Darkling

Payment

The Nyxian's roused us at sunset and were quite pleased when Hugo and I were only sore rather than in pain. We managed to get into the air and headed north. Ashtoreth called for a rest much more regularly than the first day. She still seemed satisfied with our progress by the time we landed outside a city to find accommodations for the day.

The only thing giving them pause was their light purses.

Deimos tossed the coins in his hand to make them jingle, frowning. "This'll get us a meal." He looked at Ashtoreth. "Your jewelry?"

Ashtoreth shook her head. "Left it all with Belladonna." Deimos sighed, bobbing his head. Mithra's tail tip twitched back and forth as he searched himself for anything left to barter or sell.

"Is there..." Paisley hesitated when the Nyxian's all looked at her. "Can we help?"

Hugo nodded eagerly. "Give us an hour and we'll get what you need."

I lifted my chin, standing solidly with Paisley and Hugo. I knew Ashtoreth wasn't going to like me selling myself but if the three of us could get a patron each, we would have the money for a room for the night without a problem.

Ashtoreth gave us a half smile. "You don't need to do that. I'll find a way, don't you worry." She turned back to Deimos. "Let's start with food. We can work out lodging while we eat." Deimos led the way. Mithra and Ashtoreth attempted to stay on either side of us as we followed Deimos through the crowds, but the late afternoon had brought the nocturnal crowds out to mingle with the diurnal peoples rushing to finish up their day.

Deimos stopped in front of a food stall and turned as we all caught up with him. His eyes went wide as he stiffened. "Where's Hugo?"

Mithra whirled to look and cursed. I looked at Paisley to see if she had noticed him slip away, but her expression was just as surprised. Ashtoreth snarled, wings whipping out and down to lift her up onto the nearest roof. Getting some height to look for him.

"How did he fall behind?" Mithra hissed, nostrils flaring. Searching for a scent to follow maybe. But I doubted these crowds would make tracking by scent possible. Paisley's hand slipped into mine and I held her tight.

"Would someone have taken him?" she asked me. I could only shake my head helplessly. He was pretty, certainly. I supposed someone might have pulled him aside to flirt and he had lost us. I didn't think Lumence soldiers could have caught up to us, but it was possible.

Ashtoreth landed heavily next to us, drawing stares and curses from people she had jostled. She ignored all of them. "Mithra, keep an eye on Su'en and Paisley. Deimos, help me retrace our steps. And if I find some Lumence palace fools have touched him I'll defeather the lot of them." The two of them quickly disappeared into the throngs.

Paisley looked at Mithra, her ears and tail beginning to quiver with worry. "Shouldn't we help search?"

Mithra shook his head, eyes fixed on the crowds. "We're the fall back point. A place to regroup if they come up empty. If they don't find him, they'll come back here to make sure he didn't find us instead."

Paisley raised up on her toes, large round ears angled forward in an attempt to find Hugo. She squeaked in surprise when Mithra grasped her waist and lifted, but she managed a smile as he lifted her up onto his shoulders. Giving her a height advantage over the crowds and providing a recognizable person to work towards if Hugo saw her first. I shifted on my feet, careful to stay close to Mithra, feeling the occasional flick of his tail lashing behind us.

I watched the press of people slowly ease. The shadows disappearing as the sun rose. Paisley inhaled sharply and I followed her pointing finger. Breathing a sigh of relief, I lurched towards Hugo as soon as I saw him, forgetting I was supposed to be staying with Mithra until he caught us up and herded us out of the middle of the street.