"Poisoned?â€
Broken Nose kicked the empty bottle off to the side as he peered at the body of the Elezen lord that was slumped in the chair. He sniffed at the noble’s wine-soaked shirt before he straightened, and looked to the medic who was hovering on the other side of the corpse.
The Midlander shook his head, rubbing his chin. “It looks that way at the first glance, maybe something in the drink.†He gestured to the mess of spilled spirit over the desk, the body, and the floor. “But Rezhenne’s mouth is free of blood. His eyes are bloodshot, so...my guess is suffocation.â€
Roegadyn Brass Blade grunted, and began to study the desk that the noble was sitting at, his eyes squinting at stained parchment there. More than half of the letter was still wet and blurred with wine, but he could make out some sentences still. It was made out to Lord Quillburn. ‘I have reconsidered. I do not think Mumuqaru’s plan is sound. If you plan to proceed, I will not take any part on this. But if you decide--’
“His valet found him this morning,†another Blade’s voice brought the Hellsguard’s attention to the door. A quiet groan rumbled in his chest when he spotted the familiar raven-haired Highlander talking to one of the Blade grunts. Her arrival was hardly ever silent, bejeweled with jingling bracelets and anklets. Broken Nose wondered if Callae was so finely decorated before she took employment under Taeros.
“Hob!†the Roegadyn barked, which silenced the Midlander Blade immediately. It also brought Brynnalia’s green gaze his way. “Don’tcha have better things to do?†Broken Nose lumbered over toward the entrance to the bedroom, towering over the two hyurs. Hob, whom the Hellsguard knew made daily reports to Taeros’ camp, shrunk in the Roegadyn’s shadow...but the Highlander bard only crossed her arms, smirking up at him.
“Broken Nose,†Callae greeted him with a nod. The Roegadyn was familiar enough with the woman and her easy smile to know that her disarming ways were only an act; she was just an extension of Taeros and was not to be trusted. “Hob here was just tellin’ me about what happened tae poor Lord Rezhenne.†She patted the shoulder of the Midlander and gave him a playful wink as he slunk away.
The Hellsguard rolled his massive shoulders, his dark eyes narrowing on the woman. “Mayhap this be a Brass Blades investigation. Ya here ta help us in finding the culprit?†Broken Nose already knew she was not here to help, but only to suss out whether this was something that would affect the welfare and business of her employer. He used to not care about such things, but of late, he was finding that such details vexed him.
“Ye already know that Taeros and Rezhenne were business partners.†Brynnalia kept her tone light. Her expression stayed that way too. “Monetarist nobles found dead in his own room not be somethin’ any other Monetarists want tae hear.†She passed by the Brass Blade sergeant to approach the body and Broken Nose could already see her eyes scanning the area. He grumbled and strode after her, laying his large hand on the table to bring her attention back to him. She was skimming over the contents of the letter when he cleared his throat, to which she answered with another easy grin.
“We’re not sure what killed him yet, nor who wanted to.†He crossed his arms again, a wry expression on his face. “Your employer wouldn’t want ta help us out with a few clues?â€
To that Callae laughed, tossing her head back. “What are ye implyin’, Nose?†Her smile never wavered. “I s’pose ye can ask him yerself if ye feel so inclined. But I am certain my employer wants tae get t' the bottom o’ this as much as anyone.†She sighed then her tone lowered just slightly, but enough to be noticeable. “I don’ need tae remind ye where yer pay comes from. Ye best be doin’ yer finest job tae make sure we find the right culprits here.â€
Broken Nose nearly scowled at the implication, but said nothing. She was right. Weren’t all Blades funded by Taeros’ employers, after all? He had somehow started to forget that of late. But with those like Callae about, he told himself to take care in his choice of words and even demeanor. “Well, I’ll get a good pair of eyes on it then. A new recruit just came on board. An ex-Flame.â€
“Mm,†Callae hummed as she scanned the letter again. “Ex-Flame eh?†She paused, looking back upat him with arched brows. “Wait. She be the one that was also leadin’ the Flames in that street fight a few moons back...aye? The ones with guns?†She slowly tilted her head. “How is that investigation goin’?â€
This time, Broken Nose could not keep the frown at bay. “Dead ends. We know the bandits are led by someone named Scythe, who is recruitin’ under the pretense for some revolutionary cause.†He paused, looking pointedly at her. “Although the rumor amongst many Blades is that because they suspect some association between this Scythe and that Limsan pirate, suddenly there’s talk of rewards for whoever brings ‘im in. You wouldn’t happen ta know if such rumors were true now, wouldja?â€
It was Brynnalia’s turn to shrug. “I wouldn’t know anythin’ about it. But…any incentive tae put an end t' bandits within the walls, with guns no less, well that'd nae be a bad thing, mm?â€
“Not if trying to bait him is done by beatin’ up on more refugees,†the Hellsguard growled.
