As quick as you like, Ama spilled onto the street with Vandal right behind her. Voices shouted from behind them, though what was hollered made little sense in the commotion. As the house rocked on it's frame and feet trampled across the wooden floor, Ramir spun to face their pursuers and cover Ama.
That wasn't their only concern though, as Ama was suddenly realizing. More cloaked men were entering onto the street from across the way, with their weapons drawn. The three fanned out to prevent an immediate escape and one bolted directly toward Ama.
"Stop! You're under arrest!"
He wielded a rod that crackled with energy and was ready to strike...
NOW the law shows up? She sighed. Where were they when she'd been robbed of her necklace? This day was going from bad to worse, and now she was about to get struck with a crackling stick.
The young woman held her hands up as a sign of surrender, hoping that would have give the man pause for thought.
"Sir, I think there's been a mix up. We're the good guys."
Ama had no idea if her words would have the desired effect of slowing the man down so, on the off chance that she was about to suffer police brutality, the blue-haired demoness readied her defense: preparing to hold back the arm that held the rod, and jab at the man's neck or groin, depending on which was the most exposed...
The guard came on hard, likely due to his perception of events. They were running after all and the attire indicated their opponents were a joint group. Physically resisting arrest rarely goes well though and as it turned out the guard's groin was easier to strike.
Ramir was at her side once more as the man crumpled, but he stayed his blades. His face told her that he agreed, this was not going well at all and that he wasn't quite sure what to think. When the 'lance' stuck him though and his body coursed with electric pain, he lashed out and shoved the guard, before kneeing him squarely in the chest.
"Shit! We need to run!"
This time, Ramir had made the call and quick as you like, he was bolting for the gap in their line and down the street, checking to be sure Ama was in tow.
Ama was most definitely sticking with Van at this point, pushing her body to move as fast as it could. They had just assaulted those guards and that was going to leave a nasty taste in the lawmen's mouths. Ama had no idea what being a prisoner in Wistvale was like and she didn't want to find out either. The last thing she needed was to get in trouble with the law and have word of her extracurricular activities reaching the ears of her Prince.
But, in all fairness, aside from the two strikes she'd dealt to those men, the young demoness hadn't done a thing wrong. The meeting with the old man was clearly a set up which meant that Emporium guy must have been trying to flog some illegal stuff.
GRR!!!
Ama's slender fingers wrapped themselves into two fists of rage.
Ramir was most certainly in agreement, he just wasn't sure of how they were going to do that without shaking the law first. Then he remembered their easier chase. He continued to run, spitting out words between frantic breaths.
"The store... we need the back door! Which way is it?"
That could pose quite the question, as neither were terribly familiar with their surroundings. The guards had not given up either, being hot on their tails and frantic to catch them.
"STOP! BY COMMAND OF THE SENTINELS!"
Ramir wasn't listening. This had gotten really ugly and he didn't like their chances of talking their way out of this one...
Going from the emporium to the old man's house at a steady walking pace was one thing, but retracing their steps at a mad dash was another thing entirely. Nothing stood out as familiar to Ama. This may have been the way they'd come and those buildings were possibly maybe somewhat recognizable, but the cobbled roads made every street appear identical.
"I don't think we're going to shake these guys..." She said, breathlessly. "...We should head for higher ground."
Ama pointed upwards as she said the last part, indicating the rooftops.
"We'll get a better lay of the land from up there, too. Maybe we'll spot the store."
Ramir nodded to acknowledge his new friend and kept on running. They were lucky in that they weren't encumbered by the armour their pursuers were wearing but still, they didn't have their knowledge of the town and the Sentinels certainly seemed prepped to catch them.
Turning again, then again and then once more, Ramir and Ama take a moment to hide in an all-too narrow gap between two buildings and watch the Sentinels run past. Ramir is notably on edge, as he is either holding his breath or is simply too cramped in their confines and cannot breathe. A few moments after the guard passes, he looks to Ama and smiles.
"Right, up it is."
Prowling about the street, Ramir and Ama find the means to scale the walls of Wistvale and soon enough, have the high ground. Listening to the noise on the breeze, they set off in the direction of Market Square and soon enough, are closing in on their destination.
The blue-haired demoness cracked her knuckles. She didn't know what was going to happen with the storekeep, but with Van by her side she hoped they'd have him singing like a canary before long.
Ramir and Ama were in agreement that the rear door was worth a check and this time, they managed to enter the store from the back. Oddly enough, Shen was in the back room and whilst he wasn't oblivious to their being somewhat flustered, he didn't appear to be too bothered.
"Ah, how did the delivery go?"
There was something of a smug grin on his face, which he partly concealed by blowing a long wisp of smoke he drew from his kiseru pipe.
Ramir was behind Ama at this point and drew an exasperated breath, leaving Ama to have her say.
Ama stomped towards the storekeeper in her stylish, yet somewhat cumbersome boots. Oh, how she wanted to smack that smug look from his face! She waved away the smoke and shot the man an icy glare.
"We were set up! The old man did a runner and we were ambushed by the town's guards! I...ASSAULTED a lawman!"
As the storekeep spoke, Ama's frustration quickly simmered down to mild annoyance and understanding. So, she and Van had been used in some plot to shut down an illegal trader? Clearly, this man didn't want any competition.
The demoness didn't know what to say, so she just scooped up the purse and necklace from the counter and made to leave. She tossed the bag of gold to her quiet friend but stopped short her exit as she decided she did have one last thing to say to the store owner.
"I don't appreciate being used as a pawn in other people's games, chess master." Her voice was calm and civil. "I am the rank of Bishop...at the very least."
Vandal glared at Shen but wasn't in a hurry to pursue conflict when he'd likely need of his services in the future. He nodded with a dissatisfied look and snatched the coin purse from the air.
Shen had one last thing to say as well.
"The curse on that item has been removed, you're quite welcome."
Once outside, Ramir scratched at his face and weighed up the purse.
"Huh. What a damned mess all that was. I suppose we'll have to lay low, at least for a short while. The reward seems generous enough though..."
Ah-ha! She just knew there had been something wrong with this necklace. A "gift" indeed. Ama was really going to have a few choice words for that multi-dimensional traveller guy the next time she saw him because, no doubt, he would make another unwelcome appearance in the future.
The young demoness ran a pale finger over the trinket as she left the emporium. Although she hadn't said it Ama was grateful to the storekeeper for lifting whatever curse there had been. But, after all the running around Van and herself had done today - towards the thief and away from the law - the blue-haired Haisheth considered the smug store owner and herself even.
"Laying low sounds like a good idea. I mean, punching a lawman in the man-parts will have been forgotten within a few days, right?" Ama laughed, wearily. "I think we're safe from being put on Wistvale's Most Wanted list anyway. This town must be full of criminals worse than us."
No longer worrying about any mystical dangers from her "reward", Ama placed the necklace over her head and let the flower pendant rest above her chest.
"Well, doesn't she look a treat, don't you think Corporal?"
The voice confirmed who it was before either Vandal or Ama turned to look. In front of them, plain as day, was both the old man and one of the Sentinel's who had insisted that they surrender. Both looked at the pair with a calculated, scheming expression.
"Yes," replied the Corporal, "I'd say she'd be very popular, should we have to lock her and her mate up, wouldn't you say?"
"Oh yes," replied the old man, rubbing his hands together. "The pair of them I reckon. You know, if only they could persuade us to not do such a thing. Maybe it was all some sort of misunderstanding."
Both the not-so-alarmed and dirty guardsmen looked at Vandal and Ama with expectant looks. Ramir sighed, dreading losing some of the weight in the purse they'd just been awarded.