Fable - Ask No Fury

[Nym]

Nym couldn’t drag her gaze away, her eyes wide with intensity as she watched the assassin move the way he did. Her muscles tensed and she pulled in a sharp breath to hold on to as the serpent pulled free of its anchor. The sound that ripped from Settra’s throat seemed to bounce around the monoliths and surrounded her with a fading echo that continued on until the snake’s head thudded to the ground and the sickening sound stole dominance.

She let out her breath with a slight shudder, aware of her heartbeat pounding in her ears. Her attention lingered on the colossal carcass for a moment longer, watching as the blood surged in waves from its neck with garish determination as though it’s own heart tried to push it from its body having not yet realised its demise.

As her weapon was offered back to her, Nym blinked and returned her attention to Settra with a gentle frown and a brief nod. “I could say likewise. Thank you..”. The words tumbled out in a breath of relief and she reached to grip his arm in mute concern. “I’m alright. You should wash that off..” she advised quietly, the spatters of venom catching the flickering light of the fire.

 

[Settra]

Settra bowed his head in reply to Nymeasha's initial praise, then cocked a curious brow as she grabbed his arm.

"Hmm...I suppose you're right. Could be a problem if it gets through broken skin." He agreed with a frown and examined his torso. He softly grasped Nym's hand and pulled it from his forearm. The assassin held his gaze in lock with Nym's as his hand gently slid over hers and let it free. Suddenly he became keenly aware that his eyes, his hand, or both had lingered a moment too long and he quickly pulled away.

"Sorry. I suppose I should wash my coverings as well." He announced, trudging off to fetch a few water skins. The man shook his head and sighed as he wandered off, briefly lost in his own thoughts. He did what he could to refocus himself. Distraction was often fatal in his line of work, after all.

In time he returned to the fire pit, it's dull glow now the only substantial light outside of the shine provided by the moon and stars. Parking himself on one of the logs he unplugged one of the water skins and began the process of cleaning himself of the snake's toxins, starting by pouring the skin's contents down the front of his body.

 

[Nym]

Nym gave a slow nod at his agreement and glanced down at his hand, feeling her cheeks warm slightly as he apologised which she brushed off with a quiet laugh under her breath and dropped her gaze to the sandy floor. She watched him wander off and ran her hand across her brow, still tumbling down from the dizzy heights of adrenaline.

She turned to look at the rock she'd pushed over and frowned. It was the size of a small hut. She looked down at the ring she wore and flexed her fingers. It had potentially saved both of their lives but still she couldn't help but drop her hand with a bitter sneer and she flopped herself down in front of the fire and reached for her wine.

"Perhaps one of us should keep watch whilst the other gets some rest tonight.." Nym grumbled and took a long drink from her skin, her eyes wandering across the rocks now a little more wary of her surroundings. "Gods help us if there are more of those things.." she huffed quietly.

Her eyes followed Settra as he sat himself down, curious as to whether he'd remove his coverings in front of her or not, and not staring was proving difficult. She busied herself with checking over her bruises. "That magic you use.." she glanced up.. "It's impressive... I should feel safer with your company, Settra.." she offered a small smile, her tone a little warmer with him now that he'd lived up to Medja's word.

 

[Settra]

"Perhaps one of us should keep watch whilst the other gets some rest tonight.."

The assassin nodded as he wiped the water from his front with a spare bit of cloth, silently thankful that she had brushed the moment off so nonchalantly.
"Indeed. I can't imagine there would be another predator that large around here, but thieves are always a concern." Settra mused, eyes scanning the horizon briefly. He recalled how weary the girl had seemed just prior to the serpent's ambush. "I'll take watch. You need the rest more than I do."

