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Chapter 9: The Scholar City
They had to spend the night at the port city. Raiden was just going to get one room to save some gald. But Matthias demanded that they get a separate room for Elena; something about how a young woman shouldn't share a room with men. Elena didn't give an opinion because she was busy reading.
Raiden tried to explain to him that it really didn't matter. It was at least settled that they would only get one room since Raiden wasn't budging on spending more gald and if Matthias really felt that adamant about it he could purchase the room. Apparently Matthias didn't bring any money with him.
That also meant that Raiden would have to pay for Matthias' ticket for the ship. Matthias was also a little shocked to learn that they would have to sleep in bunkbeds in a room of over twenty people since the trip would have to be an overnight trip to reach Heilord's dock. Just like when they were kids, Matthias was being a pain.
They were all on the deck enjoying the sea breeze and sunshine, expect Elena who was in the shade with Sable reading. "This is the first time you've been a ship since we had to flee from Halure, right Rune? You're not scared."
Rune shook his head. "Weather's nice and there are no monsters. So I should have no reason to be scared," he told him.
Raiden was glad to hear that.
"Oh, since we're going through Heilord, we should visit Benji," Rune suddenly said.
Raiden scratched his head in embarrassment. "I can't believe I never thought of that," he said. Before he and Rune had even decided to go on this journey, they were already planning a trip to Heilord to see Benji.
"Who is Benji?" Matthias asked.
"He's a kritya that pretty much lived with our families when we were still in Halure," Raiden told him. "He's really smart, maybe even more than Aunt Rita, so he's at the academy in Heilord." Raiden did think of Benji as family. But the two of them were never close. Elena and Benji were actually really close. The two of them would just read together. Rune and Benji would also work on formulas together. Raiden and Benji never really found anything in common.
"I heard my father talking about Ms. Judith having a child, is he the same person?" Matthias asked.
"Yeah, that's his mother," Rune answered. And no one knew his father was.
Just one random day, Judith stopped in Halure with Ba'ul and had a two-year-old Benji with her. Raiden was only five and he was the only one confused. His parents were just as startled. Raiden knew krityans to be an odd bunch. But it was really odd that Judith would just say, "This is Benji, my son I found. You all wouldn't mind keeping an eye on him? I have a pretty dangerous job to do that I couldn't bear to bring him with me."
And that is how Benji pretty much lived with the Lowells. Until some mages invited Benji to join the academy.
"He really must be brilliant to attend the Academy in Heilord," Matthias commented. "Kids studying to be mages and scientists go there and it's a highly competitive school."
"There were a lot of mages in Halure at the time," Rune explained. "They were all surprised with how well Benji could follow their notes of formulas for mana conversion. When he was six he was even able to make a devise for lighting a whole room that only used mana. So all the mages in Halure gave Benji recommendations. So he didn't even have to take an entrance exam."
Raiden chuckled a bit thinking about all the stuff Benji used to build. He shared a room with Raiden and half of the room was always filled with stuff for him to fix or build. His parents were about to have a building made so Benji could have his space to create. But then he got accepted into the academy.
"I can't believe I forgot you all were from Halure," Matthias suddenly said. Then he suddenly bowed his head to Raiden. "I never did express my condolences for the loss of your father. I'm of the same opinion as my own father that he was a man with a good heart."
Raiden knew that Matthias was being nice right now. But he really wished he'd just act like a normal person. It had been a few years since Yuri Lowell died, so it was fine if he didn't give condolences. He looked out at the sea. "Thanks," he mumbled.
"So…were you all really in Halure when those renegades attack?" Matthias then asked.
Raiden and Rune fell quiet. The two of them didn't talk about that day. Aunt Rita and Rune had actually been at Heilord at the time. To this day, Rune had never asked Raiden about that day.
Thankfully Matthias seemed to understand and dropped it. "Sorry," he said.
"Why don't we go get lunch," Rune suggested to help move away from the subject.
