CHAPTER 63: CHAPTER 63 - SCURRYING THROUGH THE NIGHT

We jump out the window, and I guide them towards the first hiding spot we secured.

We are almost running, in a very weird way that only a group of invisible people trying to flee for their lives while holding hands can.

I admit that if we were visible, it would make for a great comedy act, with the number of times people tripped and stumbled on each other and all the desperate whispers.

For the first few minutes things are going as smoothly as they can, but soon a troop of city guards appears in the street, running in the opposite direction.

I freeze, hoping nobody is on their way.

They pass by us, probably hurrying to that place. Nobody moved or made a sound while they were visible.

As soon as I deem it safe, I whisper for everyone to keep going.

If we stop too many times, we won’t make it to the first hiding spot before the invisibility spell ends.

We hear shouts here and there. Apparently, the city guards are on high alert.

I didn’t think that the rescue would rattle them that much. I assumed that they wouldn’t care about a random slave den.

Seems I was wrong, after all.

On the way to the first stop, we see a few more patrols, smaller than the first one and not as hurried.

We’re on the alley a few meters from the abandoned house I marked when the invisibility ends.

One of the girls whimpers very audibly, while others go "shhhh!"

It really looks like a comedy skit.

"The house is that one; just run." I whisper.

And run.

I enter the house through a glassless window. The others follow right after, being followed by Yaci in the end.

"Yaci, was there anyone looking?"

"It didn’t seem so."

"Good. Okay, everyone. Stay silent while I go through the aria again."

The invisibility aria is a tricky one and moderately lengthy by itself. The main problem is that having it affect twenty-one people makes it quite lengthy.

It wouldn’t be wise to be out in the open while I’m focused on chanting it. That’s why we entered the house instead.

I go through the words of the aria as fast as I can, while my heart pounds heavily in my chest. The minutes feel like an eternity.

When I finally finish it, someone enters the house. Several someones.

Soon we hear Yaci whispering.

"It’s a patrol. Everyone entered through the main door."

"Right, everyone, through the window, one by one."

As the girls are jumping out the window, we hear the noise of the patrol searching the rooms.

"Do you think that they are here?"

"Boss said that they might have hidden in one of these."

"There are so many of these old houses. And all of them stink."

I mean, they’re not wrong. About our plan and about the smell. By the time they come to the room we’re in, most have already jumped through the window.

I freeze for a second time, hoping that they will only look around without coming in.

Gladly, that’s what they do. They don’t sense any presence in here, and the room is completely empty, or that’s what their eyes tell them.

After they move to the next room, I allow myself to breathe.

Let’s keep on moving.

:::

The second leg is a bit more tricky, as the guards are patrolling more regularly. It seems that the whole garrison is out on the streets tonight.

There are some people with a slightly different uniform. They’re obviously official guards, not hired thugs, and yet the color and the crest of their uniforms are different.

The city guards seem to treat them with certain reverence, but there isn’t a clear hierarchical relationship.

Over time, we learned how to walk together without bumping into each other as much and how to deal with the patrols without stopping completely.

For that reason, we manage to arrive at the second house while still under the effect of the invisibility spell.

"That’s great, everyone. We’re one step closer to freedom."

:::

I cast the spell again, and we resume our journey.

This third leg has buildings with an overall better quality, as we’re getting closer to the main street. We’re out of the decrepit neighborhood of the den.

Which also means there are more people walking around.

It isn’t like this city has a bustling nightlifeor something. Instead, it just means that instead of having to deal only with the patrols, now there’s the occasional drunkard as well.

We need to avoid any physical contact, as it might dispel our invisibility.

So, instead of going in a straight line, we are now walking in a tighter group so we can occupy less space.

Which also makes us slower.

:::

Damn it.

We’re almost at the inn. There’s just the main street to cross, and then a couple dozen meters.

But the spell timed out. We are visible.

I managed to get everyone onto a side alley before it happened, but still. With that many patrols about, this is going to be hard.

I quickly go through the chant of the aria again, while Yaci stays on guard.

There aren’t any guards around, but there might be people seeing us from the houses around, and they might call the guards on us.

I finish the aria without incident, and we hurry on our way. But there’s a weird feeling inside of me.

Like someone is observing me. Even now.

I shake my head, as it might be just psychological, and move forward.

We arrive at the main street. Despite being the ’main’ one, it isn’t very busy at this hour.

There is a tavern, with some people singing loudly, and a single guard on duty. The others are probably on the search for us.

That’s our chance. I go forward, pulling the girls behind me.

We make a beeline to the alley on the other side, where the back of the inn is, almost running.

We manage to reach it in safety, and then we walk the last meters to the inn, where the window to our room is.

I climb to the window on the second floor alone. We left it unlocked so it could be opened from the outside, with a rope to help the others climb.

I open the window and enter the room, taking the rope and throwing it below.

"How interesting. Who are you bringing to my inn tonight?"

Huh?