Despite himself, he found a smile build behind his mask at the princess' compliment. Duty had always been its own reward, but somehow hearing the words felt...good. Her change in tone certainly didn't hurt, either. Then his thoughts reminded him of what he was. The smile left him as quickly as it came, and his pride wilted away. That was how it was supposed to be.
"It's my duty as a weapon and a shadow to be good at what I do." He replied in a rehearsed, almost robotic manner, almost as though the words were not his own. "Whether I be used by the Mistress or you, I will do everything in my power to serve. I would not be of use, otherwise."

The man's eyes glazed over as he finished speaking and he gazed into the fire, elbows rested upon his knees and one hand clutching the damp cloth. His mind fought a little war with itself, wondering which was more important: cleaning the accursed mask he clung so firmly to, or permitting someone to see him without it?

 

[Nym]

Nym's eyes narrowed with a soft smile in gratitude as he offered to take the first watch and she gave a short nod in agreement. Her exhaustion was plain, there was no point in trying to deny it for the sake of politeness.. She could tell from his eyes that he was smiling under his mask, and her head tilted slightly as she watched it fade and she heard the change in his tone. Her full lips twisted in consideration for a moment. It seemed they had more in common than she'd realised, though what struck her was how Medja had been the one to try and convince her that she was more than just a weapon, and here sat her favourite assassin claiming to be exactly that.

"Well. I am grateful.. But, I'm not interested in using you." she frowned. She wasn't her father, and the words struck a nerve with her. Nym chewed on her lip as she recalled her conversation with Medja, how she hadn't cared which one of her hands had accompanied her, how she'd merely pointed at Settra's parchment and stated that he'd 'do'. She hadn't intended on picking someone to hold deep and meaningful chats around the fire with. She had a job she had to do and required an extra pair of hands, and she'd been a cold bitch to him ever since they'd set off. Perhaps she was more like her father than she knew.

"You're not a weapon.." she added after a moment of silence, though whether she was talking to him or herself wasn't entirely clear. Jade hues looked up at him, her lips pursed slightly as he seemed to be stalling.. "I can give you some privacy if you'd like.." she offered and twisted herself slightly as though to turn her back to him.

 

[Settra]

"Well. I am grateful.. But, I'm not interested in using you."

Settra caught himself and snapped back from his distant staring into the flames. He cursed himself quietly and squeezed his eyes shut, dry and worn from the fire's smoke and the dry air. Then he set his gaze upon his charge again.

"You're not a weapon..I can give you some privacy if you'd like.."

The assassin held a hand up to stop her. Teachings be damned...
He sighed deeply and lifted a hand to untie his mask beneath his head covering.
"No, it's alright." He answered, continuing the process of removing his guise. "Mistress Medja tells me the same thing. It is...difficult to swallow, but it's something I must get used to." He finished, unveiling himself at last.



Settra was well kempt beneath the coverings, though he looked weary. Perhaps the most distinguishing feature was the scar across his nose, the crookedness of which revealed a break long-since healed. A few other scars marred his face as well, perhaps left to match the whip marks upon his back.

He stared at Nym, expression somewhere between determined and dead, and began to clean his coverings in silence.

 

[Nym]

She dipped her chin as he held up his hand, and settled herself again, pulling her blanket around her shoulders again as she watched him. Her gaze narrowed with slight apprehension, but she visibly relaxed as he unveiled his face and she studied him curiously for a moment before lifting her wine skin to her lips again..

“Yes.. me too.” She answered finally and licked the tart residue from her lips and curled them into a warm smile. “They called me the Viper.” she laughed quietly, fingertips trailing over her thigh subconsciously.. “Should be flattered, I suppose.” Her shoulder shrugged.

She sighed deeply and lay down on her stomach, her chin resting in her hands as she looked over him.. She allowed a pregnant silence to fall between them before clearing her throat. “I must admit.. I expected something ghastly.” Her brow arched. “So, why?..If you don’t mind my asking..”

 

[Settra]

“They called me the Viper.”

The irony of the name wasn't lost upon Settra, and he allowed himself a small chuckle.
"How apt..." He noted, gesturing in the direction of the snake's corpse.

