Attrei looked back. The foul human was still following him. Darn. Finding a quiet place where no one would see him transform was impossible in this town. He had hoped if he went to a dark back alley it would be safe, but then this sweaty fatty had started to follow him and didn't want to give up. I should've put some glyphs on my clothes. He had drawn them only on Mario and Korlys' clothes; he didn't realize he might need them as well. The mage pressed his lips together. There was no other choice - he had to use his magic.

Muttering the spell under his breath, he turned the nearest corner. It was a narrow dead end path and, thank the Maker, there was no one else there. He could hear the man jeering, calling indecent proposals after the 'missy'. The moment the man appeared, with a disgusting leer on that sweaty pudding of a face, Attrei cast the spell. The man slumped down on the street.

Maybe I should check to see if he has any money. Mario would. But for that, he would have to touch him. Shivering in disgust, he turned away. No… he couldn't afford to waste time, right? He had to fly to the docks. With a last furtive glance around, he turned into a sparrow and flew up into the air.

oOo

"Remember, all you need to do is to look pretty. You just need to distract guys like you did at the gate. I'll take care of the rest. Okay?" Mario said, as he looked around the market. So many targets! It seemed ages since he'd had a proper challenge.

"Do not worry about me," Korlys muttered. He was glad to have Attrei's glyphs with him, though. The last thing he wanted was to get too much attention. "Just give me the signal when you are ready." The Antivan scanned the marketplace, identifying the stalls a noblewoman would be most interested in, and headed that way. His first stop was a merchant selling fine silks, satins, and lace.

Good choice. Mario walked away a bit, as if he and Korlys - the lady, now - didn't know each other. It didn't take long until an old man with a much younger woman headed to the stall - a daddy with a spoiled daughter, from what it seemed. Perfect. Those were always willing to spend a lot, which meant they wouldn't miss a gold coin or two. He scratched his nose - the signal for Korlys to begin.

The assassin started casually looking through the merchant's wares, feeling the materials as if trying to find something suitable - in the right colour or weight, perhaps. Pretending not to notice the couple, he sighed loudly.

"Really, how do Fereldans make do with such inferior material? I could not possibly have a proper dress made out of these fabrics!" Pretending to notice the young lady for the first time, he let his eyes grow wider as he leaned across the man to lay a hand on her arm. "My, that is such a darling dress you are wearing! Tell me my dear, where did you get the fabric for it? Surely not in Ferelden, yes?"

"Thank you, madame. It was made by a tailor here in Gwaren, Ima Taylor. I may truly recommend her - she provides the best quality; even the Teyrn's family uses her services. Although, if I may say so, your dress is just as lovely."

Yes, yes, keep going on. Putting on the air of a servant on an errand, he walked past the noble: briskly, but not too fast, with a focused look that said he was too busy to notice the people around him. Untying the coin purse - pleasantly bulging - was a matter of a few seconds. A few yards later, he abruptly stopped and snapped his fingers, as if he had suddenly remembered something, and headed to another stall.

Noticing Mario's signal, Korlys concluded his conversation and moved on. There weren't many people at the next stall, where a merchant was selling exotic furs. There were mantles lined with vair - the winter coat of the red squirrel - sewn together in alternating pieces of blue-grey back fur and grey-white belly fur to create exquisite patterns. He also saw cloaks lined with the beautiful dark-chocolate coloured furs of marten and mink; many coats made with rabbit furs of various colours - an item that would be a luxurious way to deal with the Fereldan cold, if Fereldans weren't so damn practical - and exotic fur rugs.

One particularly breathtaking rug caught Korlys' eye. It was round, about four feet in diameter, and made of rabbit fur in snow white, deep chocolate brown, and a light, café au lait coloured tan, arranged in a star pattern. He ran his hand across it lovingly, the soft sensual feel of the plush fur irresistible to the hedonistic Antivan.

"Ah, I see Madame has an exquisite taste that is not often seen in these parts of the world, if I may be so bold," the merchant said in the strong accent of an Anders.

Korlys looked up, schooling his face into the disinterested, slightly bored look of a jaded noblewoman, although he knew it was far too late for that. The man in front of him was a tall, well-built blond in his early forties, with a short, neat beard, and crystal-blue eyes. He wore the self-satisfied expression of a fisherman who has hooked a big one, and thinks all he has left to do is reel in his catch.

"It is a beautiful rug," Korlys admitted grudgingly. "How much?"

