"You are out of your mind," Zika excims, spping his hands on his thighs. The chair creaks from the force. He closes his eyes and pinches the skin between his brows in frustration. "Kidnap the saintess? When I said I needed more information, that is not what I meant." He opens one eye and sighs. "Why? Since when do you do rescue missions?"

  "They're going to sacrifice her," Megan says, averting her eyes. "For some kind of ritual. She overheard them talking about it."

  "Is that what you two were discussing?" I cross my arms and lean back against the wall. "That works out well for us, then."

  "How?" Katsuro wraps his arms around Chloe and pulls her close to his chest. He rests his chin on the top of her head. "The security there is tight on the inside. Wouldn't they have her under high surveilnce? And even if we get her out, how the hells do we sneak her out of the capital? There's a gate, remember? We had to pay that high ass fee to get in."

  "There is a way out of the capital," Zika interrupts. He runs a hand down his face. "They may come looking for you. You stick to the main roads, and they'll catch up in no time, but if you go off the path, then you might run into other problems."

  "The citizens do not know what the saintess looks like, so that will bide us some time. We'll fake her death. Call it the decree of their god. He struck the first attendant down in the sanctuary."

  "The god Oeus did?" Zika stands and walks to a cabinet. He reaches for a bottle and holds it up. "What do you want from me?"

  "Transportation. We need to make a stop at a vilge first. Some of the goods I sold to you, I did as a favor for them. And then transportation to the east."

  "The east?" He pours himself a cup and mutters under his breath. "Is overrun with beasts and disease. No one travels there if they can help it." Zika takes a sip of his drink. "You wish for the saintess to bless the nds as compensation?"

  "She is far too weak," I reply. "They will not look for us there. Take us to the edge and we will make the rest of the way there on our own." I hold out a hand for Megan. "We will leave under the cover of the night. Be ready."

  Zika presses his lips together and then nods his head. He acts as if I am asking for a lot. When the truth is, he is more than curious about the saintess.

  "We will leave and find shelter for you three and Apollo to rest at," I say as we go up the stairs. "But before we do, you and I will need to return to the temple grounds for the herb."

  "The herb was just—"

  "I am aware, Vixen." I smile as I poke her forehead with my finger. "But the ones that were listening do not know that. So, we will gather the herb and make sure we are seen leaving the capital."

  "And you'll stage her death?" Zika questions.

  "Yes. Let them believe it was the will of their god, who has already taken a life today because he did not care for the words spewing from that attendant's mouth. It will buy us some time before they realize the body is a fake. I pn for us to be far away before that happens."

  "So, we're just going to leave the vilge behind?" Chloe asks. "Just like that?"

  I shrug. "It's too close to the capital. Unless you wish to put them in danger."

  "... No. It just sucks. Not about saving the saintess. But how are we supposed to help the others if we're running away from the capital?"

  "There are no others at the temple."

  "She doesn't know that. They had her under tight scrutiny. Even if there were others, I doubt she would know."

  "That's true," Megan agrees. "She's more like their prisoner than their savior. But I believe she would know if there were others. If they let it slip about the sacrifice, then what else have they let slip? We can ask her once we get away from here."

  "You're way too nonchant about this," Chloe says.

  "You were going to start a fight in the sanctuary."

  "Ah... I didn't like how they were looking at us."

  "Chloe," Megan sighs. "Anyway, we don't have much time left. Should we buy more stuff for the road?"

  "Make it quick," I say, hand hovering over the doorknob. "The faster we get out of here, the better." I gnce over my shoulder at Zika. He rests an arm on the counter.

  "I'll throw in some potions. You can pay me back ter." He waves us off.

  I mentally go over how much this rescue mission is going to cost me. If I am lucky, Zika will be content with the knowledge gained and will not kick up a fuss about the coin. Megan pokes me in the side.

  "Yes?"

  "Do you want me to come with you?"

  "Absolutely not. You are as stealthy as a frog." I snort. Stealthy and Megan do not belong in the same sentence.

  ***

  Gathering more goods for the road does not take as long as I thought it would. Megan and Chloe shop quickly. By the time we make it back to the inn, with the freshly picked herbs in hand from the temple, Apollo is in worse shape than this morning. I narrow my eyes and pce a hand on his head. His breathing is more bored, and the sheets are soaked from his sweat.

  I did not realize kelpies could sweat.

  "Was it something he ate?"

  "No, I suspect it is the wards. This is my fault. I should have told him to stay back. The capital is protected from beasts. Him getting past the gate tells me the wards are failing." I pull my hand away. "Apollo, pull yourself together long enough for us to leave out the gates. You will manage that much."

