"Can you seriously expect me to listen to a man who was cowed by a woman three or four times younger than him? What are you going to do Harkness, throw me over your knee and give me a spanking? You're not my father, you can't punish me," she told him raising her head in challenge.

The fact that Harkness also happened to be much older than herself seemed to escape her mind. 'Go ahead Mr. Hoverstone. Do your worst!' Her face was set in a blantant challenge of defiance.

In the back corner of the kitchen, Jolie watched the two waiting for the impending outburst. It would go one of two ways in her mind. Either they would snipe until one drove the other away or the young gentleman was going accept the challenge. Inwardly, the elderly cook hoped for the second. 'It'd be 'bout time Primmy remembered her place. She canna do everything herself.' She fought to hid the smile creeping across her face.

Tiraris silently ascended the steps to their room. Pausing outside the door, she tried to judge Caden's mood. When she heard nothing but soft breathing she entered quietly. The room was a wreck. 'I did this. This is my fault. I drove him to this.' The already surfacing guilt took a deep-seated hold upon her heavy heart.

Observing the damage, she tried to locate where Caden was. Her heart pined a mournful cry of shame at seeing him curled up behind the bed. She made her way over to the bed and climbed on top of it, towards the man she loved. Tiraris swung her long legs over the edge of it, onto either side of Caden. Then standing, she pushed the bed away from them and squeezed down behind him.

Her arms came up to wrap around his chest and shoulders, her chest pressed tightly to his back. She held on as if her life depended on it, refusing to let go. Her head came to rest beside his and she breathed in his calming scent.

"I am a very selfish person Caden. I have spent all this time doing whatever I felt like without consideration for you. I have forgotten that I am not alone in this and that this also affects you." Her voice was soft and sad as she poured her apologies out to him. "I have spent a great portion of my life wearing masks. Tonight I put on one that I have not worn in a long time. I find that since I have met you, I no longer wish to wear it. With you I do not need to wear masks. With you, I can just be me. Being in old company made me forget that. I keep hurting you, Caden," she whispered running her fingers along the scar she knew lay beneath his shirt.

"I am not angry with you. I am angry with me, Caden. I do not want to hurt you. Yet the more I try not to, the more I do. I am such a horrible person. What kind of person hurts the one they love? Can you forgive me? Can you forgive my selfishness and childishness?"

She pressed a kiss gently to his collarbone and squeezed him tighter. Her long hair slid over their shoulders and mixed with his own silky locks. "I love you Caden. I am so afraid of losing you. Please forgive me."

"I am sorry," she apologized feeling guilty. "I did not mean to keep you from your rest. You as the guest should not be the one to care for the mistress of the house. Go, rest. I will not disturb you," she shooed him away.

Primrose refused to make the promise to stay. This was her house and she would do as she pleased. 'I know what I am doing. I know what is best for me, and I'm not about to let some well-meaning elf tell me otherwise!' She tried to justify her future actions even as she dozed off into peaceful sleep.

Several hours later, Primrose woke to see the sun hug the earth in its descent. Quietly, she rose from the bed. While her sleep had been uninterrupted by pain and dreams, she now needed more tea and a hot meal. Knowing that Harkness' room was a few doors down and closer to the main foyer, she slipped out to the other end of the hall and down through the servant's entrance.

Once more in the kitchen, she was forced to sit as Jolie flitted about, scolding and apologizing all in one breath. "Really Primmy, if I had known he was your guest I never would have spanked 'im. But, how many guests do we ever have 'ere? And you! Is that how we treat our guests, making them fend for themselves in the kitchen? 'ow's your 'ead dear? If you weren't so stubborn it wouldn't be hurtin' so fiercely. You are just like your father, stubborn to the death. One day it is going to get you killed." On and on Jolie went while Primrose sat in silence only half-listening. These were lectures she had heard all her life. She knew them by heart. Instead, she focused her thoughts on her generous guest resting upstairs.

