Linde Xe' Almna's Story

As he approached he observed the table. Lonán felt the need to understand what exactly was going on. Especially since it covered his favorite kind of dice game. A man hired by the establishment rolls two dice and keeps them hidden from view. The players bet on how the dice would add up, even number or odd. If you guessed right, you earned the pot. If more guessed right, the pot would be split. If all guessed wrong however, the dealer earned it.

It was the most simplest game, yet also the most easy to cheat at if you’re good. Lonán saw from a poor farmer’s sniffing, that he wasn’t good. ”Definitely not him. One of the others at best.” He thought, observing two men who seemed to look at Lonán like he was fresh meat. Lonán took a seat next to the farmer, and silently gave a vow to not only play for his luck.

”Evening Gentlemen. Mind if I play a few rounds? I promise to be out of your hair shortly.” Lonán asked cordially, and one of the more well dressed men nodded.

“Right! Get ready!” The dice roller shouted as he put the dice in the cup and rolled it and slammed it down on the table. “Place your bets!” Lonán watched as the well dressed man and his friend bet even, with 3 silver each, and the farmer hesitated. Lonán, gave a small smile as he placed one silver onto odd, as the farmer looked at him before deciding to test the luck of this new addition.

The cup was raised. 3 and 2. Odd. ”Hm. Nice. Give four silver to my new friend here, he seems to be a good luck charm.” Lonán says, trying to fake charm. ”Now, before the next round, I want to Ask, I heard from a little flower that one of you gentlemen can help me. An associate of mine is looking for a friend, woman with red hair, curves, and such.” The well dressed man coughed, as Lonán smirked Mentally.

“If you win the next round sir. I will tell you. Lose, and you get out of my sight.” The man said. Lonán nodded. The Roller started the new round. The well dressed man as if to sweeten the deal, bet twenty silver, this time on odd. The other man sat out, as if waiting for something. Lonán took a deep breath and thought carefully as the roller began to roll the dice in the cup, as He noticed out of the corner of his eye Linde winking at him and blowing a kiss as he seemed to fumble his roll a bit, and slammed down.

Lonán took his gamble and threw two silver on even, the farmer following suit. Tension filled the air once more, but it was the tension of the game, as The Saharan prepared for anything! The Roller lifted up his cup. Four and Four. Even.

The Well Dressed man snapped his fingers as the other man got up to prepare to beat on Lonán. He slowly got up as well, and knew he was in trouble. Before he did anything, he simply said, ”Give 7 to my friend will you? He might want to leave.” the roller, understanding did just that as the farmer began to back away for the door.

Then it began. The Man in front of him was obviously a hired guard, who proceeded his first assault with a swing towards him. Lonán moved out of the way of the first punch but felt the sting of a right hook onto his stomach. The hired hand grabbed Lonán and lifted him by the shoulders.

“You’re pissing on the wrong people Saharan. Go back to the sand dunes.” He insulted as Lonán Glares and simply did the only thing available to him. He gave the biggest snarl he could muster and yelled out ”For Heresta!!!!” kicked the hired thug in the groin, stunning him into releasing him.

The Well dressed man meanwhile tried to make for the door. ”Linde, make sure our friend doesn’t leave!” Lonán called as the Thug tried to recover, only to get a bottle struck on his head, by a still flustered Rose. Nodding once in thanks the Saharan began to join Linde to confront the man.

Linde did her job to distract the man controlling the game, allowing Lonan to win his bet. But as the thug attacked Lonan and the dice roller fled, Linde stuck her leg out to trip him which caused him to fall on his face.

Linde knelt down and pressed a finger into his neck, causing him to twitch a little before going limp on the floor.

"Doing okay over there, Lonan?"

She knelt down next to the man, looking into his eyes.

"I do believe you owe us some money and an explanation. If you don't provide it, I'll have to let my friend get a little... Rough with you." She said in a bizarrely pleasant voice and with an all-too-friendly smile.

Lonán nodded at Linde and noticed the thug trying to get up again, but in a flash Aetri appeared out of nowhere. She quickly subdued him and nodded.

”He was about to go down anyway, he got hit with a bottle. Our other friend is what we want. He’s the one who knows of your friend.”

“Look! I will pay you but I ain’t telling you shit! That girl, as great as she is, doesn’t need snoopy folk! Her Master would surely have my neck slashed for squealing!” The man shouted. Lonán cracked a knuckle and prepared to punch him.

“Look, the girl, Kieran? She’s a great girl, but she’s... I’ll say no more! My neck is on the line here!” The man shouted in refusal. “Her master will kill me! He’s got a House full of em! Some are big money earners! Her especially!”

