As Lovell squatted on the edge of a flowerbed munching on an apple, she had already spotted no fewer than five suspicious stall owners.
One guy was "grilling" skewers without a single piece of charcoal, standing right next to a line of genuine vendors as if he were terrified people wouldn't realize he was a fraud.
Then there was the guy who had snatched a fish from the stall next door and was pretending he’d brought it in himself. He held his knife but didn't move an inch, his eyes darting everywhere else. Those gills were already turning white—
And then there was the jewelry stall right in front of her. Sure, there was plenty of jewelry, but every single pendant was facing the owner. Was he afraid a customer might actually see one and buy it? Who would even look...
She glanced sideways at Joshua. He was staring blankly at the jewelry stall, holding a necklace with a blue bead pendant to examine it, while his other hand subconsciously rubbed the pendant resting against his chest.
Joshua! You dummy! Stop mooning over Little Mari!
Lovell clicked her tongue, tossed the apple core into the flowerbed, and casually plucked a leaf to wipe her hands.
She hopped down from the flowerbed, walked over to Joshua’s side, and picked out a necklace at random while continuing to scan their surroundings.
Actually, this necklace is pretty nice. Might suit Little Mari well.
“Hey, boss, how much for this one?”
“Three silver, twenty-five copper.”
“That’s so expensive, you clearly don't want to sell it!”
“Buy it or don't, just stop bothering me... Hmm?”
The stall owner’s gaze locked onto Lovell. He sized her up, squinted, and then quickly averted his eyes toward the corner of the street.
“Not selling, not selling. I'm closing up. Get going.”
“Hey, you—”
Not selling, huh? Fine.
Lovell gave the still-distracted Joshua a sharp nudge with her elbow, slipped the necklace into her belt pouch, and leaned into his ear.
“We’re being watched.”
In the next instant, Joshua’s hand, which had returned to the vicinity of his sword hilt at some point, clamped down on the weapon.
Lovell smacked him on the back.
“Dummy!” she hissed under her breath. “You’re going to scare them all away!”
Joshua’s hand loosened its grip, but his entire body remained tense. Lovell rolled her eyes and hooked her arm through his, dragging him away from the jewelry stall.
“Smile,” Lovell said, her canine teeth peeking out. “Right now, you’re an unlucky guy out shopping with his girlfriend, not someone looking to cut people down.”
Joshua’s mouth twitched, forcing a smile that looked more painful than crying.
“Forget it, just don't smile.” She snatched two dates from a nearby stall, tossed one into her mouth, and chewed, her cheeks puffing out. Speaking muffledly, she added, “With the way you looked just now, you might as well have been carrying a sign that said ‘I’m here to fight.’”
“How many?”
“At least five in the open.” Lovell tilted her head to spit out the date pit, gesturing toward the jewelry stall owner who was following them. “Our dear jeweler is one of them.”
Joshua looked at her.
“When did you notice?”
“While you were stroking that necklace and thinking about Little Mari.”
Joshua’s ears turned red.
He’s a lost cause.
Lovell sighed and stopped teasing him. Her gaze drifted over the crowd, settling on the sign of a tailor shop at the street corner as her thoughts raced.
Were these people targeting Joshua, or her?
“So, what now?” Joshua’s voice sounded beside her. “Do we lose them?”
“Half and half.” Lovell pulled Joshua into an alleyway, reached out to strip off his light coat, and tied it around his waist. As they passed a second-hand shop upon exiting the alley, she grabbed an old felt hat and plopped it onto his head, tossing two copper coins onto the counter.
“If we lose all of them, they’ll know we’ve caught on.” Lovell deliberately created some distance between herself and Joshua. “Let a few follow us and see what they want. Stay behind me and don't make a move unless I call for you.”
Joshua nodded.
These spotters were definitely amateurish—or perhaps their target was only her. Either way, looking at the reflection in a bronze jar on a nearby stall, Lovell could see that the eyes of those following were locked solely on her.
At the end of the alley was an even busier street. Fabric and clothing shops lined the way one after another. The sea breeze made the colorful fabrics hanging on the outdoor racks flap loudly. The two of them ducked inside, weaving through the racks as red and black hair flickered behind the waving cloth.
From the back, Joshua’s vision was briefly blocked by a piece of silk. He brushed it aside, just in time to see Lovell squatting in front of a used book stall. She picked up a book, flipped through two pages, and then put it back down.
“You can read that?” Joshua looked at her, confused.
“Nope,” Lovell said matter-of-factly. “But Little Mari said squatting down to flip through books makes you look more cultured.”
