A Thief in the Night

[BlackAndBlueEyes]

Closed to Turbo.

It seems that even while I'm on vacation, I cannot help but to conduct business.

I sat in the crowded Underwood tavern, nursing a local ale. Work at the mills had ended for the day, and the place was crawling with burly-types that smelled of freshly-cut wood and sawdust. The boisterous laughter and jolly conversation were reaching volumes that could be considered downright rude to someone such as myself who wanted to sit in the corner undisturbed. But, that much noise would be good cover for the kind of transactions I was always keen on making.

My guest tonight was a half-breed. Her face had the rounded edges of her human blood, but the curved tips of elven ears poked out slightly from behind thick blond locks of hair. Her choice of clothes was rather bold and unique--deep blue camouflage patters on her sleeveless top and skirt, with an array of colorful bandanas wrapped around various parts of her body. She was tall and toned, well-suited for the work I had for her today. The girl looked to be in her twenties, but with elven blood appearances were always deceiving.

Ariel was her name. The Lioness was the handle my contact used when I inquired about potential mercenaries to hire for this job.

But why not use any of the number of Crimson Hands I had at my disposal? Well, for starters, most of them are busy at the moment. Also, as the Master Hand of that little organization, it's only proper that I see what other kind of talent is working in the field. I suppose you could think of it as a potential test for a future member. We would have to see how well she accomplished the tasks I would set before her.

I smiled at the Halfling as I slid a sealed envelope thick with information and instructions across the rough oak table. "I'm happy you could make it here on such short notice," I said to the mercenary loud enough for her and only her to hear. "My contact speaks very highly of you and your abilities."

Motioning towards the envelope, I continued. "Inside that thing you'll find written down as much information about your targets. Now, by targets, I don't mean you'll be killing people for me--no, instead, I need you to..." Oh gods, what's the word I want to use here... "Acquire a few tomes for me. But, of course, if anyone is unfortunate enough to get in your way..." My voice trailed off, and I shrugged my shoulders. These books were absolutely worth spilling blood over, but I wanted to avoid any unnecessary death if at all possible.

A quick glance around the tavern confirmed that none of the locals really ever knew that the two of us were here. Even with no attention turned towards us, I leaned forward over the table. My voice was just a smidge quieter as I continued to detail the mission to Ariel. "These tomes took me forever to track down. I requested a meeting with the scholar who currently has them in his possession, but he refused to take any amount of gold I was willing to throw at him. He said that the books were unique and priceless. But, all they will do on his shelves is just collect dust."

I set an arm on the table and rolled back the sleeve of my coat just enough to reveal a thin length of a briar-knit arm. "You see, I've had some unfortunate things happen to me in my life, and I feel that the information contained on their yellowed pages could hold the key to reversing some of my bad luck."

That was an outright lie, of course. The books that I was hiring this halfling to steal were full of alchemical, artificing, and magical secrets. They contained certain notes and spells and concoctions that would help further my long-term goals. But, she didn't need to know that.

I rolled up my sleeve and put my arms back under the table, hidden from prying eyes. I quietly kicked myself for coming out in public without my secret identity scarf. "You'll find that these books are being closely guarded by a high elf scholar and his colleagues. He's a little on the paranoid side, so he usually has a few bodyguards with him at all times. They might pose a little problem, but that shouldn't be too much for you to handle on your own, right?"

Leaning in closer, I narrowed my steely blue gaze at the woman. "Short of burning down Tylmerande, I do not care what you do as long as you come back here with all of those books intact. I can pay you half up front, half upon completion. Can I count on you to see this little task through?"

[eXgTurbostar]

'Another day, another job.' that was the thought that crossed the blonde's mind as she sat in a Underwood tavern. All around her people were celebrating the end of a hard workday. She would sense the inviting smell of ale all around her as the 'honest' hardworking class celebrated with drinking songs about women and more booze. She felt a small sense a jealousy towards their way of life but, if it were a normal day, she would reprime those feeling and join the party in an attempt to drink away her past and sorrow. But today wasn't a normal day, she was there for different reasons. While the rest went to the tavern once their work ended, her own 'work' was just starting.

