Private Tales Two Deaths, One Stone

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair simply nodded and walked with a more defined purpose towards his destination. It was quickly apparent why the Golden Boot was a popular spot and how it had lasted for so long. The place was one of the first things a sailor would see when they got through port authorities.

Even in the early afternoon, the place seemed to be active with patrons coming and going. The outside of the tavern was actually fairly well maintained, so much so that it kind of stood out from the more decrepit buildings in the area.

However, as soon as the two stepped inside, the atmosphere changed as it was obvious most of the money had been put into the outside of the building. The inside was dark, packed, and falling apart. But the people were happy and drinks were flowing. What more could a commoner ask for.

Finished with his assignment, Alistair turned to Kitra and motioned, "After you."

Kitra Sen

 

[Kitra Sen]

Kitra wondered if she had stepped through a door and was welcomed back home in Vel Cirak. The interior was not something she thought would be tolerated in Anir, but it returned all sorts of comfort and confidence in the Cirakian Dreadlord. It reminded her strongly of the pub she frequented, where those that knew her as the Lyrebird welcomed her and gave her intel. A smile slowly spread across her lips.

"Two ales!" She called out to the barkeep in a voice that mimicked that of ther Lyrebird. It was full of assurety, familarity, and got a nod form the barkeep that began to pour their drinks. They exchanged coin for pints, and Kit scanned the room. "There's a table in the middle of the room. Better than standing around."

Holding both pints, she cleared a path for Alistair to nagivate without anyone bumping into him, swearing and barking at anyone that tried to get in their way. Al would be able to see Kitra plain and clear as she called on a morsel of her magic to mimick assertion from someone in the room. It was why she liked being in crowds. You never knew what you could pick up on.

Once seated, she looked around and took note of the room. The windows, the exits, the tables where differing manners of patrons gathered.

"What is the defining mark of some of these gangs?" She asked in a low voice he would hear.

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Even for all of Kitra's effort, Alistair seemed almost purposefully to bump into several people as they walked through. He offered them brief apologies before taking his own seat at the table like nothing weird had happened. Al could feel several pairs of eyes on him, after all, it was like dropping a bucket of chum in the shark enclosure. The only difference was this bucket of chum could kill all of them.

"Like I said before, the Wyrms have dragon tattoos. The Hanged Man's gang does not have an official look, but the lower-level members have been known to wear blue...Nearly any other tattoo you see will likely serve as some form of identification for a current or former gang."

While Alistair was entirely focused on her, he pointed off to the side and then behind his back. "I've counted at least five that are likely gang members."

Kitra Sen

 

[Kitra Sen]

Kit grimaced as she looked around again, lifting her ale to her lips to stare over the rim. "Kress, they all look like they are part of something... but I can see the ones you mean." Her dark eyes fixed on a dragon tattoo proudly taking up the entire canvas of one man's arm.

He looked about their age, commanding his table with an easy grin and a deep voice she was sure made many ladies bat their lashes. He was handsome, the kind of type that made Kitra dread questioning or approaching. Not that she was intimidated, but their charms were so easy to take on and that often led them to think that she was interested.

It was best to stick by Al and lean on his grouchy demeanor when it would serve her.

"Found a Wyrm. Good to know they don't travel in packs." She set down her pint and sighed. "Disappointed that the ale here isn't their best... but I should have expected as such from this backwater place." Came her review in a low voice.

 

[Alistair Krixus]

"Next time we can hunt down a noble so that I can show you some real wine." Alistair offered sarcastically.

Upon her saying that the man was alone, Alistair's eyes flashed for the briefest of moments before frowning with disgust.

"He isn't alone though, a bunch of maggots at and near his table that are hoping to suck up to him, probably so they can join the gang. However, you are right. I don't see any other wyrms."

How pathetic could these people be? Alistair wanted to go over there and smash this guy's face in and show these people what gangs were actually good for. Sadly, that wasn't his job today.

"So, how would you like to do this Ms. Sen. We can do this diplomatically if you would like, the second option is...well I'm sure you can guess."

Kitra Sen

 

[Kitra Sen]

Kitra snorted at his mention of real wine.

"That would be the dream." She remarked dryly. Nobles always wanted information, and Kit did not like to share so easily if called upon. So she stuck with working with those that liked to keep invisible. Alistair was perhaps one of the first noblemen that she didn't try to immediately lose in a crowd. Even Trix was different.

