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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 18:57:38 GMT
"Cyprio?" Ayzebel asked, confused. "What is it? Why do you need help?" She lay the now sleeping Elyssa down on the couch. "And where are you?"
"Apologies. I am here." He stepped out from the shadows in the corner of the room. He held one arm across his chest, the other just dangled by his side. And then Ayzebel noticed the blood.
"All Mother! Are you alright?"
"I'll survive this. My ribcage took most of the force." He grimaced. "I was lucky."
"Okay, hold on then. I'll put Elyssa in her bedroom and... no I'll fix you up first. Basic first aid, I know basic stuff I think. Alright. Sit down or something. Tell me about what happened."
As Ayzebel hurried, in a panicked fashion, about the house, hoping Elyssa kept some form of basic first aid in her little hide out, Cyprio explained. "I was out and about, minding my own business and so forth. I... Was then quickly attacked by what appeared to be professionals."
"Wait." Ayzebel dropped the gauze bandage she had found. "Professionals?"
"Yes, they... Ayzebel?"
"Sorry, sorry. I'm fine." Ayzebel picked up the gauze and continued looking.
"Right, well, they surprised me. I don't know why they came after me... but I can guess. Anyway, they didn't seem to know that I was somewhat knowledgeable about their abilities. And my first level of training was to... well... to know the limitations of assassin magic and abilities. By that I mean, my teacher made me try to escape from her. I don't think I ever managed..."
Ayzebel sighed. "Er. I've found something to clean the wound." By that, of course, she meant some very strong looking alcohol.
"Oh good. Anyway, this time I managed. I... I couldn't think of anywhere else to come."
"I see. Well, we'll wait until Elyssa wakes up. She needs her sleep. Do you think they followed you?"
"I... I highly doubt it."
"Oh good. Here." Ayzebel approached him. "Move your arm."
"R-right." Cyprio grit his teeth and managed to move his arm away from the wound.
"This is going to hurt."
"Wonderful. Just do it."
Ayzebel noticed that she could actually see the bone from the rib, which made her slightly nauseous. She poured a bit of the alcohol on the wound, which caused Cyprio to tense up and groan. She then quickly wrapped the gauze around his chest. "Do you think the rib is broken?"
"No. Ah... maybe. But not off. Just fractured or something. It isn't floating around-"
"Yes I can see that!" Ayzebel snapped.
"Um. Sorry."
"I don't... exactly... take most bloodshed well. Sorry, I shouldn't have..."
"No no, I get it."
They remained silent for a moment. Then Ayzebel spoke, glancing at the still snoring Elyssa. "I'll get her into bed, can you sleep here? Or..." Ayzebel smiled, 'A littler humour might help the situation.'
"Or... what?"
"Just a moment." Ayzebel got Elyssa up and sleepwalking, then took her to her room and let her lay down on the bed. 'Well, it is big enough.' She went back out and told Cyprio "you should probably sleep in the bed too. Not only will I get a good laugh out of it, but nothing out here looks half as comfy."
Cyprio blinked. "You... well, okay then." Then he muttered "when sense and mischief collide."
"Oh, I'll sleep in the room too. There isn't room to fit three on the bed comfortably, but there is a rather nice chair. And at this point, since we may have assassins chasing you, I prefer to have everyone be together in the same room."
Evidently too wounded and pained to argue, Cyprio did as he was bid and, oddly, fell asleep quite quickly. Ayzebel didn't fall asleep. Once she saw that Cyprio was dreaming, she quietly moved the chair into a corner away from the door or windows and then quickly fetched her sword, bow and five arrows. She leaned the sword by the right side of the chair. 'Well, I might be able to catch someone by surprise...' She notched an arrow to her bow and rested it on her legs.
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 18:57:54 GMT
"...bel." Ayzebel shook her head and yawned. "Ayzebel!"
She nearly jumped out of the chair, and then she drew the bow and nearly let go only to find someone had taken her arrow. "Wha..."
Elyssa stood a little bit ahead of her, twirling the arrow in her left hand. "Hey, good morning sleepyhead."
Ayzebel blinked.
"Care to explain what Cyprio is doing in my bed?"
"Well. Ah. You might have noticed he was hurt."
"Well, yes, I have."
"So I thought he needed to sleep down in the comfiest place."
"Right. And me?"
"I figured your scheming must have made you extra tired."
"Hah!" Elyssa twirled the arrow again.
"And I wanted to see your face when you woke up."
This put her in a great mood. "Hahahah. Ah, nicely done Ayzey, too bad you were asleep."
"Yeah."
"And why are you sitting there, ready to shoot something?"
"Oh. Right. Someone is trying to kill Cyprio." Ayzebel yawned.
"I gathered."
"Well... I knew I couldn't sleep thinking that assassins might just appear in the middle of the room. So... I thought to protect myself and you two as best I could."
"That's sweet of you." Elyssa studied her face for a moment. "Do you often worry about things so much that sleep is difficult?"
"That isn't any of your..." Ayzebel sighed. "Oh... yes I do. I'm a damn coward too. I'll think and think about how everything is so... likely to go wrong, and then I get so frightened of it. And some of it leaks out into my daily life too. I mean, I tend to ask if any drinks I get are poisoned. Or..."
"I see. So you're what I would call somewhat paranoid."
"Yes, that sounds about right."
"Paranoid, not cowardly." Elyssa added. "Considering what you've been doing recently, I hardly think you a coward."
"Well, I haven't had a lot of time to stop and think recently." Ayzebel stubbornly clung to her self diagnosis.
"Maybe, but you also threatened my mother to her face. Hah, and insulted her too. Most people don't even stand up to her. That was pretty bra-"
Ayzebel cut Elyssa off. "Oh shit! I did!" She groaned.
"Look, Ayzey, calm down... stop looking so frantic. I know my mother, she'll probably be more impressed by that than anything else."
"Right. Of course. Of course she will." Ayzebel's tone of voice said what she really thought of that notion.
"Ah... I forgot you're a Truth Sayer for a moment there... You're clearly nearly as tired as I was yesterday. I'll figure out something to do to keep Cyprio alive and I'll start with some letters and things to make sure this doesn't end in tears. In the meantime, you get some sleep. And seriously, mother won't try anything."
"Well... I'll try to sleep."
"Into the bed. Go. And I can't wait to see Cyprio's face when he wakes up. I'd bet on utter confusion. Heh."
Ayzebel gladly, and at this point, stiffly got out of the chair and curled up defensively on the bed. It took her less time than she had thought it would to fall deeply into sleep.
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 18:58:14 GMT
For the second time, Ayzebel was woken up by Elyssa. Then, for the third time in as many days, she found herself at the docks.
"What are we doing here again?" Ayzebel groaned.
"Oh, just meeting some of my trading partners, they ship to the Ivos Empire, you see. Interesting, these ones. They put a lot of stock in sea trading, for Ivos. Ivos tend to stay closer to land."
"And..." Ayzebel glanced at a heavily disguised Cyprio, "how is this going to help Cyprio?"
"A ship is a very secure place."
"Ooooh, I see. That makes sense. Will they take him? I've heard not so pleasant things about Ivos."
"As I've said, these ones are interesting. And I sense a very cunning mind behind much of their dealings. He should be willing to help, I think, but I do intend to put some pressure on."
The three of them walked up the gangplank, which was flanked by two armed Ivos, and onto the boat proper. "Sheesh, they don't mess around." Cyprio said, after seeing the two guards.
"Brorg-Dao piratical activity comes and goes, almost like the waves of the ocean but less predictable." An Ivos explained as he walked up to them. "We like to be prepared. I am Captain Gnaeus."
"Greetings captain." Elyssa replied. "You know who I am. I was told I would be meeting your employer today as well?"
"Yes, lady, right this way."
They followed the captain into a large cabin at the back of the ship, where there sat in a chair a younger looking Ivos with an older, scarred, and armoured Ivos standing to his right. Ayzebel got the sense that this was a rather dangerous position to be in.
