A peaceful river in Western Connlaoth. The Mystral.
The early morning sun peeking through the leaves of the temperate trees. Reflecting off of the ripples of the flowing water. The far western mountains of the Kilanthro range through the trees; their distant snow-capped peaks crowning the canopy of the forest. Birds singing their songs. The breeze, like the breath of the Earth, rising and falling. Swaying the branches above the dirt and the grass. The serenity of nature undisturbed.
The river flowed.
And flowed.
A body. Face down. Carried along by the river. The water red all around it.
The moment slowly dying. The wind howling now. Hinting at a coming storm.
The body passed.
Clothes in the water. Flowing in the wake of the body. A woman's clothes. White shirt. Brown underbust. Bracers. Boots. Pants. Socks. Underwear.
And the river flowed.
* * * * *
Sharon didn't know what to expect as she approached the old wooden shack by the river. There could be one person, or ten. A normal person, or a
mage. Anything.
But she was ready. As ready as she'd ever be. She had to do this.
Sharon stepped up to the door of the shack. Stopped. Listened. The steady flow of the river behind her. Birds above in the trees. Nothing from inside. She glanced about her surroundings. Alone, as far as she could tell.
She steeled herself.
And pushed open the door. Stepped inside.
A woman. Pretty and gentle-looking. Wearing a white robe. Standing by the far wall. She glanced up and smiled once she saw Sharon.
"Ms. Gordon?"
Sharon shut the door behind her. Nodded. "Yes."
The woman stepped toward her, extending her hand. "Good to meet you in person. I'm Adelaide Ingram. From the Healer's College in Sanctuary, Adela."
Sharon shook her hand. Smiled back. "Nice to put a face with a name."
"Likewise. So, has Ms. Bowen told you about everything in our correspondences?"
"Everything I need to know."
"Okay, good. Good. I was expecting to meet with her today, but it's good to hear you're all caught up. As Siro's sister and proper guardian, meeting with you will certainly make this easier."
Sharon took in a breath. Her chest heaving. Appearing nervous. "Will Siro be alright?"
A reassuring tone from Adelaide. "I've done this many times before, Ms. Gordon. I promise you, nothing bad will happen to your little sister. Truth be told, I've learned a few things about smuggling and trafficking from my brother. Unlike him, I decided to use these skills to do something good in the world. It's a shame, really, that this must be necessary. The Grand Duke Allarrick and his foolish ways. Perhaps a new day will dawn on Connlaoth, and these barbaric days of unjust persecution against mages will end. But until then, I will do what I can and help the innocent escape safely into a land where they can live their lives in peace."
"I see."
Adelaide tilted her head some. "You still sound nervous, Ms. Gordon. I understand. But Ms. Bowen could not have picked a better place for Siro to live than Sanctuary. We'll take good care of her, and she'll be able to freely practice and master her life magic without fear. I'd even go so far as to encourage you to move to Ketra, but, if that's too much, you'll always be free to visit when you can. Our doors are always open."
Sharon nodded. Her gaze askew from Adelaide's. Appearing uncertain. "I just want the best for Siro, you know?"
"Of course, Ms. Gordon. I know this has to be hard for you: parting with your sister. But, as Siro's sponsor, I'll make sure to encourage her to write you as often as possible."
"Please do." A moment passed. Sharon said, "May I ask how you'll be getting Siro out of Reajh safely?"
Adelaide smiled again. "Ah. I see. This is what's been troubling you. Unfortunately, for the safety of myself and your sister, I can't tell you the specifics. I can only ask that you follow my instructions, and bring Siro to the agreed upon location. But you need not worry. I'll safeguard Siro with my own life if I must."
"You're...going to do this by yourself?"
Adelaide nodded. "Yes. I come alone on these jobs. Not only is it easier for me to do what I need to do, but I think it makes meetings like this much less stressful for those in your position if it's only myself, unaccompanied by a room full of rough-looking men. Wouldn't you say so?"
Sharon lightened up. Appeared amazed. "Wow. So just you then?"
"Yes, ma'am. Just me. So, when would you like—?"
Sharon unsheathed her dagger and lunged forward and grabbed Adelaide by the shoulder and pulled her close and rammed the blade straight into her gut. She gasped, her body tensing against Sharon's. Sharon twisted the blade and pulled it out. Stabbed her again. Again. And again. Then drove the dagger up and between her ribs and punctured her lungs. Slicing and ripping and tearing the tissue as she dragged the blade out.
Sharon allowed Adelaide to fall away from her. Down to the floor. Blood running from her stomach, down between the creaking old wooden boards. Blood staining the front of Sharon's clothes.
Adelaide, in a panic, tried casting a healing spell. But blood bubbled up out of her mouth. A fit of coughing. A spatter of blood to the floor. The magic fizzled away in her hand. She tried backing up. Crawling away on her elbows. But she lacked the strength.
Sharon stepped forward. Crouched down and mounted Adelaide. Straddling her wounded stomach. She could feel the warm blood seeping into fabric of her pants.
Adelaide looked up at her. Shock. And horror. "Why? I just wanted to help..."
Sharon leaned forward. Grabbed a handful of Adelaide's hair with her left hand. Held her head steady. Brought the tip of the dagger to the soft skin of her neck.
And plunged the blade down.
The door to the shack opened. And Sharon dragged Adelaide's bloody body down to the river.
How dare she. How dare she try and take Siro away. To a land of full of filthy mages, and to a college of magic no less. And to accuse Siro of being a mage too? Unforgivable.
It was fortunate that Sharon happened upon one of the letters, hidden away in one of Siro's books. Intercepted the rest and started her own correspondence with Adelaide. Had she not, she might have just come home one day and Siro would have simply been gone. The only good thing in her life, just vanished without a word.
