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Lyra and Saethus

The feline beastfolk sat crouched on the rooftops, a light breeze stirring her tied-back hair. The night was cold for this time of year, which made the townsfolk more likely to stay indoors. She slid forward and grabbed the awning tightly, hanging for a few seconds before dropping lithely onto the cobblestone below. As she pulled her cloak around her, she hunched over in an attempt to look frail before hobbling slowly down the street. As she scuttled along the path, she muttered an incantation, her fur pattern slowly shifting into an aged tabby.

"All the better to lure some easy marks," the glamored beastkin mused. "Art had better be right about these roughs. Mugging old folks isn't very sporting," Lyra thought, shuffling down the cobbled road. "Maybe I can catch 'em unawares. Perhaps even liberate some coin, Not like it'll be returned to its owners. Might as well make it useful instead of lining some guard's pocket. Either way, that bounty is mine."

She continued down the alley, eventually coming to the street that should be the next hit in their cycle. This lot kept to a small area and would make a hit every week or so. She kept a wary eye out and sure enough, someone was following her.

They were quiet but with nobody else on the street, they were fairly easy to pick up. A distorted shadow, a slight rustling of leather on stone, the occasional brush of a cloak against wood. She put on a frightened expression as a large human stepped in front of her.

"'Ere now, wha're you doin' out so late ol' lady? 'Ese are dangerous streets at night, may'aps you'd like some protection?" he said towering over Lyra by a foot.

"Please sirrah, I can manage on my own well enough," the feline said.

"I'm thinkin' yer misunderstandin' miss. T'aint a request. You pay me an' I'll be escortin' ya to yer kip," the rogue said, flashing steel under his cloak. Lyra started to shake, egging the human on.

"Oh my... Please sirrah, I don't have any coin. Just leave me to be on my way," she said as she shuffled backward into an elven woman.

"Come now luv', don't be difficult. Just give us your jewelry and coin purse and you'll be let free. With an escort to avoid any trouble, if you get my meaning," the elf said, putting her hand on Lyra's shoulders.

The man put on a puzzled look, "Ere' now lady, why're you smilin'?"

"Because I'm not so easy a target, leatherhead" Lyra said, grabbing one of the elf's hands, slipping the arm around her head as she stepped under the grappled limb. Throwing the elf head over heels into the man. Lyra let the glamor drop and undid her cloak, tossing it at the couple in the pile. She looked around quickly for any more roughs before drawing her club. The Silvers wanted this group alive. She didn't have a habit of killing her quarry anyways.

As the human extricated himself from the pile, Lyra stepped in, club swinging. She caught the man in the back of the head with a solid crack and he went down in a heap. The elf stood and eyed Lyra, wielding a dagger in each hand and smiling.

"Ah, so ye are the canny blood who keeps nickin' our guys and offing them to the Silvers. It's Lyra I believe? Pleasure ta make your acquaintance. I'm Tethiel." She finished her introduction with a deep bow, a bolt flying over her and catching Lyra in the shoulder.

* * * * *

Saethus cursed, not because he hit the feline. He'd missed his target, that venom was hard to secrete. The elf looked back in shock, then bolted for the alleyway. The viper-kin dashed across the rooftops, making a beeline for the alley his quarry ran down. He crested a roof and saw the elf running down a side street, cloak flapping behind her. She turned a corner as he leapt from the roof, landing in a roll and pulling a dagger from his belt. He rounded the corner straight into the other beast-kin.

"Fix... this... now," she panted, holding a dagger to his throat, her eyes and nose bleeding profusely, the venom coursing through her veins.

"Why should I? You let my bounty get away," he shrugged, ignoring the dagger at his neck.

"Know... their hideout. Bigger pay... alive." she slurred, collapsing to the ground.

"Well, since you put it nicely." He dug in his vest, pulling out a small vial and popping the cork. Saethus rolled her onto her back, placing the vail against her maw and smearing it on her lips. He looked at the shaft, shrugged, and ripped it out. He poured the rest of the vail into the wound, tearing her sleeves off to make a sling and bandage.

He removed her daggers, pocketed a nice-looking hand crossbow, and left her cork-coated club. He had no need of a blackjack. No coin on her, smart girl. He hoisted her over his shoulder and walked to the nearest tavern. He flicked a silver mark at the barkeep and left her in a private booth.