Elyssa, on the other hand, stopped cold. "What is this? I expected to be meeting with Hostus, and he is considerably older than this." Her hand was already trailing to a dagger. An action that didn't go unobserved by the guard, who immediately began to draw his weapon too.
"Hostus is the head of House Galii, yes, but he mostly handles the deals made with the Darsai and the Nymus." The young man in the chair explained. "The one in charge of this particular part of the family business is Marcus."
Ayzebel nodded to Elyssa, who still seemed uncomfortable with the surprise. "Very well... So you are Marcus then?"
"Unfortunately not. I am Valerius, I am Marcus' main confidant regarding finances, and I made this trip, at great personal pain to myself, on his behalf. We mean you no harm."
"I see. I am not pleased to be surprised like this."
"I apologize, and I'm sure we can make it up to you somehow. But you have been a rather wily partner, and I thought it best to take stock of you personally."
"I suppose that is a compliment. Of course, it suggests something. What, I wonder? So long as you treat me well, I will treat you well."
"Yes, I prefer that business model myself."
"But before we get any further into business... I want to know who the scarred wonder is supposed to be." She pointed to the guard standing just behind Valerius.
"Just my guard." Valerius deadpanned. And lied. So Ayzebel tapped the back of Elyssa's foot.
"Really? Your best guard?"
"One of the better ones." Valerius smiled.
"Think he could kill Zadakine assassins?"
"Depends on how many." The guard responded. "And on the individual assassins, of course. Though I've never had the pleasure of facing a Zadakine assassin, I do consider myself a somewhat capable duelist."
Something about how he said 'pleasure' made Ayzebel shiver. And not in a good way. 'Almost like he'd enjoy the opportunity, like the thought making him happy. Clearly, this man is insane.'
"Zadakine assassins don't fight according to fancy rules." Elyssa said, slightly disdainful.
"Hah! Nor do Ivos. You're confusing us with Darsai, my lady."
Elyssa had an attack of wicked laughter. She then turned to Ayzebel and sighed. "Ayzey, you see why I like these people?"
"They're clearly insane?" Ayzebel retorted, not pleased with the idea at all so far.
"We're right here." Valerius muttered. His, alleged, bodyguard gave a grunt of amusement.
"Well, then I'm insane as well!"
"Oh come on, Elyssa, you're not like that..."
"Oh I know, I know. But look at how clever they are! They would have gotten away with it too, but they didn't know about Truth Sayers like you."
Valerius and the bodyguard exchanged a look.
"Ooooh." Ayzebel thought she got what Elyssa was talking about. "You mean how he was lying about the bodyguard just being a bodyguard."
"Which makes him?"
"Someone else important? Possibly..."
"So." Elyssa turned right back to the two Ivos. "Marcus of House Galii, I have an offer for you."
The scarred man sighed. "Ah well, I'm as impressed as Valerius thought I would be. What is it?"
"To make up for surprising me so, you take my friend Cyprio here on board and keep him there, preferably not at the dock, and make sure no harm comes to him from the assassins that tried to kill him last night."
Marcus seemed intrigued. "Valerius, you as interested in this as I am? I've never seen a Zadakine assassin at work. This could be informative."
The younger Ivos groaned. "Shame I'll miss out though. Anyway. If we do this, I want to double our trade with you and expand it beyond gwes milk. The fact is, there seems to be an excellent market for certain Zadakine products in the Ivos Empire, and that is why I wanted to evaluate you personally."
Elyssa seemed taken slightly by surprise. "Very well. But only if you succeed. I like Cyprio, and want to be sure you are taking the most precautions you can."
"Wow, thanks Elyssa, I didn't know you cared so much." Cyprio chirped up.
"Excuse me?" Captain Gnaeus cut in. "But my men are going to be the fodder for this? I mean, I'm up for a fight as much as anyone, but..." He sighed. "Oh fine. I'll have the lads get their gear ready." He turned and left.
"I believe this means our business is concluded?" Valerius asked.
"Yes, it is." Elyssa nodded.
"Just be sure to deal with this quickly." Marcus added. "I do not wish to be away from home for very long if the assassins never show up."
"I'll do my best, but I'm fairly certain they will."
With that they left. Ayzebel was convinced of the Ivos' insanity, 'wanting to take on an assassin? They must be mad. If I had been them, I wouldn't have been half as keen as them for this. And Elyssa thinks these are the good ones? This warrants more research into these Ivos. I'll do that later.'
"So..." Valerius was saying to Cyprio as they left. "You must tell us as much as you know about what these assassins can do. We must have a plan..."
"I like him." Elyssa commented as they walked down the gangplank.
"Which one?"
"Oh, the cripple in the chair. He's the cleverest of the two. Not that the other one seems dumb." Elyssa laughed. "Well, not dumber than normal for an Ivos."
"Cripple?" Ayzebel asked.
"You didn't notice? Anyway, in some ways, they were very honest in the way they confronted me. I like that."
"What do you mean? They had you thinking you were meeting someone entirely different? And then they tried to hide this Marcus' identity?"
"Well, it was the brains of the operation who I spoke to first. That is refreshing. They usually stay in the shadows."
"Oh, I see. So, what now?"
"Well. We figure out how to deal with the assassins coming after us too."
Ayzebel nearly stopped dead in her tracks. "What?!"
"Oh, I could be wrong, but... it just seems likely. Maybe one of Chiara's friends? The assassins went after Cyprio as a message to me, I think. I mean, he was heavily involved in that operation as well. I shouted his name, and gave that guard mine... so just in case..."
"O-oh."
"Don't worry, I'll protect you. Better than the Ivos can. And I think dividing their forces like this is best."
"How do you know they won't just all attack us, then all attack Cyprio?"
"Well... Cyprio mentioned multiple attackers. Six, I think. This someone is wealthy and has connections. Anyway, the point is... they're assassins, and overconfident ones too. They probably want to get paid, and paid quick. I think they'll split up to get this all done at once. And even if they don't, well, I'm working on a nice pretty plan."
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 18:58:32 GMT
"Where are we going?" Ayzebel asked, confused at the route they'd been walking.
"Oh, back home." Elyssa sniffed and her ears twitched. "I want to make sure they're following us."
"What?"
"There is no point running from these types. We have to confront and kill them. And I know how to bait a trap well. I just hope the trap is strong enough."
"A bit of a gamble, isn't it?" Ayzebel asked nervously, casting her eyes about as she did so.
"Why, yes it is." Elyssa chuckled. "But what is life without the odd gamble?"
"The wise woman doesn't bet what she can't afford to lose."
"Hah, well, this bet isn't one I chose. Shh." Elyssa grabbed Ayzebel and pulled her into an alleyway, holding her up against the wall.
For just a moment, Ayzebel was aware of everything as her senses raced to their heights and terror burned within her. She could hear the hustle and bustle of the crowds and she could smell them too. All the products of a large city were suddenly obvious. And then she heard the footfalls at the back of the alley. Looking, she saw no one. "Elyssa... they're here." She whispered, terrified.
"We need to move!" Elyssa grabbed her arm and pulled her out into the crowd again. "They're following us!" Elyssa's voice sounded desperate, but Ayzebel knew her well enough by now to hear the tinge of excited glee hidden at the very back of her words.
Ayzebel sped up to keep pace more comfortably with Elyssa, but she was still being jostled about by the crowd around her. Elyssa seemed able to avoid that. They turned quickly to get inside the door.
"We need to get to the basement!" Elyssa shouted as she unlocked the door and pulled Ayzebel inside, then pushed her towards some stairs.
Ayzebel hurried down the stairs and opened the door there. Elyssa followed her, shutting the door and pushing Ayzebel to the back of the room before fiddling with a large closet on the opposite side. "What is the plan? Elyssa?"
