The two of them used the back door and slipped in with the weary crowd. They looked like two lads going to have some fun tonight. But having fun was the last thing on their agenda. They had to look for Eldric first and Lia did not have an idea where he was so she planned to ask around. But Frankie held her back. Like all the latest happenings in town, Frankie knew where to find Eldric.

“Of course, no inn suits the taste of someone from the capital. Only the mayor’s house fits,” he said.

They walked in a relaxed manner, acting as if their long strides was normal, and chatting and chuckling like good old friends. The muscles on Lia’s leg started to protest from all the fast walking she had done today but she could not do much about it. There were things that needed to be done.

“I’m sorry I called you a witch,” Frankie said in a quiet voice, careful not to let other people hear the last word.

Lia almost paused in her steps before reminding herself that they needed to arrive at Eldric’s place. “It’s fine.”

Frankie did not say anything. Lia did the same and focused on the task at hand. She hoped Eldric still remembered her.

The mayor’s house was hard to miss. Other than standing in the center of the town where the cooking contest was held, it had the most lavish design and the widest space. There were guards stationed in just about every corner. Though if it was a normal occurrence or simply because of the general, Lia was not unsure.

‘Talk about being over-the-top, though.’

The sight of the guards made Lia’s steps faltered. Frankie who was walking a few steps ahead of her, realized her reluctance so he doubled back his steps until they were standing side by side. They stood in the shadows so as not to be readily noticeable by those officers. Both of them eyed the guards warily.

“I don’t think they’re the same ones as…” Frankie said.

He did not need to continue his words for Lia to understand what he was saying. Lia knew. She knew too well. Last night, she even dreamt of them barging through Yolly’s store, destroying everything in sight. Lia sets her jaw.

“I think they were the General’s men,” Frankie said, his brows furrowed.

Now that Frankie mentioned it, Lia looked closer at their uniforms. They wore grey and white instead of the usual red of the town’s guards. Gray and white. The color of the General.

Lia met Frankie’s eyes and approached the gates with tentative steps. The two guards in front regarded them suspiciously.

“What do you want?” one of them asked.

“I want to talk to the General. Please,” Lia said

The guards exchanged looks but did not lower their defenses. “The General is busy at the moment.”

“This is important!” Frankie quipped in.

“Look, there’s nothing more important than the town right now. If I were you, it’s better to go home than loiter around the streets at night.”

Lia also knew the impossibility of her request. She was a country bumpkin, unworthy of a government official’s time. ‘If I only have proof. Or something. Anything.’ A thought jolted her. She had that something. She rummaged through her pockets and found the dagger and showed it to the guards. “Show this to him. He’ll know.”

When the guards hesitated, Lia placed the dagger on the hand one of them and pressed his hand around the hilt. “Please. Tell him my name is–”

A sound of incoming footsteps broke the silence in the streets. Lia felt a foreboding feeling crawling in her skin. They searched for the source of sound and Lia’s heart dropped when she saw it.