Mischief by... Oh, who really cared, anyway? It was one of her favorite books, evident from the wear on the pages. Her books were in the best condition possible, as she held knowledge in such high regard, but it was impossible to keep a constantly read series in perfect condition.
Melissa Apocrita relaxed for the night in her sitting room on the black hammock that took the place of a sofa. One knee was bent upward, while her other leg touched the floor, ensuring the gentle sway kept its rhythm. The book she was reading by candlelight was a true story of someone committing a crime and getting caught, written by the criminal. He was an idiot. Every time Melissa picked up the book, she found herself more and more entertained by picking out everything he did wrong.
The sounds of trotting hooves and the thud of a dismount drew her attention, though she didn't look up from the book in her hands. "You don't need to knock, Spider," she said, voice slightly elevated.
Her door opened, and Teryn walked in wearing a look of confusion. "Should I even-"
"Ask?" She finished, only moving her eyes to glance in his direction. "No." Melissa swung her legs to one side of the hammock and sat up finally, closing the book and placing it on the table behind her. "It's a hike from your house, so why are you here?"
"Your target," the man started. "Mitch Hytes. You know, the one I gave you four days ago to take care of?" He was met with only her typical dry stare. "Goldie just saw someone cut his throat in an alleyway. What happened?"
The woman shrugged, exhaling slowly. "I didn't kill him. I've been messing with him, little seeds of paranoia. You know how I hunt, so what're you bringing this to me for? Just because someone else clearly wanted him dead more than his lover isn't my concern."
"I never told you-"
Melissa groaned in annoyance, standing up heavily, like there were weights attached to her whole body. She slumped, trudging in a small circle. "Spider, Spider, Spider!" She whined. "If you would stop listening and just remember one damn thing! Of course it was his lover who came to us! Found out he was sleeping around, and in a moment of heartache, hiring an assassin. Basic psychology." She stopped her little display of immaturity and rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "I'll take care of who did it, now scurry back to your hole."
When Teryn left, Melissa slipped on her boots and daggers, then tied her black scarf around her hips and thighs, hiding the weapons. She thought about bringing her belt satchel and armor, but decided that the likelihood of needing her rock bombs was pretty low in that situation. The candle flame went out with a quick puff, and the woman hurried out the back door. Tacking her grey dapple stallion, Melissa tore out of the field towards the center of town.
She could've waited until morning - that would've been the normal thing to do - but there was no way she was going to let the goody-two-shoes gryphon rider one-up her. First stop, Teryn's tavern, The Black Candle.
