Chapter 68: Church of Light
A small gasp passed between the old couple.
"The Creep," the old man said softly, his voice raspy. "It did not spare such a young girl as well. Such a pity."
The old woman sighed. " The guards... they’ve been very strict. There are strict orders that would cancel the licenses of inns that house people with the creep. "
Lila’s heart sank. "So, you can’t help us either?"
The old woman looked at Elara’s tear-streaked face, then at her husband. He gave a slow, almost imperceptible nod.
"We don’t have other guests," the old woman said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "And what the city guard doesn’t know... well, it won’t hurt them." She offered a small, conspiratorial smile.
"We can give you a room at the back. Quietest one. But you’ll have to keep her hidden, dearies. No wandering the halls. And use the back alley if you need to come and go. Can you do that?"
Relief washed over Riku, Lila, and Elara.
"Yes, ma’am," Riku said, his voice filled with gratitude. "We can. Thank you. Thank you so much."