The merchant flashed a brilliant smile. "For a pretty lady like you, three gold coins."

What's he doing? He wants to buy that? Mario watched from the side. He couldn't understand why anyone would want a rug, but if his Antivan wanted it, so be it. Giving Korlys a thumbs up, he nodded towards where the merchant had his chest hidden. He felt a light tingle on his arm where Attrei had drawn one of the glyphs on his shirt, and glanced around in panic, but nobody was looking at him. He crouched behind a stall and melted into the shadows. Careful not to bump into anyone, he started sneaking towards the chest.

"I will take it," Korlys said promptly, noticing Mario's signal. "Please wrap it up and have a boy send it to my room at the Purple Monkey - under the name of Lady Catalina Windsor."

Korlys watched in satisfaction as the merchant's expression turned to avarice. A noblewoman too rich to bother haggling? He wouldn't let this customer go so easily.

"Of course, your ladyship," the merchant said, as he promptly wrapped the rug and called for one of the youths loitering around, waiting for small jobs like this one.

"Take this to the Purple Monkey, under Lady Windsor's name, and be quick about it," he said, slipping the kid a silver. He took the coins Korlys held out to him, the Antivan's attitude no more concerned than if they were three silvers.

"Now," the merchant said, as he clapped his hands together and rubbed them, seemingly just starting to really get down to business. "What other fine goods may I show your ladyship? How about one of my many exquisite fur coats?"

Korlys nodded. "I do need a new one. All I have is the one I wore last season, and I certainly cannot be expected to wear it again this season."

"Certainly, m'lady." The merchant turned and selected several fur coats and began to point out the excellent craftsmanship of them all. Korlys didn't even bother glancing in Mario's direction, sure the man was already well on his way now to burglarizing the chest.

Seeing the merchant was fully focused on serving the lady, Mario sneaked to the chest. He expected a much more complicated lock… and more gold. There were thirty gold coins at most. Still, it would take pick pocketing at least ten nobles to get this much. He pocketed the coins, taking a few silver as well for good measure, and locked the chest again. With some luck, the merchant wouldn't notice anything until the next time he had to open the chest.

He sneaked away, and hid behind a pile of empty crates and sacks in a nearby alley; when he was sure nobody had noticed him, he stepped out of the shadow and gave the okay signal to Korlys. A few more jobs like this, and we'll be rich.

Korlys wrapped it up by saying he just could not decide, and commenting that he might come around the next day to select and purchase the one he liked best.

The Antivan followed Mario's lead as the thief unobtrusively pointed out the best marks, and by the time they were done for the day, Korlys was ready to get out of the dress and relax, hopefully with a good bottle of wine and Mario in his bed.

oOo

The view that opened below him was so magnificent that for a moment he forgot to fly. Everything was pulsing with life: the lines of piers jutting into the sea; the ships and boats rocking on the waves; the miniature figures of people crawling all over the place, carrying barrels and crates, shouting and swearing and singing, their voices rising with the cries of the seagulls into a chaotic but not unpleasant mixture. Attrei hovered in the air, absorbing all the unfamiliar sensations, until he remembered his task.

He spent some time following the men carrying barrels and sacks, but they only kept taking things in and out of big wooden buildings; no one said anything useful and there were no chalkboards he could see. Then, after what seemed like hours, a ship sailed in, and the men that got out talked about getting to the dockmaster. Andraste had finally smiled on him, he thought, as he flew after them to a small office, just like Korlys had said. He landed on the nearest lamp post, hoping to hear something that could help him.

"The Black Lie," said the tall man, leaning heavily on the counter as he did so. His face was as weatherbeaten as old gnarled wood, deeply lined and suntanned almost to black. His dark hair was pulled back into a low ponytail, showing off the many earrings dangling from each earlobe, and he had a red kerchief tied around his neck.

"Oh ho! So, you're finally here, eh? You know I've had those blasted merchants bothering me every day for a week, wondering where you were at?" the shorter, more portly man asked, as he looked up from the pad of paper he was using to make notes. Wispy strands of his thin, white hair danced around his head in the stiff sea breeze, and his long, equally white beard fluttered like a flag. The man's hair made his white shirt look dingy in comparison. He had beefy forearms poking through his rolled up shirtsleeves, and a tan that was dark enough to rival the first man's. "What happen? Storm blow up?"

The tall man nodded. "That's right, right off the coast of Llomerryn. Rotten luck, I suppose."

