The Gauntlet, haven for thieves and brigands. I wonder what the black market has to offer here? Katibree thought to herself as she surveyed the rundown, dreary surroundings.
She watched as a gang fight was brought to its brutal conclusion in the middle of the street off in the distance. The remaining gang members walking off casually, leaving their adversaries bloodied, beaten, and in plain sight.
You'd think the economy here would be in absolute shambles, yet I see Inns, Taverns, and Shops lining the streets. I'm impressed. She mused to herself as she turned down a interesting looking side street that looked less run down than most.
"No fair Rza, it's my turn to play with it!" A little girl shouted.
"Too bad, I found it so I say who gets to play with it and when!" The older boy shouted back at her over his shoulder, running with what looked like a wooden figurine in his hands
Children, here?? the assassin thought to herself in dismay as she turned her head in the direction of the voices.
The boy, not paying attention to where he was going, ran directly into Katibree with a grunt. First staggering and then falling backwards, landing soundly on his butt while releasing the figurine reflexively.
The assassin caught the figurine, and after glancing at it a moment helped the boy up handing the toy back to him.
The boy brushed some shaggy silver colored hair from his eyes to get a better look at her. "Uhm... thanks miss!" he managed before running off again with the younger girl, cutting into a nearby alley.
They're pretty good. the half elf thought to herself with a smirk before following after them.
I can remember trying to survive on the streets at around their age, but at-least I had some protection from my guild, no matter how small it may have been at the time. It looks look those two are completely on their own.
She peered around the corner of the alley to observe them further.
"Did you get it?" the younger girl whispered eagerly.
"Yeah, I put it in my pocket... but I don't see it..." the boy replied, searching his over-sided pants pockets in frustration.
"Well if it's not there, then where is it? Don't tell me you dropped it Rza." the girl added in disbelief. "We can't keep stealing food all the time, if we get caught --"
"Don't be stupid Ino." Rza interrupted. "I woulda heard it --"
"Looking for this?" Katibree interjected while giving the re-pilfered coin purse a small toss and catching it, the contents within clinking together loudly on impact.
The children spun around at the sound of her voice, both sets of blue eyes widening comically.
"Rza and Ino was it? That was a pretty good show you guys put on back there... but in the future, I'd refrain from using your actual names during your set up..." Katibree continued, giving the coin purse another careless toss and catching it once more.
"There's probably close to... I don't know 150 gold in here. Quite a score wouldn't you say?" the assassin asked them leaning against the alley wall casually.
The youngsters merely nodded at her, swallowing dryly.
"Well, why don't we make a deal then?" she proposed, pushing a rouge crimson lock behind her ear before continuing.
"Wha... what's that?" Rza stammered suspiciously, while eying her weapons.
"I'll give you this, if you promise me that you'll use some of it to get provisions, proper traveling gear, and transportation to get out of this town. This is no place for children to be on their own." the half elf stated bluntly. "So, do we have a deal?"
"Uhhh...I..." Rza stammered in indecision and disbelief.
"Say YES stupid!" Ino whispered, elbowing him roughly.
"Shut up, I'm trying to think!" he shot back at her. There's gotta be some kinda catch --
"We promise!" Ino piped up with a dutiful nod, her blond ponytail slapping Rza in the face as she hopped in front of him. "We'll get out of here and make a fresh start straight away!"
"Good girl." the assassin replied, tossing her the coin pouch and turning to walk off.
"Hey what's your name Miss?" Ino shouted after her, ignoring Rza's irritated glare.
"It's not important, It's not like you won't recognize me if you see me again." Katibree replied back never slowing her pace.
"I guess not..." Ino said quietly.
"Hey Rza, do you think that lady dyes her hair? It's got two different col -- HEY!" she exclaimed, as he took the pouch from her.
"Come on Ino, we can't just be standin' around anywhere with this!" he shot back gesturing at her to "come on" as he ran to their hideout.
I'll shadow them for as long as it takes for them to get the supplies they need I suppose. The half elf thought to herself.
It's not like I have anything else to do as long as headquarters doesn't contact me, and carrying around that amount of gold in this town is basically asking to be mugged.
With that, she made her way to the roof tops of the town and backtracked to tail the two children undetected.