Hey all! Finally, here's chapter 4! Thanks to Hanna for the most hilarious review ever, and for prompting me to actually post this! Happy reading! x
It was night. In the mountains that bordered Monsea a dozen figures moved silently through the velvet blackness. The leader of the group, a little way ahead of the rest, moved with uncanny accuracy and determination, avoiding boulders and obstacles that she shouldn't even have been able to see. Behind her, most of the group moved without too much trouble, apart from one figure who tripped and stumbled over every boulder that crossed her path, as well as some that didn't.
"Robin" hissed a figure next to her. "You're making more noise than a horse over cobbles."
"Sorry Fox" muttered Robin. "It's just that I... OW!" This last was shouted, as Robin went down with a yell. A figure in front of them turned and rounded on her. He was already annoyed and cross at having to follow Panther instead of take the lead himself, so this was almost the last straw. Almost.
"What do you think you're doing" Viper hissed. "Need I remind you of our situation?" Robin shook her head mutely. They were half a day's travel from the port where they were boarding a boat. They had ditched the horses the previous morning as they would be too conspicuous, and now they approached the port by the cover of night. Their boat would wait for them until half an hour after dawn, then leave and assume they'd been captured or killed. Such was the nature of their trade.
But now, with only three or four hours till dawn and more than double that to travel, they were running extremely late.
Panther doubled back to where their leader, the man who'd summoned her to his tent only a few nights previously, was threatening Robin with the usual 'throw you out of the group' or 'leave you behind's.
"Commander" she interrupted. "If you'll let me, I know of a way to get there faster."
Viper rounded on her. "And what would you know that the rest of us don't?" he asked with deadly quiet.
"A shortcut. We discussed it before." Indeed they had, but Viper had been reluctant to take it as it would mean emerging into the port right by the constable's office. Viper frowned... then gave in.
"Fine" he growled. "But on your head be it." Panther nodded and turned on her heel, vanishing into the velvet darkness like a cat. Robin sat down on the ground, as did two or three others. Viper however remained standing, staring hungrily into the darkness after Panther. After a few moments she returned, smiling like a cat that's spotted a mouse.
"The coast is clear" she announced. The party stood and followed her through a narrow pass between two rocks. There, hidden from previous view by a shrubbery, was a fast flowing mountain river, just big enough for a narrow boat. Panther pointed downstream to where a long, low hut stood on the banks of the tiny river. Moored 50 yards from it was a small, wooden boat that looked far too big to fit but managed to just the same and two light, practically transparent canoes.
"That's our ride" said Panther, pointing to the wooden boat. "We'll take one of those too" she added, pointing to the canoes. "We won't all fit in the wooden one." Viper nodded.
"The owner?"
"Asleep. I gave him one of Robin's sleeping draughts."
"Very good. Let's go."
4 and a half minutes later the two boats were pushed off from the bank and began to drift downstream, gathering speed as they went. By the time they were 500 yards away they were rushing along at breakneck speed, their occupants clinging on for dear life.
The sun set the sea alight with fire reds and pinks as it rose over the tiny port. A dozen figures strolled through town, looking determinedly relaxed and at ease, but every one had his or her hand on a dagger, and all twelve sets of eyes were darting around frantically.
Panther lead them through the buildings and towards the sea. The mast of their ship was visible now, flying a blood red flag with a black sail beneath it. Not exactly a cheerful sight, but each of the figures only just managed not to run towards it. To do so would surely attract attention, and their departure relied in remaining undetected.
Suddenly a cry to their left shattered the early morning peace, and sent every pair of legs running for the boat.
"Hey, you! Stop, order of the police!"
"Run!" roared Viper, and twelve bodies ploughed through the gathering crowd of the port and hurtled onto the boat.
"Cast off!" yelled Viper, and the sailors who had been summoned to the deck by his shout released the roles tethering them to land, a gust of wind caught the sails and they moved off. Viper sank panting onto the deck, utterly unfit, for all that he ran a group of assassins, but Panther stood at the rail, looking back at the port. The guards who had spotted them were still standing by the shore, staring after the ship. Panther had a sense that they would not be welcomed back to Monsea very soon.