Callae tilted her head, and for a moment, Broken Nose thought that her smile too faded just a little, but it was as fleeting as a passing shadow of a bird in flight. “Ye know our employers. What they want, they get. ‘Sides, don’t tell me ye’ve gone soft, 'Nose.â€
The Roegadyn let out a loud snort. “Ya don’t enjoy seeing it just as much as me, we both know it.†He knew he had guessed right when that easy smile on the woman’s face faded. Broken Nose had gambled that since the woman was a Highlander, that she held still some loyalty to those of her kin. He shared a lowborn upbringing himself and had some measure of sympathy for the poor, even though he rarely let it be shown in his line of work. He leaned in close and kept his voice low. “I do this job to put food on the table at the end of the day, and so do you, I reckon’. We don’t need ta turn into monsters for it.â€
Brynnalia met his gaze steadily, the green hue of her eyes turning a darker shade. All amusement was gone from her visage. “And ye and I both know the food on the table be no good if our necks not be intact tae enjoy it. And I intend tae keep mine, and the spread on my table well stocked.†She lightly tapped his chainmail armor on the chest. “We work with and for monsters every sun, 'Nose. Don’t ye forget it.â€
Broken Nose blinked, taken aback by the woman’s sudden honesty. But soon as he started to regard her differently, perhaps trying to see her in a different light, she straightened and flashed him her playful smirk again.
“Now, 'Nose. Be a sweetling and let me know what ye find eh? Or keep yer ears tae the ground on how this…new recruit’s investigation goes. I wouldn’t want it goin’ awry…†Callae was already making her way for the exit, a two-fingered wave sent over her shoulder.
“Will do,†the Roegadyn muttered as he watched the woman exit. He turned back to the dead Elezen before him, scowling at the letter.
Just what deal was he wanting out of? And did it get him killed?
Broken Nose kicked the empty bottle off to the side as he peered at the body of the Elezen lord that was slumped in the chair. He sniffed at the noble’s wine-soaked shirt before he straightened, and looked to the medic who was hovering on the other side of the corpse.
The Midlander shook his head, rubbing his chin. “It looks that way at the first glance, maybe something in the drink.†He gestured to the mess of spilled spirit over the desk, the body, and the floor. “But Rezhenne’s mouth is free of blood. His eyes are bloodshot, so...my guess is suffocation.â€
Roegadyn Brass Blade grunted, and began to study the desk that the noble was sitting at, his eyes squinting at stained parchment there. More than half of the letter was still wet and blurred with wine, but he could make out some sentences still. It was made out to Lord Quillburn. ‘I have reconsidered. I do not think Mumuqaru’s plan is sound. If you plan to proceed, I will not take any part on this. But if you decide--’
“His valet found him this morning,†another Blade’s voice brought the Hellsguard’s attention to the door. A quiet groan rumbled in his chest when he spotted the familiar raven-haired Highlander talking to one of the Blade grunts. Her arrival was hardly ever silent, bejeweled with jingling bracelets and anklets. Broken Nose wondered if Callae was so finely decorated before she took employment under Taeros.
“Hob!†the Roegadyn barked, which silenced the Midlander Blade immediately. It also brought Brynnalia’s green gaze his way. “Don’tcha have better things to do?†Broken Nose lumbered over toward the entrance to the bedroom, towering over the two hyurs. Hob, whom the Hellsguard knew made daily reports to Taeros’ camp, shrunk in the Roegadyn’s shadow...but the Highlander bard only crossed her arms, smirking up at him.
“Broken Nose,†Callae greeted him with a nod. The Roegadyn was familiar enough with the woman and her easy smile to know that her disarming ways were only an act; she was just an extension of Taeros and was not to be trusted. “Hob here was just tellin’ me about what happened tae poor Lord Rezhenne.†She patted the shoulder of the Midlander and gave him a playful wink as he slunk away.
