Meryn watched with horrified eyes as the man she'd towed tumbled down until – a sickening crack and a muffled thump echoed in her ears as she looked down at his ragged form. Her lips parted and all she could do was stare. She – she'd just watched someone die. Something queazy and terrified rose up in her throat.

No no [i]no[/i] he was still alive. Meryn could still see his sluggish, dull dreams seeping out from his body like leaking blood. She could –

A crossbow bolt slashed through the air, cutting a crimson line on Meryn's cheek. She stumbled back from the building's ledge with a jolt, scurrying backwards to hide behind the gargoyle as another bolt embedded itself in the roof, right where she'd been standing. Right. Assassin. Another bolt came flying at her – from the opposite direction. Meryn barely ducked to the side in time to see a bolt lodge itself in the gargoyle's grotesque face. There was a second shooter. She scrambled around the side, trying to find an angle that neither archer could hit. Meryn squeezed her eyes shut as she pressed her back against the statue. 

North. She needed to go north. Meryn didn't know [i]how[/i] she knew it, but she knew whatever else happened, [i]that[/i] was the priority.

Also avoiding the people trying to kill her. And helping the guy she'd maybe inadvertently lead to death. And finding her friends. And warning Enn about the Crystalline. And [i]holy shit, Meryn was not prepared for this.[/i]

Meryn's hand curled into a fist and slammed against the gargoyle in frustration. Then she opened her eyes again, her breath coming in quick, hurried puffs. She looked over her shoulder at the archer's sharp dreams through the gargoyle. Then to the north. She could do this. The city was full of odd structures and buildings to climb. She could outmaneuver the archers. Ditch them, circle back for the man, get out of Cogswall, go north. She had a plan. She could do this.

Meryn looked back the way she'd come and her eyes widened behind her mask.

Her plan did not take account for the three nimble figures dancing over rooftops as easily as she did, coming straight at her. Their dreams were as sharp and focused as the archers'.

Her heart slammed in her chest as she turned and shot out from behind the gargoyle, making a break for the north end of the tower she was on. But the archers had been ready. Before she'd taken more than two steps, a crossbow bolt cut through the air, barely grazing Spook's mask. It bounced off of the brass with a metallic clang as Meryn jolted backwards, trying to control her momentum. She took a step backwards and a bit to the side – right into empty air. 

Her body lurched back as her eyes widened at the familiar sensation of falling. There was a hole at the top of the bell tower that opened up to a spiraling staircase that lead down the length of the tower. Time seemed to slow as she fell, weightless. Another arrow went whizzing above her. The great brass bells glinted in the evening sun, along with… the bird?


She only had half a moment to stare at it, stunned and confused. Then Meryn went tumbling down the bell tower's stairs.