"Thanks for the assist," he says to Cassian. "I owe you one for the good of Westcrown. respects his debts."
Early in the day everyone gets a message, through standard means, to meet at near the chapel safehouse. When you arrive, Janiven is there, grim lines etched into her face, her green eyes clouded with anger.
Other than a nod to acknowledge each arrival, she is silent until everyone arrives. When everyone is there, she stands, walking out moving the few blocks to the safehouse. Her voice is quiet but raw when she does speak, "I've already checked around, there isn't anyone watching, so we should be safe to go in."
The main room of the chapel is in shambles, the old wood of the pews broken, damage to the stone walls. In the side of the room closest to the hallway of monastic cells is Yakopulio's crumbled and broken form, a broken bottle of gin, held by the neck in her small hand.
On the wall, right where anyone entering would have to see it, is the image of a cage with an elf-eared man held within. Beneath the cage, in a flowing script, 'If you stay quiet and out of our way, the elf will live.'
On the wall, right where anyone entering would have to see it, is the image of a cage with an elf-eared man held within. Beneath the cage, in a flowing script, 'If you stay quiet and out of our way, the elf will live.'
Gravlax looks around. "Cassian is quieter than death," he says.
Gravlax looks around. "Cassian is quieter than death," he says.
"And it just so happens I keep Death in my pocket," Cassian says grimly. "Take it this is our invitation to the Drovenge household and plan a funeral."
Azhar immediately looks around to see what can be gleaned by anything left behind before the scene is disturbed anymore than it already has been.
FE not included
FE not included
Gravlax takes a few swipes at a melon, moving around it as he does so.
The first one shaves a bit off the edge, the second one might or might not have, and the third one looks like it should have been a direct hit ... but the melon is unscratched.
"Your turn."
His first strike yields almost the same result, but falls progressively shorter on each of the last two. He looks at the melon slightly accusingly, then smiles, turning towards Gravlax. "Still a bit of a ways to go." he says, "Still, no fatalities yet. Soon enough, I'm sure."
Janiven tightens the band holding her quiver to her waist. "Sounds like a good starting place but I doubt that they'd be stupid enough to keep Arael on their own estate."
A pause, "I still really want to go there and just start shooting." Anger just barely kept in check by long years of logic.
However, Azhar does find a group of tracks that look to be moving in concert, carrying something. About a block away, he find a place where one of the kidnappers must have scraped against the wall, leaving a bit of unusual smelling sea grass.
From his extensive knowledge of the nature-y areas in Westcrown, Azhar knows that particular sea grass requires an odd mixture of fresh and salt water, found only in Rego Corna at the northern end of Westcrown Island.
.
Amaya cheeks burn, "oh yeah" she mutters, "change the message. Never thought of that, wonder what was distracting me..." But she smiles good naturedly.
"I think that works very well, love." Her head tilts ever so slightly, "What else do we have to get ready by then?"
She takes the chocolate from his finger with her mouth, both her breath (and briefly her tongue) chasing over Azhar's skin.
Her eyes chase over the glass roses glowing with magical light. He sees her note the skill and the tiny imperfections, a smile of pride and happiness growing on her lips. "These are lovely, Azhar. You've gotten so good."
She smiles directly at him, "I love them." Then confusion clouds her delicate features, "Auspicious day?"
Honest, "There is only the one entrance into the main building. The br..." cough "..kid is held one room back."
His voice gets a little cagey, no lies but withholding. "That room is just where we meet with the ma.." cough "..concerned parties. Make sure the deal meets with everyone's satisfaction and all."
Cassian can see the emotion in her yellow-gold eyes, pleasure and happiness. She starts to say something, then pauses, worry clouding the brighter emotions. She slides onto the bed, next to him, the silk of the gown playing over his skin. "I'd like to do the same for you."
A half-smile, "But my way of making a living is cold and vicious. I can play by your rules," her hand finds his, squeezing gently, "But I have a feeling that most of the people who fit your criteria are going to be more dangerous than who I've targeted in the past." She doesn't seem as worried by the idea as maybe she should be.
Until finally she slides up his body, to hold him close.
Azhar returns, having followed some nearly invisible sign out the door.
