How to Hire a Hero

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Closed to Nosdyn. Second part to How to Hire a Villain.

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White and pale yellow tinged with pink was the colour of the sky. It was a fine clear day over Beinost, and it was quiet, peaceful and mellow. There was no evidence that the city had gone through a recent famine possibility, nor that it had managed to struggle back to working capacity in less than a week. Panic was decidedly not on the day's plans for many of the residents of the half-populated city, and many of the shops and market stalls that were opening were just coming alive, and with just smiling faces. There were no drunkards loitering around the dead and empty parts of the city, nor had their been any reports of serious crime for some time. Instead there was a gentle happiness, which some attributed to the glory of a small noble household, but many others disbelieved and claimed it was the good work of the neighbourhood that had saved them.

Instead both were right in their own ways, but also wrong. The truth was that a lone kenku was truly to thank, but she was taking no credit. Instead she rode out of the south end of the city into that great cloudless dawn, the only sound being the scraping of her chocobo mount's feet in the dirt.

Stare rode without hesitation. It had been a day since Vitruvion, her (quite literal) god and employer had requested - ordered - her on this mission. Over the past two months he, his business estates and his personal household had all been attacked through various means but by one entity - a mysterious man who claimed to be his half-brother.

They had discovered the extistence of the brother first when Stare herself had been kidnapped by the Bounty Hunters Guild. They had been led by a mage of the usually cheery demon lord Sabazios, but it seemed that some form of influence had changed the demon of gluttony and excess into something of a suspicious wreck. It had not taken long for Stare to make the connections to Vitruvion's supposed half-brother. Since then there had been more violence, including the annihilation of several mercenaries, a rumoured incoming attack on Vitruvion's brewery in Corone, and the attack on the city itself. During that attack Stare had found the perpetrator and had been heart broken to find it was her brother Avin, brought in a horrific way back from the dead with few memories and fiercely loyal to Sabazios and the brother.

So loyal that he had killed her. And then she had found out she was immortal ... But that was another tale. Now she rode southwards in order to try to stop the possibility of a further, terrible assault on the great ships that were vital to Vitruvion's silk and other fabric businesses. So far one had been successfully attacked, and sunk. The other two were in grave danger.

It was dire and terrifying as a prospect. Already the city where they lived had been brought to the edge of chaos, and now even more with the possible collapse of one of the city's most successful business empires. An empire that employed hundreds throughout the city, and was responsible for a large portion of the guards trained there.

Stare hunkered down over her chocobo, her own black feathers merging with that of her darling beast. Together they headed down the wide main road, leaving Beinost as a shadow on the horizon, but taking her worries with them. Sen was the chocobo's name and the trust between mount and rider was a strong one. They would travel for as long as they needed to to find the help they needed, whatever the cost.

For it was up to her now. With the city only just recovering there were little resources to go out to send a call. Instead Stare had in her hand a small violet glass pebble, and she kept it tightly wrapped in her hand as she rode. Through it she was continuously mentally calling for a friend - the only friend she could imagine could help them, a friend who usually lived south.

In the dread lands of the demon world of the Tular Plains.

Nosdyn.

Elsewhere, five months ago--

Time was different for his people, his kind.

The past five months were a sort of homecoming for Nosdyn Krotar. He'd taken the transport back from the recent job with Vitruvion and Stare. Back home...back to the Tular Plains. That was five months since. Nosdyn did not expect a warm Hero's welcome. He expected to be hated and hunted for being the sole survivor of his squad. He'd been part of a secretive mission to test the defensive capacity of the overworld...Althanas proper. He'd been the only one that had come back home.

Men like Nosdyn did not like down-time.

He had no proper clan to come back home to, no followers worth a damn, no mate...nothing. The only thing he had was his report to give back to the tribunal of demons. There he stood giving his debriefing report back to the demons who oversaw such matters. Truth be told...Nosdyn knew, it was all song and dance. If they followed proper policy, Nosdyn would be blamed for the deaths of his comrades. I don't care they weren't strong enough to survive. They should have trained harder. Since Nosdyn had met Stare and Vitruvion, he'd earned a reason to fight. Something and someone to fight for and protect.

He chose to omit Stare and Vitruvion from his reports...they were not important to the tribunal. Nosdyn would keep his secrets until he met his very end. There was a large tribunal body of demons for that particular age of the Tular Plain's history. At least fifty members of the tribunal were all staring at Nosdyn, judging him. Nosdyn half-expected to be branded as as a war-criminal and be put to a horrible death. As he spoke though, remembering the contents of his report word-for-word...Nosdyn did not see hatred in the eyes of the tribunal.

He saw something else entirely.

Something has happened while I have been away. This is not the same tribunal I remember from my youth... Nosdyn thought to himself as he talked. He'd been there for three days speaking to the tribunal about many complex matters and answering every question he could. Without hesitation, Nosdyn knew his very life depended on it. At about the seventh hour of the third day...there was discussion between select members of the tribunal. They motioned for Nosdyn to stop talking. He did so.

The leader of the tribunal, a regent lord underneath the service of Overlord Zieg stood up at that point. He motioned for the demons and their gathered allies to be silent for a moment. All stopped talking at once a the leader prepared to address those gathered. "Son of Commander Krotar." The leader began, and Nosdyn flinched for a moment upon hearing even the slightest mention of his fallen Father. A demon he'd killed with his own hands. "In concordance to the laws of our people, this military tribunal has granted you the rank of demon general." There were excited whispers in the crowd. "You will assume command for all of your Father's former estates and vassals. And wealth, the dignity of your house will be restored to full prosperity."

Nosdyn narrowed his eyes at what he was hearing. Mercy was it...? What's the catch? Nosdyn did not show any unneeded emotion as long as the tribunal spoke. He would wait until given the chance to speak, until he was given the floor to speak again. There has to be some catch...? Nosdyn thought to himself.

The leader of the tribunal continued to speak. "You have served your duty with dignity and pride that is expected of a soldier of your magnitude. The information you have provided will serve to prepare future generations of soldiers to travel to the overworld and begin to infiltrate the enemy." The tribunal leader looked at Nosdyn with a serious expression on his face. "You are expected to remain here in The Tular Plains and support the bulwark and morality having seen what you've seen."

"When will I return to the surface world?" Nosdyn suddenly asked. "There are matters that still need to be finished."

"I understand your concern...Son of Krotar." The tribunal leader said. "You have been through an extremely trying situation. You have earned your rank as General. Go now, to your clan house and recover from your long journey...you are dismissed. The information you have given us is no longer your concern."

***

He did not remember the last time he was that furious.

