“You know, this plan is so crazy it might work,” said Liza.

“It’s not THAT crazy… just unconventional. It’s better than trying to go through the gates, finding a way to climb the walls or any other ideas we had so far,” Ben ethereal voice replied.

“Yes, but it’s still a risky gamble. We need to find a way to change the odds to our favour, even if a little bit.”

There was noise coming from above followed by the sound of many lightweight footsteps going downstairs. The children that had left to gather information were returning.

“Big sis! Guys! We’re back!”

“Oh, good job. Is everyone all right? What did you guys find out?” asked Popis.

“Everyone’s well big sis. Looking around the city we found lots of guards! They are everywhere, walking in big groups on the main streets and small groups on the alleys. They are asking questions to random people and looking around places, especially inns, taverns, temples and things like that,” said one of the kids.

“Hum, they are looking at public places were someone who isn’t local could hide, that’s troublesome. If they don’t find any clues soon, they’ll probably move on to a more aggressive approach,” said Popis.

“I agree,” said Liza nodding her head, a serious look on her face.

“How big or small are those patrolling groups?” asked Ben.

“The big groups have,” the kid used his fingers to calculate, “around seven to ten?” he said uncertain. “The small ones have around two to four,” he finished, appearing much more confident about that part.

Both Ben and Liza nodded, looking pensive. After asking some more questions they ended up with a pretty good idea of how many troops were on patrol and how they were organized.

“How about the other thing I asked you?” said Popis to the kids.

“Oh, that was me big sis!” said a little girl jumping to the front. “I went to the main square and placed the order you gave me with the uncle from the grilled meat stall. I did as you told me and paid half up-front. He said it would take some time to cook everything, because his brazier is small. He explained he usually doesn’t get such large orders at once, so I told him I would come back later to get the food.”

Popis nodded and turned to Liza.

“Are you sure we need this much meat? I mean, you’re treating us and it’s your money after all… but isn’t it too much?”

“Too much? I’m afraid it won’t be enough! You haven’t seen Eliot and Boro eating for real yet. In fact, I’m glad they behaved yesterday.”

“I can attest to that, they are scary when eating,” affirmed Ben.

Popis shrugged. “If you say so…”

“Big sis, there’s one more thing. In the big building near the north gate there was that mark you always tells us to look out for.”

[Rodney wants to speak to me again? So soon? This could be bad… did he find out they’re hiding with me?] thought Popis. She sighed. She wanted to avoid it if possible, but perhaps an explanation to Liza and the others was in order, in case things went south.

She’d a clear conscience about her actions, but it was always hard to predict how the other party would react. That said, she believed in her eye for judging people, it was what kept her alive all this time after all, and her gut was saying Liza would understand. She took a deep breath.

“Hey, Liza, Ben, listen…”

Popis began recounting her activities. She stressed that what she told the guild would become public knowledge soon enough and that she never mentioned Boro being a dragon that was able to fly. She apologized for telling them Ben’s secret, explaining that Nicola’s life was at stake and that it was information that could be found out if they bribed the right people at the lord’s manor anyway.

Liza closed her eyes, listening without changing her expression to the end, while Ben’s face was showing conflicting emotions as the story was told. One full minute after the tale was over, Liza opened her eyes and gave her toothy smile.

“I won’t say I’m happy about it, but that actually makes me feel better. Knowing that you went through great risks to help us and we even ate all that was left of your food made me feel terrible yesterday. Now that I know you made some money off us, I don’t feel so guilty,” said Liza.

“A girl gotta eat,” replied Popis, also smiling.

Ben’s head was spinning. After listening to the conversation Popis had with Liza last night, he understood that he should treat her as an adult, but it was hard to rewire his preconceived notions that she was just a kid. Thus, the whole story got him feeling confused.

“You sold us out?” he said, half asking, half ascertaining.

“She did, a little bit,” affirmed Liza. “But think about it, she didn’t need to hide us here, it could even cost hers and the other kids’ lives if found out. She also didn’t need to retrieve my gear, which ended up putting Nicola at risk. Basically, if she only wanted to profit from us she didn’t need to go out of her way to help us out at all.”

[Technically, I was hired to follow you and report your moves before I offered you aid, so if anyone ought to be mad is Rodney… but let’s leave it at that. I’m glad I was right.]

