Post by Malikan Bashar on Oct 16, 2023 15:50:38 GMT -5
Late Evening, Skia, Stableway Walk.
A shadow passed over the rooftops, the pattering of swifter feet, a cloaked figure darting left and right. Splash in the occasional puddle or skid across loose grit. Labored breathing beneath the hood. The summer sky darkening and stars beginning to form their new fire above, ever blocked by the clouds that lined their view. All framed a private chase few could see and even less cared about, but for these two it was as serious as it gets.
Heavier steps, lower to the ground to not draw attention, not as fast in speed. The larger figure was slower but more daring, jumping one of the gaps across two buildings to land heavily on the opposite side. The cloaked figure looked back, their face catching the glow from a lantern below. They were younger, maybe sixteen or older, they couldn’t see the man chasing them.
The younger figure pulled back her cloth hood and looked in all directions, her brown hair coming free. Creeping slowly backwards and pausing by the edge of a roof. As if waiting for something or someone. Circling around a ledge low, Malikan came up and over the stone grabbing her, she almost shouted frozen in fear.
Then they both burst out laughing.
“Six minutes, ya gettin' old on me.” The young girl pulled her hood back entirely and grinned wide.
”Roofs are bigger than I remember.” Malikan got his breath back with a bracing grin.
From her hand, a small coded parchment was unraveled to read, and he nodded, folding it up and putting it in his pocket. “It's time.” They both began to climb down some steps, their traditional game finished for another year.
”I’m going to miss her.” The girl said reluctantly, looking at the ground and kicking her foot.
“I know,” he walked by her side. There for support. Their mood was more solemn, as if it had shifted in an instant. The happy distraction gone.
Ahead of them, the main city stables came into view. A prominent building in a city that heavily relied on horses for transportation, it was more impressive than he remembered. A long, decorated white and brown building, pure wood on the inside. A building that contained many horses inside for all tastes, a horse for every occasion, or so they said. It was the last hours of its opening, so the stablehands were winding down for the day.
