Chapter 206 The Cover of Nigh (1/2)

”In there?” asked Kit.

Olly nodded. He stepped forward and covered the majority of the inside of the empty crate with a false base, ”The Evanine goes on top”.

Kit nodded in acknowledgement, ”It looks a little small”.

Olly look at his ten-year-old friend, then down at his full grown self, ”I think you'll be fine”.

Kit, who hadn't been paying attention to Olly, stepped forward and lifted out the false base before stepping into the crate himself to appraise the size. After a moment of squatting in the crate, he looked up to meet Olly's eyes, ”I suppose it's not so bad”.

Olly wasn't quite sure what he had expected. Smuggling was an art. Smuggling comfortably was a rather unexplored facet of that art.

Falla stepped forward from the side, ”Ready?”

Olly and Kit looked to one another, then back at Falla. They nodded.

Iah and Sharli stepped forward from the side as Kit stood. Iah handed him a bag with a strap that went over his shoulder.

”It's got food, and water, and some spare clothes. Some charcoal and paper for you as well,” Iah said.

Kit smiled, ”Thanks, Iah”.

Iah paused a moment, then she leaned forward and hugged Kit. Kit hugged her back.

”Be safe, okay?” asked Iah. Kit nodded against her chest.

”You too”.

Iah smiled at his concern, then she stepped back, wiping at her eyes before her tears fell as she stepped over to Olly to hand him his own bag. Sharli stepped up to Kit then.

”Are you sure about this?” asked Sharli.

Kit nodded, ”I'm positive”.

”How can you be so sure?” asked Sharli.

Kit shrugged, ”I just am. This is the right thing to do. It gets the Ruin out of danger”.

Sharli gave a side glance to Falla who was busy talking to the workers who were moving the Evanine and charms from the vault.

”It's not her fault,” Kit said, ”It's not anyones. We can't always predict what will happen, so we have to be strong when something doesn't go our way, right?”

Sharli's mind flashed back to not long after she'd met Kit. When she'd said the exact same words to that boy who was terrified of the abilities he had. Terrified of being taken away. She nodded back at Kit, ”Right”.

The hugged each other, and Kit whispered softly in her ear, ”Don't go where we can't follow. Please”.

It sounded like he was begging, though Sharli had little idea about what he meant. If anything, she couldn't follow him. But before she had a change to ask about it, Falla stepped forward.

”Alright, we'll get you to the headquarters. You'll be in there until late tonight, then we'll get you some food as we transfer you into the other crates”.