Elyssa turned to Ayzebel and smiled. "Now? Now I kill them all."
"Are you as insane as those Ivos?! You can't-"
There was a swirling of smoke near the door and three assassins appeared, each carrying two long, curved, serrated knives and dressed in dark clothes. Ayzebel struggled to get her thin sword out of its scabbard. Not that she could point it at any of them without shaking madly.
Surprisingly, the assassin that spoke was male. "Well well. You lot are running scared, aren't you?"
Elyssa responded, sounding nervous. "Oh no, it was all a ruse."
The man laughed. "No, looking at the Truth Sayer, I highly doubt that."
"Well, some of it wasn't I suppose." Elyssa drew her own, far shorter, knife. "Who is first?"
"You." The three advanced together.
Elyssa sighed. "Well. And to think. This could have been a fair fight." She pulled Ayzebel over to her and away from the closet. "Thurfric. Attack."
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 18:58:47 GMT
Ayzebel shut her eyes and plugged her ears as a thunderous roar shattered the closet, sending the door flying straight at the middle assassin, who teleported to Ayzebel's left to avoid it. Then the same Brorg-Dao who had killed Chiara's gwes poisoning thug charged out from the closet, armoured all in plate mail, and swung two single handed axes at the two assassins now to Ayzebel's left, cornering them.
Ayzebel stared in mute shock as Elyssa took immediate advantage of the surprise and charged the assassin on the right. This probably didn't work out as well as she wished. The assassin reacted immediately, moving and slashing with both long knives. Elyssa blocked one but took a nasty cut across the lower ribcage from the other.
The shock on Elyssa's face as she stumbled backwards spurred Ayzebel into panicked action. She dropped her sword and quickly took her bow and put an arrow to it, firing as quickly as possible at the assassin. She dodged the arrow, but it allowed Elyssa to back away, gritting her teeth.
'Oh my Goddess! I nearly shot someone!'
As the shock took hold, or rather reasserted itself, the first death happened. One of the assassins teleported behind Thurfric to stab him in the back of the neck. But he predicted it, so when she reappeared, it was with the axe head already burying itself into her guts and cutting her in half in the process. The male assassin tried to take advantage of this, but Thurfric fended him off immediately.
Then Ayzebel remembered that the other assassin was trying to kill Elyssa. She turned to see what was going on, but dropped her other arrow in the process. She managed to grab another one, but didn't bother putting it to the bow. She couldn't fire again and she knew it.
The assassin figured she had Elyssa. Maybe that is what Elyssa wanted, maybe not. But as her enemy moved in for the kill, Elyssa sidestepped left and blocked the assassin's right hand dagger, then grabbed her arm and pulled her forward. Before she could teleport away, Elyssa lunged at her neck and bit into it. A moment later the assassin turned into smoke and reappeared in the corner of the room, clutching her neck in a panic.
Then the male assassin, the one who had spoken, teleported away from Thurfric and behind Ayzebel, who reacted by half spinning, half jumping forward. Like many half measures, this was horribly unsuccessful and he grabbed her and put a knife to her neck. It was obvious to Ayzebel that he was tired. He was breathing heavily and quickly.
"Surrender or I cut her throat!"
Elyssa gave him an annoyed look. "Really, now? Isn't that the plan anyway?"
The assassin began to panic, and Ayzebel, rather calmly, though a calm born of being frozen in fear, began to realize why. 'Of course, no windows in the basement, they can't teleport out! Also. Oh crap, I'm going to die! All Mother, what are my debts? I've still got to pay the Temple! And the...'
"Let me go!" The assassin shouted.
"It seems I was correct. Your employer wanted us to be afraid. Now, my little blade in the dark, now who is afraid?" Elyssa grinned wickedly, which was only emphasized by the blood on her teeth and throat.
"I swear! I'll kill her!" Ayzebel could now feel the assassin's heart beat. She vaguely realized that he was almost as panicked as she was.
"Killing her would be the worst mistake you make in your very short life."
"Because you'll kill me?" He sneered. "You'd better be offering me a way out."
"Not because I'd kill you, but because how I'd kill you. I'd come up with something." She wiped her mouth. "Particularly nasty. For instance, I've heard Brorg-Dao eat people alive..."
"Lies and the mythology of a weak, unmanly people so frightened of battle they make it sound worse than it already is." The Brorg-Dao snapped at Elyssa. "Coming up with excuses to be as afraid of us as you already are, because even you Zados know how embarrassing your fear is."
"I'm... trying to make a point, Thurfric."
The Brorg-Dao snorted.
Ayzebel calmed herself down and began to think, she even managed to formulate an idea. She dropped the bow, but held onto the arrow. The assassin didn't seem to notice.
In fact, the assassin did just what she hoped he would. He took his right handed blade away from her throat to point at Elyssa, while keeping his left arm locked around her neck. Ayzebel looked straight at Elyssa and gulped. Then, just before he began to talk, she took the arrow she was still holding and stabbed the man in the gut with it. He shouted in alarm and surprise and tried to cut her throat, but she locked the base of her chin against his left arm, holding it against her neck and so protecting her arteries from the right handed dagger. She only took a cut across the face.
Elyssa threw her dagger in a smooth motion so it flew straight and point first into the assassin's knife arm. He released Ayzebel, who immediately fell to the floor. It was good she did, as the Brorg-Dao's axe also flew into the assassin, creating a far more immediately fatal wound.
And just like that, Ayzebel noticed the sudden pain on her face.
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 18:59:35 GMT
"Fuuuuuck!" Ayzebel screamed. "That fucking hurts!"
Elyssa walked to her and pulled her up. "Oh, you'll be fine. A cut like that won't even scar and isn't nearly enough for the poison to be fatal."
"P-poison?"
"Yeah," Elyssa looked down at the slash wound in her lower chest and winced. "Poison."
"But... but... you'll be okay? Right?"
"Oh, I doubt it. Hey, look at that. I'm already seeing doubles. And if you thought that hurt when you got it, wait until you clean it with the al-" Elyssa crumpled to the floor.
Ayzebel panicked, as might be expected from her recent behaviour. Immediately checking Elyssa's pulse, which was still going, she then bounded over to the dead assassin, and started rooting through his equipment hoping to find an antidote. She did find a small bottle, but it didn't have any label. In fact, if it was anything, it was the poison itself. Frustrated, she returned to Elyssa and slammed her fist into the ground.
Elyssa opened one eye and looked up at her. "Hah. The look on your face."
Ayzebel blinked. "What?"
"You didn't bother using your truth checking did you?" She got up slowly.
Ayzebel jumped up. "D-don't do that to me!"
"Oh, I couldn't resist. Besides, if they had coated their weapons with poison, you'd be able to see a slight sheen to them. Either sticky or wet. That kind of thing."
"Thanks." Ayzebel replied, annoyed.
"I might need stitching though." She looked down and prodded the wound with a finger. "Hurts like hell. Gave worse than I got though, eh?"
The assassin who had been bitten in the neck was still twitching on the ground, but it looked like she had bled out. "Yeah. You must have gotten an artery. Or something." Ayzebel blinked. "You just... you just bit her neck open... Oh Goddess..."
"Look. Ayzey, I need to clarify something." Elyssa looked down and sighed. "You've seen me kill several people so far, and I know you must be thinking I'm some kind of psycho. Your friend Jrinni did mention I'm a bit crazy, and it would... be... it would be natural to think I'm..."
"Well... not entirely... I have been... worried. Especially after Lek, but..."
"Oh now the Zados start talking." Thurfric muttered, loudly, to himself. "I'll go back out the tunnel." He turned and walked into the shattered closet, ripping his axe out of the body of the male assassin as he did so.
"You've got a tunnel?"
"Of course I've got a tunnel. Doesn't everyone?" Elyssa smiled. "Now, Ayzey, help me up the stairs. I really hope you didn't use everything when you fixed up Cyprio."
"No... I think there was stuff left."
