From No Tomorrow

Leuchtenstadt

After Elzbieta awoke, the two continued on their way, rotating between the tandem bicycle and the smaller bicycle. For whatever reason, Akyta always seemed pleased to be seated on the tandem bicycle with Klaus.

In this manner, the trio made their way across the country, taking in the gorgeous sights of river-laced farmland, nourished to a painterly sheen by the late-spring weather while smooth, buttery white clouds groomed the sky. As they rolled over cool, ice-lined creeks on ancient stone bridges, they watched the distant, blazing sunset color the world purple and red before easing it into somnolent darkness. The trio rode through the night, Akyta keeping her sharp eyes on the road ahead for unwary pedestrians.

Just as the next sunrise came to flood the sky with its firelight once again, the low, sprawling buildings of Leuchtenstadt appeared in the distance. The three, by now all driven to exhaustion, lumbered to a reputable-looking inn, which could have easily been standing in medieval times, where Klaus bought them all a room and they fell asleep in a daze.

The next morning, Klaus was the first to awaken. When he first agitated in the tiny bed that all three assassins had crowded into, he noticed Akyta's hands clamped tightly over his right shoulder. Gently, he tried to pry them away, before it occurred to him to push them up and gently slide them off.

Carefully, Klaus slipped out of bed, then stood up and stretched his tight joints. Once his muscular system was fully functional, he scratched the many itches their primitive bed had given him.

In short order, Akyta awoke and rolled slowly out of bed, followed by Elzbieta.

"What's the situation?" asked Akyta groggily.

"Nothing, Akyta," Klaus assured.

"Ugh," Akyta moaned. "Wake me when there's someone to shoot."

With that, Akyta slumped back down on the mattress.

"I always took you for a morning person," Elzbieta commented.

"Well, you were mistaken," Akyta tersely shot back. "Give me some coins. I want to go get some tea."

"We need to budget our time and money carefully, Akyta," Klaus warned. "We have something much bigger than that to plan for."

"But we have three days to do it," Elzbieta reminded, optimistically.

"So," Klaus prompted, "Our first step should be to scope out the town square."

"We're not doing anything until I get some breakfast," Akyta insisted, finally sitting up.

"Fine," Klaus gave in, handing over their money. "Here you go, Akyta."

"Where are you going, Akyta?" asked Elzbieta.

"Bakery," Akyta answered.

"Can I come?"

Akyta shrugged.

"I'll stay here and guard the weapons," Klaus volunteered.

"What weapons?" asked Akyta.

"Surely, you don't intend to go out into public armed to the teeth," Klaus doubted.

"I guess you're right," Akyta granted, unstrapping her knife belt and unclipping her rifle, then dropping her pistols and unclipping her grenades, letting them all clatter to the floor in a heap.

"I'll just bring my saber," she decided.

Shooting her an indignant look, Klaus began to collect Akyta's weapons and set them neatly in the drawer of an old oaken shelf, concealing them.