She takes a quick glance and lets out a disappointed sigh then directs her attention towards the main reason of her presence in that particular tavern. Across the table at which the blonde was sitting was a woman, human by appearance even if Ariel could sense that something made her different from the average human. She brushed off that though right away after taking a 'sip' of her mug of ale, almost halving the thing's weight, Ariel kept looking at the woman. 'She's definitely is hiding something.' was the thought that crossed her mind as she observed her black outer outfit. Unlike her own the woman's were... old fashioned? hiding everything most people (men) find 'interesting' at least, leaving only her face free for criticism. Ariel didn't find her ugly and of course NOT more attractive than her..just a average-looking woman. With a faint smile Ariel gave thanks for her mother's features that she inherited, before listening to her proposition as she spoke it with a condescending smile/tone, from Ariel's point of view.

She returned the same kind of smile as she envelope back towards the woman, addressing her in her normal tone that contained a bit of arrogance and a tinge of pride. "Before we discuss business, it's common sense to introduce ourselves one to another. you seem to know about me but allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Kayla Ariel D'Sole1" she said, putting accent when mentioning her elvish last name. She would then pet her white furred companion that was happily purring while sleeping under the table. She would await for her 'contractor' to introduce herself before continuing. The arrogance in her voice toned down but she still kept the prideful spirit. " Sounds like a normal day at work then. The package content isn't important, more so if it's a book. you see" she shows a faint sarcastic smile and a chuckle before continuing "My line of work doesn't give me much time to read anyway."

As the woman revealed a scar of some sort, Ariel would remain there unimpressed and spoke, closing into the woman and whispering as well: "Please try not to be offended but I have no desire of hearing your life story...save it for somebody that actually cares. We are here to talk about business. Please don't make me think that coming here was a waste of MY time." she said before backing off and getting into a more comfortable position in her chair, while picking up her mug and offering a toast to the the, by now, drunk bunch from the nearby tables then finishing it off in one go.



1Because ' D'Sole ' is totally a elvish family name.

[BlackAndBlueEyes]

Wow. How incredibly rude. Wasting her time?! Does she even know who I am?

A smile crept across my face as I let out a noise that was a cross between a laugh and a gasp. A gloved hand emerged from underneath the table, and I tapped the thick envelope a few times as I tried to process this miserable little wretch's impertinence.

"You must be new to this," I finally said, my voice dripping with venom. "So, let me explain how it works. As a mercenary, people such as myself are your lifeblood. You live and die by the money we spend acquiring your services. So, logic would dictate that even someone with your obvious level of inexperience would treat potential clients with some fucking respect."

As my annoyance grew, so did the thin wisps of plague breath deep in my lungs. "Your sharp words and haughty attitude will do you no favors and make you no friends, Ariel. And in this business? Those are everything. Trust me, I learned those lessons the hard way myself."

My eyes drifted over the half-breed's shoulder towards a darkened corner of the tavern. Lurking in the shadows stood a figure dressed in tight-fitting Fallieni robes, her face hidden by a mythril funeral mask. Dimly glowing eyes asked me a silent question. Had I been a few years younger, when my fury was less tempered and anger impulsive, I would not have hesitated to give the command that she was expecting. Instead, I simply shook my head "no" and returned my attention towards the mercenary before me.

A briar-knit finger slowly pushed the refused envelope back towards the girl. "As for this little thing, it would be very wise of you to take it and read it. Inside, I have detailed information as to what exactly you would be looking for--the exact titles of the books I need, the location of the high elf's archives, maps drawn from memory to assist you in your job... It's still several days travel from here to Tylmerande, so I do not believe you when you say you don't have the time to read."

I leaned back in my chair and sighed. "I'm going to be honest with you. The only reason that I haven't walked away and left you to learn a very painful lesson in manners courtesy of a few friends I have here is because my contact had some very kind words about you. I am aware of your level of skill, and feel that you would still be good for this little mission I have; despite how green your arrogance tells me you are."

The fog of purple death that had been brewing deep inside me had abated. "Most people in my line of work would have wasted you by now for wasting their time. But I'm not like them. So, I'm going to ask you again--same conditions, half up front and half upon completion of the mission. Do we have an accord?"