Lonán sighed. ”My earnings?” He asked and the man gestures to his half, remembering that he gave half to the farmer. Smiling in satisfaction of that he put the money in his coinpurse with a grin. ”My itch, has been scratched. But I hope it stays that way for a long while.” He quietly, sadly says the last sentence, hoping no one heard him. He didn’t want to tell How one man’s gambling ruined his future. A future filled with honor, a potential wife. Mentally shaking his thoughts, he refused to think on the past. They had a girl to find.

”He’s all yours Aetri. Try and get more out of him.”

Linde had been happy to see Aetrius, but the more Aetrius seemed to push violence the more Linde became uneasy. She didn't like hurting people, even if they were despicable and deserved it. The one exception was the slave trader who had scared and potentially hurt the little girl. But this man, as slimy as he was, didn't seem to deserve the treatment Aetrius gave him.

That was, of course... Until she heard the man call Kieran a whore despite Aetrius saying she was her sister.

When she heard that, her countenance changed. And as Linde observed Aetrius dig the knife into his wrist she felt... Nothing. In fact, if anything, she felt satisfied with what she was seeing. Like his just punishment was being fulfilled. Deep down the doctor in her still felt bad, but it wasn't enough to make her feel that this man deserved her help.

As Aetrius walked past her asking her to help the man, Linde glanced to Aetrius and then to him with a soft frown.

"... The wound is not fatal... And officially, I didn't see anything." She said as she spun on her heel to follow Aetrius outside.

Lonán was in shock. Aetrius’s harsh interrogation, the subsequent revelations that make everything seem to be on a deadline. The reason that Aetrius was desperate to find Kieran as soon as possible. His face paled at where Kieran might be. He feared for what might happen.

When even Linde refused to help the man, the man turned to Lonán for mercy. He looked at the departing figures, then gave a gaze that seemed sorrowful, but gleamed with a small hidden fury, waiting to break out and strike the man down. The man began to feel scared for what he might’ve done if he let loose.

”Wrap it up tight and you should be fine. But as far as I’m concerned? Rot. You’ve done my friend a dishonor, to her, and her sister. Rot, for you have become in my eyes slime. If not for the ladies both left and still present!” Lonán shouted Pulling out his crossbow and pointing it straight at the man’s face. He took a deep breath before he glowered. ”Rot. For fate will not be kind next time. Rot in hell, but for now, Go In Peace.” he almost growled the last line as he put the crossbow away.

Lonán silently walked out of the den, looked at Aetrius and Linde. ”See you all back at the Pony.” He said, nodding at them before heading back towards the Pony, slowly starting to feel the stress from it all. His anxiety was high. His hands was shaking. He needed to meditate. He needed to calm down after that stressful hour in that accursed place.

As she walked outside with Aetrius, Linde was very calm. Even as Aetrius began to bare her soul and seemed on the verge of tears, Linde remained calm on the outside. She gazed at Aetrius with compassion and concern, and as Aetrius leaned on the Gambling Den's wall, Linde took several steps towards her until she walked around and stood in front of the bounty hunter.

As she did so, Lonan bid them farewell, going back to the inn.

When he had left, Linde turned to Aetrius and reached out with her hands to gently pull Aetrius into a hug. And when she was safely cradled in Linde's arms, Linde reached up and gently stroked Aetrius' cheek with the backs of her fingers.

"First, you are who you are Aetrius. If I asked you to change or hide yourself from me in any way, what kind of person could I call myself?" She cooed.

Her embrace was gentle, but tightened slightly.

"Second. Your relationship with your sister is your business. And if you are not ready to share anything with me I will not ask that you force yourself to."

Her strokes came to a stop, and her hand cupped Aetrius' cheek, stroking her cheek just below the eye with her thumb.

"Third... I understand your need to get your sister back. Believe me... I know... But until you get her back, you have more than you think."

Linde slowly brought her other hand to Aetrius' other cheek and lifted her face, so they were looking each other in the eyes.

"You have Lonan, Kyero, Okumi... And me." She said softly.

She leaned forward and kissed Aetrius' forehead before gently pulling her face down to rest on her chest. Aetrius' chin was resting on Linde's cleavage, while her forehead was against Linde's throat as Linde turned her head sideways to rest on top of Aetrius' head.

"We aren't your sister, and we aren't family. At least not by blood. But the five of us have become something of a family, albeit a very odd one." She chuckled, once again stroking Aetrius' hair and her cheeks with the backs of her fingers.

