“I can explain,” said Kinari, looking at Abraxas with her one good eye. The other one, along with one side of her face, were burnt and twisted. The burnt skin had wrinkled and curled while changing in color, black in some areas, blood-red in others. Her mouth was intact though, currently busy sulking as Abraxas examined her.

“Please do,” he replied.

“This little gift here,” she pointed at her face, “came from meeting with one of the assholes who’s after you guys. Turns out they just arrived in the city tonight, and are locking the gates tighter than the chastity belt of a Muria princess. Good thing I found that, otherwise we could have run into a search party while trying to get out! Damn, this is going to make things much harder!”

“And how did that lead to you getting burned?” Asked Abraxas.

“It was the guy that was calling the shots. He caught me and burned my face with some fire that came out of his hands, so obviously a blue blood.” She gingerly touched the brunt side of her face and grimaced. “Just my fucking luck!”

The nobles exchanged glances. “That’s someone from the Eryus family,” said Darius.

“So you happened to run into a noble that is searching for us and he somehow told you of his plans to lock the city gates before burning your face?” Asked Abraxas, his tone skeptical. Kinari shot him a disgusted look.

“Oh, fuck that! You’re still suspicious of me?” She shook her head angrily, then winced. “Alright! First: I was asking my contact in the Militia about the gate schedules, so we could slip out easily, and to find if you were being actively hunted. Then suddenly Mr. Hot-Hands and a bunch of soldiers pop up and start talking about sending soldiers to the gates and searching for certain people. So yeah, turns out you are being actively hunted. Dunno, doesn’t that sound like something important for us to know?” She sneered, sarcasm heavy on her voice. “Second: Did you notice I got fucking burned? Seriously, if I was planning to backstab you guys, why the fuck would I burn my face before coming back here? That’d be really, bloody stupid, wouldn’t it?”

She stared angrily at Abraxas, who looked back without saying a word. It was Pavlos who broke the silence.

“Sire?”

“Yes?” Said Abraxas, turning to look at the others.

“You know I have never approved of her hiring...” Pavlos frowned while staring at Kinari. “But she does make sense. A half-blood like her would never permanently scar herself for the sake of a charade, neither for our sake, nor for House Eryus.”

“Well, well!” Kinari grinned. “Turns out Grumpyguts does care about me!”

“It’s only a logical conclusion,” replied Pavlos, looking angry. “I was not defending you, half-blood!”

“Love you too, darling!” She blew him a mock kiss, then winced again, the pain sapping the grin off her face and returning it to an upset expression.

“There is one last possibility, however,” said Hector. He had been quiet until that moment, looking at the conversation from the sidelines with his arms crossed. “That you spilled our secrets to the commander under torture.”

She rolled her single eye. “If he suspected I was with you guys, I wouldn’t have bothered keeping quiet. And I sure as hell wouldn’t risk bringing my ass back in here! Nah… I got burned because of my winning personality and politeness, of course.”

Abraxas sighed. “Yes, I can see that happening when you run into a noble. Do you think he suspects you?”

“Nah. He really wasn’t happy with me, but his words were something like ‘no way those guys have a filthblood servant’ or something along those lines.” She smiled, although there was no humor in it. “I guess you were right when you said hiring me was unexpected, huh?”

Abraxas nodded while looking down, lost in his thoughts for a moment. “And you say they are locking the gates?” He asked.

“That’s an expression. But they’re posting a heavy guard all over the city exits and I’ll bet my ass they’re not the kind to look the other way. And there’s more troops on the way!” She made an impatient noise, tapping her feet. “Yeah, the gates are out. Too dangerous. We’ll have to use the barges instead.”

“You mean… River barges?”

“Yeah. They carry stuff in and out of the city all the time,” she said. Then she added, more to herself than to anyone else, “and I guess I have to go to Keehog.”

“Won’t there be guards inspecting the river barges, however?” Asked Abraxas.

“Well, yeah. Sometimes. But it’s a lot more of a hassle to inspect all the river barges, so it’s not as big of a deal. Plus, I know a smuggler that can get us out of here.”

“Hmm, and why did you not mention him before this?”