Settra mirrored the woman's sigh and ran a hand through his hair. It was both uncomfortable and freeing to feel the sensation of the cool night air through his locks. Nevertheless, he felt he owed her an explanation.

"I was raised at a...monastery, of sorts. I was taught from my youth to be a shadow..." He began hesitantly. Memories flooded back to him, unbidden, and he found it hard to focus on Nymeasha. "... and shadows don't have faces."

His grip tightened around the mask, his brow furrowed ever deeper.
"Until the Mistress acquired me, I did not even have a name."

 

[Nym]

Nym found herself easing and her mind unwinding for the first time since she'd woken up here alone. She was still learning what conversation was, in a way. Speaking about herself and finding curiosity in other people's lives, and she'd heard many interesting stories since she'd been brought to Ragash. It was simply a new form of freedom for her, to speak to people like this, and she realised that Settra was not so different.

"Hm.." she smirked and glanced at the snake. "I don't think it was meant in a flattering way. Some thought it was a compliment to me, to be likened to something deadly and poisonous, something to be avoided.. But, they're resilient..I like how they shed their skin and leave part of themselves behind." she reasoned and shrugged as she looked over the carcass of the gargantuan serpent. "And yet they're not as invincible as they'd like to think..." she added dryly.

She rolled to her side and propped her head up in her hand as she listened to a little of his story. She'd once been told something similar, and she chewed absently on her lip as the thought angered her. To hear that he had no name caused her expression to soften with mute sympathy and she sighed. "Well. You do have a face, and a name to go with it." she rumbled at him irritably.

"I suppose, I was more ghost than shadow. I didn't physically exist in my family's life. I still find it laughable that people call me princess when it's never a title I went by back home. I had no titles. I was kept out of sight. My younger brother was the first real child my parents had. I watched my mother coddle them from the shadows." she smiled, though it was strained. "I suppose I didn't realise how cruel it was until Gerra rubbed it in my face.." she muttered disdainfully.

 

[Settra]

A wry grin stretched across his face as he listened to Nym describe her admiration of snakes. He found it endearing, oddly enough. It was enough to shake him from his malaise, if even for a moment.
"As I said, apt. Do you find yourself to be like the viper? Dangerous, adaptable...vulnerable?" The assassin asked, suddenly very interested in picking the princess' mind.

"Well. You do have a face, and a name to go with it."

And yet her words managed to take him aback. The tetchy statement was...naive, to say the least, but somehow refreshing. In a world of muddled grays it was comforting to have something placed in such a black and white perspective. His...'family'...had never permitted him to have a name or a face, yet, as Nym had stated so matter-of-factly...he did. Despite himself, a single, breathy laugh escaped him.

As he listened to Nymeasha's next words, however, he felt the somber mood return once more. There was some level of solace to be taken in this sharing of history. He was beginning to think that Medja had arranged his escort of the princess as more than just extra insurance. Though he didn't quite know why, Settra found himself moving to sit closer to his charge, taking a sip out of one of the spare wineskins as he planted himself next to her.

"Perhaps we should drink to our nonexistence, then. You, a ghost, and me, a shadow." Settra suggested, casting a half smile at Nym. He raised his wineskin and took a long drink. "Life has been cruel to us both. Yet here we are, surviving, strong, in sheer spite of the lots that fate cast for us."

The assassin's briefly jovial mood faded, and he looked to the ghost-princess at his side. His next words came much softer, almost as a whisper.
"Even still...I do not believe you deserved the upbringing you received. It saddens me to hear it."