"Some scattered, a small group, presumably carrying the captive headed that way. At least one has been to Rego Corna, specifically the northern end of Westcrown Island."
Amaya cheeks burn, *"oh yeah"* she mutters, *"change the message. Never thought of that, wonder what was distracting me..."* But she smiles good naturedly.
"Hopefully me." he grins impishly and gives her a quick peck.
*"I think that works very well, love."* Her head tilts ever so slightly, *"What else do we have to get ready by then?"*
"Well." Azhar looks a little uncertain, "I think that's going to depend a lot on what you... your parents are expecting. Honestly, love, I'd he perfectly happy running down the first person that would be willing to give us a ceremony under the blessings of Sheyln, but I want very much to give you the type of wedding you expect, and I wouldn't want to disappoint your parents either. Have you dreamed about a particular type of ceremony? Is there anything in particular you would like to have happen? Oh, and before I forget, um," he finishes in a bit of a rush"your Dad says we need to spend a couple weeks apart before the wedding." He looks slightly crestfallen and almost guilty, like it must be his fault for some reason.
She takes the chocolate from his finger with her mouth, both her breath (and briefly her tongue) chasing over Azhar's skin.
He feels a tingle race through his flesh. He twitches slightly, though that shouldn't be visible to her.
Her eyes chase over the glass roses glowing with magical light. He sees her note the skill and the tiny imperfections, a smile of pride and happiness growing on her lips. *"These are lovely, Azhar. You've gotten so good."*
She smiles directly at him, *"I love them."* Then confusion clouds her delicate features,*"Auspicious day?"*
He grins at her, perhaps a little slyly, "Absolutely. It is Armasse, after all, the holy day where commoners are trained to fight and historical tales are told with the hope that someone will learn from them? Or at least it would be if we weren't in Cheliax. No, love, I didn't mean anything like that. It's just my birthday and I got your Dad's approval for us to play hooky from work so I can take you around town. I want to take you to your favorite restaurant for breakfast this morning. Whenever you're ready of course. Absolutely no rush. Today we will go at whatever pace you choose." He smiles, evidently truly happy just to be in the presence of the woman he loves so much.
Gravlax sets melons up in a slightly more complicated pattern, and gets to slashing, one slash per melon.
"I will say this," Gravlax talks he as slashes, "avoiding the fruit pits from the top of the house, good practice for not getting hit with other things."
He nuzzles her neck, and trails a line of kisses up toward her ear. "My turn?"
Azhar returns, having followed some nearly invisible sign out the door.
"Some scattered, a small group, presumably carrying the captive headed that way. At least one has been to Rego Corna, specifically the northern end of Westcrown Island."
"Guess we should get moving."
"You've been very helpful," Cassian says, and taps the back of the man's neck with a Shadowstrike. He'll happily beat the guy further to knock him out.
"All right... Thekla, we're going in. First, we check that room on the pier to make sure it's empty, then we sneak right in the front way. Jan, Crow, you're at the front. Khaz, I want you overhead. Make sure no one escapes. We're getting the kid back, and we're getting him back in one piece, got me?"
He hauls her closer, one hand snaking inside the robe to feel her back. "You have plenty of time to be good to me."
He nods, a little uncomfortable at the realities being brought up, yet grateful that they are. "Yes... I've been thinking about that. About you. I had some thoughts on the subject. One, yes, you could just be going after more dangerous quarry. While that makes me sick to my stomach, the thought of you in pain like the last one, I need you to stick with those who deserve it."
He looks into her eyes, his voice going softer. "There is another option. Your skillset can be utilized to make a living in a different way... you could be a spy. I used to sell information, and I was never the disguise artist you are. You can evolve into an information broker. Or you can case places for the Syndicate to rob. As the scout, you'll be entitled to a share of the score."
Hope is an odd emotion on Cassian, but it's clear how much he wants her to be someone he can let himself love. Even though his heart already made that choice for him.
"Guess we should get moving."
"Yes, indeed," says Zsz, ready to follow those who can track better than she can.
Azhar glances around at the others who seem to be in accord. He nods, "Very well, to the "Crown Sector" it is."
The group follows Azhar, at least down to the docks, where procuring a boat would normally require guile or money. However, there seems to be an abandoned barge. Probably left alone due to the wash of blood coating the roof of the cabin.
