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Earendil nodded. "Better safe than sorry," he agreed. "Let's go then."

"Pity it had to happen so quickly," Iorlas said sadly, picking up Amir and hugging him. "I was really enjoying myself."

"If it were just us, I'd suggest we stay," Daeron murmured, helping Iorlas to her feet, "but I don't want to put Amir in any danger."

"Shall we go quickly then?" Wren asked. "Or casually, and pretend we haven't seen anything?"

"Want me to circle back and catch them from behind?" Wren asked in a low tone as they set off. "As far as I can tell, you're the ones being followed, I didn't see anyone around me."

"You mean make it look as though you're staying out here rather than going back?" Daeron asked with a smile, making it appear that they hadn't noticed anything amiss. "And then when they follow us, you shadow our shadow?"

Wren nodded. "I have to admit, I'm a bit annoyed by all of this," she added ruefully. "I haven't even taken part in anything yet."

Wren grinned and split away from the group.

"See you all later!" she said cheerfully; and with a wave, she disappeared into the crowd, heading towards where she had seen some food earlier.

"Think it'll take her long?" Earendil asked with a chuckle, putting one arm around Lin's shoulder as they walked. "She seems awfully determined, I have to say."

"Can't blame her, really," Daeron pointed out. "Whoever it is did spoil our fun."

"And she has got a bit of a temper," Earendil chuckled. He glanced indiscreetly over his shoulder to see if he could spot anyone, but it was all a mass of red haired people to him; and not only did they blend with each other, but they also blended with the red rock of the city itself.

"It's a good thing I'll never be relied upon for hunting or tracking," he laughed, turning to look ahead of them again.

"While that is true," Daeron chuckled at Lin, "it is also true that he is quite right. He hasn't got the training for tracking or stealth."

Iorlas giggled. "You could do better, I suppose?" she teased her husband.

Daeron grinned and winked at her. "But of course, my dear. However, Wren wants the excitement of this hunt, so I shall leave it to her. Unless," he added, a sparkle in his eye, "of course, we reach the forest first, in which case, they shall be discovered whether Wren has found them or not."

"Well then we'll be finding out shortly," Earendil said dryly. He nodded at the treeline ahead of them. "There's the start of the forest."

The five of them very soon left the city behind and headed into the trees, and only a matter of seconds later, there was a collective groan from multiple voices, and then those same voices began to chatter together.

Daeron, Earendil and Iorlas all turned around to see what was happening. There was a group of five children - two girls and three boys - gathering together just beyond the edge of the city, a small circle next to a house. They were all dressed for the festivities in vibrant colours, and they looked to range in age from maybe six to nine years old.

Earendil blinked in surprise. "Kids?" he asked under his breath.

Iorlas was laughing. "We should go talk to them," she grinned, her eyes bright. "I'm curious to know why they were following us."

"Probably a game or something," Daeron chuckled.

"Didn't they do the same thing in Amon Darthir?" Earendil asked, looking at Lin. "Back when Miyuki was little, I mean, when I was helping Aerin out."