Ayzebel helped Elyssa up the stairs and into the main room. "Now, be careful, I'm fairly certain that they must have sent the other three after Cyprio, but caution will prevail here, just in case."
Ayzebel was careful, and she found the alcohol and gauze quickly. "Here we go, I'll just-"
"Just the alcohol. There should also be a needle and thread where you found the gauze. Bring them to me."
Ayzebel did so. "You're going to stitch yourself up?"
Elyssa noticed the surprise. "Well, yes. I mean, do you want to do it? It would make things considerably easier, but I didn't take you for having a stomach strong enough."
Thus goaded, Ayzebel soaked the needle in the bottle of alcohol before using some excess to clean the wound. Elyssa grimaced and clenched her teeth. Then Ayzebel set to work, her stitching haphazard, but solid.
"You know..." Elyssa spoke, trying to sound her usual happy self. "I meant to say earlier... I'm not really a... ouch... total psycho. I... killed Chiara because she tried to poison me first. I just... I thought it would happen. And... I know I don't need... need to... ouch... explain that other woman... And Lek... I-"
"Stop talking. You're making this more difficult. All Mother, I wish I had a real doctor here."
"You're doing fi... ine."
"What did I just say?"
Elyssa shut up properly then. Once Ayzebel finished, she chuckled. "Ayzey, I can tell I make a horrid patient. But... I meant to say, Lek was necessary. And he was after my brother and Starah, who I do actually kinda like. Also, trust me, he had it coming. Helped the Nymus smuggle in some cheap goods to escape tariffs. He killed a dock inspector. But he has some connections, and publically making an example of him... I mean, the Nymus would've been furious..."
Ayzebel sighed. "Look, I know you've mostly killed people in self defense and you don't really enjoy it."
"I can't exactly agree, Ayzey, I do kill people in self defence, or retaliation for something serious like that, or if the job requires it, but..." Elyssa's attempts to sound happy faltered entirely. "I'll admit... I sometimes enjoy it. Kind of like... winning a bet, it is like a rush. I know. I shouldn't, but..."
After a moment, Ayzebel patted her shoulder, though slightly unsure about her thoughts.
"Look, I do prefer the outsmarting part to the killing part. And I don't want to... I'm telling you this because... well, I mean, you've probably already figured it out, and... I like you and if you hadn't figured it out already then you deserved to know. I don't know what to say... and, eventually I'll have to stop doing my own dirty work. I'll be in charge of big stuff, but then... maybe then I'll start to not care? I sometimes forget the boundaries already, and I'm directly involved! I might only feel badly after the fact. What about when I'm older? I'm sca-"
Ayzebel washed up the stitches with most of the remaining alcohol.
"Ouch!"
"Elyssa, maybe you're a bit of a psycho." Ayzebel smiled, deciding that if Elyssa seemed worried about crossing a line then she's probably doing okay. "But I like you regardless. You're nice enough to me, at least, and so long as I'm around you can count on me to try to keep you from going too far."
"Oh, good to know. Now," Elyssa's smile returned and she snapped back to her normal self, like nothing had happened. "Lets deal with your cut. Don't worry, no stitches. Just some gauze and cleaning..."
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 19:03:10 GMT
After a fitful rest, Elyssa dragged Ayzebel back to the docks. She was very sleepy, but even in that condition she noticed that the Ivos ship was resting comfortably at dock, as if nothing was different about it.
Of course, getting closer clarified the picture. One of the two guards posted at the ramp was carrying a shield with a chunk blasted out from the top of it. "Dark magic." Elyssa told Ayzebel as they passed. "Lots of assassins use it. They must have sent their heavyweights after Cyprio."
Ayzebel would swear that on hearing this, the guard flashed Elyssa a grin, but she was too tired to be sure.
Captain Gnaeus greeted them, much as before except with the addition of his arm being wrapped up, and led them into the same place as before.
Inside, Cyprio was waiting for them, looking positively bouncy with excitement. Valerius looked only a little more tired. Marcus, on the other hand, looked like he might be acquiring a scar or two soon from a couple of fresh cuts.
"I won't bore you with the details, but we got three of them. If there were any more present, we did not know about them." Marcus said.
"What did you think, Ivos? Put up a good fight?" Elyssa chuckled. "I bet they did, just looking at you."
"And you too." Marcus retorted. "You may be covering the wound up, but I still see some of the effects on your gait. But yes, they did."
"Splitting them was clever." Valerius broke in. "I doubt we could have taken all six of them. We thought we had prepared for twelve, we expected six, and we got three... and one got perilously close to your friend."
"She was in the room and seemed unconcerned with the guards. I had my blowgun," Cyprio explained, "but I knew if I shot it, she'd dodge or teleport. And I'd probably hit an Ivos instead. So I shot her in the foot! The look on her face was quite shocked."
"What happened to the other ones?" Elyssa asked.
"One," Valerius explained, "attempted to teleport around us to get the drop on the troops. We anticipated that, and had our troops fight in pairs, always back to back. The one trying to teleport hurt Gnaeus but was killed with a gladius to the back as she re-appeared from a teleport."
"The other, I killed." Marcus stated bluntly. "One of my tougher fights, but I got her in the end." He didn't elaborate, in fact, he seemed almost melancholic about it.
'Perhaps I judged this one too harshly too quickly?' Ayzebel thought, but kept quiet.
"And while we did anticipate the use of dark magic," Valerius continued, "it took us by surprise when the third blasted through a shield, knocking the guard back, stabbed the man behind him, who is... recovering. Close call, don't know if he will ever be back as he was. Too early to say. Anyway, and then blasted the door off the room that held Cyprio. Perhaps a lucky guess, or perhaps excellent reconnaissance. I suspect the latter. That is when your friend's own wits saved his life, as he said. If you were hoping to interrogate the assassin, I apologize, but the troops weren't taking any risks."
"Thank you, we wouldn't have been able to get anything from them anyway." Elyssa nodded. "You've done me a service, and as per my end of the bargain, you will have your extra trade. Though it benefits us both, I think."
"We are pleased the arrangement is mutually beneficial. We wouldn't feel right forcing you into a deal you would suffer from." Valerius explained. He was telling the truth, but Ayzebel suspected he was also thinking about something else.
"Hah! Zadakine do it all the time!" Elyssa shook her head. "Ah well, we will take our leave now, I think. Hope your man recovers. Come on, Cyprio."
"Farewell, ladies, be profitable." Valerius chuckled. "Zadakine like profit, yes?" He remarked to Marcus as Ayzebel and Elyssa left. "What I said was good, I think? They're a strange bunch."
On the way back, Ayzebel broached the topic of: "What happens now?"
"Now?" Elyssa grinned and threw her arms around Cyprio and Ayzebel's shoulders. "Now we find out who tried to have us killed! And who was so foolish as to give us warning."
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 19:05:22 GMT
Ayzebel was content to stay at or near the Temple for that next few days. Elyssa had said she would contact her and Cyprio when she found something out. Besides, Jrinni found a few short contracts for her to work on. So when the letter came Ayzebel was surprised that she was being instructed to meet Elyssa at her sanctum and to wear something nice. 'Puzzling. Perhaps we'll be going spying?' So she equipped her sword, as only an idiot would go about unarmed in Utopia City, and picked her best outfit, a purple shoulder slung type dress that, as far as she was concerned, seemed to go fairly well with her eyes and fur. Then she was off.
Elyssa was waiting for her when she arrived, also dressed up. "Well, you look nice. I'm afraid I've never been particularly good at dressing up." She looked at her dress, orange against mostly brown fur. "I'm told this is good, but I'm not sure if they were having a joke at my expense."
"Orange is fine, well, from what I can tell."
Elyssa laughed at this. "I'm glad I can trust you to be more or less honest with me, Ayzey."
"So, what is the plan?"