After a moment, she helped Aetrius look at her face to face again, holding both of Aetrius' cheeks in her soft, (seemingly) delicate hands.

"If you wish to be alone, Aetrius, I will return with Lonan to the inn and await your return. But I expect to see you again before long, because I refuse to let you go through any of this alone. Do you understand?"

Her tone was authoritative, but gentle. No real force or pushiness behind it at all. Just a sweet, gentle, authoritative tone.

Linde smiled warmly as Aetrius spoke of Kieran and how Linde reminded Aetrius of her. However, her smile shifted to a look of concern as Aetrius began to cry. Aetrius backed away, and leaned against the wall saying that she felt it was wrong... And then... She came forward and kissed Linde.

Linde froze, stiffening from head to toe as her eyes went wide with shock.

The kiss was soft, gentle, and warm. The sensation of Aetrius' lips on her sent an immediate chill down her spine and a warmth streaming through her face as she turned bright pink. Despite this Linde felt her heart rate increase exponentially to where she practically felt it beating out of her throat. She almost worried if it would pop out her mouth and into Aetrius'. That would have ruined the mood for sure.

But as Aetrius pulled free of the kiss and backed away, apologizing for the kiss and saying she felt she was the last person Linde wanted to do that, Linde slowly dropped to her knees... Still in shock. However, a moment later she blinked out of her stupor. She felt her lips with the tips of her fingers, and her blushing face concentrated it mostly in her cheeks as her eyes developed a faraway look. She breathed out her mouth for a second, and glanced up at Aetrius.

...And in this moment, Aetrius had changed in her eyes.

She was... Beautiful. Despite her scars. Despite her stoic attitude. And despite her impression that she was an ugly monster holding insecurities about herself... She was beautiful.

Linde stood up and approached Aetrius, cupping her cheeks with both hands and pulling her towards herself. And, as Aetrius did for her, she planted a soft kiss to the woman's lips. But unlike Aetrius' kiss, this was no short peck. This was a longer, passionate kiss which saw Linde's arms slide from Aetrius' cheeks to her neck in a full embrace. Her chest pressed to Aetrius' chest and upper stomach, and, during the final seconds before Linde pulled free, a soft moan vibrated through her lips into Aetrius'.

Then... It was over.

Linde pulled free, gazing into Aetrius' eyes longingly, and smiled warmly as she leaned forward into a hug, holding Aetrius tightly and not letting go.

... Nothing more needed to be said now.

It took a while for everyone to come back to the Pony. However, It gave Lonán time. Time to put his Anxiety to bed and to pull out some jerky and chew it carefully, the feeling of it’s taste and the satisfaction of it’s texture kept his mind, for the time being, away from the events at the gambling den, and helped him process the facts from the pain felt there.

He needed it for when the girls returned. Hopefully Kyero would be present at the meeting and they would plan out what to do from there. When the girls returned they convened once more to the center room, where Lonán sat down in the corner. He looked at both of them, and heaved a sigh. ”Well that was fucking scary. I half regret choosing to go to that place for info gathering. But, regardless, we learned a few things.”

Heaving a weary sigh, he looked up at them, with a small tired grin. ”So! Let’s go over what we know shall we? We know Kieran is going to be in some sort of auction right?” He asked, hoping to start off a conversation that’ll bounce ideas around to make an appropriate plan to get better prepared for this event Kieran is said to be at.

After returning and sitting down for tea, Aetrius began to ask about what happened between them earlier. Linde's cheeks flushed slightly, and she put her tea in her lap. With one hand, she reached up and cupped Aetrius' cheek, giving it a stroke with her thumb. The smile she gave Aetrius was warm and obviously passionate. There would be no mistaking the look in her eyes.

She used her thumb to gently brush Aetrius' lips, and then brought that same thumb to her mouth and kissed it, giving Aetrius a wink followed by a cute chuckle.

"What happened earlier... I think was meant to be." She said softly.

She put her hand on Aetrius'.

"We can discuss it more tonight before we go to sleep."

It was then that Lonan was invited in, and he sat down and immediately started on asking about sharing all they'd learned today.

"Yes, an auction. Kyero would know more about these auctions than I do. I've only heard of them in passing, and never in deeper discussion before. Perhaps we should-"

The knock password came at the door, and Linde opened it allowing Kyero to enter. His eyes were somber and his face equally so as he walked in and took a seat next to Lonan.

"Kyero? Is everything all right?"

Kyero shook his head.

"Okumi's trail went cold at the Passion's Paradise Trade Master establishment. No signs, and nobody would talk... Nobody."

His hands clenched on his knees.

