Having risen at dawn, Salīa had dressed in some of the bundled clothes that Bazil secured for her at the stall they passed the day before.
Yet found it to just be dreary, grey rags that seemed as if they were just two pieces of fabric sewn together with roughly cut holes for the neck and arms.
Once she got a glimpse in a mirror, her face became just as dreary.
Bazil rubbed the back of his neck.
"Sorry, Līa. It's not as if we could choose the finest merchants. We must keep them low-cost to avert any wandering eyes of suspicion."
"I have no problem with choosing cheap clothes, but why make them unflattering too?"
To this, Bazil could only roll his eyes.
"I'm sorry, would you have preferred a disguise with jingling skirts, low-cut tops, and gleaming boots?"
"The skirts don't have to jingle," she sighed.
"Ha!"
Bazil couldn't help but chuckle. Then he gestured for her to come close to him. And so he pulled out one of his own pants and nodded for her to put it on.
When she trudged back from behind a tree, he saw her holding it tight. So out came his belt, and he made an extra hole to cinch it around her waist.
With the blade held between his lips, he lifted the grey material and cut around her until it was a top.
She inhaled deeply, each time his fingers accidentally touched her waist or arms. He was so focused that he hadn't noticed just how deeply she was staring.
It was only when he wrapped her coat around her that their eyes met, and he licked his lips. Neither felt the need to pull back until Hawking swooped in and landed on her shoulder.
"We should get going," they both said in unison.
They knew they were getting closer when they passed between remnants of gullies, as the map said this land received rain quite often.
By the time they reached the high terraced hills, the land was in their periphery, but still quite a journey since they'd have to pause to care to not overwork the horses.
"I see the bat sigil on the top. I think this is the one," Salīa said. "Prince Naca was right to advise us on this one."
Bazil scoffed.
"He was right? As if."
Salīa knew the two clearly didn't see eye to eye, but she was surprised to see he was still so bothered long after they left Oggl. Then she remembered how close they seemed to be at dinner and how Bazil seemed even more stirred up when Prince Naca told him not to forget.
"Bazil, did Prince Naca say something to you?"
"He said many things to me, you'd have to be more specific. But even if you were, it wouldn't matter. He just says whatever he thinks. All because his ancestral animal is the so-called three-eyed owl, he thinks he sees things before they happen."
If history is a testimony, that's not entirely false. Oggl has been a great help to Salazā because of the traits of the three-eyed owl, having foreseen things. But it's a gift rarely shared or used in recent years.
But what would Prince Naca have revealed to him?
"Bazil, did he happen to say—"
"It doesn't matter, Līa. Both he and I are guilty of exchanging puerile remarks. And the reason is no secret."
This closed Salīa's lips.
"Be wary," Bazil changed course. "As you know, this is the lower land of the bats. While they're not that troublesome, it doesn't mean they can't be.
Their people have excellent hearing, so if we're too loose with our tongues, it might betray us. The realm's top trackers come from here because some have the refined ability to find all sorts of things and people.
You might hear whistling in the street, but don't react."
They heard whistling the moment they descended into the entrance of the land. The gates were decorated with carved bats with eyes of brown jasper and pliant wings that billowed lightly with each breeze.
Dusk came, and with it, remained the slurried grounds from the sweeping rains they had just missed. Mud painted the rocks lining the walkway into the small town.
Whether by boot or carriage, people scurried their way into the closest inns and bars. Lit torches bared the mist, casting a softened glow as Salīa and Bazil passed by.
They stood by a stall serving hot water and loose tea.
Bazil was quick to pull her wet hood down further over her as the tea-master cast a furtive glance her way.
He let his warmth envelope her and whispered, "Wait here while I try this one." He gestured to the next inn, tugging at the horses.
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