No worries Slight...we'll still be here when you get back. *hugs*

Tiraris stormed out the door, letting it slam behind her. Below, the bar became very quiet as she angrily descended the steps. "This be new for ya," the bartender said pointing to her still flaming hands. She glared at him, her eyes seeming to glow with their own sets of flames. It was only when he back away from her challenging glare that she turned her gaze to the customer from early.

Curtly nodding her head to him, she grabbed her discarded cloak and marched out into the night. She did not stop until she felt the flames die back down. A few minutes later, the stranger joined her in the alley. She remained shrouded in the shadow as he informed her of the target, a group of brawny thugs that insisted on preying upon the helpless.

With their location in mind, she took off without discussing payment. 'This should be fun,' she thought, watching the three victims from around the corner of a building. Pulling her cloak tighter about herself, she walked slowly before the group looking nervous. Sure enough they took the bait and grabbed her.

"Where you off to so fast doll. Why don't you stay with us awhile?" The largest of the men pulled her close and nuzzled her hair.

"Let go of me," she hissed, playing the part of a helpless wallflower. In her mind she was far from it. Rapidly she calculated her plan of action and possible consequences. Lustily, the man grabbed her chin and forced his mouth on her own. Furious, Tiraris bit into his lip. She slapped harshly for her efforts and paused to spit blood in the man's face. She felt disgusted with the way they man-handled and groped her. It left a sour taste in her mouth.

Enraged she lashed out at them, freeing herself and unsheathing her sword. Their mocking laughter did not last long as she viciously tore into them. Their begging and screaming appeased her already fragile control. The hot blood splaying onto her was thrilling. It was not the kill that gave her peace but the beauty of the movement and the power she wielded. In her efforts to change for Caden, she had forgotten the reason she became an assassin to begin with. When she could not control her gift, the killing had. In the beginning it had terrified her, now it was just a fact of life.

Sighing she looked at her masterpiece. There was no trace of knowing who the victims were before death. She wiped the blood off herself, wincing as pain bloomed in her lip and side. Running her hands along her abdomen she realized one of them most have gotten a hit in. 'Bruised ribs. I can live with that.' Deciding the injuries were not fatal, she left them to heal naturally.

Much calmer now, Tiraris headed back to Caden. With every step she took she felt more guilty. She could taste the wrongness of the forced kisses and wished desperately for Caden's embrace. 'Forgive me Caden. I do not want to hurt you. I love you too much to continue wasting our time on fighting.'

But, the fight and following massacre had taught her one thing, she needed to kill. It was the only thing she had left to protect Caden from herself with. 'I will not let him die because I lose control. I will not be the cause of another loved one's death.'

She giggled, sticking out her tongue at him with closed eyes in response to his teasing. "Hello nemesis mine," she said glaring down at the tea between their joined hands. "We meet again." Grumpily, Primrose exhaled before slowly leaning forward and gulping down as much as she could in one go.

She made it halfway before she pulled away coughing and gasping for breath. "It's worse than I remember it tasting," she groaned out. Grumbling, she took a few more slower sips before nodding that she was done.

"When I was little I fell and hit my head very badly. It took a year before I could walk again. I had to relearn everything. But, the headaches just lingered. They never went away. For two years I lived this way. Then Ustskel saved me. She brought back a root from the heart of the Draconi Forest and taught us how to use it. It has a healing property combined with a strong pain reliever. The only problem with it is that it can become addictive. Long before I was born people would mix it with honey and drink it. The more you drink, the more you thirst for it. That," she glared at the cup again, "is specifically made to be bitter to prevent me from desiring it. Although I do not understand the appeal for it. The stuff burns like a strong whiskey, hence the name, Dragon's Fire."

Pouting she leaned back against the headboard again. "I hate the drink so much, that I refuse to take it when I should. This morning for instance, my head hurt enough to warrant a mild cup of it. If I had not been stubborn, I might not have gotten hurt worse. Kia's way of telling me off I guess."

Tiredly, she slowly blinked her eyes, relaxing as the headache began to ebb away. "Why do you care so much? I mean, we just met. You saved me from Davis when you did not have to. You put up with my household's pranks and silliness as well as my temper tantrums and cook's spanking." She chuckled at the memory. "You looked like a little boy caught eating sweets before dinner."

