Escape from the Capital (4)

"Any ideas?"

"Unfortunately, not." I made sure to sound sad and wistful before smirking at him. "But hey, here's an idea. Now that you know about the chest why don't you go take a look? Don't worry, I'll keep them distracted by looking for me."

"That's it, isn't it? That's why you told me all that. You think that if I tell anyone about you, they might think I know about that box and whatever was in it." Tony's voice started to get louder as he talked. "I'm gonna get a target on my back just like you!"

"I won't deny that."

"You can be a real piece of work. You know that?"

"Maybe. So… What are you going to do? Turn me in to the guards and get the bounty along with a bullseye or keep your mouth shut?"

While Tony thought, glaring at me the entire time, I waited. Hoping my charade had convinced him that it wasn't worth the trouble to turn me in.

"There a problem here?" Cade had walked up to us as we talked. He must have thought we looked like we were about to fight.

"No. No problem chief. Just talking about how this guy here conned me of all my money last week in one game of cards." Tony spoke up after a beat of silence. "Don't ever play games with this guy. There's no telling how you'll lose."

Tony glanced down at me with a slight smile, and I knew I'd gotten lucky again. First Steven, then the homeless guy and now Tony. I owed quite a few people my life.

What Tony said wasn't a lie either, I had actually beaten him last week at cards. He was one of the people I knew from the gambling halls across the city and one of the few least likely to be scammed of all their money. Tony was just bad at cards.

"I doubt he needed to con you of anything. You're terrible at cards." Cade replied. "Now up, both of you, it's time to meet your fellow guards before we take off."

Once Cade was far enough away, I whispered to Tony, "Thanks, I'll pay you back one of these days. Oh, and call me Jefferies."

"Just pretend we're only acquaintances. I might not tell anyone who you are, but I'd rather not increase the chances of being chased by the entire country. I still live here even if you don't." After saying his peace Tony walked after Cade. Respecting his wishes, I put space between us before following.

At the front of the warehouse, near the bay doors, Cade started outlining our duties and responsibilities for the trip. Twenty-seven people, including me and Tony, were hired as guards. Cade and his deputy, Benny, were each in charge of half the length of the caravan. Twelve people were under Cade at the front half and thirteen were under Benny at the back. I was assigned to the rear while Tony the front.

When the meeting broke, I walked up to Benny and asked if there were any extra swords I could borrow for the trip, to be used as a back-up weapon. He acquiesced and I strapped a worn out but still sharp sword to my waist. As the last-minute things were being done by the people around me, I found a low box behind a pile of other boxes and pulled out blank scrolls, a pen and a couple of elemental infused ink bottles. After hours of no magic use, I had gotten back a portion, enough to cast three spells. I didn't plan on using more than one, but I figured making a few was better than not having any if I needed them.

I copied the same array on three scrolls, Mirage, which I could use to alter my appearance. It was a basic spell that couldn't change much but due to that it tended to last longer than other spells with more comprehensive illusions. With having to make it through the gate without arousing suspicion the spell had to last for more than five minutes. On average a basic spell lasted about one-minute, moderate spells lasted about five, and higher levels got progressively longer. This only held true, however, for non-burst spells. Which the Mirage spell was an example.

I also made two combat water elemental spells should I need them today. I doubted I would have the time to make any new array scrolls before we stopped for the night. After storing the array scrolls, except one Mirage scroll, I rejoined the others out on the main floor.

Things got moving quickly after that. The members of Swat Merchant Outfit that was going with the caravan hooked two horses up to each carriage while the two extra horses were ridden by the leaders of the outfit. The front carriage and the last, each had two people sitting in the drivers' seats to act as the anchors keeping the caravan together. The twenty-seven guards were spread around the carriages to have all-rounded lookouts for potential threats. With little need for protection inside the city most of the guards were lax.

At dawn the bay doors opened, and everyone could hear Cade yell "Move out!" from atop his personal horse.

Eleven wagons, twenty-five horses, and forty-two people set off. The procession rolled down the Market Street before turning on to the East-West main street heading directly for the East Gate. We were stopped by the guards at the gate who insisted on checking every person. I could tell that some of the guards were half-hearted in their inspections and others looked obviously tired. I hoped that meant that my plan to convince them I had already left was working, at least on some people.

Standing at the middle of the pack I aimed to be the least noticeable person there. Had I stood at the front or the back it was likely someone would see me as suspicious and pay more attention.

When the guards neared me, I pretended to check my sword as one of my fellow mercenaries walked in front of me. It gave me the perfect chance to unroll the scroll and activate the array. Any light given off would blend in with the bright sunlight and the shift in perspective would hide the exact details of my face. I looked back up and walked boldly to the guard who compared my current face with a picture in his hand.

His cursory glance before moving on assured me Mirage was working. As long as I could make it out the gate with the caravan it didn't matter which parts of my plan were effective.

Time passed as we slowly started moving again. Five minutes were almost up as the middle of the caravan passed through the gate. I nodded to the guards as I passed by them, only to have them nod back. Passing through the gate was liberating. I was finally free. Granted I was still wanted by everyone in the Kingdom, for duty or profit, but I was no longer confined to one city. Clenching my hand on my borrowed sword was the only way to express my relief and happiness without drawing attention to myself.