"We should have some bon bons sent up", the lean Miqo'te said, leaning back on the padded sofa. "Maybe some skewers." His companion grunted, looking disdainfully at what passed for wine in her cup.
The downstairs common room of Famfrit's Jug bustled with pleasantly raucous excitement. Swaggering Blades mingled with the silver bells of dancing girls, while the low roar of conversation provided a deep obbligato to the shrill cry of the dry, whistling wind outside. Up the steep staircase was a network of private booths, screened discretes for the pleasures of lovers and conspirators alike. In one of these C'kayah Polaali lounged with his mate, L'kenthi Rarahn. She crossed one stockinged leg over the other, nibbling doubtfully at a sliver of roast meat speared on a charred wooden skewer while they regarded the Hyur seated across from them. Osric Melkire. Immortal Flame, or ex-Immortal Flame, and too-familiar fixture in both of their lives. He sat grinning at them in the unadorned garb of a mercenary swordsman, the turban wrapping his head providing insufficient disguise.
"Taeros", he said, leaning forward. "I need him gone, and for that all I need is a quarter bell with him outside the city walls he likes to hide behind. You stand to profit by way of filling the vacuum. You still hungering for vengeance? This is your chance. I know what she meant to you."
Jameson Taeros had been the Monetarist puppetmaster who'd drawn C'kayah's previous mate into his sway. He didn't know whether Taeros had been the cause of Natalie's hatred of him towards the end, but he blamed the man for her senseless death. She had led an illegal raid against a Limsan pirate, Nero Lazarov, and died in the attempt. Another pawn discarded in the course of Taeros' obsession with the pirate. C'kayah's expression hardened as the Hyur continued to speak.
"He has Roen. Figure that's because Crofte turned. I've kept the little ones' palms crossed with coin, and she and the snake have been seen together too often."
C'kayah cursed. Roen was an old friend, and dear to him. More than that, he owed her.
"She's not my main concern, though", Osric continued. "Taeros is too competent. I've been putting pressure on him, but he hasn't cracked. If anything, he's receding into his shell. I need him outside, away from the city. Don't care if he has Blades or 'sworn with him, I've got Gharen and another for that."
The Hyur smiled, no warmth in his eyes. "I make him disappear for good? We're all better off for it."
L'kenthi pursed her lips, her eyes intent on Osric. She knew the trouble Crofte had made for them. Knew the opportunities that would be provided if Taeros and his pet Sultansworn were removed from the equation.
"I could do it", C'kayah said, nodding slowly. "If I could show him Nero, would he come out?"
"He'd want a face to face", Osric replied. "That I know. But he's cautious. He'll want Nero within a stronghold of his own making. As for who'd be present? I'm guessing just him and Crofte at most."
"So we'll have to get a touch more creative", L'kenthi nodded. "Any using her to draw him out?" Osric shook his head.
"A stronghold of his own making", C'kayah said. "Is there such an animal, outside the walls?"
"The place they're supposedly holding Roen", Osric replied. "Black something or other. Cell? Pit? Supposedly worse than where he kept Gharen all those moons ago. Brass Blades gaol."
"Do you know where it is?"
"No", Osric said. "I've a few acquaintances in the Blades, but they've neither rank nor pull enough to be in the know." He frowned. "Roen knew someone, though. Can't recall the name."
C'kayah nodded, pursing his lips. "If we knew where, then we could make him think Nero was going to try to break her out. That might bring him out."
Osric grinned at the Miqo'te, his eyes blazing with mischievous light. "You remember which of us is taller, C'kayah? Me or Nero? Would your average Blade know?"
"Never." C'kayah returned Osric's grin, a wicked pleasure thrilling him.
"That's it, then", Osric said with a laugh, leaning back on the cushion. "Cosmetics and a few suns for me to get the voice down. Clothes too, but that I can manage. As far as the location goes, I can ask around, but I'm not certain I'll be getting any results."
"I have a few sources I can check with", the Miqo'te replied, swirling the wine in his glass.
Osric pushed himself to his feet. "I'll keep you updated, mmm? Anything else you need from me for this?"
C'kayah rose, smiling openly at the Hyur. "I think I can take it from here. Give me a little time to dig up the location of this place, and I'll contact you."
"Knowing you, it won't even take two suns. Less you're busy, of course." Osric cleared his throat, his lips curving in a smirk as he turned his attention to L'kenthi. She narrowed her eyes.
"Two suns it is", he said.
The Hyur stood straight, bringing his arm up in a Flame salute, his eyes on the flame-haired woman, before slipping back out of the discrete. C'kayah bowed politely to him as he left. "Menphina guide your steps", he purred.
"Oschon yours", Osric replied, and then he was gone.
