Jald Nightson sat back in the chair in his room, emerald eyes
narrowed into slits as the oaken door's knob turned. The large black ferret
slumped back in his desk, instinctively putting a paw on the hilt of his
broadsword as he growled, "Come in..." Knowing full well the owner of the paw
turning the knob didn't require an invitation.
The gargantuan weasel had to duck his head to actually fit in the doorframe, so massive was Hallic Thargo...in fact, Jald wasn't sure this hulking monstrosity was a weasel at all. At seven feet tall, rippling with sinewy muscles, his red and blue painted face, a silver ring through his nose, a golden pin in either cheek and small silver studs hanging from his ears, looking down at his ferret counterpart, Hallic was a sight to chill the blood of many. Even Jald, who rarely allowed himself to lose any ground with his associates in the mercenary underworld, allowed himself a bit of humility with this savage maniac.
Hallic's mouth opened, showing his long, sharpened fangs, a huge fist running through his spiked hair, a single guttural growl escaping his throat, "Nightson..."
"Hello, Hallic..." Jald muttered, inaudibly, his eyes more on Hallic's long shafted trident and the dagger on Hallic's belt that seemed as long as Jald's arm. Hallic was an unpredictable and wily one at best, known as 'Threefist' for the ridged head piece he wore in battle which allowed him to headbutt as if he had a third fist, Hallic was one of the few beasts Jald firmly would not like to even fancy his chances against in battle.
Hallic was one of the five members of the elite team of killers serving Geras Irdanis, the head of the underground group Crimson Tears...of those five, only Davrag Joris was thought to be a match for Hallic. And, Jald reflected, knowing both fighter's pride, it was expected they'd one day meet in a fight to the death just to prove one was the better.
True, Davrag was quick, quicker then any other beast, but in such a contest, Jald's money would have been placed on the trident wielding Hallic...Jald had seen both of the killers at work, and Hallic's methods certainly chilled even him-allowing his enemy to get the first hit, reveling in pain...and then ripping his opponent limb from limb.
Jald rose to his feet, taking his broadsword with him as Hallic snarled his favorite title, "Supreme Warrior Hallic!"
"Yes, Supreme Warrior Hallic...whatever...what do you want?" That was probably not the wisest of sentences that could have come from Jald, but he was irritated to his last nerve by the dim witted, ferocious weasel.
"Geras...wants to see you, Nightson..." Hallic snarled, the words grating from his throat, Jald desperately tried to dismiss the rumors of Hallic having torn two of the Ruling Council of the Iridian otters apart with no assistance from his comrades...
In truth, Jald's life had become hell after his betrayal of Kalis and exile from the Calpathions. He had traveled to the city of Calishan, becoming a general sell sword and killer...then Geras Iridanis had appeared...taking over one of the most prominent underground groups in the city and proving himself remarkably adept at crime and vice.
Jald had kept himself firmly out of the conflict and Geras had been wise enough to acquire both the deadliest assassin team and the feared Manticore as his employees...Jald hated his lot in life, now...he firmly regretted his killing of Kalis, was even saddened by the end of his former leader...his selfishness shocked him now.
Jald nodded to Hallic, taking his crimson tunic from the bed and slipping it over his head, donning his forest green cloak as well as he nodded to Hallic who was already removing himself from the room-to Jald's immense relief. "Pitiful Davrag will take you to Geras!"
Jald waited several minutes until he was certain Hallic was gone, another sour thought appearing in his mind. It was well known Hallic was the consort of many females in the city and the thought of little Hallics running around simply turned Jald's stomach.
"What have I become...?" Jald growled under his breath as he removed himself from the room.
It was a short walk down the large building's corridor until he saw Davrag, speaking to the younger Arredon Toroth, both stoats and both members of the Five.
Like the younger Arredon, Davrag was tall and handsome, with gleaming amber eyes. He wore his long hair in a ponytail and carried two swords, as well as two bracers on his wrists.
Davrag nodded to Arredon and turned away from the younger stoat, turning his smile upon Jald...if Hallic was the one beast Jald never wanted to combat, Davrag was certainly the second.
"Jald Nightson..." Davrag and Arredon both nodded to him, Davrag's amber eyes glinting, he nodded to Arredon. "Tell Verria and Arithia to get ready for the next mission, Arredon...be quick about it too..."