Passing along Westcrown Island, in the few places that one can see the interior though passages in the protective shell wall, the streets seem unusually quiet and empty.
When you finally reach the northern end of the island, you see a few places where city living as spilled beyond the ancient protective walls of Pararego Regicona. Most of the buildings are squat buildings made entirely of stone, able to stand up to a few volleys of mortar or magic. About a hundred feet away, Cassian spots one with a boat tied to the pier. More importantly, he notices the barely there streaks of wetness in a double line, as if someone unconscious was recently dragged into the building.
"Guess we're getting the barge anyway," Cassian mutters. Rygel chirps agreement.
Cassian points out the drag marks. "Shall I go on ahead and scout?" he offers.
"During the day? Probably advisable." Azhar nods in assent.
Cassian slips off the boat, going from seen and solid then suddenly ghosting into something which your eyes are almost forced to avoid as he moves in the urban dock.
plus
Cassian slips off the boat, going from seen and solid then suddenly ghosting into something which your eyes are almost forced to avoid as he moves in the urban dock.
"That is really creepy," Gravlax says to no one in particular.
There is a blur of movement near the center door, a quick spray of blood on the wall and rafters above the door.
An imp - small, misshapen and blood red. It's own little paw is wrapped in a death hold around a small bead that glows with magic.
"That is really creepy," Gravlax says to no one in particular.
Azhar's voice softly intrudes on his thoughts from nearby. "An imp. Invisible. Was thinking of throwing some sort of magic bead at us. Cassian got him before he knew what hit him." Azhar is relaxing in the shadows, but apparently following the rogue's movements, at least as long as he is in line of sight, just in case.
The room is dominated by a stretching rack - the machinery mechanisms gleaming and oiled. Near it is are two barrels, one holding larger devices of torture in its depths and the other just support for the small tabletop which carries more intricate torture tools.
Against the wall, as far from the rack as they can be is a bunk bed. Men, arms thrown over eyes to guard against the light, lying on the under-padded surfaces.
Continuing clockwise around the building, Cassian passes by two windows that reveal a room attached to the 'questioning' room. Inside is a woman with short black hair brushed back severely away from her face sitting cross-legged on a simple woven mat, meditating on the glow of a red candle before her. Her clothing is simple but expensive and the same shade of red as the candle.
On the far side of the building from the pier is another door which leads into the main torture room. For a moment Cassian thinks there is something above the door, but he really isn't sure.
A final window, showing into a comfortably set-up room with a table. Two men are at the table, playing cards. In addition to the door out to the pier, there is one more door, leading deeper into the building - into a room which had no windows revealing the interior.
Amaya starts to answer his earlier questions.
Then she just stops. "Wait a minute." She blinks at the big man, "You said my dad wants what?" Her purple eyes sharpen, "And why do you look like you just kicked my puppy?"
Amaya looks at Azhar for a moment, her ears - starting at the tips - turning red. Her voice short, syllables sharp. "It's your birthday? And now is when you are telling me? And you're giving me presents?" Something, despite the bite of anger in her voice, reveals the guilt behind the anger, that she hadn't bothered to ask when his birthday was.
Dropping the man into unconsciousness does indeed take a bit more effort. But for some reason, Cassian has no shortage of women who are happy to help him flank the man and beat him into a unconscious bruise.
Khaz looks at the man on the ground like she might want to put a few arrows in him - just for good measure - despite him being definitely unconscious. She disappears then reappears above the building, her wings already opening to stop her descent, moving just enough to keep her steady in the air.
Crosael motions to Janiven's sword, which the archer hands over. "Thanks," Crosael says to the ranger, "It'll mean we've lost if I have to use it, but it makes me feel better."
Thekla just nods. Cassian sees the quick flash of her knives. Closer to the outbuilding, Cassian hears movement within. Heavy footsteps, much to heavy to be a child's. A pause at the door, careful calculation, and Cassian is certain there is the tread of two people within.
Thekla, very quietly, "I can ensure the the second man in the room will do nothing but stare at me when as you cut down his friend." A pause as she looks back over at the rest of the group, "As long as the way I do it stays between us." Pause, "Plus it'll give us a second to see if it two of the idiot's friends in the room or someone here to pay for the kid."
.
