Chapter 1
Alberich's eyes flickered to the door as two men walked in neither wearing the predetermined signal, perhaps he comes not
he spoke via mind link to his chosen Kantor, who was at that moment indulging in a little relaxation in one of the stalls at the companion's bell a tavern of far better quality and patronage on the other side of haven perhaps he is hesitating the information he has puts his life at high risk replied Kantor
Alberich did not reply to that comment mainly in fact due to it being true so very true, the information the contact offered was of a most dangerous nature no matter what side of the fence you sat on, with a secure alliance already in place with Rethwellan and a stop place treaty in place Karse many new and old threats to Valdemar' s queen had emerged and this contact had information about that very danger, yelling and laughter erupted from the corner of the room where several men where well on their way to becoming drunk the two men that had entered took a table close to the door alberich frowned and looked them over fighting men the city was full of them what with the war and now the skybolts added into the mix, the door opened again this time to admit a woman no a girl Alberich thought but one that had grown up hard and fast, slim not tall by any standards but she had height all the same she was dressed in close fitting black from her knee high boots, tight fitted black pants a high necked sleeveless tight fitting short black top, the top was so short in fact that the hem of the top stopped a centimetre or two from the top of the pants if she lifted her arms an expanse of flat toned stomach would be revealed at her hip in full view was a sword she had dark dull brown hair that looked short but to Alberich's experienced eye he could see that it was styled to look short not doubt she probably had very long hair Alberich's eyes fell upon the tattoo of two crossed swords at the top of her arm
this!! Was his contact he was told to look for the two crossed swords but this was not what he had in mind before the girl in black could move even one step from the door two of the five men from the drunken table lurched and planted themselves in front of her,
"my, my pretty little thing aren't you" sneered one the girl in black gave him a flat look,
"why don't you join us" he indicated the table in the corner
"thank you but I have a prior arrangement" she replied in a hard but clear voice that held no accent
"I insist" the man growled grabbing her arm
one of the two fighting men looked up from his ale"did you not hear the lady" he said
the drunk sneered "I see no lady" he said his hand still gripping onto the girl in black
"you have but one chance to let go of me" she said in a quite deadly voice
the drunk turned back laughing and moved to drag her to the table but he did not get far the girl in black let herself be hauled up to the drunk once she was in range she lashed out with her knee connecting directly with the drunks groin, as soon as he doubled over she followed with a hard elbow to his back the drunk slammed to the floor with a resounding crash everyone in the tavern sucked in a breath the drunks friends leapt up with a roar, the two fighting men moved from their table to meet them and the fight ensued
Alberich turned himself ready to move should the fight move his way, he noticed the girl in black flicked a look in his direction as she danced away from a punch, suddenly before he could blink the fight had moved perilously close to him and then the girl in black had her back to him as the drunks surged forward she was pushed by the momentum of the fight right into his lap he felt the slight pressure as the girl in black moved her hand against his belt he stiffened
"easy herald" she murmured for his ears only quick as a flash she inserted something into his belt then leapt back up into the fight, the fight surged again this time towards the door within moments the two fighting men and the girl in black had the drunks all out the door the girl turned threw a pouch to both fighting men and they quickly made their exit, she turned then and threw a larger pouch to the barkeep who had pulled up a chair to watch the fight the barkeep snatched the pouch out of the air the girl in black gave him a quick salute and disappeared out the door Alberich made a dash for it to follow her she knew he was a herald and he needed to know how was that possible he reached the door and stepped out she was no where in sight damn he muttered
that was interesting Kantor interjected amusement dripping from his mind voice
very replied Alberich though it was worry that laced his voice.
Alberich made his way quickly to the companion's bell and then into the secret room that contained all of his disguises he changed into his greys pulling the item that the girl in black had left, a letter, he put it in his pocket and retired to one of the many sitting rooms for a late supper whilst waiting for his supper to appear he pulled out the letter and quickly read it's contents,
Her enemies still number high but none yet to the council names I do not have I can not give, but start you I can jasper lock and his master will lead others that have not have been dealt with, your secret to only to me is known. Good hunting
Alberich put the note away and sighed the note was very clear to him there was still a large number of enemies against selenay, none of those on the council were a part of it yet, the leads he had passed on had come to naught but one new lead had been found, jasper lock one of the best thief's in the business, one of the best because he never had been caught ever, more importantly the secret of alberich's own identity was known only by the girl in black, but the rest of the hunt was in clearly in his hands the sign off indicated no further partaking on her behalf, alberich shook his head and started to think about just how in the worlds name he was going to catch Valdemar' s best thief in action.