Had the encounter shaken him? Or perhaps he had another plan in mind? Whatever the case, Clauded didn't follow us.
After putting considerable distance between ourselves and him, Air spoke up, her tone serious. "Master, do you have anything to suppress scent or block detection?"
"Yeah, I've got some rings and necklaces in the bag. Should I use them now?"
"You should. We don't know how many allies he has, and if a group comes after us, we're in trouble."
"Even with you, Cloché, and Stella around? That bad, huh? Got it."
Seeing Air's stern expression, I didn't hesitate. I understood perfectly well just how dire the situation could get. Clauded's claim to be in the capital for work suddenly felt more ominous. I cursed myself for not prying more details from him earlier. Knowing whether he came alone or with a group could have made a significant difference in how we handled things.
