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One year ago.
The sun was obscured behind a rare bank of clouds, welcome relief and good omen alike to one that preferred lands far colder than this hateful desert. Not that the huntress needed the latter (the former being always welcome); not with the prize burning hot in her clenched fist, as it had for the past sun. The proof of her success, and redemption for… mistakes. Not that she’d done anything wrong! Scouting, yes, that was all, seeking exactly this manner of trinket for her Nunh. Certainly not making a side trip to murder a rival.
That failure still stung, briefly overshadowing her pride at having claimed the trinket. Only briefly, however; then she once more pictured his face, how intensely his eyes had burned when he spoke of wanting this thing. And now, she had it.
For the first time in bells, she paused, and unclenched her fist, and looked at it. Such a dull little bauble, to her eyes. Yellow, and not even pretty. She had seen much prettier gems, since leaving the Lands; by comparison, this one was just boring and ugly. Even her own eyes were of a brighter yellow.
A frown creased her brow, then. The gem seemed a little brighter than she remembered. She cupped her hands around it, creating shadow, and peered in. Yes.. it was definitely glowing. And there was a sound…
The huntress shook herself, straightening with a grin, and laughed. "Yes!" She’d been almost sure.. ALMOST sure she had the right one. That Outsider she took it from had been so mad, just SO mad, had been trying to keep it so hard. Only later when she looked at it properly and saw how boring and ugly it was, did she wonder if she’d been tricked… but no, behold, it was glowing, it was special, it was the thing he wanted!
Practically skipping with joy, X’kirra rushed onward, to where the others waited. To where HE waited, her Nunh. He would reward her, for this, and the thought made her shiver.
Her fist gripped the wyrmtear even more tightly as she ran.
Present Day
“You will do as you’re ordered.â€
Such statements had never used to cause Rienne any trouble, but then they’d never been used to keep a murderer safe from the law. One or more murderers, she reminded herself; the connections, the good family name that must not be soiled via open arrest under suspicion alone, covered the lot of the little bastards, not just THAT one. The little street rat. Twelve alone knew why the Elementals had let her in, and now see what was happening, as she dragged those fool boys down into the muck with her.
Well, there was more than one way to skin a coeurl.
With a brisk step, Rienne made her way up to the blue-lit counter. The pretty lass there smiled up at her.
“Good day, Wailer. May we be of service?â€
“Yes. I would like to issue a leve.â€
Also Present Day
“So, the Master is upset, is he?â€
“Ah, yes, I would say so.â€
“Throwing things?â€
“No, no, but he is sulking.â€
“Oh dear. The shrimp-kabobs?â€
“He had three.â€
A shocked silence.
“Three?â€
“Indeed. May as well have had none at all.â€
“And the dancers?â€
“Two of them are in there. I called for a third, but she is off servicing that gentleman, what was his name... anyroad she won’t be back for bells.â€
“Damnation. Well, I suppose this was to be expected. It’s been.. What? Six moons?â€
“Closer to fourteen, actually.â€
“Fourteen! How awkward.â€
“The Master and his cousin were never very close, but, well…â€
“Indeed. No word in so long…â€
“Indeed.â€
Another silence.
“Perhaps... Adventurers?â€
“As dancers?â€
“No! Well, mayhap. Not a bad idea. But you know what I mean.â€
“Yes, actually. He does favor Adventurers.â€
“A contest could be made of it. So many always show up. The contest alone might cheer him up.â€
“Brilliant, yes. His name does draw them in.â€
“As it should. You will handle the details?â€
“Yes, tonight. A leve should do it. You can handle the Master.â€
“As always. He’ll come up with the idea himself, or think he did.â€
“Exactly as one would expect, from the eccentric Master Gegereju.â€
Still Yet Present Day
“AHA! BEHOLD, MY GENIUS!â€
The berobed miqo’te held up the parchment in a triumphant flourish; his sole companion stared for a moment, and then leaned over and proceeded to lick herself. The thaumaturge glared, then scoffed. It was a good scoff, practiced, with exactly the same amount of condescending disdain to which he treated most other living things.
“Even you will be forced to concede my brilliance, Minna, when I secure the tear! And now, thanks to this ritual-†Another flourish, carefully not on the same side of the table as the candles, not after last time, “-I will be able to follow its trail! Then its SECRETS shall be MINE!â€
Minna yawned, and he reached out, scratching her head reflexively. She bit his thumb, of course. He winced, but continued. It helped to focus. When was the last time he slept? Focus. On the ritual!
“Now… yes, the ritual is dangerous. Of COURSE it is. Draws voidsent like flies. And the corpses… well, they do need to be there, and… ow, CLAWS, Minna! No, I won’t… I shall be busy. Too busy to be fighting horrors. I need.. Need…â€
He slapped his head with his other hand (and the scroll), and laughed.
“AHA! BEHOLD ONCE MORE, MY GENIUS!†He grinned fiercely at the cat, who was licking his blood from his fingers.
“Minions, Minna! Underlings, lackeys… thugs!â€
He dropped the scroll, snatched a quill, and wrote quickly on the back of it.