The Hellsguard rolled his massive shoulders, his dark eyes narrowing on the woman. “Mayhap this be a Brass Blades investigation. Ya here ta help us in finding the culprit?†Broken Nose already knew she was not here to help, but only to suss out whether this was something that would affect the welfare and business of her employer. He used to not care about such things, but of late, he was finding that such details vexed him.
“Ye already know that Taeros and Rezhenne were business partners.†Brynnalia kept her tone light. Her expression stayed that way too. “Monetarist nobles found dead in his own room not be somethin’ any other Monetarists want tae hear.†She passed by the Brass Blade sergeant to approach the body and Broken Nose could already see her eyes scanning the area. He grumbled and strode after her, laying his large hand on the table to bring her attention back to him. She was skimming over the contents of the letter when he cleared his throat, to which she answered with another easy grin.
“We’re not sure what killed him yet, nor who wanted to.†He crossed his arms again, a wry expression on his face. “Your employer wouldn’t want ta help us out with a few clues?â€
To that Callae laughed, tossing her head back. “What are ye implyin’, Nose?†Her smile never wavered. “I s’pose ye can ask him yerself if ye feel so inclined. But I am certain my employer wants tae get t' the bottom o’ this as much as anyone.†She sighed then her tone lowered just slightly, but enough to be noticeable. “I don’ need tae remind ye where yer pay comes from. Ye best be doin’ yer finest job tae make sure we find the right culprits here.â€
Broken Nose nearly scowled at the implication, but said nothing. She was right. Weren’t all Blades funded by Taeros’ employers, after all? He had somehow started to forget that of late. But with those like Callae about, he told himself to take care in his choice of words and even demeanor. “Well, I’ll get a good pair of eyes on it then. A new recruit just came on board. An ex-Flame.â€
“Mm,†Callae hummed as she scanned the letter again. “Ex-Flame eh?†She paused, looking back upat him with arched brows. “Wait. She be the one that was also leadin’ the Flames in that street fight a few moons back...aye? The ones with guns?†She slowly tilted her head. “How is that investigation goin’?â€
This time, Broken Nose could not keep the frown at bay. “Dead ends. We know the bandits are led by someone named Scythe, who is recruitin’ under the pretense for some revolutionary cause.†He paused, looking pointedly at her. “Although the rumor amongst many Blades is that because they suspect some association between this Scythe and that Limsan pirate, suddenly there’s talk of rewards for whoever brings ‘im in. You wouldn’t happen ta know if such rumors were true now, wouldja?â€
It was Brynnalia’s turn to shrug. “I wouldn’t know anythin’ about it. But…any incentive tae put an end t' bandits within the walls, with guns no less, well that'd nae be a bad thing, mm?â€
“Not if trying to bait him is done by beatin’ up on more refugees,†the Hellsguard growled.
Callae tilted her head, and for a moment, Broken Nose thought that her smile too faded just a little, but it was as fleeting as a passing shadow of a bird in flight. “Ye know our employers. What they want, they get. ‘Sides, don’t tell me ye’ve gone soft, 'Nose.â€
The Roegadyn let out a loud snort. “Ya don’t enjoy seeing it just as much as me, we both know it.†He knew he had guessed right when that easy smile on the woman’s face faded. Broken Nose had gambled that since the woman was a Highlander, that she held still some loyalty to those of her kin. He shared a lowborn upbringing himself and had some measure of sympathy for the poor, even though he rarely let it be shown in his line of work. He leaned in close and kept his voice low. “I do this job to put food on the table at the end of the day, and so do you, I reckon’. We don’t need ta turn into monsters for it.â€
Brynnalia met his gaze steadily, the green hue of her eyes turning a darker shade. All amusement was gone from her visage. “And ye and I both know the food on the table be no good if our necks not be intact tae enjoy it. And I intend tae keep mine, and the spread on my table well stocked.†She lightly tapped his chainmail armor on the chest. “We work with and for monsters every sun, 'Nose. Don’t ye forget it.â€
Broken Nose blinked, taken aback by the woman’s sudden honesty. But soon as he started to regard her differently, perhaps trying to see her in a different light, she straightened and flashed him her playful smirk again.
“Now, 'Nose. Be a sweetling and let me know what ye find eh? Or keep yer ears tae the ground on how this…new recruit’s investigation goes. I wouldn’t want it goin’ awry…†Callae was already making her way for the exit, a two-fingered wave sent over her shoulder.
“Will do,†the Roegadyn muttered as he watched the woman exit. He turned back to the dead Elezen before him, scowling at the letter.
Just what deal was he wanting out of? And did it get him killed?