Her mind began to run through everything once more, tossing up her preferred approach in tackling this. "First option. And if things go south, well, I hope you are in the mood to get into a pub fight." Her fighting skills were alright, her knife work deadly, but it was her magic that allowed her to pick up another's fighting style quickly and best figure out a way to combat with them. It was a stimulation that left her grinning at the end, for Kit loved seeing the surprise on their face turn to frustration. "But let me finish this ale first. I don't like wasting my coin."

 

[Alistair Krixus]

In response to her question, Alistair looked down at his lean frame emphasized more by the fact that could not actually see his lean frame.

"Um, I have not had a chance to find out, but I would guess that without magic I would be rather bad at pub fights."

Of course, that point was rather mute because as long as he used magic in this place, he would be untouchable.

He turned to the swill in front of him as he too was determined to at least finish the drink in front of him. He would just have to treat himself to get rid of the foul taste in his mouth. Maybe he could convince the cook to prepare duck with one of his nice red wines from Alliria.

Kitra Sen

 

[Kitra Sen]

Kitra scrunched her face once she began to realise that Alistair may have to sit this one out. She thought it over as she took a drink, watching the people in the room and figuring out a plan. She was the stranger in their midst, her only ally being a blind guy that also happened to be her Vigilite colleague. 'Diplomatic' could be different to how she would conduct it, if memory served her well, Al's tactics took to intimidate first when it came to questioning a courtesan in a murder investigation.

That sort of approach here may not sit well with the brutes.

"Alright. If things go south, you're in charge of clearing an exit for me. That alright?"

 

[Alistair Krixus]

For the first time, Alistair looked a bit confused before wincing in disgust at the taste of his beverage. He continued to force more of it down before returning back to the conversation.

"I am more than happy to help in whatever way you need, but why can I not fight?"

It would seem that Alistair's understanding of the rules of engagement compared to Kitra's understanding was very different.

"Of course, I can do both if you would like?"

Kitra Sen

 

[Kitra Sen]

Kit looked at him for a few brief moments.

"They're going to pick on you because you're blind. I know you can take care of yourself, but I'm still going the diplomatic way about this even if an all out brawl happens. I need their attention on me, so that I can find out anything through picking up their body language with my magic. If they are all trying to teach the well dressed nobleman a lesson for coming this side of the docks, it makes it harder for me to adopt their behaviors."

Kitra used to sing in places like this. Mimicking some great bards that went on to sing in royal courts and be paid handsomely at other parties. She was a Lyrebird, able to con people through sheer and raw talent stolen form those that did not notice. "Now, I am terrible at flirting, so I would appreciate if you made no comment ever about what I am about to do."

She grimaced, looking at her pint and downing half the contents until it was empty. Kit steeled herself for a moment before a hand went to tug at the leather being used to tie her hair back. It didn't do much to her appearance, but allowed her to adopt the act of curling a dark lock of hair around one finger as she gave Al a nervous smile. "Do not laugh. I mean it."

 

[Alistair Krixus]

So did that mean he could fight? It did not really matter, he would make that decision for himself when the choice was forced upon him.

"No promises."

Although he said that, his straight-faced and often unreadable demeanor made it difficult to understand whether he meant that as a joke, or if the man could have ever laughed at all.

Considering that their first time working together, Alistair had played the part of a nervous nobleman looking to get his rocks off, then he likely could understand what Kitra was about to do.

Wait, did that mean they had been laughing at him back then?

Rather than dwell on the thought, Alistair just leaned back in his chair and nodded in affirmation. "Good luck."

Kitra Sen

 

[Kitra Sen]

Pushing her chair back into the table, Kitra took a few seconds to climatise herself to a new persona, mimicking the confidence of one of the waitresses and her easy charm. It was always easy to borrow from others, kept her more aware of what was going on than operating on her own instincts. Kitra was always talented at separating herself from those she mimicked, and as she gave her hair a tussle to refresh her look, she sauntered over to the table.

She was in her casual gear, looking more mercenary than anything. But she caught the gaze of the Wyrm member and his speech faltered as the vision of Kitra distracted him successfully. "You look like the sort of man to answer my question." It wasn't her voice being used, but some accented lilt to an otherwise smooth voice over her deeper cadence.

He stared at her, probably thinking she was some foreign merc as the others at his table grinned and carried on. The Wyrm grinned now, raising his brows and taking on a suggestive tone. "Go on, darlin'. State yer bus'ness."

