The sun was slowly going under the horizons, soon darkness will once again cover the forest. The group has been walking for hours, only stopping every now and there to rest and eat.

  They followed the usual routine of Kael hopping on trees to scout, and going forward whenever the way was clear.

  “How much longer?” Xantha asked, kneeling down to relax her aching legs. The have been walking for hours, purposely using routes not commonly used to avoid stray travellers.

  “It should arrive within a few minutes.” Aeris replies with paced confidence. Her stance was tight and ready for any unexpected ambush. “We can take a rest once inside.”

  Thump

  Kael lands on the floor softly like a bird, causing noise similar to a feather falling. He thinks deeply for some odd reason. But Edric speaks his mind before him.

  “How are we going to get in?” This has been bugging his mind for a while. From what he heard Bharkas tell now. They should have a guard post, checking documents and stuff.

  “Yeah that’s what I was wondering. It’s not like we can just use our forged documents.”

  Aeris without turning back replies. “Don’t worry, it should be no problem breaking in.”

  Breaking in? Dont tell me…

  “Stop overthinking,” Aeris tone blunt. “Getting in here isn’t difficult and I happen to know a shortcut.”

  “You been here before?” Xantha asked.

  An awkfward silence later she replies. “In the past…”

  Without asking any further the group followed her lead to the path leading to Barkhas.

  *****

  The forest is enveloped in darkness, only illuminated by white light reflected by the moon. After a long walk later they have finally reached Bharkas— atleast behind it.

  The group currently stand ontop of a cliff, at eyesight lies Bharkas. A small walked city compared to Magnus, around quarter it’s size. Edric immiedlty noticed the lack in security. Atleast in compassion to Magnus, the amount guards were significantly lower. There uniforms were similar with the exception of the cities emblem on the chest.

  “So how are we supposed to get in exactly.” Kael asked, squatting down squeezing his eyes gauging the distance. The city was around 500m ahead, they were facing the back of the city walls.

  “There a small hole behind the walls, we just need to head around here.” She points at a corner of the walls were the river meets the wall. “There’s a magic door under there. From there we can enter the back alley of the town.”

  “And you know this how?”

  “Stop asking questions you wont get answers.”

  Kael clicks his tongue, “You don’t think she’s suspoeus.”

  Following Aeris’s lead the group followed, they went down a rocky slop. Careful not to make more noise than necessary, they stepped closer and closer the river. Edric who was following crouched from behind observed the walls– it was a decent sized stone wall though not as impressive as Magnus. There were barely guards except three patrolling on the walls. Fortunately sneaking wasn’t an issue, a few moments later they reached the supposed destination.

  Aeris without uttering a word, communicated via hand signals. The rough translation is to follow her making little noise as possible. She slowly walked towards the mildly cracked wall, her footsteps manvering between the water to prevent noise. She slid her hand across the wall, like she’s analysing something.Edric took a closer look– she was running mana through her hands as she grazzed the wall.

  Click

  A very subtle clicking sound is heard as she pressed into a crack, almost like a button. She then gestured to go under the river, without a moment to waster she dips into the water body. Kael stared at her action’s in confusion, meanwhile Xantha dipped right in. Edric followed after.

  Before Edric’s eyes just under the wall was a open hole– big enough for two men with a magic seal on the outside. Xantha went right in holding Aeris’s hands, on the other side Aeris gestured to come quickly.

  Just at he moment, he noticed the hole shrinking slightly. In a rush he dragged Kael by his legs, went right through the walls. Water rushed through Kael nostrils causing to flail like a fish.

  *****

  On the other side,

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Kael turned, vomited the excess water. He turend about to curse but Edric’s hand silenced him. He looked forward to see— a dark ally, an alley between two tall buildings.There were rows of merchant carts with hooded mercenarie’s buying goods visible from the alley’s exit.

  Edric’s removed his hand from Kael’s mouth. Kael in a whispered tone said:

  “There’s a backdoor from back district? When the hell was this built.”

  Aeris who was ahead near the exit, peeking left and right for any danger. “For a long time, as far as i remember.” One final look outside, “Alright let’s go.” she gestures , Xantha follows her. Edric grabbed Kael up and followed next.

  The bustle merchant’s, shouts of battering, smell of lovely streetfood and the stench of sweat and blood mixed in the air became more apparant as they entered the town. Edric looked left and right, it looked like any ordinary town. Except the fact that most of the building were mading logs and wood, a very dark colored wood. Every other street lamp had the city’s emblem attached.

  “I wonder what time it is?” Xantha commented, staring at the sun’s position. She felt a pat on her shoulder, turned to see Edric pointing towards a direction. Near the end of the street was a clock tower with a time of 10:30. The clock tower was embellished in handcrafted decoration on it’s wooden body, at the center of the tower was the current day.

  So it’s been four days since the incident. Edric thought running the math in his head.

  “So what should we do first?” Xantha asked.

  “We– Grumbling” Edric’s stomach grumbled audibly, ‘Let’s eat.”

