Thank you Judy for your comment
The cloaked figure watched the Templars stumble their way north toward the stairs that led to High Town. He wanted them far enough ahead that a casual glance backward would not give him away.
He followed the chantry fellows his leather boots making no sound on the worn Low Town cobblestones. His outline melting into the shadows.
The lithe figure darted from one darkened doorway to the next. Once he put the Templars to bed, so to speak, he would return to the Hanged Man to watch and wait for a little while.
His patience was all but rewarded tonight with her appearance. The pieces of his plan coming together finally. Satisfied he sent his companion off to let his employer that things were on back on track. He had no doubt in the game afoot. Working events towards his advantage sometimes required him to nudge the players in the right direction.
As he figured, nothing interesting happened to the Templar group before they made it to their destination. The monstrosity of the prison building racked his athletic body with an involuntary shiver. Even as a non-mage, the place intimidated him.
He wasn't close enough to the group that he could hear what was said by the blond knight but from his body language, he could guess he was giving orders.
That suited him fine. He would have them tucked into bed and out of the way until tomorrow when he could deal with them properly. He waited to leave until armored men made it beyond the gated threshold; the drunk had a terrible habit of wandering away and getting himself into trouble.
Satisfied he turned from his doorway vantage point and stepped out on to the street. There was no need to hide in the shadows. From his own body of work, he knew hiding made the criminals wandering the street more daring. He'd already had to dispatch several who thought him an easy mark.
When he returned from to his doorway across from the Hanged Man, his companion had returned and taken up lookout duty until he returned.
"Are they back at the Gallows?"
"Ah yes. No stops, no women or men, all very dull."
"Such a shame," the brunette offered clucking his tongue in sympathy. "I had a drink to make sure they were still there. From what I could see they were all in the back room getting cozy for a while. They were playing some game. But while we wait, you don't have to be dull."
The cloaked figure frowned. Last night a hurried fumble and sated passions would have excited him. He might even have been the one to suggest it. His companion was charming enough. And the warm hand stroking his thigh had piqued his interest. But tonight, it just felt sordid.
He placed his hand on the man's toned back and allowed his fingers to trace his spine to his delectable butt. He let his hand linger there for several moments before patting it gently. "A tumble in the dark with our breaths entwined sounds like fun my friend but alas I cannot. Maybe tomorrow when we finish this. You and I can find a room and we can make a day of it."
The man sighed dramatically as if he was told no period and not just for the moment. "Very well then, I must wait until tomorrow. Maybe it's just as well. He wants to see you."
The two men stood in silence for the next hour watching the establishment. Assuming they had gotten rooms, he pushed himself off the wall. "Let's go see what the fellow wants."
It was a short walk to the warehouse, and private dock rented to his employer. He stealthily slipped in past the two guards at the door. They would have let him in if he had identified himself, but he was avoiding Sayban. The woman was fancying herself in love with him, and that would not do.
She was a delightful distraction and source of information on his employers. But his heart was still too broken to allow for anything more than a dalliance.
He nimbly bounded up the stairs to the second level avoiding the flimsy leg-hold traps. Standing in the doorway of the brightly lit room he watched in disgust Trajan practice his craft.
The Tevinter Magister was one of the more despicable people he'd dealt with and in his long career he had worked with plenty like him. He was standing over some small thing tied to a chair covered in blood and mewling. He didn't know what the person had done to earn such punishment, but he was tempted to loosen a dagger at his chest to stop their torture. True torture was an art not this barbarianism.
Instead, he cleared his throat and stepped into the room. "Forgive me for interrupting but you summoned me."
"You." Trajan accused.
The hood of his cowl covered his face not allowing the Magister to see the wicked smile that played on pouty lips. Leaning against the jam of the door he taunted Trajan. "Here I am."
"Do not bait me, you worthless excuse for …" Trajan gathered his calm. It wouldn't do to get angry and kill the help before he finished the job. Then he would take immense pleasure in killing him. "I must admit I am surprised you answered the summons. But since you are here alone, I assume you failed again. I'd have thought you would have run away in shame from all the unsuccessful attempts."
The cloaked figure tilted back his head and laughed gleefully. "My dear fellow, failure is not an option for the Crows. I said I would get you your Warden and I will."
"Then why is it not done? You've had months. And all I must take back to my Master is excuses. I thought the Crows were the best..."
"The Crows are the best. As assassins. But you want your prey alive. The rules and methods we have used in the past do not work. You demanded no one be aware of your target's disappearance. Which we will accomplish tomorrow with your help. The trap is ready to go I just need the diversion supplied by your mages."
"This better work. Or I will kill you and wipe out the entire house Valisti when your Prince comes to explain why the job is taking as long as it has."
Trajan wasn't aware how much that comment pleased the hooded figure. Claudio would die for his crimes, and he would see that it happened. It was the second reason he took the job when he found out about the contract. He had not planned to deal with the Crow first but would not turn down an offered gift.
"Then it is good that he is coming. You can give him the gold personally after your men do their job. Just make sure with their magic they don't kill anyone."
"My mages will do their job. You just do yours."
The cloaked man laughed to himself and admitted to himself how much doing his job would please him. And turned to leave without another word.