He feels the gooseflesh racing before his fingers, the slight tense of the muscles under her touch.
She doesn't look away, "I have a hard time relying on other people to make a living. Every person I've been since" a hint of shadow in the light eyes, "a really bad point in my life, has had enough personal money or power that I didn't need to trust anyone. I was safer if I didn't."
She sees the hope in his eyes and can't bear to let it die. "But I've obviously have to do a more complete job looking into marks, if I end up using a mark. So expanding my skills to spying or casing a place wouldn't be a bad idea."
Amaya starts to answer his earlier questions.
Then she just stops. "Wait a minute." She blinks at the big man, "You said my dad wants what?" Her purple eyes sharpen, "And why do you look like you just kicked my puppy?"
Azhar flinches slightly. He closes his eyes and lets out a breath, then explains..or at least tries to. "I met with Otousan. To ask for his blessing on our union. We spoke and he said he would give it, but that we should find a two week period between now and then during which we do not see or speak with each other. He said, "few people really examine the life they are giving up to join with someone else. I want that contemplation for you and for my daughter." Azhar tries to imitate Arata's voice and mannerisms.
I...I was just so relieved that he had given us his blessing, and I figured maybe there's some cultural significance behind it and what he said seemed to have wisdom. I.."[/b] he looks seriously distressed that he might have done something to hurt her and that Arata's sentence is all his fault. "I'm sorry, Amaya. It must have been something I said." he bites his lower lip, his eyes asking for forgiveness. "and I would never kick your puppy. Wait. You don't have a puppy, do you?"
Amaya looks at Azhar for a moment, her ears - starting at the tips - turning red. Her voice short, syllables sharp. "It's your birthday? And now is when you are telling me? And you're giving me presents?" Something, despite the bite of anger in her voice, reveals the guilt behind the anger, that she hadn't bothered to ask when his birthday was.
Azhar smiles warmly, he retakes the roses from her and replaces them on the nightstand, then takes her hands in his. "Don't be mad, love. I want you in my life with me and happy, and that's all that matters. What's past is past and can't be changed. Please?" his smile full of love for the girl on the bed in front of him. Then an impish twinkle enters his eye, "Besides, I'm sure you'll find some way to make it up to me...or get your revenge, depending on what you think is more appropriate. Just don't be mad. Okay?"
Cassian returns to the group and rattles off what he found.
"Small window to the right of the center door. The room is clean... obsessively so. Looks like a recently scrubbed torture chamber to me. There are a couple men in a bunk bed, trying their damndest to sleep. I could probably dispose of both without either waking up."
He counts another couple windows. "Okay, going clockwise, we have a room attached to the torture chamber. There's a woman meditating. She's got a red candle and matching clothes... don't know if that's significant, but there you go."
He counts another window. "Far side of the building, we have another door leading into the main torture room. Thought I saw something above the door. Might be my paranoia acting up, or it could be another imp who's better at hiding than his dead friend. Oh. There was an imp at that front door. He's dead now."
He counts a final window. "Little room where two guys are playing cards. There's a door in there leading to a room that has no windows looking out."
"Your secret's safe with me, Thekla. I'll probably be breaking out something a little new myself."
Cassian wants to peek into the window, and teleport into one of the shadows in the room itself so as to catch one man from behind with a crippling slash.
"I'm not asking you to change all at once," Cassian says tenderly. "After all, who you are, where you come from... it's why I... feel the way about you I do."
He pulls her onto him, his body molding to hers. "And I do see that you're trying, which is the bravest thing of all. You want to trust me... I want to trust you. But we're two people who are scarcely learning how to trust. I think... I think eventually we're going to have to take the plunge and hope for the best."
His finger traces her lips. "I promise you, Crosael. I've never lied to you. I never plan to lie to you. I've told you things I've never told anyone before... and I feel good having done so. I feel... freer. And right now, with you here, I feel... right."
She shakes her head, laughing a little, "No, I don't have a puppy. But you still looked like you'd kicked mine." Then her laughter stills, purple eyes growing more serious. "And it isn't a cultural significance behind it, but I do know why Otousan asked for it."
Her head tilts to the side, "Otousan had an older brother who feel madly and deeply in love with a woman within minutes of her arriving in Varsia on a boat from Minkai. The married and he absconded her away to our family holdings in Sandpoint."