"Well, do you have a cat on board? That brings good luck, you know."

"We had a ship's cat - Emmy - but we couldn't find her when it came time to set sail, and we had to leave her behind."

Greybeard, as Attrei was beginning to think of him, tsked. "You should pick one up while you're here, Jack; docks are full of them," the man said absentmindedly as he returned to his paperwork.

Jack grunted in agreement. "Say, is the Naughty Wench still open?" he asked, turning the conversation to more stimulating matters as they concluded their business.

Greybeard gave a coarse laugh. "Of course, mate. Sally still asks about you at least once a week."

"Well, I'll be paying her a little visit tonight, then," Jack replied with a wink. "The men have been itching for shore leave, with all the rough weather we had."

"I bet. It will be a rowdy crowd in there tonight, for sure."

The tall man grinned. "Isn't it always? Swing by and I'll buy you a pint," he added, then turned and headed back down the docks.

Attrei tilted his head, thinking. What now? Korlys said he would find the information they needed in the office, but he couldn't just fly in and start hopping around the papers! He'd have to turn into his normal self, but that wasn't possible with Greybeard around. And he couldn't cast a sleep spell strong enough to affect a human while he was a bird… No, he decided after a moment. The best chance would be to follow the captain.

oOo

The Naughty Wench was completely different from the inns he'd stayed in with Korlys and Mario. There, the tables were separated so the guests would have privacy during their meal, and everything was polished and clean. Here, everything was in one big room without any order. Instead of upholstered chairs, there were only hard wooden benches. The guests were mostly men who sat in noisy groups, drinking ale from tall mugs that were carried to them by maids in dresses with low-cut necklines and tiny bells attached to their belts. The men leered at them, but they didn't seem to mind - they giggled and sat on the men's laps, and let them jiggle their bells. Once again, he was grateful that sparrows didn't blush.

He sat down on the rafters to have a good view of the captain, hoping it was a good idea to come to this weird place after all.

"Captain Jack!" a blonde-haired maid called out from across the room. She was a plump, cheerful looking woman with a ruddy face and a wide mouth, and a bosom that appeared to be dangerously close to escaping the confines of her bodice.

"Sally!" the captain replied, grinning as the maid hurried over with a pint of mead. "Did you miss me?" He reached over and gave her ample rear a playful slap as she arrived, jogging her arm just enough for some of the liquid to slosh out of the mug and onto the table.

She opened her mouth to say something, but just then Captain Jack wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her onto his lap, resulting in a squeal followed by laughter. The maid draped an arm casually around the man's shoulder. "O'course I missed you, Jack! Why I must have told James a thousand times if I told him once!"

Jack laughed. "So he said."

"Where you been, Jack? It's been ages," Sally asked, as the captain lifted the mug to his lips.

"Yeah, where you been, Jack?"

The captain's mug stopped inches from his lips as he looked up; his expression seemed to indicate that the new arrival wasn't a pleasant surprise. "Hello, Billy."

"Now, is that any way to greet an old friend, Jack?" Billy asked, as he swung a leg over the bench across the table from the captain, and sat down, swinging the other leg over until he was facing forward. He set his drink down in front of him. Billy's hair was so bleached from the sun that it was almost white, and pulled back into a ponytail. He was a sturdy man with not an ounce of fat on his frame, and shorter than Jack by about a head.

Jack's mug finished its trip to his mouth and he drank deeply, his eyes never leaving Billy's. He put the empty tankard on the table and turned to Sally. "How about another one?" he asked as he gently nudged the woman from his lap. It was easy to see he wanted his conversation with the other man to be a private one, and she nodded and hurried away.

The captain returned his gaze to Billy, who was regarding him with the intensity of a cat spying on a mouse. "So, what are you doing here, Billy? How's the Flor de la Mar?"

A bitter laugh was his reply. "She's fine, Jack. In fact, she was due to set sail a week ago, but I heard my old friend Jack was arriving shortly, so I decided to wait and say hello."

Jack grunted. "Hm, well hello!" Just then Sally returned with another drink, and he accepted it without comment. She took one glance at the other man, who hadn't touched his yet, and simply nodded and walked away.

Billy's expression grew grim. "You owe me money, Jack. I can't wait any longer to set sail. We leave for Orlais tomorrow, and I mean to get paid tonight!" he exclaimed, pounding a fist on the table for emphasis. A few heads poked up here and there around the room, but the pair was generally ignored, and the few spectators they did have quickly lost interest.

