Lyra exited the air ship on the out skirts of the Capitol. It was an ideal place to be, so she could trade the gold in for some food/traveling needs.

Lyra decided against going on anymore air ships, for it was obvious how the king could track her.

Lyra skimmed the shops, muttering to herself. She traded some gold in for a cloak, to hide her face. She also traded it in for a blanket, and a bigger back pack. Also, for more food. By then, she had only the giant, heavy gold necklace with a single ruby in her bag.

Lyra began walking, until she saw a man with a large axe. He was swinging it around, and talking to another man with a long beard and a huge, bear skin cloak. He looked angry.

"Listen here, ya little runt! You gotta start being useful, ya hear! You can't just escort people to places and expect to be paid!"

The man with the axe was very tall. He had kind brown eyes and dark red hair.

"Come on now, don't be yellin' at me! It was only one group that left half-way through." The man with the beard bared his teeth. "If you even get one escort, that actually pays you, I will-" "I want you to take me to Fenrir." Lyra interrupted, dropping the giant necklace and ruby in the axe man's hand. "And safely, as well."

The bearded man looked dumb-founded. "Uh...I was uh....carry on!" He said abruptly, recovering his stature. "Don't fail me now." He strutted off, his ears still bright red.

Lyra turned to the man with the axe. "When shall we be off?" He was still looking at the payment in his hands. "Ah-shortly! Do you have supplies lass-" "Yup!" Lyra was oddly cheerful. "Do you know the way to Fenrir?" The man looked indignant. "Of course I do! I am an explorer, after all!" "Great." Lyra said, wrapping the shawl closer around herself for warmth. "Let's be off then, before it's too stormy."

The man with the axe still looked a little shocked. "Erm...okay!"

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After about two hours, they got a map, and set up a route. The man with the axe had introduced himself as Barley Hopton, and he was an explorer who got his pay by escorting travelers. Well, most of the time. Sheepishly, he explained they sometimes left without paying him. Lyra had hesitated telling Barley her situation, but came to the conclusion he was a little desperate for money, as his father(the bearded man) would possibly put him out of business.

Barley didn't even blink after Lyra told him she was running from the king, and he said he had plenty of criminals go with him. The only time he really was shocked was when Lyra showed him her violin. He was very intrigued, and after a minute, showed her his wooden flute. Lyra immediately saw him as trust worthy, and soon, they were sitting side by side in the grass outside the Capitol.

"So, we should start at this boat village. We'll have to lie low, that's probably the best we can do." Barley pointed along the path on the map, and turned to Lyra. Lyra nodded her understanding. "And if we're caught, jump in the canal, we can lose the soldiers that way." Lyra tapped her chin.

"For the next, we should take a ferry to get out of the village, and then travel along these roads to get to..." Lyra squinted. "What's over here?"

Barley wrung his hands. "It's a super dangerous place. It was once a powerful sanctuary for Healers, but it was ransacked by some War Players. The whole place is trashed and filled with dangerous traps. Not the kind of place to be taking a short cut home."

Lyra looked on the place on the map, and shivered. "In that case, let's go around." Barley nodded in agreement.

"Anyway we should probably-" "Get the girl!" Lyra turned, and felt a fist connect to her jaw. Before she could regain her vision, she was slammed to the ground. Lyra gasped as she tried to scan her surroundings. She felt hot blood flowing from her nose, and she could taste the dirt on the ground. Lyra heard Barley cry out in pain. She tried to reach for her bag, but it was promptly kicked out of her reach.

She looked upwards, and saw a large, growling man pinning her to the ground. Another man was looking down on her behind the other. He only raised an eyebrow. "Kill them."

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Sorry about the new cliffhanger 😋 Anyway, what do you think of Barley?

-Clo