Spirits of the Earth

@SanctifiedSavage

---

Amaya was a long way from Thanatos today. Not that it mattered, he thought. He would go where the bounty was, and what a fucking bounty it was. Nicholas Bernard was pretty well known among hunters-for-hire, primarily for his illegal operation in underground slavery. He'd been at it for a while - buying and selling women for companionship, a pretty title for a living sex doll, though it was increasingly difficult for the average hunter to infiltrate his operation.

The Gentleman's Club, is how it was marketed. It was underground operation, literally, because they sold the women under ground - beneath the sands of Essyrn.

His line of work could be dangerous, but he had to line his pockets in some way or another. Really, he was just bored.

With his hand resting on the rough paintwork that coats his table, surrounded by men with an interest in buying a bride (or whatever they intended to do), he sipped from a clear, half-empty glass. The whisky turned down the volume of his thoughts as his eyes rested easy on the curtained stage.

The bar itself was hundreds of conversations told in loud voices, all of them competing over one another as they eagerly awaited tonight's talent. That would make it all the more easy to melt into his surroundings, be the vibe, and move around as easily as the smoke artistically curled through the dimly-lit room.

Nicholas was wanted dead or alive, but you can't kill the devil with just a fist. You wouldn't want to. Instead, he'd enjoy the chase, pursue the devil, and hogtie him if it came down to that.

The "dancers" should enter the stage soon.

Let the show begin.

Cattle. She was reminded time and time again that they were herded like cattle. From cage to cage, room to room. Ushered by guards with sharp swords, beady rat eyes, and calloused hands. In low lit halls and humid rooms, where the lack of windows made the air stifling.

Some of the girls cried. Others clung to one another with dead eyes. Already broken, having seen too much or in shock they'd been brought to such a place. Inaya couldn't exactly blame them. This sort of auction was the sort reserved for whores – which she most certainly was not. She'd been born the daughter of a wealthy merchant then sold off as a harem wife.

Her former husband had sold her here to disgrace her. To shuttle her away somewhere dark, to be forgotten. Likely because it was something she said. More than likely because she'd not birthed him a son yet. Pick a reason. She swayed in place and ignored the sweat gathering on her tanned skin while she watched the door opposite the one they'd entered. Eventually, one by one, they were pulled into a brightly lit, tiled room. Scrubbed down by wrinkled, older women who never looked her in the eyes, wrapped in see through veils, and shoved into yet another room.

Another cage.

At least this one had a draft and kept her from sweating anew. Not all the girls made the cut to this room, though. Only the ones that weren't crying, weren't broken. Inaya and a handful of soft, strong willed others. Dancers and former ladies of some highborn class. There was a muffled voice from beyond a curtained doorway, likely an announcer of some sort, and then soft music began to play.

One of the guards strode forward. "You dance." Simple enough instructions before she was shoved through the curtain along with two others.

Inaya blinked against the sudden light and much louder conversation beyond. The curtain had muffled more than she thought. She had a couple choices, then. She could do as she was told, and dance. Try to appease someone in the crowd and fetch a decent price. Maybe land a decent man. Go back to some villa and...then what? Play it all out again? That seemed to be the decision of the other two, who swayed to the soft tune.

Inaya absently did so – dancing was as natural as walking to her – but she was eyeing the dinner knife on the table right in front of the stage. Would prison be better than this? Because she was fairly certain she could kill at least one of them before they got ahold of her...

@Elf Lady Love

The announcer, all too comfortable in his own skin, gave his little speech before the women were ushered onto the stage to dance and show their worth to the hell hounds around him. He wasn't entirely sure if the announcer had a bounty on him too, but nevertheless, he'd love to punch him right in his stupid face.

No sign of Nicholas yet, but that was fine. He could wait. He needed a little more time to enjoy his drink, and plan out his next move.

So he watched the women for a few moments. Unlike the other men, hollering in crude excitement, throwing their bids for the inhumane auction, and undressing the already loosely dressed women with their eyes, he remained calm at his table.

It was embarrassing to see so many men act in such a desperate manner. They were practically foaming at the mouth.

Dumb bastards, he thought as he eyed the women on stage.

All of them more beautiful than the last. That was to be expected. They usually were at these type of "events." He felt bad, almost, but he wasn't here for them.

His eyes stayed on the women with a blank expression, but his internal alarm was scanning his surroundings for any sign of his prey.

There were very little benefits to being as underestimated as she was. Most saw her like they saw the other two. Blindly obedient, swaying to a nonsensical song. Paying no mind to her face or where her attention wandered. That didn't exactly matter, did it? What was she going to do, after all? In an underground cesspool surrounded by men as she was.

Inaya was a fair, delicate creature who was on display for them.

She spun and twirled, teasing veils to slip up tanned skin and expose more of what was already on display. It wasn't like the lights didn't already show damn near everything. Then she slid across the stage – all part of the dance – and slid right off. Near the table. There were shouts of surprise, concern, confusion.

Especially when the meal knife was embedded in the man's neck. The fork in his friend's gut. Blood splashed and coated her arms and veils. The two fell out of their plush velvety chairs and she darted from the scene. There were calls to grab her, but some were still sluggish, still trying to figure out what the hell had just happened.

What. The. Fuck.

So that happened.

So much for his cool, calm, collected plan. So much for moving like the smoke. This little danger had plans of her own, and he's just damn lucky he wasn't the one on the opposite end of her wrath. Well fucking bravo, he thought - half impressed and half annoyed.

A good hunter know how, and when, to improvise - and it was definitely the time to improvise.

"Let's get her boys!" he cried a battle cry before slugging one of the men next to him square across the jaw. Adding to the already growing chaos, he flipped his table over and rushed through the crowd of sweat and perversion.

Making as good a stride as any, he slipped through the back, chasing after her, though he was really searching for another.

She needed to get out before they got organized. Before it all came together and the men figured out she was the entire cause for the disturbance. There'd already been calls to 'get her' and some would reflexively snatch after her just because she was running.

Inaya hit one of the doors at a full sprint, breaking the delicate latch and tumbling into the hall beyond. She made it to her feet quickly and dashed down the carpeted hall. Doors to either side flashed by. She didn't know which one she wanted, she just wanted one before the others spilled into the hall behind her. So, she slipped into the first that happened to be unlocked.

Pity it wasn't unoccupied.

The man was as surprised to see Inaya as she was dismayed to see him. The room was meant for entertainment. A large, four poster bed with silk draped around it, an armoir opened up to all manner of toys and instruments, and a poor lady already sprawled on the bed. He, however, was not indisposed. Rather, it seemed he'd just finished up and was presently dressing. "I didn't know they'd send along desert," he remarked, surprise quickly turning to approval.

Inaya looked around for something sharp, but this time there wasn't a handy dining instrument near by.

He wasn't entirely sure if he would be able to subdue his mark unnoticed now, not since Legs the Terror, he so lovingly named the beautiful stage girl with the quick hand, decided to fuck everything up. His initial checklist to get the job done was pretty easy, but now it consisted multiple factors.

• Finding Nicholas
• Knocking his ass out
• Tying him up
• Leaving the underground hell hole without alarming the masses.

He wouldn't be so lucky though. There would be a brawl. He just knew it.

As confident as he may have been in his abilities, he knew better than to try to take on a whole fleet of men suffering from blue balls.

His thoughts swirled in his head as he outran the other men until he slid through an open door.

Oh! There she was!

Oh. There he was.

"Nicholas!" Amaya boasted, his tone the precise mixture of greeting an old friend and delivering an "Aha!" moment. "I've got a bone to pick with you."

He advanced on her like a lion might a lamb. Her gaze flittered over various things within her reach. Expensive decor that she wouldn't hesitate to break over his none-too-pretty face. Why were all the men here sticky with sweat with unpleasantly beady little eyes? They all reminded her of rats.

Inaya didn't have much of an opportunity, though, as the door was shoved open. There was a moment of resistance, where she feared the mob had found her.

But no, one guy. She slid to the side and tried to be invisible. Out of the way. She also grabbed a slender marble statue and hid it behind her back. Just in case.

Apparently the guy who had pushed open the door knew this... other guy. Even better. He apparently wasn't looking for her. So, while they chatted and got to know one another she began to skirt the outer perimeter of the room toward the poor woman on the bed. Hoping to untie her and, eventually, flee the damn place.

If Amaya hadn't already ruined the slave holder's day, he surely was about to. Nicholas was a short, angry man, and Amaya was just tall enough, and just fit enough with an athletic build, and just cocky enough, to where the opposing man might think it was his last day on earth.

Still, that didn't prevent him from defending his honor.

"And just who the hell are-"

"You're running an illegal operation here, Nic," Amaya said with a cheeky grin, taking a few steps closer to him. "And it's my Gods given duty to take you in."

Amaya was not a religious man in the slightest.

Noticing what Legs was doing from the corner of his eye, he decided to buy her a little more time. Hey. He couldn't help it. He had a soft spot for women, even if they didn't have a soft spot for him in return.

"We can do this a few different ways," the bounty hunter began, comfortably advancing on his prey with calm authority. "You can come quietly, or this can get violent." Another step forward, and he cracked each set of his knuckles with the opposite hand. "And if you're not a good little boy, I'll rip them off."

"A bounty hunter then?" Nicholas scoffed, taking a step back and positioning himself for a fight. "How very pathetic. I'll have your head for this! What's your name?"

"Amaya Midgar," he beamed. "The one and only. But please, no autographs today."

He shot another quick glance at the woman, seeing if she had made any progress with the poor woman tied up to the bed.

Really, he had the right mind to give her a mouthful for causing such a scene when he was trying to work, but that would have to come later.

"GUARDS!"

Amaya's train of thought was quickly interrupted as Nicholas screamed for aid, louder than one would think possible from such a little man, and the thunderous echo of rushed feet approaching just outside the door soon followed.

"Fuck."

For the first time that day, she was as noticable as furniture and she was glad for it. Let the two men chat each other up while she surreptitiously slid next to the bed and did her best to untie the poor woman there. Who was lucid enough to roll on her side and present her tied hands and legs to Inaya. Luckily, the movement didn't seem to have drawn attention either.

