Free Web NovelChapter 68: Chapter 68: How to separate?
A terrifying situation was unfolding before Percy’s eyes.
Fiona had not slowed down. If anything she had accelerated, pulling dress after dress from the rack and transferring them into Dana’s arms.
Lyro waved a hand infront of him. "Hey. You’ve gone pale."
Percy took a slow breath.
Then he straightened, squared his shoulders, and walked toward them with long deliberate strides. He stretched a hand out toward Dana.
Fiona looked up from the rack.
She smiled at him with a gentle calm.
"Nope" Percy turned around and walked back.
He stopped beside Lyro.
"Her smile is terrifying."
Lyro nodded slowly. "Yes. That it is."
Percy scratched his cheek . "Was Miss Fiona always this terrifying to approach?"
---
Lyro noticed Percy’s colour draining further. "Hey, what is actually wrong with you?"
Percy pointed toward the aisle.
"I’m fairly certain I can’t afford that pile of disgustingly expensive clothes."
Lyro looked over at the growing stack in Dana’s arms and laughed, slapping Percy on the back. "Relax. Women tend to do that."
Percy rubbed his back and turned to him. "What do you mean?"
Lyro gave him a look of genuine concern. "Didn’t you have a lover at some point? How do you not know how women shop?"
"I never accompanied her. She handled everything herself and brought back what we needed so..." Percy stopped. "Wait. How do you know I had a lover?"
Lyro looked away and attempted to whistle.
Percy was not keen in letting this one go , as he stared at him enough to leave holes .
Lyro finally gave in and sighed . "Well. You see." He cleared his throat.
"The Syndicate investigates everyone before they can join. Thoroughly. Past included. And since you were also a victim before you were a recruit, you were investigated twice." A pause. "There’s actually a file dedicated to you in the office."
Percy’s brows pulled together.
He turned it over. It made sense. A secret organisation operating at that level would need to vet everyone who came near it. It was justified. Reasonable even.
He still didn’t like it. The idea of his life sitting open in a folder for anyone to read through left a bad taste he couldn’t quite swallow.
But Lyro wasn’t at fault for it. So Percy decided let it go. Mostly.
----
The attendant brought a new customer through the entrance. Percy glanced over with mild disinterest before turning back toward the girls.
He suddenly turned and grabbed Lyro , while pulling him down.
"That man who just walked in." Percy kept his voice low. "He’s a Haunted."
Lyro peered through the gap between hanging trousers, just enough to get a look. "I don’t recognise him. Must be a stray."
"A stray?"
"Are you certain he’s a Haunted?"
"Positive," Percy said.
"You felt something?"
Percy shook his head. "I’ve seen him before. In his Haunted form. He chased me through an alley." freeweɓnovel.cѳm
Lyro glanced at Percy’s eyes and said nothing for a moment.
"He’s using the Oath. I doubt he’s recognised wrong."
He stood up slowly and leaned close. "Do you think he recognised you?"
"Probably."
Lyro nodded once and gestured for Percy to follow. He moved through the shop at an easy pace, angling away from the man. Percy followed, staying crouched low until Lyro straightened and waved him up near the rack closest to Fiona.
Percy reached out and took Dana’s arm, steering her gently toward the counter with his back to the man , just enough to hide his face. Fiona didn’t interfere , as Lyro had already leaned close and said something in her ear, and she shifted into cooperation without a word.
Dana was led along quietly, asking nothing.
Percy set seven silver crowns on the counter. Two dresses, packed. The suit being already worn.
He moved them out.
Once outside he kept the pace steady, putting distance between them and the shop until the street had swallowed enough crowd around them. Dana matched his stride without complaint.
Behind them Lyro guided Fiona in the opposite direction and they disappeared into the flow of the street.
----
The man watched the four customers move out of the store with an abruptness that caught his attention.
He squinted slightly.
"I didn’t see the other one when I came in."
He held the thought for a moment, turning it over.
"Strange."
"Sir, if I may draw your attention to our new season suits , we’ve just received the latest cuts and the fabric quality is quite exceptional this time around."
The man shifted his gaze back to the attendant.
"Show me."
----
Percy kept the pace easy, Dana beside him.
"What do I say? Should I tell her there was a criminal in the store?"
He thought about it for half a step.
"But I avoided the criminal. That would make me look like I fled like a coward . How about .... yes. Remain silent."
He pointed ahead. "How about we check the shoe store? There should be a good selection."
Dana nodded and fell into step with him.
A tug at his sleeve.
He looked back.
Dana had her eyes on him. "Brother, aren’t you spending too much?"
Percy blinked. "Am I?"
"You just handed over seven silver crowns without any negotiation. And I’m fairly sure you left your old clothes at the store." She paused. "I believe you only showed three silver coins to Mrs. Callyst and me back home."
Percy adjusted his hat.
"I did leave my clothes. Am I really a situational spendthrift?"
He ran the numbers quietly.
"Twenty six silver and roughly twenty copper left. I’ve already spent that much and the month isn’t close to finished. At this rate I might not make it to the second month."
He looked back at Dana and smiled.
"Don’t worry. We have enough."
"For now", he added internally.
---
Lyro stopped at a corner. Fiona came around beside him and he told her everything, about the situation just now this time more detailed.
Fiona listened until he finished.
"So why did we separate from them?" she asked.
Lyro pulled the brim of his hat down.
"Now what do I say?"
