Chapter 64

• Their escape from the mountain town was less a dramatic flight and more a slow, meticulous unraveling of their presence. They didn’t bolt; they faded. The innkeeper, whose name they learned was Elara, proved invaluable. Her network wasn’t composed of glamorous spies or hardened criminals, but of ordinary people – a baker with a keen eye, a blacksmith with a penchant for gossip, a librarian who quietly amassed knowledge of those who passed through their isolated community. These weren’t grand gestures of defiance, but quiet acts of defiance, small ripples of rebellion against the potential tide of Marcus's pursuit.
• Elara helped them procure false identities, using her connections to obtain forged documents – not perfect forgeries, but believable enough to pass muster in a town where scrutiny was reserved for the truly unfamiliar. Cleo, with her innate charm and ability to connect with others, found herself surprisingly adept at blending into the community. She learned to trade favors – helping Elara with her bookkeeping, assisting the baker with his deliveries, even mending clothes for the librarian. These simple acts served as both a means of survival and a way to forge trust. Rowan, meanwhile, utilized his skills to enhance the inn's security, reinforcing the aging doors and windows, subtly improving the alarm system Elara had in place.
• Their new identities were modest – not glamorous, but functional. Cleo became Clara, a traveling artist, her skills in sketching and painting finding a receptive audience among the locals. Rowan became Robert, a carpenter, lending his skills to repair some of the town’s aging infrastructure. Their adopted roles allowed them to move within the community, to gain a sense of the town's rhythm and to identify any potential threats without raising suspicion.