Mercenaries

[thegibe]

OOC: A closed thread for myself and Pywakit, involving two mercenaries on our very own world of Edaan.

Raj Farlane was down on his luck.

Despite the fact that his aforementioned luck had never really been that great, the mercenary had to admit it was certainly in one of its deepest troughs yet. At twenty-six, Raj had been a mercenary for nine years of his human life. In days past work had been easy to come by. After all, the strife- and treachery-torn world of Edaan had plenty of need for such men as Raj. Protecting villages from marauding goblins, escorting nobles through wild lands, and taking care of pesky bandits - he'd done his share of hard work.

But suddenly business had dropped for Raj. People seemed to be hiring less, inexplicably. In the past few weeks he'd been forced to take petty and almost outright stupid jobs that payed little, just to scrape together enough to get by.

Two days ago he'd arrived in the mountanous region of Thuana, looking for work. He travelled alone and fearlessly, for bandits strayed away from the weapon-clad, gruff looking man. At about sunset he'd arrived at the Black Rose Inn, where he had his horse stabled for a reasonable fee.

After two days of asking around without luck, Raj had been preparing to leave, when a scroll found its way to his room, with the following terse message inside:

Addressed to Raj Farlane, Mercenary,

It has reached my attention that you are searching for a job, and I myself have been searching for two suitable candidates for a particular task for some time now. I'll leave this message short, in such case as it were to fall into the wrong hands. I will need you to infiltrate a certain manor and retrieve for me a certain something. I have paired you with another mercenary, who has been detailed to meet you in the common-room of this inn tonight in the corner table, furthest from the isle. She also has a message the completes this one, with all the details you will need.

And that was all, no signature, nothing else. A slow smile crawled across Raj's face. His instinct told him this was to be a real job, one that would pay well and provide enough entertainment to satisfy him.

Folding the letter and pocketing it, he made ready to go down and meet his companion.

 

[Pywakit]

Amilyra

Amilyra looked relaxed and comfortable in her corner table, yet those few who knew her (and still lived) would know she was poised for immediate action. She leaned casually against the wall of the booth (so as to limit any approach from behind her), and one delicate, tan hand teased idly at a few stray locks of her long, silky, silver hair (poised to easilly draw one of the many tiny daggers she had hidden on her person). Her other hand rested sofly on her shapely hip, at rest (and yet ready at a moment's notice to pull another dagger from hiding to hurl across the room). Amilyra looked calm and collected, but she was on edge. She didn't like waiting in this tavern... this human tavern. She'd already been approached by three men, all obviously too drunk to recognize her crimson leather armor that marked her has a huntress of the Mantis Clan. Fortunately for those three men, she had no interest in leaving any more of an impression on the locals than she already had... killing them would have made too many impresions. So she sent them away with a few well-chosen words to quietly emasculate them, and then favored them with a slight smile as they slinked back to their tables.

She shifted her weight, and took a sip of the watered-down wine the bartender had given her gratis in return for a wink and a smile. It tasted of swill but she was thirsty. She'd been on the road for the better part of a day, and had only had time to bathe before heading down here to meet her companion, whoever he might turn out to be. The note she'd recieved from her mistress had been cryptic. More cryptic than usuall.

Seek out the Black Rose Inn in Thuana. The bartender shall give you a drink, and direct you to a corner table. You shall meet a human there. Do not underestimate him. He is dangerous, but necessary. You must work with him to retrieve the Jade Wyvern. He will know where to seek the prize. Do well, and the guildmaster may look kindly upon your ranking.

That was it. She didn't like the idea of having to work with a human, but the fact that she was expected to work with one at all spoke volumes of his skill. She just hoped he would be as trustworthy as well.

She looked around the room. Was he already here? Was he watching her even now? A chill drifted over her tan skin, and she drew the black fur cloak around her bare shoulders as she sat up, eager to be on with the night's buisness.

 

[thegibe]

Raj Farlane

Upon entering a room, Raj always managed to attract more attention than the common man. Not that he could blame them. At about four inches over six feet, with a muscled and firm build, his physique would be enough to intimidate most citizens. However, his warlike appearance was enough to intimidate the rest. At his left hip was sheathed a sizable bastard sword, while on his right was a short sword. Also at his waist was a short throwing-axe, an alternative Raj had taken to, due to his dislike of bows. His armor was unique, a sort of hybrid between steel and leather armors, that gave him nearly as much protection as full steel armor, but with slightly less weight and more maneuverability. On his left forearm he wore an unadorned steel buckler.

Raj made his way down the stairs to the common room with an air of confidence and relaxation, his hand resting casually on the handle of his throwing-axe, though any mercenary would recognize him as ready to strike like lightning.

Indeed, the same way he recognized the occupant of the corner booth ready to kill him in any number of ways. A slight smile tugged his lips, as his dark eyes sought to penetrate the darkness of that corner as he made his way to it.

He did not speak as he sat across from her, and his eyes betrayed no emotion as he surveyed her. She was certainly not what he'd been expecting. Elvish kind were rare in this business, and he recognized her crimson armor as being a member of the rare and mysterious Mantis Clan. His guard increased as a few stories of their exploits briefly emerged in his mind. This was obviously no crackpot job.

At length he spoke, and his deep baritone seemed fitting for his appearance. "May I safely assume it is no coincidence we are meeting here tonight?"