Kitra wished to recoil from his gruffness, to turn her nose at him, but that confidence she was mimicking lead her to click her tongue and place a hand on her hip. The other hand braced her as she leaned on the table opposite from him and lowered her voice.

"I am looking to get even with a new gang. Thing is, love, I do not remember which one he ran with when he robbed and killed my father." Miraculously, her face morphed into something more demure, innocent. Garnering their sympathies or their need to assist the damsel. "He was a sweet man, and I wish to see his murderer brought to justice."

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Al did not need to even turn to keep an eye on Kitra; instead, he focused on his own drink. However, his early bumping into other patrons of the pub was to place some of his runic eyes on them, the walls, tables, or anything else he bumped into.

Seeing through the Runic Eyes gave him several angles to watch Kitra and ensure no one tried anything stupid. Several of the gang members tensed up upon her arrival, but they were already starting to relax.

What Al found more interesting were those not part of the conversation who took notice of it. He had expected some to pay attention just out of curiosity, but he also noticed those few who tried their best not to look as if they were trying to eavesdrop. Those would be the ones he would have to keep and eye on.

Kitra Sen

 

[Kitra Sen]

"You wanting vengeance?" The Wyrm asked, brows raising as his eyes shamelessly took in Kitra before him. Naturally, she would recoil, but this mimicked version she portrayed allowed him rake his gaze over her.

"Retribution seems appropriate. They should hurt the way I do." That tone was not one she needed to mimick, to summon. That emotion and held back fury was Kitra, all natural. "But I need help. I want them to not see it coming... To know I was involved in this."

The others around the table started to laugh, and Kitra stood tall despite this. The Wyrm smiled widely, watching her as his torso moved with his light laughter. "Aye. Let our hands get dirty while your own are clean. That some cold behaviour, darlin'."

"They deserve a cold act for what they did to our family in murdering my father."

The Wyrm laughed, reaching for his drink and downing it within seconds. He waited, as if he anticipated a belch, but none came. Then he sighed, sizing up Kitra again. "Do ya know who I am? Who I run with?" He lifted a hand and used two fingers to tap at this visible tattot on amongst his sleeve of ink. "We mean bus'ness."

 

[Alistair Krixus]

He sighed, leaving it to this guy to also be an idiot. Of course, she knew who he was, why else would she be asking him to do this?

As the conversation continued, there may be words or plans mentioned that Alistair did not want everyone to know about, so he took this opportunity to distract some people. He would later admit that he was impressed with some of the subtle magics that he used.

Most of it was minor telekinesis to have someone lightly bump into another to occupy them in conversation. He ensured one barmaid accidentally spilled some of a drink onto one of the listeners. The last was not even magic, but was as simple as tossing a silver towards the band, making them play a little bit louder—anything to give Kitra just a bit more privacy.

Kitra Sen

 

[Kitra Sen]

Kitra chuckled at the Wyrm, her head dropping slightly and her hair fell from behind her. She never really cared about styling her hair, but they fell in waves formed from being tied up for hours already. Clearly, her effortless charms and wiles were doing the trick, as Kitra lifted her gaze to meet the Wyrm's to see he was amused and smiling.

"Let's take a walk, shall we?"

"Now?"

"Yes, now." Kitra stood up straight and furrowed her brows at him. "Name a price, and I will pay it." She shrugged nonchalantly.

Several eyes watched the Dreadlord, greed in their eyes. She did not know it, but only those at the table seemed to hear this interaction, thanks to Alistair's efforts in occupying the attentions of the others in the room. The Wyrm stood up immediately, downing the three qurater full tankard from the brute to his right, then gave Kit a look that surely would have made another woman swoon or something.

"A'right.The.. deed, then I'll name ma price, darlin'."

She wanted to roll her eyes, to react in anyway other than the crook of a smile and her eyes sizing him up.

"First, you need to meet my brother." She beckoned the Wyrm towards the table that Alistair was sat at. Clearly, there were no distinguishable features between the two, especially when Kitra's skin was much darker than her colleagues, but when the Wyrm raised a brow, she assured him with a simple explanation. "Different fathers, same mum."

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair saw the two coming over but decided to look off into the distance, playing up his blindness for the moment. Might as well hide of few cards. As they neared, he played it off like he heard them walking over.

"Hello sister, did they agree to help us?"

