Private Tales That Hat Is Out of Fashion

[Abandon]

Elbion was her favorite place to hunt in. Hundreds of shingled rooftops piled on top of each other. Dark alleyways and ruined buildings left behind in the aftermath of the Great Dragoning of 370, and despite it all the city's beautiful, well-educated civilians had still not learned to keep their belongings close. Maybe is was the warm night air that blew in from Amol-Kalit. Maybe it was because everyone here was magic, and magic people didn't believe that crime could happen to them.

Unfortunately for the elite of Elbion, Abandon happened to everyone.

Everyone with a contract on their head, that was. Three of them in this district alone. An assassin couldn't walk through the market square without running into someone that somebody else wanted dead. She had her pick of the place, and Abandon had picked Professor Inalius Pedore. A disgusting little man in fancy wizard clothes. She wanted to bat that stupid professor hat off his round head.

She wouldn't. She was a professional. Instead, Abandon walked down the busy daylight street at a casual pace and a shadow that was the appropriate size and shape for someone of her stature. If she had counted his footsteps right, Prof. Pedore would be rounding the corner and she would be rounding the corner at the same time just about... now.

The shoulder bump was amateur. With a sheepish smile and a squeak of apologetic air, Abandon side-stepped away from a collision with Prof. Pedore and passed neatly behind him. Her hands followed the draft of their clothes, slipping under a cloak and into a pocket. In her fingers glinted ever briefly, a shiny thing, and then it was gone underneath her own red cloak. Prof. Pedore pushed his stupid hat further down his face and leaned in against a gust of dust that kicked up from the street.

At the next corner, she slipped into a nearby alleyway. Red cloak darkened to black, and her outline was hard to decipher, embraced as she was in that maternal darkness. The key, though, the key was shiny silver. Abandon flicked it upwards to show it off, held between two fingers. A cat's grin spread across her face as she looked to her hunting companion. (Of course assassins of the Church could work together on a job. Only barking dogs like Diaz and true, moon-born lunatics like Love thought otherwise.)

"Told ya I could get the key."

Yarrow

 

[Yarrow]

'Yes, yes, I remember!' Yarrow replied, disentangling herself from the shadows to snatch the key from her companion. 'Don't go getting too full of yourself now or you'll end up like Brother Diaz,' she warned, holding the key up for closer inspection. The last thing they needed was to pinch the wrong one, especially when the job's success depended on it.

Squinting, the half-orc hummed and hawed as she studied the shiny metal. A bit of noise to go with the playacting. Getting Abandon to sweat a little had always been one of her favourite pastimes; these days, now that they were fully fledged assassins, the task was much tougher. Not impossible, mind. If it was, Yarrow wouldn't have wasted her time trying.

With a grudging sigh, she tossed the silvery prize back to her companion, a small smile pulling at the corner of her lips.

'Looks to be the right one... this time.' Tugging her shawl up over her nose, the assassin tilted her head back towards the mouth of the alley. Now that they possessed the key, they could carry on with business. Three lives with three knives, if she recalled correctly. And a theft to top it off.

Busy, busy, busy, thought Yarrow, locking arms with the shorter woman as they sauntered out of the alley in the direction of Prof. Pedore's abode. Unfamiliar with Elbion's peoples and customs, Yarrow let Abs direct her when and where needed. This was her stomping ground after all.

Yarrow's side-sword rode at her hip. The obvious threat. Dressed in traveller's garb, however, she looked just about the same as every other swaggering sell-sword and braggart polluting Elbion's streets. 'Nice night for a stroll,' she commented, closing her eyes against the billowing dust.

Abandon

 

[Abandon]

Of course it was the right key! Abandon bristled proudly as her handiwork was examined, approved, and handed back to her. Not a sound left her as she pocketed the shiny thing once more. Just a solemn nod at Yarrow's little smile.

Without even really thinking about it, Abandon let the taller woman take her arm. As they stepped out of the alley together, she was busy daydreaming about the lovely night that they were about to have. Three heads all lined up on the block. Chop, chop, chop. They could kill Prof. Pedore at the same time that they robbed him, make it look like a brutish burglary. Even so, it would raise the hackles of the other two - if they didn't act quickly enough, security for each kill after the first would get tighter.

Abandon took them down street after street, following the flow of passers by in the night, more people out and about than in other cities. Elbion was a place unhindered by natural cycles. Magicked lanterns glowed multicolor at every entrance and corner, and shops kept their doors propped open long after dark. She trailed Prof. Pedore, who was some ways ahead, with casual care. Until, wait...

He wasn't up ahead anymore. Where did he go?

The wind stirred again. The wild hair on her head whipped up wilder, her cloak buffeted around her as Abandon came to an abrupt stop. Pulled Yarrow to a stop too, wrapping both arms around the half-orc's bicep in a tight grip. A pair of students behind them had to change their path to avoid a collision.

"I lost him," Abandon admitted. How embarrassing, and right after she'd done so well with the key. She was not gonna be able to live this one down. Especially not if Diaz caught wind of it.

