28 Troublesome Escape (1/2)
The Centurions' gallops along the streets broke the dead silence of the night.They fanned out in a semi-circle behind Koji, Zelea, and Vi.The centaurs' eyes lingered at every alley as if hidden monsters were about to attack the passerby!
Koji glanced back and noticed the tension in their bodies.He used his Qi Perception to sweep his vicinity.He discovered no sign of an ambush.”Relax,” Koji told the centurions and smiled.
”Stop worrying about them, Koji!” Zelea complained.As the highest ranking person within the group, the leadership role fell on her.Thus, she took a proactive part and kept the centurions busy throughout the night.
To their credit, the centurions were highly disciplined and executed their mission diligently.But occasionally, some of them glared at Vi's back as they imagined turning her hideous body into a pincushion!
As if she had read their hostile thoughts, Vi turned around and smiled broadly at them.
Ugly faces appeared behind the masks of these centurions.However, none of them dared to insult her again and draw the ill-tempered Zelea's attention.
When the group was a block away from the gatehouse, Zelea stopped slithering.Her followers immediately stopped as well.The princess turned around to address the centurions.”How do you intend to leave?” she inquired because this was a problem she couldn't overcome despite her brainstorming.
Koji raised his hand.”Can't they leave normally?After all, you're the target, not them,” he noted.
Xanthur grinned.”We can use a shortcut,” he answered mysteriously.
Koji's brows rose, but he kept silent.
”Please follow me,” the centurion leader said and quietly galloped down a street an entered an alley.Boxes were arranged to permit the centaurs to climb to the roof!
Once the centurions reached the rooftop, they quietly walked along the roofs until they drew closer to the walls.Suddenly, they charged and then jumped over the stone wall!
Zelea's jaw dropped upon seeing the ease the centaurs had left the city!She looked down at her snake body and ruefully shook her head.”I can't jump over the roof,” she admitted.
Vi smiled broadly.”If you turn to your human form, the two of you can ride on my back while I climb the wall,” she proposed.
”Can you carry both of us?” Koji asked.
The spider woman giggled at the silly question.”Do you weigh more than a centaur?” she responded.
”Oh,” the young man quickly understood her meaning: if Vi was strong enough to lift a thousand-pound centaur to the ceiling, then she could easily carry the two of them since they weigh less than three hundred pounds combined.
”All aboard the Vi Train,” she said with a laugh.
Koji climbed on the arachnid's back and hugged her waist; Zelea reluctantly did the same with him.
Vi pumped her six spider legs like a piston as she effortlessly climbed down from the roof and then up and over the wall.She reached the centurions on the other side without breaking a sweat.
Zelea immediately hopped to the ground; she didn't wish to sit on Vi's back for even one second longer.
However, Koji lingered.
”Shall we travel like this?” Vi turned her head and teased.
The young man blushed furiously as he immediately hopped off.”S-sorry!” he stammered an apology.
The spider woman giggled again.
”Let's go,” Xanthur said.He took out a lantern from his saddle bag.Once he lighted the lamp, the leader continued walking.
The group moved through the farmlands outside the city without being challenged by anyone.Soon, they entered the forest under the mountain.
When Xanthur became satisfied by the distance between his party and the city, the commander ordered, ”We'll make camp here.”
”You guys can rest.I'll take up night watch duties,” Vi offered.When she saw the centurions hesitate, the arachnid reminded them, ”I'm nocturnal, remember?And I don't rely on light to detect creatures,” she added.
Xanthur looked at his men and saw that they appeared tired.He relented and said, ”Okay.”