Nodding decisively, Peri bent down to pick up the egg and set it on her bed. She began going through a list in her mind of what she would need for the next couple of days while she planned her escape. She knelt down beside her bed and reached under, pulling out a pack she kept for larger merchandise or travelling. She got back to her feet and dusted herself and the bag off, then limped out of the room. She crossed the hall to the room directly across from hers and slowly paced it, tapping her right foot lightly on the floorboards occasionally. Towards the center of the room she heard a hollow sound when she tapped her foot on the ground and she stopped there. She got down on her knees and ran her fingers along the floor, feeling for the edges of the compartment she'd hidden there. Once she'd found it, she pried it up with her nails, revealing a large hole that she could hide in herself if need be. Now if was being used to store her spare clothes, few possessions, and equipment for sleeping in the wilderness. She pulled out a pair of pants and a shirt, both a forest green. She folded them and tucked them into her pack, then reached down for her bedroll. She made sure it was tied securely and set it to the side. Peri pulled out her black, leather boots and made to put them on, then remembered her swollen ankle. Grumbling, she added her boots to her pack, along with her snares, some flint, and a few other miscellaneous items and replaced the boards.

Next, she limped into the room closest to the stairs and repeated her procedure until she found the compartment where she kept her weapons. She pulled out a few small knives and slipped them into her pack. She would keep them in her boots when she could fit them on her feet, but for now her knives would have to remain in her pack. She reached down and wrapped her hand around the grip of her longbow, which was a family heirloom. She admired the intricate leaf designs that adorned the wood and strung it to test it out. She was surprised to find she could draw it back with only a little difficulty, despite the fact that it had an incredible draw weight. But then, the last time she'd attempted to draw it was when she was seven, and she had to have gained strength since then. Peri smiled and unstrung the longbow, setting it aside to take with her. She placed her quiver beside it, checking each arrow to make sure none were broken or dulled. She hesitated before turning back to the compartment; it had been a while since she'd practiced archery, and she wasn't sure whether the bow would be a help or a burden. Shaking off her doubt, she packed a few more weapons, including her poisons, and replaced the boards. She stood and shouldered her pack, picked up the longbow and quiver, and limped back to her bedroom.

Peri was struck by an irrational fear that the egg would be gone as she entered the room, but it was there on her bed where she'd left it. She breathed out in relief and crossed over to it, setting her pack on the bed next to it.

"I'm getting you out of here," she said to it in a low voice, touching her fingers to the shell. "I won't let anything happen to you." She got an affectionate hum in return, edged with an urgent tone. Time to go, it seemed to be saying.

Peri took a steadying breath and nodded to herself. She found her cloak in a heap by the door and swung it onto her shoulders, reaching back to tug the hood up without thinking about what she was doing. She made sure her hair was hidden and turned back to the bed, where the pack and the egg sat side by side. Peri gently picked up the egg and slid it into the pack, then shouldered the leather bag. It settled against her back with a heavy thump that somehow reassured her, the weight grounding her. Without another word or thought, she turned and strode/limped from the room, chin high.

Once she had reached the street, Peri didn't hesitate. She only had so long until Dareth finished with the man he'd captured and she had to make the most of it. She set off at a brisk half-limp, keeping to the edges of the streets so any dragons passing overhead wouldn't spot her. Then she'd really be in trouble. The sun was high overhead and it provided no shadows for her to hide in, leaving her trapped in the open like a mouse under a hawk's watchful gaze. Peri shivered and glanced nervously at the sky, but there was nothing but sun and cloud against a bright blue backdrop. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. The littlest breeze of wind had her whipping around to make sure that creepy guy of Smoke's hadn't snuck up on her again and the faintest noise sent her heart racing. But no one emerged, not during the entire incredibly stressful trip.

The house she was aiming for was only a short distance from the outer wall, so it put her in a great position to get away if she needed to, and it had been specially equipped to house a thief on the run from the law. It was popular with other smugglers, thieves, etc, but when Peri arrived at sundown the house was completely empty. No matter, she thought to herself with a shrug. Less people to goof around and make noise. The front door of the safe house was barred shut, but there was a window on the first floor that could be opened from the outside if you knew where it was. Peri used the blade of her knife to force the window up until she could fit her fingers underneath, then she used the strength in her back and arms to haul it the rest of the way up. Once it was a little less than halfway open there was a grinding noise and the window would go no higher, no matter how hard Peri pushed and tugged, but there was enough space for her to wiggle through without the pack on. Peri swung the pack off and dropped it in through the window, then crawled in after it.

