"You've been here long enough," Nela told Dannet, "Not much else I can do for you. You're going to still have some aches in the days to come, but I can't spare any more herbs. Maybe get some warm water and rub down your body if it gets too bad."

  "Best I can hope for," Dannet said, "At least I can breathe again. Thank you."

  Nela nodded, and moved out of the way so the man could pass. That just left three people resting here, two of whom were well on their way to recovering. In a few days, it would just be Takhat...assuming Edeline and Hamond didn't get themselves wounded dealing with the Sluice.

  That, she could not promise, but Nela wasn't about to mention that. It was a little surprising that no one had directly asked her about the possibility of remaining here. That alderman could've easily done so, either before or after the big meeting. But no one, Ayden or anyone else, had come to her about the matter.

  Nela supposed they'd have to deal with it later. "Jylania!" she called out as she stepped out into the hallway.

  "What is it?" Jylania asked as she came running from the front of the building.

  Nela frowned. "I thought I told you to keep watch on Takhat."

  "I was." Jylania sounded annoyed. "Then a couple of the guards came in and told me to leave. They said they had things to discuss with her."

  Nela couldn't stop herself from groaning. She'd have thought they would care enough about letting their captain recover to leave things be. Of course someone had to be enough of a fool to prove her wrong. Well, she was going to drag them out of there, one way or another.

  "Oh, and that man from the meeting is here to see you."

  So now Ayden wanted to speak to her. Nela glanced over at the doorway to Takhat's room. The captain was in no condition to be going anywhere, and there wasn't anything the two men could really do to cause problems. Fine, that could wait a moment.

  Nela followed Jylania out to the front. Her expectation was proved wrong, as it wasn't Ayden there. It was that other man, the one Ayden kept calling his partner. The name...what was it...Se-something. Or was she just thinking of Sedat? Whatever the name was, it wouldn't matter as long as their talk was quick.

  "Good, you're here," the Remuati man said, "You're the only one of your group I knew I could find. This is urgent...and private."

  "Not the best place to try to find that," Nela told him, "No closed doors here." She didn't like it herself either, given what it had let Jisry try to do. Still, you couldn't just pick up the wounded and move them to another building either.

  "You have at least one empty room. We can keep our voices low."

  He'd seen Dannet leaving then, which Nela supposed meant that arguing over this was pointless."Fine," she said, "Let's get this done with."

  She led him into Dannet's room, now empty. Jylania started to follow them in, only for Nela to gesture at the girl to stay out. Someone had to keep watch on things out there. Not that Nela expected anything sudden to happen, but...it wasn't as if Jylania would be accomplishing anything in here.

  "First, I need to ask. Am I right in assuming you and your companions are planning to leave Lasfont soon?"

  Couldn't say she'd expected that. Although maybe their plans had been more obvious than Nela had thought. "Likely, though it depends on how well Takhat recovers."

  "That's what I thought," the man answered, "I did not think you would want to remain too long with those knights hunting you."

  Nela held back from saying the first thing that came to mind. "I don't think you'd want us to remain that long either," she said instead.

  "We're all leaving either way," he conceded, glancing away. "But there's a problem, one I don't think Ayden or you thought over. The older people and the children won't be able to make this journey without help. We'll need wagons, horses, and other supplies."

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  With the alderman's words during the meeting, it was easy to see where this was leading. "You want us to get someone to send those to you."

  "You're just about the only ones here who could make that journey on your own. Although that comes with a different problem. It'll probably take the backing of a lord, or maybe a wealthy enough merchant. Convincing them will be something you all have to figure out."

  There was Lady Kelshir, but turning back to the south probably wouldn't get Edeline's approval. Besides, she would still have enough of a burden cleaning up the mess her father had left. Not to mention that any other lord would be just as likely to turn on Edeline if they knew who she was. Except...shit.

  Lord Melyn, already suspect for his supposed rebellion against the king, just might.

  Nela had to hold back a bitter laugh. She'd been worried about Edeline wanting to go to Melyn, only to realize that the last Pelagoin princess would want nothing to do with this rebellion shit. Now it was her instead with the idea, and she'd need to try and get Edeline and the others to agree.

  "What's your answer then?" Sethos said. Of course...now the name came to Nela, right when she was trying to straighten out this entirely separate matter.

