– K Á R A –

"No." I stated flatly, pulling my black hood lower over my eyes.

"You know there are no looser lips found than in those places." Revna reasoned as she half turned back to my planted form.

"I have spent enough for one lifetime around drunk mortals, thank you." I got out between my teeth.

The sky had darkened considerably now and the night was beginning to creep in. This drew a steady line of mortals towards the Inn's tavern. It appeared the place still maintained a reputation despite the scorched west wing. I flexed a hand on the dagger concealed at my hip. Revna did not miss this despite the low light and distance.

"We need more information." She told me taking a step towards the thick wooden door that spilt golden light through the cracks.

"There are plenty of sober ones I wish to interrogate." I retorted casting my eyes for another entrance–any other entrance.

"Very well, I shall go alone–"

"No." I snapped. Her bright grey eyes flashed to mine before a crooked smirk took its place.

"So concerned for my safety... it's endearing." She took her hand off the door and appraised me more fully. "It is not too late for us to–"

"Finish your words and they will be your last." I shot back in lethal quiet that I knew her ears would pick up on. Her eyes flashed in challenge. "Lead. Revna." I murmured, pushing past her and a few stumbling mortals to the door.

It hit me like a slap. The smell, the noise, the flick of hands between dice, the splash of ale, the scrape of a chair–

"Delicious." A familiar voice murmured near me.

"Stay focused." I said as I scanned the crowds. "We find out the cause and if the mortal, Xerxes lives. Then we leave this desperate–"

Revna had already waltzed off to find her first target before my words could finish. I glared as she dropped her hood and caught the eyes of many she passed. I rolled my eyes and kept my hood down as I dodged patrons to secure safety at a wall.

They must frequent this place enough to know its gossips. Whether the owner had been seen. The timing of the damage and the suspects. I was not optimistic.

I watched. Scanned and observed various social encounters. Wenches tipping chests low to earn coin. Patrons slurring words and making grand and moronic gestures. Women running hands in places under tables to gain attention from males. Males pulling women in for dances to the sound of loots. One couple caught my attention and held it.

They made no grand gestures or hideous dance routines. A silent conversation seemed to take place between them across a table, surrounded by friends. Yet they only had eyes for one another. The noise and chaos around them was meaningless.

A pang of something hit me directly in the chest. It was not pleasant. An urge to share the same with Tayah. My immortal. We had such an understanding as these mere mortals had. A silent understanding that those around would never understand. I did not even want them to. As I stared long and hard at the couple I missed the bearded man  slurring something to my face.

It didn't even sound Uccellon.

"Apologies mortal, I do not speak buffoon." I said flatly as I made an effort to avoid further contact.

A booming laugh drew my eyes back to the drunk with a disturbed glance. 

"Ya need a gud seein to love." He grinned over his mug and made to slap my side.

My hand already deflected his wrist before his lips could find his drink again. He flinched in shock before looking back at my unimpressed expression and grinning wider.

Gods. I did not want to expose my immortality so soon but this particular creature... maybe rules could be broken. He leant forward suddenly until I could smell the bar on his breath. My entire body went rigid in barely controlled anger.

Before his meaty lips could seal an early death I moved. I moved in a way no man would soon forget–drunk or otherwise.

I grabbed his manhood in a glove and his grin melted into horror.

"Now that I have your attention, you sack of wine, I want to make myself clear." I said with venom coating every inch of my voice. His eyes began to water and he could do nothing but drop a rapid nod. "You turn your pig's ass of a face in my direction again and the only thing making you a man will cease to exist. Are we in agreement, mortal?" I hissed watching his face grow pale and water leak more from his eyes.

A mere squeak left him in confirmation and I released his balls.

He stumbled back into two others before cradling his groin and making for the exit. I leant back against the wall once more and resumed watching the infatuated couple again... day dreaming that I was seated in that poorly crafted chair staring at Tayah Ashrive across from that table.

The place never really mattered. It was only her.