“I knew I didn’t judge you wrongly,” said Popis giving an even bigger smile that showed her white teeth. It made a beautiful contrast with her dark-skinned face.

“You were risking it though, I could’ve just as well put an arrow through your head.”

“You could’ve, then that would be that. At least, no matter how wrong I was, I knew for a fact you wouldn’t kill the other children nor leave them to die.”

“That’s true.”

There was a period of silence. The other kids, perceiving the tense part of the discussion was over, let out a collective breath of relieve. Nicola, his head hanging low, walked slowly to Liza.

“Liza, you aren’t mad with big sis and us, right?”

Liza shook her head sideways, denying it. She patted Nicola’s head lovingly.

“No, I’m not. I’m sorry you had to go through such scary situation because of us.”

“Huh-hu, it’s ok. I knew big sis would find a way to rescue me. You aren’t mad too, right Mr.?” Nicola asked Ben.

Having calmed down, Ben understood all the points that were made, both by Popis and Liza. He also knew that everything that was going on right now was a reflex of his escape from captivity. Therefore, blaming someone else was not only silly, but kind of a jerk move.

“I’m not. I’m glad you’re alright kid.”

“From what you’ve said before, your boss from the guild wants to speak with you again?” asked Liza.

“Yes. What’s weird is that I’ve just reported in not long ago. I need to go and see what he wants. Nicola, Lars, Simon and Nelia, listen up! For everyone’s safety, you guys should stand as lookouts in the surroundings. If you see anything suspicious, let Liza know.”

“Ok, big sis!”

Liza wanted to go as well, but she held her urge back. Going out right now and strutting around the city was foolish. She could be spotted.

“Ok, be careful then.”

“Don’t worry, it’s not me they are looking for.”

Popis left. Nicola, Lars, Simon and Nelia assumed their positions on the streets to detect any danger that might be coming their way. Jordan and Bastian, the last kids of the group, were trying to teach Eliot how to play “5 stones”, while Liza and Ben discussed how to improve and reduce the risk of their escape plan. Boro was still sleeping. It seemed that eating a meal meant for eight people almost by himself had a cost to his metabolism.

“It’s like this Eli. You throw one stone up and then, while that stone is in the air, you pick another stone from the floor and grab the one you threw before, without letting it fall on the ground,” Jordan demonstrated.

“Right, that’s when it gets hard big bro. Now Jordan has to throw the two stones in her hand and grab another from the floor, without letting them fall,” said Bastian.

Eliot looked curiously at the stones being thrown into the air before being grabbed again. Jordan managed to throw and collet the five stones, then gave them to Eliot for a try. He grabbed one stone, eyed it for a moment, then tossed it into the air. With force. The stone flew at high velocity and hit the ceiling with a harsh thud, splintering in small pieces that rained in the basement.

“OUCH!”

Ben, who was talking with Liza a few meters away, was hit by a small shrapnel that cut his shirt and grazed his shoulder. Boro was also hit, but he just opened his eyes lazily.

“Eliot, what are you doing!” exclaimed Liza.

A small lecture followed and by the end of it Popis had already returned. She narrated, word by word, the meeting she’d with Rodney.

“They want to help us escape the city? Why? What’s the catch?” asked Liza.

“None, he said. Hey, don’t look at me like that, I’m just telling you what he told me.”

“That’s suspicious… there was that old man that was interested in Boro at the guild and now that they know about Ben being a world traveler it sounds even more fishy.”

“They were always decent to me, but I can see why you would be cautious. So, what do you want to do?”

“There’s no way we are meeting them in person or asking them to move us out of the city somehow. But we could request for some assistance and see what they do. If they help us, great, if they don’t, that’s ok too.”

“Sounds good. What do you need me to do?” asked Popis.

“Let me think… ok, with this I think I know how to improve our current plan. When we went to the guild to register Boro, there was this annoying nobleman who kept asking us for a price, like we would just sell Boro. I need to know his name and where he lives inside the city. We’ll also need three, make that six…”

Popis listened intently and nodded affirmatively. They discussed for a little longer and she went out again to talk to Rodney. An hour later, she returned with some good news and some bad news.

-

It was almost dusk. Liza was following Popis stealthily as they navigated the small, labyrinthic lanes. Boro was snuggled against her shoulders, hidden carefully underneath the cloak.

“Are you ready?” Popis whispered.

“Yes, let’s do this,” she replied.