Her eyes sad, "And about eight years after they'd been married she gave him a half-elf son. Otousan is convinced that his brother didn't really know the character of his bride, he doesn't believe in whirlwind passion."
She glares at him for a moment more, then - quickly - darts forward to hug as much of the big man as she can get her slender arms around. Softly, with none of the angry heat, [smaller]"Happy birthday, love."
She gives Cassian a quick nod before following him into the building as he slips in. Two men, both dressed in the same style as the man drooling on the boards of the pier. They both are able to move the nearer one, flanking him, before either man has a chance to do more than gape.
Thekla turns her head to look at the man further away. Her voice takes on an unnatural resonance, "In a forest glade there is a pool, within the pool a nymph. All you know is that if you look at any where but at her, you'll be torn to shreds by the things in the woods around." As she speaks her features change, something fey and other residing there, just a bit, a little glamor that Cassian can't see in full, but that stops the other man dead in his tracks, unable to do anything but stare at Thekla.
Her body finds the niches into which she fits perfectly, a happy sound deep in her chest.
Her lips catch his fingers just as he finishes tracing them with a soft kiss. She smiles, wistful fear at having a future different than what she'd ever imagined. "Same promise Cassian." Her smile grows warmer, "With you... I haven't even tried to hide what I'm feeling. I've never been this unguarded with anyone." This time the smile is nothing short of brilliant, "And with you, it does feel right."
Cassian raises an eyebrow in Thekla's direction, but realizes that there's a time and a place.
Initiative
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He pulls her up into a kiss, parting only to murmur into her lips, "You know, eventually we're going to have to get out of bed. If only to get me a restoration spell."
Thekla shrugs at Cassian's look, the motion extending more from her shoulders than it should. As soon as she sees the first man go down in a puddle of blood she moves so that Cassian will have a quick move to the second - already in flanking for him.
The man's eyes continue to follow her movement, utterly unaware of Cassian. Until with a sub-audible snap, reality settles back into place firmly. He blinks once, seeing Cassian - the bloody weapons and the bloodier ally.
But it is just too late.
She meets the kiss hungrily, only the smallest sad sound when Cassian ends it. At his words, she laughs. "Sadly my healing really isn't up to it." Her smile is impish, "But I'll save up for a wand in case I ever want to keep you here for days."
A little over a week after Cassian moves into the Walcourt, Khaz appears in front of him when alone. She nods in greeting, then immediately gets to her reason. "What do you want to do about the dirty, shifty humans that keep trying to sneak in here at dusk?"
"I've been warning them off with shots that come close to pieces of themselves that they probably don't want to lose but eventually one of them is going to realize I've not been shooting to kill. At that point I either have to follow up on the threat or they will get inside."
"Kidnapping is a dirty business," Cassian says, and butchers the last man.
"Days, huh?" He thinks it over. "I think my sister might worry about me eventually." He gives Crosael one last kiss. "Come on, gorgeous. Let's get dressed and we can get back to debasing one another tonight."
"Dirty and shifty? Do you mean invading thieves or homeless vagrants?"
Thekla just takes a little step back to minimize the spray of blood on her working clothes. She looks at the bloody messes on the floor. "You really are an artist when you do that, Boss."
She slides out of bed and away from him with reluctance. She looks around the room. Exploring for the first time since he brought her here bruised and broken. She looks over her shoulder at him, the silk gliding over her form. "Is there somewhere in here that you want me to have my things?" Her hands play over the green fabric. Then remembering something he said last night, "Or did you want me to find another room for that?"
"Not positive. I'm sure most of them are probably the wretched homeless that this city feeds off. But some of them move quicker." She shrugs, "Not sure if they just value their life more or are thieves that aren't yours."
"Some people are born killers I guess," he says wiping his blades down before returning them to their sheaths. "Tell Jan to leave the unconscious man where he lies. I want him to take a message back to his employers."
He looks around for the hostage.
He gets up, hunting around for his clothing. "This is my room. It could be our room. If you like." He doesn't look at her as he says this, not quite hiding the hope in his voice.
"Show me. I'm going to talk to these men."
