114: Ploy (4)

Ploy (4)

Louise and her group led Billy and the others to the back of a certain tavern as if they knew the best roads to use at night without being found. Although it was past midnight, the place was still working, even though not many people were there. At least, that is what Billy assumed, considering the amount of noise he could hear.2

"Some of our friends work here, and they will offer us shelter and help with that task of yours," Louise said. "Stay here, and I am going to explain things to them."

The back of the tavern was like a stable, pretty messy place where travelers left the horses. In any case, Billy didn't mind letting Louise out of his sight because her friends were with him. Considering that she asked them to be freed, knowing that she would end up owing more favors, she wouldn't do anything to put them at Billy's Wrath. Not that it was something impressive, but people tend to fear the unknown.

It didn't take long for Louise to return with a blond man that had quite the prominent mustache. He greeted his old friends first before talking with Billy's group.

"Thank you for helping them, my name is Henri, and I will help you with the best of my ability," the mustache man said. "Louise explained what you need, and you are lucky. A friend of mine is a peddler who is planning to visit your town soon. However, smuggling you guys out of town is…"

"Impossible, well, it doesn't matter," Billy said. "We can't escape without dealing with this count. We can't afford to leave any loose ends behind."

"... I heard from the guards that a kid killed dozens of them and heavily wounded several others," Henri said. "While looking at Billy. "The count is offering quite the sum for your head."

"Oh? Word spread fast around here," Billy said. "Are you interested in making some quick money?"

"No, but I am interested in making the count pay for his crimes. If you people are willing to help us, then we can work together," Henri said.

"We can't avoid this situation, but there isn't much that we can do without making a scene," Anna said. "We will have to wait for our friends while we lay low and work to find some clues about the count's actions."

"Right, just our testimonies won't do it, even if you people are good friends with our lord," Henri said. "Regardless, you guys can rest for the day. The guards will keep looking for you for several days, so there is no need to hurry."

----- -----

A few days later, a peddler arrived in Edward's town. The place didn't have a name yet, so the people from outside called it by that name. The random peddler moved across the town with his wagon as if he was looking for a place to stop and open his stand, but he stopped when he found the green eyes spearmen district. The people there frowned since it wasn't a place where peddlers opened their shops. Most of them opened near the center. In any case, the people frowned, even more when the peddler opened his mouth.

"I have a letter for Alexander, son of Nikola," the peddler said.

Fortunately, it was early in the morning, so Alexander still was at home. He also frowned when people called for him, saying that he had received a letter… he didn't have any friends outside that town, after all. Still, he opened the letter and slowly began to read its content.

"It… is… me… Billy… and… you… want… to… become… the… best… archer… to… marry…" Alexander stopped saying the words out loud since he already knew the next words.

"My job is done…" The peddler said. "It will be better if you follow the instructions inside the letter carefully."

Although he was meek, Alexander wasn't stupid… he realized that Billy used a letter and also sent a message to make everyone realize that he had written that… for some odd reason. He chose a roundabout way to do so. Regardless, Alexander realized that Billy needed his help, but before doing anything, he read all the letter's contents.

—-- —--

Several days had passed since the incident, and Billy's group was still hiding in the bar's back. The place wasn't an inn, so it was rather… tight for so many people. There weren't beds either… and the lack of freedom was starting to annoy Billy. If he didn't know that going on a rampage would cause problems to his people, he would invade the count's mansion and then kick his ass badly and anyone who might try to stop him.

Still, Billy managed to kill some time by practicing his magic. He was trying to combine wind and water to create ice, but he failed every single time.

"If I remember well… Molecules are constantly moving because they have energy. In a liquid form," Billy thought. " Water molecules have more energy than in a solid-state. They move around quickly, essentially bouncing off of one another. As the liquid cools down, the amount of potential energy is reduced, and the molecules start to move slower. When the water temperature reaches around 0°C, the molecules stick together and form a solid – ice."

Billy didn't think that he was skilled enough to control molecules with magic. However, he obtained some results by compressing water and making it stop moving. Thanks to that, the temperature of a water Ball decreased… but he still needed training. To reach zero degrees Celsius. Still, he discovered that there days ago, and he was improving to the point where that in three days, he would create ice.

"These guards are persistent," Anna said when she heard the footsteps of those armored guards. "They are using all of their men to find us."

"I guess I went too far with my diversion, Billy said. "Now, all the soldiers have a reason to find us. Still… I have an idea."

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