"Yarrow..." Sheepishly, she looked up. "You got the scent?"

 

[Yarrow]

Yarrow did her best to look like she belonged. Having Abandon by her side helped, to be sure. Given how dense the human population in Elbion was, it went without saying that being accompanied by her had its benefits. For one, nobody batted an eye at the pair of them as they made their way through the city streets, past shopfronts still open despite the late hour. Any other place and the doors would have been locked and bolted by now. Not Elbion's doors though. Oh, no!

Casting a sidelong glance at her companion, Yarrow raised an eyebrow in surprise. Was that a look of excitement she saw upon Abandon's face or were her eyes playing tricks on her?

Well, one might as well enjoy their work, thought Yarrow, glad her shawl hid the big ol' smile lighting up her face. Walking on, the Half-Orc felt Abandon's hold on her arm tighten suddenly. This can't be good. 'What is it now?' she asked, stopping mid-stride.

'I lost him.'

Abandon's words were hit her like a boot to the belly. Taking a steadying breath to cool her temper, Yarrow turned her amber-hued gaze upon her Sister. 'I see,' she replied, her voice betraying none of the disappointment -or amusement- she felt at hearing such an admission.

Abandon at least had the decency to look sorry. 'You got the scent?' she asked, looking up at her partner with those cute puppy eyes that had no doubt deceived many over the years. Yarrow sighed. 'Yeah,' she said, allowing the shorter assassin to work her magic on her. 'Helps that he's sweating like a soldier after a route march, and his cologne... very citrusy.'

Squeezing Abandon to her side, Yarrow carried on like nothing had happened. 'Come along!'

Abandon

 

[Abandon]

Could she feel Yarrow's blood boiling just under the skin? Abandon thought about is as she clung closer to her companion's arm, and braced herself for the scolding.

I see.

No, not a hint of anger, which was much scarier. Abandoned nodded at Yarrow's assessment of the target's stink, shaking more of her dark locks over her eyes. She let herself be dragged along like a child, which of course hurt her pride, but she wasn't about to show it. Maybe Yarrow liked her well enough to make up for the mistake, but that shadow of hers...

Abandon thought she saw it shift, prowling closer like a hungry wolf. Eager.

With Yarrow leading instead of her, the pair stood out. They got looks from passersby, and Abandon tried not to imagine their two faces sketched out in some guard's notes. 'Sighted at the scene of the crime.' But that wasn't going to happen, because it was a recoverable mistake. They'd just have to work even quicker now. Yarrow could run fast, right? The orc had long enough legs.

Soon though, the wizard with the ugly hat and cheap cologne came into view again. He was at the steps of a building, opening the door into a tavern with a rearing unicorn painted on its sign. White body on a field of red.

"A bar, at this hour?" Abandon hissed out, voice low. "Just go home already!"

Yarrow

 

[Yarrow]

'I don't think he heard you,' Yarrow commented drily, watching as Mister Pointy Hat disappeared inside the tavern. Three storeys tall and about seven Abandons wide, the Unicorn seemed to be quite the lively establishment. The patrons, those Yarrow could see, hear and, rather unfortunately, smell seemed to be quite the colourful bunch. As colourful as the windows flanking the front door, anyway.

'Wonder if he's meeting someone,' Yarrow spoke up, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. 'Ten silvers says, "yes."

Half-pulling, half-dragging Abandon along with her, Yarrow went to find out. She made sure her Sister was the first through the door. Short and cute -and very, very human- she would serve as an ample distraction should anyone be watching the door. Plus, it helped diffuse the tension. An orc accompanying a human usually raised less eyebrows than a human accompanying an orc.

Even educated folks liked to treat others with disdain from time to time. And who deserved hate more than the half-breed?

'See! Told you!' Yarrow nudged her companion when they made it inside, a small smile tweaking her lips. Their mark was over by the bar and, lo and behold, he had company. Another bloke with a pointy hat and star-speckled robes. A wizard? Yes. Yes, he had to be. Only wizards wore silly robes and had beards as long and grey as that!

Clay seemed to agree. Upon seeing them, he disappeared into the smoke-blackened rafters, like a shadow among shadows. Yarrow wished she could join him.

'Should we find somewhere to sit?' she asked, already well on the way to formulating a plan of action. 'Somewhere quiet and secluded, preferably- though I'm not picky.'

Abandon

 

[Abandon]

Their arms decoupling, Yarrow fell in step behind Abandon, which she knew was her cue to take the lead again. She had only a couple of moments to decide on a disguise as they walked through the door.

The wonderful thing about being short was that Abandon could be whatever age she wanted. Just then, she chose to be a young princess of the Abberresai, with her orcish bodyguard in tow. She smoothed her features over, face round and soft. the weight of the world seemed to lift off her shoulders. Even the trail of her cloak changed, the hem of it looking less tattered and grimy.

Sorry Yarrow, you're just too big and grey to play the leading role, Abandon thought as she took them through the crowded tavern with haughty confidence.

