Dolion summoned the woman who managed the establishment. Who turned out to be the blond who had let us in. "Ashley, do you have some clothes they can borrow while theirs get cleaned?" She looks at us with a scowl, her hair glows from the flickering candle she is holding. She has the same hair colour Basin had before his went grey and away.

Remembering what she said downstairs, I add, "Do not worry, we will clean it ourselves." At that, she seemed willing to let us borrow some garments. 

"We keep our clothes down by the last door, but I will have to go downstairs to see if there are any forgotten customer clothes he can fit into." 

"I am coming with you," Narin says, heading for the ladder. Neary followed him closely. After all, wherever he goes, she follows. "Then I will go change," I tell them. 

Ashley hands me her candle. "Stay in the room until we return, a pretty thing like you would pull a lot of unwanted attention." 

I knew it was a warning to keep me safe, but still, I felt insulted by the notion that I couldn't defend myself. "I wouldn't be worried, none of these men would be able to handle me," I respond.

The single candle I hold serves as my only source of light in this dark room. All of the garments seemed to be worn out and unclean. At least from what I could see of it. I settled on a white chemise. It was not long enough, barely reaching my knees, but it is loose in its sleeves. "Hopefully it fits." After removing my boots and socks, I can feel the dirty dust on the floor. As I pulled out of my blood-stained shirt, I felt exposed to the world. Only God knows who could be outside that curtain, shielding my naked body.

As I pulled the chemise over my head, some voices came from out in the hall. It must be the twins coming back up. I peek out the door, just in case it's someone else. A shadowy figure stood in the hallway. As he turned to look towards me, the man exclaimed. "Thank God I found you."

As he steps into the window light, I recognise the cursed man from the inn. "You!" I gasp. I cannot believe this. How did he find me? "What the hell are you doing here?" 

He is about to answer when I stop him. "It doesn't matter. Leave, now." Heck, did I mention this place while he was there? I think I did. 

"I can not leave, and I can not accept your refusal to help me." 

As he approached me, I backed into the room. Why can't he just leave? I don't want to kill him. But I will if he makes it necessary. As I reach for my dagger, I remember it lies between my clothes. I throw myself into the corner where my belongings are, rummaging for the belt that holds my weapons. The same moment as I pull the dagger out of its frog, the man enters the room. "Lorelei, you have to listen to me."

My heart skips a beat. "How do you know my name?" I asked quietly, despite wanting to scream. But I can't escalate the situation, not yet. 

"You...you told me." He stammered out. 

Standing up, I approached him like a wild animal you don't want to scare, slowly and careful. "No, I did not."

In a jerk move, he is forced up against the wall. Holding the sharp blade at his throat. The fear in his eyes lets me know that had I rushed in, he would have run. "The only way you can know my name is if you have something to do with the royal guards."

I can feel his arm shaking. I should just kill him right now. But I would not be able to get rid of the body. This is bad, very bad. Neary Narin, how long can it take to find some goddamn clothes?

"Who are you?" I ask again. He looks familiar, I am sure I've met him before. But where? "Are you a guard?" I know he is not, he lacks the qualities a guard would have. "No.. I am... I am Prince Valor." I felt as if a trapdoor had opened in my guts. The Prince, he is the fucking Crown Prince. How could I not see that?

As I let go of the dagger, it makes a clinging sound as it falls to the floor. He appears relieved, perhaps thinking his title has saved him. That is, until I pressed my hands against his throat, strangling him. My own throat still hurts from it being done to me less than a day earlier. He begs for me to let go, as he tries to pry my hands off him, but he is weak. His arms drop, and he starts to go limp, When he hangs in my hands, I let go. A loud bang is heard when he makes contact with the floor. His red cape spread beneath him.

For satan, what am I supposed to do now? I can't just leave him like that. Dolion, I need to inform him. Hopefully, this doesn't ruin our agreement. In the hallway, a woman is on her way down the ladder. I dash past her and enter the room where Dolion is. As I push through the curtain, I almost bump into him. He is ready with a knife, but stops when he sees me. "Do not do that again." He snapped.

"We might need a change of plans," I respond. 

"Change them? We have not even made any?" he says while putting the knife away. 

"Something-" How do I even begin to explain the crown prince is here? "Unbelievable just happened." That was what it was, unbelievable.

"What can have happened in a span of ten minutes that is so unbelievable?" He questioned in an amused tone.

"Crown Prince Valor, is lying unconscious in the dressing room." I quaked.

"What!" Dolion hisses. He doesn't ask any more questions, but instead leaves to find him. Following him out, I see him standing in the door to the dressing room. "How?" is all he says.

"I will explain that after we figure out what to do. Preferably before he wakes up," I say.

"Is he dead?" Dolion pushed the prince with his boot. There's no movement. "No. just unconscious."

The sound of rustling drew our attention. "What was that?" I ask "Properly a drunk customer." Dolion replies, he does not seem to care what is going on downstairs, and I do not blame him. We have enough to deal with as it is.

But echoes of loud thuds and screams make me move to look out onto the hall.

Out in the dark hall, someone is climbing up the ladder. Even in the poor light, I can recognise the uniform. "It is the royal guards." I gasped. "Quick, take my hand," Dolion orders, linking the other with the Prince's hand.

His palm is sweaty. He is taking a good time to do what I presume is a spell. If the guards find us, we are in terrible trouble. It can be heard that the guard in the hallway is barking orders to someone in another room. I don't have any weapons I can defend myself with.

While contemplating whether to get my dagger. I feel a wind in my hair, and then it is as though my eyesight is gone. A nauseating sensation begins to spread throughout my mouth and stomach.

When my vision returns, the wooden floor has been replaced by one of dirt. "How did you do that?" This spell he cast has somehow moved us to a completely different place. 

"Just a simple teleportation spell." Just a simple spell. I read up on hundreds of spells for my quest for our file. And never came across one that makes you able to teleport without using magic items and circles. And those are highly advanced spells. The spell he cast is beyond simple.

"Where are we?" I inquire. 

Looking around, I notice a wooded ceiling and stone walls. "Across the road. This house got emptied about a week ago. Something about a mould problem" I notice a window. It's small and almost as high up as I reach. Looking through, I see a guard standing out on the road. "I hope the twins are safe."

"We'd better gag him before he yells for help," Dolion states. 

"With what?" I ask. 

Dolion points to some bags I hadn't noticed before "I made sure this place had things we would need in case of trouble."