"The plan is to have a bit of fun. I'm absolutely annoyed with the blatant gwesshittery that I've had to put up with trying to figure this out, so we're going for a night out. Have some fun. Eat some olives. Dance. Gamble. Maybe drink a bit. I'm sure it will help loosen my thought lines up."
"Oh, well, okay then. I won't complain. Unless this is like the first time..."
"Nah, for real this time. You're wondering why you? Simple. I like you and I find bouncing thoughts off of you works wonders."
"Good to know I'm of some use."
"Oh, and you're clever in your own right. I tested that with my brother, and you figuring out I was involved was not entirely expected. So I'm sure if I miss something, then you'll catch it."
"Thanks."
"Credit where it is due, Ayzey. I think," She shrugged, "I do think you need to loosen up too, though, given that this is unresolved and somebody seems to have wanted us dead... well, I figure you aren't sleeping too well?"
"...No." Ayzebel admitted. "I'll be okay though."
"If you say so, Ayzey dear. Now, follow me. First some dancing, then some food, I think."
"I really could use some relaxation, I suppose. Dancing would be nice."
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 19:05:30 GMT
Elyssa took the Ayzebel out to some dive in the middle of Utopia City. "Not a lot of room for dancing, but they've got some excellent food." She explained. "They've actually got a variety of hummus types. We'll get a sampling platter and eat like happy gimbits. Of course, the best part is that hummus isn't particularly heavy, so we'll still be able to dance without falling over afterwards."
"I'll admit, I like the sound of that."
"Excellent." A few moments later, they were waiting for the food to arrive and watching a bunch of other people dance like maniacs in another part of the place while a band played lively, upbeat, music. "Well, we've a short time to wait. Dancing or talking?"
"Talking." Ayzebel suggested.
"Okay. You start. Tell me something."
"Well... I don't know... my mom... totally different from how yours seems. She doesn't stop talking."
"Oh dear."
"Yeah, she's fine though. And occasionally she says something worth paying attention to."
"Hah, occasionally?"
"Maybe more occasionally than I like to admit."
"I know that feeling, believe me. I'm clever and all, but my mom is partially responsible for that. I think the only reason she isn't on the Shadow Council is because in being so successful, she's pissed a lot of people off. In sum: she just... isn't that likeable."
"My mum is too likeable, but not half as smart sounding."
"Hard to come up with the proper balance, isn't it?"
"Goodness knows, I'm not one to say. I mean, look at me! I'm hardly matriarch material. You are though."
"If you say so, Ayzey." Elyssa smiled. "I mean, I'm glad to hear someone other than my mother tell me that. And she doesn't so much tell me as make it so... well, ah, your family?"
"Oh, ahem, my family is, as you can guess, quite large. And they never stop gossiping. Vect, my... oh Goddess... I want to say cousin? Supposed to get married. Sometime soon. And I couldn't tell you who to. But we've got our fair share of drama too..."
"Ooooh. Is it good drama?"
"Well, I'll let you be the judge of that. Nothing like you running about and killing things." Ayzebel paused to think about it. "That I know of. But that is how you'd expect it to be. Well... Grammy and Grandma, er, you know what I mean," Elyssa nodded for Ayzebel to continue. "Well, they fight like Darsai and Junlocks. You'd think they absolutely hated each other. And my, something like, eight grandpas are always caught in the middle. Not a peacemaker amongst them, I'm afraid. And they fight over the oddest things. My aunt, by marriage, is always a topic of contention. One loves her, one hates her. Well, the one that hates her went on about it too long once and the other one snapped and whapped her over the head with a wooden spoon, sending her face right into the pudding..."
"Hah!"
"She said something like 'shaddup you old hag! You talk too much!' When she did it too. Then said she knew who my mom got her 'annoying' from."
"W-what happened next?" Elyssa looked genuinely worried.
"She got her head out of the pudding and laughed."
"What? Really? My mother would have gone psychotic!"
"Would you? Because that would be going too far, I mean, in my mind..."
"Me? Nah, I don't get homicidal over that kind of stuff. I might get sullen at worst."
"Good to know, I mean, not good to know because you mother clearly takes things too far and I've insulted her but..." Ayzebel gulped and then returned to her story. "Anyway, she then reminded Grammy that my mother was hers. They then got into an argument about which of her husbands was my actual grandfather."
Elyssa whistled. "How often does something like this happen?"
"Oh, about once a week. I've given up paying attention unless I'm in need of hearing something humorous."
The food arrived and Elyssa immediately pointed out a hummus with a dark blue tinge to it. "With black beans complimenting the chickpeas. Subtle, but different."
"Huh." Ayzebel made sure to try some of everything. "Pretty good. I don't know if I can top it myself, so I'll have to admit to the quality. Inventive too."
"You cook?"
"Well, I made some for you before..."
"And it was good, but I didn't know you were professional."
"Well, not really really... I... I've always wanted to go freelance. Do some exploring beyond the Temple and Utopia City. Travel with a business group, something like that."
"Hmm. A reasonable dream to have. Although, I should say, I don't think very many people in the wide world like Zadakine much."
"Oh, just because we're successful."
"I agree. Jealousy can do a whole lot of things to a people. Still, how does this explain your cooking ability?"
"Well... For travelling. I get to diversify my skills. I can hunt a bit too, I'm a good shot with a bow so I should be able to not be a burden. Not that I was actually able to, well, you saw the shot I made and you wouldn't know I can shoot plausible food but-"
Elyssa put a finger to Ayzebel's mouth, stopping her from going on a tangent and getting worked up. "Clever. When were you thinking of leaving?"
"Well... I had thought I would go after paying the Temple back, clearing my education debts. But... I've been thinking about that. It looks like that, with all you've been paying me, I'll be debt free sooner than I had thought."
"You like the jobs too, don't you?"
"Well, I haven't been on that many..."
"But?"
"But yes, I like them so far. Exciting in a scary way, but I preferred looking for your brother most. Less risk of death in that one, thank you."
"Hah! Any other reason you're considering staying?"
Ayzebel smiled. "Sure. I mean, I'm not sure I'm ready or old enough yet. Plus, things are so interesting now."
"Oh, I just knew it!" Elyssa had a wicked look on her face. "Cyprio."
"What? Cyprio?!" Ayzebel's voice rose an octave in indignation.
Elyssa burst into laughter. "Oh Ayzey! Your face! I love doing that to you!"
"Cyprio! I mean..." Ayzebel ignored Elyssa. "Sure, he isn't bad looking... but he's a bit awkward sometimes..."
"Well, at least he's clever in his own way." Elyssa finished her laughing.
"Oh I like him well enough. But you can have him if you want."
"Hah! No no, I insist..." Her laughter returned in the form of a giggle fit. "Oh this is just horrid of us. He's really fairly nice. And useful."
"I agree." Ayzebel nodded. "I mean, he outran a bunch of assassins and then got one in the foot with his dart gun."
"Don't forget, he killed that fellow." Then Elyssa elaborated. "The one behind the gwes poisoning. Shot him in the back."
Ayzebel blinked. "Are you sure he's dead?"
"Why, of course he is dead! The waters were a mess and with the paralysis he couldn't swim... Oh. Hell." Elyssa put her hands to her head and grimaced.
"What?"
"No no no. Couldn't be so, Timeon wouldn't tell anyone and it is unlikely that a relative would find out exactly what happened... so..."
"Eylssa. Explain to me."
Elyssa glanced up at Ayzebel. "Sorry. Just the assassins... probably under orders to make sure we were feeling terror. That is personal. And I couldn't think of anyone in common that the three of us had wronged to that extent. My first thought was the assassins were connected to that incident with Chiara... but everyone involved was either dead or... I had just assumed he was dead. I considered that maybe some of his family, whoever they be, found out about it but... it is really unlikely."
"Or... maybe he wasn't killed?"
