Darrun Raid

[Carlisle "Hartmut"]

They made it. The village gates of Darrun were before them at long last. Within the week the knights should be arriving and the real work would begin. Carlisle had to let his held breath slowly flow out from his lips. "It's such a backwater town and yet..."

"And yet the weight it holds is unparalleled." Percival smiled. "We should be able to rest at the inn and scout out the ruins tomorrow morning."

"YUP! I can't wait to meet these knights! How brave and loyal they must have been!" Layla piped up from the cart. They tried to get rid of her, they really did, but after she stowed away on a ship they were left with no choice but to bring her after a while.

Percival groaned before whispering sidelong to Carlisle, "Are we including her in the meetings milord?"

"We will, at this point she is here for the long haul." With a shake of his head he added, "Khalid forgive me." But then he smiled as the group rode into the town. From the outside looking in it was a simple and small place, friendly with a lazy and easygoing atmosphere.

But to those in the town, they knew better and Percival could sense it, he could feel the dread that hung over the populace. "My lord, do you feel it?"

"I do."

"Feel what!?" Layla had not noticed in all her wonder.

"Something is going on here, and I think I know what it might be." Percival furrowed his brow.

"Sharktooth," Carlisle stated the name quietly confirming Percival's thought. From the moment they reached Badon they had run ins with this Sharktooth's men again and again. Every time they fought they managed to repel his forces and make themselves known to the aspiring bandit lord. "If he were to know we were here do you think he would send a welcome wagon?"

"Probably..." Percival looked to his lord to see his face creased by a grin. "No, we musn't draw that kind of attention!"

"Not usually, no, but once everyone else is here should we not let him know? My name has become a whisper on his men's lips. You saw the strong reaction they had back in the forest. He knows me and the idea of me closing in is bound to make him fearful. If we can remove him from power my name is sure to spread through the underworld."

"And to informants and eventually to curious lords," Percival concluded. "I understand your logic and I don't disagree but you make no effort to hide who you are just shy of your last name. I do not desire to see inquisitors coming to our door."

"We can handle an inquisitor or two if we must. The rumor of my name must spread to reignite hope long before the truth is confirmed."

"I don't fear inquisitors Carlisle, what I fear is the risk of these rumors being given full attention and a Grand Inquisitor themselves coming for us..." Percival was a talented and powerful knight and to hear him openly admit to fearing these Grand Inquisitors was enough to give Carlisle pause.

"Are they truly so strong?" Layla chimed in.

"Aye. I would trade fifty knights for just one of them," Percival confirmed. This sent Carlisle into silence and thought.

"What if we could recruit one of these men?"

Percival sighed. "Were it so easy we never would have gone into exile." Fair point.

A short while later the trio arrived to the tavern where they saw to their horses and belongings. The three then gathered around a table to eat and discuss further. "If Sharktooth has a hold over this town then we need to keep someone on watch over our things at all times," Carlisle started.

"We need to keep ourselves well rested and we can't ask young Layla to act as a guard, nor can I trust hiring anyone local to not make a deal with the bandit while we slept." Percival raised a strong argument unfortunately.

Layla looked over the tavern for any other travelers that might have arrived.

[William]

As always - William found himself in a tavern. Yet once again, just like in Badon, he also found himself in a position where restraint was needed. Rather than some good ale or some, ahem, paid company, William instead sat alone with some water. He casually surveyed the surroundings and did his best not to look on edge. Unlike in Badon, it was not for lack of money that William abstained from alcohol - William had earned a fair bit of gold in the past few weeks. Rather the issue was the location of that particular establishment.

Bern was a nation William had always held a tentative apprehension towards. Perhaps Ostia aside, and apparently Eastern Ilia as of late, Bern was the land that saw the most conflict in the most recent decades. A civil war, a full scale war, a counter-invasion, foreign occupation, and a rebellion in such a short span of time. William held no ill-will towards the people of Bern - if anything he respected their resolve and grit.

It was just that constant CHANGE the land seemed to undergo that worried him. Change made for good business, but also short life expectancy.

Even the affable sellsword didn’t quite feel at home having a drink just yet, nor had he gone to make any new acquaintances. Still, he wanted to get away from the monsters of Lycia for a moment, and while a visit back to the plains would be wonderful it didn't exactly bear much opportunity for him. Bern was, in an odd sense, a healthy middle ground that could potentially erupt into chaos if one simply used recent history as a predictor. Besides, William couldn’t pass up the opportunity for more work and a nation that desperately needed to recover from constant conflict had plenty to offer in that regard.