 

[Pywakit]

Amilyra

Amilyra allowed herself the barest hint of a smile as the man sat down opposite her. In many ways, he seemed her opposite. Where she might take several strikes to down a foe with her daggers, one powerful swing was all it would take from his sword. Where she prefered to strike at range with her bow, he would be up front, in the thick of it. They were likely opposites in nearly every manner of combat. Which was good. They would shore up each other's weaknesses with their strengths.

She tossed her letter down on the table between them and waited for him to read it. As he finished, she drained the last of her drink and said, "You may safely assume little more, friend, than that our meeting is no meer coincidence. You may call me Mistress Bloodwillow." She smiled softly. "Or just Willow, if you're rushed for time, I suppose." She looked him over, nodding in approval at not just how he had armed himself, but how he carried himself. Humans so often seemed to her little more than bald apes, but this man possessed an unquestionable grace about his stance and motions that set him apart from the thugs who were his kin.

"I see that you're ready for action already. Is there any last matters you need tend to? Or shall we be about this business at once?"

 

[thegibe]

Raj

Raj's cool eyes surveyed the elf as he sat down, taking in every detail. She seemed, in many respects, to possess the clichés of her kind. That is to say, she was stunningly beautiful to his mere human eyes. Her hair was the peculiar silver that no other race could declare, and her form and grace were defined by their perfection.

However, he could also tell she deferred. Most elves were peaceful and quiet entities who abhorred the loss of life, while this "Willow" clearly was a practiced warrior. Not that he'd want her any differently.

After reading her letter and listening to her words, he responded, "And you may simply call me Raj. I agree that we should move as quickly as possible, and if you are ready, we can set out now. I know the details your letter omitted, and will fill you in as soon as we are unlikely to be eavesdropped on."

He smiled slightly, "Do you have a horse, by the way? If not, mine can hold us both."

 

[Pywakit]

Amilyra

Amilyra froze for an instant when he mentioned the horse. She hated the things... they were too big, too loud, too ungainly. She'd never picked up the knack for horseriding, and it felt like giving up too much control over her movements to ride one. And loss of control was something that the Mantis Clan frowned upon. She did her best to hide her trepardition, thoguh.

"Are you sure we need horses to get where we're going, Raj? I mean, they're not the most stealthy of beasts. Do we really want to broadcast our arrival to the target?"

The thought that the Jade Wyvern might not be hidden somewhere local had never occured to her; she'd assumed that the mark would be someone nearby, and that she'd be back in her clan holding by the end of the week. She mentally berated herself for not allowing for the possibility. It was a stupid oversight, and she couldn't afford to make mistakes like that if she wanted to become one of the Crimson Slayers.

 

[thegibe]

Raj Farlane

Raj smiled slightly at her reaction.

"Unfortunately," he replied, "Our destination is sufficiently distant, through sufficiently requiring terrain, that we will - indeed - require a horse. We can leave it a safe distance to prevent detection."

Raj could tell from her reaction that she disliked horses. Detecting weaknesses was a sense that seasoned warriors would always acquire if they expected to be successful. However, this shortcoming was of no matter. It would not affect anything of importance, except perhaps their having to ride the same horse. Raj's mount was an able steed though, and he wasn't worried.

"Do you have supplies, or are you prepared to go now?"

 

[Pywakit]

Amilyra

Amilyra nodded, and quickly slid out of the booth to stand next to the table, retrieving her bow and quivver from the nearby stand as she did. She noticed several of the other patrons glancing her way, their eyes drifting immediately to her chest, her ass, and everywhere in between. Human men... they were so predictable. Fortunately, Amilyra didn't mind their attentions. As long as they used only their eyes... she'd unmanned more than a dozen would-be rapists in her time with her daggers, and wouldn't hesitate to unman a dozen more.

"I've got everything I need," she said to Raj as she slung the quivver over her shoulder, giving her head a practiced toss as she did to keep her shoulder-length hair from tangling in the straps. "And if the mark is as far as you say it is, there's no sense in wasting time. Lead on to your horse, Raj." She let him fall into step before her and followed him quietly out of the tavern to the nearby stable. The smell of the horses within was pungent, and Amilyra waited outside for Raj to emerge with his steed.

 

[thegibe]

Raj Farlane

Raj entered the stable through the side door, the smell of hay and horse drifting about him. Contrary to Willow, the smell did not bother him, as Raj was rather fond of horses, especially his own. He located the stable boy, who in turn led him to his steed. Raj himself led the horse out of the stable, as Firestorm was a rather tempramental beast. A large warhorse, pitch-black except for a ruddy-colored star on its forheard, Firestorm had yet to fail its master.

Spotting Willow, Raj led towards her. Raj had already placed his meager supplies in one saddle bag, leaving the other for his accomplice.

"Firestorm is quite a capable mount, I assure you, and he can carry both of us easily."

 

[Pywakit]

Amilyra

Amilyra looked at Raj's horse with narrowed eyes for a moment, and then, with a shrug, she approached. Raj mounted quickly and with practiced ease, then held his hand out to help her up behind him. She ignored his offer... she'd already shown more weakness before him with her dislike of horse travel. She wasn't about to infer that she needed his help mounting the beast.

The elf coiled up, and then with a gravity-defying display of acrobatics vaulted into the air to land behind Raj. Her legs gripped the side of the saddle tightly as her left arm slipped around Raj's front to grip him in an embrace, her breasts pressed into his back as she did her best to mold her body to fit against his. She could smell his oder now... and it wasn't unpleasant. Feral and wild, perhaps, compared to a male elf, but certainly not unwelcome.

"So let's be off, then," she whispered into his ear.