Andralyn. She had called her Andralyn. Even after years of prodding to drop the ‘Grace’ title, Sedalyne hadn’t called her Andralyn. Something was wrong. “I n-need you.†The slightly accented voice was soft, almost weak. Something was very wrong.
She sat, staring at Mialyre, her eyes wide as she moved a hand back to her pearl.
“Sedalyne? What is it? What’s wrong?â€
Mialyre’s gaze locked with Andralyn’s as they waited for the familiar voice to elaborate.
“Lady Grace, “ Andralyn’s brows pulled together as the male’s voice. Winters? “I happened to be in Costa del Sol while waiting for an assignment from you. Good thing, too. Seems another hit had been placed, this time on Sedalyne. I got the worm tied up here, squirming and crying. Sedalyne’s been cut, but she seems otherwise fine. I would like to know what you’d like me to do with the man. I can slit his throat here and now, or turn him over to ‘proper’ authorities.â€
Her heart stopped and she jumped to her feet, “Kill him. I’m on my way!â€
Vesper. That’s a two day trip! Hells consume me! She scrambled for a moment before Mialyre grabbed her arm, pulling a crystal from around her neck and offering a calming glance, “Calm down.â€
Andralyn nodded, taking a deep breath to compose before moving a hand to her ear, “Clove! Get your streetrunner! We need to have a meeting!â€
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Her foot shook under the table, the night before running through her head again. Her foot shook harder, her knee bumping against the underside of the table occasionally as it rested on her other. She looked tired. Her typically tamed mane of hair was pulled back into a loose, messy gathering at the base of her neck, day old makeup smeared around her eyes; this was not Lady Sophia Grace. This was a woman that was in unfamiliar territory, that was second guessing every decision she had made.
“Until further notice, consider your appointments postponed,†she had informed over their pearl. “I will speak with each of your clients and I assure you that compensation will still be earned.â€
The look Mialyre had given her made her turn away as they set outside the tent, letting Sedalyne gather herself and her things. “Are you certain, Andy? You were so worried about keeping up appear—“
She shook her head, “Of course I’m not, Mialyre!†She sighed heavily, her fingers pulling through her hair and resting atop her head, her eyes desperate as she looked back at her longtime friend, “Of course I’m not! I don’t know what else to do. It’s never been like this! The houses have never come at me like this! Ever since the Aegis I.. I’m losing it, you know I am. I cannot put them in harm’s way. I can’t. I won’t.â€
She activated the pearl again, her voice pleading, “I beg of you, each of you, do not put yourself in harm’s way. Stay off the street, do not take jobs.. at the very least only use our most trusted clients. I am still trying to hire protection. I will let you know more as soon as I do.â€
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Her arms folded across her stomach, resting in her lap as she set back in the chair and pulled herself from the repeating evening. Her gaze moved over the scarcely populated tavern. The Wench, like much of the city didn’t operate this early, but early was when it had to be. She needed information now; time would only allow more rats to crawl from the woodwork and she was tired of being reactive.
She eyed the man that sat across the pub, chatting up the only server behind the counter with a roguish grin. Winters. She shook her head, looking back toward one of the entrances. The man was a mercenary and the sum she had parted with to keep her head and the heads of her company from his list was steep, but so far it had proven a worthy investment. Sedalyne was safe thanks to him.
She moved her gaze to another entrance. The ship was in capable hands in Mialyre’s absence. Osric had volunteered to look after the companions in Ul’dah, alleviating that worry at least for now and Mialyre was with Sedalyne, Once more, she waited.
For now everything was calm, but years at sea had taught her that was usually a bad omen.
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(I can't format this on my phone so I'll have to go back and edit it later.)
She sat, staring at Mialyre, her eyes wide as she moved a hand back to her pearl.
“Sedalyne? What is it? What’s wrong?â€
Mialyre’s gaze locked with Andralyn’s as they waited for the familiar voice to elaborate.
“Lady Grace, “ Andralyn’s brows pulled together as the male’s voice. Winters? “I happened to be in Costa del Sol while waiting for an assignment from you. Good thing, too. Seems another hit had been placed, this time on Sedalyne. I got the worm tied up here, squirming and crying. Sedalyne’s been cut, but she seems otherwise fine. I would like to know what you’d like me to do with the man. I can slit his throat here and now, or turn him over to ‘proper’ authorities.â€
Her heart stopped and she jumped to her feet, “Kill him. I’m on my way!â€
Vesper. That’s a two day trip! Hells consume me! She scrambled for a moment before Mialyre grabbed her arm, pulling a crystal from around her neck and offering a calming glance, “Calm down.â€
Andralyn nodded, taking a deep breath to compose before moving a hand to her ear, “Clove! Get your streetrunner! We need to have a meeting!â€
Â
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Her foot shook under the table, the night before running through her head again. Her foot shook harder, her knee bumping against the underside of the table occasionally as it rested on her other. She looked tired. Her typically tamed mane of hair was pulled back into a loose, messy gathering at the base of her neck, day old makeup smeared around her eyes; this was not Lady Sophia Grace. This was a woman that was in unfamiliar territory, that was second guessing every decision she had made.
“Until further notice, consider your appointments postponed,†she had informed over their pearl. “I will speak with each of your clients and I assure you that compensation will still be earned.â€
The look Mialyre had given her made her turn away as they set outside the tent, letting Sedalyne gather herself and her things. “Are you certain, Andy? You were so worried about keeping up appear—“
She shook her head, “Of course I’m not, Mialyre!†She sighed heavily, her fingers pulling through her hair and resting atop her head, her eyes desperate as she looked back at her longtime friend, “Of course I’m not! I don’t know what else to do. It’s never been like this! The houses have never come at me like this! Ever since the Aegis I.. I’m losing it, you know I am. I cannot put them in harm’s way. I can’t. I won’t.â€
She activated the pearl again, her voice pleading, “I beg of you, each of you, do not put yourself in harm’s way. Stay off the street, do not take jobs.. at the very least only use our most trusted clients. I am still trying to hire protection. I will let you know more as soon as I do.â€
Â
Her arms folded across her stomach, resting in her lap as she set back in the chair and pulled herself from the repeating evening. Her gaze moved over the scarcely populated tavern. The Wench, like much of the city didn’t operate this early, but early was when it had to be. She needed information now; time would only allow more rats to crawl from the woodwork and she was tired of being reactive.
She eyed the man that sat across the pub, chatting up the only server behind the counter with a roguish grin. Winters. She shook her head, looking back toward one of the entrances. The man was a mercenary and the sum she had parted with to keep her head and the heads of her company from his list was steep, but so far it had proven a worthy investment. Sedalyne was safe thanks to him.
She moved her gaze to another entrance. The ship was in capable hands in Mialyre’s absence. Osric had volunteered to look after the companions in Ul’dah, alleviating that worry at least for now and Mialyre was with Sedalyne, Once more, she waited.
For now everything was calm, but years at sea had taught her that was usually a bad omen.
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(I can't format this on my phone so I'll have to go back and edit it later.)