"Yeah, food sounds good," Raiden said and they started moving toward the mess hall. Raiden saw that Elena was still sitting reading. "Come on Elena, you need to eat something," Raiden told her and hoped she heard him.
As he started walking away, Raiden felt someone grab the back of his jacket. When he looked back, he saw his sister had grabbed it. She wasn't looking at him. "T-thanks," she muttered.
Raiden just gave her a confused look. "You're welcome?" He said sounding just as confused.
"I glad I didn't have to sleep in a strange room by myself," Elena said softly.
Raiden hadn't even considered that. His sister was a recluse. So for her to stay by herself in a room she had never been in and even without her pet, it probably was stressful for her. But he did have one question. "Why didn't you just say something last night?"
Elena didn't say anything and just had her same board expression. She then just walked away without saying anything.
It looked like his sister was still shy in some cases. She really had only talked with close family friends, Raiden, and their mother over the years. But she was able to talk with the strange woman back at Aurnion. Maybe she was shyer around people about the same age as her.
The was a small smile on Raiden's face though. He was glad that he was able to help his sister be a little more comfortable.
/~/~/
The next day they arrived at Heilord. The city had really expanded so it would have a port to get they're supplies easer. After the renegades took Zaphias, New Aspio had to be abandoned as a research institute and replaced with people figuring out how to get Zaphias back. So Heilord became the Empire's main research institute. It was already on its way to becoming that before, but in collaboration with the guilds.
Raiden knew from what his mom told him that the people from the guild cities still attended the academy. It was pretty much the last thing that held the guilds and the Empire together on friendly terms. If something were to happen to the academy, then war between them was ensured.
The city was just so big and Raiden couldn't believe how much it had grown. The last time he was here was when his family dropped Benji off. Rune and Elena didn't look as bewildered as Raiden since they visited the city a few times before. Yet Raiden was startled to see how Matthias had a look of wonder in his eye.
"This is your first time seeing the city, isn't?" Elena commented. As anti-social as she was, she was pretty good at reading people and could spot bullshit.
That caused Matthias to get flustered that seemed to confirm what Elena asked. "Isn't only natural to marvel at a city of the Empire?"
"You can admit that you've never been here," Raiden told him.
Matthias just tried to play it off. "It may have been a year since I was last here and it was with my father. But I still have quite the knowledge of it."
Raiden wanted to call him out on it, similar to what he tried to do with Elena in Aurnion. However it was Elena who went on to say, "Come, let's go see Benji. He's probably at lunch now."
All of the buildings in Heilord were nice and could start to look the same. So someone could easily miss the Academy. Even the sign could easily be missed. The school was between the inn and the knight's headquarters.
Matthias still had a look of awe when they were inside the academy. It may not have been as nice as what Matthias lived in. However it did look like they were walking into a museum.
Raiden went up to the secretary. "We're here to see Benji," he told the woman. Hopefully he just went by Benji and not something like Benji the Kritya.
"What is your name?" She asked.
"Raiden Lowell," he gave.
She was looking through some papers. "Lowell is on his visitation list," the woman commented. She looked up to see that they were all kids. "Where is Mrs. Lowell? We can't just let a bunch of children in without adult supervision."
Raiden glanced at Elena and quickly came up with an excuse. "My mom couldn't make it, so she sent us a letter to give to Benji," Raiden told her.
Without missing a beat, Elena pulled out the blank envelope with their mother's seal. Matthias looked like he was about to say something, but Elena elbowed him in the gut.
The woman saw the seal and said, "I see, I will call for Mr. Benji. If you'll follow this guard to the visitor's room. Since you're just children, we can't allow you into the school." She motioned to a guard that was just in uniform. Raiden smiled to her and followed the guard.
He led them down a hall and to a room that didn't have a door to it. "Your friend will be here shortly. You can visit until afternoon bell." Then the guard left them in a visitor's room. There was a table with a few chairs in it. There was even a small window. But it was so small that no one could fit through it. It was good that they were protective of the students. Children of guild members and the Empire attended here. So with tensions high, the staff must be working overtime to keep the peace. However this room looked like they were keeping the students in.