 

[Nym]

Her expression paused at Settra's question, she was undoubtedly dangerous, she'd killed countless people under her father's command, most of them hadn't seen her coming, most of them were far stronger than she. She'd been taught to adapt to her surroundings, her opponents, her circumstances for nothing was ever guaranteed.. But vulnerability was new to her, and she'd only just realised how truly vulnerable she was. She'd felt it when she'd been dragged from her home, left alone in the world. She'd felt it every time she spoke with Gerra, under the grip he'd held on her throat and made it clear just how simple it would be for him to snuff her out if he so wished. But physical vulnerability was a given, she was mortal, she bled when she was cut and bruised when she was battered. It was the sort of vulnerability that Uvogin had made her feel that terrified her, and it wounded the young woman far more painfully than any weapon could.

Her jaw clenched and she dropped her gaze, trying not to allow herself to redirect her anger onto Settra simply because he'd asked her a question she didn't like the answer to.. "Yes." she forced out after a moment, refraining from meeting his gaze.

A drink was always a good idea to Nym and a sigh gave way to a small smile at the man's words which she drank to along with him. She gave a pensive nod at his words of cruelty and survival as she stared into the flames, but as his tone softened she met his gaze with a gentle frown..

"I don't deserve anything." she answered and shrugged her shoulders.. "I had it far better than most."

 

[Settra]

Having seen Nym's reaction to the question he posed, Settra immediately regretted asking. Her idiosyncrasies were more apparent to him than they might be to the average person, enough so that he realized that he had made a mistake. The princess' response to his final statement only made it more clear, and he cursed himself silently. If nothing else, it was clear that she was exhausted. Late as the night was, he decided it best to let her get to bed.

"Apologies. I didn't mean to upset you." He said quietly, standing up to move to a suitable place to keep watch. "You should rest, Nym."

Settra stepped away from the fire, grabbing one of his tri-tipped daggers as he did. He swiftly moved up the side of the rock face nearby and perched himself atop a crag. Gazing out over the quiet, night view of the Kaliti desert, he sat in silent consideration of his discussion with the Salitran princess and couldn't help but feel the ghost of a smile creep over him.

* * *
​

The night passed in relative peace. Wildlife moved over the dunes in the night, jackals and owls stalking lizards and insects, but no further threats to the duo's lives came. In time, dawn broke on the horizon and Settra climbed back down the rock face to return to Nymeasha and the makeshift campsite. The fire had long since burned itself out, not even a hint of smoke wisping its way up from the ashes.

Settra gently roused the princess, unsure if she was still sleeping but not wanting to startle her. It was time to move on.

 

[Nym]

He felt guilty, she could tell, and as he apologised her head shook and she frowned at herself.. "No, please." she protested gently. "You didn't do anything to upset me." she assured apologetically and rubbed at her face with a deep sigh.

"I should." she smiled sleepily in agreement, more drunk on fatigue than wine. She watched him leave and curled up facing the fire, the sound of burning wood and the heat of the flame luring her quickly to sleep. Each limb became heavy, her heart finally slowing to a more peaceful beat and she slept soundly, deep and dreamless.

Her brow furrowed gently as she was roused from her slumber and she squinted up at the man silhouetted by dawn's golden rays, rubbing at her face before sitting herself up to rake her dark waves back from her face and pull in a deep breath in effort to wake herself up..

"You didn't sleep.." she observed, her voice gritty from sleep. "You should have woken me, Settra. We have a long way to travel." she stifled a yawn against the back of her wrist. "Get some rest, we can spare an hour or two.." she insisted and reached for her skin of water.

 

[Settra]

"I'll be fine." He assured her flatly. "This is hardly my first all nighter, and you looked like you needed some proper sleep."

Settra produced some salted meat from a satchel and handed it to Nym, then went about collecting and reattaching his gear and armor. He refused to hold her back for any reason, least of all needing something as trivial as a nap. The assassin strapped his pauldron back onto his arm, then picked up his now-dry mask and hood and studied them for a moment. His brow furrowed as he considered the implications of putting them back on, but decided that they would be practical and, ultimately, necessary for the journey ahead.

