"I am quite shocked, you must be an experienced merchant with that tongue of yours." The old man commented.
The group met back with him, with the needed gold in their pockets and in Colton's satchel. They stood around in a different alleyway closer to the gate, behind the man were the stacks of books they needed.
They started handing him the gold one by one, the man quickly tugged them all beneath a bag on his waist.
It took a few minutes, but the old man flashed a smile after putting the last handful of gold into his pouch.
"Enjoy your books!" He happily walked away, departing the books before joining the crowd moving outside.
"Hope the books were worth it, the gold on the wagon looks so much smaller now." Marcus remarked.
Calliope glanced at each book, checking the front covers for the symbol before storing them with a spell, transporting them to her personal storage.
"These books are highly beneficial. Though they are more likely to help with other parts of the kingdom rather than us."
She stood up, reading the contents of one of the books.
"This one is about farming, the rest are just smithing or other aspects."
"So, what now? We got the books, are we gonna rest or something?" Calliope spent a minute storing the books before answering Marcus' question.
"Myo spoke of other places having books aside from the cathedral, this stall may be one of many places. We will return to him with the maps, and get a few more maps, hopefully leading to books that also aid us." She explained.
With the deal done, they started to leave, the disguises were now closer to wearing off as the day was coming to an end.
The group left through the gate, the team rushed to the bushes before removing their disguises.
As they walked further, the light in the forest became dimmer. The sun above was starting to disappear below the horizon.
The team arrived at Myo's house after walking for half an hour. The torches were all lit, and the sunlight above was fully gone.
Colton spotted Myo walking down the stairs with a smile on his face.
"You got the papers?" He asked while approaching them.
AFter taking the papers from everyone, he nodded in approval.
"Alright, that's enough for a map or two that lead to books. Follow me."
On the way up, the group could smell the familiar scent of stew. Quill started to drool again.
"Stew…Should be a fair substitute for the meat in the market…"
The group all rested in the home, Quill was the first to be given a bowl, wolfing down the stew like it was her last meal. Calliope, the twins, and Colton all sat down on the chairs, waiting for Myo who was giving more bowls to the other members.
"Alright, each of you wrote details of different things so that helps. One about the mead, unsure how that helps but i do know someone who wants good mead." After talking, Myo placed a map in front of them, it detailed a smaller area, focusing mostly on a single building, an apothecary.
"I went there before, saw a few books scattered and some as well in the main room. Should help you when it comes to healing. Has three floors, they use a mix of magic and herbs to treat their patients." He looked away, as if forgetting something and trying to remember it again.
"I almost forgot, the main room has a certain amulet i want, if you find it and give it to me. I can give you a map to another place." He quickly added.
Myo looked through the window to the dark outside, "I'd suggest breaking in to the place given the time right now. Most are sleeping anyway, problem is just the guard patrols are stronger at night, either go past them or take them out."
He tapped on the table a few times before quickly standing up.
"Right now is best if you want those books. Enjoy your food, I'll just have a smoke outside." Finished talking, he made his way outside, pulling out the same pipe as before.
The team continued eating their food. Quill, Celestine, and Marcus ate like hungry wolves, while the rest on the table were slower.
While they ate, Calliope kept staring at the map in front of them.
Finishing her bowl, she stood up and examined it closer.
"Did you find something Miss Calliope?" Oliver asked, his mouth partially full with stew.
"None, just thinking." She spent more time looking at the map while the others kept eating.
"Alright, this should do." After mumbling to herself, Calliope called for everyone's attention.
"We will return to the city later under the disguise of guards. Our target is an apothecary that may hold books we could use." She started rolling up the map, preparing herself for the new task.
"We will leave in a few minutes so rest for now. We will conduct recon and assign tasks once we arrive in the area." After her announcement, Calliope went through the door and walked back down the spiral stairs.
For the next few minutes, they began preparing their weapons and finishing their bowls.
Myo continued standing outside, creating clouds of smoke above him.
Colton was the first to meet her at the bottom, having already finished his food earlier.
He found Calliope standing away from the stairs, holding the map with both hands, formulating a plan for later.
She stayed silent as the rest of the team arrived.
Once everyone was down, she signaled for them to follow her.
The night was colder than before, Colton was weary as they walked on, still expecting an animal to pounce him or something else to appear.
On the walk, they heard the sudden movement of branches and leaves above.
Their eyes were met with Myo, perched up on a tree with his hood up.
"Ignore me, i'm also doing my own theft around here. Just try not to get spotted." After speaking for a brief moment, he started jumpimg from tree to tree with great speed, quickly leaving the team.
The city walls were in distance, up above were the same guards. More numerous tham before, walking back and forth.
After a moment, everyone's appearance changed, now all disguised as guards.
"The apothecary is to the north, just a few streets to the right of that tavern and trading inn." Calliope quickly explained.
"Just follow me and don't get caught." The group emerged from the bushes, cautiously walking towards the wall as soldiers above kept moving.
Colton could hear the metallic footsteps pass by above him.
Once everyone reached the side of the wall, Calliope began climbing. The team followed below her, they slowly grabbed on any crack and misplaced slab trying their best to make as little noise as possible.
Once on the top after waiting for the guards to pass, they hastily jumped to a rooftop, running away afterwards.
Colton could see spots of light on different roads, lit by guard patrols as they wandered the city for any criminals.
Colton's fear kept rising, hoping that his weapon or boots didn't make any loud noises. While they went on, he realized that the amount of patrols only became bigger the deeper they went.
His fears started to die down though, just in front of them was the apothecary. It was pitch black with no occupants inside.
While they were looking at it, Calliope began giving out tasks to everyone.
"I, Colton, and Quill will enter inside. The rest of you keep watch around the area. If any guard is nearby, take them out." With the orders given, they all split up.
Calliope and her group started climbing down once patrols left, the apothecary looked more lively than the other houses, with hanging plants just outside the door and wall.
Just to their luck, the door creaked open after trying to open it. The group entered fast before shutting it behind them.
The faint moonlight from the windows provided decent lighting as they moved around. Calliope led from the front, her sword unsheathed in case someone was inside.
The room was medium sized, to their left was a counter with a large shelf of different filled glasses behind it. In front of them were tables and a few beds for the ill.
To their right though was a hallway.
"Getting the creeps now, can't hear a thing." Quill whispered.
With each step they took, the floorboards creaked as they started exploring the room.
Calliope stared at the beds while Quill looked at the shelf of bottles. Colton stood at the foot of the dark hallway.
From where he was standing, he could see 3 doors on both sides.
"Nothing of interest here. What about you Quill?" Quill shrugged her arms after being asked.
After a brief moment, Calliope walked to Colton and looked at the hallway.
"Hopefully this will lead us to those knowledge books…And that amulet." Without fear, Calliope began walking down the hallway, the other two followed from behind with Quill preparing her bow for a possible fight.