Walking the street brought back no pang of regret, no feelings of things left unfinished as she believed might happen. Just a run down town full of run down people, now visited by a forgotten face.
Admittedly she enjoyed the way the lamp lights reflected off the puddles of rain water as she tramped through them in her worn leather boots. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips as remembered nights seeped in, like the water finding cracks in her soles.
"Best to be done with business and move through quickly, bloody place will have me remembering too much," she muttered to herself, a sharp, distinctive accent coloured the words with hints of her native country. Finding the store she had been looking for, "Random Things," she stopped.
The sign that swung lazily above the door was carved from wood and had a well worn look to it. If one were to look closely you might notice that the wood was of an unusual variety, not one seen in these parts, nor many others she would warrant. Random had a weakness for leaving hints in plain sight to his origin, believing himself invincible or maybe just too lucky to have the wrong people come knocking.
One hand went to the pouch at her side, fingers deftly opening the complicated knotwork to reach the contents within. The key was heavy and made of some odd metal, like everything she had ever gotten or stolen from Random. It slid smoothly into the lock, she paused just long enough to scan the street and the immediate entrance of the store then turned the key and entered.
The door slid shut behind her, she took the time to lock it as she allowed her eyes to adjust to the darkness.
"You're getting sloppy Captain," came the wry statement from the darkness just behind her left shoulder.
The blade she had held in her left hand flew, making a solid thudding sound as it buried itself into the wood of the wall. A light bloomed from the center of the room, illuminating the face of the man that spoke. The fabric of his tunic held tight to the wall by the dagger, a thin line of blood graced his cheek.
"I am never sloppy Random, and rarely in the mood to be mocked," the smile on her lips never reached her eyes. Those eyes of blue invaded by silver stars were rarely filled with warmth any more as far as Random could determine.
"I would never mock you, lovely Lady. Now shall we get down to the business at hand?" He moved with the grace of a feline, the shadows around him shifting slightly then resolving in a way that the dagger was left alone with nothing to keep it company.
"I think pleasure first, then business."
Random paused a moment, taking in the predatory aspect the woman was now displaying and shrugged. It was always pleasant to be the prey of this woman for an evening, he supposed the business could wait.
New Business in an old Place
The morning brought a spray of light spilling into the poorly repaired shutters; cleansing the room of the shadows that clung to the corners. Random stretched out, uncurling his body slowly to allow his blood to flow and wake himself up. He wasn't surprised when his hand drifted over the empty pillow to his left. Even cool to the touch, he thought, she's been up for a while.
He opened his eyes and saw her standing by his bookshelf. She wore a large cotton shirt, her leather britches and not much else. A ray of light had fallen -- no, he realized -- she had moved to the light to assist her in reading the book she held in her hands. Regardless of the reasoning, the light turned her hair to liquid gold, and gave her an empyreal appearance, like a dream.
"Find something of interest?" Random was pleased that his voice sounded more awake than he felt.
"Indeed. You always did have the most fascinating selection in your home, Random." So saying she slid the book back into its' place on the third shelf, her fingers tracing the binding where the title had been embossed.
"I keep them just in case a certain infamous sailor woman happens to stop by. I try not to look too uncultured in her presence," he was dressing as he spoke. A pair of faded leathers and a rough spun tan shirt, it bore light hints of hunter green that brought out those hints in his hazel eyes.
"Infamous?"
Was that curiosity, disbelief, anger, or amusement he heard in her voice? It was impossible to tell, and no reason to drive himself mad by attempting to sift through it now.
"Indeed. Makes a name for herself in every port, admittedly the names are not always so flattering. Whirlwinds through and leaves only the destruction of her passing in the wake of the silence," he spoke with a light tone, but in some ways this assessment was truer than was safe to observe. "Do you not realize what you do, Baroness?" That last was said with high amusement, the empty titles handed out by this town's sports establishments tickled his funny bone.