"Short of killing them all, I tried every technique I know to get something out of them. But nothing... I have to give them all credit for their devotion to what they do."

Linde was incredibly sad to hear this and dipped her head slightly.

"Okumi... Please be safe out there." She whispered.

Kyero looked up.

"I heard you talking about Kieran and an auction as I approached the door. I presume you wish to know what I know about them?"

Linde looked up and gave him a nod.

"Unfortunately, I don't know a whole lot. I only know that they take place at locations designated by the Slave Master of the city the auction takes place in. And as far as I was able to find, the Slave Master's identity in this city remains uniden-"

Kyero's eyes widened slightly, and a bead of sweat dripped from his temple.

"What is it Kyero?"

Kyero's face lost a bit of its color.

"Remember the ex-Te'i Sai member I mentioned?... I believe it's him."

Linde gasped.

"It makes sense. He spoke of his business enduring even if he was gone. And if he's a Slave Master, so long as he's set his business up the right way it will function without him. That, and he was unafraid to lose what became now ex-business partners. A Slave Master has no 'partners,' they have puppets. And puppets are always expendable."

"If it is him, how do you propose we go about finding out about his auction?"

Kyero clenched his fists on his knees.

"... Lonan. How well can you play the part of a slave-owning Noble?" He asked.

Lonán listened to Linde as she explained Kyero might know a bit more. Fate seemed kind as Kyero entered to tell them first, bad news. Okumi, their companion has disappeared, not a sign to be found of her. In the back of his mind he said a prayer to Heresta to aid her survival. Then came the discussion on how to help Kieran by finding the Auction.

Lonán took in the info about the Auction carefully, and how these kinds was run by the slave master of the City. The Identity of the one in Valoc seemed to elude Kyero until his face suddenly turned pale, then explained how the 8 gold bounty, who was an ex member of the Te’i Sai and the slave master might be one and the same. Lonán looked at Kyero. ”You’re absolutely certain it could be him?” he asked, as He explained his reasoning.

In a tactitian’s standpoint, it made sense. If there were multiple heads of a business, cutting off one head would serve no purpose. However, that still left the question of finding out about the Auction, or where it might take place next. Until Kyero posed to him a question that made him raise an eyebrow, putting a hand on his chin as he pondered for a minute or two as he thought about it.

”Working Security at the Carnival deprived me from performing, but I do recall making kids laugh with mimicking certain types of voices..” He thought. He nodded to himself and looked at the others.

”I can fake a noble’s way of speaking, even change my accent if you want me to. The only hole in my disguise is that if an actual Saharan Noble is there and catches sight of my Clan Mark, it’d fall apart quick. I’ll do my best otherwise. What’d you have in mind Kyero?” He asked, agreeing to his part in the process of the now potential plan.

Linde and Kyero listened carefully to Lonan and Aetrius as they exchanged ideas and words of advice and caution. Kyero seemed satisfied with the idea of them playing the part of nobles to get past security. He knew he could help there, as well, though it would take time and could cut things close for the two-week deadline.

Linde, however, was keyed in on Aetrius. When her voice dipped she could see the tension in Aetrius' body. Linde carefully slid her hand under the table to Aetrius' nearest hand to her, and cupped it around her hand softly. She used her thumb to stroke the back of Aetrius' hand, giving her a soft, reassuring smile.

Kyero, meanwhile, had some things to say.

"An auction like this will be held in some sort of underground structure, I'm almost certain. I was directed by someone I interrogated to find Okumi to a literally underground portion of the city here in Valoc. I have few doubts the auction house will be somewhere in there which means there are no rooftops to observe from or high vantage points to acquire. Everything is carved into the mountains, like Dwarvish cities in fantasy tales. This means that their security will also be, as Aetrius said, rather tight... And I have no way of getting past them." He said rather glumly.

He took a breath.

"However, even if I can't get past security, I can still make myself useful in other ways. I can help get you in, and acquire noble clothing for you. I am no longer part of Te'i Sai, but I still have both money and weapon stockpiles littered throughout the continent from my years of operation as their top assassin. My nearest stockpile of gold is approximately four days out, four days back, for a total of an eight day journey. It's going to be cutting things close, and I don't like forcing you to wait until the last few days of this venture to receive something you so desperately need like money. But the stockpile has at least ten thousand gold in it, gathered from bandit dens and sunken wrecks on the coastline from ancient pirate vessels. If I can even gather two or three hundred gold, you should be set to win the auction. Not many nobles, particularly from around here, will part with that much money just for the pleasure of one woman's company, no matter how 'good' her reputation makes her sound."