"Don't worry about me. Get yourself ready, and I'll prep the horses." He continued, already beginning to heft a saddle. "If I must, I will rest my eyes as we ride."

Then he trudged off to do as he said, seemingly unfazed by his lack of sleep.

 

[Nym]

Nym offered a somnolent smile as he passed her something to eat, and she ate without argument to mollify the growls of protestation in her stomach. She'd neglected such things over the past while, but the lack of sleep and nourishment had caught up with her. She observed him in the meantime, the corner of her lip twitching slightly as she suppressed a smile when he seemed to be considering the mask and hood. They were certainly practical for travelling in the searing heat and blinding sandstorms, but she couldn't help but think it'd be a shame if he hid his face away again. As was the case with the fragments of insight she'd had into his life, his face made him much more of a person to her, rather than the simple weapon he believed himself to be.

She flashed her teeth in an appreciative smile at his words, but she'd said she hadn't intended on using him and she'd meant it. She ate another scrap of meat and got herself up to help clearing their camp away and bundled their things to be saddled.

She'd been about ready to leave when her eyes fell on the serpent's body, glancing up at the condors and buzzards that circled above it. She lifted her empty wine skin and kicked out at a few of the birds as she approached the beast's head and crouched at the mouth, her delicate nose wrinkling at the foul fetor. Nym pushed the neck of the rim of her bottle over the tip of the creatures hollowed fang, and reached her arm inside to push at the venom filled duct with a grimace, feeling the vessel grow heavier in her grasp.

"Figure a viper should have a little venom in her fangs, hm?.." she smirked at Settra as she wandered back, pouring a few drops onto her blades and the tips of her arrows before capping the bottle and stowing it away. She kissed her horse gently on the nose, gliding a soothing hand over his face before pulling herself up into her saddle and clicking her tongue once they were both ready to set off into the already scorching desert.

 

[Settra]

Horses prepped and gear replaced, Settra mounted up, ready to continue the journey. He observed curiously as Nym milked the serpent's fangs for the bane that lay within, realizing that the duo was so tired the previous night that they hadn't thought to cook the snake for dinner. Nevertheless, he found the woman's actions to be quite clever, and he offered an approving nod as she drenched her arrowheads in the treacherous toxicant.

"The moniker grows more fitting with each passing hour." He commented.

Moreso, he appreciated how she treated her horse. He had watched too many nobles mistreat many a majestic beast, not least of all horses, and found it refreshing that Nym seemed to have a caring bond with her steed. The assassin ran his fingers through the mane of his own mare, then clicked and patted her side to signal her to go.

"I must admit," Settra addressed Nym over the trotting of the horses. "This mission was very short notice for me. This beastfolk fellow we're looking for, do you know what he looks like?"

 

[Nym]

Nym’s lips curled into a grin that caused her cheeks to dimple and she gave a quiet huff of a laugh at his comment. She lifted her pale hood up over her loose waves and narrowed her gaze against the low rising sun that cast them both in a rosy glow and sent long shadows following in their wake. She wore some semblance of a smile as she watched the coppery petals of light reach into the sky, flamboyant and without invitation, slowly chasing the moons and stars from sight. Shoulders rose and fell in a deep and thoughtful sigh as she tried to look forward, rather than back. Today was a new day, a new chance and a new challenge to stay alive.

Her eyes cast a sideways glance at Settra’s question and her lips twisted as she hmm’d in thought and shook her head gently.. “I’m afraid not. All I have is a name. I am sure Medja knows more but, she didn’t have anything handed to her either.” Her shoulder shrugged. It was a challenge, of course, it’d have been boring otherwise.

For hours they travelled across the desert, trackless and barren, the dry wind stirring up the wispy sand and the never ending rays beat down mercilessly. She stopped only to let the horses drink before moving on until the hazy mirage ahead became the much more solid image of a town. The white, rectangular buildings protruding proudly from the desert sands.