I have a rank now...but what does that get me? They'd made me as little more than a puppet...I'm a fucking soldier. Nosdyn walked with two other demons at that point and they both saw that he was raging on the inside. "By the Thayne, I belong on THE FIELD!" Nosdyn growled out loud. His companions looked at Nosdyn. "A week it's been and three days of speaking the reports out...answering their questions...this is what happens now?!"

"That's politics, Nosdyn." One of his companions said. "Things are different here than they were before you left...times have changed."

"Nosdyn, you have a land now, title...power." The other companion said in response. "You can live well now and do your duty."

"Fucking politicians." Nosdyn said suddenly. He stared at his companions. "There's something I have to do. I'll plan what needs to be planned, but I decided that this is not the life I want for myself. I belong on the field." Nosdyn knew, that a posh desk job was not the proper place for a demon general. He wanted to fight. He wanted to win...there was always a war somewhere.

His companions hesitated. "What are you planning, Nosdyn?" One of them asked.

"I'm going back home." Nosdyn said without realizing the severity of what he'd just said. In his absence, the demons of the Tular PLains had grown soft...this was not home. Home was with Stare and Vitrruvion, they'd sent him away for nothing. He would have given his life for Vitruvion and Stare...

This town was apparently called 'Radiance' - a description that it was not. Years of labour, drinking and bad weather had turned it sour, so where it once might have been charming it now was rather the opposite. White-washed walls had been replaced by dirt and lichen, and various buildings that were not in use had had their roofs caved in - then never replaced. Chimneys from the roaring trade of blacksmithing poured dark smoke into the skies, whilst a steady line of individuals entered and exited the single large pub that dominated the centre of the town. It was by the market place, that seemed to sell nothing but limp vegetables and fat prostitutes. Nothing was remarkable about this place - Stare felt horrid, disgusted and depressed as soon as she stepped in. Yet, it was the only one on the road for some distance, and the sun was already setting.

With a grunt Stare rode Sen to a farmstead at the edge of town that at least seemed to be decent. At least, it was nicer and fairer than the town itself, and it had a stable. In any case, her dear chocobo would sleep well tonight. With a stern knock on the door she waited until she was faced with the apparent farmer's wife - a rotund woman with a tumour at her neck. Narrow, suspicious eyes stared at her.

"Aye, whit deh yeh wan'?"

The kenku blinked, hand tightening around the reigns of Sen. She gestured with her beak up to him. "Will you stable my chocobo for the night?"

The older women blinked and folded her arms, looking Stare up and down. "Yehn be tha' kenku type eh? They talk abou' un doon in Beinos'."

"Yes, they do. That would be my sister," Stare lied easily, lining her eyes up and glaring darkly at the wife. She did not force her emotions in yet, and thus not harm the woman, but definitely felt the anger rising. Accidents did happen. "I am looking to stable my chocobo. Will you do it?"

"Wha's wrang with the un in toon?"

Stare raised her brow and looked deliberately over at the dingy, ugly town, black against the gorgeous rich blue of the dusk. And that was not because it was a silhouette. Nay, smoke was still billowing from the forges. It took the woman a moment to roll her eyes.

"Alrigh', alrigh', 'ow much?" And she stuck out a fat-fingered hand. Into Stare deposited five large gold pieces, in a pile, to which the woman's eyes grew large. It was possible she had never seen so much money in her life.

"You look after him like he is your own child. And that," she passed over two more, "Is to keep his presence silence, yes?"

With a mouth agape, the woman nodded, the tumour beneath her wobbling. Stare gave a quick nod before passing over Sen's reigns. "If he is in as good condition as he is now, there will be double that coming."

It seemed the woman was pleased. She wasn't looking at Stare anymore, but was now already rapidly pulling the bird. Sen tilted his head and sadly cawed as he was led away by someone who was not his mistress, but after a while his brain learnt. Stare watched him disappear into a barn, where there were small neighs and moos, and she knew then that her instinct had been correct.

Well. That left Sen taken care of. Now herself.

She headed into the town, pulling her grey, woollen travelling cloak around herself more and twitching up the hood. A look of discomfort crossed her face as she readjusted her shoulders and felt the still unfamiliar weight of her wings - her bloody wings - twitch beneath her. They were, for now, folded tight against her back and could be mistaken for some form of growth. She imagined wildly that something such as that would not be uncommon in this town, with the apparent filth that oozed from it. Thus, she prepared to attempt to hold them still, and strode into town with her dark cloak covering her form, trying to look like a short and dark stranger - one who should be most definitely left alone.

Taking the shortest route to the inn, she eyed up a curious man who tried to peer into her hood, and caused him to gasp as his last nightmare assailed his unexpecting mind. With a slight look of amusement she pushed her way past a vomitting drunkard into the pub. She caught the quite singular name - 'The Rotten Apple' - before she stepped into the raucous.

Immediately she sighed. But she knew she had come to the right place to be unassuming, and left alone. Peering around the large, open space that was full of arm wrestles, drinking competitions and people feeding their rats crumbs, Stare found a booth right to the back. Already there were a couple of mysterious, dark hooded strangers that seemed her type. She eyed them up, her bright dark eyes catching theirs for the briefest second, and knew they were there for the same reason as her - to be left alone. She shoved her butt onto a seat, settled and sat there before the world seemed to get used to her.

It did not take long. Before long a busty barmaid had come over to her, addressed her as, "Sir," and asked her what she wanted. Stare grunted for two beers and waited for that woman to go before she dug her hand into the pouch at her belt.

And once more settled her long fingers over the violet stone. The one that she had still not as yet heard an answer to, but was truly hoping for one now.

Nosdyn? she asked, I am in the town of Radiance. I It is a dung-heap but on the road. Very close to Tular, my friend. Please answer me ... I need your help.

Time passed.

As the message was sent to Nosdyn, he received it in exact coinciding with her position in Radiance.

Nosdyn was sitting in his room and felt the warmth of the glowing gem he'd earned from Stare and Vitruvion. Stare... Nosdyn thought to himself. He saw the gem glowing in it's pouch and he walked up towards it, carefully removing it from the pouch. He'd been alone and had isolated himself from his meeting with the tribunal. They've grounded me...I'm a fucking soldier. I belong on the field. He was frustrated to say the least with his current situation.

As he picked up the glowing gem in his hand, the object felt very warm to the touch. Almost hot. He looked down into the stone's depths and could almost see Stare deep within the fog of the stone. He sighed as he saw her. His eyes narrowed as he received the message. "Help...you will have it." Nosdyn promised out loud in response to Stare's pleas. As he looked at her one last moment, he gathered his belongings and got dressed...