The window was a few good feet off the ground, so Peri had to brace herself with her hands while she dragged the rest of her body through the window, the blood rushing to her head. Grumbling under her breath, Peri attempted to pull her feet in all the way, but her pantleg caught on something sharp protruding from the windowsill. She was just contemplating how to get it free when she heard footsteps and a soft laugh from the edge of the room. She looked up to see a guy, a little older than her with olive complexion and unruly black hair flopping in his eyes, standing in a doorway watching her.

"How's it hanging, Peri?" he asked, an impish glint in his deep brown eyes.

"Just fine, Nicolai," she snapped and with a massive tug she ripped her pantleg free. Unfortunately, she wasn't prepared for the sudden give and she crashed awkwardly on her face, drawing another laugh out of the boy standing by the doorway.

"Shut up."

"I would have helped you."

"No, you were too busy laughing at me. Quiet down, why don't you? Do you want me to get hauled off by Dareth?"

"Who's that, the rabid one?"

Peri couldn't help but laugh at that. She rolled onto her back and pushed herself into a sitting position.

"He does kind of give that appearance, doesn't he?" she admitted.

"Just a tiny bit," Nick agreed as he walked over, extending one hand to help her up. Peri gave him a sweet smile, took his hand, and yanked hard, pulling him down onto the floor beside her. She went to straddle him and hold him down until he apologized for laughing at her, but Nick was already rolling away, springing lightly to his feet and whirling around to face her.

"Nice try, Kitty," he teased, pulling out Peri's old nickname from when they were both kids lost in a cold world. "But you'll have to be faster. I thought cats were supposed to be quick."

Peri shot him a mock-glare and feinted, causing him to flinch. She laughed.

"A little jumpy there?" she teased back, smiling playfully. "Are you sure you're not the cat here?"

Nick rolled his eyes and didn't answer, but he did make a face at her when she meowed at him. They both relaxed and Nick eyed her curiously. Peri ignored his searching glance and went to fetch her pack from where it had fallen when she'd pushed it through the window. A quick pat told her the egg was still safe and sound. Nick noticed the movement, naturally.

"Whatcha got there?" he asked casually, a knowing glint visible in his eyes when Peri turned back to face him. Peri bit her lip, torn between caution and the need to confide in someone. He raised an eyebrow at her, but she was immune to his predatory stare. She yanked the pack off the floor and stared back, trying to keep her face blank and emotionless. Eventually Nick sighed and ran a hand through his hair in a sad gesture. "You can trust me, Peri. You know that."

Damn.

"Yeah," she said, dragging one toe across the floorboards. Nick watched her, waiting for her to continued, but she didn't and he looked hurt. Peri felt horrible for not trusting him- they'd known each other for forever, ever since Peri's parents had abandoned her and his had been killed, but this way so… huge. Did their friendship have a limit? Was there a line that even a killer wouldn't cross? Peri didn't want to find out.

"I trust you," came Nick's voice, soft and tinged with offense. "Hell, you could have me hanged in a second, but I don't worry about that. Nothing can be worse than anything you already know about me." Peri wasn't so sure about that. But if she couldn't trust Nick, she had no one. No. One. So she didn't speak- she acted. She swung the bag in front of her and knelt down, beckoning with one hand. There was no sound of footsteps or clothing rustling as he came to join her, but Peri didn't flinch when he suddenly appeared on her right. She was focused on undoing the leather cord tying the pack closed. She tugged the knot free and flipped the flap back, revealing… clothes. Nick frowned in her peripheral. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again when she plunged her hands into the wad of clothing. She felt around in the pack until her fingers brushed the cool shell of the egg and she seized it between her hands. She brought it out quickly, before she could loose her nerve, and then it was sitting on her lap, glimmering dimly in the weak light shining through the window. Nick breathed in sharply and said nothing. Then:

"Damn. I think you might have me beat."

Peri flinched and waited.

"Well? What are we waiting for? Let's get the hell out of here."