In a mere minute, we were before the closed gates. But I did not want to go into the city. At least not through the gates.

“More to the right, over there to that bridge!”

He went there.

I need a harness for the Lynx to be able to ride properly, but I will not bring that point up now.

I jumped down and whispered:

“Wait for me. Stay somewhere here around... please!”

I had to add 'please' as I felt he did not like to be commanded around.

We were not far from the wall, but one advantage of riding the Lynx was the total silence of his paws. I whispered to not attract attention. At about a hundred meters to the left is the two-story-tall city wall and probably a soldier staying sentinel here and there. Behind it, the silent, sleeping city. It is a small border town, and noises travel far by night.

He disappeared into the scenery whilst I went under the bridge. I found the inscription there as I was instructed. An amalgam of strange runes that, in reality, was an old text from the black temple. Any high-level assassin knows it.

Well, an old text from the black temple... it was one of the 3 Delphic maxims shamelessly incorporated into the game: 'surety brings ruin'. About the equivalent of 'pride comes before the fall'; however, there are other explanations for this more cryptic maxim. But you had first to know the runes. Of course, even if you knew the runes, seeing there 'suribnustyerring' was not very helpful. Also, you needed to know how to activate each rune with a tiny mana input.

I just had to touch the runes in the proper sequence for a small portal to activate, and I entered a tunnel that led to the assassins' headquarters in this town.

I retrieved the assassin's ring from my inventory, put it on one finger, and put my hand on the identification stone. A golem's voice echoed:

“Calamity Lara. Welcome!”

Each assassin has its own ring. They all look the same except for the fine imprint on the black stone with black letters of the assassin's name. I don't wear it all the time, as I don't want to be identified as such, but this place was the exception.

I came out of the tunnel into a corridor. No longer the rough stone walls and earthen floor, but a well-maintained corridor with flagged stone floor. There must have been a guard there at the end of the tunnel, somewhere well hidden, but it did not ask questions. I felt the probe when he tested me.

If you fail the identification, you will find yourself between bars that could instantly block the tunnel.

A green light was illuminating the corridor where I had just got. The tunnel behind was entirely hidden by an illusion wall. A couple of seconds later, a lizard-girl in a nightgown appeared. Elise, the assassins' receptionist here, her green scales in tone with the ambient light.

“Hello, Cala! Any urgency?”

She asked with her forked tongue between her teeth when she said 'cy' from urgency. I always found it lovely and amusing how lizard folks pronounce certain letters with their forked tongue, with Elise being a case in point. She was small but very lively, with a keen and intelligent look in her eyes.

I greeted her. She led me to a room. It was a comfy room with a bed and a small table with a book and a tea kettle. She poured tea in a free cup for me, then sat on the edge of the bed and took her cup in her hand. I must be in her bedroom. Was the free cup there before? Did she expect a visit?

She pointed towards a chair on the other side of the small table and turned to listen to me with the face of a stoic monk.

“I will leave for the Silver Town tomorrow. I need a way to be able to evacuate fast, about four people from there.”

“Ah, you want to show it to Grackak!”

She said that with a grin, showing a nice row of sharp teeth making herself more comfortable in her sitting position pulling her feet under her to sit on them. After a short pause, she continued.

“I thought somebody may come to us with this question, and I made some investigations. That city is under a magic dust carpet that could create problems with most portals. What I thought about is using a carriage with a fixed portal. You can set up a command to activate the portal. The portal can be well stabilized inside the carriage, isolated from the interfering dust, and after using it, one can also let the carriage explode, destroying the portal immediately.”

Yes, one of the problems with portal scrolls was to control their closure.

She sipped again from her cup. I tested the tea. Not bad!

“I like the idea. By when could you make this carriage for me?”

“I understand you need it urgently. I could have it ready for tomorrow morning. I'll take a solid carriage that can be completely closed. Do you need the horses too?”

I nodded. She confirmed.