Things seemed to be going well. Said bounty hunter would likely take whatever the other guy's name was in, she could follow him out like this was all part of the plan, and they'd go separate ways and she could... figure out life as a fugitive.

Except the man shouted. And guards seemed to be coming. For fuck's sake.

The statue was forgotten, as that'd be a terribly clumsy weapon, and she traded it out for an ornate dagger on a nearby stand that was most definitely not made for combat. It'd likely break the first real weapon it came into contact with but if Inaya was going to go down, she was taking people down with her.

She squared off with the door just as it was thrown open and they had armed and armored company.

Amaya gave the man an annoyed glare, then shot that annoyed glare over to the woman of the hour - it was clearly her fault! - before returning his gaze to Nicholas.

"Fuck's sake," he breathed, shaking his head in disappointment. "Way to ruin the fun."

Without any further hesitation, he stepped up to Nicholas and gave him a quick, hard knee between the legs, then a swift uppercut across the bottom of his chin.

As expected, he surely ruined the man's day.

The slave trader was on the ground in an instant, his vision blurred black and blue, blood from his face on the floor, and holding himself in the fetal position as he gasped for air. Amaya, looking over him, sighed. "Something to remember me by," he said, raising his hands in the air to surrender.

At that moment, the guards flooded into the room, surrounding him and the two women. The bounty hunter peered over at Legs, giving her a look that was clearly advising her to do the same.

The woman she'd untied remained on the bed, kneeling in surrender. She wasn't about to fight. Which meant she'd go back to those cattle pens, dolled up and shipped off to another bedroom.

Inaya would not be fated to be passed around. She loosened her posture and smiled prettily. Innocent and unassuming. The first guard to approach her did so without concern and the blade found a soft spot in his armor, in his ribs. If it'd been anything more than ornamental, she'd have likely struck something major. Instead, he fell back clutching his side and cursing her colorfully.

Her ploy lost, she squared off with two more. A couple of feints, jabs, a few cuts on their arms, and eventually one of them charged her. She nearly spun out of the way but his shoulder clipped her hip and she went down. Before she could bury the blade in his shoulder, his friend pinned her top half down.

Inaya was hauled up by her hair after the blade was tossed away and her hands tied behind her back. The pretty gauze veil that had been lightly covering her face had been lost is the scuffle, so her displeasure was easily on display.

They wouldn't likely put her in a room though. A cell was preferable. From the angry, sharp glares tossed her way – which was an improvement to the wicked looks before – that seemed to be where they intended on taking her.

"Oh my gods," Amaya said in disbelief as he watched the woman struggle against the hoard of guards.

Why would she-

How could she-

This woman was truly a special case. A glutton for punishment. Extremely brave, or just plain stupid.

Still, he admired the hell out of it.

He waited for one of the guards to take him under arrest when his vision went black.

---

Instead of simply arresting him, they opted to just strike him on the back of the head, rendering him unconscious. He must have been deemed too big of a threat at the time, or that is just how they dealt with someone not dedicated to the cause of treating women like property.

He awoke several hours later, his head throbbing as he rested comfortably on cold, solid ground. He didn't have to look around, or even open is eyes, to know that he was now sitting inside of a prison cell.

Prisons always had a distinct smell, and he had seen - or rather smelt - his fair share of them.

He was surprised, however, to see the woman who caused such a fuss in the cell next to him. Guess nobody wants to buy a woman who's hot with a knife, he thought, sitting upright to face her.

"Why'd you have to go and do that for?" he asked bluntly. "This could have gone a lot smoother."

She might've stabbed one of the guards and severely injured him, and pissed off the lot of them, but that didn't stop them from being handsy the whole way to the cells. The gauze wrap hadn't covered much of anything anyway, but she endured the grabbing and touching as she stoically had when her previous husbands had done much of the same thing.

What did it matter now?

By the time she'd been tossed in the cell, the only thing left of her clothes was the gauze and gold around her waist. Her top had long been torn and lost in the transport. Her tanned skin was smeared with dirt and a little blood, as well as her long black hair having been tangled from the fight and how she'd been hauled around by it.

Frankly, she was cold. The cells were underground, further than the place she'd been before. She drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. At some point, she must have dozed off. It wasn't exactly restful and she came to at every little sigh and squeak around her. To include when the man in the cell next to her woke.

At his question, her bright blue eyes narrowed. "Are you an idiot?" She was great at first impressions. "It might have been smoother for you, but I've no interest in being passed from bed to bed." This was, for the moment, the best thing that could've happened to her. She just needed a plan now... Maybe once it was later? What time was it?

There was a hall that led from the cells and she was pretty sure she could retrace her steps. In the room beyond, she could hear the half murmured words of the two watchmen. She just... needed a way past them. Maybe during shift change? Was that a thing?

Are you an idiot?

Amaya couldn't help but grin at her question, and even managed a small, amused chuckle. Fair enough, he thought. He probably deserved that. He eyed the woman up and down, noticing her lack of clothing in the process. It was hard not to notice. The guards really did a number on her on the way to the cells.

He, on the other hand, was left pretty much in tact minus the lump on the back of his head. Shocker.

"Here."

He removed his black long-sleeved shirt that sat over a simple white, shorter-sleeved shirt and passed it to her between the steel bars. "No sense in you freezing," he said, looking away from her to give her what little privacy she had left. "And stop thinking you're going to escape right away. I can see the wheels spinning in your head, but there's too much commotion at the moment for us to try anything. Let's wait a while. Let it die down."

Sighing, he placed his hands behind his head and lied back down, eyes to the ceiling. "So what's your name?"

She did not appreciate that her intended insult was so well received. Inaya continued to scowl prettily but didn't press. Instead, she turned her attention toward the only exit. She'd be damned to eternal hell-fire before she was shoved back with the other girls. Better to be executed at this rate.

At least, given her current mindset that's how she felt.

He did catch her off guard when he actually offered her his shirt. She hesitated, only a moment, before crawling forward to take it from him. Gingerly, as though he might snatch it away mockingly. As she wrapped it around herself, she did smile bitterly when he suggested she stop thinking about getting away. "For us to try anything? What makes you think you're going to be able to get out?" Even so, she took his advice for now and settled back against the wall. Warmer for the fabric wrapped around her though she still hugged her legs. "And my name is Inaya. Not sure I caught yours while you were flirting with the man in the room..."

If Amaya had a glass full of anything in his mouth, he would have spit it out. Still, he managed to convey that feeling through the temporary choking of his own laughter, followed by an amused sigh as he continued to stare aimlessly at the gray ceiling above. "Amaya," he said cheekily. "Nice to meet you, Inaya. Kind of a weird name."

His tease should have been apparent, but he could never be so sure with himself.

"I only flirted with him because he's going to make me a lot of money," he joked. "I can't give it out to just anyone, y'know? And, you wouldn't last five minutes out there without me. C'mon. Let's team up. I scratch your back, you scratch mine. We'll make it out alive, and then the world is your oyster. Or would you rather go back into slavery?"

Her eyes narrowed more so in his direction at his tone and tease. She didn't find this particular situation amusing. Likely he didn't think it so terrible because his literal ass wasn't on the line. If anything went too bad, he'd get some fines. Maybe a bit of torture. Death at worst. Inaya's hellscape was painted in chains and servitude, a life of choices not of her own and men she wanted nothing to do with.

Far worse, in her opinion.

While she wasn't about to admit that she needed him, because that would've put her in a precarious position, she shrugged one of her slender shoulders and began to idly comb through her tangled, long hair with her fingers. "I don't need you to get out of here, but it might be easier of we work together. Assuming you don't roll over at the first sign of trouble, like you did in the room." That didn't exactly inspire confidence.


@Elf Lady Love

"The sly eagle doesn't kill at whim," he replied, mentally shrugging off her comment. "Besides, we were outnumbered back there. You got to know when to play your cards, and when to hold them. We're actually in a better position now than we were back there in that room."

Exhale.

Sigh.

"Okay," he said positively. The bounty hunter sat upright, and shifted around to face Inaya in the neighboring cell. "I have a few ideas to get out of here, but.." he trailed off, looking at her intently. "I think you may know this place a little better than I do. This is my first time in Essyrn, after all. What you got?"

First time in a foreign country and he landed himself in a cold, underground jail cell - next to a peculiar woman who didn't seem to be enjoying his company - ran by illegal slave traders.

Sounds about right.


@SanctifiedSavage

Inaya rolled her eyes at his statement. Not having to stand around like decoration on display was actually quite liberating and being able to express herself made her a little more, well, expressive. Not like he could do anything to her anyway.

She held his shirt a little closer around her, if only because she was cold. When he sat upright and looked at her, she straightened some. They were talking about escaping, after all, so he had her attention. "I have a pretty good idea of the layout, yes," she answered, then indicated the lock with a wave of her hand without looking at it. "And I could pick the lock. I just don't know what... then." She meant the guards beyond. Inaya could probably fight one... if she got lucky, if she got something sharp... but those were a lot of ifs and that was all banking on there only being one or two, and that they didn't sound any sort of alarm.

Which, given that was how they'd gotten caught in the first place, she wasn't counting on that bit either.

"That should be good enough."

Amaya stroked his chin, pondering on the different scenarios, as he further expanded on their plan of action after Legs picked the lock. He took a look at his surroundings, really studying them this time, and snapped his finger.

"Kay," he started. "There's no magic bound to these cells that could set off an alarm. That I am sure of. Now, I don't know how many guards there are going to be waiting right outside this room.. but I am going to assume not many."

He jumped to his feet, brushed himself off, and rubbed his hands together in excitement.

"Now that we're locked away in here, they won't see us as much of a threat. Nicholas is still going to need his guards attending to that shit show, and they're too stupid to think we wouldn't try anything."

He approached the bars, placing his each hand on one and resting his face between an opening. "I say our chances are pretty good," he grinned. "You lead the way, and I'll sneak up on the guards one-by-one if I have to, taking them out. What about you? Feeling up to it now, or do you need to rest? Did they hurt you?"

For the moment, Amaya's customary wise-ass routine was replaced with honest concern. If only for the moment.

She wanted to ask how he knew there was no magic, but Inaya didn't exactly want to admit to that sort of ignorance either. The dancer would take him at his word and if he botched the whole thing up, she'd blame him for it all too.

