Redmane's Story

Symir nodded to Redmane and began to regret what he was about to do. It was a waste of precious resources and also a good trick or two would be relived as the thief had another way out of this yet. "Well now we both know I suppose." Symir muttered to Redmane and grimaced slightly as he produced a strange scroll that was hidden in one of his quivers. It was wrapped in a blue ribbon and upon a quick cut it began to unfurl itself revealing a strange language covered in runes that glowed as the strange light grew ever closer. "I think this might work but..." Symir was cut off as his eyes suddenly rose to the looming figure before the two and a bit of panic began to fill his heart. "Well shit."

Symir began grip onto the scroll tightly as he held his bow defensively as if shielding Redmane and himself from the creature before them. All the while it spoke Symir glanced down at the scroll and then began to think about the diamond he was carrying now.

The Maia smiled, the slackjawed assassin stared at the looming being. Clearly confused. "Yes" Spiritu said softly, almost kindly now. "I have seen you in this house on many occassions Symir. I wondered each time I saw you enter if you were to leave with my soulstone. Which, you still possess. Though, now quite empty. Amazing that it once housed a Maia like myself." It felt good to be freed of the stone. Very good.

For a long moment Redmane just stared, finally her mouth worked in tandem with her brain and she asked, more like stuttered "You, you're... thanking... us.... for..... letting you out ?" Well this was a weird, yet somewhat nice turn of events, this Maia was not out to kill them, but thanking them and asking they not steal anything. "What about the ore ?"

"It is useless to me now. You can keep it. One time it housed my soul, now thanks to you both it has been freed from that prison." The Maia replied. She turned to Symir, "I am in fact thankful that you did not kill the Lord of the Manor here. otherwise I'd be out for your blood. Thankfully you merely knocked him out. He will be fine now." Then she said out of the blue even though the pair were scared out of their minds at her arrival. "Would you mind staying for dinner ? I have a task to do, I should not be too long, but when he wakens could you inform him of what occured ?" She felt something, the slightest tug on the edge of her senses. Something was wrong.

As she spoke she seemed to shrink slightly now to be more level with the pair of mortals before her. Less imposing, yet still unearthly.

"I would imagine that I have been seen plenty of times in this home before." Symir offered as he looked upon the strange creature before him with a strange sense of awe and inspiration. It was almost out of place that this event would be happening, here of all places, and that none were the wiser besides Redmane and himself. "If the old man can not recall that I knocked him out I will stay a bit longer, and no later, I have to keep my end of the bargain for a friend."

"Good, do not worry, he wont recognise you as the one that knocked him out. His mind is not that good." With that the Maia smiled, with a nod she said, "Good, stay at least for another hour. You will know when it is time to leave." With that she disappeared and the lights in the room returned to normal.

As soon as the Maia was gone, Redmane let out the breath she was holding. She turned gfast on Symir and struck him hard across the face. A blow hard enough to send a grown man flying to the ground in a heap. She pointed at him, "That was for standing me up at the Operah tonight!" She hissed.

Then she seemed to calm. She turned and took a few paces then spoke, her back to Symir. "I was sent after you. A good trail you lead me on. I miss those days in the Gardens back home. A game of hunter. I miss it. But doing it in a city, a port city such as this. Makes it more fun still. But this..." She sighed and turned to face him. She pointed at the tear in his clothing, she saw the scales clearly. "What did your kind do to them ? Why does a Dwarf, want your head ? A fine turn of events. A bounty for your head, not alive but dead. If yoiu can conjure a fake head of your own cranium on your shoulders. Maybe I can fool my employer, but tell me this. Unless you want me to strike you again."

As she spoke she stepped right up to him. "What did your father do to the dwarflord Jorn Gareif to warrant a deathmark on your head ? It might help you more then you think if you tell me, because I seemed to have been told only so much. Only to kill you, no questions asked. I took the job. But there is one thing I wont do. And that is if you can prove to me that you are innocent, you're safe with me."

She smiled then, "Do we have an accord ?" She asked, "If you take my deal, and tell me what you can, I wont kill you, and I will help you. Something about the dwarflord makes me wonder if taking the job was the right thing. But if I am to kill a dwarf, I will need to know everything I can of what happened between your family and his." She then held out a hand towards him, either to shake or slug him again.

The Maia was one thing. It was an unexpected risk that had been hinted at weeks ago when Symir had first scouted out the manor in hopes of an easy theft. Hell he had even thought that the other stories that were told to him were just superstitious nonsense and folklore created to keep those at bay from even laying a single hand on it, it had happened before, but what he was not prepared for was when Redmane had hit him across the face, sending his bow to the ground, and spoke of what was supposed to be considered a rather wonderful evening and of old times. Times that when they did occur were nothing of what was described and even more so was the evidence more fit when she spoke of a particular dwarf who had wanted his head.