[eXgTurbostar]

"Yes we do." responded Ariel after the girl's speech. She'd been gritting her teeth the whole time after she saw that she was being treated like a complete amateur and the worst part was that the blonde tended to give credit to her statements. Nethertheless seeing her contractor make eye contact with somebody beside her didn't help either. All this time the blonde's been increasing the force put in her grip around the ale mug and after she muttered those last words, the mug finally gave up to the pressure and broke into small pieces all over the table. Ariel let out a snort accompanied by an arrogant smile while looking at the pieces of clay that were left in her hand "Cheap stuff."

Luckily, the mug was already empty so the envelope remained unharmed as the proud mercenary picked it up and addressed the black haired woman after a sigh: "If there isn't anything else you need to tell me, I'll take my leave now." she muttered while taking a quick glance at the one her nameless contractor's 'friends' that was somewhere in the back. Then with a fake smile the blonde makes a sarcastic bow before saying: "And if your friends want to 'chat'... I'm more than happy to oblige, once I finish this job. You see, being a lapdog that awaits its master's order is not really my style."

With those final words she softly kicked one of the table legs, waking the sleeping lion near it. "C'mon girl we have a job to do." she said not wanting to waste any more time there and started walking towards the exit. "Lets get those books and get done with it, I can't wait to get that woman's money and drink it all in one night." she said while opening the sealed envelope already imagining the party she'd throw upon her arrival. It was as the woman said, full of all kind of intel, the blonde allowed a faint smile to escape her lips while changing her gaze towards her familiar. "At least we won't go in there blind, now let's see where our destination is....Tylmerande was it?" Kimba, let out an enthusiastic roar as she walked by Ariel's righ side.

[eXgTurbostar]

The road towards the southern part of Corone wasn't as long as Ariel expected. She saddled up early in the morning, trying to ignore the massive hangover from last night, and ride through the southern exit of Underwood. She'd rented a young horse that could keep a steady pace for a long time and make her way through the woods in with no major difficulty. After all, these forests were the places where she'd often go hunting with her companion. And in those occasions Kimba would exactly as she did in the present time, she runs in front of Ariel's horse signaling with a subdued roar any kind of obstacles on the road in front of them.

At night time they've made camp, halfway in the woods, near one of Firewiner River's banks. So far the road was pretty uneventful, except for some small foxes and a boar that were unfortunate enough to cross their path, now the boar was being cooked at a open fire, releasing a sweet fragrance of roasted meat in the air. After cutting herself a big piece of meat, Ariel examined the maps once again while greedily eating her dinner. She could hear a subdued roar from her right side and show a faint smile towards her companion: "Don't worry... I didn't forget about you. There you go!" she said while cutting one of the boar's legs and giving it to her friend, who was standing besides her peering the roasted pork and wiggling her tale while licking her mouth. "But honestly now... I don't know why would you need to eat. I mean.. you're my familiar, a magical being right? Isn't just the fact of me being alive and well, enough to keep you here in our world?" she asked knowing very well that this was more of a habit of her familiar than a need to eat. She was in fact as old as Ariel, being summoned by her mother for the blonde, since the day she was born into this world. The two have been inseparable since then for now....68 long years.

Out of the blue the greedy lion stopped munching on its meal and looked at the blonde, in the same time Ariel closed her eyes as her ears twitched. She let out a smile and spoke to her companion in her mother's tongue, a ancient and almost lost form of elvish: "It's okay... I hear it too. Just keep an eye around us." she said before the two continued their meal, as if nothing has happened. After dinner came the time for resting as tomorrow, the two will have a long journey ahead...traveling all day to reach the Serenti castle in the most southern part of Tylmerande.

[eXgTurbostar]

'Fools'... thought the blonde as she was looking at the nearby corpses that were laying around her, the two of them were decapitated and the heads were staring outside, towards fireplace with expression they wore in the moment they got separated from their respective bodies. They had a surprised look on their faces, as in the final moment they saw something a blue and yellow flash, maybe something inhuman. The remaining one was a bit farther from her, with her companion standing near the river bank..trying to wash the blood off her white fur..especially the area around her mouth. But I'm getting ahead of myself right now... let's take a few steps back and to the moment it all began. Even if the whole scene needed only several seconds to manifest itself.

