Chapter 2

The dusty road led into a small village. Wary eyes followed the beautiful youth in black as he made his way further into the town. He didn't seem to notice the longing glances, the women directed at him as he dismounted in front of the tavern.

"We've already stopped in three villages. Why don't we call it a day?" a rough voice said as the rider walked into the tavern. He gave no sign that he even heard the voice coming from near his left hip.

All the faces in the bar turned to appraise the rider in turn, regardless of gender. Some of the eyes glossed over while blushes colored their cheeks. Others looked to be in raptures at the very sight of the youth. Only one face hidden behind a deep blue velvet hood remained unfazed by his appearance.

The rider made his way to the back of the bar and the table occupied by the person in the deep blue cloak. "Your mother asked that I give this to you," he said in a silky smooth baritone. Laying the delicate ring on the table the figure in black turned to leave. A small hand reached out to take the ring.

"How did she die?" the figure in blue asked. She managed to conceal the silent tears filling her eyes.

The hunter paused briefly. Without turning around he answered, "She died well."

The figure in blue took comfort in his words. She knew her mother was a strong woman, but to hear the praise come from a true hunter filled her with pride. Slipping her mother's wedding band in place on her right hand, she followed the hunter outside.

The sun was starting it slow descent in the west. Purples, pinks, and reds painted the sky. A light breeze had picked up from the north giving the air a slight chill. The streets were growing busy as the villagers scurried to their homes to escape the coming night.

"May I ask your name?" the figure in blue asked as she approached the hunter.

"D," he answered without stopping.

"My name is Elise," the girl said in a voice that sounded far too deep for her slender frame. The hunter didn't acknowledge the girl as he untied his horse. "Tell me D, are you a hunter?"

"Isn't that obvious," a gravel voice said. The girl's eyes focused briefly on D's left hand.

"Well if that's the case, I want to hire you."

D paused before mounting his horse. "It's ten thousand a day," he said in a flat tone.

"Agreed," Elise, said without hesitation.

Without the slightest effort, D was suddenly off the ground and seated in his saddle. Elise marveled at how fluidly he moved. It seemed to be as easy as breathing for him.

"Let me settle my account with the owner of the tavern, and we can leave." Making an abrupt turn, she glided back into the way she had come.

"She seems a little peculiar," D's left hand said as soon as Elise disappeared from sight. "Usually only assassins wear face concealing cloaks and voice modulators. I wonder what she could be hiding."

D made no reply to the musings his left hand made. He had another puzzle on his mind. Elise knew how to carry herself far too well. There was a chance she could have had implants placed at the Capital, but there was something in her air that made him think this was not the case.

"What is taking that girl so long?" D's left hand asked impatience leaking into his voice.

Without a word, D dismounted and walked back to the tavern. The scene that greeted him was a familiar one. The women in the tavern had moved to the back allowing the men to surround the person in the center. A man lay unconscious near the bar and large bump forming on his forehead. There appeared to be no other injuries.

The figure in the center was easily dwarfed by the men. Her dark chestnut brown hair fell to her waist in loose curls creating a curtain around her. Her slight frame looked as if it would break should any of the men land even a glancing blow. Still she stood in the center of this hostile group without fear.

It was a wonder why they had yet to attack, but when D stepped through the door, he understood why the men were frozen in place. An aura that exuded danger emanated from the small female in the center of the room.

"Somebody get the Sherriff," a voice barked out.

"I just want to settle my account and be on my way," the slight figure said in the voice of an angel.

"Don't worry you can settle everything up later," a different voice from the hostile crowd chimed in. It was clear in his voice exactly what he expected as payment, and it had nothing to do with money.

"I don't have time for this," the angel voice said sounding impatient.

"Well, you're gonna have to make time," the Sherriff said joining the mob. He was a wall of muscle advancing through the men. Disheveled, reeking of alcohol and cheap women, it was clear he had just arrived from the brothel that served the town.

"So what happened to Patrick?" he asked with a head nod at the man-laying unconscious on the floor still. At his signal, two of the smaller men in the group picked the heap on the floor up and attempted to drag him out of harm's way. It wasn't until a third man joined them that they were able to succeed in their task.

"Patrick was being all nice and everything, offering this ungrateful woman here a drink. When she got all high and mighty, and attacked him without any reason." It was clear the person telling the events was friends with the worthless lump now tucked safely in the corner.

"Is that what happened?" the Sherriff asked the slight figure in the center. He waited for a response licking his lips in anticipation. "Did you forget how to talk?" he asked when the silence started to stretch to long.

"Oh, I'm sorry were you speaking to me?" the angel voice asked. Her response riled the group of men up further.

"This is starting to get a little dangerous for our new employer, don't you think," D's left hand said. Walking forward he moved through the men, and up to the figure that held them all at bay.

"And what do you think you're doing pretty boy?" the Sherriff asked as D took up position next Elise. D made no reply to the course man in front of him.

"Are you ready to leave?" he asked looking down at Elise. Looking up into D's face, she nodded. Together the two of them walked out of the tavern. The only sound that could be heard was the tinkling of several coins as they landed on the counter. It was the exact amount she owed on her account.