Dagger on her hip, pack over her shoulder, Claudia stopped in the taproom on her way out. Lanterns filled the room with the flickering light they could give as the black night in the windows offered little detail to the world outside. Bastion, working the bar, approached her as casually as any other patron. His eyes scanned the room, counting the other figures present. “What can I get you, miss?”

She didn’t flinch. Almost comforting to not be addressed by title. “What do you have that’s strong, flammable, and portable?”

The barkeep raised an eyebrow unexpectedly. “And drinkable, I assume?”

She smiled at the response, and pulled out a pocket flask, pushing it forward. “Fill that, but I could use a separate bottle. I’m expecting a long travel,” she winked.

“Sure thing,” he said, snapping up the tarnished container. At the other end of the bar, Bastion pulled out a bottle of reddish brown spirits and uncorked it. Taking a brief sniff, he shook his head and winced at the smell, he hesitated a moment before carefully filling the flask and capping it off. Corking the bottle, he turned the glass container back and forth, holding it up to inspect the liquid inside. Another patron spoke up at the bar, and he asked them to hold on a moment longer. Returning to Claudia, he set both down before her. “Fire Opal, let’s call it ten leaves for both.” She had the coin ready in her hand and upended her palm onto the countertop. “Thank you kindly,” he said, scooping up the money, “And safe travels.”

Claudia uncapped the flask to take a sniff herself out of curiosity, and the aroma came across sickly sweet with an immediate after odor of unfiltered liquor. That’ll do. She blinked back tears and pocketed the flask, making double sure the cap was on tight, then stuffed the glass bottle in a hip pouch, taking out a map at the same time. Fingers pressed to the marked town, the other hand dragged it’s digit across the parchment from left to right, stopping and tapping on the icon of a tower. “Two days, maybe three if things get complicated,” she said to herself more than anything. “Then, depending on what Roth says, maybe we can catch up within the week.”

The familiar double tapping of Rosa’s heeled boots on the floorboards approached from behind, and the stool beside Claudia dragged a little as it was pulled out. Rosa waved over to Bastion, and gestured a single finger before resting her arms on the bar. “Everything is set, we’re just waiting for your word.”

“What’s the final count?” she countered, eyes still on the map.

She nodded to the barkeep as she dropped a small, uncut gem on the table and picked up the tankard in the same fluid motion. “Including us, four.” She took a drink and continued, “The rest are staying to hold the line for the inevitable disaster after our little sabotage takes effect, helping to buy us time.”

Claudia shook her head. “Damn it, I don’t want any fighting…”

“Not so much fighting as….interfering. I told them it was your wish to limit the blood shed as much as possible. We all know how the ‘guard likes to make examples of innocents.” Rosa continued to drink while she could, anticipating a hasty departure. Her change of clothing from dark, elegant dress to dark brown traveler’s tunic and trousers was a subtle reminder of her history as a spy. She may have a preference on her appearances, but she was no stranger to the practicality of necessary change. “Whenever you’re ready,” she said in a lower volume, “Mistress.”

Claudia took a deep breath as she folded up and stowed the map. Back to work. “Okay, let’s go.”

---

At the edge of town, near the stables, Claudia, Rosa, and two others swooped from shadow to shadow. The gibbous moon was occasionally obscured by the clouds above, but the group’s eyes had already largely adjusted to the darkness as best they would be able to in the moment. Approaching the stable containing pure bred steeds, all black as the night around them, one of the men whispered, “They’re trained, so they should be fairly decent for the travel.”

“We don’t have the feed for horses,” Rosa hissed in a whisper. “We’re taking the auto-cart.”

Claudia hushed them all again, her hands making gestures and signs about the area. At attention, the other three took a moment to peek around or over the short fence line that covered them at the moment. The nearby armored figures walked side by side, the words spoken between them too low to hear. Stopping to check their supplies in a chest across the way from the stable, backs turned for a moment, there was a twitch of motion from the older, bearded man with them. Rosa held him back with a hand as they continued to watch, and sure enough the pair of soldiers walked away, leaving the immediate area.

Claudia held a fist up, waiting for their anticipated signal. As clear as the area was, it was best not to rely on chance when you plan on a distraction in the first place. Where are they?

Rosa tapped her shoulder to get her attention, and she turned, seeing quick, practiced gesture indicating, “Early, not late.” Claudia nodded and rested her arm as they waited another minute. And another.

Kra-koom!

The explosion shook the ground and lit up the sky in a bright orange and red haze. Orders were being shouted to control the blaze, as the intended storehouse down the way caught fire. Metal boots rattled on the ground as they ran off to aid in the damage control. The area now evacuated, the group stealthily rushed over to the enormous wood and metal cart, the door on the back side open, inviting them inside. Interlocking metal chains and plates ran along either side of the auto-cart, treads intended to be useful for all terrains, and, aside from dirt and a scrape or two, they seemed nearly untouched. Rosa went in first, taking the driver’s seat at the front, sliding open the shield to see forward. Claudia stopped at the open door and ordered the two men to fetch the supply crate nearby and whatever charge boxes they could grab in another pass. Everyone finally loaded in, the last passenger inside pulled the ramp door shut and latched the lock. “How many did we get?”

“We managed four, Mistress, plus whatever is on board.” He looked around, wide eyes and amazed expression hard to see in the dark. “This thing…is so…”

“It’s overwhelming the first time,” Rosa said from the front, toggling switches and engaging levers. Tiny dots of light turned on and filled the cabin with a dim illumination, and a spotlight turned on near the front, but the shield was closed to keep it from shining out in front of the machine. She turned her head to address Claudia. “Four should be more than enough for our travel. What’s in the chest?”

The bearded man opened the supply chest to check its inventory. “Field rations, mostly, but there’s also a couple idols and trinkets. What the…” The man pulled out a flintlock pistol, turning it over and inspecting it. “What is this thing?”

“‘Firearm’ is what they’re called,” Claudia said as she eyed it from across the cabin. “At least that’s what we’ve found out, so far. Don’t know how many of them are out in the wild, but they’re maddeningly destructive. Anything else in there?”

“No, that’s about it. Looks to be about four days rations if we split them evenly.”

Claudia looked to Rosa, and she looked back expectantly. “We don’t have time, we’ll have to manage. Let’s go.” Rosa nodded and engaged motor, jerking the auo-cart forward into the night. As it lurched a few paces, she opened the shield on the spotlight to illuminate the way ahead and accelerated.

Claudia turned back to the others. “Gentlemen, we may have to stretch those rations. We’re making a stop in a couple days, but if we aren’t able to resupply, we may have to go hunting in the wild.”

The two took this information with some hesitation and worry, but the younger man in the back spoke up. “Wherever you’re going, we go, too.”

“Good to hear, lads.” She eyed them carefully as they settled in. “I didn’t catch your names before, don’t think I’ve met either of you formally.”

The younger man answered on their behalf, “Name’s Anton, This bearded bastard is Vincent.”

“It’s an honor, Mistress,” Vincent offered as he leaned back in his seat.

A half smile attempted to stretch across her face. “Rest for now, we should be good for the night. If things go well, the ‘guard won’t be following us at all.”

“And if it goes poorly?” Anton asked as he took a seat next to Vincent.

Her head dropped a moment at the thought. Claudia spent more than half of her life fighting uphill battles just to stay alive, so even with the hope she had at finding her brother, she knew she couldn’t rest easy. “We fight.”