"True enough." She looks around the small room herself, carefully opening the door that leads out to the pier on the far side. Other than a painted bulls-eye on the wall with a number of knife marks deep into the wood, the small room is empty. "But you have more style than any of them."
Walks back over to him, motion to the bigger building. "We probably have two more and the kid in there."
The bigger building does have windows. Thekla moves to the front door as Cassian just lets his city hide him. Inside are two men, one by a door leading deeper into the building, the other lying on a cot pulled into the shadows in the far side of the room.
She is still as his words hit her, her back getting just a little straighter. Her tail moves first, moving up. She turns around, "ours." One tiny word filled with so much hope.
Her hands are shaking, just a bit, "It doesn't feel wrong. That word for us."
She walks over the the window, taking longer than expected to piece together the time of day. She turns around, her wings moving to keep her balance in the quick movement. "Should be soon. They normally start poking around this time."
A pause, and she looks carefully at Cassian's clothes, "Unless you just woke up. In that case you have a while to wait."
"And now is when I show you a trick. You be ready to deal with the close one. The one in the cot is mine."
Cassian steps from one shadow to the other, and cuts the sleeping man's throat.
Cassian crosses the distance between them, taking her in his arm. "It doesn't, does it? First time that's happened." He holds Crosael. "Just say yes."
Cassian smiles. "Well, let's dig in and see."
She shakes her head, laughing a little, "No, I don't have a puppy. But you still looked like you'd kicked mine." Then her laughter stills, purple eyes growing more serious. "And it isn't a cultural significance behind it, but I do know why Otousan asked for it."
Her head tilts to the side, "Otousan had an older brother who feel madly and deeply in love with a woman within minutes of her arriving in Varsia on a boat from Minkai. The married and he absconded her away to our family holdings in Sandpoint."
Her eyes sad, "And about eight years after they'd been married she gave him a half-elf son. Otousan is convinced that his brother didn't really know the character of his bride, he doesn't believe in whirlwind passion."
Azhar is silent for a time in contemplation, then he says, "I assume she was not an elf." another short pause, "It is possible that her situation was not of her choosing..and yet, that is immaterial. I believe in you and I would like to believe that in 8 years we will still be as dedicated to each other as we are today." he brings his head to just behind her left ear from behind, kisses her lightly there, and whispers "I do love you, hon, very, very much..and I am so looking forward to spending the rest of my life with you." he adds a little squeeze on her mid-section for emphasis. Then, "but before I forget, what type of wedding do you want? If we're going to Varisia, I don't think we'll be able to bring too many people. Just family? Did you want to bring Tarvi too? I know she's been a good friend to you. Anyone else? Should we try to find your brother?" and then he swears softly, "Damnit, I almost let it slip again. Two weeks?" he lets out a slow, pained, deep breath. "When?"
She glares at him for a moment more, then - quickly - darts forward to hug as much of the big man as she can get her slender arms around. Softly, with none of the angry heat, "Happy birthday, love."
He feels her pressing into his chest, he hears her words, a small shudder runs through his body and a small tear leaks from the corner of his left eye. He returns her hug, careful not to exert too much of the emotion he is feeling. He answers in the same tone, "Thank you, love." his hands run up and down her back, slowly, caressing her. "You mean so much to me, love. You always will."
Thekla holds up a hand, asking Cassian to wait, he hears the faint sound of metal against metal. She isn't as good as Cassian, but she is quiet - the guard inside remains unaware as Thekla picks the door lock. She slips her picks back into the small pouch at her waist, nodding to the man she can't quite see.
The movement from shadow to shadow and Cassian is in the room, hidden in the shadow just a step away from the sleeping man. The guard remains unaware.
And the guard is completely unaware of his friend's lifeblood slipping away.
In his arms, looking into his eyes, there is only "Yes." The word slipping past her before she can really calculate what she is agreeing to. And then the brightness in her eyes when she realizes she's okay with that.
She walks alongside Cassian in the areas that allow it, teleporting ahead and waiting in the places where her wings might hinder her movement. Downstairs, outside, the pair waits.
Cassian spots the first dissolute example of humanity a little while later and Khaz a few moments after him. She tightens her grip on her bow. They look a familiar to Cassian - not that he knows these men but he knows their type, the same kind of person that the Council thugs used as camouflage to observe intruders to Walcourt when it was theirs.
