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"How many people do you need for this quest of yours?" Kage asked, walking next to Shole as Artlem led the way through the city.
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The three of them had departed the inn early in the morning, the sun had yet to show over the walls giving the streets an unnaturally dark appearance. Artlem had grudgingly agreed to walk since Kage didn't have a horse, so their animals which, as Kage saw them up close, were both impressive animals, walked along beside them.
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"Well, difficult to say. Different people, different talents." Shole replied vaguely. "But likely no more than two others."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVgPCRBVmI
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"And you know this person we're going to find?"353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0LSi2N7Bp
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"Well, not know per say, but we do know of him. He's a fairly well-known mercenary, and he's a flint dragon, so he should be fairly easy to recognize."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0XqnMA1Qj
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"And what part of hunting Calligriphics requires a bodyguard?"353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhurSFqA3V
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Shole had to pause for a minute before answering. "Well, how to say this." He met her eyes. "That's not the only thing, well, put it this way. We need the Calligriphics for a reason. Bard is here to help with that purpose. But it's not something you should have to worry about, unless something changes later."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxQLUIY5PG
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"You make it sound pretty suspicious." Kage frowned.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWvlRVlD8p
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Shole chuckled. "I guess so. Sorry about that. But I promise there's a good reason."
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As if I could trust that. She was already regretting her agreement. Well, if worse came to worse she could still run, but for now she was just going to have to keep her eyes and ears open.
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"Hey, you two! Hurry it up!"
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Artlem waved them forward as the final gates of outer layer opened ahead.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAb1iBZm9Q
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Kage gazed around at the area before her, a bright and stark change from the city. As the wall ended, a gigantic boardwalk extended outwards and around the walls of the city to her left and right. Docks of all sizes stretched out over the water, with ships of all shapes to match.
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This area of the city already bustled with sailors and fishermen, as well as a few travelers like themselves.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoYlM3BkOl
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"We're a bit ahead of schedule, but we still shouldn't have any trouble finding a place on a ship." Artlem thought aloud.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMt3yyjiyxC
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"Follow the crowd?" Shole suggested.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgk3ju5tjB
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"Merchant ship maybe."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRDb71N5bW
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"They'd be out of here earlier than the rest." Shole pointed to a couple of brightly-robed merchants struggling to get their mules to follow. "Shall we follow them? We'll probably end up in the right direction."
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Kage's eyes flicked in every direction as they crossed the docks, avoiding workers and animals carrying crates various forms of luggage. 353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTPdnbfDVx
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They came to a halt as Artlem held up his hand from the front. Kage peered around Shole's back to see that those merchants they'd been following had come to a halt in near a ship, and were speaking with a man at the foot of the gangplank.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3pV51ijI5
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Some money exchanged hands and they proceeded to board with their animals.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bF4l2Dfkf
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"Easy as that?" Shole said.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnQgAQXQR9
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"Easy as that." Artlem confirmed.
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Artlem and Shole stepped forward towards the man, but Kage hung back a little longer, eyeing over the ship. The ship itself was a small thing, but sturdy looking. Two masts towered above the deck where the crew and passengers muddled together, trying to get around the others.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXeysNq4Gj
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The sight made her more nervous than she would admit, even in her own mind.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94aN4VeeGA
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After all, she'd never been on a ship before, at least physically.
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"Kage! You done spacing out yet?" Artlem called, impatiently waving her over.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdbWTHQ7hW
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"What a ripoff." He muttered as they started up the gangplank.
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In that moment, Kage's eyes caught a shadow swooping down from above.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnKvKyJ2d6
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Artlem saw it too, holding out his right arm in what Kage saw as a reflexive reaction, but quickly understood as a bird smoothly landed on Artlem's outstretched arm. It was unlike anything she had ever seen, thought that was somewhat to be expected. It's plumage went from jet black near the head, to brown, to red on the tips of its wings. Artlem's eyes briefly met Shole's before he deftly removed a strip of paper from the cannister on its leg.
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His expression darkened as he read it, and he passed it to Shole. Kage couldn't see his faced, but judged that his expression was much the same as Artlem's.
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"Two more." Shole read around. He read something else, but didn't say it out loud.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOuiuI6kOU
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His eyes met Artlem's. "That makes seven."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwgDTaJ1UG
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Artlem turned without another word, and ascended the rest of the gangplank, bird still perched on his arm.
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Shole looked back at Kage, and smiled through a concerned expression before following him.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxU6gF9ucD
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"So I guess this is the part they're not explaining to me." She thought.
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Whatever it was, it didn't sound good