Of course he knew little of anything to come in the town he’d stopped by in, and paid no mind to the young lady who gazed over him and his fellow purveyors.

[Carlisle "Hartmut"]

Layla looked over the patrons several times making no effort to hide her appraisals of them until Percival pulled her back into her seat with a heavy hand. "Eat your food and stop making eyes at people."

"I was NOT making eyes," Layla argued before shoving a large bite of food into her mouth.

"I think what he means is try to have a little subtlety about it, some tact if you will." Carlisle smiled behind folded hands as all he offered was a sidelong glance into the crowd. "Well, Layla, did anyone look the part for a hire?"

Layla put her food down with a "Huh? Oh uh, yeah I think so, there is one guy that is very obviously not from around here. His sword looks like one from my tribe."

Percival and Carlisle exchanged small smiles, "While your observations are mostly correct, that blade is hardly from Nabata." Percival corrected. "Nabatan blades tend to have more curve and thicker ends, good for chopping heads. His looks to be a slashing blade."

"And Sacaean." Carlisle stood and straightened his clothing. "If there is one thing Sacaean's are notorious for it is their honor. Like them or not if they give me their word I would trust it over any other stranger's... good pick." Leaving his table he approached William with a hand lazily resting on his sword's hilt.

"Excuse me, my companions and I are looking for someone to help guard our supplies through the night while he stay here in town. Just until the morning mind you, and seeing your blade I was hoping to hire you for the part?"

[William]

Of course, William hadn’t expected work to fall into his lap. Once he finished his drink he had planned to leave the tavern and stalk through the town for any postings or signs of a potential client. As such William was left remarkably surprised when a tall blonde man approached him and requested to hire him. He’d stated that it was William’s blade that gave him away as someone who may accept the job, if not a mercenary outright. That...didn’t seem all too likely to the dark haired man, so he reclined in his seat a bit and studied this potential client.

“My blade alone made you believe I’d be up for the task, huh?” Will mused aloud. He wasn’t the only one armed - he could spy a blade on the blonde as well. On top of that the blonde man seemed to be good natured and polite, more so than most who had any business in a tavern such as that one. Given the glances from the other man and young lady a bit further back in the tavern, it also seemed he wasn’t alone. Perhaps it was just the unusual nature of the situation and apparent reversal of how job acquisition went for William, or perhaps it was just his damned nerves as usual, but he felt a bit on edge.

“I’m certainly looking for work, but I don’t suppose you might tell me anything more? How much supplies are you carrying that you believe they’d warrant a guard?” Obviously the quantity meant little compared to the QUALITY. Were they just provisions? Or a rare product? William wasn’t quite so well traveled that he could get a firm guess on the man before him, only that he seemed too, well, clean to be in such an area. A well off merchant, perhaps?

“Other than that, well, I guess it depends on the coin. How much?”

[Carlisle "Hartmut"]

"It was not your blade alone that prompted me to approach you," he started. "It was the make of the blade as well as your dress." He looked to be Sacaean but up close like this there was an itch in the back of his mind like a distant doubt casting a shadow. Regardless, if he bore a Sacaean blade he was either a skilled enough warrior to take one from an enemy or a friend of the Sacaeans and frankly either option worked for him.

"Frankly speaking you look to be Sacaean and for you to be here in Bern strikes me as an odd decision. Given the recent invasion cut short, the siege, and the very fact that it was a Sacaean who slew the former King allowing the occupation." He hoped he had all of his historical details correct, being out of touch for nine years did leave a few gaps here and there. "So I assumed you were a wanderer or a mercenary, and you look to be in better shape than a vagabond would be so I ascertained the latter. Feel free to course correct me as needed but this is why I believed you up for the task." No need to go on about how Sacaean's were known for their word and honor. Could seem flattering or just as equally offensive.

"The supplies consist of several Nabatan blades and staves, as well as vulneraries and the like. A red gem or two and you can understand the desire for a guard?" He cast glances at the people in the tavern knowing they were being watched, so far more quietly he added, "With supplies like those I feel I need not say much about why it would be unfortunate if Sharktooth got a hold of them?"