Linde nodded, still holding Aetrius' hand under the table.

"It's a solid plan, Kyero, but I see an issue with it."

Kyero looked at her.

"You said yourself that not many nobles carry that much money. But if we carry that much to win, it's bound to raise a lot of eyebrows. So I think it might be best for us not to win, but to play the game. Perhaps only retrieve sixty or seventy gold. Enough to compete, but not enough to win. Whoever does win will need to retrieve Kieran and then return home which is where you come in. You said you can't come with us, but you can wait at the entrance to the underground portion of the city. And when he arrives with Kieran, you can relieve him of her company as quietly as possible. If you kill him, you'll raise an alarm and the rest of the slaves still up for auction may well never see the light of day again. Does that make sense?"

Kyero looked down, deep in thought. The gears in his mind were turning at a hundred miles an hour as he contemplated her response. And finally, he looked back at her.

"Mm. Very well. I will gather approximately seventy gold to use at auction for Kieran. And I will wait at the entrance for her and her new 'Master.' Once they arrive, I will knock him out and take Kieran away. But I can't bring her here. Or anywhere inside the city. It will be too dangerous since many around here seem to know her face or reputation. I will take her to the Main Gates at the Southwestern end of the city, and await your arrival there."

Linde nodded with a smile.

She looked to Lonan, and then to Aetrius.

"Does this sound okay to you both? Kyero will spend the next eight or so days gathering noble clothing and gold for your disguises, and in the meantime you two can observe the nobility of this city and practice their bearing, posture, and speaking patterns. I'm sure you know what nobles sound like from some places, but those here in Veilbrand are a special breed of pompous. You'll need to learn to talk just like them if you're going to pull this off. And that will take a few days on its own."

Kyero kept his gaze on Linde.

"What will your part be in all this, Linde?"

Linde looked at Kyero, and then to Aetrius with a somewhat saddened smile.

"I... Will be either Lonan's or Aetrius' personal slave, in attendance to carry their belongings and do any other tasks they demand of me for the sake of our performance. I imagine many of the others will have their own slaves as well, correct?"

Kyero nodded slowly, clearly unhappy with the choice.

"A very, very dangerous gambit Linde. Are you sure you wish to go through with that guise?"

Linde nodded quietly in return, her grip on Aetrius' hand tightening ever so slightly.

Kyero observed Aetrius' response and closed his eyes with a brief, sharp nod. He understood her desire to be the one to save and handle her sister. Still, he did think it a bit foolish. But he wasn't going to say anything. The sooner he departed, the sooner he could come back.

"I will leave immediately for my stockpile and return within eight days time. If I'm not back by then, presume something went wrong and proceed without me. I would advise finding a way to acquire nobility clothing and money on your own as a failsafe. But I don't foresee any issues on my end."

He opened his eyes, looking at Aetrius as he stood up and started to approach the door.

"Whatever business it is you have, keep each other safe. You're no good to your sister if you're dead from working yourself too hard. Having a plan is but a fraction of the battle. The rest is how you maintain yourself for the final and most crucial moment."

And with that, Kyero departed.

Linde stood up as well, walking over to Aetrius and putting a hand on her shoulder.

"I understand, Aetrius. I will play the role of your slave for this mission. When you have time, I'll need you to teach me how to play the part and how to dress. But... That can wait. Whatever you're going to do out there, be safe. Okay?" She asked quietly.

Lonán listened to the plan as it formulated and everyone’s roles as it progressed. So he had to act more like a Noble of Veilbrand more then Saharan. Probably meant he had to try and find places where some nobles like to visit in the city, whether a nicer tavern or otherwise. He nodded at the means of acquiring at least some gold to use for the auction as well.

All Lonán had to do was make sure he himself was prepared for his part. Aetrius however felt concerned for Linde’s role and wanted to not let her, or anyone get more involved if they had to. She wanted to be the one to retrieve Kieran. He couldn’t truly understand why she had to bear the burden. He knew he couldn’t. He didn’t have any siblings. It was just him, his parents and grandparents on his father’s side.

Heaving a sigh, he stood up as Kyero made his exit. ”I need to meditate and think of a backup plan for my role. I’ll have to figure out a way to listen in on the local nobles to learn some more Posh words, in case I have none in my repertoire I can use from Saharan.” He said with a nod. ”If anyone needs me during the eight days of preparation I’ll be in my room in the morning and evening, as I will be out in between for the listening and studying part. Other then that, ”

He flashed them a small grin and a two fingered salute at the girls as he left their room to the comforts of his room, where he’d light his incense and finally shake off the stresses of the day.