"I might not be the best son or my fathers favorite but tell me something first." Symir began to rub the side of his jaw and looked up at the woman who he had thought he once knew only to realize the lies he had fed himself when he saw her first enter the port. "When is your blade going to be at my throat, assassin? Pretending to be a long lost love is one thing but it is pretty low to be doing it under the advice of that bastard dwarf." Symir smacked her hand away and stood himself upright as he began to move his jaw about and feel around with his tongue to see if she had knocked any of his teeth loose. "Inikhethadaternock had once razed Jorn' entire city state he had once controlled for all of its riches. From the finest works of arts to even the little things like taking prisoners for his own entertainment nothing was safe from the Lord of Wer'Guawysvern and to top it off I was the one who had infiltrated the stronghold that belonged to the dwarf." Symir stared at Redmane for a bit just to then turn his attention back to the still unconscious lord only to frown a bit. "You pretend to be someone who fell from that tower I broke into and you have gotten far. Do not think I will forgive you so easily assassin."

For a long moment she said nothing, regarding him carefully as he spoke, telling her of what occured. Finally she nodded. She had learned enough. "It wont be." She said, "Besides. He never told me about your long lost love. Elena did, she mistook me for her. Apparently Eagles Wings is a very helpful skill." A smirk wound its way onto her face. "Jorn merely wants your head, wants to show your father he means business. He never gave me any details, only to kill you. But now, after what you have told me. No. I wont do it. You are not the one I sought. Your father is the one I seek for he did the deed, he razed the lands of the Dwarflord. Not you. All you did was say of where the weak spot was. If that. No, you are innocent. My blades are not to harm the innocent. Yourself."

"Do you plan on killing me then ? Or do you want my help in getting to the truth of things." There was something rather, shady going on with the dwarflord. Most creatures dealt in hard curency, the dwarves though, they dealt in other stuff, information, secrecy. Magics as well. "I spared your life from my sword due to your word alone. I've been in his fortress with ease. The windows are always open. Perfect for an Eagle to fit through. I take it you want to get back at the Dwarf for a past deed. Given how you speak of him. Him choosing yourself to slay to show your father that he means business, he must be slumming it if you are not your fathers favored."

She crossed her arms. "It seems to me, that if your father is the one that took the lands from the drwarflord. It is the dwarflords own fault for letting you sneak in. I saw him personally, he is..... quite old. But, he uses magic of some form. Compared to the Sky journey, He is out of practise I think." She said.

Symir held his hand out to his bow and smirked as it flew to his grasp. "Well then assassin it seems we are at an interesting stand off. Jorn was the reason for my lost though I would not be able to touch him even if I tried and you are very mistaken about his fortress if you spoke of windows." Symir took a single step back and turn himself away from the woman just to then ponder something a bit as he slung his bow over his shoulder and into the strap that was designed for it. "Jorn is a Transmuter, a type of wizard who can affect the physical world around him and sometimes even things not so physical. It is in this very same way he had built up his wealth and was the reason why my father invaded his lands to take what he felt was rightfully his. Before I speak anymore I suggest you do your homework."

She snickered then "He was unable to affect me. Good for an illusionist. For battle though. not so much. the Sky Journey is more fun, and also harder then one thinks." She said.

"He has windows to his room. At the top of a tower. Overlooking a valley of miners. It was the only way I was able to get to him the first time. When he gave me this job however it was in a pub." Redmane said.

"I must admit however." She continued, "You are not exactly what I expected. However... those scales. I assume those are a result of something.... that you were to do ?" She said, nodding towards the scales. She did not know, nor did she exepct to see or meet a dragon.

"That must be Mistpeak summit then, or one of many more mining operations, he holds offices in small towns so that he may view the results of what they bring up personally." Symir sighed a bit as he turned to look at Redmane. "His true home is deep in a mountain that not only is secluded but houses a rather strange airship, one made of stone, and it is massive." Symir was about to say more but found himself very flabbergasted at the mention of his scales. He had almost forgotten about his torn shirt and for a moment he was willing to walk among the people of the city without a single care in the world. "My father is a sand dragon. He mated with my mother and I was born a crossbreed, a half dragon, I am a freak of nature and these scales are my mark of shame."

"Compared to yourself I am more of a disgrace since taking the first Sky Journey." Redmane replied. Seconds later there was a cry of an eagle and she had disappeared from sight and sound before reappearing up on the railing of the second level of the library. "Before this I was a normal Jellicle Assassini" She said softly, almost as if lost in memory.

She smiled and with a soft chuckle said "I do not let it hold me back, if others look down on me, then so be it. I am a killer, trained all my life for it, since I was old enough to hold a sword or any kind of weapon, I trained with it. And look at me now!" She dropped lightly from the railing to the floor in front of Symir. "A killer tried and true, unique. Different, yet, deadly. And beautiful."