Their first mistake was that they were cocky, they wanted to have the satisfaction of seeing the life fade from their victims. So two of them were stupid enough to slowly sneak towards the target's sleeping tent, in which there should've been a sleeping blonde and her childhood companion. So, as the two drew closer, they were becoming excited by the thought of their next kill and in what cruel way would they end her life. They didn't even notice the slender figure in the shadows, it was Ariel who was hiding in a corner near the tent's entrance. As the first thief stormed in, she restrained the urge to stab him in the back of his neck with her short sword, she awaited for the second one to come into the tent and as the two started stabbing and slashing her sleeping sack that contained only a couple of pillows, with a grin the blonde unsheathed her blades..a one handed straight sword and a short sword.

As her Ice Coating was released.. a faint blue glow provided minor lighting near the entrance, only the later bandit noticed it and turned around to search for its source. His eyes wide open as well as his mouth, he was about to shout when the blonde's blacken blade to formed a horizontal arc... beginning from the right side of his neck, slicing through the carotid artery and releasing a spray of black blood that instantly froze midair. Then continuing through spine and severing the vocal cords in the same time until finishing off with the slicing of the remaining right artery. It took only a split of a second to perform this clean strike, putting all her physical strength into that first strike, so that she would be sure it would behead her opponent. Unfortunately the other thief turned around and after a quick gasp at the sight before him, he gritted his teeth then released a warcry and started to perform a downward slash over the blonde that didn't get to recover.

Any other person would try to parry or evade the incoming attempt that looked like it would surely hit... but the blonde didn't show such intentions. Instead she showed a broad grin while looking her opponent dead in the eyes and shouting with a clear and determined voice that didn't show any sign of fear or faltering, instead an iron will and pride could be sensed from it: 'Ice Aegis!'. The robber appeared to be confused by that sudden, odd mix of words but didn't waver in his attack. In the moment she worded the final step needed for the activation of the spell she inherited from her mother, a shield crystallized in a blink of an eye, above the blonde's head moments before the incoming strike would hit her...blocking it completely and sending a massive recoil back to the bandit's grip on the weapon. Making him almost let go of it in response to the sudden shock from the clash of ice and iron.

But that wasn't enough to discourage the hardened ex-military and now thief, he bit his lower lip in frustration and tighten the grip around his weapon this time dealing a diagonal slash over the ice shield. He would kill this blonde bitch and avenge his brother thief who helped him survive until now, even if he'd lose his life in the process. His perseverance was rewarded as the ice shield started cracking and eventually shattered after his second hit. Seeing that happen, he revealed a proud smug as if he'd already won and was taken completely by surprise when he saw a blue flash to his right. By the time he saw it it was too late, he'd already lost his life and didn't even know it..in his final moments there was a slow motion moment where the world around him spinned and he would see a tall figure...a headless one. Poor bastard didn't even got the chance to see that it was the remaining of his body that eventually has fallen to the ground. In his confidence, he forgotten that in the time he had to recover from the initial blow that got deflected... his target, the blonde mercenary had the same time to make her move.

Outside, Kimba's battle was already over. She'd sneak out of the tent and circled the thieves until two of them left the group. The lion didn't think when she made her move. Letting instincts guide her moves, she'd simply walk behind the third one and with a animalic roar she'd jump on the thieves back and bite his neck from the right side while sinking her claws in his arm and back. the man tried to get her off and roll on the ground but like a gazelle he'd die under the pressure from the lion's fangs.

And that was all..silence once again settled in the forest near the river bank, as a mugging attempt had gone wrong...at least for the criminal party. After disposing of the bodies as she knew best and cleaning the tent interior and themselves, Ariel and Kimba went to sleep as if nothing happened only concentrating on finishing the job they were tasked with. Tomorrow they might kill again if needed but for today, the two had to rest.

[eXgTurbostar]

The rest of the journey was fairly eventless. It took the two companions, half a day to arrive to the castle gates of the town of Serenti...their final destination for this job. More specifically the library inside the castle of a certain high elf noble, Ariel memorized the family name but didn't care much for it. From the notes she received, it seemed like it was the largest one there with a golden cupola on top. By the time they located targeted place it was about a hour and a half before sundown.

"We can sneak in tonight, let us now scout the area a bit while we still have a couple of hour of light" she said to the companion in her right. people around started giving her weird looks because of the 'foreign' language she was using...or to simply the fact that the blonde was speaking with a animal. But the mercenary didn't even want to acknowledge the presence of such individuals. She continued to walk pridefully between the busy streets, slowly making herself invisible in the eyes of any that might've had their eyes on her since she entered the town.

