[Leading suits Takasugi well enough; he's already scouted a route that weaves through the outskirts of the roadside forest up to a lesser fortified entrance to the city. The ground is as treacherous as the mud they leave behind, the first challenge a ditch that slopes sharply into trees and brush.

He doesn't look behind him to see how Cain fared with the endeavor.

Once in the bramble, making noise is unavoidable, but with dusk about to break - and with Cain's uneven gait - they'd sound more like scattered animals than anything else.

Apt.]

Mmn. [He could keep it all, but he won't.

Even when he'd cast his bet, back among the din of the fight club, money had been the furthest from both of their minds.]

I don't plan on using one of my favors here. If you don't want your cut, throw it in some beggar's hand.

They won't care where it came from. [Rebuttal given in hushed pitch, he bends at the knee to pass under a felled tree.]