The market was lively, loud and crowded with hungry and uproarious Alorians.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVsfjQJ1y0
The two stood in the center of the market, just below the bronze statue of A'boye, the ancient warrior King of Aloria, gifted to him by a Sazeen Sultan lost to time.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIRaB3j1Ua
Raycene took note of how they stood out, she a Gresani woman and he a Qabaran man, a drop of olive and a drop of pale-sand in the sea of carob and ebony skin that was the market.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0odlYjMGJP
The Alorian sun beat down unforgivingly and the flat, dry heat offered no mercy, streams of warm sweat pooled at the nape of her neck, covered by long raven curls.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUOZxkkvph
Sights and sounds surrounded them, voices of loud vendors and overconfident merchants, street performers drinking black liquid and spitting forth flame like the dragons of old myth. Children danced and played to the tune of rhythmic music on drums and kora. Her nose was overpowered with the scents of cumin, paprika, and ginger, cooking fish and strange meats from further south than she had ever dared to venture.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8pdwmtn7m
"Twelve thousand silver pieces," he was handsome but spoke with unwarranted confidence.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mBmgmNB0E
Raycene looked out into the market and past the people. Just outside the town, golden wheat washed rolling hills, swaying in the wind, calling for her to run her hands through it. The beauty had taken her for a moment and even though she had heard him she paused before answering.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1ySKoIL7s
Her eyes returned to the bearded man dressed in a lavish kurta with design so intricate that she could only assume the price was in the hundreds. "What?"
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1joHn7OHmD
"Yes, twelve thousand," he said.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavX9Grxptg
" 'Twelve thousand'?" she repeated, openly feigning her surprise.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqwPUsALyE
"Yes, I imagine that's quite a lot of money for someone of your...upbringing."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTV95WQl6I4
"Twelve thousand is a lot of money, but not the most we have been offered for a contract."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydKD5act2K
He cleared his throat and he began to speak again. Raycene looked out into the town once more. The sandstone buildings stood shorter than the housing she remembered in Gresan but built proudly all the same.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0pM2pPfN1
Why is it that beautiful eyes always beget an arrogant soul? Raycene thought, looking back to his face. As he spoke she all but ignored focusing on his large, brown, eys embellished with thick eyebrows and long eyelashes. His nose sported the commonplace, aquiline shape, prominent among the Qabari people.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38GBRoPlNG
"Think of it like this..." as he spoke again his voice was swallowed up by her thoughts.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7CZA19vor
Eh, he's too pale, he might as well be a yellow-haired Skan. But he does have strong shoulders...
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXHQnE4xxq
His skin was far fairer than any Qabar man she had ever seen. Qabaran people had honey or teak colored skin, but this man was pale. He resembled both enemies to the north and her father would never allow it.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfB8OdYDFN
The sound of his voice, above the crowd, brought her back to their conversation.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6oZ8Ogdqa
"Your guild is known for quick and clean assassinations and that's something my family requires," he said.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmh1QMLpW4k
She knew many eyes would be upon the outsiders, so they spoke in the center of the square where all could see but none could hear. "Perhaps we should speak with a bit more subtlety." The pair simulated normality when townsfolk passed too close, but in hushed whispers spoke of contracts and murderous intentions.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBWhcOxRny
The Qabar smiled confidently and nodded slowly, trying to keep from looking about. "As I was saying, that is two decently sized warships or one warship and a crew to sail her. That's probably confusing for you, think of it as hundreds of new dresses. I can see this one is rather dingy. And jewelry or brushes for your hair, though I rather like it curly."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFJDYPBQEb
It took nearly every ounce of her strength not to roll her eyes at his passing comments. "Yes, I guess that is a lot of money."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvj9fXmKom
The best part is that I'm willing to pay upfront because I have faith in your family's...business," he said, waiting for her reply.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVo1YQl0pbe
"So if I were to guess I'd say he's some rival lord's son, perhaps suiting a woman that you wish to suit? We get a lot of that."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbhm7CnSon
He tried to disguise his scoff as a laugh. "Oh, I don't suit women, they come to me, their fathers beg for the honor," he said, narrowing his eyes at her. "And if I were to suit a woman...well actually, it wouldn't be much of a suit, she would be mine, very few would dare resist a prince. Don't ever presume to equate me to something as lowly as a petty noble trying to get his."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLJ08ZVvwU
The snort of her laugh caught him off guard and his cheek's turned pink. "I see," she said trying to contain her laughter. "Do you know how many landless noblemen petition us, claiming to be kings and princes of faraway lands?"