By the time they entered the maze of narrow streets, salty sweat and sand coated her skin and she was in desperate need of a bath and a comfortable rest. Finally, they emerged from the labyrinth into a wider street. Stalls crowded the market place and dark-skinned children played. Nym couldn’t help but smirk as they greeted both her and Settra with excitable smiles and waves, mirrored by the merchants hoping for them to buy their wares, their stalls covered with magnificently bright cloth. Her eyes wandered over the stalls of handmade jewellery, shining metals, sweet breads and crisp, pristine linens. She wasn’t used to wandering through the streets like this, but the place simply made her smile.

“We should find an inn..” she spoke to Settra without looking, too busy pointing to a vibrant emerald sheet of linen and nodding at the merchant who rushed over to her with it and thanked her three times as she pressed a coin into his palm.

 

[Settra]

Sunlight's warm embrace was ever quick to burn away the chill of the previous night, the dry, desert air fickle in the sun's presence or absence. There was little time to enjoy any level of comfortable temperature, as before long the land was as blisteringly seared as the day before. Settra had long since learned to tolerate Amol-Kalit's extremes; an assassin needed to be resilient, among many other qualities.

"Sounds like the Mistress has faith in our abilities." He droned, any hint of genuineness hidden behind years of mental discipline. Settra slipped a waterskin beneath his mask and took a swig before finishing his thought. "A name will suffice. We'll find your lead."

Settra was admittedly thankful that the rest of the trip passed uneventfully. Moreso he was happy that the Hundreds hadn't decided to curse their voyage with a sandstorm, harsh as the desert winds were these days. When Nimra came into view, the assassin steeled himself for what lay ahead, though he knew it was likely to be little more than a scavenger hunt and a rough interrogation.

When one spent so much time in the larger cities of Amol-Kalit it was easy to forget what the smaller towns were like. Nimra was humble in comparison to the azure walls of Annuakat or the illustrious canals of Ragash, but it was charming in its own way. Some of the wares the merchants offered to the duo were quite unlike the usual merchandise found back home. Still, the merchants earned a glassy gaze from Settra as they advertised to him. He was all too happy to take the coin from Nym and heed her suggestion.

"As you wish." He replied in his usual deadpan. "We may want to seek out the more...disreputable locations to dig for information. I've learned that outlaws often have much on their minds, and need little encouragement to speak them."

He flashed the coin back at Nym as he quietly slinked off to find appropriate lodging.

 

[Kaphiri]

Even in the arse crack of the desert, in the most backwater town he could find, there was still an underbelly that Kaphiri found he could cling to. As far as he was concerned, he'd won in this life. He had everything he needed: food, drink, shelter, and perhaps most importantly: a very, very full coin purse. His days of running shady and often risky smuggling and racketeering jobs in Salitra were over, and Nimra had proven the perfect place for him to hide while everything cooled off.

In the meantime, he'd spend his days drinking, gambling, and brawling amongst fellow rogues and reprobates in Nimra's seediest locations.
"Bartender! A sidewinder fang, sometime this century, eh?" He snarled from his booth between laughs with his associates. Indeed, fortune had smiled on the beastfolk bastard. This, he mused to himself, was the good life.

 

[Nym]

The beauty of being a royal who'd been kept behind closed doors was that she didn't run too much risk of being recognised. Her father's tyranny was well known in Amol Kalit, and she was certain she'd have many enemies she'd never met, and so she could only be glad that she'd never been a public figure. She let down her hood and gave Settra a nod as she slipped down from the chestnut stallion..

"Alright. Be careful, please." she offered a small smile, and bit gently on her lip as she watched him leave, finding herself hoping he too wasn't about to abandon her. She scowled at herself for her own brief moment of self-pity and led her horse through the market, purchasing some fresh wine for them both, and some sweet breads for Settra.

She was tossing her heavy coin purse into the air and catching it with audible clinks as she perused the market stalls, warm smiles offered to each of the merchants. She tucked her purchases into the saddle bags and carried on, very aware of the few eyes that watched her as she carried on down a side street.