It was a sentiment that was partially shared by her, and it caused her to snort a short laugh. "I am that no more. No more than I ever was that. Are we ready for business then?" She turned her body, and the transparency of the shirt was exposed -- along with other things -- in the light. No wonder she wore the leather jerkin above it most times, Random thought. She gave him a moment before clearing her throat impatiently.
"Business, of course, anything for your lovely Captain."
"Men say that too often. Often before I mention what it is I desire," her tone held a definite edge of contempt. That was something Random rarely felt bearing down upon him, and he couldn't say he enjoyed it. "Anything you want they say. What I want is the death of a precious friend, a lover, a parent, a child? Anything should be on the plate when dealing with me, as anyone offering such a thing should know. "
She tromped over to the table, fell onto a chair with a vengeance and swept a hand out to grab up one of her boots. "Should I then retract my request because they look stricken? A puppy kicked by its beloved master? Should I change myself to suit their desire for a woman with delicate sensibilities?"
Ice blue eyes pinned him to his place, silence was his best defense this he knew without doubt. The silver in there ... it made the stare colder somehow, in a manner Random would not have though possible.
"Bloody hell, Random ... do not look at me like my lowest deckhand, I will not have it from you too," she barked it like an order -- and he could never fault that in a woman that needed to give orders the majority of her time.
"Business?" That and no more was spoke from him.
Remaining silent, she tugged on her boot. "Yes, time to see how good your thievery skills truly are, my dearest Random."
He opened his eyes and saw her standing by his bookshelf. She wore a large cotton shirt, her leather britches and not much else. A ray of light had fallen -- no, he realized -- she had moved to the light to assist her in reading the book she held in her hands. Regardless of the reasoning, the light turned her hair to liquid gold, and gave her an empyreal appearance, like a dream.
"Find something of interest?" Random was pleased that his voice sounded more awake than he felt.
"Indeed. You always did have the most fascinating selection in your home, Random." So saying she slid the book back into its' place on the third shelf, her fingers tracing the binding where the title had been embossed.
"I keep them just in case a certain infamous sailor woman happens to stop by. I try not to look too uncultured in her presence," he was dressing as he spoke. A pair of faded leathers and a rough spun tan shirt, it bore light hints of hunter green that brought out those hints in his hazel eyes.
"Infamous?"
Was that curiosity, disbelief, anger, or amusement he heard in her voice? It was impossible to tell, and no reason to drive himself mad by attempting to sift through it now.
"Indeed. Makes a name for herself in every port, admittedly the names are not always so flattering. Whirlwinds through and leaves only the destruction of her passing in the wake of the silence," he spoke with a light tone, but in some ways this assessment was truer than was safe to observe. "Do you not realize what you do, Baroness?" That last was said with high amusement, the empty titles handed out by this town's sports establishments tickled his funny bone.
It was a sentiment that was partially shared by her, and it caused her to snort a short laugh. "I am that no more. No more than I ever was that. Are we ready for business then?" She turned her body, and the transparency of the shirt was exposed -- along with other things -- in the light. No wonder she wore the leather jerkin above it most times, Random thought. She gave him a moment before clearing her throat impatiently.
"Business, of course, anything for your lovely Captain."
"Men say that too often. Often before I mention what it is I desire," her tone held a definite edge of contempt. That was something Random rarely felt bearing down upon him, and he couldn't say he enjoyed it. "Anything you want they say. What I want is the death of a precious friend, a lover, a parent, a child? Anything should be on the plate when dealing with me, as anyone offering such a thing should know. "
She tromped over to the table, fell onto a chair with a vengeance and swept a hand out to grab up one of her boots. "Should I then retract my request because they look stricken? A puppy kicked by its beloved master? Should I change myself to suit their desire for a woman with delicate sensibilities?"
Ice blue eyes pinned him to his place, silence was his best defense this he knew without doubt. The silver in there ... it made the stare colder somehow, in a manner Random would not have though possible.
"Bloody hell, Random ... do not look at me like my lowest deckhand, I will not have it from you too," she barked it like an order -- and he could never fault that in a woman that needed to give orders the majority of her time.