Neither did she move when he bounced to his feet excitedly. There didn't seem to be all that much to be too thrilled with, just yet. Her eyes even narrowed once more when he approached the bars. "Before we go dashing down the halls, hand in hand, I'm curious. Is your goal still to get out or are you intending to still go after this Nicholas fellow? Because I'm not about to risk my ass so you can get paid. I want out." Inaya wanted to make that abundantly clear. He could come back at a different time, alone, and get caught again. She wanted the open sky above her and this city at her backside.

Then... well, then she didn't know. But there was no way she wanted to go wandering around trying to find the other guy.

Inaya didn't answer the question about whether or not she'd been hurt, either. It was another one of those stupid questions. Of course she'd been hurt, but not badly enough she couldn't walk or move. It wasn't much more than what had been done to her before, anyway. Most seemed to think her long hair was some sort of leash to haul her around by... Were she a less vain or proud creature, she'd have cut it off a long time ago. Now she wanted to keep it in spite of her ill treatment.

@Elf Lady Love

"I didn't come all of this way to leave empty-handed," he replied flatly. "Once they've figured out that we're gone, they'll move locations, and I will have to start all over. Of course I am going after him."

Amaya removed himself from the bars before walking over to the back wall, leaning against it slightly. "I'll make sure you get out first, but you better have a damn good plan on what you are going to do once you are outside."

"Think about it," he continued. "If you're the prized pony around here, they'll stop at nothing to put you back in chains. Once we get you out, what are you going to do?"

And how many other girls here are in the situation she was in. He couldn't just leave them here - especially if it came down to the worst case scenario.

For a mage from Serendipity, he was a pretty piss-poor mage. But, if there was one thing he was good at, it was creating explosives with little to no material.

Inaya clenched her jaw in irritation, mostly because she didn't really have an answer to his question. All of her focus was getting out, with the follow up being she'd figure it out once she got out. The odds that her former husband, or even her father, would want her running around the countryside as an embarrassment, free, were rather slim though. Now that she thought about it.

Likely, they'd want to tie her up and send her back so she could be justly punished for all the trouble she'd caused. Then sold off to someone who dealt with troubled women. The sort that paid for the kind that caused a fuss. Inaya chewed on her inner cheek a moment, weighing her options, before she scowled and looked at the stone in front of her toes. "Fine, fine. I can probably help you... find him, too. Or whatever else you need." She didn't want to, that much was obvious, but she didn't really have a lot of other options. At least, not a lot of other better options.

Maybe, if she helped him, he'd help her. After this all was said and done.

@Elf Lady Love

Amaya grinned. Broadly.

"I knew you'd come around," his flirtatious response breathed as easily as the air. "I'll make sure you get out. I'll make sure you are in a position to where you won't fall back into this trap again, and I'll keep you out of what I need to do as much as humanly possible. You have my word."

Taking a guy like Amaya on his word would be hard for anyone to do, but the way he so it, she really didn't have any other choice.

"So you're up, Legs," he said, calling her by her nickname for the first time out loud. "Gonna pick the lock?"

Her options were rather limited. She could pick the lock, leave him there, and hope she could figure out a way around the guards beyond... Or... she could see if they could actually pull this off together. Worst case, she'd have to abandon him in the place and she'd be no worse off than before.

She was about to stand until he called her Legs. Inaya scowled a little more, hesitating a moment so he could see she did not approve, before she slid to her feet and padded over to the lock. Though her hair had been used as a sort of leash, there were enough pins left in it that she found one suitable. Picking locks had never been a part of her official training, but it'd been something she'd learned so she could roam her father's house at night and, eventually, her former husband's. It'd been her key to freedom. These locks were simple by comparison and far larger, so it only took her a moment to pop the internal latch.

Inaya eased the metal door open just enough to slip through before she moved to his. "You know my name. You should use it," she grumbled just under her breath while she just as easily popped his lock.

"Me and you are going to get along just fine," he said, a sly grin on his face as he left his cell and faced the woman. "Thanks," he said, extending his arm to shake the woman's hand (if she would let him, that is).

"And sorry," he quickly added. "So... partners?"

Not exactly the charmer, that Amaya.

Inaya took a couple of steps back, out of his way and personal space, once his cell was unlocked. When he offered his hand, she stared at it a long moment, bought herself a second while she tucked the pin back into her hair, before she invariably shook his hand. His mouth might run a bit, but he had given her his shirt.

He hadn't needed to do that.

"Partners. For now," she agreed before gesturing toward the hall where the guards were. "Your turn."

His grin was all-too-excited, and after the shake he took a step back from her and gave her a slight bow. "Your wish is my command," he said. "I'll let you know when the coast is clear."

He stretched from side to side and rolled his neck around to loosen up after spending a better half of his night on the hard floor of a jail cell. Now that that was taken care of, he tip-toed to the door before slipping out of him.

Moments had passed and there was the soft sounds of shuffling, a muffled crowd, and then the indistinguishable sound of bodies hitting the floor. Amaya was soon in her line of sight again as he soon dragged two unconscious guards, placing them on top of each other, back into the room and leaving them in the open jail cell.

"Let's locke'em up," he said. "Want to do the honors?"

Inaya was content to let him do that part of the 'dirty work'. If she didn't have to fight the other guards, she didn't want to. Just because she could, didn't mean she wanted to. A lot of her skill was based on speed and surprise. That and if she started with something pointy.

She watched him stretch while wrapping her arms around herself, still a little chilled. Her gaze tracked his departure and listened, to see if anything would go south, before she wandered in his direction quietly when the commotion quieted. Except he met her, dragging two guards.

Admittedly, she was impressed. Not that she said it aloud.

Inaya took a step in the cell and searched them briefly, taking one of the guard's belt knife and the keys, before she shut the door and locked it. Inaya likely wouldn't have left them alive, but she didn't question his choice. Instead, she asked, "You ready?" Not that she waited for an answer before she was quietly making her way down the hall, toward the guard post, and up the stairs beyond.

They'd dragged her through a fair portion of the place and, while their attention had been on her and what little covered her, Inaya had been tracking what was around her and how she might get out. Before they climbed up and out of the prison section, though, she glanced over her shoulder. "You want me to lead you to the... bedrooms?"

As ready as I'll ever be.

He kept up, smiling along the way. There was something unique about a girl like Inaya, something fun. She asked a question she already knew the answer to, and she did want she wanted. Amaya admired a person with backbone.

"Sure," he said nonchalantly. "If you think that's the best place for us to go next. I really don't know where Nicholas would be, but I very much doubt he's going to be in the public eye after what I did to his face."

He thought more on that. "Yeah, bedrooms would be a great place to start. That, or anywhere else private you may know of in this shithole."

Inaya wasn't happy about her situation, at all, but she did wait for an answer. And she'd help him, as she had said she would. As much as her skin crawled at the mere thought of heading back into the humid, dark bedrooms, Inaya wasn't about to tell him that she was uncomfortable. He'd likely be able to see it on her face if he was paying any sort of attention.

So, when he clarified that was as good a place as any to start, she clenched her jaw and steeled herself before pushing open the door and leading him up and into the halls. Her memory, while riddled with the guards and their treatment of her, was clear in the direction she'd been taken. It'd been something to focus on besides what was being done to her. The halls were dimly lit with oiled lanterns that flickered in their passing, with some narrow off-shoots that went in varying directions. Inaya could tell when they reached the bedrooms because the hall became elaborate, wallpapered, and carpeted. Tapestries hung and small, polished wooden tables displayed little trinkets.

Inaya stopped then glanced back at him, shrugging a shoulder. "Pick a door..." she remarked bitterly.

Amaya nodded, calculating with his eyes which door to pick.

Inaya was clearly uncomfortable with all of this, so he'd have to remember to thank her after they were done.

"Eenie meenie miney mo," he all but sang, pointing his finger at one door at a time. "Stay close," he said, peering over at the woman.

Without waiting for her to answer, he turned the knob of the door he chose and...

It was locked.

Fuck it.

He kicked down the door.

Someone was in the room, but it was certainly not Nicholas. Instead, it was one of the slaves, involuntarily servicing a man from the gathering. He briefly considered just closing the door and trying the next one, but his conscious got in the way.

He rushed him, the man naked and confused, and caught him in a tight headlock. "Easy there," Amaya said as the man kicked his legs and flung his arms about. There was an obvious look of disgust on the bounty hunter's face as he rendered the other man unconscious.

He dropped his body and looked at the slave girl. "Get dressed. Hide."

He turned on his heel and walked back into the hall. "Next room, I s'pose."

Stay close.

Like she had any other option. Inaya made a face at the back of his head, which was rather childish all things considering, but she was anxious and nervous. It helped ease the tension, at least a little on her end. She shadowed his steps, frequently looking over her shoulder, and flinched physically when he actually kicked a door in. "I can pick a damn lock," she hissed, far too late.

Inaya wasn't surprised by what she saw inside, and was fully prepared to go after the man herself if he didn't.

But he did. Earning him a point. Telling the slave to hide though? She scoffed at him and, while he was choking the man out, she rapidly wrapped the trembling waif of a girl in a robe. "Stick close. We're getting out." She clung to Inaya like the life line she was. The dancer shot Amaya a scowl. "We can't leave her, they'll just..." With disgust, she gestured to the naked guy now on the floor.

It wouldn't be easier with the other slave, but Inaya couldn't leave her behind...

Oh. Right.

"Okay, do whatever you like," he all but waved her off. "Just don't get yourself killed trying to play hero."

Inaya was not only the most beautiful woman he had seen in some time, but she was also the biggest pain in his ass. Go figure. He let his gaze linger on his new companion and her fellow slave from the outside hall, and then his eyes softened. "Sorry. Just stick with us and we'll make sure you get out of this place," he finally said, his voice less sharp than before.

He checked another door while Inaya tended to the slave girl. Empty room.

He checked the next door. Locked.

"Hey, Inaya," he called to her. "Think you can pick the lock on this door? Not sure how many doors I can kick down before the calvary comes running."

He probably should've thought about that the first time, but he tended to get a little ahead of himself sometimes.

Inaya never thought of herself as a hero, and she wasn't about to start playing the role now. Rather, she knew they were likely going to be this girl's only opportunity in... well, likely her life. Opportunity didn't waltz around all too often.

