Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 3)

"I'll be there, then. Hopefully." Ada headed for the door. "Until then."

Pratik inclined his head, watching her go. “Dress as warmly as you can. We’ll have a 3 hour ride before I can get us more furs.”

Ada nodded. "I'll do my best."

Pratik nodded, reaching his hand into his pocket to brush his fingertips across the coin face. He hoped to god this worked. It’d be hard to protect them both, if they had a fight straight out of the gate. Let them make it to the inn unharmed. That’s all he asked. For now. He’d be asking for more once they actually got to the inn.

(Wanna skip briefly to that night or do you have more planned?)

(Nope, that’s all I’ve got!)

(Okie dokie)

That night, Roland waited with two horses outside the stables.

Pratik didn’t have much to bring. He had — somehow — managed to keep the mini dagger hidden all this time — but it wouldn’t be good for much more than blinding people long enough to get away. But he swiped an extra layer of furs and a blanket besides, then silently made his way to the stables, alert and certain no one was following him. He nodded to Roland as he approached.

Roland dipped his head. "Where is the seer?" he asked, passing Pratik the reins of one of the horses. "We don't have long."

“She’s coming,” Pratik assured him. And he hoped to the gods he was right about that. “We thought we’d draw less attention if we made our way here ourselves.”

Roland gave him a doubtful look but he nodded and turned his eyes to the Keep.

It took far longer than expected, but Ada managed to slip out of the infirmary with a few blankets and a scalpel tucked into her rags. Alexander had informed Tarr of her issue and, predictably, Tarr had been repulsed. Ada had been instructed to stay in the infirmary until her moon time was over, and so she had been allowed a bit of respite.
She came creeping out of the Keep about fifteen minutes after Pratik had arrived at the stables, freezing as she saw Roland.

“He’s okay,” Pratik said quickly, before she could do something foolhardy in her fear. “He’s helping.”

She relaxed only slightly and approached the two men. "How will you get the gates open?" she asked.
"They'll open soon," Roland replied. "I've cashed in a few favors and blackmailings."

Pratik nodded. He hoped Ash had made it worth Roland’s effort. “My weapons?”

Roland took a sheathed short sword and dagger from beneath his cloak and offered them to Pratik. "Good luck."
"Wait." A thin voice came from one of the stalls, and the hunched form of Rickard appeared. "Take me with you. Please?"

(This is the guy who's been a slave basically all his life, met Pratik in the cage. They were a bit friendly but didn't talk much in the posts)