While he was still playing blind, he did not detract from his rigid demeanor deciding to come across as the angry brother that was hungry for revenge on their father.

"We need to hurry before whoever did this gets away. No time to waste."

His fingers drummed rhythmically against the table showcasing his desire to be moving on. Only then did he cock his head over as if he just noticed another had walked over with Kitra.

"Oh hello, will you be assisting us? We would certainly be in your debt."

Kitra Sen

 

[Kitra Sen]

Kitra bit her cheek to keep from snickering at the idea of their false familial ties. She wasn't sure if she was more amused at them playing siblings or him playing up the blindness...

Should she laugh about that?

"Let me help you up." Kitra would assist Al to rise to his feet and barked at anyone that was going to step in their way.

The Wyrm watched them, but his eyes remained on Kitra. She knew she did an awful job at flirting, but at least he found something interesting about her to keep his attention. "What did the guy look like that killed your father?"

Kitra cleared her throat, looking around the place. She made it obvious to look at identifying gang emblems scattered around the place. The Wyrm understood and chuckled, motioning for them to lead the way and outside. Kit made sure to lead, clearing a path for Al and his walking stick, telling him to watch his step.

Now outside the pub, Kitra turned to the Wyrm member, sizing him up. "Those that saw the murderer said he had blond hair. He had been holding his left arm, so an injury happened... Any gangs that liked painting their faces red?" She asked. "Or was it... striped paint... there was red paint involved, as it was all over the bedding and my father's body."

She hoped Al didn't react to the new information she was telling now, but if he did, she could work convince the Wyrm her brother hadn't heard the details before.

"How long ago did this happen?"

"A couple days ago."

 

[Alistair Krixus]

He let himself be guided away, careful not to dodge if people did not move out of the way quickly enough. To maintain his image, he had to let Kitra perform the job.

Alistair's face gave little away, his jaw tensed, but that could have just as easily been him remembering the death of his father just as much as learning that his friend was not telling him everything. This extra information could have saved them a lot of time. He had no way to guarantee that, but now they will never know.

"All the more reason to hurry...surely some group using red paint would be obvious, yes?"

He turned in the direction of the gang member, but his expression remained unchanged. There was an intensity there, which was quite easy to convey. He really was feeling angry, just at Kitra and not at the murderer.

Alistair was focusing on the people once again who were back to paying attention to them. They did not follow as that would draw attention, but they had certainly clocked their interaction.

Kitra Sen

 

[Kitra Sen]

"It depends, darlin'." The Wyrm addressed Kitra and not Alistair. She could feel the mixture of emotions coming from them both, but the only anger she gleaned came from her own colleague. Keeping some details to herself ensured that she could control this situation in a way.

"On what?" Her brows furrowed.

"No gangs use paint, unless they were new and cheap. War paint doesn't have a good look 'round these parts, but... I can go pokin' around." He spared a glance to the blind brother, but his attention was all on Kitra.

Away from the woman she mimicked the flirtations and confidence from, all she was now was her own version of flirting... that was to say she was frowning a lot. "Any new gangs you know of?" But the Wyrm shook his head. Kitra clicked her tongue. "Then the information is not a lead."

The Wyrm raised a brow before scanning to look around their surroundings. He acknowledged a few people, and Kitra made note of the faces that responded. Some were clearly wyrms, while others had different uniforms that showed where they were part of another gang altogether. Picking this Wyrm allowed them a quick dip into the politics with these gangs running the docks. "Ya got any more little details you wanna share, darlin'?"

Kitra wished she could tell him to call her something different, but she mimicked a coy smile. "Leif Sarrtor. He ended up dead before our father did... He worked the docks but before that he---"

"---was a pris'ner." The Wyrm finished, knowing the name. He gave them both wary looks. "Sarrtor went bankrupt, had it comin' to him... you sure ya father didn't go the same way, darlin'?"

Kitra pretended to share a look between herself and Alistair. She knew it was unfair of her to keep him in the dark somewhat, but Kitra only liked to work with information that moved them forward. Red paint could come from anything. A gang's symbol, renovations, painting even.

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair just stood there looking disturbed, which was a rather easy thing to do at the moment. There was no reason to say anything, in fact, that was the most dangerous option. Now that it was clear that there was a lot of information that he had not been told, his words were not just some little white lie that would not be of issue. There was now a possibility that he accidentally said something that completely contradicted all the facts known by the other two.