"Heheh. Well, I can't get it to you tonight, Billy. I just got into port! I still need to offload my cargo and get paid before I'll have any money to give you. But, the next time we see each other, I'll be sure to pay you everything I owe."

Apparently not pleased with this response, Billy jumped to his feet. He gulped down his drink, then threw the empty tankard, hitting Jack squarely on the head. Jack bellowed like an enraged bull and jumped to his feet as well, launching himself over the table with surprising speed for such a tall man.

Fascinated, Attrei watched as the captains started to fight, and then other men jumped up and started to shout and curse and fight as well. Everything they could grab and throw at each other they did and the air was full of flying bottles and mugs. The innkeeper was yelling at them to stop but was ignored, and the girls were squealing in high, shrill voices. In a minute, the whole inn was fighting; how the men knew who was a friend and who should get their face punched, Attrei had no idea.

But he had found out what he wanted to know; there was no reason to stay in this weird place any longer. When a stray tankard hit the window, shattering the glass and giving him a convenient exit, he flew out, heading back to the port. He wanted to see the ship, where it was docked and how big it was, so he could answer Korlys' and Mario's questions.

A few minutes later he landed in front of Flor de la Mar, exhausted but proud; finding the ship among all the others without asking anyone wasn't easy. He'd had to fly to the side of each one to read the names, and his wings hurt something awful. But the ship was worth it. It was huge – well over one hundred and twenty feet, he'd guess, and broad, and had four big wooden poles with a lot of ropes tied between them; it didn't make any sense to him at all, but it sure looked impressive.

He felt more than saw the movement behind him and flew away a few yards. Turning back, he saw a big, fat bird, white with grey wings and a frighteningly strong beak, staring at him as if he were a bing cherry brownie. There was no mistaking what it wanted - and it seemed it wouldn't give up easily. Heart thumping in panic, he cast a sleeping spell and watched in relief as the beast collapsed to the ground.

"Maker's tits! Did you see that bird?"

Someone saw him casting! Half-expecting to hear shouts warning about a maleficar and to get Templars, Attrei flew off again, choosing the shortest route to the market. The back alley was empty; it appeared the sleazy human had woken up in the meantime. After a quick check that there was no one nearby, he turned into an elf again and went to find his friends.

oOo

"Anne, there you are!" Korlys exclaimed. He hurried over to Attrei's side, Mario following close behind. They had just gotten to the end of the marketplace, the last of the stalls only a few yards behind them, and the crowds had yet to thin out. "Did you find the bakery? Did they have those tarts Lord Windsor likes so much?"

Never in his life had the mage been so relieved to see someone; he felt like he had been wandering around the market for ages, getting more and more desperate. There had been no trace of them, and what was worse, he wasn't sure he could find the way back to the inn on his own. Thank the Maker Korlys found him, or he'd have spent the night on the streets.

"Yes, my lady," he replied, remembering their act. "They will bring a tray to the inn, as you asked."

"Good. Come, I think it is high time I got back to my room for a bit of a rest. You have no idea how exhausting shopping can be!"

The trio arrived at the inn at teatime, and although Korlys hated to do it, he sent Attrei back out to fetch his tea and scones. As soon as they were all safely in his room, the Antivan locked the door. He immediately took off the wig and the dress with no regard for modesty, and tossed them on to the bed, then slipped on his most comfortable pair of pants. Mario and Attrei grabbed two of the seats around the empty fireplace. Korlys picked up one of the wineskins Mario had stolen and joined them; he took a grateful swallow, then passed it around.

"So, what did you find out?" Korlys asked, addressing Attrei.

Reclining in the armchair, the mage took a sip of the wine and passed the wineskin to Mario. "There's a ship, the Flor de la Mar; it's leaving for Orlais tomorrow. I'm sorry, I don't know the time. But, I think Billy - the captain, I mean - he needs money, because he was fighting with Jack over some debt, and it's a huge ship; there's plenty of room for three more people. Say… we won't have to pretend to be women on the ship, right?" He didn't think he could stand those shoes anymore.

"I wish," the assassin said, leaning back in the upholstered chair, his legs spread apart, so happy to be wearing pants again. "It is a three month voyage, with fair weather." Korlys eyed the wineskin in Mario's hand longingly - he'd had a rough day, after all - then returned to the mage. "But, let us start from the beginning. How did you find this out? Who is Jack, and where was this fight?"