Revna caught my eyes before to long and flicked a hand gesture in my general direction. I growled under my breath at such a summons but dodged drunks and liquid to get to my immortal interrogator. She had better found information. I had the urge to do more damage tonight than I had before stepping into the tavern.

"The Assassins Guild yet again. Mean much to you?" She murmured casually as she took a sip of ale and almost choked.

This made me crack a smile and she raised an eyebrow in response.

"It took my utter dislike of mortal alcohol to get a smile out of you." She quipped as she winked over the rim.

I sighed. "I have an equal dislike. Your expression however... amusing."

"So pleased I can still pleasure you." She whispered taking another drink. I shot her glare as she began sniggering.

"Do not flirt, Revna. I have no interest–"

"No fault of my own. Alcohol loosens the lips and there is only one other with Athena's beauty... and ass." She noted, leaning back against the wall.

"Do not make me cause another moron pain tonight." I grit out.

She raised her brows again but I interrupted her curious mind. "The assassins tried to poison Tayah. They did not succeed as Odin bestowed her with enough immortal energy to survive. She killed many and their leader. Consider them enemies." I finished tightly.

"That would make sense for them to align with Anselle. The mortal I spoke with confirmed that assassins detonated an explosion in Xerxes' quarters. Mysteriously he was not present. He has not been seen for suns."

This made me frown. How coincidental the mortal knew to evacuate his precious inn from unseen assailants. The man had guards and ears but nothing of scope to infiltrate the assassins inner workings. Who else had such knowledge... such ties to–

My eyes widened.

"What?" Revna frowned at my frozen face.

There are only two mortals that knew of the assassins animosity and Anselle. Only two mortals that have such close ties to Xerxes himself to get him out before his life was endangered.

"Old friends." I whispered with no hint of irony.

"Please make sense, Stormbringer. It was hard enough getting sense from the mort–"

"I have an idea of how this mortal innkeeper disappeared but it involves mortals I have encountered before. Important mortals." I emphasised.

She rolled dark silver eyes at me. "No mortal is import–"

"These ones are." I grit out. "Their safety is imperative to achieving our purpose here." I insisted as I willed any sign of deceit from my face. But her eyes narrowed none the less.

"Odin has not mentioned such. Our purpose is to destroy one regardless of any collateral."

"Lucky for you it is not your duty to protect them. I will worry about that. Which means I need you gathering intelligence from as many mortals as you can tonight while I find leads on the whereabouts of these mortals."

"You haven't even given me names." She accused as she folded her arms.

"Do they matter to you?"

"No but–"

"Find information we can use, Revna. I will track down the mortals with ties to our objective. We reconvene with hopefully enough to either find the assassins or the next closest ally to our immortal murderer." I finished in a puff.

She considered this. Watching me attempt to control my increased breathing and heart rate. Thoughts ran through her eyes and it was not all promising–slightly accusatory but nothing lethal.

"I do not like deviating from our plan."

"We are simply hastening it." I returned with a sure look. In fact I even swiped the mug from her hand and downed the rest. This made her smile.

"You still surprise me, Stormbringer. I hope you are right about these mortals." She murmured with a glint in her eye. I dropped her a nod and she seemed in agreement for now.

"Meet me at the city plaza at daybreak." She said casually as she moved off the wall and pulled her hair to one side of her shoulder. I watched her hips sway and men and women do more than glance. I shook my head in exasperation. I hoped she did nothing foolish this night.

I had a hell of one ahead of me.

* * * * * 

The cool night air was a luxury. As soon as the heat of the tavern was swept away I could steal to the streets with true purpose.

Find those buffoons John and Kaden.

I could simply trawl through every whore house paying for names. Or I could be smarter. Use the other names they are so known for in this damned city... The Three Lions.

I smirked and adjusted Thanatos on my back. Perhaps provoking a Guild would be easier. It was far too easy to track down their last keep when they were foolish enough to take Tayah from the Jester's Drawers–

Gods. That is where I must begin. The blackmarket trade knew them by face.