Arredon nodded to the superior killer and stepped off, presumably to find Verria and Arithia, the other two members of the little quintet and another two of Jald's least favorite beings of the world...he liked Arithia even less then he liked Hallic, for she was sadistic to the extreme. There were times Jald thought he'd have to kill her in self defense, but always stopped when he thought of her dear lover Geras...thought privately Jald thought Geras would be glad to have the wicked Arithia dead...even the powerful leader of Crimson Tears couldn't fully control that one.
"Well met, Davrag..." Jald replied and Davrag nodded again.
"Come along, Jald..." Davrag replied in his cold voice, turning on his heel from the ferret and starting off down the corridor.
Jald sighed and followed, not wanting to bandy words with the black furred stoat, but Davrag solved that little issue himself. "Is it true you knew Aleran Nightblade, Jald? The one Sir Geras killed?"
"Aye, we were...associates for a few years..." A lie there, Aleran had been Jald's greatest friend for much of his youth.
"Indeed?" Davrag's tone was amused. "I desired a fight with Aleran Nightblade for years...but he was afraid and would never face me..."
Jald had to restrain a snort of irritation and scorn, Aleran Nightblade had been afraid of nobeast, Davrag or otherwise...
"Tell me, Jald...you have faced us both...who do you think would win in a straight confrontation? Never mind Aleran's son, Eroket..."
Jald had to think for a moment...he remembered Aleran's amazing skill and speed, compared to Davrag's...Davrag was one of the most feared swordbeasts in the entire region, never mind Calishan...he was Arredon's mentor, and even though Jald was more then a match for the younger stoat, he was unsure of how he could fair against Davrag or his bitter rival Hallic.
"Aleran would cut you down..." Jald replied, hoping to cause a fracture in the fortress of Davrag's pride.
Like ebony lightning, Davrag whirled, twin blades emerging from their sheaths, meeting Jald's blade instantly, Davrag smiled coldly as Jald growled.
"Try it..."
"I think not," Davrag sheathed the blades with the same speed that had drawn them, not turning his back on Jald until the ferret sheathed his sword as well...Davrag was certainly slyer then Hallic...
They came to Geras's room in a moment, Davrag's paw raised and knocked thrice, the ferret lord's voice answered, "Give a moment!"
Davrag smirked, "Busy with Arithia I bet..." He threw a wink at Jald, enjoying the ferret's look of disgust. The door opened a moment later, Geras framed in the doorway, dressed in a loose crimson robe, his customary schianova-the one taken from Aleran Nightblade's corpse-hanging from pegs on his wall...the beautiful female ferret Arithia stood behind him, similarly dressed, her own whip or torture tools not at paw currently...both Davrag and Jald were grateful for that with the wicked scowl she threw their way.
"You wanted to see me, sir?" Jald managed to ground out. Geras grinned and nodded, his dark brown furred well groomed, if slightly disoriented...it was common knowledge he was bedding Arithia, and the idea of that wicked demon in ferret's flesh whispering suggestions into Geras's ear was certainly a sobering thought...
"Yes, Jald...I did...apparently there's a...issue with a certain rival...I wish you to take care of it..."
Jald nodded slowly, digesting the information, "Why not one of your little quintet?"
"I have them working on another job, currently, Jald, don't question me..." Geras and Jald had been on opposite sides in the death Watch war but that mattered little now, by the Mercenary Code..."The target is Vandashira, the Living Darkness."
For a moment Jald was not sure if he heard correctly. Vandashira? One of the cruelest, beasts in the underworld, few had seen the vixen killer, fewer had lived to tell the tale. "You're joking..."
"Not at all...someone very high up sent this job, somebeast from the north at any rate...I'm inclined to agree with him actually...Vandashira's little...inclinations towards the murder of Crimson Tears's soldiers have been bad for business...the reward is rather large as well...ten thousand gold pieces."
Jald blinked, he knew Geras well enough to see the ferret was dead serious...Jald didn't care about the money though...that wasn't why he hunted... "Very well..." He cast a small grin at Davrag...his reputation and Davrag's were certainly tied for infamy...how his may swell if he claimed the bounties on the head of Vandashira the Living Darkness!"
"I'll take the job..."
"Excellent!" Geras grinned, nodding to the ferret, "It should be easy for you...reputed to be the equal of the late Aleran Nightblade..."
Jald felt searing rage for a moment...but as he had often learned, he suppressed his anger. "I was his fighting equal..."
"Not so loud, Jald! Davrag and Hallic would fight to see who got to kill you first...forgive me, fight you first." He smirked seeing the look on Jald's face. Jald gave a brief nod, seeing the conversation at its end, turned and walked off, contemplating his difficult job.