Her expression hardened at his words, and a waspish quip on the tip of her tongue, until he corrected himself. Better. Besides, the hall of the place wasn't really a good location to start arguing over the treatment of almost-freed slave girls.

Inaya remained in the hall, as look out, while he checked another room. Then another door, which was locked. She tensed, half expecting another loud crash while he kicked it it.

She couldn't help the self-satisfied smile when he called her over. "Lets hope you find your man before they do..." she remarked, kneeling in front of the door and pulling a pin from her hair. It took her a breath to pop the lock, then another to spin out of the way so he could lead in. Inaya didn't want to have to do any more fighting than she needed to. Speaking of, she'd not grabbed anything to fight with. Apparently relying on him... She'd have to correct that in this next room. Steal something hefty or sharp. He'd been too quick to turn himself in last time.

Amaya watched her pick the lock with an amused smile on his face. What a woman, he thought. From chained and oppressed, to unchained, picking locks, and fighting bad guys. You got to love a woman who can take care of herself, at least.

"Much obliged," he said as he approached the door. "Let's hope my boyfriend is behind door number three. We have lots to talk about."

He opened the door. Empty, too. God damn, this was becoming a real bitch and a half. But why was this empty room locked, and the other was not?

Doing a quick scan, his eyes landed on something in the back-right corner of the room. Looks like a hatch of some sort. He motioned for the two women to follow him before proceeding, kneeling, and opening the hatch to reveal a ladder.

"Wonder where this leads," he mused before looking to Inaya. "Recognize this?"

Once they moved in, and the room proved empty, Inaya pushed the door shut. Hopefully if anyone did come dashing down the hall, they'd pass right by them. Stumble upon the naked guy they'd left in the kicked open room. It'd buy them some time, at least.

She had really hoped it would be easier to find the guy he was looking for. Every minute they lingered in the cramped, dark halls made her even more anxious. The other slave continued to shadow and cling to her. Amaya might have technically saved her, but he'd been equally willing to leave her behind. Inaya was her savior.

While he looked over the room, Inaya snatched up a slender marble sculpture. Anything that she could use. Something point would've been preferred. When he motioned for her, she approached with a degree of caution. Inaya frowned and leaned over him a little to peer down the tunnel. "No... An escape path, maybe? You might've spooked him something fierce. Especially if these rooms have largely been empty..." She chewed on her lower lip a moment, considering. "Wouldn't hurt to check it out?"

It could. But she was hoping it was a way out and she could leave sooner rather than later.

"Wouldn't hurt," he agreed, already crawling into the tight space. "One step at a time, ladies."

Maybe it was the gentleman in him that led him to go first down the dark hole. No, that couldn't have been it. He could hardly call himself a gentleman. Maybe it was just the general intrigue of what could be down this seemingly bottomless pit of shit. Regardless, he was heading down with or without them, and if they did decide to follow, he hoped Inaya had the common sense to close the hatch behind them.

"Smells like shit down here," he said as the echo of the steeled ladder steps rang against his boot.

She hesitated for a moment, if only because the idea of climbing into a dark hole with him wasn't exactly appealing... But there weren't many great alternatives either. Besides, this could be the way out. She made another face before she had the sense to go back and lock the door, either covering their tracks or buying them more time, before she had the other girl go first.

"Eimee." The girl offered her name, eyes wide and trembling. Wanting someone to know who she was in this whole mess. Inaya smiled for her. "It's ok, Eimee. Just follow the loud mouth down. He'll lead the way and I'll be right behind you. Or above you."

Eimee smiled just a little before she did as instructed. It took her a moment, her nerves making it a little more difficult to find her footing in the dark. Inaya waited, despite how impatient she really was, and reluctantly left behind her impromptu weapon. She did pull the hatch closed over her, but that swallowed them up in darkness. "I swear, if this actually leads into the sewer..."

Wouldn't that just be great? Not only would it not be a way out, but it'd lead them into literal shit. If that was the case, Inaya really did hope the guy Amaya was looking for was down there. She wanted to stab him herself. He had said dead or alive, right?

Before the hatch closed them into the darkness, Amaya caught more than a healthy glimpse of Inaya's lower curves. Yeah. He liked what he saw, but he would keep that to himself. Plus, thinking about something like that, at a time like this? Made him feel like a dirty old man.

..And then she called him a loud mouth, and he was reminded who he was dealing with. "You're quite the woman you know that?" he asked as he progressed further down the rabbit hole. "And here I thought me and you were becoming great friends."

Upon getting to the bottom, his boot was submerged in what was at least a foot of water.

How annoying it was that she was right.

They were in a sewer.

Eimee didn't hesitate to drop into the water. Sure, it was awful, but it was still stars above what she'd been doing when they found her.

Inaya? She lingered on the ladder. She heard the splash. She knew what it meant. Her heart sank. Of all the times to be right... She didn't even have the heart to respond, right away, anyway. Holding onto the ladder, putting off the inevitable as long as she could, she glared in the dark in his direction. "You'd be half as lucky if someone like me was your friend."

She was quite the woman.

Eventually, she joined the pair in the stank with a long suffering sigh. Great. They were in the dark, in the filth. "What's the plan now, oh glorious leader?" she asked, then gagging on the humid, oppressive air.

She was going to need a bath. A long, hot, scrubbing bath where she peeled off a layer of her skin.

As they had progressed down the ladder, his eyes began to focus and become more accustomed to the dark. When they were ankle deep in shit water, he could see Inaya, thought barely, and her obvious distaste for everything that was happening.

"Oh, I thought we'd set up camp here for a while," he said, folding his arms over his chest and smirking. "I'd love to get to know you better."

He didn't wait for a response before turning on his heel and walking toward what he hoped was the path out of there.

He likely couldn't see her eyes narrow in the dark of the sewer when he made mention of getting to know her better. Surely he didn't mean... No. Likely not. Amaya hadn't shown any sort of interest in her like that and he had even offered her his shirt so she could cover up.

Inaya chose not to rise to that particular bait.

Eimee waited for Inaya, who continued to shudder and cringe as she picked her way through the water after Amaya. She couldn't see near as well as he likely could and relied more so on the sound of him close by – which meant she was almost walking on top of him.

The sewers were likely an escape route. Or at least she really hoped that's what they were. Why else would there be a hatch to them?

Oh for fuck's sake.

These sewers smelt like shit, his skin was becoming itchy, the water around the ankle almost seemed to grow with each step, and Inaya was just a hair away from stealing his innocence. "You're breathing on the back of my neck," he groaned as he took one step forward. "At least let me buy you dinner first."

Inaya scowled into the smelly darkness and reflexively lashed out, shoving at what she really hoped was his shoulder. "I can't see down here and the sound bounces off of the walls. I don't want to get lost..." The last was said with her voice picking up just a little. The idea of getting lost in the shitty tunnels was likely her worst nightmare, thus far. "So just... the sooner we're out of here..."

As though getting lost hadn't even occurred to Eimee before now, the girl clung all the tighter to Inaya's hand.

"W-whoa! Hey!"

Amaya almost took a dive, face-first into ankle-deep party gravy. He managed to balance himself out, collect himself, and hiss in return. He had the right mind to whip around and push her over, but decided against it. You're not a child, Amaya.

And then, light. Thank gods.

"I think I see the exit," he said all too excitedly, and began to wade a little quicker through the muck of the sewers to the source of the light.

A very sick, twisted part of her hoped he would fall. Not really, but sort of. She did smile some to hear him stumble. Inaya wasn't as weak or soft as she seemed. He should remember that.

The light though. That was a godsend! She damn near pushed past him to get to it – but instead remained just as close behind him. If there was a fight to be had, he was still the only one capable of going head to head. Inaya would need something to level the playing field.

Please let it be the way out and not a hidden place... she desperately hoped. Surely that's what this tunnel led to, right?

A courtyard, with horses. And guards. And a way out. And the Nicholas guy that Amaya was looking for.

The sewer spilled out into a pool a step down, which eventually trickled out of a grated cause way off to the left side. The only way out, then, was through the courtyard and the gate across from them. They were just as surprised to see them as Inaya was disappointed to see they'd gone this route and found people at the end of it.

Glory! Glory! Oh Gods Glory!

Amaya was more than a little excited to stumble upon these rag-tag team of morons. Guards, sure, but not enough of them. Horses, for some odd reason. And Nicholas.

"Hey fellas!" he called, parading into their parameter in such a way that would take any of their attention off of the girls, and onto him. "We took a wrong turn! Know a good place where a guy can have a good time?"

While barking loudly at Nicholas and the guards, his fingertips pulsated with amber and coal, summoning up what little magic he knew. As the guards charged forward, he threw his hand out as if tossing an invisible object, and the ground rippled underneath their feet, an explosive igniting and sending them all flying in different directions.

Of all the things and all the surprises, Inaya would've never guessed the loud mouth knew magic. Well. Wasn't he just full of surprises. She helped Eimee down, into knee deep filth, before telling the girl quickly to stay out of the way. The guards and Amaya's target were obviously trying to make good on a clean get away – with some style, since horses were involved. Horses that did not appreciate the magic use. Two reared up, unseating their guards and the one Nicholas was on pranced in place.

Orders were shouted, the gate was thrown open, and Nicholas with an escort was off. Charging down a worn dirt path between high, old stone walls.

Leaving Amaya and Inaya with a handful of angry men standing up from their tumble.

It wasn't that she doubted Amaya, but she wasn't about to leave her fate in someone else's hands. Not when she was so close to getting away. She climbed out of the sop so she'd have even footing and tore off the longer veils, tossing them aside. They'd been clinging to, and wrapping around, her legs. It left her in naught but panties, but she'd deal. Inaya wanted movement. A sword that'd been displaced from a guard's hand was her target.

He realized that at the same time she dove for it.

"Fuck!

They there were, and there they went. For fuck's sake. Amaya could have hissed at the situation, eyes narrowed angrily as his target put more distance between the bounty hunter and the leftover guards now closing in on them.

Fuck it. Guess they had to fight there way out of there first. He would have to worry about Nicholas later. He raised his fist, his infamous position for a brawl-to-be-had, and was soon to strike when he noticed something out of the corner of his eye.