  "Isn't that a bit much?"

  "No. He will walk out the same way he walked in here. Lest you wish to bring more attention to us. You saw the looks we got while we were out shopping. Word has already spread we got to meet with the saintess. Let us not bring more attention by having him change into something small enough to carry. He will have to walk out on his own in the disguise he chose."

  I step back, giving Apollo enough room to pull himself together. He struggles to get off the bed, and it takes him longer than it should for him to conjure his disguise.

  "You may lean against me if it becomes too much." I motion for us to depart from the room. Katsuro and Chloe emerge from their room soon after. I shake my head, indicating for them to keep their questions to themselves for now. This inn caters to adventurers, who are always looking for a reason to start trouble.

  "Is there a fee to leave this pce?"

  "No, do not give them any ideas." Apollo walks close to my side. His breathing is still rough. "We are almost out of here."

  The guards do not give us a second look as we walk out of the gate, along with a group of other people. I lead us straight and then once I am sure there are no others behind us; I veer us off the path and into the forest. The sun is setting, casting an orange glow. Soon the moon will be high in the sky. We need to hurry.

  "Once we find a spot, you two are to keep watch," I address Katsuro and Chloe. A cave will work fine. It should give them enough cover and shelter until I return with Zika. "Apollo should recover his strength the further we get from the capital."

  "Ya sure this is going to work?"

  "My pns always work." Is it they do not trust me or do they not trust Zika's involvement? "I have known Zika for centuries. He would not resort to a trap if it is my head he wants." Everything should work so long as that god does not interfere, and the saintess does not go back on her word.

  "It ain't about the dragon. I just don't like all these other variables." Katsuro levels me with a look. "Just make it back in one piece. I ain't trying to console your mate."

  "What an unpleasant visual." I curl my upper lip back in disgust. "Apollo, I will carry you the rest of the way. You are slowing us down." I do not wait for him to process my words. Instead, I simply lift him and carry him over my shoulder as one would a bag. "When we find the cave, you may change back into your original form. Zika should have no issues carrying you on his back."

  We walk awhile longer until we reach a cave. I will need to run the way back and then make haste after I rescue the saintess.

  Megan grabs a hold of my arm right as I am prepared to leave. Her face is pensive. Apollo lies off to the side in his normal form. His breathing is not as rough as it was before. I turn my attention back to Megan and cup her cheek.

  "I will be fine. If it comes to it, I will not risk my life for hers."

  "... That's the opposite of what a hero is supposed to say." She ughs. "Just be careful."

  Hero?

  I want to tell her it is not because I feel sorry for the saintess, but that I am doing this for her sake. There is no time, so I kiss her forehead and turn away. Megan is a dreamer. She likes to dream of a world filled with heroes and saving the world. As long as she is fine, I do not care if the world burns until the only thing left is ash.

  I run until my muscles ache. It has been far too long since I have st pushed myself to go this fast. I slow down once the gate comes into view. Instead of going through the gate once more and paying the fee, I make my way around the wall, until I find the spot that is the weakest. After all this time, they have yet to fix this. I slide through the space, wincing as I make my way into the capital.

  "Took you long enough," Zika says, with his arms crossed. He covers the spot with the fallen bricks and looks up. "Thought you were getting second thoughts."

  "No, I do not go back on my word. We will meet at the shop."

  Zika stares for a moment and then huffs. "How'd you know?" He stuffs his hands in his pockets.

  "I would do the same." I gather my shadows and cloak us. It amazes me how x the capital becomes when the sun falls. Do they simply rely on rumors of the past to keep their citizens in check? Or are they turning the other cheek and lining their pockets? Well, regardless, it works out for me. "Better to go your way than back out this one. I will not be long."

  "Just be careful." He turns and heads down the street to his shop. I frown. Why does everyone keep telling me that?

  No matter. Dwelling on it will only leave me distracted.

  The Temple's lights are shut off. There are no guards, not even two in front, like st time. My ears twitch. No sound, other than a few citizens on a te-night stroll. I make my way through the forest, using my shadows and the leaves for coverage. The moon is high and there is no sign of the saintess.

  Did they move her?

  I crouch and wait for a signal. The light turns on and the saintess walks out. She looks right in my direction, despite the shadows covering me. It is true, her power is too weak for what the temple—what the capital needs, but perceptive enough to spot me when others cannot. I step out right as she climbs onto the railing. Her dress is as white as the moon. It goes down to her ankles.

  What is she doing?

  She clenches her fists and then jumps off.

  "Seven hells."

  AutumnBanks

  Thanks for reading! Try to stay warm and make sure to take care of yourself!