"You're a mage, right," Matthias suddenly asked Rune. "Why don't you attend this school?"
Rune suddenly looked uncomfortable. He was looking down at his hands in his lap. "W-well…," he started to mutter. "I-I learn a lot from my mother, so I didn't really see the need to go to a school like this."
"Well even if you did take the entrance exam, you would have easily passed," Raiden told his friend. But that didn't seem to elevate any anxiety.
"I certainly wasn't expecting any visitors today," a familiar voice said. "Keep this brief since I have a lot of work to do."
Benji was standing in the door way with his arms crossed. He was shorter than all of them and had short blue hair and matching antennas. He was dressed in the academy's uniform and that also comprised of a lab coat. "They said that Mrs. Lowell sent me a letter," he walked in and held his hand out to accept in. Benji actually looked annoyed that they were visiting.
"That was a lie just so we could see you," Raiden admitted.
"Why am I not surprised," Benji muttered. "Thanks, but I don't have time to socialize. Tell your mother I'll try to make it to Arie Hallow next holiday."
He was actually walking away. "Come on, we came all this way to visit you. The least you can do is spare at least ten minutes," Raiden told him bluntly.
Benji looked at his watch. "I'll give you five," he said as he turned back and went to sit next to Elena. Raiden took a seat on Elena's other side. Matthias was the only not sitting. "So, what is the special occasion for your visit? I'm surprised with you Rune, I wouldn't have thought you'd leave your lessons."
Rune had that same uncomfortable look. They hadn't talked about whether they were going to tell Benji about they're real reason for being here. He would definitely not approve.
"I wanted to come see you," Elena said to keep Rune from speaking. "Mom's busy with council stuff, so she said Raiden and Rune could take me."
The kritya wasn't expecting that. It had caught him off guard. "O-oh," Benji stuttered. To change the subject, he looked other at Matthias. "So who's the emo over there?"
Raiden had to stop himself from laughing because Matthias looked just like he did when he called him Matty. "You may address me as Lord Matthias Scifo."
"Oh, Flynn' son. I see the resemblance now," Benji said before turning back to Elena. Matthias looked more annoyed that Benji just went to ignore him. He didn't say anything though. "Well I wasn't expecting to see you Elena, but I was going to send this with your mother to you," he said as he pulled out an old looking book from his lab coat. "It's an old book about theories of the ancient race."
Elena had the same board expression as she accepted the book. "Yeah, it looks old," she commented. For those that didn't know Elena well, could assume she didn't like it. But she had a shine in her eye to show that she could hardly contain her excitement to read it. It was a subtle thing that very few people could pick up on about her. Benji was one of them.
She already opened the book as was glancing at the pages. Raiden could tell that she was really fighting the urge to not start reading. "The library here has so many books that there are probably some that you've never heard of," Benji conversed. "Of course you'd have attend the school just to be able to even step into the library."
"Not happening," Elena said without hesitation. Even if she could have access to all books in the world, Elena still wouldn't want to return to school. If she did decide to go this this school she would have probably just stay in the library the whole time and miss all her classes.
Benji, Rune, and Elena were having a small conversation about the devices he was working on. For the most part, Raiden didn't converse much or follow it much. And Raiden just sat silently listening.
In probably exactly five minutes, Benji got up to say, "It's time for me to return to my studies. Have a safe trip home."
"You really can't spare more than five minutes," Raiden said out loud. He felt irritated with him just for Elena's sake. She never said it, but she missed talking with Benji. "It's not like anyone else will visit you." The moment Raiden said that, he truly wished he didn't.
There was a moment of hurt all over the kritya's face. Then it was replaced with anger. "I remember you making it very clear when we were kids that we weren't family. So it's fine that I don't have family that visits me."
"Benji we were kids," Raiden said as he stood up.
