Scarlett stood at the rail, staring down at the bustling docks below. The storm had passed, leaving the sky bare and blue, the breeze soft and salt-sweet. It should have felt like a beautiful day. But despite the sun, a chill lingered beneath her skin.

The docks swarmed with activity—cargo being loaded, shouted orders echoing over the water, naval ships gliding silently in the distance. She knew Harmon wasn’t on any of them, but still, she liked to imagine he might be. Maybe he’d look up. Maybe he’d see her.

She inhaled slowly, letting the clamor wash over her.

A gentle tug at her side broke her trance. She glanced down to see Evelyn at her elbow, nearly swallowed by the brown cloak draped around her shoulders. They’d all been given matching ones—supposedly to avoid drawing attention, though a troop of guards and cloaked passengers would still turn heads. Still, it covered her rumpled dress well enough.

“Oh—hello, Evelyn.” Scarlett kept her voice low, surprised. She’d half-expected Via or Olive.

Evelyn didn’t respond. She just stared up at her, green eyes glassy in the sun.

Scarlett crouched slightly. “Do you need something?”

The girl opened her mouth, paused, then looked down at the deck. Her shoulders curled slightly inward. Shy. Or scared.

Scarlett gently rested a hand on the top of Evelyn’s head. “We’ll be getting off soon. Why don’t you wait with Via and Olive?” She smoothed a few loose strands that had slipped from one of the girl’s braids. “They look like they’re having fun. Go on—join them.”

She gave her a soft nudge and waited until Evelyn had wandered out of earshot before finally exhaling.

Her hands were trembling. Just barely—but enough to make her clench them into fists to make them stop. She pulled them beneath the folds of the cloak, hoping the tremor wouldn't spread to the rest of her body.

“Ready to set off, then?" A voice at her side made her jump. She had to stop letting that happen.

She turned to find Captain Bennan beside her, his silhouette cutting against the bright sky. "Captain Bennan, you really are good at sneaking up on people."

He gave a quiet chuckle. “Force of habit. Wasn’t trying to spook you.”

She offered a tight smile. “I suppose I’m ready. Not like I have a choice though, right?”

He was silent for a moment, gaze sweeping the city ahead. “You’ll be alright. I’ve got a good feeling about you.”

Her brow furrowed. “A good feeling about what?”

He rubbed at his chin, grinning like he knew something she didn’t. “Just a good feeling. That’s all.”

"Miss Scarlett, are you ready to leave?" Artur stood at her side, hand outstretched.

"Oh—uhm…" She hesitated, glancing back at the Captain.

"Safe travels, my dear." Bennan stepped back and offered a bow, unexpectedly formal.

The gesture caught her off guard. After all the informality, the sudden courtesy felt… final. She returned it with a quick curtsy. "Thank you. I’ll miss being on such a beautiful ship."

He let out a warm, booming laugh. "And I’ll miss having someone aboard who actually appreciates her craftsmanship, Miss."

"Scarlett," she corrected gently. "Just call me Scarlett, Captain."

His smile tugged wider, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Safe travels, Scarlett."

She turned to Artur again, who still waited patiently with his hand extended. Guilt stirred in her chest as she placed her hand in his, allowing him to guide her down the gangway. At the bottom, the children were already clustered together, waiting.

"Alright, everyone—split into your groups!" One of the older guards barked. She recognized him as the gruff one from all the way back at the Covet's, his tone no softer now.

"What’s going on?" Scarlett looked around as men began breaking away into smaller clusters. The kids automatically pressed in around her.

Evelyn’s hand found hers—small, firm, and trembling despite her steady expression. Scarlett squeezed it back, unsure who was reassuring whom.

"We’re splitting into smaller groups so we don’t draw attention moving as one big convoy," Artur explained, signaling two nearby soldiers with a sweep of his arm. "A cluster of guards marching together tends to turn heads, no?"

Scarlett frowned. "Why not use a carriage or wagon to move through the crowd?"

Artur shook his head. "The temples are holding a festival next week—streets are packed already. Can’t drive a wheelbarrow through half the alleys, let alone a cart."

He crouched slightly and extended a hand to Via and Olive. "You two are going to walk with my friends here, alright?" He tilted his head toward the men who’d stepped forward. "You remember Kabir and Kain?"

The children looked uncertain, glancing between Scarlett, the guards, and Artur.

"It’s alright," Artur said gently. "You’ll just take a short walk with them through the city. We’ll meet up soon."

Still hesitant, Via and Olive stepped toward the guards. Via looked back, eyes wide.