He still held in his anger, not at his failure to assist the investigation, but Kitra's withholding of information had essentially just turned him into a tool as he did not have the knowledge to make his own decisions.

Earlier in the day, she had said this was not official business, but now he wished it was. Alistair hated being a tool for people, the only thing that could use him like that was the Republic, but his friends...well they weren't really friends if they used him like that.

There was a brief moment where Alistair's shoulders tensed before he slowly released his breath and when he looked back up to meet Kitra's gaze, his eyes were once again dead and his face expressionless.

Kitra Sen

 

[Kitra Sen]

It was a stare she knew all too well.

It made her miss Trix, for the woman certainly knew how to blend both Sen and Krixus working together. A buffer when Kit needed it.

But Kitra shook her head. "He didn't appear to be in debt, but clever men can hide many things about them." That she knew of firsthand. Her father was the same as her, had evaded the Proctors in his youth, and tried to teach Kit the same thing the handful of times they got to meet in her childhood. Her mother wanted nothing to do with her father and never told her anything about him... but Kitra knew many people in Vel Cirak even from a young age.

"Right, well, darlin' let me go check in with some people and I will get back to ya. Meet me at fruit market in.... say, one hour?" The Wyrm winked at Kitra, the imagery giving her a memory of something that used to wink at her but never delivered. She told herself this was different, these were people that did not know her.

She needed to have a little faith.

And once they were alone, Kitra turned her frown to Alistair.

"You want to slice my throat for keeping you in the dark, don't you?"

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair was silent for several seconds after the question was asked, he just stared at her, looking at something that only he could see. Finally, he released a long drawn-out sigh.

"No, your death would not solve my problem. At the risk of sounding like some sort of parent, I am just disappointed. I simply have to reassess my understanding of this assignment."

And that's what it was to him, now. It was just an assignment, a task that he had been given to complete. This was not helping a friend or an acquaintance, there was no need for him to think. Kitra had the information, he would perform what task was required of him.

"Just let me know when my assistance is needed."

Kitra Sen

 

[Kitra Sen]

Disappointment was not new to Kitra.

She heard all about it in her years at the Academy, and her short lived career stationed in Vel Cirak. She had made bad calls before, and perhaps those betrayals still affected her now. But this wasn't the time to tell Alistair all about her past, or how things worked in her case. All she did was give him a grim smile and shoved her hands into her pockets.

"Well, your assistance now would be great. We should follow him, see who he meets with. I could mimic your and your magic, but... I think you have a better knack for your runes than I would trying to figure it out. I cannot replicate location spells so... When this is over, I owe you a drink or two." She shrugged, attempted a light smile. "Promise not to forget this time."

The Lyrebird used to only work alone, rely on herself than sharing control with another. This was her attempt at changing things, growing herself to be more adaptive now that she worked for the Vigilite. She tried not to scowl as a memory reminded her that she had been told she could learn a thing or two from Krixus.

"What I didn't tell you was that, yes, there was paint or something leaving a trail, and that the houses of Sarrtor and Harlan were trashed and rummaged through. Valuables were taken, but I already looked around the markets and traders and haven't found anything moving yet. Takes time with stolen goods. So... yes, perhaps money was a factor in all of this... but I am not so easily convinced. The stone down Harlan's throat suggested there was something else sinister to all of this..." Kitra's expression darkened. "And... I figured to ask for your assistance because... you can see magical traces. Maybe you will see something I missed or cannot see."

Admitting as much left a sour taste in her mouth.

Sighing, she motioned for them to start walking again.

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair offered a polite smile at Kitra's attempt to lighten the mood, but the smile never reached his eyes as it was only done to be curious. He would not deny that her suspicions could prove to be correct as criminals often attempt to hide their murders within the chaos of fake thievery, but...Why would the killer hide the true act and then go through the trouble of placing the stone as a calling card in the first place?

"My location magic only works in very specific circumstances and with varying degrees of success. We would need another object we knew from the killer, so I could then use that and the stone to figure out where they are."

Now, seeing things he could do, but if that was what was needed from him then Alistair already felt like a bit of a let down at his failure to find a significant trail from the stone alone.

"Things are difficult without ultimately narrowing down the location of the killer if even a little bit."

All of this was said in his monotone voice, all emotion or inflection that had come from Alistair's words previously now seemed to be buried beneath once again. He silently moved to follow after Kitra.

Kitra Sen