"Warden, did we not agree to simply go our separate ways?"

Solona grinned, kicking a thug's torso she'd ripped apart out of her way. Ignacio crawled away from her on his ass, pushing with his feet while his arm desperately clutched at the stump where his elbow used to be. Thick blood matted the carpet of the room and with careful measured steps she walked around the bloody trail, swinging her summoned blade in a flurry, splattering the clinging drops of blood onto the walls and flooring.

It was purely for show, as she had no need to sheathe a magical sword she had summoned. But it would not hurt to intimidate this man.

"Greetings, Master Ignacio." Solona smiled, her golden blade humming a sweet note as she casually pressed it against his throat.

"Warden, this is most unfortunate," the man croaked, keeping very, very still.

"Is it? I'm rather glad I found you again today. See, I forgot to ask you something yesterday."

"Then ask, Warden." He coughed, spitting up blood to clear his words.

How far she's come, Solona thought. To obliterate a small division of assassins by herself, mutilating them in the process then torturing the master assassin with a smile never slipping from her lips. Once, she was blissfully ignorant of the realities of this world, coddled by invisible chains of the Circle.

"Zevran," she paused. How could she phrase this…?

"…Zevran? That whoreson sent to kill you? That's what this is about?" The man sputtered and Solona drove her pommel into his temple, smashing him into the wall.

"Yes, Zevran. The handsome elf that you threatened to inform the Crows of yesterday," she smiled, baring her teeth. The man lay trembling, unable to even pull himself up to lean against the wall. She pressed down, crouching low.

"I've rather grown fond of him, Master Ignacio. And when you spoke to him so – well, here we are."

"He is… dead, as far as I am aware. And will remain so, I suspect," he wheezed.

"But there is no guarantee you won't be… informed otherwise. Especially if you ever need something from either me or him. Is it not prudent to eliminate the possibility completely?"

"You would… do… this? You… would kill… a master of Antivan Crow… on an off chance I might… inform them of… your whoreson? Do you… understand… the magnitude… of the… actions you… are taking right now?"

"I do." Solona watched him, pathetic lump of meat shivering under her gaze. She pressed her summoned blade against his throat. Dewy drops of blood beaded from his parted flesh, spilling over to trail down to his chest.

"You are… turning an entire… cell… against yourself! While another has… a contract… on your life. You may even… turn… the entire house against you! You will… never… survive… All, for… some nobody who was… sent to kill you… worth not even the dirt… on your boots…"

"Zevran, is worth protecting."

"You are… more insane… and more world-wise… than I have given you… credit for. Not just… any young innocent girl… after all, hmm?"

"Ha! No, not quite. Tortures in Fort Drakon taught me many, many things. I myself was unaware of just how far my… determination, shall we say? could take me."

"If so… then why… am I still breathing?"

"I had a question, remember? Tell me, where do the Crows purchase their young aspiring assassins?"

"You ask… where we… bought that whoreson? As if… I would know…"

"Master Ignacio. I will cut off all your remaining limbs, heal your wounds, and ship you to Antiva City in a box. Do people hold grudges against master assassins?"

"…there's multiple whorehouses… spread out… but in the Antiva City… most come from the… Rosy Gems…"

"Much obliged, Master Ignacio. Rest well."

Her blade sunk into his carotid, a fountain of crimson blood spurting onto the walls. Soon her sword dissipated as she released the spell and stood, looking around at the small massacre.

She was getting rather proficient at this whole investigating thing.