"Yeah. It is looking like that." Elyssa seemed sour. "I just don't see how... well... maybe. It is evident he worked with gwes... maybe he had an antidote? But I don't know of any antidote... and there is no way he could have given it to himself if he were para-"
Ayzebel stopped Elyssa's train of thought, and sudden moping, by shoving a pita covered with her favourite hummus into her mouth, pleased that she was able to return the favour. "Just ask Cyprio about it later. Enjoy self now."
Elyssa blinked, chewed, swallowed, nodded, then smiled. "True, good point. He could ask that Frist person maybe, he knew a lot about Gwes."
"Don't remind me. He wouldn't stop talking. So..." Ayzebel decided to open up a new topic of discussion. "What about your family? I mean, don't tell me if you don't want... but... I told you..."
Elyssa grimaced. "Well, you know that nobody likes my mother, there is good reason for that. She is a sour and nasty woman."
"Yes, but, surely not all your family is that bad?"
"No, all of them are pretty bad." Elyssa groaned. "I'll tell you because I like you, Ayzey, but... my mother has problems. Major ones. She doesn't like being second guessed or stood up to. Maybe it comes with being a matriarch. And my father ran off with another man, disappearing without a trace. I haven't really forgiven him for leaving me alone with her... and giving her cause to be so possessive." She shrugged. "Then again..." She sighed. "I shouldn't tell you this..."
"You don't have to if you don't want to, I was just..."
"Oh, I want to tell you, but I shouldn't." She shook her head. "I wonder if he really did run off. Sometimes I think... well... good for him if he did. And sometimes... sometimes... I wonder... did she have him done away with? Did he stand up to her on one too many issues? I can't really trust what she says about him..."
"Well... I could... Uh... Use some of my magic to see if she..."
"No. I'm not putting you in that kind of danger. I'm keeping you as far away from her as possible. Okay Ayzey?"
"I can't argue with that." Ayzebel nodded. "Thanks."
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 19:08:22 GMT
After they finished with the meal, they both eyed the dance floor hesitantly. "I don't like the music. Too fast." Ayzebel explained.
"I don't like any of the options." Elyssa gave her excuse. "I know I said we'd dance first... then I meant to dance after food... but you know what? I'm not so pleased about it right now, lets go."
"Okay, what next then?"
"Hmm." As they left, Elyssa shrugged. "I'm not sure. I'm not in the mood for gambling either now."
"Well..." Ayzebel had a sudden idea. "Well, I've an idea. Follow me."
Pleased that it was her turn to drag Elyssa somewhere, Ayzebel felt herself grin.
"You've obviously got some kind of plan." Elyssa said as she followed along. "Hmm... so where are we going?"
"That would spoil it." Ayzebel stopped in front of a rather lavish looking house. Not the biggest in the area, but impressive. "Here, we're going here." She walked up to the door and knocked, while Elyssa followed behind.
Another Zadakine woman opened the door and laughed. "Ayzebel! How good to see you! I wasn't expecting you for another week. And you've brought a friend, how nice! I haven't had Dravin make anything for guests though..."
"No no, it is fine mother, we've eaten already."
"Mother?" Elyssa's surprise was clear.
"You didn't tell her? Oh how awful of you Ayzebel. Come on in, both of you." Once they were inside Azyebel's mother began to fret. "Do you need anything? You wrote that things have been rather exciting, you alright?"
"No, we're fine. Might have figured it out too."
"Oh good." She switched to complaining about family. "Your sisters are all out and busy, and Vect is so busy with his preparations... things get awfully boring around here."
"Liar." A male Zadakine named Dravin jumped in. "We've been having a grand old time."
"Hi dad." Ayzebel smiled at him.
"Good to see you. I haven't made anything-"
"They've already eaten, Dravin."
"Oh, well." He looked at Elyssa, almost suspiciously, and asked "and who is our other guest?"
"This is Elyssa, I've been working for her quite a bit recently."
Elyssa gave a surprisingly shy wave with her right hand.
"Well now," Ayzebel's mother continued, "sit down and I'll fill you both in. You'll love this, I promise. Juicy information."
"Have the two of them been at it again?" Ayzebel asked.
"Oh, like you have to even ask! This time... this time over Villa's kids."
Ayzebel grimaced. "Oh All Mother..."
"Ma thinks Villa has been incredibly stupid. Mother thinks Villa's been incredibly stupid."
Ayzebel blinked as Elyssa settled down beside her on a couch. "Wait, they agree on something?"
"I know!" Ayzebel's mother announced.
"And somehow," Dravin managed to sound depressed, "that just makes it worse."
The mother continued. "Yup, you'll never guess what happened to the two girls..." Ayzebel nodded, to indicate that she never would guess. "Oh, fine. Well, the eldest, you know her, she was busy running about being a glorified caterer, a career she never wanted, when she got hit by some idiot on a suss. He apologized profusely and paid to cover her recovery and then some for the trouble. I don't know what he was doing, but he was in a hurry."
"Right."
"Anyway, Villa was so incensed that she had her other daughter try to murder the man. Antonia was always a conscientious woman though, and she didn't do it. After all, the fellow had paid them off. Now they're getting married! Hah!"
Ayzebel stared blankly. "Antonia getting married? I'm going to have to go to another marriage, aren't I?"
"Fraid so dear."
"Huh." Elyssa chuckled. "That sounds remarkably familiar."
"I know! I've been hearing all about these things. I'm actually thinking it is horribly romantic!" Ayzebel's mother laughed. "Cute, isn't it?"
"So... Grammy thinks what?"
"Oh, she thinks it is hilarious and all in good fun. Good payback for Villa being incredibly stupid. Mother, on the other hand, thinks that while Villa has been incredibly stupid, this is terrible because the boy is a nobody. She thinks Antonia is wasting her time with him."
"Grandmother complains about that kind of thing a lot, doesn't she?" Ayzebel mused.
"Yes she does. Like that crazy Eudocia off who knows where... and Cyrus being... well... and... mother is most... she cares more about that type of thing than Ma. Ma thinks all the extra status and that kind of thing just isn't worth the stress it brings. I agree. I mean, look at me, I'm happy, you're happy. The family is pretty happy overall..."
"They even create their own entertainment weekly." Dravin leaned over and whispered to Elyssa, but loud enough for Ayzebel to hear. "They're practically maniacs."
This made Elyssa smile. "Oh, you seem well off."
"Hey hey, Dravin, no talking to other women, you know that!" Ayzebel's mother joked.
"Psh, she's Ayzebel's age. I'm practically ancient in comparison."
"Hahah!"
Ayzebel whispered to Elyssa. "I should say, my mother's name is Heraldine. I know. Odd. She forgets to introduce herself a lot."
Elyssa nodded. "I like them." She whispered back. "Though, put them in a room with my mother, and after five minutes... well... there would be no survivors."
Dravin heard that and laughed. "I think my mother agreed to the match just to stop Hera from talking."
"No she didn't! I was clearly an advantageous linking of families." Heraldine stuck her nose in the air, pretending to look offended.
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 19:09:03 GMT
Dravin, at one point of the evening, dragged Ayzebel aside, leaving Elyssa to fend off Hera, and gave her a serious look. "She seems nice. And capable sounding."
"Oh trust me, she can be pretty scary, but she's always been nice to me."
"I... suppose you want the scary ones on your side. But they can be dangerous."
"Dad..."
"I'm not about to say that I don't think she's a good match, because you do appear to like each other. I fear that wh- er, if, you two get married, your grandmother... well, I'm sure those two will actually know who she is. I don't. But if we're lucky we might even lack drama over it." He chuckled.
Ayzebel had begun blinking rapidly at the mention of marriage. "Whoa dad, slow yourself down. I like her, I do, but first off... I don't know what she thinks of me. And second off... damn, dad, that's fast! Don't do that to me!"
He snorted. "I'm glad you think that way. It isn't something you want to jump into. But you'll have to forgive me, you did, unannounced, bring a woman home to meet the parents..."