"Jack is the captain of another ship. I couldn't get into the office, so I followed him to an inn. A weird place… nothing like this one. Even the name was funny, the Naughty Wench. Jack met one of the women there, and he was rude. All the men there were rude, though the women didn't mind it… Well, anyway, Jack met the captain of the Flor de la Mar and they had a fight over money and then everyone was fighting," Attrei explained. "Oh, and the women had funny dresses - they had bells on their belts. Why don't we have bells on our dresses as well?"

Mario almost choked on the wine. "You went to a brothel?! So not nice of you, Baby, to go alone," he teased, as he passed the wineskin to Korlys.

"We are not whores - that is why we do not wear bells, Attrei." Korlys found the idea of the little mage going to his first brothel alone very amusing. From the colour of Attrei's face, however, he'd say the kid felt more mortified than amused. "To your first trip to a whorehouse!" the Antivan said as he lifted the wineskin in a toast. He drank, then handed it to Attrei with a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

"B-but!" The mage looked from Korlys to Mario, ignoring the wineskin. He had read about brothels in Orlesian novels, and the Naughty Wench looked nothing like that. In brothels, everything was red and full of fluffy cushions and satin drapes. "It couldn't be a brothel - there were only tables and benches! No beds at all!"

A look of surprise crossed the Antivan's face for a moment, then he threw his head back and laughed. Mario joined in the laughter, not quite knowing what was so funny, never having visited a brothel himself, but not wanting Korlys to realize that.

"I don't see what's so funny," Attrei muttered, before taking a long swig from the wineskin.

"Hey, no offence." Mario leaned over to Attrei to pat him on the shoulder, and grab the wineskin at the same time. The last thing he wanted was to listen to the mage's drunken whining again. "But next time, take us with you, okay?"

"Va bene, enough of that." Korlys looked away, drumming his fingertips on the arm of the chair. After a few long moments, he turned back to look at his companions. "We need to know how much the captain will charge us, and try to arrange a cabin for the lady - she will need her privacy. But she would not send her own servant into a whorehouse. I will use Mario's wig and go as a human paid by her to be a runner."

"You wanna go alone?" Mario asked, disapproval clear in his voice.

"It is safer that way. I will stay in the shadows as long as I can, and the whorehouse will not be brightly lit. It should not take me long. But I just realized something - how will we explain Lord Windsor's absence?"

Trying to change the topic now? Mario pressed his lips together. "Who cares? Maybe the fucker is already in Orlais, doing business; a servant or a runner wouldn't know anyway. And it's not safer, not with the Crows out to get you."

"That reminds me, were those glyphs useful? If they helped, I can write more for Korlys before he goes," Attrei offered, glad that they had moved away from the brothel.

"Then go and do it," Mario cut in. "I need a word with Lady Windsor here." He waited till Attrei had taken Korlys' clothing and left - the mage had been so surprised he hadn't even protested - before he turned to Korlys again.

"You risk too much. What if the Crows find you? We should stick together. If you wanna go, fine, but I'll be following you in the shadows, and Attrei should be there as a bird. So if something happens, we can help."

Korlys frowned but didn't respond immediately. Instead he looked away, drumming his fingertips against the chair again as he thought it over. "You are right," he said, turning back to Mario. "It would be better if someone followed - but having you tail me is too risky; it is much easier to spot two people slipping through the shadows. Attrei will follow me as a bird. If something happens - which it will not - he can get a message back to you. If for some reason he is not able to put everyone to sleep, that is," the assassin added.

"Nobody ever saw me slipping through the shadows. Okay, fine! I won't argue with you. But..." The thief walked over to Korlys and pulled him up. "If you get yourself hurt, or caught, don't expect me to pity you. I'll go there to kick your ass myself. Understand?"

"Sí." Korlys wrapped his arms around the thief and pulled him in for a kiss. When they finally broke it, the assassin became all business again, turning to the washbasin and starting to remove his makeup. "Attrei and I will leave at dusk. If the captain was kicked out of the Naughty Wench, I am sure there will be another brothel or two nearby. I will find him before he gets too drunk, get the information we need, and be back here before you know it. Then we will have the whole night together, yes?" He glanced at Mario through the mirror hanging over the wash basin and gave him a wink.

"I hope so. But I'm warning you, I won't wait for you the whole night," Mario snapped.

"Oh? You will start without me?" Korlys asked with a roguish grin. "That might be fun to come back to."