“Because I thought you guys just wanted to keep a low profile, which is easy enough. Walk out the city gates. Don’t draw too much attention. Done! Easy-peasy. Most guards don’t give grief to anyone unless they look unusual or are carrying goods in or out of the city. But with an organized search, things change. Only problem is… It’s gonna cost us,” said Kinari with a frown. “I trust Keehog, he’s been a smuggler for ages, but it won’t come cheap.”

“I see. And you think that is our best chance out of this city?”

“Yeah. Once we’re in the countryside there’s no way they find us. It’s way too much land for them to search. Only problem is, with the cost of being smuggled out of the city, we’ll barely have any money left for supplies. Not much food once we’re out the city gates.”

“We will worry about that after we get out,” said Abraxas. “Our first priority is to leave the city.”

“Alright.” Kinari looked down and tapped her foot nervously. “Keehog comes into the city early in the morning and leaves in the evening, every day. It must be nearly dawn by now…? Shit!” She looked up at the stone ceiling of the basement, as if trying to see the sky through the stone ceiling. “That means I have to go right now and ask if he can make room for seven people on his barge.” She made a face, then immediately regretted it with a wince of pain. “This is going to be expensive. And cramped. I will need some money in advance to give to him, by the way. He won’t make room for us otherwise.”

Abraxas looked around the room and straightened his back. His next words were spoken clearly and loudly to all in the room. “It is settled! Kinari and Vladimir will go together to secure our way out of here. Darius? I want you to keep watch on top of our tower for any soldiers approaching our hiding spot. Hector will attend to our master in the meantime. Pavlos and I can melt the stolen precious metal so we may sell it, as suggested. I understand it’s been a few rough nights, but if we can bear it for another day, we could be out of the city by tomorrow. Until then, I want everyone fully alert and battle-ready.”

“But… Sire?” Hector approached, looking uncomfortable. “I should go with her instead! Or stand guard! I guarantee I am ready for it! And Vladimir is the one our master likes best any-”

“I gave you your orders,” replied Abraxas, interrupting the other mid-sentence. “And I will not accept them being questioned.”

Hector looked down, trying to hide his displeasure. “Yes, sire,” he said. With those words everyone started moving and doing as they were told. Darius closed his book and started climbing the ladder out, while Pavlos grabbed the bag full of stolen goods and opened it to begin the sorting and Hector went into the side room, after a polite knock.

“Kinari?” Abraxas’ voice was quiet, but it still got her attention.

“Yeah?”

“I am sorry for your injuries,” he said, still keeping his voice low. “Do you need medical attention?”

“Oh, this?” She traced the edges of her burn with her fingers, drawing another wince, then grinned. “Nah, don’t worry. Can’t make my face uglier than it is, can it?”

“There is no need for bravado,” continued Abraxas, still whispering. “I have seen grown men faint with lesser injuries, and I need you well for the next few days.”

“And I said don’t worry,” replied Kinari, still grinning. “I’m hard to kill. But thanks anyway.”

Vladimir had now left the side room and was walking towards the two. Abraxas gave her one last stare, a hint of concern showing on his face before it vanished under his usual mask of stoicism. He turned to Vladimir and started discussing his plans, leaving Kinari to help Pavlos sort through the stolen goods.

The early morning sun painted the river docks in warm tones of red and orange and cast long shadows on the bustling traders, sailors and ferrymen as they carried goods, to and from boats, haggled or chatted with each other and announced their goods or services to any passerby. Some were just arriving into the city for the first time, farm workers and foreigners climbing out of boats while looking groggy from a bad night’s sleep, blinking repeatedly at the morning light.

Keehog, an old man in his sixties, had a face that seemed to be on a losing battle with gravity and an impressive white beard to contrast with his balding head. He seemed in his element in between the hawkers, passengers and workers unloading from his river barge. He leaned against a crate and chewed on a wad of tobacco from his pouch as he watched Kinari and Vladimir make their way through the crowd and approach him.

Kinari had the blue cloak Abraxas had worn on their first meeting and some of her hair was released from her braid, falling in greasy curls that helped hide her burned face. Vladimir was wearing a different set of peasant clothes that was a bit tight on his large body and looked at his surroundings in quiet discomfort. The two might have stuck out in a quieter place, but the docks being so full of noise and people, especially travelers and foreigners, made their sight less strange than one would think. Still, Keehog saw them long before they finally came close to him and spoke.

“Hey, Keehog. How’s business?” Asked Kinari.