"Excuse me, lady! I must speak with you." a short, burly man approached her, waving his hands. Right on cue. Nym turned, lowering her hood and offering a curious smile..

"Oh?.. Is everything alright?.." she asked as he approached her, eyes falling to the hand that was currently slipping behind his back. She almost rolled her eyes.

"Yes, yes, I have something I must tell you." he lied, and the moment he reached her he shoved her slender frame against the nearest wall and pressed his blade against the underside of her chin. "That's a healthy lookin' purse you got there. Hand it over lady."

Nym didn't bother to look afraid, she didn't have the energy.. In an instant his wrist was grabbed and twisted behind his back as she slammed him against the wall instead, her other hand on the nape of his neck, pressing his face to the sandstone as she bent his wrist until he cried out and dropped the blade.

"Good. Now answer me honestly and I won't break it. I won't warn twice." she assured. "I'm looking for a beast folk, goes by the name of Kaphiri. Any ideas?.." The man's head shook immediately.

"No. I don't know no Kaphiri!" he blurted frantically and repeated as she twisted his arm a little more, until she could feel the bone bend under the strain.

"I believe you. Then perhaps you can give me directions to where I might find someone who does know. Where do you degenerate scum types frequent?" she asked impatiently.

"The Hollow! Other side of town.. p-p-place called the Rat hole... Let go now lady!"

"Thank you. You've been helpful." Nym answered and loosened her grip slightly, seeing the man's shoulders slump with relief before she tightened her grip again and yanked the arm back up and felt it pop. Her brow furrowed as the chunky little man crumpled and held his broken arm against his chest with a furious cry in pain. "Maybe think twice about robbing vulnerable women from now on, hm?.." she sneered at him, and wandered back into the marketplace to wait for Settra.

 

[Settra]

Securing lodging was simple enough. There were a few decent inns in town, despite its modesty. The dilemma came from deciding how many rooms to reserve, Settra realized, mentally kicking himself for not asking Nym for her preference. Two rooms would allow the princess a higher level of privacy but was more likely to draw attention. Ultimately he aired on the side of practicality and reserved a single room with two beds at an inn called the Golden Mole.

The innkeeper and Settra exchanged thanks, and the assassin made his way back onto the streets of Nimra. Upon returning to the spot that they had initially split up, once again, Settra kicked himself for not having discussed where Nymeasha was going. Thankfully, Nimra was only so big, so he hoped that tracking her down would be relatively easy.

He had only just started to consider where to look when he heard the pained cries of Nym's would-be assailant over the din of the crowd. Not long after, she waltzed back up to him.
"...Anything eventful happen while I was gone?" He queried, eyebrow raised curiously.

 

[Nym]

Nym’s lips curled at the question and she tucked the coin purse away with the rest of her things with a husky laugh under her breath.. “I walked down a street alone with coin, what do you think?..” she mused and rolled her eyes.. “Predictable.” she muttered under her breath.

“We should find some answers at the other side of town. An area called the Hollow. There we’ll find a fine establishment called the Rat Hole... Fitting.” She grinned and her cheeks dimpled.

“You found us lodgings, I assume?..” she quirked a brow as she handed him some wrapped up sweet bread that was sticky with honey, a small smile on her lips.

 

[Settra]

Settra let out a single, breathy laugh. There wasn't a scratch on the woman, in spite of her apparent altercation. Of course there wasn't. She was strong. The assassin wondered if he even needed to be here.
"Impressive work..." He sighed. Not only had she beaten down a cutpurse, she had managed to wrestle some information out of him as well.

"A clean and lawful establishment, I'm sure." He jested in his monotone way. His mind wandered to the Viper's Den in Ragash and he briefly wondered why bars always seemed to be named after the dwelling places of various vermin. A question for another time, he decided.