  "I'll have to talk to the others about it," Nela said, knowing this wasn't what he wanted to hear. "It would've been easier if you'd brought this up in front of everyone."

  "The same for both of us then." The weariness in Sethos's voice told the tale. "Ayden's a bit too carefree with details. He likes to put together some broad plan, and leave the little things to everyone else."

  "Don't see how you put up with it," Nela observed.

  "Because he's not a bad man." Sethos suddenly sounded defensive. "Just needs a little guidance here and there. That's why I'm-"

  "Nela!" Jylania's shout cut the man off.

  No time for hesitation. Nela was out of the room in an instant, sprinting for the front of the tavern. Shit, if something had happened to Takhat...

  Jylania stood off to the side in the room, hands raised between her and the spear now pointed at her. That spear was being held by one of the Lasfont guards, with a second armed guard nearby. Leaning on Senby's shoulder was Takhat, with the pair heading out the tavern's entrance.

  "Stop!" Nela called out.

  Takhat ignored her. Glancing back for a second, Senby raised his other arm and pushed the curtain aside. Then the two walked out, ever so slowly.

  Nela would have ran after them, but that would mean leaving Jylania behind with these the guards. But Takhat was likely to get her arse hurt worse, and that was on top of whatever else the woman tried to do. Of all the cursed shit luck...

  One problem at a time then. "You going to keep pointing a spear at my apprentice, or am I going to make you regret your life?"

  "We're not going to hurt you," the first guard said, "Just making sure you stay here." Despite that, the other guard kept his spear pointed at Jylania.

  "Well, guess what?" Nela answered, striding forward. "I'm about to hurt both of you." It had been a while since she'd punched someone in the face, but if anyone deserved it, it would be these fools.

  The guard stepped back, raising his sword defensively. But Nela was faster. She grabbed his wrist, and raised herself up until she was in his face.

  "You lose," she said, before slamming her fist right into his cheek. It stung a little, but Nela had no doubt it hurt the guard worse.

  "Why-" the man gasped. Before he could finish, Nela followed up by stomping hard on the man's front foot. She then pivoted off of that to stand behind him, pulling his sword arm back behind him.

  "Let him go!" the other guard said, turning away from Jylania.

  A very big mistake.

  "Doroneiroi!" Jylania said as she lunged forward to touch the man's arm. He had just the briefest look of confusion before he fell sideways, sleep overtaking him.

  "Did you really think I was just going do nothing while you took her hostage?" Nela snarled as she pulled the sword from the guard's grasp. He didn't resist. "I've had enough of that shit as it is. Now, do you want to tell me just what your captain is trying to do here?"

  "I'd assume some plan to keep you in Lasfont," Sethos noted, entering the room.

  "No," the guard grunted.

  "Then talk." Nela tossed the sword behind her, then reached one hand up to the guard's neck. "What is she after?"

  "That bird girl," the guard blurted out, "She wanted to go deal with the bird girl."

  That was all Nela needed to hear. "Doroneiroi." She lowered the sleeping man to the floor.

  "What did you do to him?" Sethos was looking worried. "And what did he mean by a bird girl?"

  "I didn't kill them, if that's what you're asking," Nela answered with a sigh. She had bigger problems than answering his questions. "You alright?" she asked Jylania.

  "I'm...I'm fine," the girl answered, "I just...didn't expect they would...they would do that."

  "Neither did I," Nela replied, patting Jylania on the shoulder. "You stay here and keep an eye on things. I'm going to go drag that stupid captain's arse back here."

  "Wait, you still haven't answered my other question." Sethos said from behind her, "Who is this bird girl Takhat seems to be after?"

  Nela almost asked Jylania to explain, before remembering the girl's reaction to learning what Sedat had done to survive. Thank Aether that Sethos didn't need to know that. She was going to have to say something, and make it quick.

  "All you need to know is that we're helping everyone, creature or not."

  It sounded weak even to Nela, but she couldn't waste time trying to lay it out more accurately. Breaking into a sprint yet again, Nela was out the door, into the street. Takhat and Senby were already out of sight, but that wasn't a problem. Nela knew where they were headed.

  She just hoped Ronny could hold out until she got there.

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