“Inclusive two horses... To where should the portal lead?”

“Mmmh. Good aroma! Take one great city of your choice.”

“Not back here? You could still use the portal to town even with your reputation.”

“No. Grackak regularly comes here, and he might think I did come back here. What about the province's capital?”

“Oh, Gordogswar, yes, doable. Easy and cheap.”

“Good. Can you deliver it for me outside the gates by tomorrow morning?”

“Are you setting camp outside the city? If you tell me where I could have it delivered directly to you. Do you need accommodation for the night? I could make arrangements here. You know there are some limitations about who can stay at our headquarters, but I think I can have it done for you. There is also an inn further away down the road if you don't like this location?”

“Just outside the gates will be ok. I am not sure where will Alice set camp. I'll pick it up in the morning.”

“Oh, I see. The carriage will wait for you. You need to come in person. Is this all?”

I sighed. Actually, it was not the main reason I came, but she had solved one problem I was mulling on.

“Well, anything new about Thiara?”

She gave me a look, her lizard eyes blinking repeatedly then she sighed:

“It took you long to come and ask. There is a quest to free her. It was put up by her family: one thousand gold. The problem is, I don't know if it's something you want to get yourself in and if I still can help you with it.”

She ended her words with a sad smirk on her face.

“What do you mean?”

“I had the delivery tracked. Thiara was with the mountain sorceress in her castle until now!”

“Oh?”

I saw she was conflicted about informing me. Probably tracking the delivery had been her initiative, and she might be a little concerned about what she found out: the mountain sorceress was involved. Styxa by her name, but people around fear to call her name not to attract her attention. She lives in the mountain in an adjacent area. It is a high-level area, so I would need to prepare well if I would plan to make an incursion there. She is a minor boss; one does not go there without a support group.

“She was?”

“Yes. She is being transferred. The sorceress has completed her work, and Thiara is being delivered.”

Delivered... Again...

“To where?”

“A carriage has left for the Nehater pass route. I just got the info in a message a few minutes ago. According to it, she's being delivered to the Golden Empire, probably as wife number 458 for the 7th prince, but the info is not confirmed.”

I did not miss the acid tone. She was not happy about it. Well, a receptionist in the assassin's guild with personal feelings. I looked intrigued at her, but I did not have now time to think about it.

Things move fast. What did that damn sorceress do? I had to swallow my anger at myself. To free her from the clutches of the empire will be a hundred times more complicated once she is there. The time to strike was now during the transport, preferably outside the Emperor's realm.

“Could I still get her? How far is the carriage?”

“Only if you have an epic mount, or you could fly. The only chance to get her is at the Junkers section.”

“Thanks!” - I said, running out.

She said something, but I did not listen. I've seen she was conflicted and afraid. This shit is much over her head.

I ran, used the portal, and found myself under the bridge.

“Lynx, I need you!”

He appeared just behind me. I almost had a heart attack. I jumped on his back there under the bridge. This is for taking me by surprise! He came out from under the bridge with my head almost hitting a beam. I had to duck to avoid it. I decided to ignore it.

“I need to arrive at the Junkers section of the Nehater pass as fast as possible.”

“As fast as possible?”

“Yep!”

He started to run. Not on the street but straight over the field. At first, slowly, then faster.

“You know the way?”

I wondered, and he answered happily:

“Yep!” - then added - “May I know why we do this?”

“I need to intercept a carriage bringing the future four hundred something wife of a poser to let her be a free girl again.”

“You know that place is inside the Golden Empire?”

“I know.”

“You know you'll get on very, very bad terms with the emperor if you do that?”

“I know.”

“Good, that's my girl!”

I sighed. Being called 'my girl' by my mount...

“I'm not your girl!”

He laughed.

“Yes, you are!”

He accelerated. The landscape was flashing now by the sides, and I had to strain myself to keep onto his back, with my hands digging into his fur, trying hard not to fly away. Fuck, I need a saddle, but what an epic mount!