The sun hung a little higher in the sky, its golden rays warming the rooftops of the East Market as Kairen adjusted the focus of his monoscope. The shadows were shorter now, cut clean across tiled roofs and crooked chimneys.
Perched on the slanted edge of a roof, Kairen scanned the busy street below. His gloved fingers steadied the small, brass-rimmed lens against his eye as he swept across the rows of buildings. The market beneath him was alive—vendors calling out prices, coins clinking, and children darting between stalls.
But his focus wasn't on the crowd.
He paused, zooming in on a narrow stone building partially hidden behind two vendor stalls. The structure was old—walls cracked with age, ivy crawling up the side—but something about it stood out.
The front door, nestled in a shaded alcove, was freshly painted. A dull green, smooth and even. The paint was recent enough to still look slightly glossy in the sun. It was a small detail, but to trained eyes, it was a potential flag.
Kairen clicked his tongue softly and gave a quick hand signal.
From behind a chimney on the next rooftop, a hooded figure moved—Tolen, his stockier comrade, already shifting into action.
Tolen dropped into a back alley, shedding his rooftop gear as he moved. By the time he emerged into the market's flow, he looked every bit the part of a dusty traveler. His cloak was gone, replaced by a loose vest and scarf, and his boots were scuffed just enough to sell the illusion.
He navigated the crowd with ease, nodding at a butcher sharpening his cleaver and ducking past a bread vendor who was shouting about two-for-one loaves. He approached a man leaning lazily near the base of the building's stairs.
The man had a cloth wrapped around his head, holding a small basket of fruit and munching slowly on a slice of melon.
"Hey, sorry to trouble you," Tolen began, offering a small grin. "I'm new in this part of town. Looking for a room to stay for a few days. This building caught my eye—any chance they've got something vacant?"
The man blinked at him. "This place? Hmm... not sure, mate. Ain't my building."
Tolen chuckled, scratching his neck. "Right, fair enough. Just thought it looked like a quiet place —figured I might get lucky."
Before the man could reply, a sharper voice chimed in from the side.
"No rooms there," said a spice merchant from a nearby stall. He was a thin man, surrounded by jars of different spices. His sleeves were rolled up, arms dusted with powdered herbs. "Try the residential block near the south end. Hotels too. You might find some place to stay there."
Tolen turned toward him, feigning polite curiosity. "Thanks for the tip. Just seemed like I saw the top floor empty a few days ago. Thought it might still be open."
The merchant grunted, rubbing his stubbled chin with fingers stained yellow. "It was. Someone moved in two days ago. A woman. Quiet type."
"Ah. New neighbor, huh?" Tolen said, feigning casual interest. "Young? Old?"
"Couldn't say," the merchant shrugged. "Haven't seen her face. Her window's always shut tight, and the room's locked up day and night."
The fruit man added, "Doesn't light any lamps at night either. Pretty strange, honestly. We thought the place was still empty 'til we heard some shifting around up there."
Tolen furrowed his brows. "Huh. Maybe she's just shy."
"Maybe," the spice merchant replied, not sounding convinced. "But she doesn't shop here, not even once. Most folks pass by the stall once a day at least, even for bread."
The fruit seller leaned in slightly, a smirk on his face. "Looking for peace and quiet? Odd place to start—this market's never quiet. You'd be better off checking the residential block."
Tolen gave a thoughtful nod, smiling as if considering their advice. "Appreciate the info, really. I'll check out the south end."
Tolen offered a friendly wave and stepped back into the flow of the street—slipping between carts and wagons like a shadow, until he disappeared once again into the crowd.
The alley was narrow and half-shaded, tucked between two storage sheds. The scent of market spices faded here, replaced by dust and stone.
Shin stood there, arms crossed, his back against the wall. The sunlight above him filtered down in golden slivers.
Tolen approached silently, slipping in without a sound.
"She's been in that building for two days," he said. "Merchant on the first floor hasn't seen her once. Always locked in. No visitors. Windows sealed."
Shin gave a quiet nod. "Could it be her."
The two moved again—quick, practiced—and ascended to the original rooftop, where Kairen remained in position.
"Anything new?" Shin asked, kneeling beside him.
Kairen didn't look away. "Nothing. Checked three blocks in every direction—no other signs. That door's the only freshly painted one near the apothecary."
Shin extended a hand, his voice low and precise. "Pass it here."
Kairen nodded silently and placed the monoscope into his palm.
Shin took the monoscope with a curt nod, adjusting the dial before lifting it to his eye.
Through the lens, the upper floor of the target building came into sharp focus—weathered brick walls, an old wooden frame, and a pair of windows closed tight.
A few heartbeats passed in stillness.
Then—a stir.
A faint breeze slipped through the narrow alley below, rustling the laundry lines and sweeping upwards. The curtain on the left window shifted ever so slightly, parting just for a moment.
And there it was.
A black cloak. Dust-cloaked and hanging from a hook on the wall. It swayed faintly in the breeze—just enough to be seen.
Shin narrowed his eyes, his expression unreadable. He lowered the monoscope slowly, fingers tightening around it for a brief second before handing it back.
"This is the one," he said firmly.
Both informants straightened up, alert and waiting for orders.
"She's in there. That's the cloak the intruder was wearing," Shin continued, his voice calm but low. "We move in quietly. No sound. No alert. I want her caught before she even knows we were here."
He adjusted the black gloves on his hands with practiced ease, then gave the curt nod of a man ready to act.
"No mistakes."
One of the informants murmured, "Understood."
Shin glanced once more toward the sealed window, eyes cold with focus.
"Let's end this."