They walked with hurried steps through the alley; time was running out.
Llorett knew something was wrong only a moment before she felt the cool steel at her throat.
She couldn't see her attacker, and she dared not move, the blade was pressed right against the vein.
The tiny warrior could however, see the others moving from the shadows to surround her little group.
Dread filled her stomach; she didn't see how they would escape this.
Sten was looking around, his eyes the only thing showing his increasing dread.
Buster, just laid down, whining, his eyes locked on hers.
She closed her eyes briefly, knowing that Zevran was likely to have the best chance of thinking of a way to get them out of this.
She looked to her left as much as she was able, not daring to turn her head, but was surprised when Zevran made it easier. Walking around to stand in front of them, between her and Sten and Buster.
Her already shallow breath caught, and she felt her eyes widen. Then, involuntarily; she made her second mistake.
As her eyes locked on Zev's, as he looked up at her with a smirk, his eyes as cold as she had ever seen them, she flinched. The sensation was odd, she felt the blade dig into her skin, the trickle of blood run down between her breasts, but as she was still alive she was either very very lucky or the man holding her was very very good.
With her bets on the later, she focused again her smirking friend.
"Taliesen, my old friend! Did they send you, or did you volunteer?"
A crow then, her blood ran cold. She felt slightly dizzy and knew she paled considerably.
"I volunteered of course, I couldn't resist seeing the great Zevran . . . gone rouge"
Zevran's eyes ran up and down her body, much like they had when they first met. Then he smirked at their attacker, "Would you blame me? Just look at her"
Sten's face had gone even more emotionless, if that was possible, but Llorett knew him well enough to see the cold anger bubbling under his cool exterior.
She closed her eyes a moment and mustered her courage. "Well, now that you have me . . . what reason is there for you to keep those under my employ. You were hired to kill me, not the random people traveling with me for convenience sake alone."
Zevran tilted his head considering.
She felt Taliesen smile on her neck. "You could come back Zev . . . we could make up a story, just like old times, no?"
Zevran smiled, and Llorett recognized that smile . . . the smile of a slave going through the motions and doing what was expected.
She had carried that smile herself each time the Shem had come to take her to the Arl's estate. She understood then. She understood him. She knew that had this man never found them, Zev would have continued with them until the end, fighting with his life on line for all of them, for her. But she also understood the powerless feeling of a slave. She had tried to free him, but they had found him. He would do what he had to do now, and she cared enough for him that she wouldn't blame him for it.
Zevran studied her closely, watching her. If possible, his eyes went even colder, this time, with anger.
"Let the others go" Zevran tried to say flippantly, but it came out tense "she is right, our contract had nothing to do with them, and they are nothing more than ragtag tagalongs anyway, they will run to the wayside with her gone."
If Taliesen noticed, he didn't show it,chuckling he waved, "very well, that way we can have some fun with the little wench here, yes?"
He motioned with a finger and the people surrounding them came and pushed her friends toward the alley exit. She managed to make eye contact with Sten and move her eyes just enough, but she knew he got the message. Leave, get the others if you can, but please leave.
The alley cleared of all but Llorett, Zevran and Taliesen.
"So, playing games again my friend?"
"Well our tastes have always differed on that, I never liked the struggling ones"
Taliesen laughed, "No you always preferred to win their trust first, then take them willingly into your devious arms. You should have been a spider instead of a crow. What took you so long?"
Zevran chuckled and ran his eyes lecherously down her body again. "There was a lot to enjoy old friend, and she took some . . . persuasion. Plus, that whole blight thing? It is actually real."
"Concerning yourself with saving the world? Really now Zevran"
"Not so much, no. But it does take a grey warden to kill the archdemon, and I would prefer not getting eaten. So I figured . . . I would tag along, yes? See the end, complete my task, and head home with a job well done, if long."
"Hmm . . . I see. We'll just forget the other one then, Have our fun here, and move on. We can think of something to tell them back home."
"I have always liked the way you think." Zevran gave him a wanton grin. "You mean to take your pleasure then, before slitting her throat?"
Llorett felt a little ill at his obvious glee, she had told him of her visits to the Arl's estate. Although she had never told him of what they had done to her, he was not a stupid man.
"Waste not" Taliesen chuckled. "you have already tasted her charms, yes?"
At Zevran's grin and smirk Llorett blinked a little. Why would he lie?
"She does bite." Zevran laughed "You know I have a distaste for holding them down, I have willing enough lovers that I do not appreciate this part. I suggest Litorac, it will knock her out long enough for you to have your fun, then we can finish the job and be on our way."
He glanced at her face again, his eyes still cold, but she knew him well enough to understand. This was end of the road for them, for her. But not everything had been a lie, a game. He was making sure she was unconscious for this last part. He was making sure she didn't have to live that nightmare again.
She closed her eyes for just a moment in relief, then knowing he was the only one who could see her face, she mouthed "thank you" and let a soft smile cross her lips "be well, be safe . . . my friend."
His eyes hardened again. He nodded to Taliesen. She felt a sharp stab in her spine, then nothing.