It was very late that night.

Roughly the third hour, standard Althanian time, in the late hours of the night. Thirty three minutes had passed into the hour.

Nosdyn gathered his weapon but instinct took over at that point. Something is wrong... Nosdyn narrowed his eyes at that point. He smelled smoke in the estate of his family...the house that he'd been granted. Granted for blind obedience to a system that no longer needed men like he. Nosdyn stepped calmly out into the hallway. His supposed servants, were wearing robes with marks he'd never seen before. He could only guess what was happening. [i]They would betray me too. Despite everything I've done for them...bastards...[/b] Nosdyn thought to himself.

"Come quietly son of Krotar." One of the demons said to Nosdyn as he stepped out into the hallway.

Stare...I would have died for you. He thought to himself. Nosdyn narrowed his eyes calmly as he looked around there were five immediately in front of him. "So this is how it ends?" Nosdyn asked, he had to know.

"It was the tribunal...they set this up. Please don't make this any hard than it already is." The demon extended her hand towards Nosdyn. "Come with me and this will be over with quickly." She pleaded.

Nosdyn looked at the woman and her cohorts..."Like HELL!" In a moment, he activated his weapon and struck her down quickly. The four others were already upon him...

***

Outside...

"Aeldrycht....what the fuck is taking so long?" An impatient demon asked his master.

"His fate has already been sealed. The tribunal has spoken." Aeldrycht said calmly. He looked at Nosdyn's house...much of it was already ablaze. "You're right though...this is taking far too long."

"Could he have escaped?" The servant asked.

"Not likely, but I have the spell ready for him. He has been ordered exiled by the tribunal." The sorcerer named Aeldrycht said carefully. "The tribunal's word is prime." A few moments later, he saw Nosdyn fighting his way out of the burning building after having killed several people. "Oh for fuck's sake, must I do everything MYSELF!?" Aeldrycht said angrily. He observed and locked eyes with Nosdyn for a moment or two, already beginning the process for the spell in his arsenal. Nosdyn was howling like a madman as he cut down anyone that got in his way.

At that exact point...time slowed down.

Aeldrycht had no choice and released the spell in question...

***

Radiance...an hour later.

Nosdyn growled in agony as he was fighting one moment and teleported relatively near to Stare's position.

His body burned with pain and fire, the spell forced him to travel from one point to the next.

Nearly outside of the boarders of the Tular Plains.

Nosdyn howled in agony as several Radiance towns people stared at the portal in shock. The portal quickly vanished and spat Nosdyn out and onto the ground. Nosdyn clutched at his weapon and at the ground. The blade still shining brightly as he held the long-haft of the weapon's grip. Nosdyn opened his eyes after the sudden spell had been cast on him. He growled once more in agony and then pulled himself together thanks to his heightened endurance. He stood up after a long moment passed and shut his weapon down. He looked at the town's folks of Radiance, a down-trodden lot. Weather-beaten and broken...sad state of affairs. Nosdyn looked at the various buildings around him, his mind still focusing from the horrendous ability cast upon him. "F-fuck you too." Nosdyn cursed as he looked back in the direction of the depths of the Tular Plains. He spit out some blood after a moment and looked at the nearest of the town's folk. "I need water." Nosdyn said with about as much calmness as he could manage at that point.

One of the servants walked over towards Nosdyn. "Follow me to the tavern. There are people there who can...help you."

Nosdyn was too tired to argue. The teleport spell had ripped him from himself and he'd been cheated out of a victory once more. He looked back towards the direction of his birth city. "Aeldrycht. One day I'll come back for you." Nosdyn looked at the servant before him and followed her...with her familiar blue hair into the tavern. Nosdyn's entire body hurt.

Stare received no direct reply via the stone, but as the seconds turned into minutes she felt a strange sense of peace come over her. It was a pleasurable experience, a good feeling of sudden satisfaction that she could not quite understand. Of how it had come to pass she could not tell, but as she did notice the alteration in emotion there was a noticeable warmth that came from the violet marble also. It rose above the steady state that it had been in before and Stare had a clarification then that this in fact was the communication from Nosdyn. Nay, he was not speaking through words, yet the meaning could not have been more recognisable.

Nosdyn had heard her, and was close.

Peeking up she stared wide with her eyes, scanning the room rapidly for any signs. The space itself was noticeably vast, despite the grime giving an illusionary smallness to it. Most of the occupants were rough labourers and barbaric types, with some form of civility within them. Every so often the door would open, however, and a new stranger would walk in. It was this that Stare kept her eye upon steadily ... Until a figure passed before it and went out.

Out. Outside, where few seemed to go. The Rotten Apple instead just seemed to collect patrons, not shed them. What was more Stare could swear she knew the woman that was just leaving. Fine and long blue hair. Sharp, angular features. Dressed in ordinary layman garb yet she had carried herself ...

The elf. Stare was suddenly sure of it. The same one who had been present when Nosdyn and she had first met. She that had first whispered words of command into Nosdyn's ear and then given Stare a book on how to control him. Not knowing what she had initially been doing Stare had spoken the first line of demonic text from it, and inadvertently bound Nosdyn to her command. The book, white naturally, was now in Vitruvion's hands, but the bond had never been technically broken between Stare and Nosdyn. Her god and master, Vitruvion, could, if he truly wanted, order Nosydn to do anything via her beak.

If she, the mysterious, still unnamed elf was still here, then there was a high likelihood that Nosdyn was too. Yet, Stare did not feel she could immediately stand and follow her. Nay, she had two beers and a private booth, with all the other mysterious strangers at similar tables. To stand and suddenly depart with two drinks in hand would be almost too odd. Thus, Stare was stuck in a long moment of indecision, uncertain of if she should follow or not and possibly risk the chance of not meeting him at all. However, what she had felt through the marble was something good, as if he was heading for her. It was painful to sit there, with the twisting knot of uncertainty continuing. Not knowing was truly something that the kenku did not like.

But - yet - she kept seated and agonising minutes passed, each second an age ...

The door opened once more, and finally the blue haired elf came swishing back in, locks swaying gently. Stare found her wings bristling with excitement as she spied, at last, him, he, her friend, following close behind looking exhausted, pained. His noticeable blue skin and his tattoos. Standing swift she stared out at him, her piercing black eyes watching him under her hood.

Cupping her hand more firmly around the marble she hissed quietly. Over here, my friend. At last.

(Ailsa I am editing the post as per your request. I guess feel free to use the conversation in your own post.)

Energy still periodically swirled around Nosdyn from whatever teleportation spell that his enemy had used on him.