"Bye, Miss Scarlett," she said softly, lifting a hand in a small wave.

Scarlett waved back, her fingers feeling oddly cold. A tightness bloomed in her chest as the children were led away—quiet and watchful, swallowed by the shifting crowd.

She wasn’t sure why it twisted her up so much. If anything, their absence made her plan easier. Quicker. Less to worry about.

So why did it feel like something was being torn out of her?

"And Evelyn, you’ll be walking with Gales." Artur crouched beside her, nodding toward another group of soldiers.

Evelyn immediately pressed closer to Scarlett, her small fingers clenching tighter around her hand. Scarlett glanced down. The girl’s grip was like a vice, and her thin shoulder leaned fully into her side.

It would be easier to vanish into the crowd without her. But the thought of letting go made something twist in Scarlett’s chest.

"Do we really have to split up?" She asked quietly, pulling Evelyn in closer.

Artur rose with a sigh, brushing dust from his coat. "It's just quicker this way. Smaller groups draw less attention. Plus it's easier to make our way through the crowd in smaller groups."

Scarlett gave a small shrug, trying for casual. "We’ll stay together. It’s not like we’ll get torn apart holding hands."

She didn’t believe it, of course. In a crowd that size, disappearing would take all of ten seconds.

Artur hesitated. "Miss Scarlett…" He chewed his lip, glancing around the dock like he was weighing something heavier than the decision at hand. "I guess it wouldn’t hurt… just this once." He rubbed the back of his neck. "The Chancellor’s not going to like this," he muttered, already turning to consult one of the senior guards.

Scarlett looked down at the girl by her side. "You alright, Evelyn?"

Evelyn didn’t answer. She only shrugged and tucked herself more tightly into Scarlett’s side, her face half-hidden beneath the edge of her cloak.

She stroked Evelyn’s hair, a warmth blooming in her chest—unexpected, unwelcome, and stubborn. She didn’t understand why she cared this much. The sooner she sent the girl off, the sooner she could disappear into the crowd.

But the more she thought about it… how could she leave the children behind? They were just as trapped in this mess as she was. Just as innocent.

Artur returned with a sigh. “Alright. You can walk together. I’ll assign a few more guards to our group.”

“Thank you.” She let out a quiet breath. “Did you hear that, Evelyn? We’re staying together.”

Evelyn didn’t respond, just nodded, her face still buried in Scarlett’s side.

Artur leaned in slightly. “Is she alright?”

Scarlett’s reply came faster than she meant. “Do you think any of us are alright?”

The words hit sharper than intended. Artur straightened, lips pressed tight. “Apologies.”

She opened her mouth to soften it, to take it back—but he’d already turned, raising his hand.

“Gales. Monstatt. With us.”

Artur hadn’t been exaggerating—the streets were packed. Even with a circle of guards surrounding them, Scarlett still found herself jostled and bumped as they pushed through the tide of people.

The hood of her cloak muffled the sound, but it also made it harder to breathe. The crowd pressed in from all sides. She felt like she was being dragged under—drowning in a riptide of limbs and voices.

Evelyn’s hand was clenched tightly in hers, the little girl walking just ahead. Scarlett tried to scan the edges of the street, searching for a break in the wall of bodies, an alley, a shadow...anything. But every time she turned her head, the movement blurred around her, making her dizzy.

She needed to get out. Needed to find a gap. A way to vanish. But could she pull Evelyn with her? If she let go of the girl's hand, would Evelyn cry out? And if she tugged her with her, would she panic?

How could she warn Evelyn? Signal to her without the guards catching on? The voices around them roared like surf, but even so, surely one of the guards would hear if she spoke.

But her choice was slipping away. Because it seemed the plan was already moving—with or without her.

Someone bumped into the guard beside her, jolting his arm into her. Evelyn’s hand slipped from hers. Scarlett stumbled, arms flailing to steady herself. A wall of people surged between them. Between her, the guards, and Evelyn.

Her breath caught. They were being pushed apart.

And there it was. Her chance. A clean break. She could disappear—into the crowd, into the city. The crowd was already pulling her farther back. Fate making the decision for her.

But she didn’t have Evelyn.

She didn’t have Evelyn. Or Via. Or Olive.

No. She couldn’t let this chance slip away.

“Miss Scarlett?” Up ahead, Artur turned, scanning the crowd, face tense with worry.

Scarlett ducked low, her cloak sweeping around her legs. Step by step, she moved with the flow of people, letting them carry her.

Farther.

Farther still.

The voices behind her grew fainter—until she couldn’t hear them at all. And just like that, she was free.