What do we have here ?

Disguised as a merchant and her assistant, Thalindra and I weaved through the bustling streets of the village with deliberate nonchalance.

The stares I had dreaded so fiercely seemed not to land on us. Our disguises were doing their job, though the weight of my panic was still lodged firmly in my chest. 

Thalindra's green hood shadowed her face, and her posture exuded the casual arrogance of someone who had nothing to fear.

I tried to emulate her ease, but every step made my nerves twitch. We passed several noticeboards covered with the grotesque caricatures of our faces, but not a single villager gave us a second glance. 

"Relax," Thalindra said in a hushed tone, not breaking her stride. "You're twitchier than a rabbit caught in a trap." 

"Easy for you to say," I muttered under my breath. "Nobody in this town thinks you're me."