Inoadar
Inoadar turned a corner twenty seconds ahead of the pursuing soldiers. He'd maintained that lead for a few blocks as he looked for the right combination of factors. Though he was not as encumbered by gear as the soldiers, they had the training to make up for it. He had realized a few blocks back that he was not going to lose them as his lungs were starting to burn from the effort.
But he found what he was looking for around the corner near a bakery. A man ahead, walking the other direction in similar attire, and a rain barrel, not too full for him to tip quickly over the railing into the canal with a loud splash. He spun and disappeared into the bakery. He pulled the neck of his cloak up tightly and grabbed a jar of flour off the counter.
The man at the counter gaped and was about to say something, but Inoadar yanked out a pouch and hissed at him as he ruffled a handful of flour into his hair, turning it gray. "Twenty gold! If those guards come in here, you know you won't see a copper of it!" The baker took about a second and a half to agree. He nodded and pointed into the back room, telling him to carry the tray of muffins out from the back.
Inoadar whipped off his cloak, taking most of the evidence of spilled flour with it, and tossed it to the baker, who stuffed it under the counter. Inoadar charged into the back, grabbing an apron and lifting the tray of muffins. He was just returning to the front when the Stryfers barged in. One of them demanded to know if anyone had entered in the last chime while the other shoved Inoadar aside to look in the back.
Inoadar crashed into the wall, spilling half of the muffins. The baker barely had time to answer the guard with a shake of the head before launching into an angry tirade at Inoadar's clumsiness. He added a cuff to the back of his head for effect as Inoadar crouched and whined apologies. The Stryfer in back came back out, confirming that no one was there and they left without another word.
Inoadar waited a few moments then grabbed the bakers brown coat and handed him the pouch. He waited another moment for the baker to count the mizas and nod his head with a smile. The smile faded as Inoadar gave him a piercing look. "Don't forget, friend, if I get caught, you go down with me."
He hunched his shoulders and walked out of the bakery with slow, short steps. He looked like an old man, so he walked like one, as he made his way back the way he had come.
