Moving Forward *Book 2 of The Death Market* (COMPLETE)

Meant To Live

Song: Meant To Live - Switchfoot

As I try to undo the ropes circling my wrist, I try my best to soothe Harlowe as she grows more frustrated and frantic with her escape attempts, her voice steadily rolling out a rant in her language. I want desperately to hold her and tell her everything is fine but I can't reach her. She looks up at me and I can see the tears trailing down her cheeks.

"He will hurt Ila. I have to save her. I cannot lose daughter, not to him."

"She's at the castle under the protection of the crow. There's no way he can get to her." I assure her.

"Was she wanting to come?"

"Yes but I had Garak watch her directly and the guards are supposed to trail her."

She gives me a look of disbelief. "Then she is in danger. You know she will leave. She is crafty child."

"Like mother like daughter." I sigh. "We aren't alone in this though, Mitsuhide is here."

"So we are basically alone." She sighs.

"You and Ila have zero faith in him." I chuckle. "We're going to get out of this and we'll track him down and get rid of him before he can even dream of getting close to her, okay?"

"I hope so..."

The door crashes open and slams shut almost immediately afterward before the lock clicks into place. I turn to find Mitsuhide slumped back against the door breathing heavily. Before we can say anything, he says that we have a problem, then looks around as if suddenly realizing he could have just run face first into danger. He then realizes we're bound and chained.

"What did I miss?"

"Free us and we will fill you in. I feel as if we missed something too? We need to hurry though, Ila is in danger."

According to Mitsuhide, after we filled him in on the situation with Iladriel's father, he found Torin's cottage but it was abandoned still. When he re-entered The Market he was attacked by cloaked figures and noticed more following behind as he ran. He managed to slip away then made his way out here. I guess there's a hit on us now so we won't be able to pursue Mihre as easily.

"Are you okay, Darling?" I ask Harlowe as I press a soft kiss to her swollen eye.

"I am fine. We must go."

"But what about the Cloaks? There's dozens of them and there's no telling if the residents are going to be after us too." Mitsuhide asks as he peeks out the window.

I leave Harlowe's side and gather my weapons from the pile on the counter.

"Two years ago we hold own against The Death Market. We have to protect Ila and Mihre will suffer." Harlowe moves across the room and pulls three bundles of fabric from a hook on the wall that turn out to be cloaks. "I have cloaks. Not much but will slow recognition." She glances over at Mitsuhide and sighs. "You still scream castle lackey."

"I can't help it I was assigned to Prince Zen." He whines. "What do you expect me to do about it?"

Harlowe disappears into the bedroom in search of anything that will make Mitsuhide less conspicuous. In the meantime I look around the cottage to see if anything can be of use to us. All I know about Mihre is his connection to them and that I want him dead. Harlowe's cut off scream from the bedroom makes me drop the leatherbound journal in my hand and Mitsuhide and I rush toward the sound, weapons at the ready.

I find Harlowe in the center of the room, shaking slightly before she shakes her head and chuckles. She apologizes for startling us and I notice the body on the floor in front of her.

"Mihre killed The Sir it seems. When I open closet, body fell. Found clothing though."

"There was a dead guy on them."

"Wear the damn clothes, Hide." I sigh.

"Fine, but I'm taking a long bath once this is over."

"You are such girl."

Harlowe, Mitsuhide, and I leave the cottage together and split into different directions. Our plan is to divide so we won't be as conspicuous especially under the cloaks and make it to the tunnel as quickly as possible. From there we may have to fight our way out but at least we shouldn't be overwhelmed. The plan is short-lived it seems. As soon as I step foot into The Market, I have four Cloaks trailing me. There's likely at least that many trailing Hide and Harlowe. They aren't attacking, which is strange if there is a hit on us. The Sir's body is only a few hours old so he was likely killed shortly before I got there. I'm not sure if Mihre announced himself as the new Sir or what but something is off. Where does their allegiance lie? I guess as long as they don't do anything to get in our way, let them follow.

A curse leaves my lips as I finally reach the exit tent and find it surrounded by at least two dozen Cloaks. None of them move to attack and the trailing ones stop a few feet behind me. Mitsuhide and Harlowe aren't here yet since we'd subtly marked our cloaks to differentiate ourselves if conflict arose. As I stare at the crowd blocking our exit, my mind tries to work through something, anything that could get us out of here as quickly as possible. I hear Harlowe move to stand beside me and she quietly tells me she'd been followed as well.

"So what now?" Hide asks from behind me.

"We leave by whatever means necessary." I answer simply.

I take a step forward and the crowd moves tighter in front of the exit.

"Move or I'll move you permanently." I growl.

"The Sir cannot leave The Death Market." The Cloak in front of me says and I arch a brow.

"None of us are the Head, so move." I insist but they don't budge.

"You are The Sir, Obi. You cannot leave."