Inaya was after a sword on the ground, but the guard was going to beat her to it, or at least overpower her in that little amount of time.

She's going to get herself killed!

Basically leaping, he was in the middle of them in a matter of seconds, kneeing the guard in the face as he was hunched over to collect his weapon.

He shot her a look, but it soon formed into intrigue as he looked the now pant-less woman up and down. How did that happen?

Inaya was fast, the guard was closer. Her hand wrapped around the hilt and he loomed over. All she could think was shit. Inaya was entirely prepared to fight him for the weapon, but when it came to tests of strength, she'd lose every time.

Right up until the guard got his face smashed in by a well placed knee.

Inaya darted back with her prize, sliding to a more combative stance. She had to two hand a primarily one-handed sword, but given her small hands, she managed.

Great. Now she owed him one. She was about to voice her thanks until she noticed his confused look. At her legs. "Oh, stop it," she hissed, darting past him and deflecting a blade meant for the back of his legs. She couldn't stop such a swing, but she could use the attack's momentum to send it skirting off target. "Stop looking at me and get back into the fight."

No matter how flattering, she didn't need him getting stabbed over it.

I mean, was it going to hurt that much to look a little longer? Neither of them were guaranteed to make it out of this alive, so at least he could get some happiness before meeting his untimely demise. No. Don't be stupid, Amaya. You will live to see another day.

The clinging of swords brought him back into reality, as reluctant as he was to do so, and he saw the soldier she had just fended off. "Right," he groaned. As the guard reclaimed his grim on the hilt of his blade, Amaya gave him a quick uppercut to the jaw.

His weapon scattered on the ground, and the bounty hunter was quick to wrap the man in a choke hold much like he had done earlier that day.

Arms tight around the man's neck, Amaya found her legs again.

"But why?" he asked, holding his position still as the man in his grasp flung his arms about and struggled for air. "Why are you.. Where are you.. How long do you plan on being that way?"

Hopefully forever.

He was so infuriating. Inaya scowled at him and darted forward, skewering the man he held in place so he'd stop flailing about. Amaya might be hesitant to kill someone, but Inaya wasn't. She had not forgotten hands on her she did not want. As far as she was concerned, everyone in the place could burn.

The blade was hefty, but she could still drive the point where she wanted it.

She spun back when the other guard, deciding the half naked woman with the blade was more dangerous, swung at her. She evaded a handful of times, deflected another blow, before sliding under his guard and burying the blade in his ribs, just below his armpit. It was a killing blow, a victory! Right up until the quite dead guard fell over on top of her.

"What do you possibly mean like that? Saving your sorry ass?" she shouted from beneath the hunk of meat. The stinking, heavy pile of meat that was now oozy what she really hoped was blood on her.

She was so infuriating. He was very well capable of handling the guard before she had to go and do something like that. Sure, he understood the reason why she could kill these bastards so easily, but he had enough bloodshed on his hands to where he'd rather avoid that if at all possible.

One guard left, and he was swinging at Amaya. The bounty hunter skirted away from the point of the blade with ease, and then again, and then again, before throwing a right hook so fast and with such force that you could physically hear the man's jaw break under Amaya's balled up fist. He collapsed to the ground, unconscious, and Amaya immediately whipped around to see Inaya struggle under the weight of the other dead guard.

"No, I mean without pants," he said, letting amusement get the better of him as he watched her. "It's a good look for you. Hey, what are you doing over there? Need some help?"

She had been about to ask for help. Really she was, but then that mocking tone of his shut her up. Instead, she struggled and squirmed, huffing and hissing all manner of curses under her breath. Eimee did move to help, for all the waif of a girl could do. Minutes pass, and Inaya wiggled free. Bloodied, sweaty, his shirt torn down the front of it, her hair a mess, but she was free. Without his damn help.

She sat, panting a little, and glared at him. In no rush to stand or move.

Inaya needed a moment.

Then, she said, "I hadn't been wearing pants before. Just some skirts. And I can't really fight in them, can I?" Inaya waved a hand at him dismissively. "Stop gawking. Didn't your mark dash off down the road?" It was obvious she wouldn't be moving for a minute and Eimee wasn't about to leave her side.

Amaya groaned. "Right. Nicholas. Almost forgot."

He sighed, ran a hand through his hair, and snapped his finger. "We best hurry then."

Without warning, or hesitation, he stepped over to where Inaya was sitting, scooped her up from under her legs with one arm and her lower back with the other, slung her over his shoulder like a rag doll, and carried her to the the only horse that hadn't been spooked by the earlier explosion. He assumed the other girl would follow.

We? We?

Inaya had fully expected him to dash off after his mark. This was a perfectly acceptable time for them to part ways. She could figure out her way down a path, after all. Even if... well, their deal was for him to help her get out and this wasn't exactly out. She just hadn't expected anything more out of him.

Her eyes narrowed as he approached. Words utterly failed her as he scooped her up and slung her over his shoulder. Inaya's face couldn't get any redder with outrage and embarrassment while she punched at his lower back. Her ass was just... up in the air! "Are you kidding me?! Put me the fuck down!"

Of course Eimee followed. She tried very hard not to smile.

"Sure," he replied quickly. He was more than happy to oblige, given the woman was throwing an absolute fit over his shoulder. He dropped her onto the back of the horse - she did want to be put down - and then he helped Eimee onto the horse as well, but much more gently than he did Inaya.

"Anyone know how to drive this thing?" he asked as he climbed onto the horse, placing himself in front of the two women. "I sure don't."

He gave the horse a little kick and it raced out of the courtyard.

Inaya didn't like riding horses on the best of days. Before she could further protest, though, she was draped over one and... then it was moving. Her outrage turned to fear that she'd fall off the damned thing. She reached out and grabbed ahold of Eimee, who in turn clung to Amaya while he had the horse racing off in the direction his mark had gone.

"Are you crazy! There's no way we're going to catch up to them!"

Amaya could count the number of times he had rode a horse on one hand, yet he still somehow managed to do quite fairly on one. The hooves thundered the ground below them, the wind whipped violently around them, and the bounty hunter hung on for dear life - something he hoped the women behind him were also doing.

Inaya said.. something. He really couldn't be sure, but he figured it was more complaining. For the only article of clothing she had left being his shirt, she sure did complain an awful lot about him.

"You say something?!"

She just... hung on. He was going to keep going, likely whether she fell of the damn horse or not. If she wasn't terrified of doing so, it might've been easier to just roll off. Instead, she hung on for dear life.

As did Eimee.

Did Amaya really think that they could catch Nicholas? She had no idea. Really, she didn't care.

She was out of that damn place. The rest be damned.

The horse kept her momentum going until it absolutely couldn't. After what felt like a lifetime on that horse, she came to an abrupt stop that almost slung all three of them off of her back. Amaya was almost ready to give the horse another kick when he saw why she stopped.

The old stone walls that surrounded them on the dirt path were now blocked by an old stone wall in front of them, accompanied by another ladder in which the only direction was up. Great. Just where the fuck were they now?

He slid off of the steed, helped Eimee off, and offered Inaya a hand. "Come on, pretty lady," he said. "Off you go."

The ride was not a pleasant one. Especially in the way she'd rode the hose. She was fairly certain her ribs and hips were bruised. More annoyed than anything, she slid off the horse. Not necessarily ignoring Amaya, more that it was just easier than taking his hand.

She sat down immediately.

Eimee moved to sit with her.

"Well. This is a surprise. Where are we?" She looked around. Where the other guards, Nicholas, and the horses could've possibly gone... Unless there had been a secret way along the path they'd missed...

Amaya threw up his arms in defeat and sat with them. He leaned up against one of the walls, pulled a knee to his chest, and let the other leg extend into the dirt they sat on. "I get that," he said, pointing above them to where the ladder lead. "But where the fuck did the horses go? Did we pass them? I don't remember that at all."

This job could have gone so much smoother if he hadn't met Inaya. That's what he told himself, though it probably wouldn't have made a difference.

He cursed under his breath. "We're not going to catch him today," he murmured, mostly for himself than the others. "May as well camp out here for the evening."

Sleep sounded absolutely heavenly. Not expressly camping out on what was a well known escape path but...  A nap might do them some good. She let out a long sigh before nodding a little. "You two rest up some, I'll keep an eye out." They could trade off, then. No way was she going to have everyone sleep at once. Not here.

Eimee leaned against the wall before invariably sliding onto her side, curling up so she could sleep. Inaya didn't think the girl would, but it was just breaths later that she was out. Likely catching whatever rest she could, when it was possible. Her features soften a little and she lightly touched the girl's calf. At least, if nothing else, they'd managed to save her.

I'll keep an eye out.

As if, he thought. They couldn't stay there long enough for them both to have enough time to sleep. That's what he initially thought, at least. Maybe they could. Maybe none of the other guards knew anything about this place. Even if they did, a horse can run a hell of a lot faster than armor-clad soldiers.

Still, he played along. He didn't really any say anything, just stretched out on the ground, on his back, and let his eyes close.

It was about five minutes into that when he gave up. Sitting up, he looked over to Inaya. "How you holding up?" he whispered. "Need to take a load off?"

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a bag and some thin papers. The smell of fresh tobacco was evident as soon as he opened it, and before long he had it rolled both delicately and tightly into the papers. With a spark of magic in his fingertips, he lit the end and let the smoke, both smooth and harsh, flood into his lungs.

Inaya eyed Amaya when he laid down. It didn't bother her at all. If she was being honest, she likely owed him. She idly picked through her long hair and made a face. It'd become matted, tangled, it smelled... All of her did, really. Inaya was just a mess. Torn shirt, no pants... The day had started out bad and had just gotten progressively worse.

When Amaya sat up, she was picking through the knots in her hair. She shook her head a little without actually looking at him. "I'm not sure I can sleep feeling as disgusting as I do. Siting is nice enough, I suppose." All things considering, given her lack of... well, pants. Lace panties were not the most comfortable on the dirt and stone path. Not that she'd complain. There were worse things she could be doing right now.

She did glance his way when the acrid smoke reached her nose, but given all the other awful smells lingering in the air, she didn't say anything.

