A/N: While I in no way know how to torture someone, I've looked up torture techniques used in the past, and kind of put my own spin on things. That being said, some images can be disturbing, in this and the next chapter, just fyi.

"You're sure?" Hawke asked, as he paced the floor in front of the fireplace. Once the Madam of the Rose came over, she had ushered them into a large room off of the main one, and she and the elf had explained everything that had happened the night before.

"That's what he said," Danric replied with a nod. "To tell the Champion and his friends. He seemed to stress that last part as well."

Hawke stopped pacing and looked to Isabela. "It has to be Velasco," she muttered. "Nothing else makes sense."

"We'd better be certain," Hawke said logically, though his insides had frozen. "Madam? Was his name Velasco?" he asked the proprietor.

"That was not the name he gave," Madam Lusine replied primly, worrying how this would affect her people and business. If the Champion were to take his anger out on us… we would be ruined…

"I don't care what name he used," Isabela snapped and Lusine wondered if she was worried about the wrong person's temper. Isabela stood and moved to Danric. "A big man, with a thin face and a beard but no mustache," she described. "Cold eyes," she continued.

"Very cold, and he sounded Antivan," he replied as he nodded along to her explanation. "He and his men would have killed all of us if we stood in his way," Danric justified their lack of success in stopping him. "In fact, he seemed disappointed that we didn't try."

"If he beat Kitty as easily as you said, you wouldn't have stood a chance," Isabela agreed, "he doesn't like to fight fair." she added and turned to look at Hawke. "It was him." She paused, looking uneasy.

"Don't hold back now," Hawke said tersely.

"I'll tell you on the way," she said, heading to the door. "We've got to get everyone to help find her… and fast."

"Then let's go," he agreed, moving away.

"Champion!" Danric called, chasing after them. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

Hawke paused, and looked over his shoulder at the other man. "It isn't your fault, you did what you could and I appreciate it," he said firmly, not wanting Cat's friends to feel burdened by their inability to help her. "If you want to continue to help, ask around about the man, try to find where he went. But don't pursue him, just get word to the Guard Captain."

Danric nodded. "We will Champion," he replied resolutely. "We'll do all we can."

Hawke nodded, seeing the Madam arguing with the elf as they left.

"She doesn't want them involved," Isabela said quietly, as the moved through the building to the door. "For all her faults, she cares about her people, and worries what this will do for her business."

"I can't blame her, but we need all the help we can get right now," Hawke answered. He stopped as they reached Aveline and Sebastian outside. "He was there," he announced to the other two, "and we have no idea where he went." He saw their expressions droop slightly, and dropped the next bomb. "And he took Cat with him."

The expressions morphed from surprise, to worry, to anger in a blink, and Hawke couldn't help but agree. Surprise that this had happened, worry that some unknown element had one of their own, and anger… so much anger that someone would dare to take from them.

"So what's the plan?" Aveline asked, her face stoic as she blocked her worry and focused on the task at hand.

"We need information, and we need it fast," Hawke explained as he started moving again. "We'll get Varric's people on this, and set up a base for people to bring any findings to." He glanced over to Aveline, "I want you on that," he said, though he was asking.

Aveline nodded. "Alright," she agreed. "I can patrol guards in the least likely places, just so we can cross them off, but not waste resources," she said. "I'll have Donnic lead that, and I'll stay in Hightown, in the courtyard. Any one with information will have no problem finding me there." She glanced back to him. "Are we offering a reward?" she asked.

Hawke nodded. "Discreetly, but I'll leave that up to you. You can give them a note, and I'll pay it after this is over."

"I have a small amount we use to gain intel from the seedier sorts," she said. "There are those that aren't willing to get paid later, but we'll decide case by case."

He nodded in gratitude. "Everyone else will be with me. We may split up, but if we do, I'll keep a mage in each group so that we can continue to send messages."

The group went quiet as the pace quickened, and before long, they were practically running to the Hanged Man. Hawke's thoughts were focused on one thing, and one thing only. Isabela, however, couldn't seem to focus her own. They spiraled from telling Zev, Anders and Fenris- once they found him- of Cat's newest trouble, to Castillon- and what he would undoubtedly start doing to her friend, and then to Hawke.

She suddenly wished that she was able to wish she had never come to Kirkwall, never gotten into bed- figuratively- with Castillon. But she couldn't. Not with everything that had come into her life because of it.

But she did wish that Cat wasn't involved. And she desperately wished that Velasco wouldn't remember seeing Cat aboard her ship back then. If they treated Cat like a hostage, it might be all right…. but if they knew what Cat was to her… that, she didn't want to think about.

Hawke may not be the most observant of men, but even he could tell that something had happened between the two elves that were sitting at the table with Anders and Varric as they walked up. It was palpable in the air, but he just didn't have the time to explore it now.

"All right, emergency measures," he said seriously, and all talking stopped immediately as they looked to him. "Where is Merrill?" he asked, looking around. He didn't need an answer, as he saw Merrill and Charade were heading towards them from the bar, carrying several cups.

"It's very grim all of a sudden," Charade commented. "Something must have happened."

"Where is Cat?" Fenris asked, looking from Isabela to Hawke. His palms hit the table and he shoved to his feet, glaring at them. "What happened?!"

"Sit down, and I'll explain," Hawke said calmly.

"Castillon has her," Isabela said, sounding guilty.

Hawke glared at her, as the others flew into a flurry of activity. Most were asking rapid questions, while Fenris, Zevran and Anders had all stood, ready to move.

"SIT DOWN!" Hawke bellowed.

The room was quiet, and all eyes turned to the group. Some of the crew looked shocked, others looked murderous, but they all stayed quiet as they slowly took their seats.

"Running off half-cocked won't help her," Hawke said, taking a deep breath. "We don't know how much time we have, so we have to be at our best." He glanced to Isabela, and with a look, asked her to tell them.

"Last night, Kitty was at the Rose," Isabela said, holding up a hand to prevent any questions or comments. "Hearing a scream, and finding out that an unknown man was upstairs with a friend, she and Danric went to accidentally interrupt them, to check on the woman. They helped her get away, and the man fought her, taking her out."

She held up her hand again as Zevran started to argue, and he went quiet again. "Danric tried to intimidate the man, by saying that he should leave before the Champion found out, and the man seemed happy about that, and picked up Cat and left with her, threatening any that tried to stop him. He told them to tell the Champion and his friends."

"Emphasis on friends," Hawke continued. "When questioned, they described the man, and Isabela is certain that he is Velasco, Castillon's right hand. Which means that Castillon has had Cat since early last night."

Merill turned and spoke before anyone could stop her. "Fenris? Zevran? You didn't notice that Cat didn't come home?" she asked innocently.

The two elves looked stricken, and Zevran was the first to speak. "I… I was not home last night…" he said in whisper.

"Zev got lucky," Isabela said, not meaning to sound accusing, though it came out that way.

"What's your excuse?" Anders demanded of Fenris.

"I… am sorry," he said lamely. "I did not notice…" No one pushed further, as they could see he was blaming himself.

"It wouldn't have changed anything," Hawke said gently. "We still wouldn't know where they went." His voice went back to commanding. "So. We are initiating our emergency search procedures."

Charade raised a hand slightly to get his attention. "I'm sorry to interrupt cousin, but what are the emergency procedures?" she asked.

"Ah, of course," he said with a small smile. "Something that Cat and I came up with, when we were planning for when Castillon would come after Isabela."

"Basically," Isabela interrupted, "we create a base of operations, and use a mage in each group. The mage sends up a signal, using different colors for different messages. Any information from the base is sent also, to help narrow the search."

"So all the groups can communicate with each other…" Charade mused, and her face lit up. "That's ingenious!" she said happily. "We could even rig something to an exploding arrow, and shoot it up in the air as well! Then we wouldn't be constricted to only mages, and could have more groups!"

"That…" Varric said, stunned. "That's a great thought, and I'm definitely going to get on that later, but we don't have time now. For now, we're limited to mages."

"Of course, sorry," Charade said.

"I sent a guard to the Gallows," Aveline explained. "Asking Cullen to escort a mage to Hightown to be at the base. So, you'll be able to have three groups."

"I wondered what that was about," Hawke said sheepishly, remembering being furious that she had made them stop. "Thank you Aveline."

"We all want Cat back, and to stop Castillon," she replied, but the corner of her lip turned up in a smile.

"All right then," Hawke said, looking over the group. "Isabela, Charade and I will start in the docks. Varric, Merrill and Sebastian will start in Hightown. Go to the Rose, and see if you can follow him from when he left, question people, whatever you need to do." He turned to the last three. "Fenris, Zevran and Anders, you three start in Darktown."

He took everyone in with a sweeping look. "Be sure to spread the word that we are looking for information, and are willing to pay for it. You can take any along the way, but be sure to send them to Aveline for payment. We don't want to chase false leads. Once you move to a new location, be sure to send the signal, so Aveline knows where we are. Clear?" he asked, watching as they all replied with a nod.

"I made copies of what each color pattern means, so we don't get our signals crossed," Varric said, handing out sheets of parchment. "I know I'm not the only one that hasn't memorized them yet."

Where normally there would have been teasing about mixing signals, everyone stood, quietly getting prepared to move out

"He's torturing her," Isabela said softly, and the others that had been moving all stopped to stare at her. "He likes to. He enjoys breaking people until they'll do anything he wants."

"Brasca! My dove is strong," Zevran replied firmly, wanting the lost expression on Isabela's face gone. "She will know that we are coming, that we will not give up, and it will keep her from breaking, no matter what the bastard may do."

"How can you be so sure?" she asked hopefully.

Charade put her hand on Isabela's shoulder. "How could she not?" she asked kindly. "I've known you all for only a short amount of time, and yet, I am certain of it as well. You all would hunt them to the end of the world to get her back."

Isabela shuddered, but nodded, and stood back up straight. "You're right," she said, convincing herself. "Of course we would." She grabbed a cup from the table and downed it in a gulp, and slammed it back down, and turned to her friends. Her smile was bright and fierce. "Castillon has no idea what he's in for," she declared.

There was some responding grins and sentiments of agreement, and as they walked out of the tavern, Hawke could hear her finish her words, though under her breath. "And Velasco… is mine."

Cat jerked as the hood was removed, and she blinked rapidly, trying to get her bearings. She gasped as cold water was thrown on her, and she started shivering.

"Hopefully that will get rid of them smell," a voice sneered.

Her face went red in humiliation, but she told herself not to care. It wasn't as if they were giving her a chance to use a bathroom after all, and eventually there was nothing she could do.

She had thought things were better once the ropes were loosened, but no. If she started to sleep, she was kicked awake. If she tried to move away to relieve herself, she was struck. She had held back as long as she could. Feeling disgusting was likely part of their plan for her.

She was grateful for the water, and moved her arm to her mouth to get some into her mouth, though she was hit with a pebble for her trouble. Her parched tongue was demanding more, and she thought the bruise from the rock was a small price to pay for more water, so she ignored the pain and licked her arm again.

She doubled over in pain at the kick to her ribs. It burned as she panted, unable to get a full breath, and her heart started beating faster in her panic to breathe.

"Since you had water without permission, we'll forgo talking. We'll just try again tomorrow."

Cat looked up, recognizing Castillon's voice, hearing the disappointment in it. She saw his back as he walked away from her. From behind her, the hood was replaced, and her panic rose again as she was deprived of her senses, and her arms rose as the rope tightened, pulling her to her feet.

She tried to scream at the pain, but could only whimper at the pain as the ropes dug into her skin at the wrists. She tried to find her footing to help raise herself, and slipped in the now muddy ground around her, dropping and putting her full weight onto her wrists as the rope slowly rose.

She dug her feet in, not thinking of what she was standing in, as the rope stopped. She was exhausted, her breath coming in a wheeze, her chest burning in agony.

She jerked uncontrollably at the touch on her belly, and grimaced at the pain it caused. She grit her eyes shut, ignoring the touches that Velasco used to torment her, imagining what Hawke would do to the man once he found her. She smiled at the thought.

Cat's head whipped up, and she strained to discover the reason for it. Must have fallen asleep again… she thought. How she thought she would hear or see anything with the hood over her head was almost comical, though she wasn't ready to laugh. Not yet.

Her burning throat reminded her of how thirsty she was, and she bit her tongue softly, trying to pool her saliva, without much luck.

She could feel her bladder straining to relieve itself of the pressure, and she huffed at the thought that at least there was one good thing about not getting water. She would have been forced to wet herself much more often if she was drinking something regularly. Her breathy chuckled turned a little hysterical, and she told herself to stop.

She didn't think she was breaking… but as it had never happened to her before, there was no way to tell, was there? During the last few hours, she had come up with a mantra, and she repeated it over and over in her mind whenever she felt overwhelmed.

It wasn't anything especially profound, she merely listed the names of her loved ones- the reasons that she wanted to stay here in Thedas. She started with her crew in Kirkwall, and moved backwards from there.

She always started with Hawke, and she'd picture him frying Velasco with a fireball, or even lightning, and she'd smile. She couldn't tell that the smile became more and more sadistic each time, but even if she had- it wouldn't have changed anything.

The man was her torturer, more so than Castillon. True, Castillon was the one with the power to free her or to continue her punishment, but Velasco was the one carrying it out. He was the one whose hands explored her without permission, whose feet and fists gave her bruises and broken bones.

With every burning breath and throbbing in her chest- from an almost certain broken rib- he was brought to her mind, and she could only hope that he died a very painful death, though even that was too merciful in her opinion.

Cat shook her head, bringing herself back to her list. Hawke, then Issy… she thought. Issy and Charade, definitely something going on there… then Fen, and Anders… She still had a hard time believing how well they actually got along, on certain subjects anyway. If it was mages and templars, they still fought like a mountain cat and wolf would over food, but if they spoke of their friends, especially her? They were downright pleasant to each other.

She gave a little smile at the thought. Merrill, with her ever present smile, and her genuine desire to help her people… she thought. What would she think about Solas? she wondered for a moment before continuing. Varric with his big heart and fanciful mind, always taking stories and embellishing them. Sebastian and Aveline…

Her eyes started drooping again, but she didn't notice. It was black whether they were open or closed.

Nathaniel… Alistair…. she continued on her list, eventually ending with Duran, as she always did, recalling the first time she had met him.

"What's your name, doll face? Rina? No, I like Cat better."

She smiled again as she started to drift off, hoping that she could sleep a little before they noticed. "That's me now…" she mumbled. "I'm… Cat…"

Hawke sighed in defeat, not wanting to stop, but knowing the other two were right. "What's the signal?" he asked wearily.

"Yellow followed by green," Charade said after consulting the list.

Hawke shot colored light into the air, and after a few minutes, he saw another part of the town light up in the same colored pattern, followed by another that looked to be in Hightown.

"Let's go," he said sourly.

"We're not giving up, Hawke," Isabela said resolutely. "But if we don't eat and rest, we won't be any help to Kitty."

"I already agreed, you don't have to argue your point," he responded.

"You agreed," Charade said with a nod, "but that doesn't mean that you agree. We know you don't want to stop until you find her."

"We haven't found a single clue," Hawke reminded them, "and no one else seemed to either."

"We'll question them all when we get back to base," Charade promised. "There will be something, I'm sure of it."

"I hope you're right," Hawke replied, glancing ahead to Isabela's stony face. "She looks ready to tear the town apart," he murmured.

"I am," Isabela said without glancing back at them, and continued her stride toward Hightown. "They are here somewhere… they wouldn't just leave."

"We'll find them," he said resolutely, echoing Charade's words. "We have to."

As they entered Hightown, Hawke could see a patrol of guards heading in the opposite direction, and he thanked the Maker for Aveline. Who knew he was being smiled on the day he had met her?

They moved across the deserted market, and up the stairs, and saw the group huddled around Aveline. She had someone taking notes, and another guard was handing out water skins and some sort of food to guards standing behind the one that was reporting, though something seemed off.

Hawke continued closer, and realized with a start that he recognized the man, and surged forward. "Aveline!" he called.

She turned, as did the Knight Captain as he stopped speaking. "Hawke?" she asked, as he stopped in front of them, and he heard her mutter something that sounded like, "thank the Maker."

"Knight Captain," Hawke grunted, though he didn't look at the other man.

"Champion," came the reply.

"Are we no closer?" Hawke asked Aveline despairingly. "We've searched the docks inside and out."

"We've had a few leads, that Varric's group looked into," she replied hesitantly, pausing as Hawke grabbed her arm.

"WHAT?!" he roared. "Why didn't you signal?!"

"Hawke…" she started, only to stop again as he began pacing and lecturing.

"You know how this was to work Aveline! You were supposed to signal to us what was happening with the other groups, but I haven't seen a thing all day! I thought we had no leads, and no hope, and here you've just been neglecting your duty!"

"I wasn't neglecting anything Hawke," she said lowly, and he glared at her, seeing her motion toward the Knight Captain. "We didn't have a mage with us," she added.

Hawke turned his deadly glare to the blond man, who stood his ground calmly. His demeanor only seemed to set off Hawke more. "Oh?" Hawke asked with a sneer. "Did the templars discover that they had made all the mages tranquil without realizing it?"

He gleefully watched Cullen flinch at his words. "Too close to home?" he continued, feeling no pity for the man. "Perhaps the Knight Commander simply doesn't allow the mages to help save citizens that she doesn't approve of."

"Think as you will," Cullen finally replied, his tone cold. Hawke couldn't help but hear the disgust under it, and he felt a marginal respect for the man, though he refused to acknowledge it. "But we were given no orders not to come, so decided to do so on our own time."

Hawke's begrudging respect turned to gratitude. It was hardly Cullen's fault that his commander was insane after all. He gave a curt nod, and turned back to Aveline. "Merrill can stay with you, once they return," he said, and she nodded. "Tell everyone to get some rest, we'll go back at first light."

"We will continue," Cullen spoke up as Hawke turned away, and the Champion paused. "We can question those that prowl the streets in the dark, hopefully get a lead to give you in the morning."

Hawke swung back around, scrutinizing the Knight Captain, and then his men. He couldn't see anything wrong with the plan exactly… he just didn't like owing a debt to another, especially when that man was in love with his woman. No matter what either of them said… he could just feel it.

"And those night prowlers will just talk to you templars, will they?" Hawke asked sarcastically.

Cullen gave a wicked smirk. "If they know what's good for them, they will," he replied, standing his ground under Hawke's piercing gaze.

Hawke could never seem to pinpoint what the cause of his ire towards the Knight Captain was, but if he had to give a reason, the man was simply too much… of everything. Too handsome- hadn't Isabela told him so often enough?! - too obedient, too generous, too Maker damned self-sacrificing.

It's a miracle Cat didn't fall right into his arms from the beginning… he thought darkly.

"You'll do what you must, and so will I," Hawke finally answered gruffly. "If by some miracle you find a lead… then we'll talk." He stormed away without a further word.

"I know it didn't sound like it, but he's grateful for the help," Aveline said to Cullen. He turned, sending her a sardonic smile.

"It matters not," he said as he turned away. "I'm not doing this for him."

Aveline let out a great sigh, watching the two men go in opposite directions with their people following after them. "Men…" she muttered, and turned back to her guards. She had a thought brewing, and needed to get moving if she wanted to complete it before Hawke awoke.

Hawke wasted no time, ready to hand out new orders as soon as he saw his people. He would send Sebastian with Fenris' group, and take Varric into his own, in order to leave Merrill with Aveline.

He opened the front door, and noticed two things immediately. One, everyone was up and seemingly waiting for him, and two… the base had apparently moved to the space in front of his home.

He could see Orana and Bodahn carrying trays of food and drink, and knew immediately that his mother was involved. And made a mental note to thank her later, since he didn't see her there.

He marched up to his crew, noting that they were in a small circle, obviously sharing of their individual searches. He didn't need to speak, as they were watching for him, and stepped back to make a place for him to step into their circle.

"Hawke," Aveline greeted, and the others gave him a nod or other gesture to acknowledge him, and returned them.

"Everyone get what they needed?" he asked, and when he received an affirmative response, he went straight to business. "All right then. Aveline? Bring us up to speed."

"We don't have much, but we've been able to at least eliminate some of the possible locations," Aveline reported. "Hightown, and the Docks have now been fully searched, as well as having informants on lookout. The Knight Captain informed me that he did his own search of the Gallows, just in case, but his templar group was able to eliminate the alienage as a possible location as well."

Zevran was waiting for Aveline to finish, then spoke up. "We found the bastard's ship, but they paid dock hands to watch it," he scowled. "We spent considerable time questioning them, but they knew nothing."

"Having his ship could be beneficial in negotiations," Isabela commented, and glared back at the disgusted looks she received. "You all need to start thinking like Castillon if we are going to best him," she warned. "He sees this as business, nothing more. He won't hurt Kitty, not like you're thinking. He'll try to break her mind, her… spirit. The fear of what he can do to your loved ones is what keeps his people in line."

"No negotiations," Fenris growled.

"I understand what you are saying, my lovely pirate wench, but in this case the man has gone too far," Zevran said to Isabela. "Fenris is right, and you know it. If the man has caused my dove a moment's distress, he will pay with not only his life, but all of his men as well."

"I'm not saying I don't want to kill him," Isabela tried to reason with her friend. "I'm saying it may be more beneficial to have a man in his position that will stay far from us, rather than whoever takes his place if we kill him."

Zevran's eyes narrowed, scrutinizing her face. She kept it free of emotion, but still felt as if he read her easily. Better the demon you knew… especially if he was afraid of your friends… she thought.

"Sebastian, you're with Fenris' group," Hawke announced. "Varric, you're with me. Merrill, I need you to stay with Aveline and relay the signals, since the templars didn't bring a mage."

He looked at the grim faces around him. "This will slow down the search, I know," he said, giving voice to what they were all thinking. "But we can't move faster, or we risk missing them."

"Perhaps if we get the Grand Cleric involved?" Fenris asked, turning to Sebastian. "Surely she could make the Knight Commander let the mages help us."

"Could, yes," Sebastian answered. "But it is unlikely that she would, as it would be seen as taking sides." He shook his head sadly. "I have been trying to convince her to speak out, but she believes that her words would only fan the flames of this battle."

Anders made a noise of disgust, and Hawke felt the same, but didn't want to start a debate now. Sebastian obviously felt the same, as he turned to Merrill.

"What about the Keeper?" he asked. "Would she come if asked?"

Merrill shook her head as well. "What we are doing is too well known," she replied. "She cannot risk being taken by the templars, as the clan has no other to take over."

"Surely Hawke's status will keep her safe as well," he countered.

"I wish I could guarantee that," Hawke said with a sigh. "But I can't. Not with how the Knight Commander has been. She's looking for any reason to arrest one of the mages in my crew, to discredit me. As Marethari isn't a part of the crew, she would she the Keeper as an apostate without sanction."

"Let's get moving," Isabela said tersely.

Hawke gave a nod, and turned to the others. "We're moving into Lowtown," he said, looking to Fenris. "You're still in Darktown?" he asked.

"About halfway through," Fenris answered with a nod. "There are a lot of underground tunnels to search."

"It's more likely you'll find her in Lowtown," Anders said with a frown. "I don't see a rich Antivan hiding out in the sewers."

"And as I keep saying, Antivans are more practical than that. We can hide anywhere without a qualm," Zevran replied with a smirk, though the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"We'll search every inch, I swear it," Fenris pronounced, and Hawke gave him a grateful smile.

"I know," he replied. "Let's move," he announced to everyone, and started off towards the docks. They'd start right where they left off- the staircase leading from the Docks into Lowtown.

It would be exhausting work, for him at least, as he searched for magically hidden or sealed doors. It required him to constantly be using his mana, and was therefore slow going, as they had to stop so that he could replenish his stores.

"Maker go with you, Hawke," Aveline said in way of a good luck.

"Maker go with us all," Hawke replied automatically, though this time… he prayed with all he was that the Maker would help them.

Cat tried to take some kind of inventory of what she knew. The list was unfortunately much too short.

She knew she was in a small room, as long as she hadn't been moved. Of course, that could have happened, but with the smell of blood, urine, and who knew what else… more than likely she was in the same place.

She also knew that the floor was dirt- well now it was mud. She could tell that as well, since she was caked in it. At the moment, she was laying in it, on her side and curled into herself as best she could. If she tried to roll in tighter, her chest felt as if she was being stabbed with a piping hot blade.

And… that was about it. She had no idea if it was day or night, or even how long she had been held here. There was no rhyme or reason to the schedule of when she was let down from the pulley in order to rest her arms. Sometimes it felt like an hour, and other times days without a break.

How long had it been? she wondered yet again. A few days? A few weeks? The thought was distressing, but she pushed it away. They wouldn't give up… they wouldn't. They'll find me, just be strong, and wait.

Castillon looked at the girl, his eyebrow raised in interest. She didn't seem to be faltering in the slightest, and inwardly he reveled at the challenge she posed. However…

"We don't have the proper time to break this one," he said quietly. Velasco looked over, his smile spreading over his face.

"I can help with that," he offered yet again.

"Perhaps," Castillon answered, the same as he had before. "But while you would enjoy spoiling her, I do not believe it would break this one."

"We have yet to fail in that respect," Velasco reminded him.

"True," Castillon smiled again, pleased with his reputation. "The Champion is proving to be… irritating." He scowled, thinking of the coordinated search happening in the city around them. "Sooner or later, someone will talk."

"They know better," Velasco protested. "None would dare."

"They would, if faced with something worse," Castillon replied with a sigh. "It is human nature."

Velasco knew better than to continue to argue, after all, Castillon was much smarter than he was. Castillon knew when to attack and when to retreat, and had kept him out of trouble more times than he could count, as well as giving him people that he could hurt without repercussions. He wouldn't do or say anything to jeopardize that.

"Since we are in a hurry, we had better give her some motivation, though it is too bad we cannot afford to take another of her friends," Castillon mused. He tapped his chin as he gave it some thought. Giving himself a nod, he turned to leave. "Bring a woman in," he told Velasco. "Someone that no one will miss."

Velasco grinned in anticipation. "Of course, Sir," he replied as Castillon left. And I have just the one in mind, he said to himself with a smile.