The Bounty Hunter

Chapter Six

Chapter Six

The sun’s rays were cheated of their job the next day, alighting hopefully on Safita’s already wakeful form, her foot tapping against the ground relentlessly while she waited for Finred to finish packing his things. She was not a naturally patient person and whatever remnant might have remained from her previous life had been stamped out by life as one of the top bounty hunters. The sun had already risen a way above the horizon before they left, after erasing any sign of their stay there the night before, and Safita was eager for them to be on their way.

“How did you come to be so successful then?” Finred asked curiously as they crouched at the side of the road, only slightly sheltered by the sparse shrubs.

“Now is not the time to ask questions,” she replied, her eyes constantly scanning the road for a break in which they might sprint through the traffic, “but maybe if you’re lucky you can have a story before you go to bed.” Finred barely had a chance to process these words before Safita sprinted across the uneven cobbles, taking advantage of the gap in the bustle to blend in with everyone else, weaving in and out of the rumbling carts, dodging the hooves of the horses and the baskets of the walking peasants, her hand firmly clamped on his wrist.

“Was that really necessary?” he exclaimed when they slowed down and approached the gates of the city.

“Oh yes; if anyone knows we came through the forest we’ll be arrested for sure,” she muttered quietly as they filed through the first gate, joining the long line of people waiting to be let into Erheim.

“What are we waiting for?” Finred asked as they came to a halt. “It looks like they’re waiting to have their identities checked.”

“That they are,” she answered distractedly, craning her head round as if looking for someone. “Erheim is right on the border so they’re very strict about who they let in; after all, we wouldn’t want any bounty hunters or scum like that getting in here, would we?”

“But then we’ll be found out Spider,” Finred muttered.

“Not if I can help it,” Safita said as a guard walked over to them, his chainmail glinting in the sunlight under his rich navy tunic.

“Greetings,” he said, “how may I help you?”

“We are looking for the prince today Rytal; I heard he paid you a visit,” Safita replied, despite Finred’s panicked glances her way and his incessant tugging on her sleeve.

“I’m not sure if I’m the one to answer your question,” he said, turning away.

“Rytal!” Safita cried, eliciting a number of alarmed glances from people nearby.

“Follow me,” he said, leading them through the crowd, a sly grin on his face.

“Don’t scare me like that Rytal,” Safita scolded as they passed everyone waiting to be let in and walked into the city.

“You know the rules S,” he said quietly. “Don’t start fights, don’t kill inside the town walls, don’t make a scene and don’t get caught.”

“When do I ever do any of that?” she asked with a smirk and a teasing tone of voice.

“Well-” he began.

“Apart from when Ultuc’s in town,” she interrupted quickly. “Trust me, I won’t get caught. It’s not in my interests either Rytal; I quite like my head on my shoulders.”

“Good luck,” he said as he walked away. “You know where to go if you need to stay for longer than you’re expecting.”

The faint sunlight was prevented from reaching the street below by the tall, crooked houses which lined each street like wonky teeth, reaching up into the sky since they couldn’t spread outwards; below them people threaded through the narrow streets, winding their way through the stalls which were set up sporadically along every single one, from the main street to the smallest back alley. The streets were barely wide enough to fit them in, their girth obstructing the constant flow of people and forcing them to squash against the very walls of the house opposite as they tried to sneak past. As they neared the centre of the town the streets opened out and they exchanged the perpetual twilight for something akin to daylight as Safita sat down by an old fountain.