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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."354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzL891fr1s0
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"And you know this person we're going to find?"354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsg2Bb9xho7
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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."354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XnwUphRjy
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"And what part of hunting Calligriphics requires a bodyguard?"354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FW0qESCHi
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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."354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHQxNi751n
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"You make it sound pretty suspicious." Kage frowned.354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkQgwAXPeN
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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.354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBIfb8yZiV
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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.354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnNo2Kd08Q
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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.354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFg0cABwjU
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"Follow the crowd?" Shole suggested.354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWbunymMdv
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"Merchant ship maybe."354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVMonqY7ox
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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. 354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZn2Tv3DPhE
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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.354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxJWrmstNJ
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Some money exchanged hands and they proceeded to board with their animals.354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKAJw8ubFX
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"Easy as that?" Shole said.354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8PLZ9ko7o
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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.354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUWoyncLNW
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The sight made her more nervous than she would admit, even in her own mind.354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3o83hFrpc
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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.354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnUkmtr29f
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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.354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkv1zxaU6U9
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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.354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORnCxMiGN7
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His eyes met Artlem's. "That makes seven."354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6hDd8Q8tX
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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.354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBRqPUSHz8
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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