Appealing to greater good, honor, and sense of reason was fine but they did need to cover coin. "For payment I am willing to offer you one of the red gems for a single night." Beneath boards of the cart there were blades of better quality but only too few to risk him asking for one of those.

[William]

Oh. So the man had thought William was Sacaen? Well, the tribes were all different and William’s attire was not exactly typical of even his sensei’s tribe, but there was certainly influence there. He already knew his hair helped him pass for Sacaen as well and, of course, the make of his blade. It had been one of the one’s forged by the Ajin tribe’s chieftain, Shiro Hashirama, after all. Simple iron, but William would rely on his iron katana before even the finest steel of another smith.

Still, on the matter of being Sacaen or otherwise, William was unsure how to respond. He didn’t see himself any more Sacaen than he did Lycian, regardless of which was the land of his birth, but he wondered if it would be offensive to correct the man. Still, he was always amused to hear the stereotypes and perceived image of Sacaens. Part of that was the fault of ignorance on the part of Lycians and others, but part of it was actually on Sacaens themselves. One way or another this strange image of the noble savage became what they were known for, and there was no way it was solely the fault of one tribe or one nation. The reason for his bemused smile, though, were his sensei and Yukiko. Even Shiro Hashirama himself. The three of them all shattered those stereotypes in baffling ways, each their own, yet all the same they lived up to them. Sacaens were, ultimately, just people and their values differed from tribe to tribe with varying overlap.

Normally William didn’t mind someone thinking he was something he was not - especially if someone thought he was something admirable. After a moment, though, he decided to tell the truth all the same. It just didn’t sit right with him. Was nice to hear he looked better than a vagabond. Last he checked women weren’t that into hobos. “That payment sounds acceptable, and though I’m not Sacaen I can’t say I fault you for thinking so.”

He left it at that and, instead, crossed his left leg over the other. “And sorry, what was that name? Sharktooth?” That was a bit more interesting than William’s case of mistaken identity. The name sounded, will, ridiculous. The kind of name a pirate captain would have in the stories his father would tell him when he was but a lad, yet the man had spoken it so casually it may as well have been “Thomas”.

[Carlisle "Hartmut"]

Oh, so he was not a Sacaean. No skin of his back then. If anything a certain sense of relief rather than embarrassment came over him as the spark of question was removed and replaced by assured knowledge. "Yes, the man I am concerned about goes by Sharktooth." Carlisle took this as his opportunity to sit with the stranger and continue the discussion.

"I'm sure you've noticed it? The sense of dread and despondence that looms over the populace? It permeates every facet of this locale and it is all because this Sharktooth keeps his heel upon the proverbial neck of the people. I've encountered his men a few times on my travels. He had a brother in charge of a ship from her to Badon until recently, if that gives you an idea of how far his reach is?" Oh yes, until recently, leaving out of Badon they thought to get revenge on him and the crew that took them to Bern after humiliating them at port. Only they failed and Sharktooth's brother lost his life for it. Carlisle looking to make his name known cut the finger with a ring from his brother's hand and sent a lone survivor back to deliver it to Sharktooth. If he knew Carlisle was in the town before he was ready it would end in a lot of blood.

"I doubt I need expound on why I want to keep supplies out of his hands? Someone like him would only go on to cause more trouble and given the state of Bern the military is not yet equipped to remove him from power."

[Marceline]

Along the road leading into Darrun, Marceline shot anxious glances left and right now and then as she trudged along with a hand over the pin of her hood. The silence of her conscience was penetrated with the sound of her sandals on the ground, and the echo of her footsteps felt as if they were as loud as miniature explosions upon the ground she walked. Though no one likely knew her name nor anything about her, and despite her years of training and work as a mercenary, she actually felt fear. This familiar fear, snuffed out after about the second year of being a mercenary, resurfaced at the thought of finally meeting the men that would require her assistance. Her heart was racing, but she could not tell if it was from excitement, anticipation, or a growing sense of alertness... At least her reflection upon her own thoughts had deafened the booms of her footsteps and made her walk faster.

