Shadowwalker - Under Review For Now

12. Escape

"He.... what?" Amber took a step back, her expression horrified. "How could that happen?" she asked. Loveday started swaying on her feet, and Amber caught her, her arm under her shoulder for support, and plonked her unceremoniously on the bed. The innkeeper wrung her hands, knuckles turning white at the motions.

"I-I don't know. I went to give him his food, which wasn't easy at all. I'm not very good at feeding people, you know. I think that time I was a babysitter for Ragora that traumatised me, you know?" she rambled. Amber forced herself to remain patient, and nodded. "I know, Loveday. You're doing a great job. But tell me, how did he manage to get out?" she inquired.

"I'm not sure. I unlocked the door, but then he wasn't there..." A single tear silently rolled down her cheek as she spoke. "I checked if the door was locked last night, and I did not touch his bonds for one single moment. I didn't even enter the room! But when I came back just now, the scarves were neatly folded onto the chair, but for the rest? Not one single trace of him having occupied the room. It frightens- no, terrifies me, Am, that he somehow left without leaving any traces whatsoever."

Amber furrowed her brows. "But surely," she guessed, "someone must have seen something? Maybe one of the maids walking by?"
Loveday shook her head, and replied quickly, almost stumbling over her words.
"No, because they don't work night shifts unless almost all rooms are full, and there are only 4 keys in the world to that room- mine, yours, papa's, and the spare one inside the room."

Amber opened her mouth to speak, when her companion interjected: "And yes, the key was still in it's hiding place. There should have been no way for him to escape. Also," she sniffled, calming down a little, "You shouldn't frown so much. Your face might stay that way."

Amber rolled her eyes, and walked over to the window. She opened the shutters, and leaned precariously far out of the window. Her hands held firmly onto the windowsill, making sure she wouldn't accidentally fall out as she looked down the street, trying to catch a glimpse of the market street.

"I'm going out to see if I can find anything interesting. I'm not sure when I'll next return to you in person, but if I have news I'll send you a message. Whether I do so per bird, mirror, or Lodell is as of yet undecided," she told Loveday.

Who then in turn rolled her eyes before telling her: "He looks up to you, you know. You need to be more careful with how much you involve him. He's a very impressionable young thing."

"Why, Loveday! Your mother instincts seem to have developed an awful lot," Amber teased. "I remember a time when you referred to him as 'that pesky, grubby little creature that won't stop following me around' , you sure have changed your mind!"

Loveday chuckled, before retorting: "And I remember a time when you  would refer to him as 'that horrid little boy who always sticks his nose into my business!'" 

The girls laughed, and hugged, and then finally said their farewells, after which Loveday vanished into the kitchens, and Amber went outside via the backdoor, and was almost instantly submerged into the constantly growing crowd that was gathering about.

She pulled her cloak on as she was walking, and stumbled against a random stranger as she fumbled with the clasp. "Sorry," she said as she looked up.

"Amber! My dear, I've been looking all over for you!"Amber narrowed her eyes for a second, and then grinned widely as she recognised the older woman.

"Plonita! Greetings! How are you this fine Red Season day?" she said to her. Her smile faded when she saw the lady's sorrow before her. "Plonita? What's wrong?"

"Exactly. It's Red Season, the time when the most blood is spilled in summer. And my dear, dark times are upon us," Plonita told her mysteriously. "What? What's wrong?" Amber demanded. "Just tell me already!"

"It's the mysterious ship that entered the harbour. Oh, Amber, I fear for us all!"

Frustrated, she cried out: "Spit it out, woman!" 

"They're not pirates, for they terrorize the seas alone. Nor are they merchants, for they seek profit only. May the moons protect us- the Raiders have returned."