The Spirits of the Universe (PJO)

Chapter 65-A Familiar Guest

Aridne and I shared a glance of concern. Then we both rushed to the entrance. "Liam!" I exclaimed. "Are you hurt?"

He was sweating and panting like he'd just run a mile. When he regained his breath, he said, "I'm fine."

I grew confused. "Then why . . ."

"Why do you look like you got jumped by a pack of hooligans?" Aridne asked directly.

Liam glared at her. "It took a lot to find you guys—do you know how many businesses are open right now? More than I thought would be. And my hair doesn't look that bad."

"Then it's about time you look in the mirror."

"Liam," I said seriously before he could retort back. "What's wrong?"

"The caravan—it's close."

Immediately, chills ran down my spine. I thought I could have a night off from this. But now, I started wondering how many of the drunk people in the pub were actually fully sober—and were Niyomina's people sent here to take us out. 

It could've been anyone—any of the men or women on the dance floor or at the bar. Or maybe those muscular men in the corner, smoking with no care in the world. Or even the dude that Liam had taken out with the door—he could be feigning being out cold, and could be eavesdropping on our conversation right now.

Said man mumbled dreamily, "I'm a Chaos soldier . . . Woah—a fixed wage? I'm definitely not going to spend that on drinks . . ."

Who's he kidding? End said, taking insult. My sister wouldn't sully her army's reputation with a pot-bellied skunk breath like you.

Okay, maybe not that guy for the special Niyomina task force. But you get my point.

At least Aridne did. Her gaze turned steely as she realized that our location right now was a perfect place for an ambush. "We need to get out of here. Prepare for a fight."

"Woah, woah, woah," Liam said holding his hands out, palms open to enunciate. "The caravan isn't in town. We're safe from any ambushes."

We looked at him, puzzled. "You just said it was," I said. 

"I said it was close. I didn't see it myself. But I saw Niyomina."

My blood ran cold. "Where?"

"Before that, let's move away from the entrance to somewhere more comfortable," Aridne said, then led us back to the bar. 

Liam shifted awkwardly as he followed, as if he knew we wouldn't believe what he'd say next. "You know that inn that's close to the town square?"

"You're telling me that Niyomina, the leader of a super secret escort mission, is leaving her caravan during the hours that it's most likely to be attacked?" I asked doubtfully. "Any captain worth their salt knows that it's a recipe for disaster."

"I'm telling you the truth!" Liam protested. "I couldn't sleep tonight because I had a bad feeling in my stomach—and my instincts never lie. So I decided to go on a walk, and case the town. Everything was normal, until I saw a cloaked figure on the opposite sidewalk who looked really suspicious. So then I hid in an alley, but I swear the figure still somehow locked eyes with me. Then she slipped into the inn."

"So . . . you're telling me that her eyes petrified you—and for that fact alone you think it's Niyomina?"

"I'm not scared of her," Liam said defensively. "It just seemed like . . . she had extremely heightened senses. Besides, she was wearing the same exact clothing you described her in."