The dim lighting in the tavern's main room served it's purpose and was not terribly harsh on the demon's eyes. His whole body hurt. To say that he was in a foul mood would have been an understatement. Nosdyn looked around the chamber and he saw the familiar form of his friend, Stare. He nodded towards her with some degree of elegance. The gem on his person was also warm to the touch and it filled him with a certain sense of reassurance.

Nosdyn looked at the blue-haired girl.

There was a flash in his mind for a moment or two. He recalled the exact moment that he'd met that woman before...back in the other tavern. The first night he'd met Stare. It was a blurry, hazy memory but he was certain she was the same girl. He shook his head after he realized that, he knew he'd been awarded with some sense of what the fuck was going on. My body hurts too much to argue. He couldn't make any direct sense at that moment of epiphany only that he knew it was the same girl. I've seen her working with The Boss before, that is the old boss. When I was just another dumb grunt working for a crime-lord in Alerar. Oh well, whatever she wants with me and Stare...I'm certain it will be revealed in time.

Nosdyn approached Stare and hugged her out of no where. It was good to see an ally...no...more than an ally. The had fought and shed blood together. They were friends. Nosdyn held her for a moment or two, as if also trying to steady himself from the pain he felt. "Sorry I could not respond to you right away...something happened. I have been fighting for a long time." Nosdyn explained. He reluctantly let go of her and slid into her booth at that point. He sat down and growled in annoyance...his whole damned body hurt.

At that point, the blue-haired girl slid into the both and motioned for Stare to join them. "We're all here. We can speak freely now." She said carefully. She lowered her hood so her features were once more apparent, and it was indeed the same woman from before. She looked at Stare and then towards Nosdyn.

She had a mischievous look on her face. "You used him to change the world." The girl began...

***

He was here. He was finally here. Stare breathed out, her hands minorly shaking as she looked between the man of tattooed skin and whispers of golden hair. His eyes seemed exhausted, tired as if they had been through a recent, great torment, and it made her pause for a moment. Now, clearly, was not the time to share the voyages she had been through. The fact she was now immortal, made so by the hands of an elven star god and the entity that owned her. The fact she had been killed by her very own back-from-the-dead brother. The fact she had wings, a change that Vitruvion had not been emotionally empathetic on, but rather had been angry in the idea that someone else might be manipulating her that was not him.

Slowly, she took in a long breath, her eyes looking back to the blue-haired woman who was finishing off her sentences. "You used him to change the world. You wrought his power, and things have now begun to be set in motion that will not stop."

"You gave me the book," Stare said quietly. "By which to control him. Why?" Her eyes gazed at the elf, incredulous. It was a simple question in words, and complex in parameters, but it was the primary one burning at her throat. "You must have known to some degree that the man I work for would use that."

”You used him to change the world.” She said to Stare again. ”He would not have joined you and your Master otherwise and there would have been no change at all. You would not have been able to complete your mission without him.” She looked at Nosdyn for a moment. Then she looked back at Stare. ”Also...I sense there is a change within him now. A bond.” There was a mischievous look in the blue haired woman’s eyes. And she was genuinely interested in the situation at that point. ”You changed him for the better of all things. It was something needed for the growth of our societies.”

Stare cupped her hands around her tankard and glanced back at Nosdyn as the woman explained herself. In the back of her mind the century-old awareness that was Vitruvion moved to the forefront, pushing himself into her conciousness. For a while he was silent, pausing and just letting himself hang there, in her knowledge, before he spoke. He is troubled.

Like you care, Stare grunted. Do not you remember you wanted to be rid of his service, have him forget who I was because I was becoming friends with him?

The god in secret took a long breath in and sent her an image of him leaning back, observing as he watched a young elf dance before him and others in a rich-looking nightclub. Scantily clad the beauty shook her hips side to side and showed her belly in many contorted patterns, something Stare had to endure for a moment before Vitruvion sighed and came back to her. Yes, and you persuaded me otherwise. We have agreed you are allowed friends, albeit some, that I deem appropriate. After the demon's assistance in ending Heysan my opinion on him altered somewhat.

”I can see that you are deep in thought at the moment.” She said to Stare and Nosdyn. ”You gave the Haidian a purpose, that he was lacking.” She nodded carefully. ”That is why I chose to have you two meet. Because that would prove to be the catalyst of change.”

"You were there." Nosdyn said in a low voice. ”I saw you at that man’s place in Alerar. The one who calls himself The Boss. You were one of his subordinates were you not?” Nosdyn said carefully.


Stare looked surprised, but let the elf respond.

”Things have changed since then.” She nodded as she said that. ”But yes, I have worked for that man once upon a time. No longer though, I have my own missions and agenda now.” She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. It was clear Nosdyn was a deeper thinker than he let in on.

"Wait, so what has been going on?" Stare asked, her eyes turning now with incredulity to the other female. They burnt with some degree of fury, but not enough to summon the kenku's pain or other abilities.


The blue haired woman looked at Nosdyn for a moment. ”Will you answer that or should I?” She asked of Nosdyn.

Nosdyn looked at Stare and then back at the blue haired woman. ”I have been exiled from the Tular Plains.” There was a pained expression on his face as he recalled the events that lead to him being banished. ”I am here because I have no other place to be anymore. My purpose has been stolen from me.” He looked at Stare for a long moment as he said that. ”I have come here because there is no other place for me.” Nosdyn said.

The blue haired woman looked at both Nosdyn and Stare at that point. ”I see now.” She began and looked at Stare at that point. ”He is a valuable ally to you now. He has sacrificed his very homeland for you.” She was in deep thought for a long moment after that letting everything that was said sink in.

He was here. He was finally here. Stare breathed out, her hands minorly shaking as she looked between the man of tattooed skin and whispers of golden hair. His eyes seemed exhausted, tired as if they had been through a recent, great torment, and it made her pause for a moment. Now, clearly, was not the time to share the voyages she had been through. The fact she was now immortal, made so by the hands of an elven star god and the entity that owned her. The fact she had been killed by her very own back-from-the-dead brother. The fact she had wings, a change that Vitruvion had not been emotionally empathetic on, but rather had been angry in the idea that someone else might be manipulating her that was not him.

Slowly, she took in a long breath, her eyes looking back to the blue-haired woman who was finishing off her sentences. "You used him to change the world. You wrought his power, and things have now begun to be set in motion that will not stop."

"You gave me the book," Stare said quietly. "By which to control him. Why?" Her eyes gazed at the elf, incredulous. It was a simple question in words, and complex in parameters, but it was the primary one burning at her throat. "You must have known to some degree that the man I work for would use that."

