Book 4. Chapter 14
Hogg and Brin took their time getting home. The city was chaotic, with rows of soldiers stomping down the streets and scattering the rioters who spread throughout the city to escape them. Brin might’ve moved quicker alone, but Hogg couldn’t go invisible anymore and there was no reason to take any unnecessary risks, so they went the long way around the press gangs that Brin spotted with his Invisible Eyes.
The most exciting part of the journey, honestly, was watching the Wogan estate. The press gangs did actually end up invading the house, and while they were mostly polite and didn’t break anything, they insisted on searching the entire mansion, room by room.
Sion seemed bored by the entire thing, but Glyn was visibly furious, showing none of the over-friendliness that Brin knew him for.
Rhun was hidden in a secret compartment underneath the cellar, but then he nearly spoiled the whole thing by leaving three times. Twice to use the restroom, and then once because he wanted a glass of water. It looked like he wouldn’t outright break his contract with the Wogans, but he obviously wouldn’t mind “accidentally” getting drafted. After the third time, the [Steward] locked him in place and then covered the trap door with spilt flour, just moments before the soldiers searched the cellar.
It was a strange echo from his past, seeing someone else using flour to hide from soldiers in a cellar.
The journey through the chaotic, rioting city went as well as such a thing could, and Hogg and Brin didn’t run into any real trouble until they were back at their house.
A single man in Frenaria blues stood outside the front door, waiting. He didn’t carry any weapons, not even a truncheon, but he stood in front of their door, waiting, and he didn’t seem keen on leaving. With his back to them, Brin and Hogg didn’t even need to hide, and only used a spell to block sound to conceal themselves.
“I’ve sent Invisible Eyes through all the buildings nearby. Nobody else is around. And he isn’t holding an Eveladis,” said Brin.
“Seems that way,” agreed Hogg.