"I think that was the last of them" a whisper could be heard coming from a entrance. A response that took form as a low growl then came from a behind her.

It was already night, as guards hastingly started to light the torches around the open area of the Outer Ward. The two have successfully infiltrated the targeted castle grounds and were now awaiting by a small exit from a chapel. She took out a castle map she had received from her employer, and had a quick glance on it to make sure where she was. It was a rough sketch but it still provided valuable intel as to where the library was, now she just needed to sneak past the guards to retrieve the goods and find a way to sneak out by morning. But of course that the books she'd search wouldn't simply be in a interior library, no they had to be hidden underground under the church located in the center of the castle grounds, between the Inner and Outer Wards. So far she had sneaked through the main entrance by paying a local wine supplier that she meet at the city tavern. He was more than willing to help the blonde once she started saying numbers, she knew his kind very well. hell she was one of his kind herself. Then she and her companion were smuggled in as wine barrels, the guards didn't suspect a thing from the man that was regularly supplying the Inner Chapel with this 'godly' beverage. Oh course the man was well prepared and had reserved a couple of barrels solely for them, free of charge for them of course...but on the blonde's expense.

After making sure the way was clear the pair got out from their hiding places and went by the exterior walls of a nearby guard tower. Luckily for them the men on watch, or better said who were supposed to be on watch, had gone to join their brothers in arms for a drink in the Guard Room at the entrance.As the two made their way along the walls, they started walking under some huge windows that,according to the map, were apart of a great Hall. She allowed herself to take a peek at interior of that place and once again saw the decadence these 'high' elves were basking in. It seemed that there was a small party there, about 20 people without the almost triple number of servants running around and filling their cups and tables with only the most exquisite plates. This was a part of why the halfling hated these arrogant bastard, she could feel the urge to crash in the party and slice some throats since she didn't get a chance to use her weapons till now. But the blonde simply took a deep breath and calmed herself.

'This is not why I'm here today' she said to herself while directing her attention towards the route she must take from now on, trying her best to ignore the party on the other side of the window.

((Check spoiler for a image on where the two are and castle overall layout


http://i.imgur.com/ZQijCKk.jpg

[eXgTurbostar]

That wasn't a easy task, to continue their way, as the two came across an open balcony in front of them. Now they had to pass right through the flower bushes in front of it. At another time that might prove to be a easy task but now the whole Hall was lighten up by the music rhythms and different types of magically acquired lights. From what the blonde could tell the majority of the ball attendants were high elves, judging from the pale skin and characteristic pointy ears. But a more obvious marker of their high elvish inheritage, to the blonde at least, was their body language. She didn't know the exact word for it but all their movements appeared to be slower, and made in a elegant manner. It reminded her of the gentle moves the 'courtesans' at the tavern used to attract their 'clients'.

But again luck seemed to be on the halfling's side, as the balcony seemed to be void of any signs of life at the moment. She still waited for a while, to make sure that the terrasse wasn't surveillance for half an hour under a blooming tree. It had some strange shaped flowers that the blonde had never seen before, it sparked her interest for some reason. later she would find out from her mother that that tree type was deeply connected to her elvish inheritage...but that's a story for another time and place.

With one quick look inside the Hall she left her cover place, motioning Kimba to stay put for now. She silently made way under the balcony and passed by it barely moving any of the leaves or plants around her, as a deadly whisper. 'This isn't exactly how father taught me to use these skills but I'm sure he'll be proud to see how much I've improved.' with this thought in mind she allowed herself a smirk followed by a arrogant snort. As she passed under the last large window she was facing a tall tower that seemed to be a continuation of the Hall.