The objective was simple: reach the ruins to meet up with Sir Percival and the prince. An easy task on paper, but such a stunt meant putting her neck on the line in a war that she had prepared herself to take part in. Then again, was that not the reason she spent years with a dagger in hand, swinging at dummy and man alike? Regardless of her current opinion of her position, it was something that the thief chose not to question. She was sent as the first one to meet with Sir Percival to avoid arousing suspicion, and that was that. It would take the best of the best to stand up against the odds, and the woman had done her best to make it into that "best". Not to mention that Bern's reputation did not sit very well with her, and personal feelings aside it still would not have been her favorite place to meet up in the world. With a sigh of mixed relief and awareness, Marceline pushed open the door to a nearby tavern and slipped inside. A girl gets thirsty from walking towns over, after all.

It was only until after she had grabbed a seat by herself and had a chance to survey the area that she spotted him. The familiar large nose and beard that rang bells in her head that she knew him, unmistakably so. "...Sir Percival," she muttered under her breath, keeping her gaze locked onto the older knight; the Etrurian was completely oblivious that the man across the tavern would be who she would soon consider her new liege.

[William]

Once again, so serious with this “Sharktooth” business. Evidently it was an alias of some manner of...pirate boss? Will supposed that would make some sense, then. Less a name and more a title, meant to invoke fear. At least it was not the birth name of some poor unfortunate bastard. The blonde continued on, though, and touched upon something that William had at least lightly picked up on. There had been something OFF about the town, but Will hadn’t been able to put his finger on it and it hadn’t been obvious as to why something was off. He figured it was just a byproduct of being in Bern - the land of conflict as William had mentally noted earlier. The sellsword leaned a bit further back into his chair and regarded the blonde with a touch of scrutiny.

“I’d noticed something was amiss. But I’m a stranger to Bern, and simply thought this was the way the people were.” Again, if that were the case, William wouldn’t judge them for it. Moreover he was curious about the blonde. “And yes, I understand your concerns for a supply guard, though you also did just detail why this job could be infinitely more dangerous than you first let on. Thanks for that.” William gave a wry smirk. He didn’t necessarily hold it against the man, but this had become a recurring factor in his work. No job could ever just be as it seemed on the surface.

“You also left me with a good few more questions, but first and foremost - your name? Mine is William, but Will is fine as well.” The blonde had spoken so openly, as if he were talking to an old friend, that William had briefly forgotten they hadn’t even properly introduced themselves. Perhaps the heavy detail the blonde had given about this Sharktooth, the kind of detail one could only have through personal experience or even as a first hand witness, had made William a bit more alert about who he could be speaking with. Furthermore the mercenary decided to look his surroundings over again, but he did his best to be casual about it. A few patrons had left, but another one had joined - a girl, from the looks of it. Nothing to be paranoid about...he hoped.

“So, can I expect forces from a man you’ve deemed so powerful that the military might of the most embattled nation would not be prepared to handle, while you and yours sleep the night away?” William’s tone was light in spite of his choice of words. He was half-joking, but he did want to know what exactly he would be risking for that red gem. His life, obviously, but uh...depending on the kind of man Sharktooth was death could be a mercy in the face of him and his underlings.

[Carlisle "Hartmut"]

The moment Marceline called Percival's name the man visibly tensed and winced before looking straight at her. It took him a moment to recognize her since the two were never well acquainted but as the only woman to have joined their group it did not take him long. "Marceline!?" He had not expected anyone until morning! He waved her over. "Take a seat, order some food." It was more an order than an invitation really. If they were letting someone else just join their table they wanted it to look natural as though they expected her.

While Carlisle didn't really mean to tip William off to the true nature of the threat he figured it was better this way and he didn't seem to be demanding higher compensation so that was something. When Will asked about his name Carlisle glanced around the room noticing the newcomer? He'll worry about her later. He leaned in closer for only Will's ears to hear. "My name is Carlisle." Would it have been simpler to give a fake name? Sure. Did he think of it? No.

"I did not say the military could not handle it. Only that this town is rather far from civilization and there is a distinct lack of military forces here." Dangerous but part of the exact reason everyone decided to come here. If they cleared out Sharktooth after hyping Carlisle's name in the region so much it would hopefully spread a good word of him. "As you might have gathered I have fought his men several times now and I can confidently say his numbers have dwindled but he is no less a danger to this village for it."

Percival gave Marceline a warm smile after a moment. "Its good to see you well child. How far off is the rest of your company?"

Layla meanwhile looked between all of the key figures in the room before adding, "I'm Layla. Pleasure is all mine!"