  *****

  Some time later,

  The group maneuvered through the bustling crowd, in hand they munched on meatball sandwiches, no it was more of a 6inch sub and it was delicious. Edric bite into his sandwich, savored each hint of spice. Making sure to keep a poker face, as none of the other remotely reacted much, But they still ate whole heartdly.

  While buying there sandwiches, Kael bought two sets of hoods from a nearby stall. The hood was made of leather with small patches of fur. Edric noticed a pattern from the other mercenaries. It seemed to be a local fashion trend.

  They were on there way to a inn or atleast somewhere to conspire among themselves. Kael suggested a place and Aeris didn’t disagree with him. Edric and Xantha followed the two from the back.

  A few minutes later and they approach a moderate inn. Nothing special to say about it, the crowd was also decent. Not many people and not too little. Which make sense if you looked around to find four other inns and taverns in the area, all bigger and had more room.

  The entered the inn— a standard setup of a bar the left and the reception to the right. Kael went ahead and booked a room for the four of them. Without a single moment to waste, the old lady at the reception desk handed over the keys and snached the coins from the table.

  *****

  The room was decent, apparently it’s a resting room according to Kael. Thus it only had two beds, a table and a small bathroom. Which was ultimately fine as they planned to leave by tonight or atleast the next day early morning.

  Kael jumped onto the bed,splayed his arms wide open like a child. “ Finally a real bed, beats sleeping on stone.”

  Aeries leaned against the wall, looked out the window. Her gaze was sharp and discreet almost like a hawk. Xantha sat on the other bed place at the opposite wall. Edric slumped over and sat at the table, placed between the two bed and at the center of the room.

  The room was silent for a few minutes, mostly letting there legs relax from the fatigue. But Aeris broke the silence with her words. “So what’s the plan?”

  Everyone turned towards Edric, the sudden gaze tensed up the boy. He cleared his throat and spoke.

  “The ususal, we look around. Get info, buy gear, sell some item and maybe get some transport. I doubt we can walk all the way?” he had his hands on his chin, thinking of plans. “ But where do we get them? You guy’s know more than me.”

  Kael sprung up, crossed his legs on the bed. “We can get plenty of gear from shops and blacksmiths.”

  “We can buy horses and cattle from the east of the town” Aeries commented.

  Kael nodded, “Most merchants well buy anything shiny. Besides you have me I can sweettalk my way”

  “Good,” Edric commented, still deep in thought. After some time he spoke. “ Let's split up. We cover more ground that way.”

  “Make sense,” Aeris said in a neutral tone. She makes her way towards Xantha and sits beside her. “ Me and Xantha can head east. You two head west.”

  “ Sounds like a plan” Xantha said

  “Alright why don't we head out in a few minutes. Let's meet here at exactly 12 hours.”

  “ We’ll head out first,” Aeris steps to the bathroom, and closes the door shut. Xantha hopped off her bed , slowly went by the window and peaked outside. Her face was deep in thought, probably thinking about the excursion.

  Edric shifted his weight, folded his arm and rested his head on the table. Kael lying in the bed, twirled his staff with his palms muttering some route , names and so on.

  A few minutes later Aeries came out after refreshening up. Xantha went in next and 10 minutes later both of them were leaving.

  “Be safe you two,” Xantha waved goodbye. Wearing her hood and holding onto Aeris firmly they went upon their way. Now it was only Kael and Edric left.

  Kael propped up from his seat. “ I’ll need to do some facials, so you know blend in. We can leave in half an hour. Get some rest.”

  Edric nodded, staring at Kael entering the bathroom. A second later he went flat into the bed. He let out a deep inhale and a deeper exhale. It's a relaxation technique he learnt , slowly he eased his muscles and closed his eyes. Letting out any worry, his thoughts became blank as he drifted to sleep.

  Thud

  Edric woke up from the sound of Kael’s exit. His vision was still blurry and dazed. He blinked several times until his vision focused. As it became clear he saw something odd– something in a familiar shade of red. His browed frowned in curiosity until the familer shade came to view.

  “ Hows the look”. Kael said pointing at his brunette red hair, the same Edric saw during the dream.

  Edric smirked in nostalgia. “ Reminds me of the kid who said he will be a knight”

  “But why do you remove your dye now?”

  “ That's simple , except you and if any of the people when I was a kid are alive. No one knows my true shade. Besides know one would think a criminal hides with an odd color.”

  “ True,” Edric stretched his arms out, extended his legs out of the bed. “ Here” he throws his magic pouch, Kael catches it. “ Check to see if we can sell anything, there's some good stuff here.” He steps to the bathroom. “ I’ll take 5 minutes.”

  Kael flopped the pouch upside down, like a funnel the items fell to the bed. Some weapons, pendants and many more items.

  Edric brought his hands together to form a cup. He gently threw water at his face, the water was cold-very cold but with just enough kick to wake him up. With a refreshed face he looked at his reflection, staring right into his eyes he reassured himself.

  Let's go Ed , just a simple outing and at night we head to the source…. Although it might take several weeks but hey who cares. With that thought he hoped the day would go smoothly.