Lucky Getaway

[Nox]

Nox raised an eyebrow when Lucas said he would come with him maybe. He wasn't exactly sure of that, Nox wanted to say things to make him go away, but he kept quiet. Right now Lucas was about the closest thing he had to a friend. And he still had a long ways to go before he got back to Moscow.

They walked the mile or so back to the new Datsan being built and found the guide whittling in a chair outside. Nox grinned, at least he'd had something to do. The man got up with a confused look on his face. His Russian accent even heavier with concern, "Where is your other friend?"

Nox spoke quickly, "She found other means of transportation."
Nox didn't feel like elaborating so he quickly pushed things forward, "We need to get to town. We can take a van back to the resort. You don't have to take us that way."


The guide nodded, "Of course. Payment is still the same."

Nox laughed, "Did Aria already pay you?"


The man looked deviously at him and then frowned like he had remembered something. He nodded his head, "She has, in full."

Nox nodded, "I'd like to be away from here."


The entire ride to the small village was quiet, Nox was lost in his own thoughts. He was torn between concern for Aria's well being and the new possibilities that were running through his head. The ability to cast more than one weave at a time, the spiderweb network that had delved into the earth to find a small necklace. Nox wondered what that could do for his mapping techniques.

But all of it was tinged with anxiety over his partner's safety, her life was forfeit if she failed her mission. Maybe, just maybe, she'd find a way to carry out her mission and satisfy Borovsky without trying to actually kill Ascendancy. Spin a story - survive. Aria was good at surviving.

Nox only hoped she would return to Moscow before he did. Before he had to lie or tell the truth, either way he didn't want to be the one to confront her handler. Borovsky was scary, though not nearly as scary as Ascendancy himself. Nox shivered at the thought of what could have happened.

The guide finally took them to tourist van heading back to the resort where they were staying. It was pretty much empty this time of the year, the bitter cold keeping tourists away. Nox sat in the back seat, it would be colder, there was room for Lucas if he wanted to sit there as well, but Nox didn't really care at this time. He wanted to think, there was so much to think about.