[Marceline]

Judging from Percival's tone, Marceline quickly forced a rather pleasant smile as she made her way over to take a seat at their table. She could not decide between calm appreciation at their meeting nor overexcited celebration that her mission was a success, so small, casual surprise would have to suffice. The thief's prowess in espionage had flourished under the fact that she could almost instantaneously shift her demeanor as an experienced performer, the skill being derived from her hobby of reading stage play scripts. Even so, she was genuinely happy to see him for a different reason she could not discuss in public: that would have to happen in private. "Ah, sorry! I must be dazed from the journey: my map had sustained some minor wear and tear from an incident I had with rain, but the detour I had to make with what I had certainly was not that detrimental," the woman apologized as she folded her hands neatly on the table.

It was probably a good circumstance that her detour had not been heavily time-consuming. Two empty flasks of vulneary were tucked into the pocket in front of her right abdomen as well as one of two pockets that was once full of bandages now reduced to few. Being concerned with her survival above making haste, should the uncharted fading of her map marked with several useful locations been more heavily damaged, Marceline would have practically missed the end location with all of the smudging. Hopefully her comrades would have an easier time navigating the land than she did: if she could make it with nothing but a weapon and survival gear, they could easily make it with their superior protection as well as tools available.

A surge of worry shot through her mind briefly before she managed to choke down her attachment for the time being. "Oh, they should arrive soon: I was sent ahead to check on you all a day before their departure. They should be here over the next couple of days," Marceline added. It was understandable that the guild needed to depart in separate parts considering that it would lower suspicion. The thief was sent with little money from the war funds that were raised because she had little room to store a large amount and carrying such a load would have slowed her down. Then again, a shady armed and hooded figure marching across the countryside with a huge sack of gold would raise its own complications.

The Etrurian pickpocket turned her attention to the girl next to Percival. Her smile this time was genuine and true to its core. "I don't believe we've met before, Layla. You may call me Marceline... Though if you'd prefer to drop formalities between us, I suppose that Marcy would suffice," she responded sweetly before her gaze had drifted off into the tavern again. Someone here must have been the prince, right? From what she remembered of Percival's letter, there could have been mention of his presence. If he arrived, it would take all of her might to stop herself from immediately checking to see if his wound from nine years ago had healed. She could probably pinpoint its point of impact from a glance because the memory of that fateful day was burned into her mind permanently.

[William]

William...didn’t really get why Carlisle had leaned so close to speak his own name. Perhaps he was fearful of Sharktooth’s men? Nah, that didn’t quite make sense...but William had no other ideas regarding the matter, so he merely shrugged and nodded. “Well met.” He opted not to repeat the name, as a basic respect for the evidently cautious blonde man.

At the very least Carlisle had clarified his first statement, which seemed a good bit more realistic than the former. Now Bern’s military was likely not in top shape be he doubted a pirate would be too much for it’s full might to handle. Rather he more meant towns like the one they were in that moment were not well protected at the moment. This was true - and was partially why William thought he may find work there.

“Fair enough. The town is rather isolated.” William nodded and shifted a bit in his seat. Carlisle went on to confirm what he’d suspected - that he’d faced Sharktooth’s forces several times. That said he never specified whether or not he’d faced the man himself. William suspected that he hadn’t, and given he’d been right the first time, was satisfied to leave the matter at that. “If you’ve faced them, then would it be safe to say you are hunting them? Or is it the other way around?”

After he’d asked the question, though, William clicked his tongue and waved his hand. “You don’t have to answer that if you don’t want to. I’ll accept the job all the same.” A red gem was quite valuable. He could sell that for a very nice price, especially when he next returned to the Ajin tribe. Yukiko was stingy but, ultimately, desperate. The onmyoji had a tendency to burn through precious gems at the same rate Will burned through coin.

[Carlisle "Hartmut"]

Carlisle had no qualms about expounding further on his relationship to the men but if he demanded no answers then it was easiest to leave the questions alone. Yes, it was best to be forthcoming but only as much as necessary and he had already spoken more than strictly needed. "Thank you."

He was not hunting the men... per se, but he was removing them from the stage as best he could and he was in their future base... so... yeah Carlisle was hunting them. Enough so that Sharktooth's men, while still willing to fight him her scared enough to think twice. He was becoming a whisper of a nightmarish monster to them, and that's the way he wanted it.

