Kieran's mind raced as he followed the road towards the North Gate. The wall, made of heavy interlocking granite bricks, towered over him as if threatening to crush him. The streets were nearly empty now, this far north in the city. Only a few trading caravans passed him by, their hired swords eyeing him warily. The assassin pulled his hood lower, feeling exposed, and tried to hide from their suspicion.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksZBCirWO3
The half-elf followed several feet behind. trudging forward as if dazed. Kieran occasionally glanced behind to check on him, but Bren stared down at the ground oblivious, dragging his feet along the paved road. The assassin had no time to feel guilty or concerned about his young friend, however. He had to be ready for anything.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrKCcwACxN
City guards became more noticeable as they approached the gate. Kieran tensed, knowing they'd have to pass through fairly tight security with blood on his hands and covering Bren's clothes. These guards, however, seemed to pay him barely any mind, preoccupied with chatting amongst themselves. Off duty, the assassin reasoned, and he thanked his luck as he noticed how few of them were armed.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhBMFPUno6
A merchant's cart seemed to have gotten stuck in a divot on the road ahead, effectively blocking the way. A city guard and several merchants crowded around, trying to shift the wheel out so the sturdy oxen could continue. Kieran slowed down, taking the opportunity to get a better layout of the area.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgekQ4G3RQG
The gate loomed ahead, the heavy wooden door still open between the two tall watchtowers. The assassin spotted the dark iron of the portcullis, thankfully still raised. The chain holding it upright was pulled tightly along the wall of the gate and connected to a giant winch. Two heavily armed guards stood at either side of the door, keeping a watchful eye on the stuck caravan. Kieran knew there would be at least one guard in each watchtower as well, keeping a cautious eye on the horizon, and likely more archers patrolling along the top of the gate. The porter who stood careful guard over the portcullis's winch likely had magical potential as well, according to Bren. If it came down to it, the assassin thought grimly, his chances of winning a fight were looking slim.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AMD2LIukd
Bren seemed more alert now, slowing down as he caught up to Kieran. The merchant's cart was moving now, and the way ahead clear.
"Remember, just keep walking forward," the assassin advised under his breath. "Don't make eye contact. We can make it."
The half elf nodded in response and followed behind Kieran once more as they approached the towering gate.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FWXvkCPug
The older man shoved his hands in his pockets and slouched, trying to be as casual as possible. These guards, he knew, would be specifically trained for watch duty, monitoring the body language of anyone who tried to pass. He resisted the urge to watch the guards warily as he approached the open doors.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr89bXHh6ho
The guards, thankfully, seemed to pay him no mind.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70BDDGsewq
They were clearly focused on someone else.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPS3A1mjcxF
"Halt!" one of them yelled out to Bren, and Kieran jumped at the sound, his hand immediately going to his dagger's hilt.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykq5b7Cshk
Bren stopped dead in his tracks like a deer staring down a hunter's sights. His eyes widened as the guards began to approach.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKYRX6R0XC
"Are you hurt, sir?" The genuine concern in the guards voice made the thief relax a little, but Kieran was still on edge. There was only one other reason the half-elf could have given for being covered in that much blood.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNsp5Ml0zk
"No," Bren held up his hands to ward the guard's away, "I'm not hurt. I'm quite fine, really."457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSkuoIHxf2
Kieran took a step towards the exchange before he noticed another guard approaching, eyeing him. The assassin moved his hand away from his dagger, cursing inwardly.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JiupHGnWN
The guard speaking to Bren raised an eyebrow. "Then why are you covered in blood?" He drew his sword and stepped forward.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndDPGfEUzT
Kieran wasn't going to let him get any closer. The guard approaching gave a warning shout as he saw the assassin draw his dagger and rush forward. The guard addressing the half-elf turned to block the assassin, sword leading.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBo7I5MDNcX
Kieran ducked under the guard's surprised swing and positioned himself between both gatekeepers and the thief, brandishing his dagger defensively. The porter witnessed the exchange and released the winch, allowing the portcullis to fall down blocking the exit. The other guard that had come to investigate the exchange disappeared into a watch tower, no doubt to give the archers above them a target.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOrhhdFLHJ
The assassin didn't have time to look around much more, however, as both guards in front of him pressed forward, attacking with coordinated strikes. Kieran jumped back out of range. They pressed forward, forcing him to draw his sabre quickly to help block their attacks.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgKsjBOQXL
"Kieran!"457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwpiYJgj7t
The concern in Bren's voice was oddly touching, but the assassin didn't even have time to glance around.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEFwiXzfw8
His arms felt like they would go numb from the unrelenting force of the blows. The guards ordered him to surrender, and he snarled in response. They were trying to position to flank him, he recognised. But he couldn't risk letting them past. That's where Bren was.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWE2xaQnBx
One of the guards feigned a strike and flipped his sword over at the last second, punching with his pummel. It hit the assassin square in the ribs, knocking the breath out of him. The other guard pushed the advantage, sweeping Kieran's feet out from under him. The assassin swore as he tumbled down, and the guard who had knocked him followed him, trying to pin him to the ground. Kieran struggled, but knew it was pointless as the guard who had hit him stepped around and began heading towards the young thief.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcflsiCvK7d
The guard that approached Bren, however, gave a pained yell that made his concerned partner wrestling the assassin stop momentarily. Kieran took that opportunity to jab his fingers into the guard's eyes. He rolled out from underneath the guard as the man reeled back and yelled, grasping at his injury. Kieran pulled his secondary dagger from his belt and stabbed the guard in the thigh, ensuring he wouldn't be able to follow.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9VBjDLBNT
"Kieran, come on! We have to leave!" The assassin felt Bren helping him to his feet when he spotted his prized dagger discarded on the ground nearby, having been dropped in the scuffle.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyhmCRBO8l
"Not without this!" The assassin scooped up the dagger and tucked it into his sheath, resisting the urge to check it over for nicks. As Bren dragged him away from the gate, he saw the magical porter standing over the guard who had approached the thief. The guard was clutching his face and screaming in agony, blood spilling out between his fingers. Other guards were in quick pursuit of the two fugitives as they raced away from the scene.
