‘𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦!’
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The innkeeper moved desperately with just that one thought in mind, not allowing himself any distractions. He took out some oil, lit a fire, and made a torch, which he handed to Johan.
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“Carry this and follow me!”
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“Yes!”
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Johan went out armed only with his weapon, not wearing his armor. There was no time to don all his equipment in such a situation.
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“What’s going on?”
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“What’s happening?”
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The other mercenaries who had been sleeping upstairs were also awakened by the commotion and came down. Those who had drunk a lot were still lying down, while those who had drunk less staggered around trying to understand the situation.
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Johan didn’t respond. Explanations could wait.
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“If I can’t catch your gang, your hands and feet will be cut off. Let’s go!”
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🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
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Gamson was about to make the sharpest decision of his life.
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“. . .Damn, something feels off.”
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It could have been instinct, or fear of Johan. Either way, Gamson’s body was screaming.
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I need to run away right now!
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“What’s up now?”
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“Burren is really good at this sort of thing.”
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While the remaining two chattered, Gamson crept closer to eavesdrop. He thought he heard something. A loud, thumping noise.
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“Damn! Good at what. . .! I’m an *sshole for trusting these country bumpkins!”
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Feeling goosebumps all over, Gamson ran to where the horses were tied and untied them. Frightened by his actions, Pra and Pell asked,
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“What are you doing?”
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“We agreed to wait for Burren!”
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“You guys wait, *ssholes! There was a noise! If the job was done properly, why would there be a noise!”
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As Gamson shouted in terror, the fear spread to the other two. Despite their trust in Burren, they couldn’t ignore Gamson’s words.
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“If you want to live, untie the remaining horses and bring them out!”
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“But. . . if we take them, what about Burren. . .”
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“Burren’s done for! Figure it out yourself *ssholes! I’m getting out of here!”
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There was no reason for Gamson to wait for someone he’d just met. He immediately mounted a horse. Pra, being the smarter of the two, quickly followed suit behind Gamson.
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“Pell! I’ll leave one horse for Burren, so if he shows up, ride out together!”
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“Uh, uh? O-Okay!”
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Pra admired his own cunning. He was running away first, but if Burren showed up, he had an excuse.
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‘𝘋𝘢𝘮𝘯 𝘪𝘵. . .’
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As Pra slowed down the horse by getting on, Gamson cursed inwardly.
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He wanted to leave Pra behind, but starting a fight here and now would be a bad idea. If he got entangled with Pra and Pell, that knight dastard would catch up.
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‘𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘴!’
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Stealing horses from Eldans or another part of the town felt too risky, but now he regretted not taking that risk.
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Now they had to escape on a horse together with the knight dastard on their heels. . .
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‘𝘐𝘵’𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘢━. . .’
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“!!!”
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Gamson saw it clearly. The light shining through the gaps of the inn in the darkness.
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We’ve been spotted!
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“Damn it!! Run! Run, you *ssholes! The knight dastard is chasing us!”
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Gamson was so terrified that he forgot to lower his voice. He used to curse when Johan wasn’t around, but now the mere sound of a door opening in the distance was enough to scare him senseless.
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𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫━
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Gamson and Pra left first, with Fell scrambling onto the horse belatedly. Burren didn’t show up, but he had long been forgotten by the three.
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“Run! Run!!”
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𝐍𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡!
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Lucky for them, Pell was the best horse rider among them and familiar with the geography of the area. Although he started late, it was fortunate that he sped ahead, allowing them to follow without stumbling in the dark.
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The three thieves desperately ran towards the town entrance. Once past it, the night’s darkness would protect them.