"Water, ale, and food when she wakes up, liver and onions. Even if she asks for something else. Ensure she doesn't leave and nobody touches her. I have questions," Saethus said, heading for the door.

"Aye Bleeder," the barkeep nodded.

He stepped out, hoping his charity would pay off.

* * * * *

Lyra sat bolt upright, whacking her head on the table and falling back into the booth with a curse. Her already pounding head was exacerbated by the new lump forming. Her shoulder felt like it had fire ants crawling in it. But she was alive, so Saethus must've taken her word. Venomous bastard.

Lyra groaned and sat up. "Barkeep, did Bleeder leave me anything?"

"Just a small tab, for water, ale, and food."

"Great, bring it and send for some white willow bark, curcumin, and ginger. The herbalist will know what they're for. Thell them Mask sent for them. Food I'll have blood pudding and a very rare steak. Now let me rest while I wait for my herbs."

The barkeep was about to complain but the look she gave as he opened his mouth could have nailed him to the wall. He nodded in compliance, heading for the kitchen grumbling about "damned guildies."

She laid her head back and looked at the tattoo on her inner forearm, the fur full-grown but dyed the color of the red ink. The sign of an Ebon Walker. She'd left that life behind, but now she was being dragged back in.

"Damn you Saethus," she said, pounding her good fist on the table and wincing at the noise. The after-effects of his venom were always terrible. Like a hangover left to rot in the sun. Her water and ale arrived soon and she washed her mouth out with ale and spit it on the floor before downing the water. Food arrived soon after. Liver and onions with a side of blood pudding. The bastard was toying with her. He knew she hated onions. She ate it anyway, swigging ale to wash away the taste.

As she finished her meal the herbs showed up. She called for hot water and made a quick tea of the herbs. Swallowing the bitter brew as the viper-kin slipped into the seat opposite her.

She grimaced. "Took your sweet time. What'd the barkeep call you, Bleeder? Appropriate."

"Why are you back in Corsavein, Mask? You know you're forbidden to hunt here," he asked.

"And why did you give me the antidote to keep me alive instead of just dragging my corpse to the guild hall? Money, plain and simple," she replied. "And before you ask, yes I know where she is, as well as her group. The Silvers are offering a 250 gold bounty for her alive. Much better than the 100 offered by the Ebon's for dead."

"Ah but dead is so much easier. Much less hassle to carry a corpse than a struggling captive," he sneered.

"You just never appreciated a challenge. It's why you use poison now and take cheap tactics like shooting them in the back from afar."

"Oh, you wound me with your accusations. It's tactical and efficient. Besides, you're just as much a killer as any of us, so come off it. Now, where is Tethiel's bolt hole?"

"Give me my hand-crossbow back, then I'll tell you where to find her and we'll take her together. Alive. Then split the gold fifty-fifty, and I leave the city for good."

Saethus smiled, a disconcerting thing coming from a viper-kin.

"Fine, here's your precious hand-bow. And the profits go my way sixty-forty."

Lyra nodded and grabbed her crossbow, "Fine. I'll meet you in three days after I've recovered. That should also give Tethiel and her crew time to cool down. They're already on alert but now with a death threat on their head, they'll be extra jumpy. Thank you for that by the way."

"I thought you said you liked a challenge. I'll see you in three days," he said, slipping out of the booth and heading for the door.

* * * * *

Lyra leaned against the Temple of Thal belltower, tapping her foot against the roof tiles with nervous energy. It had been years since she'd worked with Saethus. He seemed more brutal, more apt to take the easy way out. She hoped she was wrong. Who knows what bounty she had with the Ebon Walkers if he did report her presence? She relaxed her fists and sighed as Saethus poked his head out of the tower before climbing down to meet her. Maybe he didn't sell her out to the Ebon Walkers.

"Finally, let's get on with this. I need the coin to fix my shoulder and get out of here," she said, rolling her shoulder to stretch away any discomfort. The sealing poultice she'd used should hold for the night.

Saethus nodded and beckoned her forward, "Your lead."

"Remember, no killing. Use a sedative or knock them out. We'll tie them up with these," she said tossing him some ropes looped with a slip-knot so they would cinch easily but be hard to break.