“...What else has she taught you?”
“Plenty.” Lovell stood up and brushed the dust off her hands, glancing behind her. The jewelry stall owner and two men in gray robes were standing behind a fabric rack, pretending to pick out colors while clutching three rolls of gray cloth.
Lovell nearly couldn't suppress her laughter.
She led Joshua into another alley, this one even narrower, the walls nearly brushing their shoulders. Wet fishing nets hanging overhead dripped constantly, and the light was dim, but Lovell walked without hesitation.
“You’re very familiar with the roads here.”
“I grew up here,” Lovell said, her pace never faltering. “There isn't an alley in this city I don't know. Back when I used to ste—take things, the Patrol Knights would chase me. I’d just loop through these alleys until they were the ones who got lost.”
At the end of the alley was a half-open wooden door. Lovell pushed it open to reveal a tiny courtyard enclosed by low walls covered in withered vines. The courtyard contained nothing but a well and a few broken bricks. She closed the door and leaned against it, letting out a breath.
“This used to be one of my master’s hideouts. It's safer than other places.”
Joshua stood in the center of the courtyard, his finger tapping rhythmically against his sword hilt. Outside the low walls were two parallel alleys; footsteps approached from both sides and stopped just outside the walls.
“They’ve followed us,” he whispered.
“Yeah.” Lovell squatted on the edge of the well, pulled the necklace from her belt pouch, and examined it against the sunlight. The forget-me-not pendant shimmered with a pale blue enamel sheen, and the diamond chips at the flower's center reflected tiny sparks of light.
“...Joshua, what do you think Little Mari is doing right now?”
Joshua glanced back at her. She was squatted on the well’s edge, hands resting on her knees, several strands of red hair fluttering in the wind. Her usual playful expression had vanished, her amber eyes fixed on the broken bricks on the ground, lost in thought.
“She’s at the tavern.”
“Yeah.” Lovell looked down, stowing the pendant away. “Do you think she’d really use herself as bait?”
Joshua let out a long sigh.
“Alright, let’s stay here for a bit and wait for those tails to leave on their own.” She hopped down and patted Joshua on the shoulder. “Don't be so tense. Between her and the President, they’re sharper than the five of us combined.”
“You aren't worried?” Joshua turned his head to look at her.
“I am.” Lovell crossed her arms and leaned against the low wall. “But I promised her I’d show you around Arlan properly. She said she’d tell me everything once she got back.”
“So, she’s definitely coming back.”
Joshua looked at the smile on her face, fell silent for a moment, and then nodded.
The footsteps outside the courtyard stopped. After a while, the sound of footsteps receding came from both directions.
Lovell waited until the sound had completely vanished before pushing the door open and peeking out both ways.
“They’re gone.” She waved Joshua over. “Let’s head toward the harbor. There are more people there, it’ll be livelier. We’ll wander for another two hours.”
Joshua followed her out of the courtyard. They made their way back through the narrow alleys. By the time they returned to the main street, the afternoon sun was spilling from the west, bathing the entire street in a warm glow. Lovell walked ahead, her red ponytail swaying as her step regained its usual lightness.
“Say,” she suddenly turned back. “Do you think Little Mari will like that necklace?”
Joshua blinked.
“The one I just took.” Lovell pulled the necklace from her pouch and dangled it. “I think it’s pretty, but I don't know if she’ll like it.”
Joshua looked at the pendant in her hand, then subconsciously touched the one at his own chest.
“She doesn't like things that are too flashy,” he said.
“Is that so?” Lovell tilted her head and pulled the necklace back. “Then what kind do you think she likes?”
“Simple ones,” Joshua answered quickly. “The colors shouldn't be too bright, and the stones shouldn't be too big.”
“My, my, you sure have observed her closely.”
Joshua’s face flushed instantly. He quickened his pace, leaving Lovell behind laughing so hard she could barely stand straight. When she finally caught up, she casually bought two skewers of grilled fish and handed one to him.
“I’ll stop teasing you.” She took a bite of the fish. “There’s an Old Shipyard near the harbor. Let’s find an artist to draw a couple of portraits. Little Mari said she needed them for her maps.”
Joshua took the skewer and bit into it.
As the two walked along the main street toward the harbor, several men in gray robes poked their heads out from the shadows of an alleyway behind them, following at a distance.
Lovell finished her grilled fish in a few bites, tossed the stick aside, and glanced back out of the corner of her eye.
Follow us then. Follow closely. As for whatever is happening on Little Mari’s side... don't even think about interfering.
Rate on N.U.