"Next couple of days!? They were supposed to get her tomorrow morning! Damnit!" Percival swore aloud slamming a fist on the table before nursing his temple. "I'm certain you know the state of the town already but its too risky for us to stay here for too long. Days... Bah! What were they thinking! I ought to give them a good thrashing when they get here!"

Layla shied away from the angry Percival. While it was true this was not the original plan she could not help but feel that he reacted a bit too strongly? "Uh, well, Marcy is a really cute name!" Layla chimed happily, "Oh yeah, Carlisle is right over there." She pointed to the blond man making negotiations with William.

Percival reacted quickly as he rounded on Layla for speaking so loudly. "You idiot!" He kept his voice hushed but stern.

"Carlisle?" Someone at another table questioned aloud. The townspeople knew the name, obviously told to keep an eye out for the man that threatened to come for Sharktooth.

Hearing his name from the lips of others Carlisle looked towards the group in wide eyed disbelief just before a pair of men fled the tavern.

"Catch them!" Percival practically screamed the order, flipping his chair and bolting for the door. Patrons screamed and moved out of the way.

"I think our deal may have to be cancelled." Carlisle apologized as he too stood and moved to join the hunt.

[Marceline]

Marceline winced as Percival raised his tone and slammed his fist down on the table. She concentrated her vision upon the center of the table and moved her hands down to rest atop of her lap passively. "My deepest apoligies, mi- I mean... Percival, sorry. There were complications regarding transit, please do not hold this entirely against them. We had little time to account for such an event," she mumbled lowly with a grim look. Fortunately it appears that no one else had heard her blunder of almost calling him "milord" after the facade of being mere acquaintanced friends had been established. But with the mistake aside, the thief sincerely wished that he would not enact any punishment upon her fellow guildmates. While having no part in the error whatsoever, she felt inclined to shoulder some of the blame for the mishap. It was one of her noble impulses that drove her to stick up for those that she had grown close to over the years of being hardened by combat and the life of a mercenary.

The calm atmosphere of the tavern shattered as soon as Layla exclaimed the location of Carlisle. Everyone went silent as the call rang out, practically echoing off of the walls for a moment before utter silence took over the room. Shocked, Marceline could only stare over at the man that she was pointing to: a blond haired gentleman in the back talking with another man who appeared to be Sacaean. Her gaze remained locked on the two, mesmerized by the fact that it was the same boy that had been wounded in the siege nine years ago. The features had developed significantly, but it was undoubtably him: Carlisle, crown prince to the Etrurian throne. Only Percival's fierce call to action snapped her out of the trance, causing the thief to immediately bolt out of her chair and run for the doorway. Riding Percival's coattails, after the two cleared the doorway, Marceline was easily able to overtake the knight and draw her dagger as she quickly closed the distance between her and the two men. "Keep going: I've got this one!"

With a muttering of a curse, she tucked her head in and broke into a full-on sprint to try and get within range of the man on the right. Unfortunately her short dagger would be far too heavy to throw at one of them, not to mention the fact that it would not do enough damage to incapacitate them if she was able to hit one without using any driving force. The thief roared out threateningly as she lunged forward, attempting to catch the man on the right with a forward tackle, the sharp end of her weapon out. If anything, planting her blade in his leg or calf would suffice to keep him "busy" if she missed the back and her window to bring him to the ground.

[William]

Just as William had accepted the job did the entire tavern erupt into...noise. A bearded man flanked by two women - one of whom being the green haired lass he’d spied moments before, shouted to catch two other men who’d darted out of the establishment. Carlisle er, excused himself, and stated their contract would be over before it even began. He, the bearded man, and the two women all made to engage in what looked like a frenzied chase.

...What the f**k had just happened?

William stood up as his mind raced. Two men ran off. Why? Carlisle had been cautious about his name. He’d heard...someone? One of the girls had said it earlier. Sharktooth’s men...informants. Something “off” about the town? All the details William had lazily picked up on pieced themselves together all too late, and the sellsword could do naught but curse his own lackadaisical nature!

...But why did he even care in the first place?

Before he’d even answered the question William’s legs had begun to move. He bolted out of the tavern and saw the group split after the two men. William did his best to recall the layout of the town, or at least what he’d noted when he’d first walked its roads earlier that day, and he opted to run down another path. At least one of the men was bound to make the error of taking a left down towards the houses - and if William was fast enough then he could cut them off.