"It was a quiet night, so far, I believe." Aeryn said, looking at his friends. "But I suggest we get on the move."

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

"Less talk," hissed Nakaida, emerging, her eyes shifting to the closed doors of the inn's other occupied rooms. "We're not alone, anyone could be listening."

She cast a glance down the stairwell. That seemed the easiest way to make a quick departure, but it was likely safer to slip out a back window.

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Aeryn followed her gaze toward the window. Aeryn nodded, and worried that the men, even though they where all about drunk, were about to awaken.

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

Just as the group's gazes were moving towards the windows, a silent figure vaulted through and landed in the room he and Khienro had previously occupied. Orindil glanced at his hands, bloodied from scaling the unforgiving bricks, before turning to the others. His relief at the fact that all of them were already awake and vigilant was short-lived.

"We must hurry," he said breathlessly. "The paladin we saw earlier is assembling a mob. I'll explain later." His gaze went from the window to the two other men. "I'll descend first. I need another of you second, followed by the ladies." He nodded at Naidele and Nakaida.

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Naidele was surprised to see Orindil vault through the window, and she was so tense anyway that she couldn't keep herself from jumping. She put her hand to her chest, trying to still her galloping heart.

"A mob?!" she groaned softly in respond to Orindil's words, but she didn't press him for more information. She could tell by his manner that it was dire that they get out of there as quickly and silently as possible. There would be time for explanations later.

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I'm back!

Nakaida's expression in the darkness was difficult to fathom, but in an instant she had moved to the window. "Quick!" she hissed, motioning. "Aeryn, you go after Orindil, Khienro can go last."

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Naidele watched Orindil climb out of the window, followed by Aeryn. She allowed Nakaida to go in front of her. She waited for her sister to get down far enough and then she turned and began climbing out of the window. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. The window wasn't that high, but it was still higher than she preferred to be. She did her best to stifle a curse as she scuffed her hand on the brick wall. She even managed to tear the hem of her dress. After what seemed like an eternity to her, she finally felt her feet hit the ground. She backed away from the wall and looked up to see that Khienro was safely making his way down. She then turned to the others. "Where do we go?" she said in a whisper.

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I'm back!

Khienro swiftly made his way down, but did manage to snag the seems of both sleeves of his shirt. Cursing, he struggled to free himself, but then stopped suddenly.

Yelling, screaming, and cursing. Mob noises.

Khienro's voice quickly spilled into a string of curses as he dropped to the ground, ripping both sleeves clean off. Great. Desparetly hoping that warmth wasn't a needed aspect of the next leg of their journey, he ran over to where Nakaida, Naidele, and Orindil stood.

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You may (or may not) know me elsewhere as Elfpen

(what about aeryn, SG? jk)

Aeryn helped Naidele and Nakaida out, but expected Khienro didn't want his help and they all meet over by Orindil. "We need to leave quickly!" Aeryn said, almost shouting because of the mob growing louder in the distance.

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

Orindil endeavored a dash for the stables. The horses balked at his abrupt intrusion, but a few suave words had them settled down enough for him to throw a saddle over his own steed's back and swiftly bridle it. After seeing his companions securely situated, he swung himself on and wheeled it around.

And not a moment too soon, for the moment they stepped out from the stables, hellish firelight flickered around the bend. It was the paladin, brandishing his greatsword and leading a mob of what seemed to be a quarter of Northkeep's citizens.

What a welcome committee. In fact...

"Time to go," Orindil muttered. Locking his knees for balance, he released the reins and produced his ash bow.

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Aeryn took out his bow too and yelled, "Drive, Orindil! I'll cover you!"

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

Khienro wordlessly tacked and mounted his horse, then stopped and smirked mishcieviously as he laid eyes on an abandoned sword. A nice abandoned sword. Nudging his horse over to it, he retreaved it from its resting place, haning on a hook, and simply threw his old one away. Drawing his 'borrowed' sword from its scabbard, he weighed it expertly and quickly. Then he replaced it, very quickly strapped it to his horses saddle, and rode over to where Naidele was.

"Get on."

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You may (or may not) know me elsewhere as Elfpen

Naidele was trying to saddle and ready her mount, but the headstrong and unruly stallion was not making the task easy for her at all. She was frantic by the time she saw the mob coming for them. They couldn't take on that many people.

She was extremely relieved when Khienro rode over to her and told her to get on. She grasped his hand and pulled herself up onto his horse behind him. She wrapped one arm around his waist and held on tightly. With her free hand, she reached into her belt and pulled out one of her daggers. She knew that it wouldn't be very effective against an angry mob, but using her powers would be a last resort. There was no way she would use her power unless there was absolutely nothing else she could do.

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I'm back!

Khienro, seeing that fighting was probably going to do no good, nudged his horse into a gallop as fast as it could muster.

"Why that cursed little demon! 'E stole me sword! Stole it right out of me own stable, 'e did!" A wiry, skinny man yelled from the midst of the mob. He had rotting teeth, and that did not improve his already disgusted, furious look.

"Oh dear..." Khienro looked back to see the mob gaining speed. He tried to coax the horse to go faster, and got a little more speed. At least, enough to propel the two beings atop it to outrun the mob.

( Oh dear. Didn't realize that was a bad word...... *editeditedit*)

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You may (or may not) know me elsewhere as Elfpen

Nakaida leapt aboard the first horse she found, which happened to be an extremely jittery bay mare, and shot out of the stable as one possessed. The mob suddenly halted as one body, apparently stopped in their tracks by some invisible barrier. Nakaida turned with a grim smile, eyes alight.

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Orindil flicked a purely irascible glare at the idiot who'd lacked the common sense to refrain from stealing. Hadn't his mother ever taught him anything?! [jesting, jesting ]

His initial relief at Nakaida's temporary thwarting of the pursuing mob was short-lived. Indeed, Orindil couldn't suppress a grimace at the enfuriated townspeople's next accusations.

"She cast witchcraft, she did!"

"Foul magic!"

The torchlight danced higher as the mob seemed to swell in fury. Still brandishing his sword, hands out before him as if to feel the air itself, the paladin shouted, "To me, good citizens of Northkeep! We shall find another way!" Galvanized by his confidence, they swarmed away to find a detour route.

Orindil crouched low over his mare's back and urged it faster, guiding it at a full gallop around the winding streets. They rounded a bend, and the city gates came full into view... as did the contingent of silver-clad city guards that preceded it. They formed a barrier and called for them to halt. On his part, he had no intention of doing so. Battle was inevitable, and he was began reaching for his bow and quiver...

His mare balked as half a dozen arrows whizzed perilously over their heads - not meant to strike. A warning. That was when he caught sight of the patrols lining the battlements, each with an arrow nocked and leveled their way.

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