"There is nothing wrong with showing your shame, you know of it, but the more that one hides it, the more the shame feels when it is revealed. I do not look down on you. I respect you. you are truthful to me. I can sense you are shamed as well due to your bloodlines. But that does not matter to me. What does matter is why you wanted that ore. Best not let Uncle see you holding that when he wakes." She glanced in the old mans direction.

Symir almost looked flabbergasted by the hole set of events that unfolded before him. The woman who had once loved was a sham before his very eyes. This one claimed to be an assassin who worked for a dwarf who was against the Dragon of the Southern Sands and yet she did not outright try to take the life before her. The thief simply looked down at the diamond and pocketed it within his pack only to produce a duplicate of equal quality alone just in a visual sense. "You are a strange one. This I am very much certain of but I do not fully understand why you would turn down your contract with Jorn so easily. He usually is a dwarf of refined tastes when it comes down to killers and thugs, you on the other hand were a poor business opportunity on his part." The Half Dragon simply put the false gem in its new rightful place and produced a rather strange looking ring which he slipped onto his left ring finger. It was with a shimmer of strange arcane energy that his appearance was altered to a much cleaner version of himself. His clothes were changed to much finer finery and the pendent he wore around his neck held the mark of a dragon circling around a ruby.

"I will say this...." Symir found himself cut off as the sound of the old man rustled to wakefulness and it was with quick success that the thief strode over to the man. "Lord Harg, I am so sorry for being late, are you alright?" Symir spoke with care in his voice. His silver tongue helped him immensely as the elderly man slowly got up to his feet and dusted himself off.

"That bastard who cold-cocked me in the face deserves to get his fucking balls chopped off! Did you see that fucker?!" Lord Harg shouted with dismay only to then glance over at his diamond and then at both Symir and Redmane. "Did you two save my gem?" His question was followed by a fit of coughing in which Symir quickly comforted the man and lead him out from his study. "Yes we were able to run the ruffian off and further more I have every intention of calling on my friends who are part of the city watch. In the meantime shall we prepare for the feast and then the party you have been working so hard to hold?"

"Actually, you were never my target, The dwarf is. Taking the job for him lets me learn mor about him and his doings." She said nothing of the changing out the gem. When he changed Redmane said simply "You look nice."

She went and took hold of the old Lords left arm and helped him to his feet. "I was unable to see his face, he used ice magic of some form" She said, rather true as she felt oddly cold within the room at times, that strange spirit creature, ice, deadly ice. She nodded at his question. "Yes, your stone is safe within, the doors were locked but somehow he was able to flee. The window is still intact as well, quite strange."

The mention of food got her attention rather quickly, that and also someone else's scent filled her nose, someone she recognised. She is here ? Impossible, last I saw her she was but a kitling! To stay focused she said simply to the Lord Harg, "Uncle, come, lets get the meal prepared for your guests, worry not of the stone, it is safe." She cast a glance towards Symir, yeah, it was safe.

All around the group, a complex matrix formed of arcane magics and a being suddenly teleported into the room "Symir...where on earth have you been?" the figure asked as the smoke cleared out of the room. Before the group stood a Tiefling of crimson skin, important looking robes with a beautiful staff in her right hand. The woman looked rather irate that she had to come to this place, where ever here was and just gave the boy a glare that signified he was in trouble "Your father is worried sick about you, you have not returned home when you were supposed to and now I see you running around with this woman? What in the planes has gotten into you Symir? You are to return home...now" She said, standing there and swayed her crimson tail, waiting for his response.

Symir was no fool and new that the assassin would not betray him to the lord but what was more surprising was right as the three reached the door to head down into the dinning room a all to familiar presence was felt followed by the nagging of a rather old woman in the guise of a young maiden.

"Deevdru di vi riika.." the words slipped from Symir's lips like an inaudible whisper as his head turned to look at his guardian and the adviser to his father. He simply brushed a nervous hand through his dark hair only to chuckle slightly at the agitation he detected in her voice only to then look between the lord of the manor he was helping in escorting back downstairs to the assassin who pretended to be a woman who was once dashed from the high towers of his homeland. "Pardon my manners, though I expected something grander, you see this is Qenna L'Tone. She is an adviser to the true blooded Dragon of the Southern Sands. I know it would be rather rude of me to interpose such a request but I was wondering if my humble lord would be willing to house one more guest to his feast in honor of your fine and very exquisite looking diamond just yonder." Symir's words played in the old mans mind like that of a young warrior getting his first kill and a smile came across the old wrinkles that was his face.

"Lady Qenna would be a wonderful guest I am sure! In fact I would be very pleased if you would accept the invitation and stay awhile for a drink and a warm meal. I assure you the hospitality of my home would not be wasted on you."