”You used him to change the world.” She said to Stare again. ”He would not have joined you and your Master otherwise and there would have been no change at all. You would not have been able to complete your mission without him.” She looked at Nosdyn for a moment. Then she looked back at Stare. ”Also...I sense there is a change within him now. A bond.” There was a mischievous look in the blue haired woman’s eyes. And she was genuinely interested in the situation at that point. ”You changed him for the better of all things. It was something needed for the growth of our societies.”

Stare cupped her hands around her tankard and glanced back at Nosdyn as the woman explained herself. In the back of her mind the century-old awareness that was Vitruvion moved to the forefront, pushing himself into her conciousness. For a while he was silent, pausing and just letting himself hang there, in her knowledge, before he spoke. He is troubled.

Like you care, Stare grunted. Do not you remember you wanted to be rid of his service, have him forget who I was because I was becoming friends with him?

The god in secret took a long breath in and sent her an image of him leaning back, observing as he watched a young elf dance before him and others in a rich-looking nightclub. Scantily clad the beauty shook her hips side to side and showed her belly in many contorted patterns, something Stare had to endure for a moment before Vitruvion sighed and came back to her. Yes, and you persuaded me otherwise. We have agreed you are allowed friends, albeit some, that I deem appropriate. After the demon's assistance in ending Heysan my opinion on him altered somewhat.

“I can see that you are deep in thought at the moment.” She said to Stare and Nosdyn. “You gave the Haidian a purpose, that he was lacking.” She nodded carefully. “That is why I chose to have you two meet. Because that would prove to be the catalyst of change.”

"You were there," Nosdyn said in a low voice. “I saw you at that man’s place in Alerar. The one who calls himself The Boss. You were one of his subordinates were you not?” Nosdyn said carefully.

Stare looked surprised, but let the elf respond.

“Things have changed since then.” She nodded as she said that. “But yes, I have worked for that man once upon a time. No longer though, I have my own missions and agenda now.” She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. It was clear Nosdyn was a deeper thinker than he let in on.

"Wait, so what has been going on?" Stare asked, her eyes turning now with incredulity to the other female. They burnt with some degree of fury, but not enough to summon the kenku's pain or other abilities.

The blue haired woman looked at Nosdyn for a moment. “Will you answer that or should I?” She asked of Nosdyn.

Nosdyn looked at Stare and then back at the blue haired woman. “I have been exiled from the Tular Plains.” There was a pained expression on his face as he recalled the events that lead to him being banished. “I am here because I have no other place to be anymore. My purpose has been stolen from me.” He looked at Stare for a long moment as he said that. “I have come here because there is no other place for me.” Nosdyn said. Stare breathed in sharply, her eyes intent on her friend. So he was without purpose anymore, without a master.

The blue haired woman looked at both Nosdyn and Stare at that point. “I see now.” She began and looked at Stare at that point. “He is a valuable ally to you now. He has sacrificed his very homeland for you.” She was in deep thought for a long moment after that letting everything that was said sink in.

The kenku swallowed and then nodded slowly, her eyes having never left Nosdyn. “I cannot promise anything, but I will do what I can to help you.” She thought of Vitruvion and his situation. “We have our own troubles but … I will get to that.” She glanced quickly to the blue-haired elf. “What do you need? Are you in similar trouble?”

My purpose...it has been stolen from me. Nosdyn repeated the thought in his mind very carefully. The events that transpired back in his home-city, a city of Demons, left him scarred and mentally shattered. He wanted somewhere to belong. The laws of Haidia no longer bound him to be a soldier...he was another sellsword. Nosdyn sighed quietly. The pain he felt from the forced teleportation spell that was cast on him still coursed through his well muscular body. What...do I do now? He wanted some answers. The blue-haired woman could provide him none. Only Stare had the key he needed to go forward with his life. Stare and the blue-haired woman spoke quietly about the book and other matters...none of that concerned Nosdyn.

As he sat there, he took a drink from his goblet and tried to savor it. The drink was a local juice that was popular with the natives. He didn't mind...he was not in the mood for a strong ale anyhow. He listened in silence as the two spoke for a bit longer. Then, he thought of something. His mind cleared and he considered where he would go next, what he would do next. "Stare...you were already searching for me. Migh I ask what has happened since last we met?" In the intensity of the moments since reuniting with Stare and that blue-haired woman...Nosdyn had not had a chance to ask Stare anything. He was a Demon...but he was still a Demon with some manners.

He followed a very peculiar code of sorts.

He lived by the sword...and he hoped someday he would die by it.

He also secretly hoped that the someday in question was a long time off.

Nosdyn waited for Stare's response as he continued to consider the situation at hand. What did Stare need? Why was she looking for me...venturing this deep near the Tular Plains on her own? Nosdyn had to know...

It had been several months. And a lot had happened.

Stare gazed at the man, slowly breathing in as she looked between him and the elf. The blue-haired beauty smiled slightly before realising somewhat that this was the point where she needed to give the demon and the kenku some privacy. Though she was of some great importance to the existence of their relationship - having been the one who first ever gave Stare the book and practically designed that her and Nosdyn should meet. So integral was she to their friendship, yet so mysterious as to why she had done so in the first place, that it made Stare's heart pound to even consider the fact that they were all within stabbing distance to each other. She did not want to kill the blue-haired woman, and certainly not Nosdyn by any means, but the very idea that she could be killed so quickly here ...

Slowly the elf rose and nodded from one to the other before turning and slipping away. Stare watched as she went over to the bar, letting out a long breath. She considered what Nosdyn asked, about what had happened in the past while since they had last met. Happened to her, happened to Vitruvion, happened to their world. How everything had been turned upside-down, how she was immortal now and had wings ... uncomfortably the things shifted unbidden beneath her cloak as they weighted on her uncomfortably, reminding them of their existence as she thought about them. She tried to keep the movement as minimal as possible, squeezing the sides of her beak together as she bit back the curses that threatened to rise.

You cannot hide them from everyone forever, Vitruvion whispered. They are natural things, that cannot be gotten rid of.

You do not get it, she hissed back to him, her hand tightening on the handle of her beer mug. I hate them. I want to be normal, not this ...

But I do understand, Stare, exactly what you feel, he replied, grinning and leaning back. She watched him through their connection raise his own glass to his lips and drink deep. I am in your head.

The kenku wished she could scowl at that moment, but instead opted for a simple roll of the eyes. Huffing she straightened a little, gathering herself as she prepared to say all she needed to Nosdyn. All she wanted. All she could.