“Seeking… bold Adventurers… power untold… great rewards… well, I am sure the, what’s it called. Leve person. Whatever. They will put a spin on it. And then… all shall TREMBLE before the coming of U’jakataAAAH CLAWS, MINNA!â€
The sun was obscured behind a rare bank of clouds, welcome relief and good omen alike to one that preferred lands far colder than this hateful desert. Not that the huntress needed the latter (the former being always welcome); not with the prize burning hot in her clenched fist, as it had for the past sun. The proof of her success, and redemption for… mistakes. Not that she’d done anything wrong! Scouting, yes, that was all, seeking exactly this manner of trinket for her Nunh. Certainly not making a side trip to murder a rival.
That failure still stung, briefly overshadowing her pride at having claimed the trinket. Only briefly, however; then she once more pictured his face, how intensely his eyes had burned when he spoke of wanting this thing. And now, she had it.
For the first time in bells, she paused, and unclenched her fist, and looked at it. Such a dull little bauble, to her eyes. Yellow, and not even pretty. She had seen much prettier gems, since leaving the Lands; by comparison, this one was just boring and ugly. Even her own eyes were of a brighter yellow.
A frown creased her brow, then. The gem seemed a little brighter than she remembered. She cupped her hands around it, creating shadow, and peered in. Yes.. it was definitely glowing. And there was a sound…
The huntress shook herself, straightening with a grin, and laughed. "Yes!" She’d been almost sure.. ALMOST sure she had the right one. That Outsider she took it from had been so mad, just SO mad, had been trying to keep it so hard. Only later when she looked at it properly and saw how boring and ugly it was, did she wonder if she’d been tricked… but no, behold, it was glowing, it was special, it was the thing he wanted!
Practically skipping with joy, X’kirra rushed onward, to where the others waited. To where HE waited, her Nunh. He would reward her, for this, and the thought made her shiver.
Her fist gripped the wyrmtear even more tightly as she ran.
Present Day
“You will do as you’re ordered.â€
Such statements had never used to cause Rienne any trouble, but then they’d never been used to keep a murderer safe from the law. One or more murderers, she reminded herself; the connections, the good family name that must not be soiled via open arrest under suspicion alone, covered the lot of the little bastards, not just THAT one. The little street rat. Twelve alone knew why the Elementals had let her in, and now see what was happening, as she dragged those fool boys down into the muck with her.
Well, there was more than one way to skin a coeurl.
With a brisk step, Rienne made her way up to the blue-lit counter. The pretty lass there smiled up at her.
“Good day, Wailer. May we be of service?â€
“Yes. I would like to issue a leve.â€
Also Present Day
“So, the Master is upset, is he?â€
“Ah, yes, I would say so.â€
“Throwing things?â€
“No, no, but he is sulking.â€
“Oh dear. The shrimp-kabobs?â€
“He had three.â€
A shocked silence.
“Three?â€
“Indeed. May as well have had none at all.â€
“And the dancers?â€
“Two of them are in there. I called for a third, but she is off servicing that gentleman, what was his name... anyroad she won’t be back for bells.â€
“Damnation. Well, I suppose this was to be expected. It’s been.. What? Six moons?â€
“Closer to fourteen, actually.â€
“Fourteen! How awkward.â€
“The Master and his cousin were never very close, but, well…â€
“Indeed. No word in so long…â€
“Indeed.â€
Another silence.
“Perhaps... Adventurers?â€
“As dancers?â€
“No! Well, mayhap. Not a bad idea. But you know what I mean.â€
“Yes, actually. He does favor Adventurers.â€
“A contest could be made of it. So many always show up. The contest alone might cheer him up.â€
“Brilliant, yes. His name does draw them in.â€
“As it should. You will handle the details?â€
“Yes, tonight. A leve should do it. You can handle the Master.â€
“As always. He’ll come up with the idea himself, or think he did.â€
“Exactly as one would expect, from the eccentric Master Gegereju.â€
Still Yet Present Day
“AHA! BEHOLD, MY GENIUS!â€
The berobed miqo’te held up the parchment in a triumphant flourish; his sole companion stared for a moment, and then leaned over and proceeded to lick herself. The thaumaturge glared, then scoffed. It was a good scoff, practiced, with exactly the same amount of condescending disdain to which he treated most other living things.
“Even you will be forced to concede my brilliance, Minna, when I secure the tear! And now, thanks to this ritual-†Another flourish, carefully not on the same side of the table as the candles, not after last time, “-I will be able to follow its trail! Then its SECRETS shall be MINE!â€
Minna yawned, and he reached out, scratching her head reflexively. She bit his thumb, of course. He winced, but continued. It helped to focus. When was the last time he slept? Focus. On the ritual!
“Now… yes, the ritual is dangerous. Of COURSE it is. Draws voidsent like flies. And the corpses… well, they do need to be there, and… ow, CLAWS, Minna! No, I won’t… I shall be busy. Too busy to be fighting horrors. I need.. Need…â€
He slapped his head with his other hand (and the scroll), and laughed.
“AHA! BEHOLD ONCE MORE, MY GENIUS!†He grinned fiercely at the cat, who was licking his blood from his fingers.
“Minions, Minna! Underlings, lackeys… thugs!â€
He dropped the scroll, snatched a quill, and wrote quickly on the back of it.
“Seeking… bold Adventurers… power untold… great rewards… well, I am sure the, what’s it called. Leve person. Whatever. They will put a spin on it. And then… all shall TREMBLE before the coming of U’jakataAAAH CLAWS, MINNA!â€