But he ignored him. "Thank you for the visit Elena. You too Rune. But I have to get back to work now." And he walked off then.
Raiden felt awful that he really wished that he had just kept his mouth closed. He really could have said anything else and it would have been better. Raiden then felt something hit him in the back of the knee. It was Elena with her eyes narrowed at him. "Idiot," she said spitefully. He was actually glad that she hit him, he deserved it of course.
Rune gave him a sympathetic look. "Raiden," he said. He probably couldn't believe that Raiden of all people would have said that to Benji. Not long after Yuri was killed, no one had seen or heard from Judith. No one had even spotted Ba'ul. So the two of them were presumed dead. But before that had even happened, Judith had barely visited her son while he was at the academy.
Raiden didn't say anything and just started walking out of the academy with the others. He just never thought the words he had said to Benji would still hurt him after all this time.
/~/~/
"Raiden, why did you say that to Benji?" Raiden's mother asked. Raiden was only about seven, but old enough to understand what people of Halure were talking about when they thought he wasn't listening.
"Because he's not," Raiden snapped. "Everyone keeps saying that Benji is dad's other kid."
Shortly after Judith had first brought Benji to live with them, so many people started talking that Yuri and Judith had a kid together. Raiden's mother had cried a lot over those rumors. But Yuri had told her that they weren't true. "Your father says they're not true," Estelle had told Raiden when he first asked about them. "He's not a liar, right? So they're not true."
Raiden believed his dad too. But he didn't want to see his mom cry again. So when little Benji asked Raiden if Yuri was his dad, Raiden got upset and said what he said to him; that they weren't family. Which caused Benji to cry.
Raiden could hear his dad give a sigh before moving his son so Raiden was looking right at him. "You and Elly are more than I can handle. I'm not having any more kids," Yuri said as a light joke. Raiden believed his dad of course. But he wasn't laughing. His dad went on to say, "Benji isn't related to us by blood, but he and Judy are family."
"But-" Raiden started to argue.
Yuri then went on to say, "Uncle Karol and Aunt Rita aren't actually your relatives. But they're family, right?"
"Y-yeah," Raiden muttered.
"So Judy and Benji are family too," his dad told him.
"Aww, I never thought I would hear something so sweet come out of Yuri," Judith suddenly said. She had just come out of Benji's room.
"Is Benji okay?" Estelle asked.
"He'll be fine, Benji is a tough boy," Judith told her.
Raiden turned from his dad and looked at Judith. "Judy, who is Benji's dad?" He asked her. If they all knew who Benji's dad was, then maybe the rumors would stop.
"Oh, I haven't a clue who Benji's father is," Judith said so causally. For some reason that answer flustered his mother.
/~/~/
Raiden was waiting outside a shop for his sister and Rune. Before they would continue on, they would need a few more supplies so they would make it to Dahngrest. Raiden was still kicking himself for what he said to Benji. Matthias was with him.
"So are you going to tell me I'm just the worst?" Raiden finally asked him. He had been waiting for it. Why else would Matthias have waited with him?
"It wasn't the best thing to say," Matthias started to say. "But you were saying that on behalf of Elena, right? He didn't have to be cold to her."
"I wasn't just saying that for her," Raiden said.
"Even I could tell that the two of you aren't close," Matthias said. "You're just going to disappoint yourself."
It was true. Raiden and Benji had barely talked even when they had lived together. His mother and sister would go to visit Benji at the academy, and Raiden would stay behind. He would say it was so the bullies wouldn't pick on Rune while he was gone. Had Raiden really not cared to see Benji? "I guess I thought it'd be different since we finally had something in common," Raiden muttered. Although, what would that have changed? Was he really expecting that they would talk about their dead parents?
As Raiden looked up, he happened to see someone familiar walking by. A girl with long dark, wavy hair and two dagger behind her back. "Shea?" Raiden called out and even got up.
The girl seemed startled to hear her name and had turned. She recognized him. "Oh, Raiden was it?"