“You really wanna know or is this just yap before we talk business?” He replied, unimpressed.

“Ok, straight to business then,” she said, unbothered by his grumpy greeting. “Me and a few friends need passage aboard your ship, quick and quiet-like For tonight.”

He looked at her and gave a yellowing smile that had no humor in it. “You got a real shiner on your face, girl. Never seen you sporting a hurt like that before.”

“Oh, this? It’s nothing,” she said with a confident shrug. “Who needs two eyes anyway? One’s more than enough.”

He turned and spat at the river, then reached into his pouch for another piece of thick, black, pressed tobacco, which he leisurely cut a small slice off with his knife before putting the rest back in the pouch and popping the slice into his mouth, which resumed its chewing.

“So now you’re hurt, and suddenly wanting to get away without the guards noticing?” Asked Keehog. “You and a couple of your friends. How many?”

“Me and six others,” replied Kinari.

“Six?” Keehog coughed and wheezed theatrically at that. “So seven, total? That’s a bloody caravan! Didn’t know you had that many friends, Kinari. In fact,I’m surprised you found this many people willing to squeeze together with you under my floorboards!” He finished his quip with a smile at Vladimir, who frowned but kept quiet.

“I’m real fucking charming when I want to be,” she replied sarcastically. “So can you hold the space for us tonight in your barge?”

“Seven people?” He chewed thoughtfully. “Maybe? But that’s a lot of people! That kind of thing will cost ya, girl.”

“Of course it will cost me, you wouldn’t know charity if it hit you in the face and gave you a gold necklace as an apology,” sneered Kinari. “How much, Keehog?”

He seemed to stop and think about her question while chewing, eyes squinting with effort, before saying, “a hundred and fifty apiece. Paid in full right now”

Vladimir’s frown deepened, but Kinari just laughed. “Come on, Keehog! Does the trip come with a luxury suite and roasted peacocks? Give me the real price.”

“You’re asking for a lot, girl,” replied Keehog. “And that hurt on your face says you’re not in a good enough place to refuse.”

“Damn right I can refuse!” She scoffed. “It’s easy when you’re asking for the impossible, old man. I can pay a hundred each, half upfront. And that’s me being generous.”

It was keehog’s turn to cackle. “This haggling is going along fine, but lemme stop you right there, girl. I was just stopped on my way in by some very serious guards who were very keen to inspect my boat. And suddenly you’re very anxious to leave, along with your… Friends.” He paused to deliberately smile at Vladimir. “To me, it smells like trouble. And I’m not risking my boat for pocket change.”

Vladimir opened his mouth but quickly shut it again after one motion from Kinari, who spoke instead. “If the militia had found your hiding spot you’d be fucked harder than a whore on Revel’s Day, not sitting calmly here in the docks selling goods, which means you’re safe, and can leave town just as safe.” She then frowned and lowered her voice, losing some of its boisterous tone. “Look, Keehog. We don’t have the full money right now, so that ask is not going to happen. You’re going to have to tone down your asking price.”

Keehog’s grin faded in response, and his reply was also quiet and serious. “I wasn’t messing around when I said things are dangerous right now, girl. Never seen guards keen like this outside a siege. The risk is there.”

“What, so you’re stopping now? No more smuggling?”

He chewed some more, eyes fixed on the half-troll woman that towered a full foot over him without even flinching. “Maybe I could do it for 120 each, but I’d need half of it beforehand. And that’s taking the skin off my back.”

“I told you we don’t have the coin right now. I can promise a third of it upfront, but not any more than that.”

“A third? You want me begging on alleys, girl?” Keehog whined in a performance fit for the Royal Theater. “Should I go get a bowl right now?”

“I just gave you 840 in one night,” snorted Kinari, unimpressed. “You should be thanking me for sending the business your way.”

Keehog made a face that did not look the least bit grateful, scratching at his beard while still chewing. Then he reached a decision and, after spitting again on the river, offered his hand to Kinari. “Alright,” he said. “Since I’ve known you so well and because I’m a big, ole softie, I’ll do it. 40 now, 80 later for each.”

“And you’ll make room? Tonight?” Insisted Kinari.

“Yeah, tonight. I’ll make room, so long as your friends don’t mind getting real cozy.” He let out a chuckle that even sounded dirty before adding, “better figure out which ones are comfortable being the small spoon.”

