caught

It was dusk, and the four companions—Arnin, Prince Khane, Ningtin, and Lady Pherna—were still gathered in the pavilion. The setting sun cast a warm glow over them, lengthening the shadows.

Arnin, who had been relaxed in his chair, gazing at the sky, noticed it was growing darker. He immediately sat up, his posture alert, and glanced at Prince Khane. Catching Arnin's look, Prince Khane raised an eyebrow in silent inquiry.

Arnin subtly motioned for Prince Khane to follow him. Lady Pherna, ever observant, noticed the exchange and commented, "We're still in the same place. Why don't you look a little discreet?" Her tone was serious, her expression unamused.

Prince Khane rose to his feet as Arnin did the same, and he followed Arnin, curiosity piqued.

"Where are you both going?" Ningtin asked, his eyes following their movements.

"We'll be back," Arnin replied, his voice casual as he walked away with Prince Khane in tow.

As they walked away, Prince Khane moved closer to Arnin and asked, "Where are we going?"

Arnin grinned. "Pack a few things. We need to be somewhere for the next two days."

"Are we hiding?" Prince Khane asked, his tone laced with suspicion.

"No. Just pack your things. Be discreet. No one needs to know where and why we are going out," Arnin instructed. "I'll wait for you outside Laon's manor," he added, giving Prince Khane a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

Despite finding the situation odd, Prince Khane nodded in agreement. He trusted Arnin, even though the mysterious nature of their departure left him with a sense of unease.

***********************************

Prince Khane had a sac with his belongings slung over his shoulder. As he walked outside, he saw Arnin waiting with two oil lamps and his own sac slung across his shoulder. Arnin's sword was sheathed at his belt, and he looked around with a sense of alertness.

When Arnin turned and saw Prince Khane, he said, "You're here. Let's go." His voice was low and urgent as he began to walk hurriedly. Prince Khane quickly stepped to walk beside him, their footsteps echoing in the quiet evening.

As they walked, Prince Khane couldn't shake the feeling that something was different about Arnin. Although Arnin acted the same as he used to, there was an air of change about him that Khane couldn't quite pinpoint.

"Are you a phase higher?" Prince Khane asked, not looking directly at Arnin.

"Huh, can you feel it?" Arnin replied with a smile. "Where I stayed, I was able to gather energy. It's the same place I'm taking you to."

"There are some d—" Prince Khane started to say but was cut off by a sudden feeling.

"You felt it too, right?" Arnin said, glancing sideways with a serious expression.

There were people following them, blending into the crowd on the road. They kept joining from different corners, making it hard to distinguish them from regular passersby.

"It's best not to look at them now, so they won't realize we are aware," Prince Khane said, his face calm as he continued to look forward.

"The woods are not far from here; it's the path we are going to follow," Arnin said, his voice steady.

"Khane, I hope you still practiced even though you haven't regained your internal power?" Arnin asked, his tone carrying a hint of concern.

Prince Khane nodded, understanding the gravity of their situation. They continued to walk, the tension palpable as they made their way towards the woods.

Prince Khane smiled slightly. "Dodging and a few martial arts skills are enough to keep me alive."

"Arnin, I know you're tired, but I hope you have the energy to fight," he added as he reached into his sac and pulled out a bun, handing it to Arnin. "For energy. You've become lean."

Arnin smiled gratefully. "I thought I was going to fight on an empty stomach. A friend in need is a friend indeed," he said, taking a bite. The two quickened their pace, sensing the urgency of their situation.

As they walked faster, the men following them subtly increased their pace as well, blending into the evening crowd but never straying too far behind. It was tensed and both Prince Khane and Arnin were acutely aware of their pursuers.

"Stay alert," Arnin whispered, his tone serious. "We need to lose them before we reach the woods."

Prince Khane nodded, his senses heightened. The path ahead was shrouded in shadows, and the woods loomed closer, offering a potential refuge or a deadly trap. The outcome depended on their skill and quick thinking.

They quickened their paces.

"We will drop the lamps and run in three" Arnin said and prince khane nodded.

"One,two,three" Arnin said and they immediately dropped the lamps and ran through the crowds.

Jumping moving wheel barrows and hitting people while they kept looking forward.

"It's too far,we can't make it on foot!" Prince khane said.

" We could have left with horses!,are they still after us "Arnin asked as he turned behind but he saw no one chasing them.

"We are not being chased!" Arnin said as he stopped running.

Prince khane also stopped running,he was ahead of Arnin but still heard him.

"Let's rent a horse now that we are not being chased.Youre still with the coins ,are you not?"prince khane asked as he walked back to Arnin.

" We should do that "Arnin said as he looked around for a stable.

"I know where a stable is?" They beard a little voice say and they looked down.

It was a begger boy.He opened his hand and they understood what he wanted.

Arnin removed a gold coin from his pouch and placed it on the boys Palm.

His eyes listened and he smiled,"gold!,I'm grateful misters" he said as he pointed left.

"Be good" Arnin said as he walked away with prince khane.

"We will drop the lamps and run on three," Arnin said, and Prince Khane nodded in agreement.

"One, two, three," Arnin counted, and they immediately dropped the lamps and bolted through the crowds. They dodged moving wheelbarrows and collided with people as they sprinted, their focus fixed ahead.

"It's too far! We can't make it on foot!" Prince Khane shouted as they ran.

"We could have left with horses! Are they still after us?" Arnin asked, glancing back over his shoulder but seeing no one in pursuit.

"We are not being chased!" Arnin exclaimed, coming to an abrupt stop.

Prince Khane, a few paces ahead, also halted and turned back towards Arnin. "Let's rent a horse now that we are not being chased. You're still with the coins, are you not?" Prince Khane asked as he walked back to Arnin.

"We should do that," Arnin agreed, scanning the area for a stable.

"I know where a stable is," a small voice piped up. Both men looked down to see a beggar boy standing nearby, his hand outstretched.

Arnin reached into his pouch and placed a gold coin in the boy's palm. The boy's eyes lit up, and he smiled widely. "Gold! I'm grateful, misters," he said, pointing to the left.

"Be good," Arnin said as he and Prince Khane headed in the direction the boy indicated.

***********************************

As they reached the stable, they rented two horses. Leading the horses to the main road, they suddenly heard the sound of galloping hooves behind them.

They turned and saw a group of horsemen closing in.

"I think they are still chasing us. Let's go," Prince Khane said urgently.

Without hesitation, they mounted their horses and spurred them into a fast gallop, riding away as quickly as they could. The wind whipped past their faces, and the landscape blurred as they raced down the road, determined to outrun their pursuers.

The rhythmic pounding of hooves echoed through the night, both pairs of eyes scanning the path ahead for obstacles or potential hiding spots.

The sound of the pursuing horsemen grew louder, but Prince Khane and Arnin urged their horses to move faster, pushing themselves to the limit. Their hearts pounded in their chests, adrenaline fueling their resolve to escape.