"Lion Tower? that seems a pretty inviting place for the Lioness, I wonder if somebody's home?" she asked herself in a soft tone, unable to withhold a small chuckle afterwards. Once inside, she would find the guard tower empty as well..."Guess that wine served its purpose" she said motioning for her familiar to follow. But for some reason Kimba refused to come after Ariel, choosing to hide outside "Hmpf, keep watch then. Do as you please." replied the blonde in a bored tone, before finally entering the inner church grounds.

http://i.imgur.com/pze01YT.jpg

[eXgTurbostar]

"I shouldn't have drank that much last night." said the blonde while waking up, not remembering what was she dreaming about. her head got assaulted by a dreadful pounding and a intense pain sensation rushed through her head, originating from the backside. A usual hangover after a night of drinking at the tavern but this time, alcohol wasn't the cause of her dizziness. A few seconds after waking up, the blonde found that she wasn't in her bed at her place in the woods instead she found herself bound to a chair without the use of rope or other kind of material bindings. She tried to force herself out, her efforts resulted in failure as a voice addressed the blonde in an obvious tone of superiority:

"You can stop struggling, little thief. The binding spell that these two are casting on you would keep you there until we get some more...." the voice became a bit twisted and his tone gained a sadistic tone as well as he continued. Ariel couldn't see clear yet who was speaking to her but that person showed a vile smile that he tried to half-hide it behind his right hand as he began to slowly chuckle afterwards. "...permanent shackles for our new toy."

The halfling shook her head a couple of times as her vision was beginning to clear from the blur, she could now see a medium sized figure standing in front of her. The man was accompanied by two others, they in contrast to him had a larger frame and the guard uniform she saw earlier. While the two's clothes were plain in color, the man that addressed her was wearing one of the most flashy outfits she had seem until now. Silver and golden material all over, he was no doubt some high class noble but the blonde's eyes were fixated at another detail: "Fucking High elf!" she muttered while gazing at his pointy ears that stood out, even behind his ebony hair.

The noble's right eye twitched at her words as his smile changed into a frown. He raised his right hand ready to slap her for the insolence of addressing him that way and more importantly, interrupting him. In the end he refrained from finishing the act, gently rubbing his hand as if he was stretching it. "You shut your mouth hafling, don't you think I know who you are? Lioness? or should I better say...miss D'Sole?" he regained the superior attitude, words filled with hate and venom as he continued. "Your whore mother is the reason you're still alive right now. Even if we don't recognize you as a high elf, you still have noble blood running through those cursed veins of yours. Our law dictates it: 'One shall not spill noble blood without consulting first with ...'." and he stopped abruptly, letting out another chuckle: "But why am I telling you all this..." he turned towards the corridor and screamed "Where are those damn chains? You just sit put darling, I'll make sure to properly educate you when I get back. I'll make you my personal 'courtesan', we're going to have so much fun!" he said as he took one more lecherous look over the blonde's forms and leaves.

'Great...' thought the blonde while measuring the two guards that remained by her side. They usually would be no problem for her, but the binding spell they casted renderer most of her body immobilized. "What a great master you two have, tell me... Do you offer him any 'other' kind of services as well? by the way he is speaking I'm pretty sure he swings both ways." she asked after a few minutes, out of boredom but also looking for a chance to break their concentration. She'd knew that this was no ordinary type of binding. Most of them last mere minutes but this one lasted for half an hour already and it didn't show signs of weakening. She'd learned from her mother during her 'magic lessons' that mid-long term spells usually require lots of concentration to maintain.

They didn't buy in the taunt so the blonde hung her head while letting out a sigh. After seconds she would feel that she was starting to regain control over her body while she heard shouts and screaming in the background. It only lasted for a second then silence reigned over the place. When the blonde raised her gaze she could see the two guards on the floor in a pool of blood and a familiar white furred lion near them. The blonde showed a smile as she finally managed to get up, regaining almost full control over her body once again. "I was planing in only distracting them to break free..but killing them also works. Thanks girl!" She quickly gets her stuff from a nearby table and unsheathes her swords. "I guess stealth is out of the question now. Let's go grab those books!"

http://i.imgur.com/lJ6LYQh.jpg

[eXgTurbostar]

Carefully following the surprisingly accurate map, Ariel and her companion managed to find they way to the vault room, underneath the church. They exited the northern side of the castle via a terrace into the Inner ward, there they meet a couple of guards that the blonde immediately eliminated using the shadows and winds as cover. The first one appeared to be some new recruit....poor bastard went down quickly, after a wide slash across his neck from behind. The leather armor didn't serve him very well as the blonde knew exactly where to cut, whoever designed these armors was looking for style over protection, as the neck had been left exposed for some foolish aesthetic reason. The second one didn't even flinch at the death of his companion, as he heard a thump and a suppressed scream by his side. He managed to even parry a couple of the blonde's strikes after evading her first surprise attack. Acknowledging his slightly better fighting skills the blonde showed a mischievous smile towards her opponent. Until now he had left the shortsword sheathed behind her waist but seeing an opportunity to use it, mid-fight, while the guard was recovering from a parry, Ariel quickly unsheathes it and slashes his right leg at the calf, in one swift movement.

