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Shun climbed back into the cart, looking over to both of his beasts and teammates as they started through the gate but then came to a rather abrupt halt when the guard called for them to stop. He reigned the horses back, making them come to a complete stop before he looked over his shoulder. ... Thankfully we prepared for something like this.. Shun was just about to hop off of the cart in order to provide the guard he had spoken with previously their paperwork, but then stopped when he made contact with Zarathos. The wolf hound just stared at him with a look of ill intent that made him freeze; he still was not used to the looks and mannerisms of his father’s animal companion. Zarathos seemed to shrug before he climbed into the cart, moving past Averus to take his place beside Sha and Takera. The beast looked over to Takera and then the guard before laying down.

Shun blinked for a moment as he seemed to awaken from his trance when he saw the guard start to walk away and finger the other guard some coins. At least that worked in our favor.. The boy whipped the horses to push them forward through the gate once they had parted way for them to pass. He was almost sure they would have detained the three of them for quite some time. This would have put a damper on their plans, but would not have ruined them completely. He had several other options he could make at play here, but their original plan still remained in tact. Once they got to the market and set their shop up, Shun would ask Takera to roam around the city with Sha in order to gather information on the whereabouts of the Malazan Army that resided within the Holy City of Aren.

He did have another way of obtaining this information, but it depended on just how loose the lips of the master of the market would be in a rather lucrative yet charitable cause. They would most likely look toward obtaining the open space the guard had told them about even if it were expensive, he would look at bartering to see if it would be possible to lower the cost they would have to pay each night. Having a location directly next to the Holy Citadel would provide them with an ample way to gather information from the priests and knights of the Holy Army who passed by; it would also give them the opportunity to sell their specialized tonics to more of the governing heads and pass it quickly amongst the populace.

”Takera, are all of the supplies secured? Nothing seem to be broken?” He looked over his shoulder to his ‘guard’ while briefly eyeing Averus sitting at the back of the cart. There was a benefit to Averus having those bandages across his face even if he would appear to garner more questions than answers - he would also provide as intimidation toward anyone who might attempt to hustle their shop. This was what he was counting on when they would arrive in the market and he would seek out the market master.

Shun continued driving them forward from the gate and through the city until they reached the market itself. He was rather impressed with how well the city seemed and how the market had been set up, even though he noticed the crumbling columns. He guided them carefully through the crowd, noticing the various buildings and shops that were set up within the walls and streets while whistling. ”Impressive.” The boy drove them over toward the location the guard had given them, pulling on the reigns to give the horses signal to stop. He hopped down from his seat and stretched his arms, then legs out. Their journey had been a rather long and arduous one, but it was worth the opportunity. ”I’ll take Averus with me to find the master of the market and see if we can rent this plot of land... Keep an eye on our goods.. We do not need those tonics getting out yet.”

Sha moved from his location to the driver’s seat and laid down, yawning while Zarathos looked over to Takera with what one could discern a cynical grin across his muzzle. Shun brought his pack over his shoulder as he wandered around to the back of the cart where Averus waited. He hopped onto the back and pulled a corner of the tarp that protected their goods, looking down at a few of the crates. Due to Takera having gained a slightly better control of his newfound transformation unlike Averus, when they filled the vials Shun thought it best to keep keep them separated with numbers carved into the crates - evens would be the ones Takera filled while odds would contain the ones Averus provided. This would give them a truly ‘miracle’ tonic, but could trigger into certain death once Takera swapped his forms.

Shun pocketed a couple of vials from Takera’s batch into his satchel before covering it back up and hopping back off the cart. ”Let us be off, my friend.” He smiled pleasantly over to Averus as he turned and they both took off. Shun had pegged the master of the market earlier when they came through; he was the one whom dressed very gaudy to make himself out. Typical leaders… always dressing so fancy… Shun approached the master of the market and bowed graciously before him, placing his hands together as if he were offering a prayer to him. ”Fair greetings to you sir, I am a humble merchant from within the Earth Country. Myself and my companions have journeyed far to this great city to sell our goods and we were hoping we could obtain permission to the open citadel by the Holy Citadel.” Shun smiled over at the merchant as he shifted his stance, appearing rather humbled as if he were in the presence of greatness. ”One of the guards at the entrance had told me of it along with the cost it would be to rent a night… I have a proposition for you.”

Shun now edged his tone to something that seemed both polite yet had the sense of greed lined in his tongue… a forked tongue. ”Currently we are in possession of a specialized tonic created by our village elders… it is said this tonic can heal the sick, increase your vitality and make you feel as if you were a young man again… we were hoping we could donate a large portion of it to the Malazan Army that is currently garrisoned here.” Shun brought his hands together as he looked up to the one before him. ”Unfortunately we do not know their location, however… my proposition for you, my good fellow is we provide you with our tonic to donate to the Malazan Army yourself… imagine you healing a mighty army, they would pay you hundreds of thousands of coin… your name would be sung for ages among their people! This fame, this glory you could obtain could be yours… if you would be so kind as to allow us a cheaper price for the location by the Citadel.” Shun looked up and over to Averus, hoping his traveling companion would appear as he had hoped - menacingly.

"Ah? Are you now!" The guard exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face as he appraised the monk's outfit. Nodding to his fellow guard he gestured towards the city. "Head straight to the market, on the deeper end you'll find the Holy Citadel. Trust me, you can't miss it." The man said before taking the entry fee from the monk and letting him pass.

Hajime tipped his hat to the guard and passed him a long gold coin with some writing on the sides of a hole through the center. The words denominated that this gold piece was a two hundred Jakatas. He smiled to the guard, bowed, and walked away, muttering pleasantly, loud enough that the guard might hear, "Such friendly people in this city. Even the guards are pleasant." In truth, he was laying it on a bit thick, but this Holy City was a breath of fresh air for him. He hadn't been among normal people in quite some time. It was nice to be around common folk, with common attitudes and without the sinister shinobi way about them.

The monk followed the signs and passages and walkways, over deep chasm and across rickety bridges until he arrived at what appeared to be the market. He ran his hand along a railing and looked around, "Now where to?"

Michio found himself face-down in the street among a group of guards, and he turned over to look at the man who had pushed him.

"You pusssshed me?! ME?!" he slurred, rising to his feet about the same time as the guards had, but with a slightly less stability.

"Who d'ya think ya are?" he asked rhetorically, looking down at his hand to notice that the stone street had left a small gash in his hand. He grinned and held his hand out to Haikyo, showing the wound and the blood that slightly flowed from it... as well as the blood that floated out from it.

"Tarrant..." he slurred, and blood shot outwards from his hand, flying towards Haikyo with an unexpected velocity.