The men are completely unaware of either Cassian or Khaz.
"She was not an elf. And the daughter that she gave birth to a number of years earlier was completely human, so it is unlikely she had elf genes mixed in." Her head cocks ever so slightly, "Although I have heard stories of a nation completely of elves in Tian Xia."
Thoughts on their special day together, then that question - again.
"Either right away or the two weeks before the wedding would make the most sense." She smiles, just a tad viciously, "Of course if it is the two weeks before the wedding and one of us changes our minds, it will make it very embarrassing for me waiting at the altar."
She continues to hold him for a minute, then pulls away just enough to beam up at him. "It is your birthday. What do you want to do?"
A pause, and she proves she has enough presence of mind to add a caveat, "That we can do before we wed."
"She was not an elf. And the daughter that she gave birth to a number of years earlier was completely human, so it is unlikely she had elf genes mixed in." Her head cocks ever so slightly, "Although I have heard stories of a nation completely of elves in Tian Xia."
"Not that it's particularly relevant, but I wonder what his name was. Do you know?"
"Either right away or the two weeks before the wedding would make the most sense." She smiles, just a tad viciously, "Of course if it is the two weeks before the wedding and one of us changes our minds, it will make it very embarrassing for me waiting at the altar."
"Won't happen." he says simply, then considers the repeated question, "It seems like pressure is building in the city so we should probably get it out of the way as soon as possible. If something comes up, I...based on what we've already seen, it might be too important to ignore. I know it would seem to be more appropriate to make it for the last two weeks, but then even more so we would need a go between if there are any planning issues to iron out." he sighs, "So starting tomorrow I guess I'm laid off then, unless your Dad needs me to work a night shift. We'd better see if we can't get as much as possible worked out today, I guess."
She continues to hold him for a minute, then pulls away just enough to beam up at him. "It is your birthday. What do you want to do?"
A pause, and she proves she has enough presence of mind to add a caveat, "That we can do before we wed."
He smiles back, the fact that even though he likely would not have asked for that particular situation, he absolutely would have thought about it writ quite expressively on his face, though the lust by no means intrudes on the love he feels for her. "Why don't we get take out then and discuss it back at the Delvehaven?" then, unexpectedly, he continues, "No. If we go there first, we might not get out again for the whole day. Don't want to become a vampire hiding from the sunlight now. Is there anything going on in town that would even partially interest you? Any events that you're aware of? Day or evening?"
Gravlax listens to Cassian's tactical assessment, and shrugs. "I have no particular useful information here. Point me in a direction when the time comes."
He takes a small step to the side, and repeats the process, trailing the kisses from the same spot on the other side of her neck to the pulse point behind the other earlobe.
One hand roving fingernails along her back, the other still steadying himself slightly.
"If there's no signs of them being prisoners, I'd say go for it." he says to Cassian, "Shall we go in the front door?" he asks the others.
Cassian turns his attention on the other man and...
Unfortunately for their plans of leaving the bedroom, Cassian cannot leave the most romantic moment of his life with the woman he is just realizing he is in love with. That would break all the rules of romance, set down a long time ago, probably by the first man in a cave somewhere who realized he could catch more cavewomen with honey than with blunt force trauma.
And this is why he begins kissing her like there is no tomorrow.
"These appear to be Council stooges. Let's show them what happens when they trespass."
Cassian will step through the shadows behind them. And explodes into violence.
"If there's no signs of them being prisoners, I'd say go for it." he says to Cassian, "Shall we go in the front door?" he asks the others.
Cassian nods. "I'll go do that then."
The door does prove to be locked, but that is a barrier that is removed quickly once it presents itself. The room is spacious and, as suggested by Cassian, the odor of ammonia starts to wend out when the door is opened.
On the far side of the room is a gleaming clean stretching rack, place exactly equidistant between two doors - one that may lead out to the far side of the building and one that leads to the room to the left (where the woman was meditating).
Between your door and the torture rack, placed where anyone who was attached to the device would have to watch, are two barrels containing a wide variety of torture implements.
Closer, to your immediate right, is the bunk, both men still fitfully asleep.
"Not that it's particularly relevant, but I wonder what his name was. Do you know?"