Zurna left the family tent early that morning, her twin nieces in tow. The girls were not awake enough to be their exuberant selves yet and allowed their young aunt to say her prayers in peace before starting the new day.

Cara danced about ahead, while Aliyah clung tightly to her aunt's warm hand. "Where are we going, Aunt Z?" Aliyah asked quietly. Up ahead Cara stopped her prancing to listen.

"We are going to gather some more peat for the fire," Zurna replied ruffling the youngster's hair. "Maybe if we have time after, I will teach you how to catch a fish."

Cara cheered jumping around in circles. Arriving at the stream, Zurna rolled up her sleeves and began teaching the girls how to collect and drain the moss. The trio worked hard, laughing and talking about daily life. It was the simple things that always made the day seem not so long and trying.

The twins were fascinated by every little animal and insect they encounter, asking question after question. Zurna humored them, catching critters and telling them stories about them. Finally, the trio finished their collecting and began to head further downstream where the fish tended to congregate. When they were nearly there, Zurna slipped on the wet moss and fell waist deep into the sludge of marsh water. Startled the twins cried out worriedly for their aunt.

Zurna fought between calming the twins down and pulling herself out. But, the more she struggled the more stuck she got. The cold wet of the marsh was holding her tightly in its grasp. 'There goes another load of moss,' she thought morosely as she looked at the sinking bundle she had dropped. "It's alright girls, just stay there and I will be out in a second," she tried soothing them. 'Just as soon as I figure out how.'

"I can hardly understand how you can call me friend. But, I am honored. I do not deserve such friendship, not after all of your kindness and all of my pranks and poor behavior. I still have yet to show myself in a good light."

Hesitantly, Primrose moved her shaking hand out to his own extended one. Gently she placed it in his grasp and gave it a weak squeeze. She almost cried all over again, when she realized just how seriously she was struggling. "I have been independent for so long; I have forgotten how to ask for help," she stated aloud. "I have always seen such an admission as a weakness. When you are strong for so many..." her voice trailed off as she looked Harkness in the eye. Smiling through the tears, she tried squeezing his hand again.

She growled furiously as she watched Caden break down the door. Inwardly she felt sorry for him, but her magic was boiling too close to the surface to let him be forgiven so easily. She quickly unfolded herself, slinking to her feet. "Stay away from me," she hissed feeling the magic crackle along her skin. Her hands began to feel warm and sweat. Looking down she was surprised to see flames licking her palms and fingertips. 'Now this is new.' Not wishing to worry Caden she kept her shock to herself.

She took a deep breath trying to relax. "I am going to go for a walk. We both need to calm down and that is not going to happen with us in the same room. We both did things we should not have. When I come back we can discuss this civilly. Caden, right now I am so mad that I will probably end up hurting either you or myself. I do not wish to do either."

'Please Caden, let me walk away. Do not force the issue now. My control can only hold so long. Even with my emotions controlled, the magic is still slipping.' Even as she stood waiting for his acknowledgement the fire in her hands began to grow and rise. 'Every day that passes, I get worse. Oh Caden what am I going to do? I do not want to lose you.'

As he described her reasoning for trying to send him away, Primrose glared at Harkness. Her face was a portrait of betrayal. But, this quickly turned to guilt and sorrow as he mentioned his sister.

"Helping me is not going to fix her, Harkness," she whispered to him. Looking up she gazed as steadily as she could with her swimming vision. "Nor does it make you a better person. You are already a good man. I am sure you were the same then. Her injury is no more your fault than Brageeta's death is mine. We were not in the right place at the right time. But, our intentions were good. You beat yourself up too much over it. I am sure your sister would not want you to live with such resentment for yourself. Such blaming cannot be good for you."

Eyes swimming with unshed tears, Primrose turned her face away from him. "Forgive me, I overstep my bounds. You are only trying to help me and I am being cruel. I seem to do that to you a lot lately. I am truly sorry," she apologized hanging her head. Long gold-red hair fell across her shoulders and over her face, hiding fiery cheeks and crystal tears.

