CHAPTER 54: CHAPTER 54 - EYES IN THE CITY

The road was quiet, empty. Not many people took the roads alone, and those who did often stayed to their edges.

Morena kept her hood low and her steps even, moving at a pace that ate the miles yet never putting her full strength into sprinting. She stayed aware and maintained her stamina. After all, there were whispers of bandits along the outskirts and borders these days, preying on merchants too careless to travel with guards.

But so close to the city? She doubted even the boldest of them would risk it; nevertheless, just because they weren’t bold didn’t mean they weren’t foolish.

Because of that, she stayed alert, kept her senses sharp, and her stamina maintained. Her dagger hung light at her hip so that she could easily reach it if anything happened.

Her breath was controlled, measured. Feet pounded against the dirt in a rhythm she could have kept for hours. The truth was, thanks to her capabilities as a mid-level apprentice, she didn’t tire like others did anymore.

Furthermore, it seemed that thanks to her method—the letters carved into her body—it was constantly circulating her energy with ruthless efficiency, optimizing her movement.

If she wanted, she could run from dusk till dawn. And she practically did.

It was a good workout, at least. A reminder that even with everything else pulling at her, her body was sharpening into something more.

By the time the horizon blushed faintly with light, the first shapes of the city rose ahead of her. The walls caught the gray of morning, watchfires guttering low.

Morena slowed, dust clinging to her boots, and let her hood shadow her face as she joined the trickle of others arriving at the gates with dawn.

The guards gave her little more than a glance when she showed them a false identity badge Adolf had prepared. With the influx of people during the day, they didn’t have the same freedom to press an issue like they did the night before.

Inside the city, the air was warmer, the cold winds being blocked just slightly by the walls, the heat of the lamps keeping the place familiar.

Voices had already begun to fill the street, clustered. Even this early, she could see robed clerks and white-sashed believers moving through the streets. Their heads turned often, eyes scanning faces, doorways, alleys.

Handbills slapped against walls showed nothing but crude writing and a terrible hand-drawn figure of what she assumed was Corin.

Wanted for Heresy.

’They need to fire that artist.’

Her thoughts drifted on how bad the work was; it barely looked like the man she had seen, but the real issue was the fact that they had found the body.

She knew this would happen; it was the entire reason she moved so early. Because she didn’t want to give them the chance to catch her in this very web that they had spread throughout the city.

Thankfully, her plan worked; she doubted they had realized yet that the clerk’s story was false, but it was only a matter of time. Lies frayed faster the more hands pulled at them.

By the time she reached the estate, the servants were already whispering of the search happening, of clerics stopping passersby, of warriors questioning street-goers.

Adolf was waiting in the hall. He had the same look he always wore, a calm, aged face that didn’t seem to be bothered by the noise.

"Welcome back, my Lady. The church sent a messenger."

He greeted her the second she entered the hall and lowered her cloak. He didn’t ask her where she had been, he didn’t ask her how it had went, nor what she had done.

He asked nothing, followed his orders, and trusted his Lord.

"They request our assistance in finding their criminal. They ask that we open our halls, our eyes, and our men to the search."

Morena’s lips pressed into a thin line and she thought for a second.

"Refuse them."

Adolf inclined his head in a short nod.

"And the reason?"

Adolf did not doubt her order; he simply wished to know what reasoning he should tell the church so that he could follow through with it properly.

"Lack of personnel. My father’s condition leaves us strained as it is. Tell them our men are tied to internal matters—patrols, supply chains, securing the estate. They know our position. They’ll have no choice but to accept it, even if they don’t like it."

Adolf nodded once more but gave her a word of wisdom, something he had always done for her father; an old habit he couldn’t seem to cut out.

He was a worried old man after all.

"It will put us under their gaze, my Lady. It could mean danger."

"They already look at us with eyes that hide none of their intentions."

Morena turned and chuckled, her voice dry.

"Let them stare. We’ll give them nothing but excuses and closed doors until we’re ready to deal with them."

He didn’t speak any further; he just lowered his head in understanding and moved to carry out her order.

The rest of the day went as all others had; one wouldn’t even know she had left with how bland the day went. Though the city beyond the walls moved with constant unrest, the estate was unbothered by it.

Through windows, she caught glimpses of processions, white cloth fluttering like banners, clerics with cold eyes knocking on doors. She kept her estate sealed, her people busy, her hands outwardly clean.

Night fell heavy.

Sometime during the day, a servant came to her carrying a message, a person wanted to meet her, but didn’t wish to enter uninvited. She ordered them to escort him inside, knowing just who it was.

"My Lady."

Hark said as he bowed in greeting.

"Well?"

"The boy reached the chapel. And did exactly as you told him to, he carried the message well. They listened like you thought they would."

Hark paused, his mouth tightening.

"But not all of them believed. One priest pressed harder. The boy is a bit sloppy, he’s bad at lying, but he didn’t go back on his words. He must fear you more than he fears them. They believed him, at least enough that they let him leave, but they’ll probably keep an eye on him."

Morena’s brow narrowed.

"And after?"

"He did not return to the granary, as ordered. He found a bed in a cheap inn by the east quarter, same as you told him. I watched until dawn."

A thin line of satisfaction crossed her lips.

"Good."