"Damm you halfbreed. How dare you use such petty tricks against a high elf?" he shouted in surprise while kneeling on his left leg, trying to come up with an improvised, half-assed, defensive stance. He had a furious expression on his face, eyeing Ariel in an attempt to read her next move. The blonde started walking towards him as she let out a arrogant smile, throwing the secondary weapon in the air in a short spins. "Yes, I am a mongrell. And you who have probably lived more than I do should have known that..." The guard's eyes unconsciously adverted towards the spinning blade for a split of a second. That was all that Ariel needed as she drove her blade halfway through the man's exposed neck. "..in a fight for your life, there are no cheap shots." She retracted the blue glowing blade and made a side slash to clean the blood off the blade. "There is only seizing the opportunities your adversary presents you with."

Now the blonde halfling was in front of the Underground Vault's entrance. She had expected some sort of complicated magical lock or ANY kind of lock...or at least a door. But she found only a hole in the wall near the altar, that had some stairs leading into darkness. It was kind of disappointing for the her but in the same time she was relieved that she didn't need to do any extra work but to find the books and leave. Again lady fate seemed to smile at the blonde, as she had no difficulty in finding all the books in the list. After descending into the black void with only her weapon's glow as an immediate source of light, she found herself inside a very large and very organized library. The torches all around her instantly lit up as she finished her descend and after checking a note in the envelope she received from her employer, she quickly found the book she was searching for...arranged alphabetically in order. Her companion remained up to keep watch and as the blonde returned to the surface with the 'loot', the two now needed to find a way out.

That proved to be a more difficult task than she hoped for as in near minutes after the two exited the Church grounds, they found themselves in front of a dozen armed guards that were lead by the same golden wearing high elf that had captured her the first time. The blonde gritted her teeth as she readied herself for battle, her companion standing by her side as always was growling at the group.

http://i.imgur.com/qEB5yr1.jpg

[eXgTurbostar]

The nobleman slowly made his way in front of the group, with two guards at his sides. They wore a slightly different type or armor, which had a crimson emblem in the left side of the chest. The blonde didn't know what that meant but her guts(instincts) told her that those two were on a totally different level from the rest. Most likely mercs like her or even ex-military... whatever they were, Kimba sensed it as well as she started growling more threatening when the two made their way in front flanking the noble. The man measured the blonde with a satisfied smile and then addressed her in a delighted manner, comparing her with a cornered mouse in his mind: "So this is what you wanted? old books? I'm truly disappointed, I thought you would go for my..." his words were cut short by Ariel's unexpected and arrogant snort, followed by a few words said in obvious hate towards the nobleman as she pointed her blade main at him, unsheathing the other from her back waist.
"Oh, shut up already, just send your guys to me and get it over with. I don't want to die out of boredom you know." she lashed out to the man, catching him off guard with her words, as he began stuttering:

"Why you....little....I'll teach you how adress me, I'll show you, something about obedience. Get her!" he shouted at the end but didn't move an inch as the men behind him started running towards the blonde and her companion. In the same time Ariel dashed towards the closest pair and after a couple of feints, she dispatched them with a well placed slash to their sides. After sliding between them the blonde made a leap over the next incoming group and managed to kill another pair of guards. Landing behind most of them. She'd finish her leap by stabbing one of them in the foot with the main weapon and as he screamed at the sight and pain, she performed an upward slash with her short sword. Due to the enhanced sharpness of the blade it managed to slash through the armor entirely leaving a deep cut from his abdomen to his neck. The screaming stopped as the body fell backwards, revealing the corpse's entrails. It was a gruesome sight, as most of the remaining group just stood there, frozen in fear as the sight of a the bloodied blonde. She then turns towards them with a twisted smile, it wasn't a natural smile..at least not entirely. She knew that ordinarily she didn't stand a chance against 12 opponents but she had help, apart from her companion that already had viciously killed 2 of them as they simply stood there, distracted by the blonde. This was her 'talent', the thing that made Ariel be known as 'Lioness' all around, this was that every time she would fight someone, she would instill fear into the hearts of her opponent/s and kill him/them in the most vicious and bloody ways she could.