"He made me immortal," she said quietly. "Properly, I mean. I have already died once. And I grew wings, for no reason. Also - we have an enemy now. Greater than any before, far worse than that abominable Heysan. Vitruvion you see-" she broke off, lifting her chin and gazing out of the window. "Vitruvion, it seems, has a half brother who wants nothing more than to destroy him, us and all that has Vitruvion's name to it. A half brother who had someone brought my own dead brother back from the dead, as an undead creature who does not remember me, and who has so far killed, tortured and caused ruin to our lives. He brought our city to its knees, and it took a lot of money and a lot of organisation to stop it from starving."

The Thayne were no mystery to Nosdyn.

The exiled one considered Stare's words very carefully. He has a Brother... Nosdyn was no idiot. He had some knowledge of The Thayne Codex and it's writings. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully as Stare spoke about immortality and wings. She's asking me to kill a Thayne. Nosdyn understood the severity of the situation at hand. He'd heard tell of the man named Joshua Cronen...supposedly he'd killed Draconus recently.

But those were old wive's tales and stories spoken to scare troubled children. Nosdyn looked at Stare. What he said next would seem very unusual coming from him. "Thaynes can be killed." Nosdyn said, if the rumours about Lord Draconus were true...a Thayne could die at mortal hands. He kept his eyes locked on Stare. He had a very serious expression on his face. "You're saying we have to kill a Thayne are you not?" Nosdyn was no idiot. He was a soldier who had some understanding of what Vitruvion really was.

Nosdyn thought very carefully about what was being asked.

"Your enemies are also my enemies." Nosdyn said calmly. "The one named Joshua Cronen killed Lord Draconus. The Thayne can die by MORTAL hands." Something had happened that had weakened The Thaynehood. He was not entirely certain what it was. But there was that SOMETHING there. Nosdyn had that same serious expression on his face. "I will follow you into the depths of Hell itself." Nosdyn said without hesitation or fear.

Nosdyn looked away from Stare for a moment or two. He looked down at his drink and took a pull of it. He needed to relax, he needed to rest...but Stare needed him more. Rest can wait. There is something we have to do. Nosdyn opened his eyes at that point. "Tell me about our enemy." Nosdyn said very carefully. His eyes narrowed at that point. She needs help to kill a Thayne... He thought and waited for her response.

Stare stopped, frozen and stuck half way to lifting the mug of beer towards her beak, as soon as the word slipped from between the demon's lips.

Thayne.

From what the kenku knew of the Thayne they were god-like creatures who were sometimes worshipped as deities and came from near the beginnings of time. They had a lack of omnipotence, and could come in a variety of forms, from a great sea monster known as the Leviathan, to winged serpent guardians who haunted the woods of Alerar. They were a separate group of godlike beings, who had their own pantheon residing alongside the others, but were more human-like than others, with individual personalities and they were said to champion certain attributes - encourage them, as opposed to be the embodiment of them. It was common knowledge also that they were the ones to have gifted the Tap itself which was a source of great magic and once believed to be one of the only sources of magic.

For one such as Nosdyn, who had seen the power Vitruvion possessed, it was not exactly a stretch too far to consider that he might in fact be a Thayne. Now that Stare thought about it, the noble mage did certainly fit a few of the attributes - he was a god, he had once been worshipped and he lacked omnipotence. What was vastly different, however, was the fact that he was not a god of any particular thing, but rather the clone-son of a deity of a whole planet. So therefore, more powerful.

Potentially. Yet, it was still not far off the truth, and Nosdyn had guessed it.

Her heart thumped in her chest as Vitruvion's awareness drew and he snatched into her mind with a desperation. Tell him the usual lie, he hissed. Refuse flatly that I am a Thayne, that this villainous brother of mine is a Thayne.

The kenku breathed in as she set her beer down, watching Nosdyn carefully. My lord, he came up with this theory all by himself. He is not an idiot and may not accept the half celestial as a truth. You are not exactly the angelic type. Except in looks. Certainly, in looks Vitruvion could be said to be an angel.

I did not realise you thought me so, Vitruvion dryly replied to her errant thought. Quickly, she hid it away. However, Stare, the matter of the fact it you can tell him I am not a Thayne without lying, as I am not. As for my brother ... he is closer to dung.

Rubbing her hand along her beak in exasperation Stare groaned slightly before opening her beak to properly answer.

"First, no I am not asking you to kill a Thayne. If you are willing we are headed to the Raiaera harbour where Sir Elssmith's three ships rest sometimes in the dock, if you are able to. One has been destroyed, which we know was due to his half-brother, and now the two are in danger, with one gone missing. I have been asked to find you and ask if you would be interested in accompanying me to find out what happened to it." She paused, "not that exciting, sorry."

"Secondly, Vitruvion is not a Thayne. He is just an incredibly powerful mage, who happens to be able to read demonic, and most other languages ... he's half celestial. As is his brother."

She crossed the fingers of her hand on the mug secretly, hoping that Nosdyn would not notice, and that he would believe her.

Not...a Thayne...? Nosdyn knew there were several other pantheons and religious beliefs on Althanas. He wasn't sure if Stare was telling the entire truth or not, but it did not matter. He would respect her viewpoint on the matter for the time being. Celestial...that term is not in The Thayne Codex. That deserves some looking into... Nosdyn rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he listened to Stare speaking about what was going on. He took his goblet and took another pull of the drink in it. It was a juice style of concoction, not terribly strong...but Nosdyn did not mind. After the effects of the brutal teleportation spell, Nosdyn would eat and drink just about anything to energize himself once more.

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Though he was not a genius in the tradition sense of the term...Nosdyn was not stupid. By any stretch of it. He had no choice but to accept Stare's explanation of Vitruvion and his brother's race for the time being. ...Celestial. Again, I must study The Thayne Codex further. Maybe there are clues there about this race and it's power. One thing Nosdyn did not like was facing an enemy without previous knowledge of how the enemy operated. It was a carry-over from his days spent as a criminal's enforcer in Ettermire. Nosdyn looked at Stare at that point. His eyes were narrowed and he was deep in serious thought. He did not want to say the wrong thing, however as to not offend his friend.

Nosdyn knew that they would have to plan and form proper strategy. The dock mission in Raiaera sounded important. Boring...but important nonetheless. I've done similar work for The Boss in Ettermire's secret underground crime syndicate. I must be certain to do whatever is asked of me to the best of my capacity. Stare and Vitruvion are not that different form The Boss's own agenda. I wonder how he is faring these days and if I should go and check up on him and his organization...? Nosdyn nodded when Stare stopped talking.

