Escape from the Palace

Astra landed on a level patch of earth. She crouched to keep her balance, but rose quickly and looked around. She could not see anybody, although she would expect that in the darkness of the wall. She veiled her long hair and her face with a cloth taken from Guard #2, in the manner of desert nomads. If someone saw her from long range, especially in this darkness, she believed that she could pass for a guard. She would cough and point at her throat if challenged by a guard, to indicate that her throat was hoarse and that she could not talk - her voice would certainly give her away. Of course, if someone saw her up close in her borrowed uniform, then they would see that she did not have the build or eyes of a typical guard, and her disguise would not work.

Now she had a few options. She could move along the wall, quickly getting away from this spot. There would be few guards at first - they would be mainly at the gates, with a few on top of the wall, and she thought that she could avoid them. There were probably some shanties and run-down shops along the wall. It was the practice of some of the poor to build their makeshift homes there, as a city wall could give them a head start on material by providing at least one solid wall. Although building next to the city wall was not encouraged, this practice was often tolerated, and this city would probably be no exception. Perhaps she could find an abandoned structure, sleep, and slip out in the daylight, when she could see better, and would probably be drier. She did risk being found, and her absence would possibly be known by that time.

She could also go out away from the wall. She could find one of the main roads out of the city, and either stow away in a cart, hitchhike from an understanding stranger, or steal a horse. The good thing about this plan was that it was the most likely to get her out of the city before the alarm could spread. There was a high risk that she would be turned in to the authorities if she were discovered stowing away or stealing a horse, and she would have to be a bit lucky if she were to hitchhike.

She could also try to get away on foot, either by following the main roads while staying off of them, travelling by the alleys of the city, or walking through the parks, wastes, or wilds. If she had been a native of the city, this might have been the preferred course, as it would take her away from the palace and reduce her chances of being found. However, this option was the one most likely to get her lost in a large city.

Astra thought for half a minute, and then decided

1. to skirt the wall.
2. to travel along a main road, and find a horse, cart, or other means of travel.
3. to avoid the main roads, and try to leave the city on foot.

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