"Tsuto Kaijitsu." Her smile is wry, "Otousan's brother eventual went insane. Unrelated. But he has always blamed that on the marriage."
"So starting tomorrow I guess I'm laid off then, unless your Dad needs me to work a night shift. We'd better see if we can't get as much as possible worked out today, I guess."
She hugs him. "I'll miss see you." Honesty and sorrow making her fine voice just a touch raw. Just the hint of real tears when she looks up at him, "But I'll do what Obasan did and write to you."
She shakes her head sadly. "Its Arodus. I think it is one part the city mourning the loss of something that it can't even openly admit that they wish had happened and one part the heat. There rarely is much in the way of things going on."
A pause, "I think Calseinica's theater is opening a new show before the end of the month. That takes guts, but it will give her a time when she is literally the only show in town."
Her back arches as his fingernails run up her spine. The extra move highlighting her lean belly, small breasts. Little shivers, still utterly controllable, race through her body, not quite making it far enough down to unsteady her legs.
But it will come.
Cassian takes care of the last man, either with the sharp of his blade, or just enough that he knows nothing more of this world for a while.
The door in the back of the room has a heavy padlock but isn't even a good enough lock to interest Cassian. Once the heavy door is pulled open, the reek of sweat and urine rolls out. Cassian sees the small form: gagged, blindfolded, and tied hand and foot. However relaxed the guards may have been, the boy is not. It isn't Cassian's movement that alerts him, rather the change in the flow of the air. Tears start to roll out from under the blindfold and he tries to move.
The movement is what makes it obvious that his left leg has been broken.
There is one door more past the holding cells equipped with rope and mounds of filthy rages. A quick check (before or after) hows food, water and supplies for the gang. Also the loot taken in exchange for thier dirty business.
And with a just start of a delighted laugh, Crosael starts kissing Cassian back. Her arms, hands not shaking, slide around him, the tips of her nails scratching softly against the skin of his shoulders as they move behind his neck.
Against his lips, feeling the words more than hearing them, "Our home." Her left leg moves up against the outside of his thigh, just a little attempt to get her body as close to his as humanly possible.
Cassian is able to take out the small cluster that he selects with his normally quicksilver ease. Given the go ahead, Khaz starts her targets with those who are closest to Cassian, dropping three. The few remaining men in the area run.
Khaz appears next to Cassian, "I thought there was a good chance that someone who was just looking for a place to sleep would have found a safer..." she looks at Cassian for a moment, obviously trying to find the right word. "Flophouse. Flophouse after the few arrow."
"Maybe the second, if they weren't that bright."
She pokes a toe into the blood, smiling slightly at the bright red liquid, at the copper tang in the air. "Do you still want me to give them a warning shot?"
Azhar will allow Caasian the time he thinks he needs. If either of the two men are still conscious when he arrives, he will make sure that is no longer the case.
She hugs him. "I'll miss see you." Honesty and sorrow making her fine voice just a touch raw. Just the hint of real tears when she looks up at him, "But I'll do what Obasan did and write to you."
A ray of sunshine breaks through the prison window and its presence brings gratitude and joy. "And I will look forward to every one." he promises in fervent appreciation, "But how will we get them to each other?" he asks. He has a guess, but it is only a guess.
She shakes her head sadly. "Its Arodus. I think it is one part the city mourning the loss of something that it can't even openly admit that they wish had happened and one part the heat. There rarely is much in the way of things going on."
"Well then, he chuckles. I guess we have a couple of choices. We can see what there is to see in the shops of the city despite the heat, we can leave the city behind and look for nice clean cool waters above the city to frolic in and turn the heat to our advantage or we can lay low during the day in the shade of the Delvehaven, get the couple hours of sleep we need and come out to play at night when most of the city is sleeping. I would be very happy with any of those options, since it means spending them with you. Is there any one that happens to catch your fancy?" he continues to gaze lovingly down into the face of the woman he loves. Realistically, since they're starting early in the day, it would be possible to even do all three, should they so choose.
A pause, "I think Calseinica's theater is opening a new show before the end of the month. That takes guts, but it will give her a time when she is literally the only show in town."
"Then I shall look forward to taking you to it when we can." he says, "and I will look forward to it just as much then as I would have if it were tonight."