She dozed in the few minutes that Harkness was gone, her mind a mess of broken thoughts and ideas. Upon his return she slowly pulled herself into a seated position and got comfortably rested against the headboard. The simple effort left her tired and out of breath.

When she once more felt stable she reached out for the tea Harkness was now holding. Blinking she stared at his hands for a while her gaze shifting about. "Just how many hands do you have?" she asked before reaching to the left of where he was actually holding the tea. "Can I please have the cup?" she asked a little frustratedly. Her hand was shaking and she quickly dropped it back into her lap to hide her weakness.

'I wish he would just leave. I could drink my tea and then go back to sleep. No one would have to know about this. Oh, please Kia send him away. My head hurts too much to keep civility up for much longer!'

"Actually Harkness, I think I'll drink that in a little bit. I'm a little tired." She smiled at him weakly, feigning a yawn. "Thank you for all your help, I can take it from here," she informed him as a polite dismal. 'For all that is holy Harkness, leave! I am embarrassed enough already. I do not need you here as a reminder that I am struggling.'

Primrose listened intently to his stories, smiling and giggling at all the right places as she cooked. Placing two plates heaping with steaming food on the table, Primrose sat down to eat. "Do you have anywhere you are staying, Saezer? You know you are always welcome to stay here, if you want to you. I mean you don't have to but I would like it if you do. Not that I would be mad if you didn't, stay that is. I would just be happy to have you here. We could go to Grey's together tomorrow then. I also have some business there."

Smiling mischievously she added, "I doubt you would recognize the place. It seems to have greatly expanded thanks to the new business it has been receiving. Apparently the new patroness is a collector of odd inventions."

Tiraris froze at Caden's harsh tone. For a very brief moment a look of hurt fluttered across her face before she slammed her stoic mask back on. "Nothing Caden," she replied softly. "Just clean up your mess," she hissed striding past him. 'You deserved that you Harlot! You should be the one he tears apart. You cruel heartless monster. You have hurt him again.'

She fought back tears as she raced up the stairs to her usual room. Slamming and locking the door behind her, she slid to the floor pulling her knees in tight. 'Curl monster! Harlot! Murderer! Fair-weather friend!'

Through the floor she could hear the shouting and begging of the bartender. The other patrons were laughing and jeering drunkenly as if this was a usual occurrence. "I am such a little fool," she muttered into her lap. Inside, her magic awoke rumbling under the surface, waiting for a chance to burst forth. "I am a danger to us all."

Primrose closed her eyes trying to concentrate. "I remember last night. I woke up this morning and went to apologize. But, you weren't in your room." She looked up at him accusingly. "I tried to apologize, made you tea and left you a note but you never saw it."

She sat pouted, trying to remember what she had been saying. "I went to the kitchen because my head hurt. Jolie spanked you!" Primrose snorted before wincing and clasping her head again. "Then, we squabbled, I tried to leave, and..." she trailed off. She stared off into the distance unseeing with furrowed brow. "Broken glass. I don't remember anymore than that."

Primrose sighed wearily, her headpain increasing with each breath and heartbeat. "Harkness," she called weakly, "can you ask Jolie to bring me dragon's fire? She will know what you mean and what it's for. Please?" she asked looking at him through half-mast eyes.

Her eyes flashed as Tiraris heard Caden's growl. She was torn between helping the bartender and just watching. As she moved to step up to the pair she was stopped by a hand on her arm and a voice in her ear. "You Silverd'art? Gots a job for ya." Tiriaris nodded nearly imperceptively, eyes focused forwards. "Meet ya later ta'nigh' after ya done with your toy over there," the stranger told her kissing the back of her neck.

Tiraris threw her elbow back sharply. "Do not touch me again if you want to live to see the job completed," she hissed pulling away from him. "Caden!" she called, sauntering over to the angry demon.

Primrose glared up at Harkness. "Whadya doin' in my room? You don' belong 'ere," she slurred. "Daisies?" She smiled closing her eyes. "I like daisies!" Her hand flung out pointing towards the flowers.