Amaya shrugged and continued to puff his tobacco. It was only after a minute or two of silence between them before he rubbed out the embers on the dirt, leaving him half of what he started with, and slipped it back into his pants pocket.

"Can't beat it," he said mostly to himself. He looked down the path they had come from, and then around at his "companions." Eimee was asleep, Inaya looked to be looking after her like a mother would her cub, and the horse was now side-sleeping much like a barn dog would after a day of hard work. What a team he found himself in, he thought. He really hated working in a team.

He stood, and walked, but didn't get too far, as he stopped just next to Inaya and took a seat directly next to her. "What a mess," he said with a heavy breath. "Not sure what leads up this ladder, but I'm going to assume somewhere in town at this point. But... given that horses can't fly, as far as I know, I'm getting the feeling we may have missed something on the way here."

He was practically thinking aloud, not really aiming his conversation to her, but he felt the need to at least sit beside her. In their rag-tag team of four, she was his right-hand man.

"You smell wonderful," he lied.

Inaya did track his path when he walked, glancing up at him between the mess that was her long hair. Idly paying him mind so he didn't just vanish. Not... because she cared or anything.

"I'm sure we missed something in the crazy dash on the horse," she said, shrugging a shoulder. "We could just... go up the ladder. Into town. Get a bath..." She laughed, humorless and brief, when he said she smelled wonderful. "None of us do. We all look awful and I would really like to find something more to wear than your torn shirt..." Inaya wasn't exactly shy and she didn't feel a sense of shame about how she looked, but it was rather impractical to run about in panties and a torn shirt.  "And a bath. I really want a bath..." she murmured under her breath, picking at the mess that was her hair.

With a huff, she glanced his way. "You found this... Nicholas guy once. I'm sure you can again."

Amaya smirked, not returning her gaze but instead looking aimlessly in front of him with tired eyes. "Oh, I think you look great," he replied in a voice that was neither lying or truthful. "So, up the ladder we go then. Get a bath, get a fresh clothes on, and then we part ways."

Obviously they would part ways. He still had a job to do, and he intended on finishing it. Even though, and he would never want to admit it, the thought of letting Inaya and Eimee loose on their own worried him a bit. Just because they were free now, didn't mean they were completely out of the woods.

"What about you, freedom fighter?" he asked. "Got a plan once you see daylight again?"

She narrowed her eyes his way when he said she looked great, but he didn't look at her so the effect was lost. It was hard to tell if he was trying to bait her again, so she chose to ignore it. Having their next steps said so finally, though...

"Well, a proper end to a terrible adventure," she remarked, huffing and giving up on her hair. She needed water and soap. Lots of both. Inaya leaned back against the stone and closed her eyes. "I honestly have no idea. I've been so focused on getting out – something I didn't think was really going to happen – that I haven't given much thought to 'what next'. Probably find Eimee a place to stay that isn't a brothel." She cracked one eye open to look at him. "How will you find Nicholas?" A part of her did want him to catch the guy. He was a part of the whole monstrous trade, after all.

Amaya shrugged. "Not sure, but I will," he said, his voice a little hoarse. "I've handled much, much worse."

He let his body slump further down the wall his back rested on, and eventually let his head fall onto her lap. Probably not the wisest move on his part, giving her growing distaste for him, but he really didn't care. Her legs were soft, and he needed to rest for a moment. He wouldn't be able to sleep, but at least he could close his eyes for the moment. "I'll give it about an hour," he said, eyes now closed. "Then we gotta move."

Inaya chewed on her lower lip when he mentioned he wasn't sure. It didn't exactly sit well. Either because that meant Nicholas was just... running around, and he knew what she looked like... or because she felt like she owed it to Amaya. Whatever the reason. Did it really matter?

She watched him slump and smiled, just a little, when he 'fell' over and pillowed his head on her thighs. Unaware she was smiling. "An hour sounds acceptable," she answered, voice softer since it seemed he was either trying to go to sleep or at least trying to relax. He was close enough she didn't need to talk at normal volume. Idly, one of her hands combed through his hair – it was far easier to do than with her own – while she relaxed back against the wall with her eyes closed. Not intending to fall asleep. Just rest.

Except she did doze a little. It'd been such a rush of a day, and she'd fought a handful of guards certainly bigger – and stronger – than she was. Finally getting a 'pause', the adrenaline left her, leaving her feeling tired.

"That feels nice."

Her fingers in his hair left little tingles here and there, trickling down and circulating his shoulders. He hadn't had anyone play with his hair for a long time, he thought, and it was always better after a long day.

He didn't mean to sleep. He really didn't. He was going to give it an hour and get the team up and moving, but as his breathing began to steady, he let sleep take him. He would remain still, soft breathing, puddled into her lap until she woke up.

Inaya wasn't entirely sure how long she dozed. It was rather difficult to tell time where they were, but it was her stiff back that woke her. She untangled her fingers from Amaya's hair and stretched, yawning as she did. She didn't exactly feel rested, but she didn't feel like she'd been ran ragged either. After a moment, she stretched her legs and said, "We should get going. I really want that bad now..."

Eimee woke easily enough, startling some until she realized where, and who, she was with.

"Ah, fuck. I fell asleep."

Amaya rolled off of her lap and sat up. His head was still in the temporary haze that results from being unexpectedly woken up from an equally unexpected nap. He didn't want to fall asleep, but he did, and then he didn't want to be woken up. He was having such a nice dream.

Back on his feet, the first thing he did was saw to the horse. Giving her a quick pet, he whispered something along the lines of Good Girl and gave her an encouraging pat to get her back on her way toward the courtyard.

"Right, let's get moving," he said as the horse left their sight. "One leg at a time ladies."

Well, Amaya moved quick once he was awake. Inaya envied that. She yawned again, stretched once more, and only then did she stand. Eimee mirrored her, yawning several more times.

As the horse lazily plodded off, Inaya turned her attention to the ladder. She sighed a little and opted to go first. Made sense. Put Eimee in the middle, let Amaya bring up the rear. It was a sturdy enough thing, as far as ladders went, though it got significantly darker the closer she got to the cover.

Inaya hooked one arm around a wrung then pushed at the cover with the other arm. And pushed. Then tried to push again. Her face flushed with embarrassment and frustration when she realized the damn metal cover was too heavy for her to move.

"Ah... Amaya..."

Amaya's lips curled into a satisfied smile. She needed his help. He loved it when she needed his help. "Coming, princess," he teased, his voice smug enough to exhaust their air supply.

Of course, there was the certain matter as to how he would get up there to help. He couldn't very well climb over both of them, and they were too far up to climb back down and reorder themselves. He gripped the side of the ladder railing and gave it a shake to see just how sturdy it was. Sturdy enough, he thought.

He swung around to the side of the ladder and held on for dear life. "Climb back down a bit for me," he instructed Eimee, and she followed. He did not give Inaya the chance to do the same. Once Eimee was well under where his feet would be, he swung back on to the ladder and began to climb.

"Excuse me," he said as his feet were placed firmly on the step below hers, hands on the bar hers was one, and body pressed against hers more snug than she was probably ready for.

He gave it a push and it started to give way, but one handed was proving a little difficult even for him. "On my count," he said, his chin resting atop her head. "One. Two. Three."

She wasn't happy she needed his help. Inaya continued to shove futilely at the cover, hoping that maybe... just maybe... she'd get it to move while she heard Eimee and Amaya move beneath her. He was going to be so smug after this...

Inaya was not ready for how close he was. She'd been about to get out of the way, too, when he was suddenly there. Pressing her between the bars and, well, him. Her face heated up and she froze, stiffly, in place as her thoughts promptly scattered in all manner of directions. Nevermind she was barely wearing anything. Nevermind she had no pants. Nevermind any of that.

Focus.

Right. The cover.

Inaya cleared her throat and didn't have to look at him at all since his chin was on her head. She did use both hands, probably relying far too much on him to hold her in place while she helped push. Just push the damn cover and get out...

Which she did. As soon as it was shoved enough and the evening moonlight cut through, she quickly crawled away from him. Too close. Way too close.

Inaya crawled up and out into what looked like a side street, crammed between two stucco buildings. A main street was one way, and darker alleyways were behind her.

Amaya nearly fell backwards when the woman scampered away from him, but managed to grab the top of the ladder before doing so. "Geeeeeez. Can you believe that?" he asked, peering down at Eimee below him. "I was just trying to help."

He soon joined Inaya in the alley, and pulled Eimee up with them right after. He would have appreciated the fresh air, but the smell of old and fresh shit was still potent on their clothing. Still, it was good to be on the outside again.

"Think you two will be alright hiding out here for a while?" he asked, though he didn't technically mean right there precisely. Just out of the spotlight. "We need new clothes and, somehow or another, I'm the most inconspicuous person here."

Saying that, he couldn't help take notice of Inaya's lack of clothing. Again.

Eimee smiled up at him when he asked her the seemingly rhetorical question, though thanked him quietly when he helped her out.

Inaya didn't exactly like that he was right. She was pointedly not looking at him while the blush left her face, crossing her arms so the torn shirt at least covered her more than it had before. But, Amaya was the one least likely to draw attention. Shirtless, though smelling like shit, he'd likely draw some frowns. Inaya pantsless and Eimee in nothing but a thin robe... Well, a strong breeze was going to draw quite the eye to both of them.

Not the attention either woman wanted.

That did mean she had to trust he'd come back. Inaya didn't want to admit there was a small part of her that was afraid he wouldn't. Amaya had come this far with them... Surely he wouldn't just leave the two of them in the alley...

And if he did, Inaya would figure it out.

Resolved, she glanced his way and nodded once. "We'll wait for you." Not the whole night, but she'd wait.

It took about Amaya nearly an hour to get back to the two, which was about a half-hour longer than he anticipated it would. Still, he came back, as he always intended to. Sure, he got some looks during his time in town, but that was pretty custom. Amaya stuck out like a sore thumb anyway he went, so still being the least inconspicuous of the former party-of-four/now party-of-three was all the more miraculous.

When he returned to the two women, he was already in his change of clothes. Nothing fancy, but just enough for him to not look completely homeless. A shirt much like the one he gave to Inaya, pants that weren't torn, and the same boots he had own before.

"There you are," he said, grinning from ear to ear when he spotted them. "Sorry. I only had enough on me for two people."

