Lina didn't stop running, even when her lungs burned and her legs screamed. The dim glow of the inn's lightss came into view through the dark streets, and she stumbled toward it like a lost child finding home.
Joren happened to be outside at that moment, having just welcomed some guests. The moment he saw her, however, his eyes narrowed.
"Lina? What in the hells-" Before he could finish his sentence, he moved to receive her as she fell to the ground.
She collapsed to her knees, gulping air as she tried to speak. "Uncle- I- I saw him. He caught me. He knew I was following him!"
Joren's face froze as he listened. "He what?"
"He- he asked about you, and Lady Elara- I tried to explain, but Sylvi appeared and then-" She shook her head, trembling. "Then a guard came and I panicked and-"
Joren dragged a hand across his face, turning away. "By the lords, Lina…" He stopped halfway, pulling his forehead, 'why did I even send her?!'
His jaw flexed, eyes darting toward the street as if expecting Elara's carriage to turn the corner that very moment. "Do you have any idea what this could mean? If she learns of this-" He stopped himself, lowering his voice. "We can't risk it."
He took a moment, steadying his thoughts. 'If Keane speaks to her… there's also her, she saw… damn it all, the timing couldn't be worse. She's even more dangerous.' He said in his mind, referring to Sylvi.
Turning back to Lina, his tone was brisk. "Go inside. Gather your things. All of them."
She blinked. "Uncle?"
"Now, Lina."
Something in his tone made her obey without another word. She rushed inside, and Joren stood there under the lights at the dimmer side of it, his mind racing.
'If Elara connects the dots…' He swallowed hard. 'No, I have to fix it.'
Minutes later, Lina returned clutching a small satchel. Her eyes were red, though she tried to hide it. Joren nodded to a man waiting near the stable, one of his trusted hands. He has spoken to him and they waited for Lina to return.
"Take her. East road. Don't stop till dawn. She stays with the old widow at Redbrook."
The man nodded silently, helping Lina onto the horse. She glanced back once, lips trembling, but Joren had already turned away.
The sound of hooves faded into the night as they rode away.
At that same time, unseen from the shadow of a neighboring building, Sylvi watched with her usual detached eyes. As she watched the horse disappear into the dark, the faint shimmer of her form disappeared, as though she was never there.
Mere moments later, as if on cue, the creak of wheels broke the silence as a familiar wagon rolled into view.
Elara stepped down gracefully, her presence composed as ever, her eyes meeting Joren who appeared to have been on his way into the building.
"Joren," she greeted, arching a brow. "You look troubled."
He forced a chuckle. "Troubled? No, no, just the night air and the day's stress."
Her eyes lingered on him for a heartbeat longer than necessary, reading the slight tension in his shoulders, the too-easy smile, though it was customary for him.
'You're not hiding something again, are you?' she thought, but decided against prying. She was tired.
"Well then," she said, brushing past. "We'll talk business tomorrow."
She'd just started toward the door when another figure emerged from the dim street.
He looked calm - too calm - as he approached, his light baggy clothes fluttering lightly in the night wind. "You two seem busy," he said.
On hearing his voice, Joren's heart skipped. "Ah, Keane! There you are. I was just about to- about to call it a night."
Elara paused, glancing between them. Joren's sudden change of tone made her brow rise slightly, but she said nothing.
"Went out for a walk, Kaene?" Elara asked in a light tone.
"Something like that."
"I see. I'll leave you two to your chat," she said evenly, before continuing into the inn.
Joren exhaled through his nose, tension tightening every of his muscle covered by fat, even if a little. He forced another laugh, clapping Keane lightly on the shoulder, even though he had to stretch his hand farther than he would on others, since Keane had quite the height on him. "Quite the night, eh? I hear you've been exploring the city. Fine place, Valewind - lively, dangerous, a bit of both-"
Keane didn't respond immediately. His eyes were half-lidded, unreadable, but the faint curve of his lips wasn't a smile.
"Cut the crap," Keane said quietly. "You're sweating through your shirt. So why don't you tell me what your deal really is?"
At that very moment, the air seemed to shift. The easy tone in Joren's voice faltered, words dying in his throat. For a moment, neither moved - the silence hanging like a blade between them.
Then Joren sighed, the pretense slipping from his face. A moment of fear gave way to something else as his eyes darkened.
"I suppose," he said softly, "we could go straight to the point."
He looked around once, making sure no one was near. "Fine…"