Geras winked at Davrag and shut the door, turning a sly grin at Arithia, seeing her scowl melt away into a seductive smile as he nodded to the bed. "Now where were we?"
The gargantuan weasel had to duck his head to actually fit in the doorframe, so massive was Hallic Thargo...in fact, Jald wasn't sure this hulking monstrosity was a weasel at all. At seven feet tall, rippling with sinewy muscles, his red and blue painted face, a silver ring through his nose, a golden pin in either cheek and small silver studs hanging from his ears, looking down at his ferret counterpart, Hallic was a sight to chill the blood of many. Even Jald, who rarely allowed himself to lose any ground with his associates in the mercenary underworld, allowed himself a bit of humility with this savage maniac.
Hallic's mouth opened, showing his long, sharpened fangs, a huge fist running through his spiked hair, a single guttural growl escaping his throat, "Nightson..."
"Hello, Hallic..." Jald muttered, inaudibly, his eyes more on Hallic's long shafted trident and the dagger on Hallic's belt that seemed as long as Jald's arm. Hallic was an unpredictable and wily one at best, known as 'Threefist' for the ridged head piece he wore in battle which allowed him to headbutt as if he had a third fist, Hallic was one of the few beasts Jald firmly would not like to even fancy his chances against in battle.
Hallic was one of the five members of the elite team of killers serving Geras Irdanis, the head of the underground group Crimson Tears...of those five, only Davrag Joris was thought to be a match for Hallic. And, Jald reflected, knowing both fighter's pride, it was expected they'd one day meet in a fight to the death just to prove one was the better.
True, Davrag was quick, quicker then any other beast, but in such a contest, Jald's money would have been placed on the trident wielding Hallic...Jald had seen both of the killers at work, and Hallic's methods certainly chilled even him-allowing his enemy to get the first hit, reveling in pain...and then ripping his opponent limb from limb.
Jald rose to his feet, taking his broadsword with him as Hallic snarled his favorite title, "Supreme Warrior Hallic!"
"Yes, Supreme Warrior Hallic...whatever...what do you want?" That was probably not the wisest of sentences that could have come from Jald, but he was irritated to his last nerve by the dim witted, ferocious weasel.
"Geras...wants to see you, Nightson..." Hallic snarled, the words grating from his throat, Jald desperately tried to dismiss the rumors of Hallic having torn two of the Ruling Council of the Iridian otters apart with no assistance from his comrades...
In truth, Jald's life had become hell after his betrayal of Kalis and exile from the Calpathions. He had traveled to the city of Calishan, becoming a general sell sword and killer...then Geras Iridanis had appeared...taking over one of the most prominent underground groups in the city and proving himself remarkably adept at crime and vice.
Jald had kept himself firmly out of the conflict and Geras had been wise enough to acquire both the deadliest assassin team and the feared Manticore as his employees...Jald hated his lot in life, now...he firmly regretted his killing of Kalis, was even saddened by the end of his former leader...his selfishness shocked him now.
Jald nodded to Hallic, taking his crimson tunic from the bed and slipping it over his head, donning his forest green cloak as well as he nodded to Hallic who was already removing himself from the room-to Jald's immense relief. "Pitiful Davrag will take you to Geras!"
Jald waited several minutes until he was certain Hallic was gone, another sour thought appearing in his mind. It was well known Hallic was the consort of many females in the city and the thought of little Hallics running around simply turned Jald's stomach.
"What have I become...?" Jald growled under his breath as he removed himself from the room.
It was a short walk down the large building's corridor until he saw Davrag, speaking to the younger Arredon Toroth, both stoats and both members of the Five.
Like the younger Arredon, Davrag was tall and handsome, with gleaming amber eyes. He wore his long hair in a ponytail and carried two swords, as well as two bracers on his wrists.
Davrag nodded to Arredon and turned away from the younger stoat, turning his smile upon Jald...if Hallic was the one beast Jald never wanted to combat, Davrag was certainly the second.
"Jald Nightson..." Davrag and Arredon both nodded to him, Davrag's amber eyes glinting, he nodded to Arredon. "Tell Verria and Arithia to get ready for the next mission, Arredon...be quick about it too..."
Arredon nodded to the superior killer and stepped off, presumably to find Verria and Arithia, the other two members of the little quintet and another two of Jald's least favorite beings of the world...he liked Arithia even less then he liked Hallic, for she was sadistic to the extreme. There were times Jald thought he'd have to kill her in self defense, but always stopped when he thought of her dear lover Geras...thought privately Jald thought Geras would be glad to have the wicked Arithia dead...even the powerful leader of Crimson Tears couldn't fully control that one.