"Yeah, I didn't think I'd run into you here of all places. What brings you to Heilord?" When they had been in Aurnion, he had sort of been hoping they'd run into her. But it was a big city.
Before Shea could answer, Matthias exclaimed, "Lady Sabeline. Where is your escort? You shouldn't be this close to the guild's territory without proper protection." And Shea was motioning for him to be quiet.
Raiden just looked confused between the two. "Lady?" He said.
Matthias rolled his eyes, the one that was visible anyway. "Of course you wouldn't know who this is. This is Lady Ophelia Yvette Sabeline. The oldest daughter of Lord Sabeline, the head of the council and one of the Empress' trusted advisers."
"You're a noble," Raiden looked at Shea in surprise. She was a high ranking one to boot. She certainly didn't act or look like one. But he supposed that explained how she got the knight's permission to be in Dwemer Ruins.
Shea gave a tired sigh. "Yes, and I'm trying to go around without people knowing who I am," she said and gave a sharp look to Matthias.
"So that's why you told me you name was Shea rather than Ophelia," Raiden said.
"You can't get as much done if people know you're a noble," Shea said.
"That doesn't explain what you're doing in such a dangerous place," Matthias said.
"Dude, Heilord isn't that dangerous," Raiden told him.
"Clearly you don't understand what's at stake," Matthias argued. "The Empire and the Guilds are on the verge of war. If the guilds were to do something to Lord Sabeline's daughter then that could spark a war.
"And that's why I'm not going by that name," Shea said and looked at Matthias with the same sharp look. "So please stop talking about the Sabeline family."
Matthias seemed to finally catch on. "Oh, yes, of course," he muttered.
Just then, Raiden could hear Sable barking. He turned to see Rune and Elena with their supplies. But Elena looked like she may have just bought more books which caused Raiden to groan a bit. Rune looked a bit started to see Shea. "Y-you that girl from before," the mage said. It was clear that he didn't think they would have met her again.
Elena just looked bored. "Are we ready to go now?" She asked.
"Elena, there isn't a ship that's scheduled to leave anytime soon," Matthias said.
Raiden just blinked at Matthias. "What's this about a ship?" He asked. "We're walking." There were no ships that would take them to a port near Dahngrest. Besides, it was cheaper and quicker just to walk.
"You must not know your geography," Matthias started to say in a demeaning tone. "You can't walk to Aurnion from Heilord."
Raiden and the others just looked at Matthias. Rune was the one who pointed out, a bit sheepishly, "But we're going to Dahngrest."
It slowly registered to Matthias. "The guild city. Why on earth are you going to those savages?"
Raiden didn't like what he said. But he was more annoyed with the fact that Matthias didn't know what their plans had been. There was no way Flynn would have just sent his son without telling him about their plans. That made Raiden wondered if Matthias even knew why they were on this journey to begin with.
Elena, on the other hand, didn't let that comment slip. "Our father was a guild member," she said darkly.
Matthias tried to recover from that. "I-I meant no offense, but we're all citizens of the Empire. We can't just go to the guilds territory."
"Your father gave us a letter so we could pass the boarder," Rune pointed out.
Matthias was silent on that and that gave them the answer they had been wondering about. "Flynn didn't send you, did he?" Raiden asked already knowing the answer.
"Fine," Matthias spat out. "He didn't send me, I decided to do this mission on my own."
"Unless you're a captain, you can't just leave on whatever mission you like or make something into a mission," Elena said.
Matthias was sweating. Raiden could tell that he was trying to come up with something plausible. But before he could, they could hear someone shouting, "Lord Matthias."
It was some knights starting to make their way toward them. "Your father was worried sick about you," one of the knights called after him.
Matthias' face started turning red. Before the knights got any closer, he suddenly took off running. The knights were calling more and so was Raiden.
Raiden was quicker than the knights and quickly out ran them. He couldn't just leave Matthias like this. Plus he was worried why he would run from the knights.