"I accept." Was his simple response. He had nowhere to go, nowhere to call home. His very clan had been stolen from him. Though maybe it was something I did to myself after all. Nosdyn thought to himself. Something about the traumatic events in The Tular Plains had affected Nosdyn a lot. He wasn't sure what it was exactly...but his purpose had been stolen from him. Ripped asunder like a child's rag doll and left to rot. Nosdyn was one of the last few real men in the world. A Demon of Haidia forced to reconcile the fact that the world no longer needed his kind. He'd become nothing more than an enforcer, a sellsword. He did not mind that. "Do you have a room rented here or anything like that? I'm very tired and in a lot of pain. I must rest for the night before we travel again together." Nosdyn said carefully. He continued. "I'm trying to understand this situation, but I'm willing to help. I just want to fight by your side once more." Nosdyn said curiously. He tried to smile, but it was difficult doing that with the pain he felt...

"I do not ..."

She paused before she sat up, thinking about where she had left her fine black chocobo. "But I may be able to find a place."

They spent the night in a barn, as unbecoming as it was. Stare knew that Vitruvion himself would reel with the idea of sleeping with the pigs, the sheep and their steeds. She remained awake for some time, looking across to Nosdyn and realising just how much he had lost. His family, his people, his position ... She had lost much, but found something else. A position, a home in some respects, suffering that had made her stronger.

Little did she sleep that night, as she watched the back of the demon's head, and she imagined what hells they as both been through, literally and figuratively. Eventually she was able to let her awareness of the world fade and come to a fitful slumber, but it was short and aggressive.

She dreamed she was on beach, wuth the seas stretched before her. It was dark, however, and the sand itself was course and grainy, uncomfortably digging into the softer parts of her feet. What was most horrifying was the light - it was a brilliant orange and as she looked up she could see the source. Ships, as far as the eye could see all burning.

And the waters itself, were burning.

They rode the next day as fast as chocobo and rented horse would allow, thundering hooves and quick claws carrying them north. They passed small villages, collecting the few supplies they might need and on the second night they slept under the stars. Again, Stare hardly slept, her heart heavy and little comfort in her soul.

Again, she saw the burning sea in her dream, but this time there were figures scurrying up the masts, above the flames. She cried out several times for someone to help them, but nobody seemed to hear. As she spread her own wings to attempt she heard a crackle, smelt cinder and ... Her wings were burning also.

She woke up in a sweat, pushing at her feathers hectically. She rolled, padded, breathed heavily - but felt nothing. It took her some full seconds to realise she was not on fire.

Slowly she forced a breath, then collapsed, allowing the ground to support her and lay there. Comfortable, but terrified and confused she lay there until morning, before they were going again. Before they charged towards the harbour where the second of Vitruvion's ships, the Spirited Wave was expected to lie.

Except when they got there ... She was gone.

Time passed...

Nosdyn regained his strength as he decided to stay in that town long term.

That particular day he was assisting some locals with rebuilding their home and adding more value to it.

The town was all right as far as surface-dweller towns went.

Nosdyn pitched in with odd jobs where he could but a part of him missed his friend Stare.

He knew she had needed him for SOME big job at that point, so many moons ago, but it was beyond his control. He knew that Vitruvion still did not fully trust him...at least it appeared that way. The Gods played on their own playing field...with their own rules. Nosdyn thought to himself. He stood there without a top on, sweating in the heat of the afternoon soon. It was hard work, a hard life but Nosdyn learned he liked working with his large hands.

He worked for a paltry salary those days. Nothing like what Vitruvion would offer. One of his friends, a female Drow, looked at him as they worked. "You are thinking about her are you not?"

Nosdyn narrowed his eyes for a moment, wiping sweat off his brow. "I believe so yes. I'm not entirely certain because she left without much of a word. It's all right I am certain her path and mine will cross again someday."

The Drow nodded. "You have a gentle soul, Nosdyn of clan Krotar." She handed Nosdyn a skin of fresh water.

Nosdyn hesitated only a moment but did take the gift. Somewhere down the line...people worked together of all races. Either necessity called for union, or other matters. But he learned that the people of the town could function even with his fear aura intact. Rather, they endured it and never once protested. They are a conquered people but strong in their own way...I don't mind living with them. A place to calm home...I wonder if they feel the same. Nosdyn thought to himself.

As he stood there he helped his companions with their chores. He was strong, and had untapped strength still lurking somewhere deep within. It was a blessing of the fell blood within him. He could work longer and harder than most of the other mortal folks. How long had it been? Days, Week, or years? Nosdyn was not entirely certain. He only knew time had passed since he'd settled down in the town. The Demon, exiled from the tular plains.

He often thought of home in his time alone.

They have grown weak and no longer the warriors of old... Nosdyn thought to himself. His eyes always looked to the distance, wondering what might be...what could be. Was this all there was for me? A forgotten Hero in a backwater town. If that is my Fate so be it. Stare...I miss you. Nosdyn thought to himself. If time permitted, perhaps he would claim one of the females of the town as a mate. They were an agreeable and hard-working lot. Plenty of good qualities. He could be a leader with them...if the need for such arose...

She sat in a public house, at the edge of a city she knew well.

Not as well of course as Beinost itself, where her lord, employer, god and otherwise master lived, and thus she did too. Now here, in Radasanth, she was becoming familiar with the strange old network of streets and the mismatched houses spoke of the old wars and battles, including the current situation with the Assembly. But then politics were politics, and, as Vitruvion said, "mortals would always be mortals." They would find ways of making anything violent.

She was there at the edge of the harbour because of one thing - she had failed. Or they had failed. Two ships now out of the three Vitruvion owned were under water, with the Spirited Wave had burnt upon the sea.

Stare had flown right over the water when her and Nosdyn had found it gone. Gone, from where it should have been North of the harbour of the town she had met the demon. She has needed to settle on a fishing sloop, throwing them money before continuing. And meanwhile she had abandoned her friend with whom she had only just been reconnected with. Then she had kept going on, right on until she had seen the burning water, and - and -

She sighed into her cider. She had not been kind to Nosdyn in just leaving him. Of course, he had been given money for his troubles, but her road had brought her to Radasanth in order to ensure that Vitruvion's last ship was well. With the Zephyr and the Spirited Wave gone all their hope now lay with the Siren's Wake. Which was due to come in any hour now.

So she had been told. And with the added security hired for that ship, there was hope it would be successful.

She shook her head and raised a hand into the sky. A bartender nodded and bustled over in the quiet tavern, knowing Stare as a kenku of some reputation. Stare asked for paper and a quill, and within moments she was brought what she asked. All for a small fee.

And she wrote.

Nosdyn, she said, hoping that Vitruvion was listening. But he had many things in his mind, so it was possible he would not be. I am sorry we left so abruptly. You did things when we met that make me worried. And that elf ...

