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-----Out the door goes Kazel and the shaggy-haired elf behind her. Part of the street before them is bathed in the light of the full moon while the side they stay on remains in unrevealing shadows. A late arriving wagon moves down the street in front of them just coming from the gate in the north town wall. It noisily clatters along as the horses seem to trot in anticipation for their day’s work to end. The driver bobs to and fro as if he is sleeping.
-----The tavern on down the way continues to sound lively and suddenly Kazel notices the elf looking at her with large eyes. His expression is almost unreadable and his features seem somehow otherworldly. It seems apparent that this is not an elf raised in any city, but a true child of the forest.
-----He breaks the silence by suddenly saying in a forceful whisper, "Bows. Not find bows in shops. Shops all closed. Go to market." He begins to move with an uncanny silence as if to show her where he speaks of, when suddenly Kazel spies someone down the street heading in their direction.
-----There a man walks on the side of the street bathed in moonlight. He wears a dark cloak and his hood is pulled back from his face. Perhaps he is making for the busy tavern or out for a moonlit stroll, but the alertness that seems to hold Kazel tells her there can be no doubt. It is one of the dark mages; the one with the burned face!
-----So far he doesn’t seem to notice Kazel or her elven escort and he will pass by them on the other side of the street within a few moments.
-----Kazel quickly nudges the elf. "There's one of those wizards," she whispers in elven. "How're you in trailing quietly in these streets? Think we can handle this one? I want to find out where he's heading if we can."
-----The elf stares at the walking wizard as he listens intently to Kazel. Even though his jaw is set in a firm manner, a look of excitement comes over his face. He nods at Kazel and whispers, "Marast follow." He also lays his hand on the pommel of his short sword.
-----Staying on the dark side of the street, the two wait until the wizard passes directly across from them. Except for the noise coming from the tavern, the entire world out here seems to stand still. Without any indication of noticing anyone, the wizard heads on down the street seeming to head for the noisy establishment.
-----Like two wraiths, Kazel and Marast ease from their hiding place and follow, still clinging to the darkness along the buildings. A few revelers come from the tavern entrance and walk loudly down a side street, singing.
-----Suddenly the burnt wizard pauses in his stride, and Kazel feels Marast pull her down into a squatting position. There beside a dark alley, the two see their quarry turn slowly and look up and down the street. He seems to look across into the shadowy side of the street scanning the darkness there. His eyes seem to go across their position, but for the moment he appears not to recognize they are there.
-----Marast whispers into Kazel’s ear, "Wizard not alone. Marast feel others around." As Kazel looks at him, she sees the elf searching all around them with his eyes, looking at the streets and toward the tops of buildings. He looks a bit frustrated and concerned while seeing nothing that has immediately alerted him.
-----The wizard holds his position standing in front of a small store continuing to look up and down the street.
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