And so we continue…
Day 63: She would have to gather anything she wished to take with her and secure it against observation.
She would have to gather anything she wished to take with her and secure it against observation. ‘That shouldn’t be too hard.’ The spell she used for her own invisibility could be more easily placed on smaller objects. ‘It was designed for smaller objects,’ Anna reminded herself. She expanded it into something she could use for herself.
‘So I gather everything I want to take with me,’ Anna said working through her changing plans. I conceal it so that it looks like nothing more than what might be expected. And then,’ Anna swallowed her fear rising at the thought of the course she was plotting. ‘And then I go to Christopher and tell him I have closed out my business here and am ready to go back to the capitol.’
Anna took a deep breath and swallowed a mouthful of the cooled tea. ‘That way the search for me is over and Marcus won’t set up a network of watchers so that if I have to leave again I can.’
Anna didn’t relish the thought of running again. She also didn’t relish the thought of testing to see how sincere the pardon she was granted was. ‘But I only have a few weeks of travel rations on me and they have made it impossible for me to buy food.’
This place had become home and she would be sad to leave it. ‘But it isn’t the first time I have had to abandon my home.’ She told herself.
‘And the sooner I get into motion the better,’ Anna thought reminding herself of Marcus. ‘At least I took the time for a long hot bath earlier.’ Anna felt mostly recovered from the rigors of her journey. ‘And I’ve managed to erase all the traces of them.’
Anna took a deep breath and concentrated on what needed to be done before she could leave. The mental checklist helped her keep her own panic at bay and let her move without the heart stopping fear that would freeze her in place.
Anna moved through her apartment, stripping down anything she considered worth taking with her. All of her books and notes were taken from concealed places and added to concealed bags she could hide within her travel bags. When all of the important things were gathered from her apartment, Anna cast her spell of concealment upon herself and left her apartment. She closed the door and knew that it was doubtful she would return.
Anna left the building and stealthily began working her way around the city. She visited each one of her safe houses and hidden storage places and gathered what was needed. If she had no magic the bag would have grown immensely heavy and would have been far too stuffed to carry everything. Instead her magic made the bag capable of holding anything she cared to put inside and to feel as light as if it was empty.
It took all night to gather what she was taking with her and to eradicate all traces her magic might have left behind. Soon no one would ever be able to feel that anyone with magic was here, let alone tie that magic to her.
As the first light of dawn crested the city, Anna watched the glow rise into the sky. She felt the ciy shaking off the slumber of the night and begin to wake. Tradesmen began to move and those that had early tasks left their homes. Anna wasn’t certain if Christopher was an early riser but she suspected that was not the case.
The longer Anna waited the more nervous she became. ‘early riser or not, I am calling this late enough,’ she decided. Anna walked towards the door of his lodgings.
Ten til Midnight 