Just please let me know you are safe. I need to wait a single day to ensure the safety of the last ship, then we can meet again. If you wish. If you want.

Stare.

Nosdyn had obtained the letter.

It is her hand-writing...Stare... One last job needed doing. One last mission, one last order. Nosdyn looked over the carefully scribed letters one more time and placed the letter back in his packs. He was already preparing for the worst. A few days ago a bunch of ships were burned into the sea, a fleet of sorts. Nosdyn had some suspicion that they belonged to Vitruvion. He would never know for certain though. He looked at Stare for a long time as he approached the meeting area.

"I thought...I would never see you again. All I wanted was to fight by your side one more time." Nosdyn explained. He looked at Stare.

"We will work together to finish this job." Nosdyn said. He knew that somewhere out there, on the waters near Benoist there were answers for him. A greater purpose...something he longed for. Wind came in from the west, the smell of recent carnage. Nosdyn readied himself with and looked at Stare with his yellow, glowing eyes. Nosdyn extended his bulky hand towards Stare.

A lot had changed since they first met. He remembered it like it was yesterday...a casual meeting between friend. Allied. Potential lovers. Nosdyn was an exile looking for a place to truly belong. Alongside Stare, he found a purpose. No...a reason to fight. Nosdyn thought to himself. He waited for her to shake his hand in agreement to the deal. "Let us finish this job...together. Our job...our mission." There was a strange sincerity in his voice. From the citizens of Benoist, Nosdyn had learned a lot. There was a need for strong warriors like himself in the world. The strong protected the weak...defeated those who would harm their world.

As Nosdyn stood there looking at Stare he considered for a brief moment what was about to happen. His eyes narrowed and he looked at Stare very carefully, his opinions of his friend never changed. Never once. He considered her an ally always. They had a common thread together. ...Vitruvion... The missing link, the final piece of the puzzle.

Nosdyn looked at Stare for and carefully worded the next part. "Just tell me who we have to kill." And he grinned at that point. The Demon was a lot of things at that point in his life. But he was loyal...that would never change.

Her smile reached her eyes when she saw the demon, her dear friend and ally.

Indeed, he was still in a way sworn to her, or to Vitruvion, in what ever way that book and ceremony had worked. Perhaps it had worn off, but the first time they had ever met he had been persuaded by some spell to give fealty. Now that seemed to have passed, or his loyalty had remained and no longer he was magically bound to anything, if he ever was. The blue haired elf had been part of that adventure, and now she had gone, not been seen for some days.

She gestured to a back door as he entered into the small, private room of the pub she was still in. As they walked, and she stepped in beside Nosdyn she began to answer his query.

"As far as I know there is no one to kill. Or not so much. When I chased the ship, the Spirited Wave, I found it burning, and there was little I could do. It is destroyed, and the crew mostly dead. Some of them got away on small boats, and they are being treated now, but the ship is gone."

She escorted the demon towards the harbour, where the strong scent of salty air hit them directly. Gulls screeched overhead, like mournful creatures of death and fate. In their claws they held the remains of fish and contents of a midden heap, which they chewed or dropped on unsuspecting victims. These creatures the kenku knew well, however, and the dangers were limited. Instead, her attention was on the mighty boats coming into rest.

"The last ship Vitruvion owns, the Siren's Wake is due to come into harbour in an hour or so. With the Zephyr and the Spirited Wave gone, sunk or burnt, this is the only merchant vessel he has left."

She pointed, steering them down onto a wooden walkway, built on an older stone base.

"But I am glad you are here. We will need to inspect it, make sure that there is no danger. I am sorry I left you the way that I did, but things being what they are ..." she tailed off with a sad look in her eyes. "I have missed you."

Terms...conditions. Their world was a dark one filled with dark deeds. Nosdyn cared for Stare...perhaps more than she would ever know. He listened very carefully to the terms of the job. His mind was already reverting back to the days he spent working with The Boss. The Boss was a brutal employer...not terribly different from Vitruvion himself. There were entities fitting of this dark world. Nosdyn looked up for a moment, it was night. His type of conditions to work. He returned his attention to Stare.

Nosdyn rubbed his chin. "If there is a threat aboard the vessel...it would be an obvious distraction for something else." Nosdyn was thinking like a proper demon general at that point. Though truth be told...he'd left life on the Tular Plains behind a long time ago. In all honesty..it had cut Nosdyn off directly. Nosdyn was trying to think and plan. His eyes narrowed for a moment. "These sorts of deep recon jobs were some of the worst. When I was working for my former Employer...deep rec jobs were only given to the most skilled of us. I never said no. That last time was when Jake interfered." Nosdyn thought about the past as he walked with Stare to their target. Something did not sit well with him about the mission.

Nosdyn looked at Stare. "They did not take hostages...this is something personal." Nosdyn said to his friend. Nosdyn was trying to understand the truth behind the senseless destruction. "Hostages are worth more alive...are you certain we have the whole story here?" Nosdyn had to know exactly what he was getting into. It would help make him as impartial as possible to the job at hand.

"No I am not certain we have the whole story," she said with a sigh as they waited in the shadow of the crates they hid behind. "But there are also things that I have not told you."

That was, the extent to what her and Vitruvion's enemy, his mysterious half-brother Vindrexis, had dedicated himself to destroying Vitruvion's world. How he had attacked a brewery, kidnapped and killed, destroyed the ships, made Vitruvion begin to doubt his own sanity at times, and threatened her. Her.

"What you need to do is trust me now," she said quietly, as she watched the ship beginning to dock. "Please."

And she glanced back to her friend, a smile in her gleaming eyes. Then she looked back to the ship, with the bold writing of the Siren's Wake emblazoned upon the hull. It was a large merchant vessel, clearly made for speed and not war, yet it was covered in mercenaries, both those who were employed by Vitruvion on a permanent basis, and those who had been hired from alternative arrangements from other sources. These guards were there to protect the ship, Stare knew, but whether they had been compromised was another question.

Mainly, she needed to ensure that they were still loyal. She needed to sneak aboard the ship and inspect the Captain's quarters. To find his log books and identification papers, and all of those of the crew and ensure all was well. And to have a sneaky demon with her ... well that was a benefit.

"We need to find our way to the Captain's cabin," she said in a hush, ducking back as a one-legged cook stumped his way across in front of them. She pulled Nosdyn back around the crate. Pausing, she took a moment, then hooked her beak back around the side. "No one must see us. Then we need to check that all is well with the books. Only then will I be satisfied."

"Up for some stealthiness?" she asked, as she noted a gap between the sailors - and a straight road for the plank that led onto the ship.