The road between plowed fields started to get busier. At first, they saw a couple of people carrying bundles of vegetables on their backs. Later came carriages and, later more people. Men, women, and children were everywhere. Some made haste and looked busy, some just walked around admiring nature, and some were drinking beer in fields on breaks, but everyone looked at these two with bulging eyes or tried to sneak a discreet peak and whisper among themselves.

Kiyeri sighed, „We‘re inviting trouble...“

This kind of behavior by commoners was understandable. Ashiya had an elegant face, long black hair sparkling in the sun, proud posture, and calculated steps. It was evident he came from a good household, possibly a rich lord. But now that face was dirty and tired, hair messy and that posture wrapped in old torn and patched clothes, looking like they were worn by three generations and handed down from father to son. On top of that, on his wais, Ashiya had gold enbrodined Shamshir sword. Sheth buttoned with jewels. How can anyone react to this man in any other way? Random commoner had never even seen this kind of treasure in their whole life.

Next to that show-off, Kiyeri looks a little bit more decent to these surroundings, but not much. More fit, than elegant, he still carries a long reddish ponytail and a white well-kept face. Kiyeris weapons were always hidden, it was part of the job actually – a habit he kept. Like being able to adjust his „aura“ to fit in anywhere and not be discovered. He grew up in a common household, so it‘s not that hard.

At the end of the busy road, they finally reached Leyla town. This broad territory was surrounded by a fence of grown men's height made of logs. In front of them were big gates, that could fit three carriages at once. These gates were open to masses of people walking in and out. It was evident this town lived a good life, not like in many towns of the Kingdom. Many were carrying little piglets or ducks to sell, not mutch beggars sat on the streets and no steeling bandit children were present.

Kiyeri pulled Ashiya's sleeve, „Let‘s stop here to rest and eat“.

Hearing these words Ashiya went wild with joy. Kiyeri thought he would see tears of happiness soon. They found the biggest inn, full of people, and sat down next to the farthest table in the corner. Ashiya tried to order a white whine and quail bird stewed with tomatoes. Waitter looked lost with words, having nothing to say, and stared intently at him, before looking back to his colleague. „Did you hear what this psycho ordered?“ was practically written on his face.

Kiyeri buried his face down into his palms, „You never give up, do you?“

„It‘s worth trying, you never know“ – Ashiya answered like it was the most natural thing in the world.

„Behave appropriately, please“.

Finally, they received lunch, two beers, and a pig‘s hoof. Food was delicious, a little greasy for the lord, but just right for a commoner. Soon, plates were empty, only bones left. Hearing all the whispering around them and feeling uneasy, Kiyeri decided it was time to go, even leaving his beer unfinished. „Enough, we should go get some clothes and find a bath“.

After paying for food, they turned to visit the market.

The broad main road was surrounded by long iles of market stalls from both sides. Everywhere voices were heard, bargaining, suggestions, praise of good looks, anything to sell an item. There were too many people, Kiyeri got anxious he would lose Ashiya, so he turned to look at him from time to time, but every time he was there, looking back with a small smile.

„What are you so happy about?“ Kiyeri could not take it anymore, „Smiling all day for no reason. Is the food the only thing you need to be happy?“

„No, but food helps, even if it‘s just a pig‘s hoof“ Ashiya answered, still smiling.

„Cut it out. Be useful and find a decent stall of closes“.

„Yes, sir. It is right here actually“, Ashiya pointed to a stall near them.

After rustling in clothes and finding a couple of hooded items, Kyeri gave the owner last of his golden coin. Shaking the money pouch he saw only two silver coins left „Now it‘s really over, this is our last stop. Tomorrow we will need to travel without stopping to Temple. If not for clothes, we could pay for a ride“.

„I‘m afraid the last Temple will be guarded heavily, given all events that passed. No disguise will be sufficient for sneaking in“ Ashiya answered while pushing items into the bag.

„I know. It will help at least to come into town. From there, I will think of some way. Now, lets go and find a bath“.

While they were walking that uneven street, looking for a public bath, the sound of thundering started to appear like ten or more horses were trampling tiles. Tired and sleepy after lunch, Kiyeri did not register it at first. Autumn is the season when everyone is in a hurry. Big harvests and sowing again, everyone moves around like little ants. Only when some angry shouts were heard from a distance did he freeze and look at Ashiya. Both of them listened closely, taut like bow strings.