He never would have guessed that Matthias was agile and might have been slightly faster than Raiden. He almost missed it as Matthias hopped on some boxes and vaulted over the city wall. You've got to be kidding me, Raiden complained as he followed suit less gracefully.
Raiden just climbed the boxes and jumped up to the wall, but only managed to just barely catch the top of the wall. Raiden cursed that he took his father's heavier swords since he had to use a lot of strength just to pull himself up high enough so he could hike his leg up to help him on top of the wall.
He was almost over it when he could hear someone shouting, "Kid, get down from there right now. You need a permit to cross into guild territory."
Thanks Matthias, I'm going to get into trouble because of you,Raiden thought bitterly as he gave one big heave to get over the wall.
He was able to get on top, but he used too much and didn't get his balance. So he fell on the other side of the wall. It was a lot lower on the other side. Thankfully he landed right on his rear and nothing broke. But he didn't have time to completely assess what could have happened. The knights were likely going to look for him. And he was at least going to have Matthias with him to get into trouble with.
Of course he wasn't sure where Matthias was now. So he just took off running ahead. Surely Matthias wasn't that much further.
In just a few minutes, Raiden ran past a tree and failed to see that there wasn't a path before him. He tumbled down the small hill and landed on his back this time. He let out a painfully noise.
When he looked, he indirectly found Matthias sitting under the tree Raiden passed. His head was down and he was hugging his knees to his chest. Raiden's fall hadn't startled him surprisingly.
Matthias stayed still and said to Raiden, "You here to make fun of me?" He asked.
Raiden got up and dusted himself off. "The only thing I want to do it kick you for making me chase after you. But what in the world was that all about?"
"My parents must have sent them to bring me back," Matthias said without looking at him.
Raiden gave a sigh. It was starting to make sense. "You're not actually a knight, are you?"
He saw Matthias grip his sleeve. "I could be. I want to be a knight," he muttered. "But my mother thinks it's far too dangerous. After…" He stopped himself. His face was still red. Raiden remembered Matthias' mother. Raiden's father commented many times, even to Flynn, that she coddled her son far too much. Of course she wouldn't want her delicate son to join the knights.
"Even your dad?" Raiden asked. "He always talked about you becoming a knight too." Surely Flynn wouldn't have denied his son his dream.
"Anytime I ask him if I can join the knight's academy, he always says he'll talk with mother about it. But he's never home," Matthias said.
"He probably doesn't want you caught up with the conflicts," Raiden offered. Raiden's own father was gone for periods of time for guild jobs, but when Yuri was home, he had made every moment count with his family. But that was during a time of peace. It probably would have been different if he were still alive.
"I know okay," Matthias snapped. "I'm a spoiled brat that doesn't understand the situation."
"Dude, I didn't say that," Raiden defended. But someone had said that to Matthias.
Matthias stood up and had that same determination in his eyes like they did when they were kids. "I can become a knight, I know I can," he said. "I want to serve my country and its people."
Raiden just couldn't believe that Flynn wouldn't let his son become a knight. "Then let's show him Matthias," Raiden told him. "Come with us to Dahngrest."
Matthias wavered a bit hearing that. "Why are you going to Dahngrest?" He asked.
"I'm looking for the guy that killed my dad," Raiden answered. "I heard that it was someone that likely impersonated a knight to kill him. Your dad didn't know much about that, so I'm going to ask my Uncle Karol what he knows."
The boy thought about for a moment. Then he held his hand out to Raiden. "Very well, I can't let something like that stand. I will do everything I can to help."
Raiden gave a smile. He was hoping with the secret out that Matthias might loosen up a bit. But he accepted the hand and they shook on it. Then Matthias added," Of course I will also not stand for vigilantism from you."
"It's not like we really stood a chance against them to begin with," Raiden told him.
It wasn't long after that Raiden heard a familiar barking. It was then followed with Elena, Rune, and even Shea.
"I guess that actually worked out for us since we didn't have a boarder pass for Matthias," Rune lightly joked.