He was referring to the new clothes on his back, and the dress he offered up to Eimee. Instead of anything new and appropriate, he handed Inaya what looked to be an outfit that a male squire would wear outside of the armor. "Had to borrow this one."

Hey. At least it was something.

It felt like a long time before Amaya returned. Inaya watched the sky and swore to herself that if it turned morning, they'd go. Half convinced that he had left them in the alley alone. Eimee watched her pace back and forth in the small space.

Even if it had only been an hour.

When Amaya returned, Eimee greeted him with a happy sound and moved to him. When he offered the dress to Eimee and the other clothes to Inaya, the two girls shared a look. Given the life Eimee had just escaped from, she didn't exactly want noticed and Inaya? Well, she didn't much care. She smiled a little and offered the other woman the tunic and pants before taking the dress for herself.

Eimee shrugged out of the robe and pulled on the clothes quickly. She was too thin, in Inaya's opinion, and the dancer decided the girl needed a decent meal or five.

Inaya pulled off his shirt and tossed it aside before she simply pulled on the dress. It was meant to be flattering and fit tight, with thread along the side that tied to fit. The sort of thing Inaya was used to. She tied it up then moved to help Eimee lace up the front of her pants. Once done, Eimee just looked like a street rat done up in clothes too big for her. Which seemed to please her immensely.

When they were done, the pair of them regarded Amaya.

"If you know of a place to stay for the night..." Inaya began, "that'd be really helpful." And a bath. She still wanted her bath.

It really didn't make a difference to Amaya which woman took which set of clothes. Though, he must admit, Inaya taking the dress almost felt like he engineered some sort of brilliant reverse psychology - but in reality he just thought it would be funny.

But man. She looked good. He really needed to get out of that mind space and focus on the tasks at hand, but boys will be boys.

"Unfortunately, my dear lady," he started, folding his arms over his chest and cocking a brow. "I'm not from here. Our best bet is going to find an inn and keep our heads low. I'll figure something out as far as payment, we just need to get in and out without drawing too much attention to ourselves."

You need money for an inn.

...He hadn't pick pocketed anyone in a long time.

Desperate times, he supposed.

Inaya let out a long sigh. It was getting late, they'd had a long day, and she still smelled like shit. Nevermind the state of her long hair. She just... wanted to go back to sleep. But he was right, they just needed a place where they wouldn't draw too much attention to themselves. Inaya wasn't familiar with this part of the city. She was from a nicer district that had gated estates, fountains, and manicured courtyards.

It was Eimee that spoke up. "I... might know of a place." Her voice was soft, but she seemed pleased that she might actually be of help. It certainly surprised Inaya, but she nodded once.

"If you know of a place, by all means. We can't really be picky."

With that, Eimee turned away from the busy street and instead led them into the darker, twisting alley. There were occasional bouts of light from windows, where interesting smells – mostly food – wafted out. Sometimes snippet of conversation. Most of the walls were rough stucco or mortared sandstone, though a few flimsy wooden buildings were propped up between. Inaya got a little lost in the maze, but before she knew it, Eimee tapped on a wide wooden door on the back of a several storied building.

There was a brief shout, some metal banging around, and the door swung open. A brutish man filled the doorway. Bald and cleanshaven, he wielded a butcher knife like a weapon. Right up until Eimee waved her hands to draw attention to herself.

Turns out they were related in some form or fashion. The man, Prem, didn't seem too happy about letting them in but he hovered around Eimee protectively. Eyeing Amaya suspiciously.

Inaya didn't complain, because the man did complain about the smell and ushered them all to the bathhouse attached to his hostel. There was a small tiled room for patrons to undress and store their things before entering a slightly larger room, where steaming water and coarse soap could be used to scrub up. Bath house was being generous. It was just a public washroom.

Inaya would take anything now, though, and thanked Prem before she wandered into the first room so she could undress. Eimee was hot on her heels.

Amaya felt Prem's glare burning on the back of his head when he was not staring daggers directly into his eyes. He shrugged off the feeling as he was all too used to it. Of course, Prem was gracious enough to offer up his bathhouse to the three even though it felt more like a requirement than an offer.

Amaya stopped short of the first room. The least he could do was let the ladies undress first without him ogling there every move. Once he was absolutely sure they had removed their clothing and made it to the next room, he entered, undressed quickly, and entered the bathhouse.

He didn't make any effort to hide it. Given where they just broke out of, it wouldn't be anything new to them. That, and he wasn't the type to embarrass easy. For everything they had gone through in the little time they all knew each other, a dangling body part was probably the least of their worries.

Inaya pointedly paid Amaya no mind as he entered the bathhouse. Instead, her and Eimee had commandeered a spot. She had taken a handful of soap from a large block and was presently scrubbing the other girl's hair. Her own would be a nightmare she'd deal with later on. Copper pipes and simple shower heads were spaced sporadically with blocks of soap and accompanying washcloths nearby.

When Eimee's short brown hair was done, they turned the 'just this side of too hot' water on. While Eimee rinsed off and used one of the scratchy clothes to scrub herself, Inaya set to rinsing her hair. It'd be a while,  for her. As a former noble, it hadn't been an issue having long hair. It wouldn't have been had she been sold, she supposed. They'd likely chop it off if it became a problem, which just made her all the more attached to it.

Resolved, Inaya stood halfway under the water when Eimee was finished while she worked through her hair. She shooed the other girl off so she could go get dressed and talk to Prem about a couple of beds for them. Hopefully having just Eimee around would butter the guy up.

With her attention on her hair, mostly because she wanted to get all the tangles out but also because she didn't just want to gawk at Amaya, she said, "I suppose you'll be going in the morning, then?"

Amaya reserved a separate spot on the other side of the room, though that wasn't too far as the room itself wasn't as big as you'd see in most bath houses. He tried to give the women some privacy for a while, but he may have dropped the some once or twice which forced him to turn around. He'd never tell them that though.

Really, he wanted to give Eimee a little privacy. Inaya was much more broken into him as a person than the other girl was. "Sure thing," was his reply as he washed. "Unless you want to take another bath and play grab ass."

He didn't wait for her to respond before he spun around to face her. With a soap bar in his hand, he casually walked over to the woman and tapped her on the shoulder. "Can you get my back? Having a hard time reaching back there."

Amaya was anything but shy.

Inaya frowned at her hair, but the expression was meant for Amaya when he mentioned another bath and... whatever grab ass was. It didn't sound flattering. "I feel like I owe you..." she began, until he drew attention to himself.

Walking over to her. Soap in hand.

She dropped her mostly tangle free hair and quirked a brow at him. Inaya wasn't exactly shy either. At least, not in the bath house. She took the soap from him and made a gesture with her hand so he'd turn around. While putting the coarse soap to his skin, she added, "If you needed my help, I could tag along..." Not like Inaya had any other plans...

He obeyed the woman and turned around, revealing his backside. "Thanks," he said, closing his eyes and letting himself relax.

His lips curled into a grin when she spoke again. It was playful, and almost a little mischievous. "I get it. If you wanted to hang out with me some more, you could've just said so," he teased. "You don't owe me anything, Inaya."

He let out a heavy, satisfied breath under the water, and rolled the back of his head side to side around his shoulders. Then he shot a quick look at Inaya, moving his eyes upward in a quick, brief motion. "Might as well get my hair too while you're back there."

Inaya scowled at his back and scrubbed harder than necessary at his tease. "No, that isn't it. But our deal was I help you get Nicholas, you help me get out. You still haven't gotten Nicholas." Further expressing her irritation when he suggested she wash his hair, she gave a sharp tug on one of the wet locks before lathering some soap in her hands and moving to do just that.

She didn't mind helping him with this. Inaya had a thing about hair anyway. She liked keeping hers neat and clean. His was so short it'd take her just a minute or two.

Eyes closed, he let out a long, relaxed breath as he practically melted into her touch. "If heaven exists, " he murmured, a small smile tugging at his lips, "this is it."

He enjoyed the moment. He could have easily washed his own hair, but didn't see why he should have to if she could have done it for him. He would have done the same for her if she had asked. When she was finished, he gave her a grateful 'thanks' before turning to face her.

"I don't remember ever making a deal," he lied. "You'll just slow me down, anyway. I couldn't in good conscious put you back in harm's way just so I could make a little money. You should hang out here with Eimee and Prem for a while. I'm sure it's safe."

When she was done with him, and he turned to face her, Inaya crossed her arms under her chest. Annoyed. Either his memory was faulty or he was intentionally trying to shake her. Slow him down? "You seem to forget I saved your ungrateful ass a couple of times," she snapped, annoyed. But Inaya wasn't going to beg to tag along either. She shook her head and turned her back to him, stepping fully under the water.

"Fine. Have it your way, Amaya." If he was so intent on going on his own, there wasn't much more her pride was going to let her do. Now... Now she'd just need to figure out what she was going to do. Inaya didn't need to tell him there was no way in hell she was going to stay with Prem and Eimee. The other girl might be content to live a life of quiet, albeit safe, servitude, but Inaya had not gone through everything she just had to wind up some serving wench or cleaning lady in a hole-in-the-wall hostel.

She had all night to figure out her next steps. Apparently alone.

Amaya grinned sheepishly, rubbing at his cheek a little bit. Whoo boy. He really pissed her off. He waved his arms melodramatically in defense, as if she could see it from the back of her head, and began to walk himself back - physically and vocally.

"I mean.. I guess I could use the company," he said, a hint of an apology in his tone. "Might need someone to pick more locks and look good while-"

Soap. On the floor. Slippery soap. And his retreating foot stepped on it just right.

In an effort to regain his balance, he was instead pushed forward in her direction. In a further effort to do something, anything, to not completely knock her over, he flailed his arms around like a wild animal and twisted his body to dodge.

It didn't work. Not completely, anyway. He fell, hard, but not before the side of his face brushed against her exposed ass on his way down. He landed with a loud thud and groaned - mostly from embarrassment - as he rolled onto his back.

Either by the gift of the gods or the curse of the devil, his head was positioned right in between her feet. In between her legs.

Amaya covered his eyes with his face.

"Whoops."