Merissa. That bitch. She had some serious explaining to do once Sharon got back to Reajh. First Jorge betrayed Sharon's confidence with Siro, and now Merissa too? Was there
anyone she could trust?
Sharon dumped Adelaide's body into the river, and the water started to carry it away. She walked to a nearby bush and pulled out a hidden burlap bag. Set it on the ground.
Then she started to take off her clothes. Unbuckled her belt with her holstered pistols and set it down. Unstrapped her underbust. Her bracers. Took off her shirt. Her boots. Her pants. Socks. Underwear. And all of it went into the river.
But there was some blood on Sharon's skin.
So she dipped a foot into the water of the river. Winced at the coldness of it. She sat down on the dirt, naked, both her feet in the water to get somewhat acclimated before she washed up.
She looked down at her hands.
They weren't trembling.
And a small, dying part of her wished that they would.
* * * * *
Twin Rivers was a small, cozy sort of town. A population of between three hundred and four hundred people. Mostly wooden buildings. Being relatively close to the western end of the Kilanthro mountain range, the town wasn't very flat. Practically separated into several different tiers, ascending the hilly terrain. Two small rivers flowing down from the mountains merged into one large river, the Mystral, in the center of the town, hence the name. The town also served as a trading post and a common stop for travelers going from Sirantil Valley through the western passes of the Kilanthro range and into the Niahi Woods and vice versa. Inns and lodges were a thriving business not just for these travelers, but for quite for a few wealthy nobles from Reajh and Uthlyn and from abroad that fancied a vacation to the scenic, verdant, and mountainous landscape of Western Connlaoth.
Sharon, a fresh set of clothes on, walked through the roads of Twin Rivers and up the hills toward one such inn. A high-class place, named
The Overlook. Appropriately named, and expensive, as it offered a gorgeous view of the entire town from the highest tier in the hills. The leftover money that she had from the Cerenis job bought her this luxury. For a small time.
Sharon crossed the iconic wooden arch bridge over the conflux of the two smaller rivers into the Mystral. Smiled and nodded to a local couple as they passed her. Pretended to be a good person.
More walking. Small shops. Homes. A few wagons rolling past her on the road. Children running by, laughing and chasing each other. An idyllic place. A certain peace that just couldn't be found in Reajh.
Just the sort of place for a monster to hide in plain sight.
Sharon started up the steep, narrow, winding road that led up to
The Overlook. Exposed, gray rock always to one side of the road, and some sparse old, wooden railings to the other. Several carriages were parked at the base of the road, with a small stables nearby for the horses. Seemed the road—which was honestly more of a path—was too treacherous for vehicles.
But Sharon reached the top. Passed a well-to-do nobleman and his wife and son as she entered the front doors of
The Overlook. Walked through the spacious lobby and toward the door leading to the outside deck.
The large wooden deck had an absolutely stunning view of the whole town and the Kilanthro mountains in the distance, even if the view right now was obscured. Gray clouds had gathered in the sky, and the misty haze covering most of the mountains suggested rain. A slow moving storm, likely to be over Twin Rivers within an hour or two.
Several tables were out on the deck. And there was only one person sitting there, gazing out at the landscape. Jorge Vrouge.
Sharon walked up to his table. Pulled out a chair and slid it next to him and sat and looked out over the town and the Valley and the mountains with him.
"Morning, Jorge," Sharon said.
"Mornin', love," Jorge said. He glanced at her, his mask down around his neck. She wished he had it up; she hated looking at the nasty burns on his face. "So what the fuck were you doin'? Takin' a little stroll?"
"Something like that."
"Shoulda told me. I'da come right the fuck along, lemme tell ya." He glanced back out over the railing of the deck and at the landscape. "Ya know, I think I'll just start savin' up my coin. Retire here. Start up a little gamblin' house or tavern or some shit. Never really thought I'd be the kinda guy who'd like a quiet place like this, but I guess we're all full of surprises, aren't we?"
"This place isn't so quiet. You know that."
"Well, maybe after we're all done here, it will be."
Two weeks ago, Sharon and Jorge and were on a job here with Charles. Non-wetwork for once. Just a simple transport job. Moving a large shipment of arms and supplies. Mr. Winters was diverting resources from Twin Rivers back into Reajh. Maybe he had something big planned in the near future, maybe he didn't. Regardless, it meant that his operations in Twin Rivers would be weakened.
And Sharon saw the opportunity she was waiting for. Their contact during that job, Halis Durandan, was the right-hand man for the local underboss. A ruthless man, known simply as Reese. She knew where Durandan lived, met him in his own house even. So she could get him to talk. Squeeze all the relevant information on Reese from him. And then go and take Reese out. With so many weapons—and possibly even men—transferred away, it should be easy. At least, easier than it would have been.
And with Reese dead, Sharon will have made her first mark on the criminal underworld of Reajh and Connlaoth. Established a name for herself. Gained some territory. The first and most crucial steps in imposing her own brand of order on the business.
"Did you get any responses?" Sharon asked.
"Oh yeah, of course," Jorge said. "Just a matter of who bothers to show up."
Sharon narrowed her eyes. A slight frustration. The caliber of these mercenaries or whoever Jorge had contacted seemed far too much up to sheer chance.
Still, Sharon had patience. Not that she had much of a choice. She and Jorge, despite the transferring of resources away from Reese, probably wouldn't be able to take him down by themselves.
So she entwined her fingers together. Rested her hands on her stomach. Looked over the railing and toward the distant rain in the mountains.
Waited.
And tried not to think about Adelaide.