Follower

Vossler looked curiously at the figure he followed, turning his head to the side. He had difficulty in deciding if he should continue to pursue the cloaked figure before him, or turn back. But seeing someone sneak so easily out of Marquis Ondore's Estate worried him. They didn't seem to have come from the main entrance, or from what he could see they didn't; and this person certainly didn't materialize out of thin air. And the way that they clung to dark places suggested that they were trying to conceal themselves. Could it be an agent, going off to tell the Imperials some important piece of knowledge? Or did they belong to the resistance bounding away with new information?

He could just as easily leave this person be, and go about his business back at Ondore's estate; but his curiosity overcame him. He concluded that no one would have a reason to hide themselves beneath a cloak that was too warm for a fair night like this, and walk down dark deserted alleys if they had nothing to hide.

He scrunched his brow in scrutiny over the short figure, and pressed himself into the shadows, following them like a haunt. If they worked for the resistance, then he might learn some valuable information. Though he too was part of the resistance, the factions in Rabanaster and Bhujerba were separate; rarely was correspondence ever issued between the two. Getting information, or the current condition of things, could prove difficult at times. The resistance was so afraid of being wiped out, and was so secretive and divided, that one city had little, to almost no idea of where the other one was based.

If this person belonged to the Bhujerban resistances as he hoped they were, then they could lead him straight to their hideout, and he would get some long needed information. To find out where Basch was, and see that the traitor completed his business. If Basch had lived up to his side of the bargain; then the plan he had in store to free the supposedly deceased princess Ashelia might have a chance. He had realized that if he went to the Marquis, he would learn what the resistance was doing, and as according to his plan, speak with Ondore of rescuing the princess. To get her away from the Leviathan, an Imperial warship stationed in Bhujerba. Albeit Basch had failed to do as he promised, he would try his best to save her, without assistance if need be.

But, he couldn't get to at the Marquis estate, the gate was small and the men on guard there were almost impossible to get past. They would not aid a member of the resistance, and inside the grounds; there would be too many guards to sneak past. Not to mention the frenzy the Imperials were in; he was unsure as to what they were so upset about, but he had heard tell of someone gone missing. Maybe if he followed this person, they would lead him to the intelligence that he was unable to acquire from the Marquis. Vossler nodded in approval at this; it would help to know what the Imperials were going crazy about. He wouldn't dare approach this figure though, just in case they weren't part of the resistance. All he needed to do for now was follow them anyways.

A clatter on the stone in front of him caught his attention; all of his thoughts faded from his mind as he tensed, ready to disappear in a moments notice. The figure twirled around, and Vossler plastered himself against the wall, right behind a stack of crates. He held his breath, trying to stay as quiet as possible. He heard a loud thump and an umph coming from the person's direction and chanced a look. As Vossler peered between the worn slats of a wooden crate; he could make out the person he was following, sitting dazedly on the ground, staring past where he hid. As they turned their head one way, he briefly he caught a glimpse of blond hair in the pale moonlight; just as he saw it, it disappeared as their head was once more cast in the shadows of their hood.

Vossler blinked and immediately pressed himself back against the wall; as the person jumped to their feet again, standing in a fighting stance. He waited quietly in the shadow of the crates, not daring to move, and heard them sigh dejectedly. Soon he could hear the sound of their footsteps resounding up and down the street, as they began walking once more. Their steps faded away, he peeked out from behind the disheveled pile of crates to check, for the sake of being cautious, if they yet lingered. He saw the tail of their cloak trailing in the night, and he began walking again, this time a greater distance from the person than before. Even if they didn't seem to know he was following them, he didn't want to take any chances. Years of hiding from the Empire had taught him to be wary; and he wouldn't be known unless he wanted to be.

After an eternity of following, Vossler began to consider that this person wasn't some sort of informant at all. They never seemed to be following a certain path, and several times he was sure that this person had passed through the same place twice. He shook his head angrily, as he once more trudged through the same alley. Vossler had trouble deciding if this was worth it anymore, he had business with the Marquis; wouldn't it just be easier to go back and work on a way of getting into the estate covertly? It would be no small task in convincing the Marquis for his help; but maybe he could get some measure of intelligence from Ondore, instead of wandering aimlessly after this person. If they weren't in the resistance, or with the Imperials, who could they work for?

Maybe they were just some servant; but servants would know their way around the city, not go in circles. Or, maybe; they had sensed him and were trying to throw him off the trail by boring him. That made him a little angry that someone would try playing such a trick on him.

As Vossler faded into the shadows of another wall, trying to avoid the occasionally suspicious glances behind a shoulder; he suddenly saw that on the other end of this long winding alley, was one of the main thoroughfares of the city. It was bare of people, and the street lamps did little to light the intersection; but it was still visible and in sight. As he peeled away from the brick wall he had been pressed against with much skill; the person stopped abruptly, at the mouth of the alley; beside the thoroughfare, seemingly unable to decide which way to go. Vossler edged closer to them, curious of what they stood waiting for. The figure turned suddenly, Vossler cursed and stepped back into a dark shadow. He stopped breathing as the cloaked figure stilled, frozen at the edge of light in the darkness. Very slowly they walked backwards, into the light of the street, into the open. In the light he could see the side of their face illuminated softly, pale skin glowing.

To his surprise, he realized that it was a no more than a girl; Vossler stared at her in consternation. His entire idea crumbling to ash, he had come all this way after a child? Who was this; they had slipped away from the Marquis' estate and were wandering aimlessly about the streets. He had followed thinking that she could lead him to answers, but he could have laughed at how foolish he had been. Vossler slammed his fist angrily against the wall in frustration; he had been walking around for an hour, uselessly. The girl stumbled as she turned, and began to run to the other side of the alley. Vossler could only grind his teeth in aggravation, he needed that information; and soon the imperials would leave Bhujerba, his chance would dissipate like smoke in the air.

Vossler took another look at the figure retreating down the alley; they couldn't be a servant, it made no sense, and they couldn't be in the resistance, because they would know their way around the city. If they weren't familiar with the city though, and were someone who had recently come here; then maybe, they were some sort of informant for the imperials. His head jumped in her direction again, it would be just like the Imperials to use a child in their work. What could he lose if she was working for them, the resistance needed more information. With this in mind, Vossler stepped farther from the darkness, on the periphery light. He walked across the street with a new way of going about his purpose in mind; he would get what he wanted to know.