Chapter 4: To be or not to be...
"Explain." Josephine said sternly as the three of them sat at a secluded table in the local tavern.
"My humble apologies, Lady Montilyet, but I had to be sure your Inquisitor was not an imposter. You simply cannot assume anything in this city...of course, it goes without mentioning that his skills have genuinely proven a point," Zevran replied casually, leaning back in his chair.
"This is all quite a bit of a show to be merely a business encounter, I presume?" Josephine questioned.
"Clever as usual, my dear. You see, my client was not content on letting me harass such an important person, let alone the leader of an Inquisition. It would...embarass the reputation, if you know what I mean." said Zevran as he poured several cupfuls of Antivan brandy to share.
"So who do you work for?" asked Mahanon.
"Did is the better question. My former client so happened to be a rival of the Du Paraquettes...they were not happy with their ascension to nobility, you can imagine. So it is only natural that they fall back on the desperate measure of attempting to eliminate the rest of their opposition...the reason to act on their cause, however, comes from a source your Josephine knows all too well. It's all intertwined, to say the least."
"And now you are hired by Lord Paraquette himself, through a counter-offer," said Josephine.
"That doesn't explain the assassins," Mahanon acknowledged.
"Those Crow assassins were on contract to kill you, yes," Zevran admitted. "But I am no longer a Crow. I have retired from that life long ago...I still consider myself an assassin, of course. I simply could not turn away from such a tempting thrill such as this, to meet the handsome Inquisitor of everyone's fantasies."
"I feel so much better already..." Mahanon replied sarcastically.
"I assure you, I do not wish your death. Money hardly justifies the act of murder in this case...well, maybe just a little."
"You could have acted earlier!" Josephine pointed out.
"True. But I could not risk giving away my involvement. Besides, who wouldn't want to see a dashing display of eternal love as the chivalrous knight saves the beautiful princess - "
The two glared at Zevran as he laughed nervously.
" - I mean, the assassins were dealt with appropriately. I had one shoved in a barrel in a deserted alley, no one will miss him. I stuck tar on one of the streets no one uses, and it has thus served its purpose with the second one."
"And the last?" Mahanon asked.
"The last would be me, of course."