I'm shaking. I don't have my flute, so I can't summon any of my illusions. My father is fighting one of the most powerful bounty hunters in history, and I'm powerless to help. Even Ironvine can help more than I can.
"Don't worry, Glimmer." Whisperclaw pushes down on my shoulder, using it as support to stand. "We'll save your dad. Try to find a way to retrieve our belongings. That's the most effective way you can help right now."
She steps into my shadow. Then she smirks at me and nods. My feet slip out from underneath me, and I spiral downwards, through my own shadow. I am spit out, sliding across the cobblestone road of an abandoned alleyway. I scramble to my feet and look around quickly. Whisperclaw must have shadow-stepped me outside the colosseum. I get it. With me out of the way, the others won't have to worry about my safety. They can focus on going all out and defeating Vanhiel and the rest of the Inner Circle.
"Psst…" I look over my shoulder and see three young boys staring at me from around the corner. "Hey, you! Come on over for a second."
All three motion for me to move towards them. Oddly enough, they are completely in sync. They don't seem dangerous. If anything, they seem more genuine than anyone I've met since entering the tower. The loading dock behind me is completely deserted, other than a few closed boxes and a port full of at least 12 small ships. I look back at the three boys and point to myself, trying to make sure they are talking to me.
"Yes. You!" The boy in the middle, who looks to be the eldest, frowns. "Hurry, before one of the bad people sees you!"
I slowly walk over. They look like brothers. Each of them has scruffy, orangish-red hair, deeply tanned skin, dark brown eyes, and freckles. They wear different colored fishing hats that are sun-beaten. The one who called out to me is wearing a red cloth for a shirt. He is much taller than all the others. I even have to look up to avoid talking to his chest. They open a makeshift wooden door that barely fits into the doorway and motion for me to enter. I glance around outside hesitantly. It looks like a ghost town, the exact opposite of yesterday. I sigh, then walk through the doorway.
The inside is dark and cool. A lamp sits on a table surrounded by four wooden chairs, dimly lighting a tiny kitchen. A small, porcelain-like, human woman stirs a silver pot of chili. Graying, long, curly red hair cascades down her back. She has on a red and white checkered apron and looks at me, at first with surprise, then pity.
"Mars? Who is it?" A man's voice echoes from down a nearby hallway. "If it's not the boys, tell them to go away! We're finishing preparations!"
"I think you should see this, Shane! I think it would make you happy!" The woman shouts back, her expression shifting to one of irritation.
"Ah, I'm sorry to intrude, but those boys-" Right on cue, the trio walks in and plops down at the table. "Well, you see they-"
"Don't worry, Prince Glimmer, I already know." The woman smiles softly. "I'm sorry to hear about you and your father's situation."
"Wait, how do you know my-"
"Bless the spirits of the wind and seas!" My question is rudely interrupted by a muscular, dark-skinned man who enters the kitchen from beyond the hall. "Just how lucky can we get in one day, Mars?"
"I already told you, leave me and the boys out of this." The woman, Mars, tells the man. "How could you have your sons running around out there? Think Shane! What if one of them got spotted? Couldn't you have sent one of those knights cowering in our bedroom?"
"I'm-" The man pauses, his forehead creasing with worry, before speaking again. "I'm sorry. You're right. But all of that's over now. We've got everything we need."
"Ok. I don't mean to be rude, but can somebody tell me what's happening?" I ask. "Who are you people and what do you want from me?"
"We wanna know what's happening too!" One of the trio, who looks the smallest and youngest of the bunch, pouts. "You always leave us out of the good stuff."
"Ahh, I know little shark." Shane scoops the boy into his arms. "I promise that, one day, you and all of your brothers will know everything."
"Alright, I don't have time for this." I go for the door, my patience breaking. "Good luck with whatever it is you've got going on. I've got more serious things to worry about."
Right as I swing the front door open, a hand gently grabs hold of my shoulder. It's Mars, shaking her head.
"Please. It's not safe out there for anyone right now." She says. "Vanhiel has bounty hunters from the fourth ring patrolling the streets. They're capturing anyone they see, and they will probably kill you on the spot. Your face is too easily recognized in this city."
I look across the street for a brief moment before deciding to hear them out. They seem like they want to help, and more than that, they seem to know something significant. Why else would they be glad to see me, of all people? I can't even use magic right now.
"I'm so sorry for making you wait, your highness. Please forgive an old fisherman." Shane shifts his wife to the side and sticks his hand out towards me as if for a handshake. "I'm Shane Coshimare, of the Coshimare Fishing Company. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"There's no need to call me your highness." I shut the front door and look Shane in the eyes. "What do you people want from me?"
"Straight to the point, huh?" Shane looks taken aback for a second, but quickly recomposes himself, relaxing his hand. "Let's go somewhere more private to talk, if you don't mind."
"Sure." I shrug. "I get it, you don't want your kids overhearing whatever it is."
"Bango. Hit the nail on the head." Shane chuckles.
He leads me down the hall and to a closed door. It takes him a few moments to pull out the key to unlock it. There's a click as he swings the door open. He motions for me to enter, and I hesitate briefly. I suck up my nerves then step into the shadowy interior. The room is full of at least twenty knights wearing the Sellsword Guild crest on their chest plates. I freeze. They set me up. One of the knights, with three embellished blue and white striped feathers tapered at the top of his helm, stands quickly to his feet and points at me. I move for the door. Instead, I slam into Shane's chest, who catches me by the arms.
"Woah there, young prince! It's alright!" He says. "These people can help you! Please! Give them a chance!"
"No! These people tried to kill me and my friends!" I shout.
I try to headbutt Shane in the face, but he dodges. Then he slips behind me, spins me, and softly pushes me back into the room. All the knights are standing now, glaring at me. One in particular, who has his helmet off, revealing the face of a dark skinned, young human man with glasses, lifts a bounty poster. It has a rough sketch of my face and a massive bounty of one hundred thousand sapphire coins. He smirks and adjusts his glasses.
"I'm sorry, Shane, but we have a bounty out for this one and his 'friends'."