Bodyguards weren't supposed to talk, but Abandon decided to be a kind and benevolent princess as Yarrow placed a bet with herself and promptly won it. Only because she liked it when the other woman smiled. It made her tusks look like little fangs, all pointy and cute.

Next Yarrow asked to find a place to sit. In response, Abandon pointed at a sign near the entrance that read Please Wait to Be Seated. This looked to be one of those civilized establishments that tried to give good service and offer food on clean dishes. How annoying. Still, she waited with a pleasant expression.

"Got to follow the rules," Abandon said with a knowing nod. "Easier to blend in."

Soon enough, a waitress came and collected them. They were seated at a table for two, with tall stools that Abandon had to climb up onto. As soon as the waitress stepped away, she slumped, arms stretching out long across the table into Yarrow's half. Fingernails scritch-scratched against the polished wood in an asynchronous way. She was listening, and taking notes.

Professor Pedore and his mysterious friend were at the bar behind them, sharing a whiskey and chatting merrily. Abandon's brows knit together in thought.

"They're talking about boring wizard stuff," she reported in.

Yarrow

 

[Yarrow]

'You don't say,' replied Yarrow, scowling at the sign that had just robbed her of the ability to choose. Clearing her throat, she followed Abandon's lead. With a pop of vertebrae and a roll of the shoulders, Yarrow slipped into the role of bodyguard like she had been born to it. Having a bit of muscle on show helped complete the disguise, and her "don't fuck with me!" look was more than enough to make the patrons of the Unicorn disregard the two assassins as guests of the establishment.

Maybe they could get a quick bite to eat before the bloodletting began?

Hard maybe, Yarrow thought, searching the faces around her for signs of undue interest. She was a bodyguard, after all, and bodyguards did bodyguard things when out and about with their princess. Smirking inwardly, Yarrow followed Abandon and the waitress to where they were to be seated. A little spot by the bar. Not exactly what she had been hoping for, but in the Unicorn you got what you got.

There was a sign saying that, too! Right next to the one that read 'you break it, you buy it.'

Count yourselves lucky I don't plan on starting a brawl, the she-orc mused quietly, her neck meerkating about. Bodyguards did that too, right? Or was she playing too much into it? Filing that one away in the book of questions she would never answer, Yarrow turned her gaze to Abandon. Listening along, she smiled slightly at the assassin's words.

'You don't say!'

Folding her arms on the table in front of her, Yarrow took a glance over her shoulder. Abandon wasn't lying. They really were talking about boring wizardy stuff that numbed the brain and left the soul longing for a way out. Smiling, Yarrow's expression turned thoughtful as she studied the second man.

'Hey,' she said, rouged eyes flicking to Abandon. 'Is it me or does Mystery Man look kind of familiar?'

Abandon

 

[Abandon]

Yarrow was doing that thing where she was pretending to be nice but was actually seething about something. The second you don't say that she uttered made the hairs on the back of Abandon's neck stand up, and she scratched her claws against the grain of the table in agitation.

She didn't have time to get too bristly though, as it became clearer who Prof. Pedore was talking to. Their second target!

Licorice crawled out from under Abandon's cloak, a mere shifting of the light. He darted between the shadows of table legs and fading lanterns, until he was curled up right beneath their target's feet. A terrible place to be, really, but hardly anyone could see the shadowkin, even Abandon herself most of the time.

The little assassin tilted her head up at Yarrow, a strand of hair shifting over her eyes. "One at a time or both at once?" she asked her sister.

It was the only time she would consider Yarrow's preference. After that, it was every assassin for herself.

 

[Yarrow]

Yarrow thought about it. 'Well, I'd rather not get into a slinging match with spellcasters if that's all right with you.' Leaning across the table, she lowered her voice to a conspiring whisper. 'Under normal circumstances, I'd step in. Take one while you take the other, y'know? But...' She met Abandon's eye, smiled like she always did when on the cusp of a violent act. 'Since it's you, I'll let you have the honour of taking both.'

Was that being lazy, or would Abandon appreciate the gesture? She did like her murder, after all. Moreso than the she-orc, anyway.

Got them all fooled, so you have! Root's voice made Yarrow's skin crawl. Reckon Mother's the only one who knows what you're really like, she went on, jumping from shadow to shadow like the bad smell that followed Diaz. Wonder why she hasn't tattled yet?

You and me both, thought Yarrow, fixing her smile. Placing her hands on the edge of the table, she turned herself around to face the two wizards they had come to kill. Three lives with three knives, she reminded herself, mind drifting to the weighty presence of the blade at her hip. 'Make it quick,' she told Abandon, closing her eyes as shadowy tendrils began to wind around her arms and shoulders.

The first signs of shadow magic, or her version of it. Easier than blood magic and twice as useful in situations where you needed a distraction. Which, funnily enough, they did.

Eyes as dark as sin opened to reveal dilated pupils. White pinpricks in a sea of black, they darted up to the ceiling where her shadowkin waited upside down, eager for the fun to begin. "Showtime!' The wolf growled, dropping down to land on the table behind her. The lights in the Unicorn went out the second his padded paws touched wood.

Here we go.

Abandon