The same thing happened right now as the remaining 3 guards shook in fear at the sight of the blonde and started screaming as they ran in the opposite direction, leaving their weapons behind. With a satisfied smile the blonde watched them go, next turning her gaze towards the noble and his guards. He put up a brave face as his knees looked like they were going to give up in any moment but the guards by his sides kept their composure and didn't even flinch at her bloody display. 'As I thought, these guys aren't your regular help. They won't be intimidated that easily. Guess I'll have to...' Her gaze trailed from the direction the 3 ran towards and smiled. 'Or maybe not.' She then rotated her weapons 180º, now holding them backwards like daggers despide their 'bigger than dagger' size.

"Come back you cowards! I'll have your heads for this!!!" barked the nobleman, regaining his courage enough to scream at his fleeting subordinates. His gaze returned to the blonde and was about to start speaking again when he gasped in surprised. As the two guards entered a defensive stance with the noble behind them, the blonde charged towards then. She put her blades in a cross stance as she run, apparently thinking of ramming into the group. The two in front allowed themselves to crack an arrogant smile on their, until now, emotionless expression. They were starting to think that the blonde was underestimating them and thought of them as easy prey like the ones before. As the blonde closed in they raised their two handed swords and began a straight downwards slash, ready to rain terror over the cocky blonde. In the last moment Ariel simply let out a snort and a arrogant smile before shouting two short words: "Ice Aegis!". The next second from the center of her crossed weapons a ice shield materialized, literally out of thin air. Of course it was just the water particles in the air that were affected by Ariel's chant and formed a shield that covered the area of her torso and head. This shield took the hits head on and shattered the next instant but it served its purpose as the guards weapons were drawn back by the recoil. The next instant Ariel shouted once again the same two words, her voice resounding almost throughout the Outer Ward: "Ice Aegis!"

For the second time the same ice shield materialized, apparently for nothing as there weren't any immediate threats approaching its summoner. This time Ariel had a different plan, throughout the charge the blonde didn't break the cross stance she had formed with her weapons and as the guards initially thought, she'd rammed into them with the Ice shield. This one broke as well, but only after it pushed the two guards and the noble to the side, leaving the blonde clear passage until the castle gates. Kimba who was until now spectating this fight started running after her friend, ignoring the 3 laying on the ground. Ariel ignored them as well, from the beginning she had one objective: to get to the castle gates,which were left open by the 3 fleeting guards. She'd already sheathed her main weapon with the short sword ready to take down any 'unforeseen occurrence' until she escapes the castle grounds. She could hear the noble's voice raging behind and the guards cursing but didn't even turn around, the two just keep running until they reached the nearby woods. Safe and sound and with their target 'loot' secured.

After a couple of days Ariel could be seen drinking, in the same tavern in the Underwood, with a pile of books by her side. She'd send word to the contact to inform her employer that she'd successfully finished the 'job' and was awaiting her at the designated spot...big words that just meant 'Come and get your shit but don't forget to bring the money!'. Some random drunkard tried to take a peek at her books and even take one of them. Ariel introduces him with her shortsword as she kept it to his backneck while pushing his face against the table. 'How long will it be until she gets here...' she thought while releasing the guy and reaching for her ale mug. To her disappointment it was empty: "Bartender!!!REFILL! NOW!"

[Philomel]

Name of Judgement: A Thief In The Night (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?29291-A-Thief-in-the-Night)
Judgement Type: Workshop Submission (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?29496-Workshop-A-Thief-In-The-Night&p=249432#post249432)
Participants: BlackAndBlueEyes and eXgTurbostar

Rewards:

BlackAndBlueEyes (http://www.althanas.com/world/member.php?3431-BlackAndBlueEyes) receives:
350 EXP
30 GP

eXgTurbostar (http://www.althanas.com/world/member.php?18182-eXgTurbostar) receives:
860 EXP
120 GP

[Lye]

EXP & GP Added!