"Well met, Davrag..." Jald replied and Davrag nodded again.
"Come along, Jald..." Davrag replied in his cold voice, turning on his heel from the ferret and starting off down the corridor.
Jald sighed and followed, not wanting to bandy words with the black furred stoat, but Davrag solved that little issue himself. "Is it true you knew Aleran Nightblade, Jald? The one Sir Geras killed?"
"Aye, we were...associates for a few years..." A lie there, Aleran had been Jald's greatest friend for much of his youth.
"Indeed?" Davrag's tone was amused. "I desired a fight with Aleran Nightblade for years...but he was afraid and would never face me..."
Jald had to restrain a snort of irritation and scorn, Aleran Nightblade had been afraid of nobeast, Davrag or otherwise...
"Tell me, Jald...you have faced us both...who do you think would win in a straight confrontation? Never mind Aleran's son, Eroket..."
Jald had to think for a moment...he remembered Aleran's amazing skill and speed, compared to Davrag's...Davrag was one of the most feared swordbeasts in the entire region, never mind Calishan...he was Arredon's mentor, and even though Jald was more then a match for the younger stoat, he was unsure of how he could fair against Davrag or his bitter rival Hallic.
"Aleran would cut you down..." Jald replied, hoping to cause a fracture in the fortress of Davrag's pride.
Like ebony lightning, Davrag whirled, twin blades emerging from their sheaths, meeting Jald's blade instantly, Davrag smiled coldly as Jald growled.
"Try it..."
"I think not," Davrag sheathed the blades with the same speed that had drawn them, not turning his back on Jald until the ferret sheathed his sword as well...Davrag was certainly slyer then Hallic...
They came to Geras's room in a moment, Davrag's paw raised and knocked thrice, the ferret lord's voice answered, "Give a moment!"
Davrag smirked, "Busy with Arithia I bet..." He threw a wink at Jald, enjoying the ferret's look of disgust. The door opened a moment later, Geras framed in the doorway, dressed in a loose crimson robe, his customary schianova-the one taken from Aleran Nightblade's corpse-hanging from pegs on his wall...the beautiful female ferret Arithia stood behind him, similarly dressed, her own whip or torture tools not at paw currently...both Davrag and Jald were grateful for that with the wicked scowl she threw their way.
"You wanted to see me, sir?" Jald managed to ground out. Geras grinned and nodded, his dark brown furred well groomed, if slightly disoriented...it was common knowledge he was bedding Arithia, and the idea of that wicked demon in ferret's flesh whispering suggestions into Geras's ear was certainly a sobering thought...
"Yes, Jald...I did...apparently there's a...issue with a certain rival...I wish you to take care of it..."
Jald nodded slowly, digesting the information, "Why not one of your little quintet?"
"I have them working on another job, currently, Jald, don't question me..." Geras and Jald had been on opposite sides in the death Watch war but that mattered little now, by the Mercenary Code..."The target is Vandashira, the Living Darkness."
For a moment Jald was not sure if he heard correctly. Vandashira? One of the cruelest, beasts in the underworld, few had seen the vixen killer, fewer had lived to tell the tale. "You're joking..."
"Not at all...someone very high up sent this job, somebeast from the north at any rate...I'm inclined to agree with him actually...Vandashira's little...inclinations towards the murder of Crimson Tears's soldiers have been bad for business...the reward is rather large as well...ten thousand gold pieces."
Jald blinked, he knew Geras well enough to see the ferret was dead serious...Jald didn't care about the money though...that wasn't why he hunted... "Very well..." He cast a small grin at Davrag...his reputation and Davrag's were certainly tied for infamy...how his may swell if he claimed the bounties on the head of Vandashira the Living Darkness!"
"I'll take the job..."
"Excellent!" Geras grinned, nodding to the ferret, "It should be easy for you...reputed to be the equal of the late Aleran Nightblade..."
Jald felt searing rage for a moment...but as he had often learned, he suppressed his anger. "I was his fighting equal..."
"Not so loud, Jald! Davrag and Hallic would fight to see who got to kill you first...forgive me, fight you first." He smirked seeing the look on Jald's face. Jald gave a brief nod, seeing the conversation at its end, turned and walked off, contemplating his difficult job.
Geras winked at Davrag and shut the door, turning a sly grin at Arithia, seeing her scowl melt away into a seductive smile as he nodded to the bed. "Now where were we?"