"Perv," Mario accused. "Just get going already."

oOo

Once Attrei had given him a good description of the captain, and the shadows had grown deep enough, Korlys slipped out of the window. Attrei flew out in his sparrow form, and the pair made their way to the neighborhoods surrounding the docks. The area was rundown compared to the rest of the city: the buildings were shabbier, the alleyways dirtier, and the taverns and their patrons louder.

Korlys carefully watched the alleys and rooftops, looking for any signs of the Crows, as he made his way to the Naughty Wench. From Attrei's description of events, the Antivan doubted the man would still be there, and he was right. The place was still crowded, but the captain was nowhere to be found.

Betting the man wouldn't have given up on the night's festivities - he was a sailor, after all - Korlys started searching the other local establishments, concentrating on the brothels first. Attrei fluttered above him, perching somewhere close when the assassin entered a place, and continuing to follow once he left.

Luck was with him; the assassin found Captain Billy in the third brothel, and the man hadn't yet made his selection for the night.

The captain appeared to be in a surly mood as Korlys approached him - he was sporting a black eye and a bandage on his head and was nursing an ale, a sour look on his face.

"Good evening, ser," Korlys said with a small bow. "Would you be Captain Billy, of the Flor de la Mar?"

Billy eyed him warily. "And what if I am?"

"A Lady Windsor sent me to find you, to inquire about passage to Orlais aboard your ship for herself and her two servants. She understands that you are to set sail tomorrow?" The Antivan let the question linger in the air.

"Yes, we leave at noon," the captain said, looking cautiously optimistic. Korlys could see the thought of making extra money he hadn't counted on was brightening the man's mood already. Hopefully, it wouldn't also cause Billy to become greedy.

"Very good, ser. The lady insists on having a cabin. Would there be one available?"

Captain Billy scratched the stubble on his face thoughtfully. "Aye, we can make a cabin available for the lady. The fare will be fifteen sovereigns for her ladyship, and ten sovereigns apiece for each of her servants."

Thirty-five sovereigns was a bit steep, but Korlys knew a noble like her ladyship wouldn't think twice about paying it. "Very good, ser," he said again. "I will give Lady Windsor the information."

Their business concluded, Korlys bowed again and slipped out of the brothel, leaving Captain Billy with a smile on his face and a distant look in his eyes, as if he was already planning how he would spend his windfall.

The assassin slipped back into the shadows and headed for the Purple Monkey, with Attrei flying above him. Korlys scrutinized every shadow cast by the infrequent gaslights that lined the streets. The little pools of light just served to make the rest of the streets seem even blacker. Once he thought he saw a shadow that seemed a little thicker than the surrounding darkness. He paused to study it briefly, trying to convince himself that it must have been a trick of the flickering light, but the uneasy feeling he had wouldn't dissipate. He hurried on, staying in the shadows as much as he could, and it was with great relief that he finally slipped back into the room.

oOo

"There you are. Everything okay?" The moment his Antivan climbed in through the window, Mario had his arms wrapped around him. He tried to sound casual - as if he hadn't almost gone crazy with worry, imagining all the things that could go wrong, and peeking out of the window every five minutes to see if they were returning. Next time he was coming as well, no matter what Korlys said.

"Yes, everything's fine, don't worry," Attrei said, as he changed back into his normal self, but Mario ignored him, focused only on his Antivan.

"Everything is fine," Korlys echoed. He gave Mario a quick hug, then pulled off the itchy wig. "I found the captain. He wants fifteen gold to take the lady, and ten each for her servants. And he says a small cabin will be available for her use. The ship is set to sail tomorrow at noon." The assassin sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed heavily. They were so close now, but he was starting to feel the strain.

"Thirty-five gold? He's a bigger thief than we are!" Mario complained. "But we still have more than enough. So what's worrying you?"

"Nothing." Korlys smiled and sat up straighter, realizing his mistake too late. "I am just tired - I had to go to three brothels before I found the man." He looked at Attrei. "You must be tired too, after the day you had, sí?"

"Yes. I'll leave you two alone now if you don't mind. Goodnight," Attrei said, turning into a bird once more.

"Yeah, goodnight," Mario snapped; the sparrow was barely out of the window when he locked it and turned to Korlys again. "Okay. Will you tell me now what's wrong? Or are you saying you're too tired for talking and anything else?"

