Martha and Cassian moved in deeper, the lantern light grew sparse while the shadows stretched longer between the buildings.
The noise of the gambling house faded behind them, and was replaced by the muted rhythm of distant footsteps and the echo of wind blowing around them.
Cassian kept walking without looking back even though he noticed the people tailing them.
"They're still following us and now they're not even hiding." Martha said quietly.
But Cassian was not bothered by it at all, he remembered something in the letter Detective Crowe sent, he had overlooked the first time he read it.
It was obvious why he said what he said, that meant he needed Little Joe to come up to him personally. Then Cassian slowly replied, "they don't intend to hide either way."
Cassian and Martha took another turn and behind them the stalkers were clearly audible. From above they heard faint scraping of boots shifting across the tiled rooftops.
"We're being surrounded, Young Master," she added but even being cornered and surrounded like this didn't dismiss the smirk he had on his face.
"Good."
Finally they reached the intersection, there were three paths ahead of them. Two of which were blocked, it looked as if they purposefully led the group tailing them into this isolated place.
The figures stalking them stepped into view, one ahead, two behind…above and from every side they cornered them. The formation was not rushed, rather it was controlled as they tightened and closed any escape routes without collapsing.
Cassian stopped, Martha shifted slightly, her weight distributing as she got ready to draw. Still, neither side moved first. The men ahead did not speak.
Perhaps they were showing their professionalism. But while they were focused on the two they failed to notice another person.
Behind them, more steps could be heard as their rear was sealed. The steel sword glinted faintly in low light due to the mana stirring on it ready to attack them.
The containment was now complete, Cassian exhaled slowly and moved his left hand, a pulse of mana flickered between his fingers as a wind bullet shot towards a guy with a crossbow on the roof.
"Stay close Martha," he said and stepped forward but before they could retaliate he flicked his wrist.
[Mist Shroud]
The chant was quiet, the effect wasn't as a dense fog erupted outward in an instant, flooding the intersection.
The vision collapsed to an arm's length while sound distorted and shadows dissolved into nothing.
My mana was almost depleted by one of these stupid advanced spells, fuck, Cassian thought.
Confusion seeped into the group as their formation broke. Cassian turned sharply and moved through the fog towards a direction he had already chosen.
Martha followed behind without question as they heard strained voices from all around them.
"Spread out."
"Don't lose them."
"Boss will kill us if we aren't able to capture a cocky noble and his pretty maid."
But it was too late for them, Cassian exited the fog into a wider stretch of the road which was abandoned and empty.
The buildings there were half-finished or long forgotten. Wooden scaffolding lined on one side while the other opened into a broad yard of broken stone and stacked crates.
It was perfect, he slowed down and turned, Martha emerged behind him as she scanned the yard.
"They will regroup quickly. From their movements, they are not pushovers," she said.
"I know that Martha. They are handpicked by Little Joe by himself from what I can tell." Cassian replied.
Then they emerged from the fog, one, two…three and then some more. They spread as they advanced, more cautious now of Cassian.
The open space forced them to adapt again, their earlier containment broken.
"You noticed it earlier, right?" Cassian said quietly.
"Yes I did."
"Good."
The air shifted and a figure stepped from the shadow of the half built structure. He was tall and lightly armored. It was Oliver, Cassian's guardian knight.
He had been there long before the fog, watching and waiting. He was not there for their rescue, rather reinforcement.
Martha nodded in acknowledgment while Cassian smiled but didn't turn to face Oliver.
"I was beginning to think you would stay out of it. It seems I was wrong."
The knight's voice was low, "you weren't in any danger. So I didn't interfere with what you were doing."
Cassian's smile turned into a devious smirk. "That's debatable."
"It's not, I came out when I thought you had no choice but to entertain these gentlemen."
The enemies finished regrouping, upon looking at them Cassian guessed their number to be around twenty five, maybe closer to thirty.
The first attack came from range, wind blades cut through the air followed by arcs of flame and thrown steel.
Cassian moved forward, he deflected the first strike with minimal motion, stepping diagonally to break the line of fire.
Another projectile grazed past his shoulder as he closed the distance, their ranged advantage had to be broken.
Martha intercepted the flank, as two attackers moved wide attempting to collapse Cassian inwards. But she got to him before they could get to him.
She stepped into their reach and a cut to the wrist followed but a cut to the throat. Both dropped before their momentum finished carrying them forward.
Oliver advanced next, three men engaged him at once but he didn't retreat and held his position.
Steel met steel and his stance was unmoved as he absorbed their strikes and returned them with efficiency.
Cassian broke the center, he closed on a caster mid chant and disrupted the rhythm before the spell was completed. A short thrust forced the man back and the spell collapsed as his focus broke.
Another attacker stepped in but Cassian pivoted, he elbowed the man's side and then cut the man's throat, the man fell limp on the ground.
The tension in the yard was intense, three people were against thirty and yet none of the three had anything but a scratch on their bodies.
The attackers retreated as their formation broke. The first phase of the fight ended with that, their ranged casters were down, it was now up to their close combat ones to finish their job.
***
[Chapter 23 - Litter Joe(1)]