Brisa was as startled as Aiden was. The elf boy had popped out of the crowd without her noticing, then again she hadn't been looking at the kids in the crowd. That was stupid of her. She wanted to smack herself but she didn't. That was the obvious solution, find a local kid and ask them what was going on. They would know, be less afraid to talk to her, and she would be less nervous about talking to them. 

“Come on Aiden” she whispered. “Lets go, better than trying to talk to the priestess,” which had been her plan if she couldn't get an adult to talk to them. She didn't wait, just tucked her shoulder bag closer to her, and tried to follow Jatan as best she could. The kid was fast, and he was able to weave through the people with an ease she envied. Of course he knew where he was going, she only knew she had to follow him. 

She hooked a hand around Aiden's arm, fearing they would get seperated. She had already lost Argurios, well not lost him but they were separated and she didn't want to be alone. Not really. For all her attempted bravado she was afraid. This was much easier. 

“Hey” she said softly when she finally caught up to the kid “my friend is...shopping...right now.” She hoped Argurios was being careful. With everyone in the town square it would be a good time to...acquire some things they might need. She didn't approve of stealing, but in some cases it was unavoidable and they really needed supplies to go onward. “I'm supposed to meet him and I don't want him to worry. Can we, I don't know, talk near the merchant row so we can watch for him? Is it safe?”

***

As the crowd thinned the priestess returned to [i]her[/i] shrine and her assistants returned to theirs. For such a small town there were a dozen shrines to Eshowdow, and now, with this demonstration, they would take the time to convert and erect a few more. Too much unrest in the town, the god was not pleased. 

The enforcers, supposedly bound to the priestess, walked the streets herding the locals back to their jobs and whatever they were doing before the gong sounded. Of course they had another use, a use known only to them and their god. Their presence kept the town in line, they enforce the order, and when the time came they would either convert, or “handle” anyone who needed it. For now though, they marched through the town keeping “order.” Looking for anyone who might be causing trouble or breaking the law. Hangings were always a good tool to help keep order, they loved an excuse to arrange one.