"Business?" That and no more was spoke from him.
Remaining silent, she tugged on her boot. "Yes, time to see how good your thievery skills truly are, my dearest Random."
The business was no less than he had imagined it to be, given the woman that was doing the request.
"The Sapphire will be well guarded, I would think. It has been in the papers for weeks now," he mused aloud.
Fully dressed now, the woman tugged absently at the bracers that covered her forearms. Random was one of the few that had knowledge of the markings she bore beneath that leather. From what he had gathered they were marks that had been with her since she was quite young. The story of how they were imprinted upon her flesh still evaded him, it seemed some secrets were not for sale.
"Are you attempting to bargain price with me?" The corners of her lips tugged up to a small smile, she took a step toward him.
Randoms' hands flew up to a submissive pose as he spoke, "Never, Ellisa we have known each other too long to believe that you would pay one pence more than you first put on the table. Never less either though and it is why I love you so." Warmth filled his tone, it was easy to call up the emotion for the woman. He had known her long enough to know that he had more than just a passing fancy for the woman.... knew her well enough to know that anything more than she had given was a fancy that he should well keep hidden.
"Sooth, I do not quibble with my friends. A man has got to eat, and you should be able to afford a fine table with my fee," her words were spoken absently. Her mind had moved on to whatever she planned to do with the gem once it was in her possession.
"Have you seen Raylin yet?"
Ellisa sighed quietly, an expression of worry flittering across her features. "Yes, he is no better," a pause, "Indeed, I believe he is worse."
The day the old man died would be a hard one on more than just Ellisa. Random suspected that whole villages would burn to bury the sorrow Ellisa would experience and deny.
"Meet me at the museum in three days, I will give you my assessment then." He was dressed and ready to go now. Opening the door he looked at her as she leaned against the window sill. "You will leave something for the cat before you leave, yes?"
Again, that small smile as she answered, "I always leave things for the cat, more often than his master."
That was true enough, Random sometimes suspected that Dagger, the fluffy black and white, was the main reason Ellisa lingered here at times. Well, he would take what he could get, and some day... who knew?
"The Sapphire will be well guarded, I would think. It has been in the papers for weeks now," he mused aloud.
Fully dressed now, the woman tugged absently at the bracers that covered her forearms. Random was one of the few that had knowledge of the markings she bore beneath that leather. From what he had gathered they were marks that had been with her since she was quite young. The story of how they were imprinted upon her flesh still evaded him, it seemed some secrets were not for sale.
"Are you attempting to bargain price with me?" The corners of her lips tugged up to a small smile, she took a step toward him.
Randoms' hands flew up to a submissive pose as he spoke, "Never, Ellisa we have known each other too long to believe that you would pay one pence more than you first put on the table. Never less either though and it is why I love you so." Warmth filled his tone, it was easy to call up the emotion for the woman. He had known her long enough to know that he had more than just a passing fancy for the woman.... knew her well enough to know that anything more than she had given was a fancy that he should well keep hidden.
"Sooth, I do not quibble with my friends. A man has got to eat, and you should be able to afford a fine table with my fee," her words were spoken absently. Her mind had moved on to whatever she planned to do with the gem once it was in her possession.
"Have you seen Raylin yet?"
Ellisa sighed quietly, an expression of worry flittering across her features. "Yes, he is no better," a pause, "Indeed, I believe he is worse."
The day the old man died would be a hard one on more than just Ellisa. Random suspected that whole villages would burn to bury the sorrow Ellisa would experience and deny.
"Meet me at the museum in three days, I will give you my assessment then." He was dressed and ready to go now. Opening the door he looked at her as she leaned against the window sill. "You will leave something for the cat before you leave, yes?"
Again, that small smile as she answered, "I always leave things for the cat, more often than his master."
That was true enough, Random sometimes suspected that Dagger, the fluffy black and white, was the main reason Ellisa lingered here at times. Well, he would take what he could get, and some day... who knew?
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests