Nerini watched from the shadows as the twin street runners from the Black Cat led their horses around the corner. They were arguing vehemently over whether they should go out into the woods and whether 'the boss' was going to be angry or impressed over them not listening to his orders. They were oblivious to her presence as they mounted their horses and started out of the village despite the late hour.
It was luck that she had caught wind of them at all, having been stretching her legs when she nearly stumbled upon them not long before. They had been spying on a mercenary who had been placing a package on the far edge of town, their attention on him.
The twins, two younger boys who she couldn't recall from her time at the Cat, had stalked the man into down and cornered him in an alley. Nerini had almost stepped in when they jumped on him until he had spewed information about his client and how they were torturing a stuck up little lordling.
Her conscience might punish her later, but the burning fury deep inside her held her back and allowed them to beat as much information out of the man as they could. Then she had followed the twins back to their own inn and scribbled a couple notes that she got a passing baker to take to her inn for her as they likewise wrote a hasty explanation, presumably to Keana.
Cocoa paced and pawed at the ground, though he did it in a restrained manner that didn't give them away as they moved off the main road and trudged into the shadowy darkness of the woods as she continued to tail the twins. Nerini had not caught all the information the mercenary had given up, but they had apparently been told of a meeting place deeper in the woods that the man had run into whoever was paying him.
Nerini marvelled at the mere concept of it. The enemy had not shown itself to anyone before now, but something was making them desperate enough to chance going further and further into the open. They had apparently paid the mercenary to find out who was looking for Kanny and eliminate any of the Cat agents that may still be in the area.
She could only hope that the Lansend Guards received her note and hunted the man down for arrest and further questioning.
Although it was still afternoon, the shadows engulfed her beneath the giant pine trees. She could hear the murmur of the twin's good-natured bickering as their voices bounced through the trees and back to her, not completely making out the words, but using the sounds to gauge their distance from her. They were loud enough that she did not need to keep them within her sight as Cocoa broke through the fresh snow, which was not as deep as it had been in the fields. Still, it was deep enough that it brushed his belly, and in spots, coated even her boots, and Cocoa had a look of distinct displeasure. He would listen to her but once this was all over, she would probably face some choice nips and pinned ears as retribution.
Nerini wasn't sure what Keana's company was up to by sticking around here and following up these leads but she would accept the unwitting help that they were giving her.
Nerini's mount suddenly skittered to the side, nostrils flaring. She patted Cocoa's neck as he whinnied, his ears going forward, listening to something she could not hear. After a moment, he calmed and continued walking, seeming to lose interest in whatever he had heard.
Nerini frowned softly, knowing her horse was sometimes a better hunter than her brother's hounds. There was a distinct possibility that he had picked up on something that neither she nor the two street runners could hear.
***
Keana dismounted in front of the Sythe Inn as evening was settling into the village, letting out a breath and sending his men out into the town to scout for information as he entered the dim building. They had made all haste getting to the town, though he half suspected that after searching the woods throughout the day, their superstition motivated the speed of the last leg of the journey back into Sythe.
It was still slow at this hour, before supper was served and only containing a couple regulars who were already drinking themselves into a stupor. After a brief glance at them, Keana was about to head up the stairs to where a room was waiting for him when the bartender waved him over and handed him a hastily written note from the twins.
"How long ago?" He frowned up at the man behind the bar after reading it.
The bartender offered an easy shrug, though his nonchalance melted under Keana's glare. "Couple hours? They were hot and horny to get on it before you arrived. Said they might lose ground if they waited."
Keana growled. "Tell anyone else who comes this way to meet me at the Guard's way-inn."
And before the man could respond, he stalked out and headed to the other inn. A quick hand movement as he moved signalled for one of his scouts to bring his horse after him and to pull the team of rogues in for a possible mission.
The town was small and though he hoped to clear his head with the stroll across it; he wasn't nearly calm enough in the short time it took for him to make it into the slightly more respectable inn than his own.
As he entered into the main tavern area, Keana glanced around the room thoughtfully. Though there were a few people milling about, drinking or eating, he didn't see Vix "There's a woman who's staying here, the one who found all those bodies the other week. Where is she?"
The man gave him an indignant look and shook his head. "I couldn't possibly know. It's not my business to keep track of all my customers."
Keana let out an impatient breath and opened his mouth to say something, when he heard a whistle. He stopped and looked into the tavern, seeing the villager from the night before waving him over to the table. Keana mentally braced himself as he let go of the inn keeper and approached the table.
Seeing some frustration and anger in the man's body, even sitting as he was, Keana squared himself off and prepared for the worst.
"Well, it's nice to see your face, partner." The man's sword was out, on the table, and he watched Keana darkly, though his hands appeared to be resting in his lap. "What's got you all agitated?"
"Two of my idiots decided to venture off alone. I want her to come after them with me." Keana stood impatiently, watching the other man who remained sitting in feigned casualness.
"Sounds pretty convenient. But even if you were telling the truth, she's not here. She was supposed to wait for my arrival today." A frown crossed the man's features, followed by a look of concern.
"Gone." Keana drawled, blinking at the man, shaking his head.
The man nodded, motioning to the chair Keana was standing behind. "Yeah, so either she's following your two idiots, or your two are following her. And either way, it makes me a tiny bit suspicious of you."
Keana spun the chair around and sat down, leaning his arms on the back of it. "And yet, here we are."
"Kinda curious how we didn't run into them on the way here, too. So, I would think they left the road before I came across them. Which means I don't have any clue where they'd be." The scarred guard mused with surprising candour, though he watched Keana with a measuring gaze that but the rogue's hackles up.
"Very curious." Keana frowned at the man, forcing himself to breathe through his agitation. "What would lead me to believe you about all this, anyway?"
It could be a lie. Vix could be here, or she could do something completely different and using this man as a cover. Though that wouldn't make sense, unless she truly didn't trust him.
Surely Vix knew that Keana would never accept a contract against her.
"Ah, yes. That." The guard shrugged and pulled out an envelope from inside his cloak, sliding it across the table. "She left this for you. There's an owl waiting for your response in the stables"
Keana flipped the envelope around in his hands, running his thumb over the blank seal, before breaking it and opening it, reading and looking up to the man in surprise. "Is this a joke?"
"Not sure. I don't know what she's written you. Sometimes she jokes, but usually only she understands her humour. Strange duck." The man's expression was blank and still dangerous as he watched the rogue dispassionately.
Keana let out a slow breath, looking back down at the letter and reading it once more, his mind reeling at the implications.
Kea,
I've been asked to offer the Black Cat an exclusive contract by my employer. Aupana is willing to make it worth your while. I've recommended it against it, but I've heard rumour you shut down your contract. I guess I was right.
I heard the man in the stream yesterday was yours.
Sorry. I know they're all family to you.
Send your response through the bird my man has, she'll find the right person, and I'll be in touch.
Vix
Keana then shook his head and slid the note across the table, watching the soldier read the note and glance up quickly in surprise, eyebrows raising.
The man relaxed and offered Keana a curt, but sincere smile, "Well, I guess that changes things."
Kea looked at the man in confusion and offered a shrug. "Does it? Who's her employer?"
The man chuckled in genuine amusement before shaking his head. "Our Queen Regent, man."
"I need a beer" Kea intoned, shaking his head. "And some paper."
"Well, seeing as how we may be working together, first round is on me." The grizzled soldier offered, motioning the waiter over. "We can wait for our friend together. Her note to me had no indication of where they would go."
Keana wondered if it was wise for them to sit back and wait for the trio to return from the forest, but he wasn't sure if he had a choice.
Surely they would be back before darkness truly fell. He had been explicit to his company to not do anything stupid, especially not at night.