The Great Escape

Diander watched silently as the two magi he had just escaped forced their way into the crowded streets, clearly on their way to the main gates of Valen. Well, having the entire city watch on alert should make things interesting. And the gates being closed... That will be interesting. Rocking on heels, he adjusted his perch on the second story window ledge overlooking the alley. He could hear someone inside shuffling about.

Just as he realized what was happening, the window was pulled open, and a large woman carrying a chamber pot prepared to hurl its contents through him and into the alley below. "Shit!" they cried out simultaneously. Both equally startled, the woman dropped the pot inside the apartment. Diander on the other hand sprang away from the new threat - and out into the air.

His hands screamed for purchase but found none. His fingers ground against the lumber planks of the building, digging splinters deep into his fingertips and beneath his fingernails. The pain was excruciating; he couldn't even cry out in pain.All he could do was close his eyes and hope to catch a ledge before the ground caught him.

He felt himself slowing quickly, then his feet jarred against the ground. The landing was harder than he would have liked, but far more gentle then he was expecting. From that height, I should have at least sprained an ankle, if not broken something... Then he noticed the woman in yellow and grey standing down the alley staring at him.

They locked eyes for what felt like five minutes. In the seconds he held her grey eyes, he sized her up. Dressed in yellow and grey, her cloths looked deliberately dirty, like she was trying to hide among the poor. Her hair was cut at the bottom of her neck, and wasn't greasy or matted like one would normally find in the slums of Valen. The cloths weren't threadbare, either. They were heavy and clearly meant for use somewhere in the highlands to the south, maybe even beyond the Maurguard Wall. Her features though, where chiseled with Loreanian heritage. And the familiarity of her struck Diander.

"D, are you coming or not!?" her face clearly agitated at his hesitation.

"Do I know you?"

She sighed heavily and started towards him. "We don't have time for this, let's go," she said grabbing him by the arm and pulling him in the opposite direction the magi had gone.

He pulled his arm free and stopped, half crouched to run away. "How do you know me?"

She looked at him dumbfounded. "D, we've been together for years! Trying to topple the corrupt rule of Lord Kalin and the Emperor of the Transaria. You went on a mission find out more about the Emperor about three months ago. how do you not remember this?"

He looked at the ground. "I can't remember anything from before three days ago..."

She walked to him and grabbed his arm again. "Your brothers can explain when we get you back to the tower," she pulled him on again. "We all thought you where dead!" Huffing she dragged him out onto a crowded street. Walking at a normal pace, with their arms locked, they looked like any other couple going on about their normal business.