Korlys went to Mario, wrapped an arm around the thief's waist, and pulled him close. "There is nothing to worry about. This is the last night we will have alone together for months - we should not waste it." He slipped one hand behind Mario's neck and drew him in for a kiss, then stepped back once they'd broken it. "And, since we are alone..." He quickly moved to the drawer where he'd hidden the watch, pulled it out, and returned to Mario's side. "I have something for you." Handing the neatly wrapped package to him, the ex-Crow was surprised to realize how nervous he was. I hope he likes it...

A present? For me? "Thank you." He carefully unpacked the shiny paper to reveal a small box, and in it - Mario's eyes widened. He looked up at Korlys, but he couldn't make a sound. His fingers trembled as he took the watch out of the box and examined every detail.

Korlys' heart skipped a beat. "Do you like it?"

"Do I like it?" Mario asked incredulously. "It's beautiful." A wide smile spread across his lips. "Come here, and I'll show you how much I like it."

"Oh, so you want two gifts, now?" Korlys teased, but he stepped closer, his heart lighter now that things were right between them again. Crouching, he wrapped his arms around Mario's hips and picked him up. The thief squeaked in surprise, and Korlys chuckled. "This will be easier if you wrap your legs around me," he said gently. Once Mario did so, the ex-Crow carried him to bed and laid him down, then draped his body on top of him. "I am a very... lucky... man," he said, punctuating each word with a soft kiss.

"You and your crazy ideas." Mario couldn't stop smiling. "But, aren't we overdressed?" he asked, tugging at Korlys' shirt.

The Antivan sat up, straddling Mario's waist, and fixed the other man with a heated gaze. He slowly unbuttoned his shirt, exposing his broad chest and flat abs inch by inch. Emboldened by the desire he saw in the thief's eyes, Korlys got up. Mario did not seem at all anxious; maybe tonight would be the night... Korlys tugged at the laces of his pants, a wicked grin on his face. "Do you want to see more?" he teased.

"Yes," Mario replied hoarsely. "Strip for me."

oOo

Korlys could hardly believe it, but Mario still seemed relaxed, with no hint of the anxiety he'd suffered every other time they'd tried to be intimate. Unhurried, he'd spent time just kissing the other man - first his lips, then moving to his ears, throat, chest, and now abs, and Mario hadn't tensed once.

It had been frustrating, having to stop each time, after he'd gotten so aroused. But he'd managed to stay patient and understanding, and now it seemed that had paid off - Mario finally trusted him.

The thief moaned, and Korlys moved lower still, wrapping his mouth around him and starting to suck.

"Yes," Mario hissed, clawing his fingers into the Antivan's hair. "So good. Korlys, I… I want you to take me."

The assassin looked up into Mario's eyes - heavy-lidded and almost black with the pupils blown wide. The sight made him groan, but he managed to force himself to ask, "Are you sure, caro?"

"Yes," was all Mario was able to gasp.

He spread Mario's legs wide to prepare the man, but he had hardly begun when he felt his body tensing. "Relax," Korlys murmured. "I will not hurt you, just take a deep breath."

"I know. Don't stop."

The Antivan hesitated, not liking the way Mario's voice sounded. He had the uneasy feeling that the man was trying to white-knuckle it, but he pushed his reservations aside. He would relax and enjoy it once they got going - the thief just had to overcome his initial fear, right?

Korlys continued, being as gentle and as patient as he could, but it wasn't long before Mario yelled "No!" and pushed him away, crawling up the bed and breathing heavily.

"Why?" Korlys said in a frustrated huff. He got to his knees and sat back on his heels to get a better look at Mario's face. "I thought this was what you wanted."

"It is! But I can't… I'm sorry. I tried."

"Well, if you would just try a little harder to relax, you would enjoy it. Just give me a chance..." The Antivan hated the way that sounded, but how many times could Mario expect to get him aroused and then just stop? Korlys sympathized with what the other man was going through, but it wasn't fair to him, either.

Mario's eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean?"

It crossed the Antivan's mind to remind Mario that he had been raped too, many times, but hadn't had the luxury of saying no to sex later - he had just had to grit his teeth and do it, like it or not. But, he didn't want Mario to have to do that, just to be with him. This is not going to work out, is it? I cannot go my whole life without sex. Korlys felt a wave of despair at that. He didn't want to be with anyone else, either. "I just..."

"Yes?" Mario asked, surprise quickly replaced by annoyance. He folded his arms, glaring at Korlys. "Go on. I don't try, I get that. What else?"