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHc0IzT1bi
"I am no landless noble, my blood is gold, I am the heir to the throne of Qabar," He said through gritted teeth. "Consider yourself lucky that men of honor do not strike women. Count that luck doubled that I haven't rescinded this contract."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqI5zm8hsb
His face was locked in a scowl and his fists were balled. Raycene's hand found the hilt of her dirk in a visible but subtle gesture. "My apologies prince, we see many that make these claims but clearly you are true."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXUuFaOGhj
A slight commotion caught her eye and she looked out over his shoulder, past the weavers, and through the crowd, a small group of six men watched them from beneath a canopy stall.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtxN1bLYWI
"Your insolen-"
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllw7SIZ7SI
"You need to quiet yourself, price, we're gathering an audience," she said.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BWqakSvgE
"They are my men, each of them ready to die for me at a moment's notice," he said.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLf7MlF3I3
Raycene felt a slight nervousness. Extend one hand and arm the other I see.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPlFCkITBb
"With respect, twelve thousand is not enough for me to kill another prince or a high noble."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCS7sbxv8S
He leaned in towards her uncomfortably close to her face and spoke, "You forget yourself, you are in the presence of a prince, not a merchant, not a noble, you'd be wise to remember that when you speak to me."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8NIRy016u
"My apologies, prince."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp809q9su4o
With that, he seemed to loosen and stepped back, and she took her hand off the poisoned dagger hidden up her sleeve.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWQGBypMzu
"He's not a lord or a prince, just some noble's bitch's bastard. It shouldn't be an issue because the offer is for your brothers, or father, not you. And it would be a service to your country, given his crimes."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhmVqiitbO
She stepped back and took a moment. "Why come to me directly, your highness, why did you not hire their services through my father or our guild master here?" she asked, masking irritation with pleasantry. "My brothers will ask more gold of you, seeing as this is a royal decree and the target is our countryman."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTIO9aFrQE
His eyes widened, "This is not a royal decree," He said, "This is a private matter and must remain as such. I do not have time to search the plains of Aloria for your brothers and it would raise suspicion if I did. This needs to be precise, quiet and clean, your father has an impressive record but he is...loud, to say the least. I would prefer one of your brothers to complete this task."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6Tt1aQWKM
"Loud?" She cocked her head to the side in confusion.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqtOuPJm2r
"Yes, people know widely of his work, he is feared greatly but known by many. It's somewhat counterintuitive, considering his line of work."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpCWzU3Dyz
"I'm not a candidate? Many will vouch for my record."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoRjhHjQrV
"I know some of what you've done. You are accurate, tidy and but nearly as loud as your father, and I would never entrust a woman with a task of such magnitude as this, especially a loud woman."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYTvDtSMnx
Such magnitude? She thought. For a bastard? A 'prince' of Qabar wants a Gresani bastard dead, why?
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Vfr2eyyT4
A sly smile crept across his face. "I haven't mentioned the bonus, we will pay more over upon proof of completion, depending on how it's completed of course. bring me his head, I'll pay twice over. Bring him to me alive and I will pay thrice over."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVTs9eUACX
Is it 'we' or 'I'?
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCY1bmOc95
He placed his hand on her shoulder. "Don't fret, this is not a task for a woman to take on, but there are still many ways you could be useful...I do love hazel eyes. Damn the gods if you aren't the most beautiful woman in the market, have you ever been with a prince?"
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLCHN04feP
"We'll take your contract, and I'm afraid I can offer nothing more."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMseJHmldE
"You are not alone in this offer, I speak to many today as I have spoken with you, and many shall take my offer," he said impatiently.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5O9ZobsEb1
She looked to the sky and gently laughed. "Aloria, the land of palm oils, diamonds, and mercenaries."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyldULR9ZT
"Alive is best. Your guild will be paid if you have to kill him, but alive is best" he said.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8vMDpXGUX
"It shouldn't be difficult the Gresani nobility aren't known for their combat prowess."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIClp72rCC5
"Tell your brother not to expect the boy to come easily. He will be guarded, likely by Titans, and trained to fight."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAocyVFKbAR
He's Jhyrian?