I turned off my boot sharply and melted into the shadows between lanterns. I moved quickly on my feet. My black cloak morphed my shadow into the walls as I moved with no speed a human could match. It took mere slithers before I was upon the old furniture store.

But what I did not expect... were the boarded windows. The desolation and the sheer feeling of abandonment. This was her work yet again. As I approached the door I noted the valiant effort to prevent a forced entry. With half a thought I snapped the metal lock and broke the board across the middle.

A quick glance around told me the mortals were in their homes or in the taverns.

I pushed it open with an audible creak. My ears pricked and enhanced the lack of sound within. I stepped into the darkness, able to make out the various black shapes of old wares. My nose caught a number of things. The first was the ever thick and pungent reek of dust and old cloth. The second was the recognisable tang of blood. I drew my gloved hand out and let sparks crackle lighting the way.

The floor had not been cleaned in spans and allowed for dust build up. It was clear the blackmarket trader had been shut for some time.

My eyes caught a dark splatter near the front desk. I crouched before it. I stared as a streak ran up the line of the desk all the way to a large black pool–

A rapid thud ripped my attention away. I rolled rapidly away drawing a dagger as a throwing knife embedded itself in the floor. I snarled and my energy burned brighter revealing the thin figure cloaked in black.

"I can smell your fear and hear your terror, mortal."

The breathing of the shape increased in response and it was then that the smell of poison hit my nose. I chuckled darkly.

"You should have brought more with you..."

He moved fast... for a mortal. But I was no such thing. I shifted off my feet and electrified my dagger before cutting it directly through his weapon and causing him to fall from the force. When he tried to jump to his feet I kicked him off them. He crashed to the floor in a puff of dust and dragged in truly terrified breaths.

I pressed my boot down harshly cutting off his breathing.

"I did not expect the assassins to find me first." I noted in boredom.

He choked out a broken response and I loosened my boot to let him make sense.

"–not–assass–in–" He spat out.

This made my head tilt. I dropped into a quick crouch and he flinched.

"What are you?" He panted with stark terror.

"I will ask the questions. You will answer." I returned in a murmur. I let my hand glow brighter and my eyes took on a glow. His own dull brown widened and he tried to crawl away. I grabbed his collar with my other hand.

"Who sent you here to watch over the market?"

"Guildmaster Rieko."

I gave him a look that told him he had better elaborate.

"The thieves guild leader." He clarified with a gulp. "I ain't no assassin, I'm on watch to make sure none get the goods before the Jester's reopenin. Wasn't supposed to be none other than petty criminals–"

"As you can guess, mortal. I am no petty criminal." I growled. "I need you to help me locate two particular men."

"I'm justa guild–"

I stopped his words with a hand.

"The Three Lions." I clarified, watching him still suddenly. "Yes, you know of them. I need their last known whereabouts. I need it now." I stated quietly.

"God on high, I don't know but–" he quickly rushed to make up for his pathetic excuse, "–Rieko will. He got eyes in every corner... for a price." He finished. "I can take you to him"

I appraised the mortal squirming beneath me. Before bending down slowly to close inches before him. The sweat had begun to descend from his forehead.

"If you are lying to me. If you think for a single slither that you will be safer surrounded by your miserable companions I will show you exactly how God on high would respond." I promised him with no room for negotiation on my face.

He nodded his headed rapidly trying to keep sincerity in his features. In honesty I cared not for his motives. It was so stark in the fear in his eyes. He wanted his guild around him because he truly believed I would then be on the back foot. Like I would become some kind of prey.

I stood and flung him off the ground with me. I pushed him harshly forward towards the door. Mortals were all the same. Flocking together in number for security like a herd of mindless herbivores.

We hit the cold air once more. He rushed into a leading jog that I shadowed at a distance. He frequently checked his shoulder as he ran. But his eyes looked for others as the slithers passed. His eyes now searched the rooftops and alleys. 

I merely smiled at the thought of what would come as we descended further into the depths of the Thieves territory.