"Fine. We'll do it your way. The bounty is for a live capture anyways. Yes, I checked your sources. Wasn't about to trust an exile after all," he said. Lyra just rolled her eyes and took the lead, nocking a new bolt in her hand-crossbow and checking her vials of sedative.

After doing a once over on their gear, they arrived at the bolt-hole entrance. Two men in rags sat hunched in an alleyway. Too well-fed to be beggars, too warm in this cold night air. Lyra pointed at the two and signed for them to take them out simultaneously.

Saethus nodded and moved along the rooftops. Dropping into the shadows of the alley and closing on the two sentries from behind. Lyra leveled her hand-crossbow at the two, waiting. Saethus slipped behind the guy on the right, choking him out. Before his companion could let a shout of alarm, he crumpled to the ground, a small bolt in the back of the neck. Uncomfortable, but not fatal. Saethus tied both their arms with the slip-ropes and gagged them.

Saethus stalked up to the only door in the alley. Lyra was already there, picking the lock with a practiced hand. She gave a nod when the lock opened with a quiet click. She slowly cracked the door and examined it for any traps. Detecting none, she slowly opened the door, holding her breath.

Saethus slipped inside snuck along the wall, Lyra on the opposite side. They worked well together despite the years apart. Checking corners, tag-teaming guards then hiding them in shadow tied and gagged, checking for alarms and traps. They eventually made their way to what appeared to be an office. A large map of the realm sprawled over the table in the center. Along with the map were copious notes of temple locations across the Glimmering Coast, a small town to the north circled.

Before she could examine further Saethus hissed a warning as a magical barrier appeared in the doorway. She walked over to the field and pressed her hand against it. Solid as stone. They were caught. As if in recognition, Tethiel rounded the corner and stood on the opposite side smiling.

"Aye, looks like ye've gotten trapped like a rat. Kinda ironic bein' a kitty-kin an' all," she said with a grin. "An' who's yer scalie friend? Don't believe we've been acquainted. I'm Tethiel."

Saethus just grunted and started examining the room, looking for a way out. No grates, no windows, no escape. He shrugged and started fishing in his pouches. Lyra started examining the door frame, noticing the runic etchings but lacking the training to understand them. She started to reach out before Saethus pulled her back and tossed a bag of powder at the field.

It fizzled out with a flash, dazzling Tethiel and Lyra. Saethus dashed forward, tackling Tethiel and dragging her to the ground. As they struggled Lyra shook her head, trying to clear the spots from her eyes. She drew her new club and readied her hand-bow.

The two on the floor separated, each crouching low, daggers drawn. Saethus hissed, fangs protruding and dragging his dagger across them, envenoming the weapon. The elf slowly circled the viper-kin, putting him between her and the beast-kin.

They engaged, starting a deadly dance. Daggers ringing, cloaks flaring as they dodged and parried. Saethus had the advantage of training, Tethiel the improvisation only living on the streets could give.

Lyra watched entranced. She'd never been one for duels and watching these two was mesmerizing. She shook off her stupor as a trio of guards rounded the far corner brandishing shortswords, Leatherhead himself leading the pack. Lyra smiled and leveled her hand-bow at the large man, letting fly the sedative-coated dart. He raised his hand instinctively, the dart piercing his flesh. He chuckled and tossed the dart aside.

"That' all ye got? I've gott'en worse bites from yer fleas th' last few days," he sneered, dashing up to Lyra and swinging his blade.

"Oh please. You probably got those fleas laying with your mother," she said, dodging under his attack and clubbing the back of his knee. She didn't have time to see if he went down. Lyra charged the two rogues behind him, raising her hand-bow causing one of the guards to flinch. Capitalizing on the distraction to catch him upside the head with her club with a dull thud. He fell back, holding his head before slumping against the wall. The second guard swung and caught her across the back. She hissed as her leather and cloak cushioned most of the blow. She spun quickly, taking a few swings at him that he parried easily enough.