Redmane let off a low growl of some form, it made little sense, she kept a firm yet gentle hand on Lord Harg's arm. The fact that Symir knew this n ew arrival made things just slightly worse. Well, if who the owner of the scent belonged was indeed attending the party, she might have an edge of some form in whatever came. As long as her eyes trusted her heart.

She traded looks with Symir, it said everything "Well, fine, but one wrong move, and I'm taking her adam sapple with my claws!" Though he could easily understand fingers over claws. Ther e was no telling what this woman could do. She did not trust the newcomer. Magic, it both scared her and confused her. Heck a friend of her was a powerful wizard, and her scent was all over the place.

Qenna huffed a little while looking at Symir and the old man then to the woman who gave her charge a rather dirty look. Qenna's face seemed to get more irritated as she tapped the bottom of her staff on the ground twice "I am afraid that will not do young Prince. I do not intend to be enjoying a meal, I am here for the boy and that is all. His father demands his presence back home" She said while looking at the girl once again, her temper flaring as she looked at the look she gave the boy

'Pardon me for interrupting Mistress but it would seem the boy has buisness with that woman there' The staff hummed in her hand though only she could hear it. Qenna looked to it and gave it a curt nod 'What should be done about it then? Should we rely this to father?' She asked and then turned gently around 'Perhaps it would be wise if you did' Came the reply and she sighed 'Very well, send a message to father. Tell him I have located Symir but he is reluctant to go and I have been offered to go to a party for this lord. Should I remain here or bring Symir home?' She said and then turned around back to face the two. The staff hummed and glowed as a gust of wind hit them and sent the message along it's merry way. She would then sigh "Let me reconsider...perhaps I was not thinking clearly about the offer. Just a moment or two please" She said

The message was recieved quickly and a reply was even quicker than usual. The Lord of the Southern Sands seemed angry as he was awoken from his slumber for such a trivial matter.

"[b]Qenna L'Tone, you dare, tell me you are not as ignorant as to say no to such an activity. You are to be my eyes and ears for when I am not present. Would you rather me have Aurora?!"[/b]

The draconic voice seemed to rumble inside her head and she would suddenly feel the dragons eyes siting upon her and the scene she was present at. Inikhethadaternock simply growled slightly and scratched at his scaly hide only to make note of his growing hunger. "I am not sure what pains me more. Knowing that the brightest of my bastards is making second guesses or that they have yet to think like a true dragon. Give my blessing to this supposed lord, if he could be called such, and enjoy the meal. Maybe a descent meal will set your mind straight. during the festivities question my son and make sure he knows full well the crimes he has committed are of the highest offense. He will be reprimanded of course but not sentenced to death like so many before him due to leaving his post." The sandy dragon would suddenly grow silent as he remained in his home and ave a toothy grin as his servants brought in several mammoth sized platters of foods from all corners of the multiverse for their lord to devour. "I am sure you will not bother me again unless it is important. My blessings be with you and those of Tiamat."

Symir glanced at the assassin Redmane only to nod before speaking up. "My lady I assure you everything will do just fine."

Redmane did not like where this was going, in thoughtful look she turned towards Symir, "I'm so going to kill her first wrong move she makes." Her look said. No questions asked, she was totally hacked off at that moment. So much so that she had duty to worry about as well. And also a fake friendship she had to keep up.

Her true target was Jorn, giving her this task only made that slightly easier. Until this tailed creature showed up. Geezuz. Why did missions have to go horridly wrong every singlt stinkin' time ?

Qenna just smiled as she placed her hands behind her back along with her staff which was now coiled within her tail "My apologies I was a little fast with my words. I would be honored to join you for dinner my lord. I thank you greatly for your hospitality. I am weary from my travels and could do with a good meal" She said with a humble bow and low incline of her head "I also wish to give my Lord's blessings upon you in thanks for such an offer" She said while casting an eye on Symir warily and then the woman.

She seemed...animalistic in her glances, something she would have to rectify but at a later date. Right now, her priority was her brother and charge. After all, she had a job to do

The lord of the manner simply smiled and made his way down the hall waving the three to follow after him as he asked one of his serving girls to add another plate to the feast for their most honored guest. Symir walked with his bow in hand but simply placed it within its sheath only to then give a quick glance to his fathers adviser. "You know I am sure there are plenty of things that you would be willing to ask. Maybe you could even be humble enough to hear my side of the story and allow me to go free once this little party is over?" The young nobles question fell on Qella L'tones ears while he turned to Redmane and smirked slightly. He knew full well that the events to come had to look genuine in order for things to go off without a hitch so he stopped one of the servants and made a small gesture to his bow and the quivers he carried on his person. "Please set these things in my room. I will retrieve them later."