The entire group soon called the camp home, already picking out which tents to sleep in. Marcus kept staring at the cart of gold, fantasizing what to spend it with.
Myo was also present, walking with Calliope and inspecting the camp. Colton sat on the wagon while they walked by, able to hear in on their conversations.
"This place ain't too shabby. And that is a bountiful amount of gold. Don't worry, you got it fair and square." But after speaking, he stared at the wagon, thinking about something.
"I would've suggested pickpocket, but this amount of gold is enough to last about a year if you don't splurge it all." He laughed.
"You lot are far more capable than I thought." He turned to her with a smile, "With that money and disguise spell, mapping out and jotting information down should be very easy. If you want to do our deal, I'll be waiting near the gates." Once finished, Myo started heading back, running down the path with great speed.
Calliope walked around before her eyes glanced at Colton resting on the wagon.
"Colton, with your pouch, you'll be our money holder for the mission. Bring as many coins as you can carry." She ordered. Colton opened the pouch strapped on his waist, empty and spacious, he could hold a good amount of gold.
After a short delay, Colton began scooping up coins from the cart and placing them into his bag.
While busy, Calliope started deciding on the next move, thinking of what else they needed.
Suddenly, she announced something to the group.
"All of you will be disguised as guards or civilians so we may go through the streets without problem." The group heard her announcement loud and clear, some started to rest and gain energy or prepare themselves for the mission.
It took a few minutes, but Colton managed to place enough coins in his pouch, feeling it slightly weighing his body down, but nothing his sturdy pouch couldn't handle.
An hour had passed and everyone sought cover under the tents without another order from Calliope. She sat in the tent once owned by the leader, waiting before ordering the group to leave.
Colton rested in a small tent that could only fit a single person, nothing but a leather mat on the ground was present, forcing him to place his weapon just outside the tent.
Once enough time had passed, Calliope expected everyone to be well rested and prepared for their mission, loudly ordering everyone to head outside.
With the team all outside with their weapons ready, she started to talk.
"We will head back to the gate and enter as either civilians or guards. Stand out as little as possible, we will also split into two groups, since our targets are smaller for now.". Our first targets will be a trading inn and tavern in the northern area." She began splitting the group into two.
Colton, Marcus, and Oliver were ordered to go to the tavern while the rest went to the market.
With their assignments, they departed the camp, walking below the shade and towards the gate.
Colton pondered on his assigned role.
'Tavern? Why there? I only drank a few times but was never a drunkard…" He thought to himself, but an order was an order.
"Before I forget." Calliope suddenly spoke, looking at Colton. "Mind giving half the gold? We are heading to a trading inn after all." Without delay, he took out coins from his bag, lessening the weight. Calliope took the handful of gold, handing it to the other members of her group.
The walk was shorter than expected, they walked through a few bushes, finding Myo observing the closed gate of the wall.
"Guards are on break right now, now's your chance to enter and disguise. Oh right, take these." He began handing out small pieces of paper with ink quills on each of them.
Colton rolled the paper around the quill before placing it in his bag, the rest doing the same.
"Good luck, as a tip, the tavern and inn may have a few books you want." After talking, the group and Myo parted ways.
Myo left the bushes and headed back home while the team began scaling the wall, hearing the faint voices of civilians on the other side.
Once on top, Calliope took a quick glance at the street below starting the disguise. Colton and his group were disguised as guards while Calliope and her team took on the form of the drunken nobles of last night.
They hastily dropped down afterwards, making sure to not stay for long and nobody spotting them.
The street was mostly empty with a few civilians walking around, none though seemed to spot them. Their path was calmer than expected, most civilians possibly in the market.
Marcus let out a deep groan. "Hope their mead and beer is good."
After an hour of passing through empty and busy streets, they all arrived at the northern area, the inn and tavern in sight. The tavern was the same one Colton found, they stood on the side while a flood of civilians walked in the middle.
"Alright, write down the information and see if there are any books you can take." Calliope gave her last order before heading off to the trading inn.
"So, I guess we're supposed to drink and write huh?" Marcus spoke with a deeper tone of voice from his disguise.
Escaping the sun and starting their task, they entered the tavern.
It was more than lively, the atmosphere was filled with the sounds of drunk singing and the strong smell of alcohol. Small groups of people danced with one another as a team of musicians played upbeat songs in the corner, the rest of the customers either watched, kept drinking, or were fast asleep where they sat.
The bartender stood behind a long counter, behind him was a shelf of different bottles, he stared at Colton and the others with an emotionless face while cleaning a wooden cup.
"Don't worry, I know how to do things in bars, I'll order a drink as well for all of you." Without warning, Marcus took some coins from Colton's pouch and led them to some empty chairs.
Everyone sat down, Oliver looked confused, seemingly not seeing or entering a bar in his whole life, his grip on the staff tightened.
Marcus was busy talking to the bartender and ordering some drinks while Colton was concentrating on the mission given.
With no clear thought on what information Myo wanted, he started writing down any major details he could find.
The musicians, the drinks, the amount of rooms, and the liveliness. He wrote all he could until the paper was filled. Oliver followed as well but was still nervous while observing the place.
It did not take long before the barkeep placed 4 large wooden cups in front of them.
"Basic mead, i managed to also get a few things from him. For now just take a drink." Marcus pushed the cups to the two who were still writing.
Colton took a sip from the cup, despite going to taverns in the past he never got used to it. Oliver was hesitant to even touch the cup, and Marcus was chugging down the cup like it was water.
"Must say, the mead here is better. Anyways, the keep spoke of someone selling some books in the market, goes by the name of Gorin. Guess that's where we go." Marcus wrote something down on the paper after talking, placing down a few coins once done.
"He also said that those drinks on the shelf are premium ones, unsure what he means by that though." He continued. Oliver only took a few small sips of his cup, disgusted by the taste of mead but tried to stomach it.
"I take it you hate the taste?" Oliver nodded his head quickly.
"More for me then," He immediately grabbed Oliver's cup and gulped it down, barely acting drunk as if he got used to it already.
"Well, I guess this is all from this bar, but I have a hunch the barkeep knows more. Maybe next time we can ask him about other stuff like bandits or other locations." He explained, with all cups empty, they all stood up and began to leave.
As they made their way out, a hand grabbed onto Oliver's shoulder. A drunken man stood behind them, mad. Oliver turned around to face him.
"Is- is anything wrong?" He nervously asked.
"No use mate, can't reason with drunks."
After seconds of silence, the man began to yell.
"You armored schmucks and your damned security, let us breathe in peace for once!" He yelled.
Before anyone could react, the man landed a hard punch to the side of Oliver's face, sending him to the ground.
"Bloody drunkards." Now irritated, Marcus took out his sword and slammed the bottom of it on the man's face, knocking him on his back. The drunkard groaned in pain while covering his face.
Marcus hastily grabbed Oliver and the four ran out the tavern. With the possibility someone might follow them, they walked into the crowd of civilians, trying to stick together while getting away from the place.
After a minute, they emerged from the path, standing at the side. Colton realized that they were standing just next to the trade inn.
"Well, hope that didn't mess something up."
Oliver silently rubbed his cheek while trying to use his magic on it.