It was twilight when they finally lost the guards. They took refuge in a quiet alleyway to catch their breath while the guards barked orders, trying to canvass the city to find them.
"Should have washed off the blood first," Bren whispered. Kieran grinned, allowing the thief this small victory.
"What did you do to that guard?" he asked instead.
Bren shrugged. "I blinded him."
Kieran couldn't keep the smile from his face. "How did you manage that?"
Bren chuckled mirthlessly. "You're not the only one who knows how to fight."457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOl2obDPuGW
"No, just the one who was better at it," the assassin teased.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJDTFA2wIl
"Someday, maybe the student will surpass the teacher."457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnWK6WsKNm
Kieran couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. "We'll see," he said coyly, peeking around the corner at the street. People rushed along the road, trying to get home before night fell. A pair of armoured guards hustled past, searching in the shadows.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIiaEyacTG
Kieran popped back into the alleyway, pressing his back against the wall of the house beside him. Bren followed his example, and the guards passed by without further incident.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9p4AwdNXHE
"What do we do now?" Bren asked once they were out of earshot.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4HkGzx8tn
The assassin shrugged. "There's got to be people with other ways out of the city. If we find one, we ca-"457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDunysr1xYn
"What about going over the wall?" the young thief interrupted.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowq7nfWtbq
Kieran raised an eyebrow at the half-elf's suggestion, eyeing him critically. "Over the wall?"457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasRwBwHLMi
Bren nodded. "We can climb over it."457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4TxFm2gi8
The assassin looked at him as if he'd grown another head. "The wall. The one with all the watchtowers and constant patrols?"457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0sNK83Gda
"There are sections of the wall they don't patrol," Bren explained with a shrug. "Rod told me..."457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrZkoX80iP
He trailed off, as if suddenly remembering he was supposed to be angry with the assassin.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWAPvrhc1E
Kieran scratched his head and looked up at the wall, barely visible on the darkening skyline. "I suppose it's worth a shot. Better than anything I've come up with."457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeS9TLBkKB
Bren looked down at the ground and said nothing.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAh9m0DWtt
"But how do we climb it?" the assassin continued, ignoring Bren's sullen mood. "A grappling hook?"457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATfYd3PNZf
The thief was still pouting quietly. Kieran narrowed his eyes, trying to see the wall better. "Actually, it's pretty rough hewn in places. I bet we could climb it."457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRn9caBG4NN
Bren was still ignoring him.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqReE6Urzb
The assassin rolled his eyes. "I'm not talking to myself, you know."457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXikc6mvcI
The half-elf shrugged. "I can climb it," he answered, refusing to meet the older man's gaze, "I have before."457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrvBRxakPW
"Good!" the assassin exclaimed, louder than Bren would have liked. He patted the thief on the back, seemingly oblivious to Bren shirking away from his touch. "Let's try your idea, then, cause we all know how my ideas turn out."457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufvhMtaRgr
His sarcasm finally got a reaction out of the half-elf. "Yeah, that was the best plan ever," the thief responded, matching his mentor's sarcasm, and Kieran smirked.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCpQw7on8J
"Let's see if yours does any better," he bantered, checking the street for guards before stepping boldly out of the alley.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbEA9r4XaP
Bren followed close, feeling guilty for sharing a laugh with the man who killed his father-figure. How he hated Kieran! He hated the way he walked so perfect, and never knew when to stop teasing the young thief. He hated his insatiable lust for killing, his pretentious attitude, and the protective way he had positioned himself between Bren and the city guards earlier.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7YHVavhvP
And yet, there was something about him the young thief could never truly be upset with him for. He couldn't help but admire the way he walked so perfectly. He found mirth in is pretentious attitude, and he felt truly honoured that the assassin had put his own life in danger for him.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHafIfBGxJ
With these conflicting emotions in tow, Bren followed his mentor down the street towards the towering wall, silently praying the guards would catch them and put an end to his suffering, but also hoping they wouldn't.457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1Gfn5R4Za