"Oh come on dad. My primary concern was finding something to cheer her up. I had just told her about the family, she had told me about her family, who don't sound like much fun, and so it made sense to bring her here..."
Elyssa guffawed about something in the background, then brought herself under control.
Dravin was silent for a moment before speaking again. "My girl, I've learned to watch your wording. Your 'primary' concern. Hah. Don't be stupid about it, though." He shoved Ayzebel back to the couch. "I'll make some tea, a habit we picked up from your aunt."
Heraldine turned to her husband and laughed. "She's really wonderful. What was that? Tea? Sounds good to me!"
Elyssa leaned over to Ayzebel as she sat down. "What was that about?"
"Oh... I'll tell you later. Though in short, you. Nothing bad though."
"Alright."
"You've got to try this stuff." Heraldine turned back to them. "We forwarded some of this particular one to Eudocia, but kept a bit for ourselves. Basically hot water, or so you think at first, but tea has flavour. Many different varieties, and this is one of our favourites. Ever had it? Good for relaxation."
"Oh," Elyssa shrugged her shoulders, "no, I don't think I have."
"Well, you'll have some now. Honey?!"
Dravin stuck his head back in the room. "Hmm? You want honey with it? I don't think-"
"No no, I was calling you. Elyssa's having some too."
"Yes dear, I figured."
Heraldine turned back. "Yeah, he knows me too well by now, I suppose."
"So..." Elyssa transitioned the conversation relatively smoothly, "I keep hearing about this aunt?"
"Oh yes, well... she's a bit contentious. Married my brother, who was an artisty type. I think... was it... two children? Yeah, something like that. She's mostly up North in Jaydia nowadays. I'm not really sure where."
"What does she do?"
"Oh, doctoring. She's surprisingly good at that."
"So... what is the problem with her?"
"Well... the thing about Eudocia is... okay," she whispered, "don't tell anyone, but I mostly like her..." Her voice returned to normal. "She... ever since Cyrus died... probably at least partially her fault... it has been particularly tough. Mother always didn't like her. Thought Cyrus was going to net her some real big fish. What was that one she wanted? Ahiradah or something. I remember calling her the grim bitch, on account of her being so... grim. Never liked that woman." Elyssa and Ayzebel gave each other identical looks of confusion and worry while Heraldine continued. "But he liked the travelling doctor more... and ma was totally fine with it. She wasn't sure at first, but she ended up liking Eudocia a good deal."
"So... you mean to tell me... that isn't all of it?" Elyssa asked.
"No... once Cyrus died... some of my side of the family started turning against her too. Oddly enough, ah, ma still likes her. And me... it depends on the day, I suppose. But this resulted in her getting even farther from the family."
"That might do it..." Elyssa was clearly thinking about the situation. "Odd, though, about this Cyrus' biological mother still liking her."
"Yeah, it has puzzled me too." Heraldine shrugged. "Oh well, That's life for you. Perhaps it isn't so odd. I liked my brother too, but I still like her."
Shortly after that, the tea was ready. And shortly after the tea they decided to head back. They were in the middle of thanking Ayzebel's parents when there was another knock on the door. Heraldine answered it and received a note from a messenger who stood there expectantly.
"Really? Mother..." Heraldine growled in frustration. "Mother wants the same thing as usual."
"What?" Ayzebel asked.
"You... don't want to know."
"Actually, I think I do."
"Really, Ayzebel? Fine. She's after that damn woman, Ahira the grim bitch again. Something about her daughter being available. Your brother is due to return tomorrow and she wants to set up something."
Elyssa burst into a fit of laughter, garnering surprise looks from everyone but Ayzebel. "No offence, but I'm nearly one hundred percent certain that Ahiradah's daughter isn't going to go for your son. Highly unlikely even. Hah!" She shook her head.
The messenger seemed taken aback and decided to give Elyssa a tongue lashing for her impudence. "What would you know? She's taking suitors! And my grandmother has an eye for these things. You're clearly some nobody my silly empty headed cousin brought home to show off-"
Elyssa grabbed the woman by the snout and pulled her forward. "You're dumb. Very dumb. I clearly have reason for saying what I do, and your assumptions are so... incomprehensibly stupid. You should first ask yourself 'why is the unknown person in the room reacting in such a way?' Consider different possibilities." Elyssa let the woman go and just shook her head.
She grabbed her nose and rubbed it as if it hurt. "You can't say that! I know what I'm doing, I'm a very successful-"
"-Glorified messenger girl. Who doesn't know when to shut up." Elyssa growled. Then, for a moment, she smiled. "But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe. Perhaps she'll just straight up and accept this random male as a plausible candidate for marriage despite having turned all the others down. You know what I think? I think she's just kinda playing the field, testing the waters, finding out who takes her seriously. I'm sure she'll be pleased about your grandmother's interest though."
"How could you possibly kn-"
"So you know what? I'll make you a bet. I bet you that she'll dismiss him almost instantly."
Ayzebel caught her mother and father giving each other confused, worried, looks, and she realized that they actually didn't know precisely whose daughter Elyssa was, despite her name and having been told Elyssa was quite powerful.
The woman thought about it for a moment. "Alright. I think that might just be something I'll take you up on."
Ayzebel gave Elyssa a concerned glance. Elyssa responded by sighing. "You're still not thinking." She said to the woman, sounding disappointed. "Alright Ayzey, I won't defraud your family. Even the stupid ones." She glanced at Dravin and Heraldine. "I don't know how you're related to these people. But... you can tell your... mother... not to bother. I'm not interested in Ayzebel's brother." She smiled at Ayzebel.
"But... wait... what?" The messenger glanced rapidly between Ayzebel, her parents, and Elyssa.
"Ayzey, we should probably get going?" As they were leaving, Ayzebel noticed her father looking very pensive indeed and her mother's jaw seemed to be hanging open. Sirine, the messenger, was slightly in shock.
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 19:13:32 GMT
Once they got a little ways away, Ayzebel began to articulate her thoughts to Elyssa. "Well, that was kinda funny."
Elyssa seemed a bit nervous, much to Ayzebel's surprise. "Well, a bit, but... did I blow it? I mean, I manhandled your... cousin? I wasn't going to hurt her, but..."
"Erm, yes, Sirine, well, I don't like her that much and she has that effect on a lot of people. Maybe why grandmother likes having her deliver messages. But probably best to not do that all the time."
"Yeah, I'm normally quite good with people, but she just said something that got me angry. I'm not even entirely sure what. Something just irritated me. I'm not sure. It wasn't her calling me a nobody, that was just funny in an ironic way. I hope it turns out alright."
"It'll be fine. I sense more family drama coming on. I'll fill you in when I hear it, if you want."
"Oh definitely. Heh, what do you think the odds are that they'll send your brother out anyway?"
"High, the poor fellow. Grandmother doesn't give up easily. Be gentle with him, he isn't a bad person."
"Oh, I won't bite." She chuckled. "But don't worry, he doesn't have a chance. Ahem, so what did your father talk to you about, exactly?"
"Oh, ah... hahah. Yeah. Talked to me about. Well, I said 'you' before. What do you think he wanted to talk about, I mean..." Ayzebel realized how nervous she was sounding, so she tried, and failed, to pull herself together. "Well, okay so as I said, what wouldyouthink if your daughter showed up, more or less unannounced with another woman?"
"Huh. Interesting."
"I mean, he was fine with the line of thought his assumptions went in... but I told him my primary motivation was to make you feel a bit better."
"Indeed? Well. You certainly succeeded, my dear Ayzey. I'm feeling much better now. You know... I will say this much. The company was much better than any date with one of those suitors they keep throwing at me."
"Well, considering you toss them aside almost immediately, I'm pleased with that!"
Elyssa laughed and slung her arm around Ayzebel's shoulders. "You're not disposabel, Ayzeybel!"
"Thanks, Elyssa." She managed a laugh over the wording. "I'm glad you think so."
