He pointed to the elf, who was twenty feet in the air and climbing, courtesy of a levitation spell. Tarlak patted Brug on the head. “Looks like you can’t follow. Good luck. Save our asses if we screw up.”

He cast a spell, his feet bumped an inch off the ground, and then he followed Aurelia. Harruq put his hand on Brug’s shoulder as the three stared.

“A shame,” he said. “Look on the bright side, though. You can almost see up Aurry’s dress from here.”

Brug’s face turned beet red. “One day,” he snarled. “Just…one day…you’ll see.”

T arlak landed on the roof, beside Aurelia.

“Gorgeous night,” he said. “A perfect time to spend with a beautiful woman.”

“Hope you have enough coin on you,” she said.

“I said with, not on,” Tarlak corrected. Aurelia shrugged.

“Whatever. I take it the three mummers are guarding the southern entrance?”

Tarlak nodded.

“Haern should be watching the other, which leaves the roof to us.”

“Time to vanish,” Aurelia said.

The two faded from view as they cast their invisibility spells. The roof was flat and bare, leaving them no other options for hiding. With all ways into the building covered, there was nothing to do but wait. Twenty minutes later, a lone man appeared, circled the building, and then dashed away.

“A scout,” Tarlak explained. Aurelia glanced down the alley, and from her vantage point, noticed Harruq’s shoulders peeking out from behind a few conveniently placed crates.

“I think Haern needs to teach Harruq a thing or two about stealth,” she said. Tarlak laughed.

“Stealth? If he isn’t screaming and wrecking stuff before the fight, I’ll be thrilled.”

She tried to jab him with her finger but missed. “Next time I see you, you are getting such a hard poking.”

“Be gentle, I am a delicate creature.”

Tarlak suddenly stiffened. The elf could not see his posture change, but the abrupt silence quieted her as well.