Pasha and Eva found their way back to the deserted store through the rush of the panicked residents of Grundorf. This door was not protected and Eva had it open in seconds. Isidor, carrying a large bundle, followed them inside with Misha close behind. The store was full of ruined, abandoned furniture and Eva eased Matvei down onto a couch. Isidor sat down on an overstuffed chair, still cradling his bundle.
“I’ve got to wait for Rus out in the market. Wish me luck.” Pasha darted for the door.
“Hey! Can I have my-” Eva began to call after him, but he had gone, still wearing all of her clothes.
She tucked her sheet-skirt up over her knees and knelt down next to Matvei to examine his injuries.
“Isidor, a little light, please.” She requested.
Luminous green mushrooms sprouted up from the floor.
“Damn.” A voice muttered. Eva jerked her head up.
“Isidor?”
“Yes?”
“Damn what?”
“How should I know?”
“Damn those mushrooms are glowing damn.” The voice spoke again. Eva cleared her throat.
“Did you pick up a stray?” She asked scoldingly, examining a deep cut on Matvei’s forehead.
“I’m not a stray.” The voice protested.
“Of course you’re not,” Isidor replied soothingly, “Eva, this is Pushki. Misha found him sleeping in a room.”
“As if we don’t have enough to worry about, you’re picking up lost children.” Eva sighed. She rummaged through Pasha’s knapsack and took out a canteen of water and a roll of bandages.
“I’m fifteen.” Pushki protested with a yawn. Eva ripped a strip off of her sheet and used it as a rag to clean Matvei’s face.
The foundations of the abandoned building shook and Eva had a feeling that most of The Guarded Inn had just fallen to the ground. Pushki, still curled up in the bundle on Isidor’s lap, made some pleased noise.
“Love the sound of a collapsing structure.” The boy murmured.

Pasha waited in an out-of-the-way niche between stalls in the market as confused citizens of Grundorf milled about. He was knocked down quite suddenly by someone that he didn’t see approach or pass by. He swore under his breath and picked himself up, only to be knocked down again by a trio of men who were shouting quite loudly. Pasha rolled underneath a stall when he saw a group of black-clad, practically invisible men and women approach. They walked past with barely a sound, stalking the path of the nonexistant runner and the three men down the alleyway.
Ruslan poked his head underneath the cloths that covered up the stall surface.
“Pasha?”
“Rus.”
“What’re you doing under a stall?”
“Having a few drinks and a long snog with a busty wench.”
There was a lengthy pause as Ruslan tried to think of a suitable reply.
“I’m trying to keep from being trampled, you dick.” Pasha spat, crawling out from under the stall and almost directly into the path of running feet. Ruslan pulled him up by one arm.
“Where’re Evpraksiya and Irina?” The hero asked. Pasha scoffed.
“Looking out for the womenfolk, eh, Rus? Eva’s with Isidor, taking care of Matvei. No idea where Irina is, but I can’t say it’s a loss.”
“Wha-”
“We found Matvei almost beaten to death and suffering… other.. injuries. Eva thinks it was Irina, but we can’t find her anywhere. How did heroing go?”
“I kept some men from going upstairs, and I helped a few barmaids. My socks disappeared. Threw me off a little.” Ruslan admitted as he and Pasha elbowed their way through a panicked throng.
“Excuse me, pardon me, going to attend the injured, excuse us…” Pasha pushed aside confused, milling, occasionally sockless Grundorfers.
They made it to the porch of the abandoned store with negligible injuries. Some frantic women had trod upon Pasha’s toes and a drunk man had attempted to grope Ruslan. Pasha had left the offender on his back in the dirt.
“I can’t help Matvei.” Eva said as soon as Pasha and Ruslan stepped through the door.
“I’ll help him!” Ruslan volunteered valiantly.
“He needs medical attention, not a sword through the knee.” Eva informed the ever-helpful Ruslan.
“Who’s the bunny?” Pasha asked, indicating the young man still half-asleep on Isidor’s lap.
“Isidor found him. I think he’s been drugged. It’ll wear off.” Eva wrapped another long strip of sheet around Matvei’s face.
“Can we keep him?” Isidor asked pleadingly.
“I don’t see why not. Eva? Rus?” Pasha shrugged. Eva muttered something indistinct and faintly agreeable. Ruslan pretended that the question hadn’t been asked and continued to hover over Matvei and Eva.
“I guess this is a yes.”
“Good. I…” yawn “…don’t want to go back.”

Thirteen