Chapter 28

And so our heroes speedily leg it back out into the streets and attempt to lose themselves in the crowd. With Toshiro still in his court kimono(s), that's harder than it sounds. Assuming that he sheds his imperial outfit, the task becomes somewhat easier, since Cael and Gwenh already look like locals.

Thirty panic-filled minutes later, they can take a rest at a kaff house, so long as Cael harangues Toshiro on the virtues of Eho every time someone comes within hearing range.

Cael will take several tense-feeling minutes, and, after sequestering the party in a room in the kaff house, will hit the bazaar for a couple changes of clothes, making sure he purchases clothes baggy enough for Toshiro to wear. Once back at the room, Cael will distribute the clothing to the others.

"We'll need to make for the desert. Travel along the gates will be difficult, since they all are guarded. Damn. We'll need some supplies, including water bottles, if we're to survive out there. Good thing we don't have the wagon anymore; it would only slow us down in the...." Cael stops, a look of horror growing on his face. "Oh, Eho above. The books. I have to go back."

Toshiro's face fell at the mention of the tomes. "Damn... I should have thought of that.... and our resident scouts have disappeared." "Cael," he said as he stood. "Heal this wound if you can- I am pretty sure I can help get the books, provided they are not guarded heavily."

Cael looks strangely at Toshiro for a moment before quietly replying. "And how do you plan on getting the books back? A wandering foreigner would quickly be noticed, and stopped here in the capital, especially since we all ran. Even dressed as a native, you run a great risk, since you have trouble with the language. Perhaps it would be best to signal the resistance somehow, let them know about the cart and its treasure. Besides, that is who the books should go to anyways."

"If that is what you feel is best. Can you signal them or should we just hope we find them..... before the guards find our cargo?"

"Unless you can sneak through the night as a shadow, I think we should leave the wagon to the resistance. The guards in the capital are usually the elite, and even our shapechanging friend outside may have trouble avoiding them if she insists on stalking around."

Cael turns to the pack which he had hastily grabbed in their run from the guardhouse. "As for signalling the resistance, I can use the candle left by our previous contac... oh." Cael's eye went wide as he realised something, then met Toshiro's stare. "Well, I hope you can move like a shadow, since the candle is with the books. We have no way of contacting the resistance, and if the guard finds the candle as well.... Let's just say that could be bad."

Hearing Cael's words and the plea they contained, Toshiro reached into his pack and pulled out a tightly rolled bundle. Meeting the young priest's eyes, he nodded and smiled; a cold gllint to his eye. "Oh yes, Cael-san," he said as the bundle urolled with a snap of the wrist, revealing a jet-black shirt and breeches. "I happen to know a good deal on being shadow-like. A touch out of practice perhaps, but much knowledge on that 'trick'..."

Cael looked askance at the black clothing Toshiro produced. "Black pajamas? Not quite what I meant, sahib." Cael's eyes narrowed as he looked around the room. While the discussion thay had been having was quiet enough, several people looked towards them when Toshiro pulled out his black clothing. As Cael looked around, most quickly looked away. You would think that, given his age, and the reputation the inscrutable reputation the Jade empire has that he would think before doing such things. Ah, too late now. "I think, Toshiro, that this conversation would best be finished somewhere quieter."

Quickly rolling up the silk garb, Toshiro repacked it. "Then let us find a place to go; time isn't waiting for us to decide what to do." Following Cael, he mentally kicked himself. Idiot! You are not eighteen years old anymore and this isn't the gauntlet... You really should have gotten rid of them along time ago, he self-scolded. If only they weren't so damn comfortable...

A search for a less public place resulted in Fatima's Rooms to Rent (Weekly, Nightly, Hourly). The hostess is more than happy to host the Outland travellers, no questions asked. The price for the private room is steep, and it takes a good deal of firm naysaying to keep Fatmia from pushing several young Ehosian women their way. "Make you feel young again!" she had leered at Toshiro. Cael was more or less immune, with his veiled "wife" in tow.

Once they were in a much less publice place, Toshiro stopped Cael and asked a question. "Ok.... that was dumb. Please forget I showed you them." Rummaging thought the pack again, Toshiro pulled out a fresh shirt of more common cloth he had had purchased when they first got to Ehosia. Pulling off his bloodied shirt, he used some water to dampen it and clean as best he could, with Caels help, whatever blood splatter was on him.

Once done, the dirty shirt went into a tight ball and was stashed. Looking at Cael, Toshiro mentally shook himself. Time to get serious, old man. This isn't the time to be inattentive.... "Cael, what are the normal routines of the guard, if you remember. I know that they might not be doing them right now but soldier tend to act in certain ways... which make them a tad perdictable. Your countrimen are a tad full of them selves and that helps us- they will return to a routine once they figure we are gone. I have seen it before... and this will work to an advantage." His mind flashes back some twenty years to the strife that had ripped apart the Empire prior to his return with the Companions. Oh yes, soldiers of a decadent goverment were predictable...