Invar woke early in the morning. He half considered taking off on his own. He knew roughly where he was. He could make it home if he really wanted to. But he had made a promise to his sister. He had to see it through. He began packing all the food he could find into the knapsacks and pouches littered throughout the lodge. Jerky, hardtack, and pemmican, anything that wouldn't spoil. Sari woke up soon after everything useful was packed. The siblings let out the hunters, swore them to secrecy, and set off on their journey.
"You sure it was smart to leave all our money there for the hunters, brother?"
"I'd say they deserve it. Besides, it's not going to be useful for me in Kohefsvena. I can't out myself as Buvostian remember? And I doubt you'll be doing much shopping given the circumstances."
"Fair enough."
"Besides, they might be a touch more willing to forgive our little home invasion, and remember their oath of secrecy."
"I wouldn't count on it."
"I don't either. But it doesn't hurt the odds." Invar said with a smirk.
"We'll need to find some camping equipment before sundown. News of a home invasion in the border woods won't matter but a string of them heading straight for the capital is going to draw eyes."
"Maybe we can rent out a stable for you."
"Funny."
"I'm sure we'll find something."
The siblings had made their way to the top of a hill overlooking a small farming village. The reds and oranges of the fallen leaves clashed against the cloudless sky. The sun almost made them forget the autumn chill, it took a gust of wind to remind them. The only sound to be heard was the rustling leaves.
"We shouldn't stay up here too long, sister. Someone's bound to notice."
"At this distance the most they could make out is two riders. But I agree, we're safer the more we move."
"We'll need to get supplies before we head off. We've burned half our daylight already. We're not going to get another chance today." Sari's eyes shot up.
"Look there! I'll bet my right leg that's a tannery."
"Which one?"
"The one on the south-east corner. Behind the town hall."
"No, I meant... never mind." Sari shot Invar a glare.
"What's the plan for this one? Taking over an under-staffed lodge is one thing, but robbing a village tannery?"
"Yeah. Direct approach won't cut it."
The two siblings gave each other a glance.
"Stealth approach it is."
"Shame. You always used to be better at this than me, sister." Sari let out a chuckle.
"Who says I'm not still better?"
"Oh by all means. Go on Sari. Sneak right on into town, break into the tannery, and make off unseen. I'd genuinely love to see that."
"If we weren't in a rush I just might. Tragically we don't have time to experiment here." Invar paused for a moment.
"Maybe we do."
"What do you mean?"
"Think about it; neither of us has a good shot of getting in and out unseen. But one of us might in the event of a big enough distraction."
"Big? As in horse sized?"
"More like raging monster sized, but yeah."
"Soak your head."
"Tell me it's a bad idea. You're more than a match for the what, twelve guards that might be in that village. And with an attack, no guard is going to pay much mind to whether or not some shopkeep loses a couple tents worth of leather. Everyone and their mother will be looting."
"It's a bad idea. How long do you think it'll take for news to spread of a lone centaur attack on a peaceful village? Not as long as it'll take us to get to the capital, I know that much."
"Well we've got three options; One of us goes in alone, probably gets caught, and the other is left alone with nothing to show for it. We do it my way, maybe you pick up some bruises and maybe the capital cares enough about this village to send valuable soldiers hunting down a rumor of a lone centaur. Or we can forgo getting leather altogether and quite possibly freeze to —"
"Alright! Alright. Tri-fold hell, Invar. We'll do it your way. But I don't like it."
"Complain about it when we're sitting in warm leather tents tonight, sister."
