We eventually found the other four hidden in an alleyway. Along the way, Alizon complimented me on my quick thinking. I told her it was nothing. The other four were crowded in the small alleyway, with Alys hiding in the shadows.
"What did you do that for?" Lydan hissed, his fists balling.
"I panicked," Alys replied. "And anyway, I'm going along to protect you guys. I'm the only one who can rival her, remember?"
"We have an army of elves," Lydan spat.
"And she has an army of dwarves," Alys rolled his eyes. "Look, you may think you're prepared, but you're not. I've seen what she can do, and it's not pleasant. So allow me to help,"
"Lydan, he's here to help us," Elaria told him, grabbing his arm.
"I don't care what he's doing here," Lydan turned to Elaria. "He's dangerous,"
"Don't you want me to be held in Domun?" Alys asked, his tone shifting slightly. "It was your idea, wasn't it?"
"It was," Lydan nodded.
"Exactly," Alys cracked a small smile. "You want me there in Domun to be executed, there's no denying that, so why don't you take me?"
"Alys, what are you saying?" Zath mumbled.
"It's his idea," he replied. "Besides, isn't it what I 'deserve' for being darkened?"
"He's right," Lydan nodded. "I hate to say it, but we'll steal the boat and sneak in,"
"What?" Elaria jumped back. "Lydan, you want to steal?"
"How else are we supposed to get him in? And Oliver for that matter," he replied. "I hate the idea, but it's the only choice we have,"
"He's right, you know," Alizon added. "The only way to get you guys in is to steal,"
Elaria let out a loud groan. "Fine. We'll steal the boat,"
There was a moment of silence. I saw Zath look at something out of the corner of his eye. He turned away immediately, and Alys went to look. Curious, I did too. It was the elf from before, the one I kicked, and another. They both seemed to be heading our way.
"Well, we meet again," the elf cracked a grin at Zath, and then turned to me. "You'd better not kick me again,"
"You mean this little guy kicked you?" The other elf walked over, towering above me. "He's so small,"
Without thinking, I kicked him in the shin like his friend, stepping back as he fell over and yelled curses. His friend went to punch Zath, but was stopped by Lydan, who caught his fist with lightning speed.
"Hey!" He yelled. "It's what he deserves for his little friend kicking me,"
Without any warning, black smog engulfed his neck, and picked him up. I saw a shaky hand engulfed in the same black smog in the shadows. His friend scrambled up and ran away. The smog disappeared into the air, and the elf fell to the floor, staring dumbfounded at the hand. After a couple seconds of staring, he too ran away to join his friend. The hand moved back to the shadows, and I heard Alys exhale loudly.
"I'd best get back to Locito and Laetus," Alys flicked his hood back up, crossing his arms and hiding his hands.
"But what about your looks?" Zath asked rather calmly considering what just happened. "Won't they see?"
"Locito can tell the future," he replied. "She knows,"
"Ah," Zath nodded. "We'll meet you back when we're done,"
And with that, Alys briskly walked off, leaving us alone in the alleyway.
"What was that?" Alizon asked, staring at the shadow in the alleyway.
"Alys gets a little overprotective," Zath replied. "I've learnt it's best to not bring it up with him,"
"That's protection?" Lydan asked.
"Yeah,"
"That's anything but protection," he scoffed.
"It's his way of protecting someone, so shut up," Zath responded.
"How dare you!" Lydan yelled, standing up straight.
"Lydan, calm down," Elaria grabbed his arm. "He acted a little too dramatically, but can we please appreciate the intent?"
Lydan pulled her hand from his arm, not saying anything.
"C'mon, let's take a look around the market," Alizon said tentatively, looking at the entrance of the alleyway. "It looks like the rush is over,"
"Let's," Zath nodded. "It's been a while since I've seen one,"
The both of them led us out of the alleyway and into the less crowded streets. They were lined with stalls and different people calling out their goods. We walked down at a slow pace, with everyone a little shook at the encounter and praying we didn't see the two elves again. At least I was, I don't really know what the others were thinking. The stalls were still full of items, even after the rush of people. Some had the odd fruits displayed in lines, and some had little cakes and cookies on them too. There was even a dragon with a horde of coins sitting on one of the tables, roasting nuts with his fire breath. He was so tiny, the opposite of what I expected. I was expecting them to be larger than a house, but this one seemed tiny.
"If you don't mind me asking, who was that?" Elaria asked timidly.
"My ex's friends," he replied. "They don't like me too much,"
"I can see that," she giggled. "But why?"
"I don't know, the same reason you didn't?" He replied.
"Oh yeah," she nodded. "Well, you're not as bad as I thought,"
"I'd better not be," Zath cracked a small smile. "I'm not too bad,"
"You are," I chimed in, hoping to also lighten the mood.
"Hey!" Zath punched me lightly in the arm. "I am not,"
"You eat everything," I replied, pretending to sulk.
"Alright, I'll give you that one," he rolled his eyes. "But I bet you can't think of anything else,"
After a pause, I shrugged. "I suppose I can't,"
Zath cracked an even larger grin, and Elaria began to laugh.
"You two are terrible," she said through her laughing.
"Are we really?" Zath asked, smiling.
"Yes, you are," she nodded.
We all laughed, and continued down the road cracking jokes to lighten the otherwise dull mood.