“We’ll survive,” said Kinari, finally shaking his hand.

“Yeah, you do that,” replied Keehog, no humor in his voice. “These are dangerous times. I feel like a blackpowder keg has been lit under this city, and I’m not getting caught in its blast. Be here by dusk, quiet-like, and I’ll get you out. Can’t promise anything beyond that, you hear? Beyond that, you’re in the hands of the Goddess Ellora.”

“That barge captain was quite the character,” said Vladmir to Kinari, as they walked back to their hideout. “The whole negotiation thing, is that normal? Haggling like a wife at the fish market?”

“Eh… A little?” Said Kinari. “The extra guards have him riled up, which I totally get. But he’s greedy as hell, no way he would say no. And no way he wouldn’t haggle as much as he could.”

Vladimir shook his head in amazement. “Never knew it was so easy to get into business with a smuggler.” He paused for a moment to think, before adding, “I wonder if there’s someone like him in Viridia too?”

“I can promise you there are, even if I’ve never been there,” she said with absolute conviction. “If there’s people setting rules and stopping people from getting money, there’s gonna be people breaking those rules.”

“But if the guard and the laws are keen…?”

“There’s always holes in them,” she replied. “And most nobles aren’t as smart as they think they are.”

Vladimir smirked and got close enough so only the two of them could hear it as he said, “you’re pretty bold, to talk like that in front of a noble.”

She shrugged. “I don’t bend around people, noble or not.”

“So you’re not afraid?” He asked.

“Should I be?” she asked in return.

“Maybe you should,” said Vladimir, looking away with a serious expression. “Most nobles would have you hanged for insulting other nobles. Or they would hurt you. Noblemen could never accept any disobedience or backtalk from a lowborn, let alone a half-blood like you. It would make them look weak.”

She traced her fingers around the edges of her burned face, and winced again. “I promised myself once I would never let myself be treated like dogshit again. Like I was worth less than nothing… I’m not playing meek for anyone. Not even for a noble. I thought we already talked about this?”

“Have you ever met a noble? Before meeting us, I mean?”

“Not face to face. Before last night, anyway.” She traced again the edges of her burn scars on her face.

“Most lucky of you then,” he said with a small smile. “Look, I can understand your feelings. Being under someone’s power is not a pleasant thing. This is not a threat, but a suggestion: most nobles don’t take kindly to a lowborn insulting other nobles. Even if they hate the nobles you’re insulting. Please be careful when around the others, for your own sake.”

“What makes you so different from them?” She asked.

“Because I’m terrible at it?” He said with a chuckle. “Being a noble, I mean. I’m not cut out for it at all.” He hesitated a moment, before adding. “I sired a bastard, a long time ago.”

It was her time to snort in amusement, looking at him. “Really?” She asked. “So… You? With a peasant?”

“I was young, once, and so was she,” he said, smiling. “I… Almost don’t regret it?”

She chuckled. “Shame you had to be born a noble then. You could’ve been a great peasant.”

“Yes,” he said, with a smirk of his own. “A real shame.”

Their conversation was interrupted by a voice from a nearby alley. “Hey! Vladimir! And, tch… I forgot your name? Woman?”

They turned quickly and saw Darius hunched in a dark corner. He beckoned them while looking around frantically, and his expression was dead serious. They immediately approached him in the empty alley, still covered in shadows by the early sun.

“Soldiers and guards. Gathering in numbers near our base, and spread around as if they are searching for something,” said Darius. “If you follow this alley to the next street, turn left and hurry you should avoid any soldier patrols on the way back to the base. They are slowly blocking major streets around the area. Abraxas wants both of you there with him now, no detours.”

He then looked up at the nearby rooftop and crouched. He never actually jumped, but in an instant he winked out from Kinari’s sight. When she did a double take and looked up, her eyes barely caught his foot vanishing behind the rooftop as she heard the faint noise of his steps on the tiles.

“Woah, wait! We’re running towards where guards are gathering? That’s a terrible idea!” Protested Kinari

“We’re not leaving the others behind,” said Vladimir in a grave tone. Without giving her time to recover from her shock, he grabbed her hand firmly and started running down the alleyway while pulling her behind him. Fear made their hearts race as they raced toward the crumbling tower.

“We’re so fucked,” she muttered under her breath, as she ran. “We’re totally fingerbanged.”