Settra nodded his affirmation to Nym and graciously accepted the treat. Salted meat was all well and good, but having something more luxurious from time to time was admittedly quite refreshing. He slipped the sweet bread beneath his hood and took a bite, savoring the flavor as the honey oozed across his palette.
"Indeed. I found us a room at an inn called the Golden Mole, not too far from here. They seemed reputable." He answered matter-of-factly.
"Ready to move on whenever you are."

 

[Nym]

Nym’s lips twisted at his praise and she dipped her chin. “I should worry if I couldn’t handle a lone scumbag in an alleyway..” she let out a breathy laugh, and a smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth as he happily accepted and sampled the treat. There was something about such a deadly and dangerous man eating such a sweet and delicate thing that amused her, but who didn’t like sweet breads?

Nym’s brow rose with a slow nod at his words. A room. Singular. One space. Until Uvogin, Nym was accustomed to having her own rooms, her own space was sacred, somewhere she could unwind and de stress, generally disrobed with wine in hand. Or of late a space where she could pathetically cry without judgement. Her gaze lingered distantly on the man for a moment longer than necessary before she offered a smile. “Ready.”

Why did it matter? It didn’t make her disloyal, to share a room with someone else.. Disloyal to a man who didn’t want her? Perhaps it was that she couldn’t trust herself not to climb into his bed and find other ways of consoling herself.. She dragged herself out of her own mind and shook her head at herself, unsure why she was fretting over such a ridiculous thing.

“Lead the way.” she nodded, a hand stroking at her stallion’s neck as she took his reins and followed to their lodgings. She unsaddled the horse and paid the friendly inn keep with a warm smile and more coin than necessary to ensure the steeds were well tended to.

She set down her things in the corner of their room and found her lips twisting to suppress a smile. It was comfortable, and she was pleased to see a bath tub, obscured by ornate modesty partitions and a hearth for warm water. For now, the wash basin would do, and she poured some cool water into it to wash the grit from her face and unpacked some fresh clothes which she changed into behind the screens to spare Settra any blushing.

“Perhaps we should get a decent meal first..” she considered aloud as she stepped out, freshly dressed. Her moss green shirt was tight other than the sleeves that cinched mid way up her forearms, and it was adorned by a black corset that housed six small and venomous throwing blades. Her leggings were wrapped tight against her thighs, and she pulled on black boots that she laced well above the knee before tying a black sash around her waist and securing another two poisoned blades to her hips.

 

[Settra]

Nym's short delay earned a very slight head cock from Settra. Something he had said had given her pause, but he wasn't totally certain of what. Internally he presumed it was either the inn or the single room that had caused concern. Even so, whichever factor it was apparently didn't matter much. The princess urged the assassin onward, and onward he lead.

The Golden Mole was quaint, that much was certain. The innkeeper was more than happy to stable the duo's horses, Nym's more than generous tip a prime motivator for quality service. As the two entered their shared room, Settra sat upon one of the beds to wait for whatever preparations his traveling companion wished to make.

When she stepped behind a screen, the assassin found his mind wandering and realized his mistake. He could hardly believe it himself: sixteen years of training and discipline undone by a woman he had met just two days ago. Had he not suffered countless lashes by his mentors to rid him of such sordid tendencies? He grit his teeth and shook himself, to little effect.

The assassin couldn't quite make sense of why, either. He had known Medja for many years now, and his mistress was far less...professional in her dress and demeanor, yet he found his palms getting sweaty and his heart pounding from the simple act of Nymeasha stepping behind a screen.

Settra startled visibly when Nym stepped back out and locked eyes on the far wall, resisting the urge to gawp at the woman.
"Whatever suits your preference." He replied in a stilted manner, wondering if it wasn't too late to get a second room. Nym clearly didn't need the protection, after all. Settra momentarily considered sleeping on the street like a beggar if, for some reason, there were no more rooms available.