"So you really are an wannabe knight," Elena commented.
"I will be continuing this journey with you and prove that I'm worthy to be a knight," Matthias told her.
Elena just opened a book and said. "Over used plot, minus five points," she muttered.
Raiden ignored his sister and just looked at Shea. He really hadn't been expecting to see her. "Sorry, didn't mean to drag you into this," he told her. "Did you have to use my boarder pass?"
"No I had my own," she answered. "I was on my way to Dahngrest anyway. So I thought it would be more fun traveling with a group."
Raiden couldn't help but grin. He wasn't sure why, but he was glad he would be able to travel with Shae.
Next stop Dahngrest.
/~/~/
Skit: Noble Customs
Raiden: So are you and Shea friends or something?
Matthias: Of course not. I still aspire to be a knight, so I wouldn't dream of having such a friendly relationship with a woman of her noble status. But it just seems so odd to see her so far from the capital.
Raiden: Is it really? Rune and I first met her in some ruins.
Matthias: Well it would be strange for any noble. But the Sabeline family still follow old practices, like members aren't introduced to noble society until they become thirteen. That's when I first meet her. So I thought they must follow more of the Empire's old customs. You rarely see any of the Sabeline women.
Raiden: Do you think she ran away from home?
Matthias: …Maybe. If so, her father may be keeping quiet about it. The knights we passed barely batted an eye at her.
Raiden: Well you did just say they practiced the old ways. So none of the knights would probably know what she looks like. If you're so curious, why don't you just ask her.
Matthias: You cannot just ask a noble lady what they're up to. It's unbecoming. I will figure this out though.
Raiden: And how is that any better?
/~/~/
"Just leave me here to die," Oanez companied as she fell to the ground. They had been walking for hours in the forest and Oanez was done walking.
"I thought being eaten by monsters wasn't on your list," Yin complained. Oanez was annoyed that Yin hadn't even broken a sweat despite all the clothes she was wearing.
"It's preferable than walking anymore," Oanez. "That stupid Ray Ray, he should have prepared transportation for us so we can get to Dahngrest sooner."
She then felt Yin kick her in the rear. "And who's fault is that?" The other woman snapped. "We would have back at Heilord. But no, you were the one who decided to walk and take in the nature."
Oanez was rubbing the spot where her companion kicked her. "Come on, even you could have seen that that guy was at least a cutthroat," Oanez told her. "He clearly thought he could have his way with two women."
"Of course I knew," Yin said. "But you don't seriously think I would have lost to him?"
"What? He was cute. I didn't want to temptation of letting him kill me," Oanez said. That earned her another kick from Yin.
While giving her companion an annoyed look, Oanez said, "Besides, I got to figure out that we really are being followed." Ever since they left Aurnion, she had this feeling that someone was tailing them. But they had been traveling with a group of commoners, so it was hard to tell if they were the target or if Oanez was just feeling claustrophobic because of all the people.
Now that they were alone in the woods, it was clear that they were the target. Oanez hadn't seen the person, it was just a feeling. Whoever it was, they were good at their job. Probably better than anyone in Raymond's services.
Yin went on full alert. "I can take them out," she said.
"Don't," Oanez said. It was clear their little stalker was sent by the Empire. If they find out their little spy was killed by them, those hothead men might do something stupid to get even.
Oanez got up and looked up at a tree where she was sure the little spy was hiding. Then she smiled at them. Though she couldn't see them, Oanez was sure that it caused them to flinch a bit. "Besides, I like games of cat and mouse. Let's find out who's really the cat."
Then she looked up at the sky. Now it was time to put a little stress on the little stalker. "We best find some shelter soon," Oanez said. "You can practically smell the big storm that's coming." And the little stalker will lose their trail because they couldn't risk seeking shelter close to them. After the rain came, their trail will be covered up. Of course the stalker had to know they were heading to Dahngrest. So Oanez intended to circle around so she and Yin were behind the stalker. Maybe they would be able to learn the identity.