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskA0USBMCI
"Titans? We've never gone up against them but we like a challenge."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxqFdkO6mC
"Good but, I've seen them in combat, it will be no small task."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltDqRYdS6z
"I'll be sure to let my brothers know."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7X0YS2psI
"Good; The gold will be delivered to your residence."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNHRJwpWdO
With a deal well struck the pair shook hands and parted ways.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh19LbDAbQY
Night had fallen and the stars lit up the empty deep-blue sky. Dark overtones had taken the town from its previous sunlight. She looked to the beige-red dress she left on the floor, it's black vine patterns nearly invisible in the dark.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYuDbwt5FM
Cool gusts of wind rushed through Raycene's curls and pressed against her studded leathers as she looked down upon the square from the rooftops. The once vibrant market, now nearly empty of life, people and music. It looked different now, spacious even.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcc5k5zVRYR
For the rest of that day, from the shadows of the crowd and the cover of the rooftops she had watched and listened, as the prince met with other assassins and mercenaries, eager to take her prize. She tailed him unseen from scorching dry heat to chilling breeze and night's silence.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfJWS8BCNO
Fifteen, she thought, no, sixteen counting myself, and who knows how many men they each command. This bastard is well protected, surely. What is his true worth if an entire kingdom seeks to deploy a private army against him? Someone else would be willing to pay more for him.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHAbe4Ifu4
Raycene, silent as a tiger's tread, soared across the rooftops, with the wind whistling past her ears. The breeze was strong, lashes of cool air rode up from behind her. She leaped over gaps, swung across scaffolding and scaled up walls. Nothing had ever made her feel freer than to leap with the wind's guiding hand at her back.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcK0eKwxVSN
In time, she reached the roof of her family bureau and knocked four times on the wooden trap door laying flat atop the roof. The door retracted and she dropped inside, landing gently on the stone floor.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzXbBkRzFm
The bureau was small with three full rooms each made of gray sandstone. It was furnished and decorated with large plants, beautiful woven dark rugs. Colorful needleworks hung from the walls, and in the corners were maroon cushions made from beautiful rich fabrics. The room had a single door on the right wall that leads to the conference room of the bureau. Her family retained the Gresani tradition of heraldry, their insignia was embroidered into nearly all the works. It was a simple yet foreboding symbol, a roaring sabercat atop a crag, something few forgot.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVC01x2Y8K
"Gold has arrived, some sixty pounds of it, if I had to guess," her father, Rayceer, said unseen from the conference room to her right.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKAOqzEAts
Raycene walked into the room to greet him. He stood facing away from her towards the wooden shelves that rested at the back of the room behind a wood partition, holding hundreds of papers and scrolls.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmsKRloRMU
"Yes father, I took a large contract for some troublesome Khidori horse-lord that has been harassing an Aran temple, stealing the sisters, slaughtering the clerics, you know...the normal," she said.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ARNYlorYQ
He turned to face her; his grey eyes penetrating through her lie, "I see, it is an impressive take Raycene, though it's unusual to see a client pay this much up front," he said, squatting by the fire. His long curls had grown grey in his age, he wore them tied back behind his ears, his beard ran full and gray.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HeHV9foNd
"I suppose the mother herself wants him dead," she said, shrugging her shoulders.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TkFCqqvHR
The hard-faced man met her eyes. He was unmistakably Gresani. "Is there anything more you wish to tell me?" he asked.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHC5FzvHeLf
"No father," she said, "Well actually yes, as you know I need our ship for this; I will bring it and the crew back safely." Raycene sat next to him in front of the warmth of the fire.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL05W52lEhd
He prodded the flames, "You may take the ship but you must hire your own crew."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsllEXUNnxn
Raycene opened her mouth to object but was beaten to it by the gentle and stern voice of her mother, Bayene, entering the room. "Oh let her have the crew, it will save her time, besides she already knows them personally," Bayene said as her long, salt and pepper hair swayed ever so slightly as she moved.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqbketyX7H
Rayceer looked to his wife and his daughter. "You can take half the crew, we still need men here yet."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHx9E8ZGer
"I'm fine with that," Raycene said.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bcq3yXpaV
"Ray...who knows what she could encounter," Bayene said.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfdLhSqZeF
"She needs to strike out on her own, how can she with our ship and crew?"
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGroLrU8wgu
Soft firelight danced and flickered on Bayene's pale-beige skin. There was a lingering beauty about her even in her age. "Your father has a point."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDBICEFyja
"Okay, I'll take only half."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dn8RvVF1A
"When will you be leaving and how long will you be gone, do you know?" she asked.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53h6SjnWhD
Raycene spoke as assuredly as she could. "If I stay the course as planned I will only be stopping at Viel and maybe going on to Polis for some time, so I would think three months maybe a bit longer depending on how long it takes to find this Jhyrian."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdMmOjlk17
"Jhyrian?" Rayceer asked. His eyes locked on Raycene.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWt84eLk5Q
She didn't let her panic show as she corrected herself. "Khidori, I meant. I was just thinking of the Titans today is all."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IwErZAatB
"The Titans? They haven't been fond of us since your brother took care of that old Jarl one of them was hired to protect."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzGikqRIMB
"Did Bayeos face the Titan when he killed that Jarl?"
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvo9FpmeN4
"He did, and was nearly killed by the one," Rayceer said, "Why, does this 'horse-lord' have a Titan in his company?"
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRV4YAwYddE
"No father, I'm just curious about them."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9F5n69bOUd
Bayene gave a sad laugh and gazed up in memory. "I remember when your brother first returned to us after that contract. He was broken, he couldn't even walk for months. We do dangerous work but there is no need to make it more dangerous than it already is. Avoid the Titans, girl. And take heed, Polis is the largest city in all Thacia, and our family has enemies, both known and unknown."
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxN6tuz59aq
"I will be cautious as always," Raycene said reassuring her, "I'll set sail in two days, after the harvest festival. I'd like to get this over with quickly and be back in time to help with the harvest itself," she said.
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0WycdNeAE
The fire crackled and dimmed. The family embraced in the dying heat and silence of the night. Sleep came quickly to Raycene and that night she dreamt of battle with the Titans.
ns216.73.216.204da2
