Ralan lost track of the rainbow of colors of those that had helped him. Yellow, green, blue, and even white-shirted guild members passed Maela and Ralan from safe house to safe house. With every step, Maela stayed so close that her shoulders would often brush against him. He would glance at her every so often and watch how her eyes darted around, and her muscles tensed. She looked like an animal constantly poised to strike.

Their first stop was a comfortable house in the Lower Triangle, where Ralan was given a scented bath and a yellow tunic of a lower rank craftsman. As he looked in the mirror, even he had trouble identifying himself.

The guild colors are so identified with each of us that changing them is such a shocking change, Ralan thought. He walked out, and Maela was wearing the same yellow. She handed him a droopy hat.

"Really?" Ralan said, looking at the hat.

Maela ignored him and said, "You look different enough that we should be somewhat safe. I mean, how many merchant guardsmen and knights actually know what you look like?" Ralan, whose history of mischief was long, did not reply. "Plus, you actually smell nice. No one would recognize you like that." Ralan turned away, hoping she took it as a sign of anger, but inside he was smiling. After the past few days, her jibe was both amusing and accurate.

His appearance hidden, they made their way straight through the Flats. Every few streets they would make a hard right or a hard left. Every few blocks they would stop at a shop or house, where Ralan would be left alone and Maela would go to a different room and talk with people he couldn't see.

As they got closer to the Wall, Ralan suddenly realized that they had an escort and that it had been changing as they continued their walk. "Are they with us?" Ralan asked, pointing at a group of young men who were laughing and casually walking ahead of them. The group appeared as they turned down one street, replacing a similar group of young men and women.

Maela slapped his hand. "Will you not point? And, for the love of the gods, do you know how to keep your voice down? It's like you want to get us captured." She walked in front of Ralan and stopped, forcing him to stop, as well. She crowded into him and whispered, "Do you see those brown cloaks over there? Those are Knight Protectors scanning the people on the street. Do you see the Tradesmen up ahead? They are Merchant guards and are looking for you." Maela punctuated the "you" by poking Ralan in the chest with her finger.

"How do you know this?"

"Gods, do you know nothing? Use your eyes. It's obvious." Ralan looked at the people, but couldn't see anything suspicious about them, but he nodded, pretending that he did. Maela added, "This is the easy part, so at least don't screw this up. Just shut up and go where I tell you to go."

"What's the hard part?"

"Gee, I don't know. Maybe breaking into the Knight Tower, going down to the catacombs, and freeing Alard and your friend, while doing so without making the Guild Council suspicious that you have organized help."

"Got it. No problem."

Maela squinted at Ralan. "You're either an idiot or incredibly brave. Take a guess as to which I'm leaning toward." And with that, she grabbed Ralan's arm, turned, and started again down the street.

They reached the base of the Wall and the edge of the Flats. Between the North side of the Flats and the wall was a wide road that circled the whole city. It had no official name but was popularly known for centuries as The Circle. Between the Wall and The Circle was a wide swath of grass that was popular for walks and picnics. Couples often walked along the grass, stealing kisses under the shadow of the old and mighty wall. Ralan and Maela walked that same path, following the Wall toward the Knight Guild Tower.

Every so often Ralan would glance up, looking at the knights that manned its battlements. The Wall was not very high—three stories at most—but it was wide and solid, more than enough to withstand an attack from the Outlanders. There were many more knights manning the Wall this close to their guild than over near the Warehouse District, where Raef had tossed the tomato that started this whole mess.

Raef. Ralan worried about his friend. He wondered if he had been beaten severely and how he was holding up in the prison. He hoped his friend wasn't regretting joining Ralan in his adventure as the Guildmaster Thief, an adventure that now seemed much bigger and far-reaching than he had remotely considered. He already trusted and respected Alard, but it would be valuable having a trusted friend with him.

Maela paused at the base of the wall, looking across the whole area. She quickly took Ralan's hand in hers, weaving her fingers in his. As if this wasn't shocking enough, Maela then leaned against Ralan and placed her cheek against his shoulder. Ralan glanced down at her, stunned. She looked up at him, smiled, and started to walk along the trail at the base of the Wall, holding his hand.

"We are being followed, aren't we," Ralan whispered.

"Yes. Keep your head down. We are heading to the Knight Guild kitchens. Just act normal. Hopefully, they'll just leave."

A moment later, Maela tugged on Ralan's hand, and as he turned she grabbed the front of his cloak, pulled him down and kissed him on the lips. Before he could even think of what was happening, Maela put her arms around him and kissed him long and passionately.

Ralan, who had kissed maybe four girls in his life, didn't know what was happening, but the softness of Maela's lips and the passion behind them made him suddenly think that there was something between the two of them. As he put his arms around Maela and leaned forward, a hand tugged on his arm.

"That's enough, you two." Maela pulled away and glanced at the Knight Protector standing next to them. "The sun's not even down yet. You two need to learn to control yourselves." The Knight was frowning and waving a finger. A second knight was behind him and looked like he could barely contain himself from laughing.

"We were just heading to the Tower Kitchens and stopped to admire the wall," Maela replied, a mischievous smile on her face.

"Well, best to do your admiring in private," the second knight said.

The first knight looked around. "Have you two seen a young man. He may have fled to the Flats. We noticed you came from there and were wondering if you had seen him? He is about your height, thin, brown hair. We have reason to believe that he will be in soiled clothing or smell bad."

Ralan kept his face down, hoping the shade from his hat helped hide any defining features of his face. "I'm afraid I've been distracted," Ralan replied, looking down at Maela, who smiled at him. "But if I see someone that fits that description, I'll find the nearest Protector."

"Is he dangerous?" Maela interjected.

"Yes, he is. Very."

Maela wrapped her arms around Ralan's arm. "We should hurry to the kitchens, love. I don't want to be outside with a violent criminal on the loose!"

"What is your business with the Guild kitchens?" asked the second knight.

Maela was about to say something, but Ralan interrupted her. "I am a craftsman who specializes in ovens and other kitchen equipment. I was requested for emergency repairs."

The knight stared at him for a moment and then nodded. "Our stomachs thank you, Craftsman." He smiled, but then peered at Maela. "But you shouldn't let your distractions keep you from your work. That's irresponsible."

"I understand, Knight Protector. I apologize." The knight nodded, and then wandered off with his partner. Maela and Ralan continued toward the Knight Tower.

After they put some distance between them and the Knights, Ralan took some deep breathes. Maela let go of Ralan's hand, but not before squeezing it first. "That was well done, Guildmaster."

"Thank you." Ralan looked at Maela. "You saw them approaching us."

"Yes. They were following us from the Flats, and when we lost our escort I knew I had to distract them."

"So you kissed me."

"I know. The things I do for the guild. Luckily the trip through the sewers prepared me." Ralan gritted his teeth. Maela must have noticed that her comment hurt his feelings, because she lightly punched him in the arm. "I'm kidding." When Ralan didn't say anything, Maela stopped. He took a few steps before noticing she wasn't there. He turned and walked back.

"Look—" Maela held up a finger, and Ralan stopped.

"It was nice, okay. You have soft lips. But don't think that I'm all in love with you or anything. You're my guildmaster, and I'm your loyal guild member. Got it?"

"Understood," Ralan replied. She said it was nice. Ralan suppressed a smile as the two of them approached the Knight Guild Tower.