"Use your truth power thing if you want, I'll repeat it."
"Nah, I believe you just as is."
"Oooh, I'm flattered."
"Anyway, the parents seem to like you. Mother especially, father was more guarded."
"I don't blame him. In his place, I'd be worried too. Your family isn't small change, Ayzebel, but..."
"Well, after that display I'm not sure. Though when you turn my brother away, grandmother will start in with her nagging about getting me to marry you. If my parents don't make a fuss over that, then they approve more or less. Besides, they definitely like you more than your mother likes me." Ayzebel gave a barely noticeable shiver, immediately regretting that she brought it up.
"Yeah. Probably." Elyssa gave Ayzebel a light squeeze on the shoulders. "Well, given that she doesn't like it when people stand up to her like you did. I won't lie, you've probably made yourself a minor enemy. But you haven't really harmed her or got in her way. She won't try to hurt you."
"Oh, well, that is good to know." Ayzebel didn't sound convinced, and she knew it.
"Look, mother would be daft to try anything against you with me on your side. And I am, really I am. Now, lets get you home for some rest. You'll need it, and it should help you feel better."
"Yes. Yes it should. I just worry too easily. I'll feel better once we deal with whoever was trying to have us killed."
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 19:14:10 GMT
The next day, Ayzebel and Elyssa went out for a bit of a ride to the edge of the city and out into the wilderness proper. Elyssa was dressed for trouble and decidedly grim. Ayzebel, however, was still in the dark.
"You found out where he is?" Ayzebel asked, once they had disembarked from the carriage as far as the driver had agreed to go.
"Yes and no." Elyssa began to walk. "He actually sent something to me. It is possibly a trap."
"So... why are we here then?"
"I've got both Cyprio and Thurfric waiting to pounce. He knows about Cyprio, but he doesn't know everything about him. And he certainly doesn't know about Thurfric. A trap it may be, but sometimes the best way to trap someone is to turn their own trap against them."
"Yes... not to... not to place any doubt on your planning genius, Elyssa, but... why am I here? I want to help... but I don't know what good I'll be."
"He ostensibly wants to negotiate, and has requested your presence. "
"He... requested my presence? That doesn't make me feel any better about this!" Elyssa veered off the road and into the growth besides it. "What?"
"This way. We're looking for a building, like a ranch, that will be located away from the road. And you're right. I don't like it either. This is putting you in danger, and I don't want to do that, so we'll see."
Ayzebel followed Elyssa, walking carefully behind her.
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 19:14:59 GMT
Elyssa stopped Ayzebel. "I heard something."
Ayzebel stopped to listen. "I think there is someone here." She whispered.
"Trap?"
"M-maybe."
"Okay. Wait here."
Ayzebel nodded and hid herself behind a tree. After waiting for a bit, there was a muffled struggle. Then there was nothing for a minute until Elyssa returned, holding a quiver of arrows.
"Trap, indeed." Elyssa nodded. "I knocked the fellow out and tied him up. I suspect we've got about an hour before he alerts someone. Also... check the arrows."
Ayzebel looked at the arrow heads in the quiver. "They seem... slick. Like they've been coated with something."
"Poison, like I said. Gwes venom, I suspect. They're prepared this time. Heh, your practice hunting came in handy."
"Well. You heard it first..."
"Ayzey, you know... this does suggest the whole thing might be a trap. If he is even there at all."
"You might be right. We could ask the fellow you knocked out."
"He probably doesn't know, if I were... what did you call him? Patches? I wouldn't have told him." Elyssa shook her head. "I want you to wait here."
"Elyssa..."
"I'm serious. I couldn't forgive myself if you got hurt, and... I think things are going to get messy. So you're going to wait here for Thurfric and Cyprio."
Ayzebel grit her teeth. She knew she wouldn't be much help anyway. Taking a deep breath, she nodded. "I'll wait."
"Good." Elyssa looked over in the direction she was going to go. "I... ahem, well, I'm off. See you in a bit. If he's serious about negotiations then I'll come and get you, sound fair?"
"Yes."
Elyssa winked and sped off, moving faster through the undergrowth than Ayzebel had expected.
Several minutes later, Thurfric and Cyprio came up from where Elyssa and Ayzebel had come from.
"Ayzebel?" Cyprio asked, sounding a bit confused. "What are you doing here?"
Ayzebel blinked. "Elyssa brought me along, then thought it best I come with you. Apparently Patches, um, I call him Patches, wanted me to be there, apparently to negotiate. But... there are archers about and they've got gwes venom so... more than likely a trap." She gulped. "We've got to go and catch up to her."
Thurfric looked down at Ayzebel for a moment, thinking about something. "Poison. Cowards." He growled. "You Zados, stay behind me, we don't know precisely how far we've got to go, but it I suspect soon. When we get there I'll kill everything and that will be that."
"If it looks like things have gone sideways." Cyprio reminded the Brorg-Dao.
Thurfric gave a curt nod, clearly thinking that things have already gone sideways.
Ayzebel wanted to say something about all the heavy armour Thurfric had on being likely to make enough noise to alert a deaf Junlock to their presence, but thought better of it. Thurfric looked scary, sounded scary, and was scary.
After a bit of loud stomping about, they came to an open space with a kind of ranch. Aside from the usual buildings, there was a large pit with a staked fence around it, but they couldn't make out what was inside. Near the pit, there was a a large two or three story building that seemed to be the focal point of the whole thing, though the third story was smaller than the second story.
"That pit contains gwes." Cyprio said with certainty.
"Cyprio..." Ayzebel squinted through her glasses. "Is that Elyssa and... someone?" She pointed to the top of the second story. Her squinting allowed her to make out an armoured Zadakine, that Ayzebel thought might be Patches, take a swipe at Elyssa with a sword.
Thurfric roared and thundered forwards. Cyprio ran off to get around from a different direction. Ayzebel didn't know what to do. Though she did start to rush forward when Elyssa slammed into the armoured Zadakine, throwing the both of them off the side of the building and into the gwes pit.
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 19:15:35 GMT
By the time Ayzebel got there, it was too late for Patches. The gwes had got him, but for some reason he wasn't stunned by the venom, he was screaming and thrashing wildly as they settled on top of him and began ripping through his armour with their hidden mouths.
Ayzebel barely noticed, though, because Elyssa seemed to have managed to climb about halfway out of the pit but couldn't manage the rest. Somehow Ayzebel had lost Thurfric, so she sprang into action. Wrapping her feet around one of the wooden fence spikes, she leaned down over and into the pit and grabbed Elyssa's arm.
Elyssa was fairly unresponsive, she groaned and that was it. One of the gwes, however, responded immediately, turning right towards Elyssa and Ayzebel.
"Elyssa! Come on!" Ayzebel pulled, dragging Elyssa up and back towards the top. It was slow going, though, because of how awkward the hold was. She managed a better grip, grabbing around Elyssa's armpits and onto her shoulders. The gwes was much closer now, already bringing it's stingers back to strike.
"I'm not letting go!" Ayzebel told herself and Elyssa, if Elyssa was actually conscious, which at that point looked unlikely. Ayzebel was nowhere near as strong as a Brorg-Dao like Thurfric, but she had spent a lot of time practising with a bow, which does build up some considerable arm strength over time. She tapped into this now, pulling with all her might. Elyssa was heaved up over the top of the pit, but Ayzebel was still in within reach of the gwes.
Before it could strike, a cascade of water, lemon scented sea water, splashed right past Ayzebel's head and onto the stingers and eyestalks of the gwes. The gwes' response was frantic. It threw itself backwards and slammed into the big one that was by now finishing off Patches, knocking into it and giving another gwes an opportunity to grab the helpless Zadakine.
Ayzebel took advantage of the opportunity and twisted so she could better pull herself up and out of the pit. Cyprio, the one who had dumped the water from a nearby barrel, helped pull her up.
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