Cold amber eyes met the untrusting eyes of Davrag's unlikely partners. The stoat was leaning against a building, just yards away from the door of the inn the two resided in and had greeted them when they had emerged, Boneflower's first response had been to draw her sword instantly and lunge until Ero had grabbed and yanked her back, explaining to her the situation as best he could with-fortunately- no 'interjections' from Davrag Joris.

"Well, my dear friends, how was the remainder of your night's rest?" Davrag was dressed in a dark tunic, cloak swirling around his slim figure, concealing his twin swords from view of the usual passer byes; he looked every inch the stereotypical assassin.

"How do you expect us to do that with the hint of your presence hovering over us?" Ero growled, more then a bit irritated at his unlikely ally.

"Sleep or not, I couldn't really care less so long as it doesn't impair your abilities," Davrag finished with a small leer at Boneflower that made her paw clench around her sword hilt all the tighter, muscles in her arms firmly visible against her fur.

"We dinnae care much fer yer pleasure, Joris..." Her voice was tighter and angrier then Ero could ever remember it, a testament to how much she hated the stoat in front of her. Ero couldn't say he blamed her at all.

"Oh, you wound me, little Boneflower..." The cold croon was back in his voice as he grinned wolfishly at Eroket, "I scouted out the area last night, got a feel for the place and located the Academy. It's large, well guarded and if half the rumors are true then it is very, very well fortified and defended."

"You sound so concerned for Jald's well being."

"He's a means to an end, kid. How long have you been a mercenary? I'm amazed you've built up a reputation with this sentimental garbage you so quaintly spew."

Eroket did well to contain his anger as he replied in a calm, composed tone, "Aleran believed in this 'sentimental garbage' as you so delicately put it and he was the best there was for it...unlike you. You're just a shell of a fighter who seeks battle because he knows his way of life to be an empty lie and desires beyond anything else to prove otherwise."

That stung more then it should have to Davrag, but he covered it with another wicked grin and a biting remark, "He was the best once but he's dead and rotting now."

Eroket's eyes closed, breathing quickened, he felt Boneflower's paw on his shoulder, her soothing voice in his ear and registered none of it as he forced out, evenly as he could muster, "It wasn't you who killed him..."

"Unfortunately I was not a part of the Death watch and thus cannot claim the credit for Geras Iridanis's kill."

"What?" The whisper left Eroket's mouth suddenly, his hold on composure slipped and no amount of training, not his lifetime's worth could have prepared him for that once sentence.

Geras Iridanis had killed his father, Eroket had just been told by one of the cruelest, most evil beasts on the streets that the ferret had killed his father in-as most every style of news Davrag delivered- the most callous style, but it was the most powerful bit of information he had heard since hearing his father had given Visla his hideous scars.

"Yes, you are unaware of this? And here I was beginning to respect you for your restraint. Thought you had kept business from personal feelings. It appears I was mistaken and that'll just make the moment when my blades cut you apart all the sweeter, eh? My twin beauties here will give you-give you both-the ends you deserve."

Eroket focused the rage, focused the pain, focused all the hatred and loss caused by Geras Iridanis and focused it on Davrag, letting the hatred burn in his heart and he spoke the words he knew to be true, "Before this job is over I am going to kill you."

"Those are very brave words for such a stupid boy, Eroket Nightblade. If I let every threat like that get to me, I'd have been a gibbering wreck years and years ago."

Boney's voice cut through the tension, tight and angry, "Les' get back in side and get some breakfast...don't get angry over him, Ero...'e ain't worth it..."

Eroket nodded slowly, turning to reenter the inn as Davrag rolled his eyes, "Stay noble, Nightblade...it's what you're good at!"

Eroket ignored the final, piercing barb and let Boneflower lead him inside, barely hearing her place an order but hearing all too well the swish of cloth and pawsteps as Davrag exited, hearing the hated voice call, "I'm going to scout the Academy! Be back later...I expect you to be up to it this time, Nightblade!"

"Whenever you're ready..." Was Eroket's whispered response as Boney led him up to their room, letting him sit on the bed as she sat by him, paying the serving beast who brought up the small breakfast fare.

"C'mon, Ero, eat somethin'." She replied, almost a plea, her blue eyes alight with concern.

Eroket nodded and brought a piece of bread up to his mouth, not even tasting the food, thinking of it only as fuel to keep his body going, "He killed my father, Boney..."

"Aye, 'e did." Her voice was oddly aloof, not the usual sympathetic tone she had when discussing a problem.

"Doesn't that mean a damn thing to you?!" Eroket jumped to his feet, the anger he felt was redirected towards Boneflower in an instant.

"Ye've known all along the Death Watch killed yer parents. Does puttin' a face to the act make ye feel better?"

"My father is dead and the honorless bastard who killed him is-"

"Geras is alive." Once again, spoken with cool conviction as she replied, "So kill 'im too...and kill Davrag Joris while you're at it...Ero, d'you remember I tol' you about how I wished I could be a normal girl with a normal family?"

"Yes..." He didn't see where she was going with this.

"When I was...oh, twelve or thirteen, m'home was invaded by a group o' pirates. The cap'n, I forget 'is name, but 'e pretty much let 'is boys do whatever they wanted. One o' 'is crew, a fox, name'a...Jurth, I think it was. Point is, 'e found me, when m'parents were out, when I was a kid and when I didn't even know which end o' the sword t'hold, he raped me."

Her voice was flat and toneless, her eyes like chips of sapphires and the sheer coldness of her remark made Ero falter as she continued, "M'father found me huddled ina corner, crying m'eyes out...the moment I told 'im what happened he left our home and went out huntin'. That very night he tortured that fox t'death after killin' 'is crewmates. In return, the cap'n had about five beasts executed afore he left as they never found the killer. Now, ask yourself, Eroket, how's this different?"

"What the hell are you getting at?!" Eroket was too upset to even take note she had just admitted to being raped, an offense he normally would have been enraged at.

"What I am getting at, y'stupid bastard, is that it 'appened and there's not a damned thing you, me or Davrag can do! Both o' these things happened and killin' the beast who did 'em ain't gonna make it better! What I'm gettin' at is if you do it, don't do it for revenge...do it to keep 'em from doin' what they did...Geras has orphaned a lot o' families and I'm prolly not the first one that bastard raped..." Her tone softened as she rose and wrapped her arms around Eroket's neck, "Me father taught me 'ow to fight after...I ended up killin' that very pirate cap'n five years later on a job."

"You were...raped? Then why the hell are you-"

"A whore," She laughed, in her usual cheery way, "It's what I am an' I'm not ashamed, Ero...it's my defense I guess, from the world. But enough about that, ok? The past is the past for me, Eroket Nightblade...we have a job t'do...and I dun like it anymore'n you do but we also have a partner...him it'll be ok to kill."

They looked at one another for a moment before laughing happily, Eroket smiling and kissing her tightly, "Making fun of me, Boney?"

She grinned and returned his kiss, pulling him to her as she whispered, "Try somethin' else..."

Eroket grinned, kissing her neck gently, finding the fastening of her outfit "Now?"

"There y'go with yer mouth runnin' again...ever think ye should just shut up and kiss me?"