(A/N)- Sorry, friends, for the long delay in production. I have had a bunch of school work to do, as well as finding a job. Chapter will hopefully become more regular from here on out.

Ulric, Orland, and a newly awakened Grend walked down Frey Row, with Raven still unconscious in Orland's arms. They each wore their coats, all but Orland, who had wrapped Raven in his leather jacket.

Frey Row had a multitude of shops, stalls and other assorted booths. Each packed end to end, with barely a space between them. Frey Row was the home to Vale's black market. A very inconspicuous black market at that. Not every stall carried illegal or imitation goods. Other carried produce, clothing, dust supplies, and many others of the like. Orland fortunately knew which sold illegal goods, and which would rat you out if you asked for them.

Ulric kept pace with a hurried Orland. He looked from side to side, causally scanning the stalls. He saw one man from behind a weapon stall watch them as they walked past, concentrating on the bundled-up Raven in Orland's arms.

"A man we just passed is watching us." Ulric muttered in the faintest sense of a whisper. "And now he is following us."

"Don't worry about it, it's probably nothing. Where we need to be should be right up ahead, around the corner." Orland said, slightly out of breath from carrying Raven and walking so fast.

They moved at a slightly faster pace, the man behind them still following. They rounded the corner, and Orland stopped to look around. He walked up to an abandoned building and read the sign on it.

"This should have been it, but it says the guy that used to own this place moved shop. He could be anywhere on this street." Orland griped. Ulric leaned against the wall, and Grend rubbed their temples.

Ulric looked up quickly, feeling the burning of someone staring at the group. In front of him was the man that was following them. He stood as tall as Ulric, even with a slight hunchback. He was as skinny as a rail. Hair wiry and paper thin, but as black as the night. He was dressed in a ragged long sleeve shirt and oil stained pants. He looked at the group with yellow, sunken in eyes.

"Trouble." Ulric growled, straightening up and unsheathing his blade a few inches. A warning.

"Calm down, will ya? I only wanna take a look at the girl." He said, his voice nasally and shrill, and took a step forward.

"Hold on there. You're about to not look at anyone, you creep. Take him out Ulric." Orland backed against the wall with Raven. Ulric took a long look at the man in front of them. Grend looked back and forth between Ulric and the man. Their lavender eyes always watching. They had their hand on their blade as well, their knuckles whitening and their focus sharp.

"Orland, let him look at Raven." Ulric didn't take his eyes away from the man, but he slid his sword back into it's sheath fully, and took his hand off the pommel.

"So it is Raven... What happened to her? Never mind, no time. Get inside." The strange man said hurriedly. He walked over to the store and unlocked the door. "Now, I said. Quickly." He ushered them in, pushing at their backs and closing the door firmly behind the trio.

"Of course..." Whispered Orland. "Let's go guys, this is the dude we were looking for." He said, following the man inside the small rom. The team shuffled into the store, and the man locked the door behind them.

"Lay her down on the table." The man said, he moved over to the counter, and started moving things around to make room.

After Raven was laid on the table, and the man was able to make sure she was okay, he started to speak more casually. "So, tell me now." He pulled a silver and black pistol from a concealed holster at his side, and aimed it at the three in front of him. "What happened to my sister?"

"... Shit." Mumbled Orland.