 „Get out of the WAY!“

„You headless chicken! Where do you think you're going? The street is full of people! Slow down your horse!“

„Madman...“

„Is your ass on fire?? Or do you have diarrhea?! Look where you're going asshole!“

„Do you know whose taxes pay for your food, you pig!“

„I said, GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE WAY!“

„Look at that, soldiers who kick commoners! You should be ashamed, you dog!”

“Fucking animals! Dogs! Give us back the money you wasted!”

These interactions made it clear who came into town. Clutching their bags, Ashiya and Kiyeri started sprinting in opposite from sound direction. While running, they pushed the crowd, much like those soldiers, some people stumbled to the ground swearing at them. Soon, they reached the back of the town and came to face that wooden log fence. Quickly and gracefully they hoped over it and the most horrible sight came into their eyes – bare fields and plains, no were to hide.

„Shit!“ – Kiyeri smacked his tongue. No time wasted, he looked over the distance calculating then pointed his finger to a small pond way across those fields– „There!“ Ashiya did not waste any time nodding, just moved as instructed and they both shot like arrows in that direction. The soldiers who were practically at their heels ran into that wall and had to stop. Some of them dismounted and jumped the fence, others went around through gates. Soon, the whole battalion was following them.

Kiyeri instructed while running, „When you reach the pond wait for them to come closer, then jump in, but don't swim. We need as many of them to reach it as possible. When they...“

„Got it.“ Ashiya interrupted.

Kiyeri looked at him intently before replying. „Don't overdo it“.

While running, Kiyeri kept looking back until he spotted arrows flying in his direction. Feeling annoyed he smacked his tong again, „Well of course...“

Ashiya reacted to these words by looking over. Seeing the sky full of arrows, he lifted his hands and started chanting a spell silently, but was immediately stopped by Kiyeri, „No. Don‘t waste your mana“.

Ashiya put down his hands in agreement and picked up the pace with full confidence, that his back would be protected. Right behind him, Kiyeri managed to run the same speed and deflect arrows, that would hit them with his dagger, shouting some evaluation words to those soldiers from time to time.

„Wow... Where are you looking when shooting?“, „Ha, ha, ha, this one was blown by the wind, I‘m sure“, „I know an old lady, that can spit sunflower seeds better than you shoot“, and „Your father must feel ashamed of you, he could aim better“.

Ashiya could not hold out anymore and started to laugh hysterically. The more vulgar taunts – the better. Kiyeri wanted this battalion to get emotional and use less logic. When these soldiers fed town people with kicks, they proved their incompetence and exposed their weeknesses.

When they finally reached that pond, Kiyeri and Ashiya turned around to face their enemies with confident combat poses. Ashiya lifted his palms for a spell and Kiyeri was holding his deadly daggers. No fear on their faces, only confidence, anyone would falter before attacking a couple this calm, collected, and looking ready for anything.

Kiyeri threw down the last taunt while smiling „Why your group is so small? The two of us can‘t even warm up on this number. Bring a whole brigade next time“.

„Our clothes...“ Ashiya looked at the bag trampled under the horse's hooves and sighed.

„Also BUNS. I didn't even get to taste them“, replied Kiyeri in a serious tone.

This kind of tone and behavior from these two turned out to be the last drop and the foot soldiers in front of them really got a little scared. Soldiers slowed down their pace considerably and were obviously wary to approach. This led all of them to huddle together in one neat straight line, moving slowly. When they finally decided to attack, Kiyeri yelled „Now!”

Both of them jumped into the water with a backflip. Soldiers were lost for a second at what to do. Some of them tried to follow, others started baking up startled, and some decided to circle the pond and take prisoners from the other side. Plain chaos, no discipline. When so many people move in disorder – it's over. They started tripping on one another feet, half of the battalion was already on the ground. These couple of chaotic seconds were all Ashiya needed. He resurfaced and made a huge fireball before directing it to enemies. Kiyeri swam toward the opposite shore, but kept peeking back — making sure Ashiya wasn’t hurting anyone too badly, but to his surprise, fire was controlled perfectly.

Soldiers were wearing leather and metal armor, so it wasn't that bad, but there were some cloth, so everyone was in panic, rolling on the ground, jumping to the pond, no need to chase anyone anymore. The couple had all the time they needed to swim to the other side and run like crazy to the nearest forest. Kiyeri managed to spot alone running horses, “At least one of them could come this way…”, but decided, you can’t get lucky at everything.

“Kiye saw their emblems?”, Ashiya asked “They’re from the same camp as we were”.

“Yes, I saw. Unbelievably disappointing”.