Chương 312: 4.2

John made his way as nonchalantly as he could back into the deeply shadowed alleys of the east docks of Light's end. His brow and back soaked with sweat despite the cool shade of the distant stone above. They needed to get out of here! Bruiser had been right! They should have already left Viznove! Used the silver they had saved up so far to book whatever cramped passage they could manage out of the county and the Ridgetails vault entirely.

But he'd been there with Robin thinking the old waif was being a worrying hen again. Afterall there was some kind of history between waifs and the Countess that made Bruiser all kinds of jumpy. So when they had made their way down further south than the Shining Wyrm ever came before everyone thought it fine to stop. All of them should have been safe and there were plenty of travelers on the road to ply their trade on out of Light's End. It had sounded like a great idea at the time.

Easy to be lost among the crowds here and plenty of silver to be had if you were careful. It was a bigger city than Kaeketeh! But John could feel now how it didn't matter how many people there were if you were as tall and prominent as he was. And word was that the Countess could track better than any hunting hound. John had run from dogs before. Just normal dogs, not star calling magical dragons! She certainly had his scent. It was the only explanation! He had to do something! But what?!

He'd been having a casual walk trailing their primary mark for the current job. And then all sorts of commotion started up ahead of him. Some kind of parade or festival or something? Then there she was! Marching through the streets and John and froze in shock. Seeing her snout turn and nostrils flare like that, the way her eyes had settled on him with a moment lingering of recognition?! John knew he had been made then, not just made, he was hunted! Did he need to come clean? Set himself before the countess' mercy?

If John didn't have his brother he would have done it! He knew he wasn't clever enough to get out of this when the Shining Wyrm of Viznove herself had him dead to rights. If John was alone, or even with a different crew? Right there he would have surrendered and begged for mercy. But maybe there was a way out of it? He did have Robin, his Brother who was oh so sharp and clever. And the Wyrm had been content to let him flee for now. Smugly continuing up the street in her parade.

Totally assured there was not a thing poor John could do now that she had spotted him! Had caught his scent in that almost horse-like snout! It was only a matter of time, He'd been such a fool not to listen to Bruiser before! All those stories about the Countess didn't do the dragon justice! The sheer size of her?! Even at a distance! When she finally finished passing the alley he'd been spotted through, John had managed to regain enough sense to move as casually away from that street as he could.

She'd let him go but he knew in his bones that just like a cat with a mouse she was certainly only biding her time. Waiting for him to wear himself out. John however, while not as clever as Robin was despite his size, quiet and good at sneaking. And he had fled from hunting hounds before. So he did his best to try and make the trail as hard for her as possible. Going through the wharfs where the fish stink was the worst. Then backtracking over his own trail several times and again past the middens.

He slipped into the alleys, covered his own trail several times and only then once again checked over his shoulder to make sure there was none of the Countess or the Lord Mayor's colors on anyone following him. He didn't go to the house they stayed at though. Not with the Wyrm Countess herself with his scent in her nostrils! That would make him a traitor and worse. No he made his way to where Robin was keeping watch on their next planned score.

John's brother had been keen on that since they first got to Light's End. Robbing one of the rich merchant's houses. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. It should be safe enough, yeah? Well John wasn't that clever so maybe not the best idea, but at the very least he could probably warn them she was here? let the rest of the crew know at the least.

And maybe, just maybe his brother, clever and sharp eyed Robin could think of something that meant that poor stupid, too tall John could escape the fate the stars had found for him! He slipped into the darkness of the alley serving vantage for Robin. He was supposed to be keeping watch from somewhere near here. John came in from the back way of course though, no point in spoiling the score, not unless the plan changed at least. Robin had been working this out for a season. John strolled into the alley.

Going just close enough he was pretty sure to be heard but hopefully far enough that whatever sorcery was certainly tracking him wouldn't get Robin. That was the worst part of it, John thought, the thing that had him sweating despite the cool breeze that always blew either in or out of the depths at Light's End. Sorcery might be watching him now and he wouldn't even know it! He hissed as quietly as he dared into the dark of the alley." Robin" A shape in the dark shifted."

John, what's the matter, why are you standing so far over there and hissing like a snake?" John carefully turned over towards the wall." I've been made Robin! Seen clean through!" His brother's tone went flat, quiet and calm. Good, that was his thinking voice." By the mark? How? Wait, that doesn't explain why you are... Are you pissing?!" John spoke as loud as he dared. While he tried to lay down the false trail of exactly why he had even turned into this alley in the first place. Hoping it would be enough."

Not the mark, Not any of the merchants or even the Lord Mayor, Robin! It was Her!" His brother was still flat toned, that was good, Robin was thinking when he sounded like that." Her who!? Who made you?" John tried not to spill any piss on himself but his hands were shaking. At least the fear made the decoy easier to lay down." T-the countess! She's here Robin! She followed us all the way here! Bruiser was right! She saw me in the street and I just knew that she recognized me!"

The calm soothing flatness in his brother's voice became a pained sharp thing. Oh no! John had messed up, No Robin, his brother, don't do that, Don't stop thinking! You need to be sharp and cold!" John you idiot! She hasn't made you!" He wouldn't, couldn't let his brother go soft now!" She has! She looked right at me, and that nose of hers was twitching! She must have my scent!" Robin went silent then, that was good, a quiet Robin was a thinking one.

When his brother finally spoke it was still aggrieved but it was a cold and calm agitation." John, My brother in arms, you are being a fool. But fine maybe she has you, and alright fine that explains the pissing. Thanks by the way I'm gonna have to find another alley lookout for today that doesn't smell of piss. There aren't many of those!" John let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. There was a sound of a pouch of silver landing on the stones between them.

"Listen, we are gonna be careful with this, take that silver. Get yourself provisioned for a camp and you go out and settle down out of town north of here. The place we holed up for some pickings three days after arriving at Light's end." His heart seemed like it was beating for the first time in hours. Thundering to life in the chest of a man that thought himself already dead. Robin had a plan!" You are gonna stay out there for two nights from now so make sure you get enough water and food.

We are gonna set up to watch the gates and the skies. If the Countess has your scent and takes hunt for you we will know, and if she catches you brother?" John's relief froze in his veins.

"Y-yes Robin?" There was warmth in his brother's tone then and it thawed his sudden fear." You surrender to her mercy quicker than you ever did any damn thing in your life. They all say she's a soft hearted sort. So you surrender and you make the most pitiful display of yourself! I want it to make that time you cried home to my ma about that bee sting look like being the bravest man in the world." John couldn't help himself, he choked on a laugh. But he was even more glad that he was faced away from his brother.

From the sting of his eyes he was definitely making a horrible mess with his tears." If she locks you up we will find ya and get you loose alright John? So you surrender and make an absolutely unmanning display of groveling if she catches up to you alright? You surrender and you live brother!" He had to clear his throat and was shamed by the hitch in it. His voice betrayed the tears on his cheeks with how thick it had gotten." C-course Robin. I'll make a right awful display of it."

For a time he thought his brother had slipped away. But no, Robin was better than that." And John? If you spend two days and two nights in the woods and nothing comes of it you are gonna have to explain to everyone why they had to change up their watches and pull double time on this job while you got to lounge in the summer sun." John managed to clear the unseemly weeping from his voice and shake himself dry before tucking away and rubbing his cheeks with a sleeve."

I'll save some of the silver for a round for the crew, Just in case if I last the two days. And Robin?" His brother by everything but blood didn't make a sound but John was sure he was still listening." Thanks."