SPIES AND REFUGEES II

The trio stepped out of the cottage with their senses on high alert. Myrna's keen eye was searching for anything amiss, her ears also listened for movement and signs of life. Daenor did his best to listen as well, trusting his gut.

They walked slowly, Thonda in the middle flanked by the two on either side of her. Before they exited the cottage, Myrna had told them all to behave as naturally as they could. "Let the spies believe we're as ignorant as we look."

There was no sound coming from any direction, everywhere was quiet as they walked, getting further away from the cottage. All was going well until the flyer spoke.

"I could have sworn I heard someone out there."

Myrna stiffened. What was he doing?!

She was about to turn around and slap him at the back of his head for being so dumb when she felt his hand on her shoulder.

"I believe you are allowing the paranoia cloud your senses, Daenor." Thonda replied, sounding as calm as ever.

What were they doing?

Daenor frowned slightly. His hand was still on Myrna's shoulder, silently asking her to trust them. "That may be so, d'avina, but I think we had better make sure."

Myrna suddenly realized what they were doing. It was clear that Daenor had heard something while he was outside moments earlier. He had reacted instantly and hurried inside. If there really were spies around the house, they would have seen the suspicion in his eyes and prepared themselves. In order to really make the spies believe that the three were truly ignorant, they would have to hint at their suspicion and then completely discard it. It made their ruse believable.

Myrna was impressed.

"You need to loosen up," She nudged Daenor playfully, catching on to their plan. "In the meantime, I say we follow the main path. I'd like to buy me some fruits."

The main road was much wider and more travelled. Even at this early hour, several people walked to and fro going about their daily business. The group continued to walk in silence, paying attention to everything going on around them. They reached a scraggly old man setting up his fruit stall and Myrna stopped in front of him. Reaching into her cloak, she pulled out a leather purse and handed the man two silver coins.

"I'll take whatever these can get."

The fruit merchant stopped arranging his wares and eyed Myrna cautiously. He looked from the coins in her hand to the two figures behind her and scratched his stubbly chin.

"Lookin' to feed your whole party, eh?"

Myrna smiled slightly, tilting her head to study him. "Are you going to take the coins or not, old man?"

He grumbled something about young folk before counting several fruits into a large sack and handing it to her. "I added some Dropfruit in there for 'ya. They used to be your favorites."

"They were every child's favorites," Myrna smiled again as she took the sack from him. She raised it to her head in greeting and walked backwards to join the others. "Thank you, Cuya."

The old man shooed her off and resumed arranging the rest of the fruits.

"Why do we need so many fruits?" Daenor whispered as they continued their journey into the city.

Myrna strapped the sack across her chest. "You missed out on our entire conversation, flyer. Maybe next time stay and listen."

Daenor was silent for a few seconds, then turning to Thonda slightly, he whispered loud enough for Myrna to hear. "Are they always this rude?"

"You get used to it." Thonda chucked.

The sun was high in the sky now and more people were milling about. They were deeper into the city and it was becoming harder to stay together.

"Hey, what kind of pleasures do you seek? I have them all." A man called out to them standing in front a dusty tent. It was hard to see inside, but Thonda seriously doubted that he had any kind of 'pleasure', in there.

More and more merchants called out to them, each one eager for the gods to grant them good luck and help them make sales. They thrust different things into the group's faces and Thonda found herself reliving her time with her mother.

Myrna cursed loudly, frustrated at the noise and beckons. "Get that thing out of my face!" She yelled at the next merchant who was presenting perfumes to her. The man looked hurt as he withdrew into his stall.

"We need to get out of the open!" Myrna shouted for the others to hear. She led the way to the clusters of buildings away from the market stalls and was just about to relax again when something whizzed past her ear. She jerked her head up and saw a dart stuck in the wall, most likely poisoned. She looked back just in time to see a masked figure walking towards them as fast as the crowds would allow. Daenor followed her line of sight and released a long string of colorful words of his own.

"RUN!"

Scooping Thonda up in his arms he began to run as fast as his legs would carry him. The heiress wasn't all that heavy and he silently thanked the gods for small blessings. She clung to his neck and buried her head into his chest. Another dart few past his head and he moved just in time to watch it sailing on.

Would they shoot if Thonda and the rest where still among the crowd? Daenor couldn't help but feel like they had again made the wrong decision in leaving the markets.

Myrna ran ahead of him, her small frame moving quickly and weaving expertly through alleyways and around different buildings, barely avoiding a few passers-by. If they could just make it to the docks, then they'll be safe.

She glanced behind her as she ran and saw that they were no longer being chased. Where did the spy disappear to? She slowed down and Daenor did same, setting Thonda down on her own feet.

"Where are we going?" he asked again breathlessly. Myrna jerked her thumb behind her as she tried to catch her breath. The time for jokes and banter was long over. They would all have to be on the same page if they were to make it out alive "The docks. We're not far now."

Daenor made to pick Thonda up again, but she moved out of his reach. "I can run just fine on my own."

He nodded in understanding then turned to Myrna. "We have to keep moving. Just because we can't see them doesn't mean they're gone."

They stood flanking a building, using it as a cover to hide from their attackers. It wouldn't be long until the spy appeared again and he would most likely return with a vengeance. Daenor could make out the wooden pillars of the dock in the distance. The Thread could only harm them here in Reeth, but once they were off Reethian soil, whether in the Lowercity or in Summit, the Thread could not kill them. That was the law, and Daenor was only too sure that this was an act of the Thread, which meant their salvation lay on those waters. He looked from Thonda to Myrna, signaling with his eyes for them to move.

Thonda was the first to separate herself from the wall and break into a sprint. Daenor followed after her next and had barely taken a few steps when he heard Myrna's muffled scream. It was a sound that meant everything opposite of good. His heart began to beat rapidly in his chest and every survival instinct he had learned screamed at him to keep running, but he ignored them and turned around. What he saw made his blood run cold and his eyes widen in shock.

Myrna struggled against the firm grip of the masked spy. His one hand was around her mouth, keeping her silent and holding her in place, and in the other hand he brandished a thin needle, pointing it too close to her neck. Daenor instantly knew it was a poisoned dart. It just needed to kiss Myrna's skin a little and she would be dead in an instant.