The sun broke into the morning and the companions left out of the inn with having done their breakfast. The roads were calmer for the streets were much less crowded at the hour, only a few merchants and shopkeepers seemed to be up, while the continuous motion of the wheel-sound never seemed to seize.
Luth walked restlessly, due to the lack of sleep last night, stumbling sometimes on each bump on the road. Shari helped him get back to his energetic mood, but the tire never seemed to go out.
After some minutes, they reached ahead of a gigantic wall in the edge of the city, with a coarse wall made of bricks and red soil—an abundant of the city. In the center was a large gate, enough for carrying huge vehicles out of it, even though nothing of that magnitude came through. The Providence Gate barely had its old, wooden doors closed, such was the plentitude of carriages and supplies that went through it, to the Central Providence, Atsura.
Luth had never seen a structure this enormous, for it was natural. Anyone who had the pleasure of being in Floria for the first time shared the same experience, Luth did too and touched the rough wall, his fingered scraping against the material. It felt worn, but at the same time had immaculate firmness, and it was clear that it had been standing there for a very long time; centuries even, as Shari had told him.
At the border of the Gate, there stood a dozen knights, with stern faces, peering unto the carriages and merchants, who each lined up and, with some inspection, entered Atsura. There was a silent dispute going between another merchant and a knight at the other end of the gate, but became mostly ignored by the rest; the other knights, busy with their duty and Shari not annoyed enough to join them.
A chariot came into the view, and almost all of them halted in their motion, with the knights bowing as their duty is in front of the man who sat atop it. They quickly moved to stand parallel, and lowered their head in humility. The figure sat there, and both—the driver and the one who sat behind him—were carrying authority upon their presence.
This man, the one sat back, Shari recognized to be the Tribunal Member, Cassovin Wilworth. He leaned back into his chair, and saw Shari, who stood in front of the carriage in recognition, and Luth who sat also came up to join his friend.
Cassovin stared them both down, then motioned them closer. "What are you doing here?" he asked as they walk, recognizing them as knights not a part of the guarding ones.
"We were sent by Sir Armon, my lord." Shari replied quickly, almost sounding urgent if he could not hold of his own. "He ordered us to ensure your safety while you are here."
"Sir Armon sent you, to ensure my safety?" he said, the wrinkles on his face becoming bolder as he repeated their words, "I believe that I did mention I was here for confidential reasons. Why would I ever want two skill-less knights to accompany me in my tasks? Scatter away, I do not need the safety."
Shari hesitated for a moment, unsure if he should defy the orders of a Member. "I am afraid that cannot happen at the time. We have received command from the commander and unless he defuses that we are obliged to stay."
In an instant, Cassovin's scrunched, just in the slightest but noticeable enough; after some time of contemplative thinking, he came to his decision finally. "Alright, I understand that. I would not wish him to revoke it for the time being. The earth swallow that man. Follow me if you must, but do not ask a single question to me." he said and as they both stepped out of the carriage, motioned the carriage to move off.
Shari and Luth got themselves on their horses, reining them, they followed the carriage, a meter ahead of the chariot as they moved.
The ride was silent and in an hour, the chariot and the two knights were out of Floria, within the neighboring city, Vela. All rode in silence, unsure as to if they should talk and potentially annoy the Tribunal Member more than he was in the beginning. Luth surveyed closed, as they walked over the rimy plane. Looking at the surroundings in curiosity and cation as such was his duty and mind.
They maintained this longer, until the chariot halted in front of a large, aristocratic building with an emblem on he entrance gate, indicating this was a place of business. There was a large shield engraved with the picture of a winged serpent, swallowing a sword whole, within the borders, letters carved in a language that Luth recognized as Runic Velora, the oldest language as known in the Lore.
He could not understand it, not in the slightest. It was not a common tongue, barely, and was only spoken by the elite scholars across the land who take interest in history of deities.
Cassovin stood up and so did his driver. "Do not follow me," he commanded plainly, "there is enough security inside the building already. There is no need for lower knights to concern themselves with such matters of business that I have."
Both nodded quickly and then got off their horses, in the distance, the Member and his driver disappeared.
Shari slammed his fist lightly against his forehead. "That man is so condescending." he spoke, looking at Luth.
Luth who stood looking at the emblem, shrugged and looked back at Shari, "That is the nature of nobility. Besides, we are the ones who are here in his covert business. If I had such authority, I would be annoyed as well."
"Perhaps," Shari retorted, but spoke no more.
Luth watched the surrounding, people were coming out and many gathered to shop at the marketplace, a horse-cart, with two vendors on top of it came to their own stalls and readied their own stall.
Behind them, he caught two figures who stood there, deep in the crowd, staring at them. Luth observed carefully, his hand wandering to his own sword. There was not something right, their dark cloak was not seemingly strange, but they themselves emitted a strangeness and the way they stared at them could not be dismissed.
"We have enemies." said Luth, quietly, so that it would only be heard by Shari; who after the statement, followed his gaze towards he crowd.
"Where?" asked Shari, his caution growing and he leaned back on his legs.
"In the crowd. do not know whom; but we must find them."
"Lead towards them." said Shari.
Shari and Luth both headed inside the crowd, and he noticed the cloaked figures in the distance, who had now turned towards the stall, looking through the fruits in one of the basket.
With some intent force, he informed Shari and went forward to confront the men himself. His hand reached for one of their shoulder, and he sunk his fingers into the cloth; but felt nothing. The figures were gone, he quickly turned right to see them walking out of the marketplace with a jute bag in heir hands.
Suspicion was now completely confirmed, they were not typical men from how it seemed. They were definitely luring them and as much he did not want to follow them, he did not desire in the least to cause a scene in a crowded place like this, for that reason, he did not call to them.
Finally, he made up his mind. There was no other choice, they could not just leave them be, lest they risk the any consequences. Thus, he decided to play this game, and stepped their way.
Shari understood and also came after him.
"This is not going to be pleasant, is it?" muttered Shari.
Luth nodded and walked forward. After a few moments, they came to the further end of the city; there they were in front of a small forest. He saw them walking apart, both heading to a different part in the forest, there, they separated from their way. Luth and Shari had no choice but to split along them.
"Take care." said Luth, before departing.
After a few moments, the first man walked to the further part of the forest and came into an opening, where he stopped his legs and turned around to meet the sight of Luth.
"I did not expect you to see us at all." he said, drawing back his cloak.
Luth studied his face, his brown eyes, like the bark of an older tree, and a face of an younger person. "Who are you and your partner?"
"We?" he said with an intense smile, "We are assassins."
Luth drew his sword, he knew that there was nothing else he can do now.
"Are you after Cassovin's life?"
"Oh yes," he said, "we had not expected any troubles, but you spotted us in the dense crowd unfortunately. I was impressed first, but that now makes both of you a problem for us." he removed a small dagger from his pocket and then locked eyes with Luth, "I would have to add your name to the dead."