C'kayah smirked at L'kenthi, moving to sit next to her and selecting a skewer. "Honestly", he murmured, "who invokes Oschon these days?"
The downstairs common room of Famfrit's Jug bustled with pleasantly raucous excitement. Swaggering Blades mingled with the silver bells of dancing girls, while the low roar of conversation provided a deep obbligato to the shrill cry of the dry, whistling wind outside. Up the steep staircase was a network of private booths, screened discretes for the pleasures of lovers and conspirators alike. In one of these C'kayah Polaali lounged with his mate, L'kenthi Rarahn. She crossed one stockinged leg over the other, nibbling doubtfully at a sliver of roast meat speared on a charred wooden skewer while they regarded the Hyur seated across from them. Osric Melkire. Immortal Flame, or ex-Immortal Flame, and too-familiar fixture in both of their lives. He sat grinning at them in the unadorned garb of a mercenary swordsman, the turban wrapping his head providing insufficient disguise.
"Taeros", he said, leaning forward. "I need him gone, and for that all I need is a quarter bell with him outside the city walls he likes to hide behind. You stand to profit by way of filling the vacuum. You still hungering for vengeance? This is your chance. I know what she meant to you."
Jameson Taeros had been the Monetarist puppetmaster who'd drawn C'kayah's previous mate into his sway. He didn't know whether Taeros had been the cause of Natalie's hatred of him towards the end, but he blamed the man for her senseless death. She had led an illegal raid against a Limsan pirate, Nero Lazarov, and died in the attempt. Another pawn discarded in the course of Taeros' obsession with the pirate. C'kayah's expression hardened as the Hyur continued to speak.
"He has Roen. Figure that's because Crofte turned. I've kept the little ones' palms crossed with coin, and she and the snake have been seen together too often."
C'kayah cursed. Roen was an old friend, and dear to him. More than that, he owed her.
"She's not my main concern, though", Osric continued. "Taeros is too competent. I've been putting pressure on him, but he hasn't cracked. If anything, he's receding into his shell. I need him outside, away from the city. Don't care if he has Blades or 'sworn with him, I've got Gharen and another for that."
The Hyur smiled, no warmth in his eyes. "I make him disappear for good? We're all better off for it."
L'kenthi pursed her lips, her eyes intent on Osric. She knew the trouble Crofte had made for them. Knew the opportunities that would be provided if Taeros and his pet Sultansworn were removed from the equation.
"I could do it", C'kayah said, nodding slowly. "If I could show him Nero, would he come out?"
"He'd want a face to face", Osric replied. "That I know. But he's cautious. He'll want Nero within a stronghold of his own making. As for who'd be present? I'm guessing just him and Crofte at most."
"So we'll have to get a touch more creative", L'kenthi nodded. "Any using her to draw him out?" Osric shook his head.
"A stronghold of his own making", C'kayah said. "Is there such an animal, outside the walls?"
"The place they're supposedly holding Roen", Osric replied. "Black something or other. Cell? Pit? Supposedly worse than where he kept Gharen all those moons ago. Brass Blades gaol."
"Do you know where it is?"
"No", Osric said. "I've a few acquaintances in the Blades, but they've neither rank nor pull enough to be in the know." He frowned. "Roen knew someone, though. Can't recall the name."
C'kayah nodded, pursing his lips. "If we knew where, then we could make him think Nero was going to try to break her out. That might bring him out."
Osric grinned at the Miqo'te, his eyes blazing with mischievous light. "You remember which of us is taller, C'kayah? Me or Nero? Would your average Blade know?"
"Never." C'kayah returned Osric's grin, a wicked pleasure thrilling him.
"That's it, then", Osric said with a laugh, leaning back on the cushion. "Cosmetics and a few suns for me to get the voice down. Clothes too, but that I can manage. As far as the location goes, I can ask around, but I'm not certain I'll be getting any results."
"I have a few sources I can check with", the Miqo'te replied, swirling the wine in his glass.
Osric pushed himself to his feet. "I'll keep you updated, mmm? Anything else you need from me for this?"
C'kayah rose, smiling openly at the Hyur. "I think I can take it from here. Give me a little time to dig up the location of this place, and I'll contact you."
"Knowing you, it won't even take two suns. Less you're busy, of course." Osric cleared his throat, his lips curving in a smirk as he turned his attention to L'kenthi. She narrowed her eyes.
"Two suns it is", he said.
The Hyur stood straight, bringing his arm up in a Flame salute, his eyes on the flame-haired woman, before slipping back out of the discrete. C'kayah bowed politely to him as he left. "Menphina guide your steps", he purred.
"Oschon yours", Osric replied, and then he was gone.
C'kayah smirked at L'kenthi, moving to sit next to her and selecting a skewer. "Honestly", he murmured, "who invokes Oschon these days?"