"What'd ye do to me ya filthy flea-bag?" Leatherhead questioned, staggering to his feet and leaning heavily on the wall. She didn't have time to reply as the rogue pressed his advantage. He swung low, aiming for her leg. She saw the feint and dodged, right into the stumbling Leatherhead, losing her club as they fell. They grappled for a few seconds, Leatherhead winning by sheer weight. Then he collapsed, the sedative in his blood finally taking over. Lyra heaved the heavier man off to the side, quickly rolling to her feet. The guard she'd been fighting had turned toward the two duelists. Then lurched backward and fell to the ground, a dagger in his chest. She scanned the area quickly before leaning down to check his pulse. Erratic then still; he was bleeding from the mouth and eyes.

"I said no killing," she panted before walking over to check Tethiel.

"You were about to be skewered by the big guy's friend." He shrugged.

Tethiel was in a similar state, blood dripping from her nose as she leaned against the wall. Lyra turned and quickly pinned Saethus to the wall, using a dart to the neck to keep him at bay. He just raised his arms and let her work, digging through all his pouches until she found the vial of antidote. She then jabbed him in the neck and let him slump against the wall sleeping. When she was sure he was out, she knelt in front of Tethiel.

"Before I give you this you will agree to come with me to the Silvers. You'll do a penance, but not before I get some info on what you're planning. After that I'll take my leave," she said, holding the vail up to Tethiel's mouth. She nodded her agreement. She poured some of the vial down her throat then asked where she'd been cut to apply the rest there. Then she jabbed her with her last sleep dart and tied her up.

* * * * *

Lyra sat on the other side of the bars across from Tethiel's cell in the Silver Hawks compound, holding the large map and documents. Tethiel groaned and laid in the bare cot, arm draped over her eyes.

"Did they give you the blood pudding and ale I requested?" she asked.

"Yeah, fat lotta good it did. Still feel like my insides were squeezed an' me brain twice the size of me skull," she groaned.

"Yeah, the sedative probably didn't help either. Here, drink this." Lyra offered her a waterskin. "It's willow bark, curcumin, and ginger. Tastes like alley dirt but will fix your head."

"Why're ye helping me?" she said as she sat up and took it, taking a swig and flinching at the taste. "Gods you were right, tastes like a kobolds tail."

"I want to know what you were planning back at the hideout. I saw the map of the Glimmering Coast. I recognized Corsavein and Tergaron. What's that little way-stop town you have circled?" she asked, pulling out the map. "Plus, you've caught the eye of my old guild. Perhaps you've heard of the Ebon Walkers? They don't tend to take their captives alive. Lucky for you I left them long ago."

"Aye, I've heard of em. A bunch of assassins, good at their job though. Guessing the snake-kin with you was one 'o them?

"Viper-kin, and yes. Only one of his kind I know of, my old partner. He owed me for the bolt in my shoulder when we first met."

"Nasty one he is. As for the plans, well. Get me out of here and I can let you have 'em. You seem much more inclined for the job than my crew. Seeing as you've locked us all up anyways," Tethiel said with a grin.

"What's the prize first?"

"Dragon eggs and scales. Lots o' money to be had to the right buyer. Which I know plenty, you've just gotta bring it to me. Split the profit evenly?"

"Least I could do for almost getting you killed, here." Lyra passed her a pouch of coins.

"Use that to get out of here, should be enough for you and maybe a couple of your best henchmen. I'll set up a dead drop for our meeting place, you know the Old Well Inn at Corteasan Square? Look for it there."

With that, Lyra stood up and walked out of the Silvers' compound. She'd collected quite a pretty sum delivering all those bounties. She'd left Saethis tied up and asleep in a refuse pile, he'd figure his own way out. After all, she'd said no killing, and he almost cost her a good bounty. She'd left a purse tied to his neck with his half of the gold from Tethiel's bounty before she called in the Silvers. She'd never promised him half of the take for the rest of them after all.

She worked her way to Corteasan Square to arrange the dead drop and make the necessary preparations. Saethus was not going to be happy waking up in the garbage, so she needed to get clear of the city. No doubt the Ebon Walkers were going to be on her tail soon.

* * * * *

A few days later Tethiel sent a runner to the meetup location outside the city with all the info she needed. Now she was making her way north along the Coast Way to the small town of Marren's Eve, a small fishing and mining town at the base of the Archlight Mountains. It'd take a few weeks to get there but hopefully, the take would be worth it.