FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 8: Rendezvous

On the agenda for the day, though later than Vedrit had intended, was a meeting with Wern and Mirrna. Plans needed to move forward.

Pulling his hood over his head, casting his furry face in shadow, he snuck through the town, dodging sparse streets and blending in with crowds until he reached a district on the other side of town as the river. The district had a dark reputation, full of shady criminals, disgraced dragons, and dealers of pleasure-drugs.

This district, unpatrolled by the civil guard, was where Vedrit was to meet with his companions.

Entering into one of the many taverns, ignored by the patrons inside, who were still conscious, sat in a corner, his back in the corner, and placed a simple cap on the table with one colorful feather stuck in it.

"The peacock were easy prey?" a cloaked figure asked, another standing not far off. It must have been Wern, using a coded question. 'Did you make any contacts?' the question asked

"Like gnats." Vedrit answered, motioning the two to sit. 'Yes, but it may cause problems'

"Our own birds were flocking. Some are still flying." Mirrna said, 'A few of our tasks are taken care of.'

"But the road is long. I doubt any hunters will get in the way." Wern added, 'We have time, and no threats have been detected.'

Vedrit nodded and thought for a moment. "Could a bird be sent. I think I know how to turn a gnat into an aid." he said finally, 'Can one of you send a message to the Ranger council? A contact is a likely candidate and could help us more.'

Wern and Mirrna looked at each other.

"No harm in trying." Mirrna slowly answered.

"No more feathers from me." Vedrit said, taking the feather from the hat, "Take the hat. The bird could use it."

'That's all I have to report. A message is in the hat.'

The other two nodded and stood, Wern taking the hat and tucking it into his cloak.

As Vedrit made his way back to the main part of the city, a foot scuffed against the grimy stones behind him. Acting as though he heard nothing, Vedrit turned down the next alley, he drew a short sword hidden beneath his cloak and hurried farther down the alley where he waited.

His pursuers weren't far behind, their own blades drawn.

Cursing his bad luck, Vedrit waited for the two to come closer. He didn't even bother hiding. Even in the gloom of the alley, he could see one was a small sparrow, its eye focused on Vedrit. The sparrow's companion was a scrawny mouse, a wicked smirk on its snout as it played with the dirk in its paws.

Taking deep breaths, Vedrit readied himself. Two on one was far from his favorite odds.

Dropping low, practically running on all fours, Vedrit charged the sparrow, his dagger aimed at the birds chest.

Surprised by the sudden rush, a soft, wet thump and a grunt sounded as Vedrits dagger slid in just under the hard avian sternum. Not loosing a moment, the mouse swung the dirk, catching Vedrit on the right shoulder as he tried to dodge, abandoning his blade as the bird collapsed.

Hissing from the pain, Vedrit could only hope the dirk wasn't poisoned. It didn't feel to be very deep, but blood could be felt dribbling down his arm, tickling his fur.

"Waz tha'? Go' a bit o' a cut, eh?" the mouse taunted in a heavy accent

"Come closer and I'll give you a few cuts of your own." Vedrit spat, tense and ready despite his throbbing and hot shoulder.

" 'ow 'bout we do it gentlema' like? Woul' pussy like tha'?" the rodent laughed and sheathed its dirk.

Paws up, the mouse taunted Vedrit.

With a growl, Vedrit ran at the mouse's right side as though trying to run past. The mouse, fooled by the ruse, stepped into Vedrits path, paw ready to swipe at Vedrit.

Which was what Vedrit was expecting. At the last moment, Vedrit spun, smashing his elbow into the side of the rodents head, its paw smacking against Vedrit limply.

Unconscious, and probably dead from the hit, the mouse fell against the wall.

It wasn't over for Vedrit though. Light headed, he knew he had lost too much blood. Ryins place was the only place he trusted in his condition. Any thing hospitable in this district would only hasten his death.

Staggering down the road, Vedrit hoped, prayed to any god listening, that he wouldn't die.

Lucid and feverish dreams plagued Vedrit, wherever he was. Visions of Tiania concerned about him mixed with dreams and with memories. Reality was indistinguishable from illusion.

When he fully woke, night in its infancy, Vedrit was in his room at Ryins. A candle was burning low, scented with something Vedrit knew was meant for intense fevers, on the table beside him. Beside the candle was a bowl with bandages soaking in what was once warm water. With a stab of pain, Vedrit was reminded of his injury. The bandage was in need of changing, but had been prepared with skill.

Sighing, he closed his eyes and tried to sort out his fever-dreams to figure out how long it had been. It could have been hours or years. The clearest memory was that of him entering the main trade district that housed Ryin and her brother, among dozens of others. After that begins the haze of the fever.

"You're lucky to be alive." Artia said from the doorway, his scaly arms crossed in front of his chest, "You seem to have serious enemies for a merchant messenger."

"I think they were more thugs out for money rather than blood." Vedrit replied, "How long?"

"Do you know what Terrs-bane is?" Artia asked

Vedrit did know, but the average merchant messenger usually didn't.

"Its incredibly rare, and incredibly deadly. Originates in the swamps far south. Thugs don't carry knives with a rare poison just for a chance run-in with a trader."

Vedrit made no response, fearful that the mission was in jeopardy.

"Something's going on, Ryin and I both know. Ryin wants to protect you. I protect her, whether its against you, or what your doing." Artia said before leaving.

Vedrit, still tired from his fight with the fever, closed his eyes. He still had no idea of how much time he lost. Fevers from Terrs-bane lasted anywhere from a night to the grave. He could have met with Wern and Mirrna yesterday, or last week. The cut on his shoulder didn't make things better, though it helped him to estimate how long he had been unconscious. It was recently bandaged and was still tender and hot. It must have been a day or two ago, three at most. That can be handled.

Not for the first time since coming to Irn, Vedrit was frustrated with his situation. As an un-ranked archer in the Narian army, life was relatively simple; draw, aim, don't die. Espionage, on the other paw, was infinitely more complex, especially in another culture. Plus, Ryin had mated with him.

Groaning, Vedrit rubbed his face in frustration.

"Life moves on." he mumbled to himself before sitting up just as the door opened.

"I thought you were awake." Ryin said with a smile, a try of food in her claws.

As Vedrit paid more attention, he noticed her clothing had changed. Gone was the leather top and white skirt, replaced by an interesting one piece. It really wasn't made of much, really just strips of dyed leather, but it was certainly well tailored. The color was just a shade darker than her scales, a band tight across her chest, causing her breasts to lift and bulge. Connecting the top and bottom pieces was an intertwining of leather strips, creating a vine look down her belly. The bottom piece was a short leather skirt, barely long enough to cover what looked to be leather panties. The whole thing left her back bare, letting her wings and tail move without restriction. Around her neck, a lock of Vedrits fur rested at the base of her neck, secured to a leather choker by a gold wire.

Setting the tray down on the bed-side table next to Vedrits band of mateship, Ryin sat on the bed beside Vedrit and absentmindedly touched the lock of fur, smiling lovingly at Vedrit, "Whatever the reasons you came, I'm glad to have met you." she said.

Vedrit didn't even resist the urge to hug her, earning a nuzzling and a low rumble of contentment, despite Ryin being the larger of the two.

He still loved Tiania, even though she was dead, but he would be lying if he said he wasn't glad to have met Ryin.