make sure to keep the dagger hidden away from them!"

Colin appeared before them after Markl had tucked it safely in the inside of his clothing. "now let's go!"

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Nothing much was said except that Lyra and Colin had watched anxiously from afar as the bedraggled Markl approached the men asking for money. When he was invited inside the ship as though they were going to help his false dilemma, they heard the sound they had both dreaded and yet hoped for- the sound of Markl feigning the fright of being captured. All Lyra could hope for, was that the men hadn't manhandled or hurt Markl in any serious way.

"So there it is." Sighed Colin grimly. "He's been captured. Now all we need now is to wait for them to embark now on their journey."

"You're right," said Lyra a bit melancholic, still thinking and trying to get the image of Markl straining against his bonds out of her head.

"Don't worry Lyra, he'll be fine, I'm sure of it."

"How could you say that? We have put him into danger!"

Colin sighed and shook his head. "It may seem like it, but Markl agreed to it. He is a special boy who is brave. Probably far braver than any other small boy I have met." He wound his hand around Lyra's and gave it a squeeze for comfort.

Lyra held his back, and felt gladdened by his words. Markl was a tough boy, and she knew that he would be okay.