Korlys crossed his arms as well. "What about me? I have needs too, you know! I... I really want to be with you, but..." the Antivan looked away with a scowl on his face. "But I want to have sex too," he muttered, feeling like a blackguard, and resentful that he'd been put in this position at all. "I am not the one who hurt you. How long will I have to suffer for someone else's actions?"

"I see. You have needs, and I selfishly stop you, just to make you suffer." Mario's voice was dripping with sarcasm.

"That is not what I meant, and you know it!" The Antivan uncrossed his arms, gesturing emphatically as he became more upset. "Do you even care about my needs? Do you expect our relationship to be platonic? I cannot live the rest of my life without sex, Mario; I need it!" Korlys threw up his hands in frustration. "If I had known this would happen, I would have bought one of the whores in the brothel while I was there! It would be nice to be with someone who wants to have sex with me for a change!" He looked away and crossed his arms again with a scowl. Korlys was already regretting his harsh words, but he'd be damned if he'd take them back now. Why should he be the one to apologize?

Mario's breath hitched. Silently, he got up from the bed, picked up his clothes, and pulled on his trousers. His fingers were numb; it took him two tries to unlock the window. "Yeah. If you think I don't care, you should've used a whore," he whispered as he climbed out of the window and melted into the night.

Korlys jumped out of bed, glaring at the open window. He stomped over and slammed the window down, then locked it and closed the curtains with a rough jerk. The Antivan stalked around the room, fuming. Needing to hit something, he raised his fist to the wall. That is not going to help, a more levelheaded part of him interjected. His fist stopped inches from the wall. The elf ran his hands through his hair in frustration once more, and went and sat on the side of the bed, burying his face in his hands. You see what happens when you care? Merda, now what?

He jerked at the sound of tapping on his window, hating himself more for the hope that suddenly bloomed inside of him. Do not be an idiot; he is not coming back. Korlys looked around, finally locating his pants and slipping them on. He grabbed a dagger, just in case, and opened the curtains slightly. It was just a sparrow. Letting out a breath he had barely been aware of holding, he unlocked the window and let Attrei in.

The sparrow shot in, almost knocking a candleholder over in the process. "What's going on?" Attrei breathed when he turned back into an elf. "Did the Crows come? I woke up to shouting, and then Mario banged into the room, weeping, and he didn't say a word to me - I think he didn't even notice me. He just grabbed his knife, pulled on his shirt and boots and was out. I… for a moment I thought the Crows got you," he admitted with a relieved smile, then frowned again when he saw the expression on Korlys' face. "So what happened?"

"Mario was weeping?" Korlys' chest constricted painfully. Hurriedly tugging on his boots and a shirt, he grabbed the sheaths for his daggers and strapped them on. "I have to find him. Stay here, in case he comes back." The Antivan glanced around the room distractedly. "Here." Korlys grabbed his coin purse and gave it to Attrei. "That is all the money we have. If we do not come back, take it-"

"Wait! What's happening? Why was he crying? I'm coming with you!" Why did nobody ever tell him anything? He wasn't a child anymore!

The assassin stopped long enough to focus on the mage, the anguish in his heart showing in his face. "We had a fight. It... it was all my fault. I said some harsh things and let him leave. Now I have to find him before something happens to him. You must stay here; what if he comes back and finds us both gone?"

Attrei doubted Mario would care where he was right now; if the rooms were empty, he'd probably go searching for Korlys. But it was better to let the two sort it out, without him hanging around; that would be awkward. "Okay. I'll stay here."

"Bene." Grateful the mage hadn't argued, he opened the window again and turned around. "Lock the window behind me, Attrei, and keep the curtains closed. Do not look out unless you hear one of us whistle." Then the assassin climbed out of the window and slipped into the shadows without another look back.

A/N: Extra special thanks to our betas - Oleander's One and Bloodsong 13T. This chapter would not have worked without your feedback and advice!

Thanks to our readers and reviewers as well - it's an amazing feeling to share this world with others, and we truly appreciate you all. If you like CRS, you may want to check out our new collection of one-shots with our boys - The Scuttlebutt.

"We are not whores - that is why we do not wear bells, Attrei."
In the past, prostitutes had to wear distinctive signs that clearly distinguished them from honourable ladies - different hairstyle, veils, or bells attached to their clothes. If they did not, it was seen as trying to conceal their profession - and that was a criminal offense.