Groaning she clasped her hand to her head and burrowed back further into the pillows. "My 'ead hurts." For a few minutes she just laid there in silence. Cracking one eye open, Primrose looked up at Harkness. "Why are ya here?" The other popped eye open as she remembered what day it was. "I need teach today!" She tried getting up again only to feel dizzy. "Why is the world all," she moved her hand about demonstrating a swinging, spinning motion. "I don' feel so good. Are those daisies? I like daisies," she told Harkness, grimacing more than smiling.

Tiraris knew she was pushing the limit, but she could not bring herself to stop. Old habits died hard and she was having fun. She smirked as Caden yanked her onto his lap. Just as she was about to reply to him she felt a tug on her hair. Leaning backwards onto the counter she looked upside-down at the person who had done it.

A pair of lips pressed briefly against her own before pulling away again. "Hello Nymph. Haven't seen ya here ina long time. Where ya been? I can see you have already found ya drink, or rather I can taste it," the youthful brogue voice of the bartender said. "Who's Mr. Possessive?" he smirked at Caden.

Still upside-down she replied, "I have been here and there and now I am back." Tiraris felt a little guilty. A kiss that had always been a normal greeting between the two of them now seemed very wrong. Her fun spirit was fading; this mask was not one she wanted to wear again. 'His kisses are nothing like Caden's!' She sat back up properly and took a small sip of her drink. 'Gods above I am a fool! How can Caden love me when I act like this?'

"Well Nymph, I'll leave ya to ya genteelman. Your usual accommodations are available. You know the rules," he told her. Behind her back he gave Caden a leering look of approval before moving on to help the next customer. Tiraris hung her head and moved to get off Caden's lap, bottle still in hand.

Tiraris ignored the wandering eyes of the other patrons. She was more than used to it by now but, listening to Caden she could tell from his growling that he was not. "Behave!" she crooned warningly in his ear. Removing her cloak, she kissed his cheek in appeasement before leaning over the counter.

Wolf-whistles sounded around the room at her displayed rump. Glancing out of the corner of her eye at Caden, she wiggled it slightly to get his reaction as she continued reaching for a bottle of her own special drink and a mug. Slowly straightening with her prizes, she poured Caden a mugful while watching him coyly through her lashes. Pushing the mug towards him, she took a swig straight from the bottle exposing her milky throat. The alcohol left a sweet taste on her tongue but burned all the way down.

Licking her lips she explained about the particular brew. "You see Caden when I said the tavern and I go way back, I meant it. This," she raised the bottle at him, "is made specifically for me. It is a very potent combination of honey, rum, and whiskey, among other things. Gives you one hell of a kick." Eyes twinkling, she shot back another mouthful to the catcalls and amusement of the room.

"Why Caden! Are afraid that your girl is going to drink you under the table? How much does it take a Neqa'el to get drunk anyway?" The gauntlet had been tossed, now it was just a matter of whether Caden would accept the challenge or not.

'I need another job. My very bones are aching for one. If I do not kill something soon, Caden will be next. I cannot afford to lose control. I will not hurt him! I have done enough of that already.'

"It is a bit of tradition for me to come here," she told him nodding to the tavern. "The Dirty Mug and I go way back. They have the strongest liqueur you will ever find. Although Rouge Lizard's Grogshop in Jadenshire comes as a close second. This place is better for people like us though. They cater to stronger stomaches." She winked opening the door and heading to the bar.

'You mean people like you Tiraris. Cutthroat, blood-monger assassin that you are. At least I can pick up a job while I am here. If I can get Caden knocked out I will be in the clear. Better he does not know about this.'

As Tiraris waited she contemplated how she managed to get herself into this to begin with. She had never been one to take partners and yet here she was with a thieving gnome, no less. 'One job and this over. One way or another this ends. He gets caught, he gets killed, we complete the job. It does not matter, this ends soon.'

While she had sent Mort to examine the docks, she did the same from afar. She watched the comings and goings, which men did what and when. Every person had a flaw, it was just a matter of finding the ones that were of most benefit to her. By the time Mort returned, she knew all she needed to know.

Still watching the docks she asked, "do you have everything you need to know? We are doing this tonight. You better be ready, it would be bad for your health if you disappoint me."