Inaya idly ran soapy hands through her hair and rolled her eyes when he started talking. Couldn't just ask her to come along, could he? She'd had a perfectly valid reason for doing so, and he had to make a whole thing out of it. Inaya was about to turn around and, in no uncertain terms, tell him he could piss off...

But he cut himself off. And fell? Inaya was able to shift just enough that, between the two of them, he didn't careen into her but he did end up flat on his back, nearly under the water... But definitely under her.

Nevermind that he had clipped her hip and ass.

Inaya crossed her arms under her chest again, shifted her weight to one foot but didn't exactly move. "So eager to be beneath me?" she quipped before finally stepping away so the shower would spray down on his face. Just a moment, before she shut off the water.

"You keep oogling me and falling down around me, I'm going to think you want to have sex with me," she said while she walked away, gathering up her hair as she did so.

Yeah. He probably deserved that.

Every bit of it.

Didn't sting any less, though. Of course, he could never admit defeat. He sat there for a while longer even after she shut off the water before getting back to his feet. "Sex in the shower is not all it's cracked up to be," he replied dryly. "If I was going to have sex with you, I'd much rather do it on a bed."

He shook off like a dog and followed. "But I'm an old-fashioned gal," he continued. "You can't expect me to put out on the first date."

Inaya stepped into the 'dressing room', after having bound up her hair some. She cast a glance his direction, chuckling a little. "I wouldn't know. I've never had sex in the shower." Inaya grabbed one of the hostel's towels so she could dry off. Her tone turned a little drier as she added, "You'd be the odd man out here. I've never been on a date, either, though I've been married."

She easily pulled on her dress and let out a small sigh. "You'd be better off with Eimee anyway. She's nice."

Not that Eimee deserved someone as obnoxious as Amaya. The girl deserved someone that likely couldn't be found in the city. At least Prem would keep most away from her.

"I've heard there are some good brothels around," she amended, deciding it was cruel of her to suggest Eimee at all.

Amaya followed into the dressing room, chuckling at her last statement. "A brothel isn't the ideal place to take a lady on a date," he said, purposely misreading her comment, and purposely ignoring the statement about Eimee.

Eimee was too much of a nice girl for him, anyway.

He hadn't dressed yet, and moved in front of her to block her path back into other room. "So how about it?" he asked, body soaked from head-to-toe. "You can come with me to get Nicholas if you let me take you out on a date after. I can be a real romantic, y'know. Wine, dine, a little grab-ass under the stars."

Inaya narrowed her eyes a little but purposefully didn't look his way. It was one thing to be quite casual about nudity in the shower, another when they were out of it.

She figured he was being intentionally thick, but opted not to comment. Inaya had been tightening the dress, so she didn't notice Amaya move in front of her until she looked up to leave. And he was right there. Still undressed.

Inaya quirked a brow at his offer. "I'll come help you get Nicholas because I said I would. That's part of our deal..." She made to step around him, but pulled up short. "And I suppose a date with you can't be all that bad, hm?" Inaya smiled a little and slid past him, a hair quicker if he wanted to try and block her. It was late, after all, and she did want to get some sleep now that she was nice and showered.

In the hall beyond, Eimee was waiting. And seemed to have been. Her sly smile vanished when Inaya scowled at her. "Prem is letting us use three beds... but just tonight..." Eimee informed quietly. Most in the hostel had already gone to sleep. Inaya didn't think the man's hospitality would extend any further, so she wasn't surprised. She just gestured so Eimee could lead the way.

The hostel was a hole in the wall place, meant for lower class. It had the bath house, a kitchen that was largely Prem's domain, a common room with ratty pillows, and then the large, barracks style 'bedroom'. There, about ten beds had been crammed into the space. Most were occupied, but there were three near the door reserved for them.

Amaya's smile was almost genuine when she accepted. Genuine, but well hidden.

He wasn't far behind Inaya after she had dressed and left. It didn't take him too long to dry off and put his clothes back on. When he caught up, he found her and Eimee together and they were soon led to the large room full of beds.

"Oh wow," Amaya muttered. "This is so great."

He sighed. No sense in complaining.

He took the bed closest to the door.

'Smells funny in here.'

There was a bit of rank 'human' smell. Body odor and the press of so many in a small, warm space, but Inaya would've taken that over... well, just about anything. When Eimee picked a bed, she tugged on Inaya's wrist. A wordless request. Inaya gave Amaya's hip a pinch to say 'good night' before she slid onto the uncomfortable bed next to Eimee, curling around the other girl who fitfully fell asleep.

It took Inaya longer to drift off, but she eventually did while playing with Eimee's hair.

Morning came and Prem roused the hostel bedroom by banging on the wooden doorframe and announcing that breakfast was ready. If anyone wanted to eat, they needed to "get up and get at it". Eimee startled awake, but Inaya woke up slower, and confused.

She still wasn't used to being out of her old house.

Inaya shooed Eimee off to breakfast while she sat up and fixed her dress.

Amaya slept like shit. The bed was hard. The smell was funky. He occasionally glanced over at Inaya and Eimee sleeping and a hint of jealously flickered in his eyes.

He was well awake before Prem barged in like some sort of raging battleaxe to announce that breakfast was ready. He shot the man a flat look, eyes narrow, before yawning and watching the guests, if that's what you called those people, filing out of the room.

He was still sprawled out on the bed, hands behind his head to prop him up just slightly, when Inaya began to stir. "Morning, sunshine," he said. "Have good dreams?"

Inaya shook her head a little and yawned, stretching with her arms over her head and her back arched. "No, not quite. Still not used to waking up outside of my own bed. I'm sure that'll change soon enough." She rubbed at her eyes a moment before combing through her hair, giving a nod in the direction of breakfast. "You going to get something to eat?"

Amaya shrugged. He supposed he ought to, given the day ahead.

So they ate and they left, and Amaya managed to swipe a dagger from Prem's collection when he wasn't looking. He never intended to free slaves on his venture through the slave trade, but seeing Eimee somewhere, hell, anywhere, that was not there made him feel a little better. He wasn't some heartless oaf, even though he may have portrayed himself like that at times. No, seeing her away from that and happy was a good thing, he decided. She even gave him a hug upon their departure, which he thought was sweet. She was a sweet girl.

Inaya, on the other hand, was pretty adamant about going with him. He didn't necessarily like it, but he had to admit that she came in handy time and time again, and he felt more comfortable having her around him than setting her loose on the world. At least Eimee had a place to go, Inaya did not.

That, and he'd be lying if he said he didn't enjoy her company.

They were a little over a hundred yards from the entrance that led to the underground. He made absolutely sure that they had no went the way they came out, but instead the way he initially went in. Sure, it was heavily guarded, and would be easier for them to be noticed, but he would take that over shit water any day.

He handed Inaya the dagger. "Here," he said, calculating their next move as he studied the guards at the entrance. "Got you a present."

Inaya lingered in the room, enjoying the quiet and being alone. She hadn't really been left alone since she was a little girl. The novelty of privacy was just... Something she savored. It was rare and precious. Even so, she got up and shuffled off so she could stuff something into her mouth for the coming day.

She didn't want to go back to that place. Really. She had half hoped that they'd hear something about Nicholas running off to a brothel. A bar. A tavern. Someone's estate. Anywhere but back to where she'd just escaped from. Inaya tried not to let Amaya see how much it bothered her, and while she was very good at schooling her expression, she didn't stand still very well.

When he presented her with the dagger, Inaya's carefully crafted composure shattered in surprise. She smiled just a little. A dagger she could use. A dagger made her feel better. "Thank you," she murmured softly before sighing a little. "I could probably distract them... but it might be easier for you to get in if you walk up and present me as an escaped girl you're returning. They're bound to have heard some got away... I doubt anyone is going to know you by face unless you hit them."

Amaya opened his mouth to say something, but closed it. Okay. Why not? It was a good plan, after all.

"Follow my lead, pretty lady," he grinned. He wrapped his fingers around her wrist. "Sorry about this."

His grip on the woman's wrist tightened, and he all but dragged her through the desert plains to the entrance of the destination. "I got one!" he shouted out, waving his free arm frantically as he pulled Inaya behind him. "Quit struggling you stupid fucking whore! Quit yer-- fellas! I got a live one! Open the gates!"

She hated that it was a viable plan, and likely the one to get them in without being peppered with arrows or... whatever else on their approach. She tucked the dagger in the folds of her dress, let out a long breath, and nodded when he gripped her wrist.

Then she struggled. Inaya didn't really have to play pretend. Amaya was stronger than she was, and even if she had wanted to, if he held on tight enough she couldn't really get away from him. So she struggled and spat curses at him. If anyone knew who had gotten away – Inaya, a former noble's wife, a woman who had gutted a fellow guard – then they'd know from her struggling and long hair that was likely who she was.

Hopefully, their attention would more than likely be on her rather than Amaya. Inaya was good at drawing an eye.  Never mind that her heart was really racing. What if they got caught, what if she didn't get to leave this time...

"Quit. Yer. Struggling!"

Amaya continued to to drag her across the desert, and he was even doing too good of a job or Inaya was one hell of an actress. What looked like two guards from far away turned into four as they closed in on the entrance. Four of them. One for each side of the gate and two men in front of them, holding their spears and swords like they were protecting royalty.

Piece of cake.

"That's the bitch that stabbed Bob," one of the men not stationed directly by the gate said. "Good work, guy. Bring her in."

"She almost got away from me too," Amaya replied, a prideful grin smacked on his lips as he pressed forward. "This one is one hell of a firecracker, let me tell ya!"

The gates were open. Well, open enough for the two of them to slip in now. As if on cue, he let his grip slip from Inaya's hand and whipped around. "Grab her!" he said frantically. When the guards started to react, he sprung to action.

Punch. Kick. Uppercut. He knocked three of the guards unconscious in a matter of seconds, and the last had his hands full going after Inaya.

If there was ever a time for her to use that new toy he gave her, it would be now.

It wasn't much of an act. Inaya did want to get away. Even if he'd accidentally let go of her too early, she wouldn't have dashed away. Even if that's exactly what she wanted to do.

Instead, she continued to curse him right up until they were through the doors. Inaya hated the way they eyed her as they approached... Fuck them all.

Then, she was set loose and Amaya went after them. They didn't seem to realize that he was a danger. The closest lunged after her, as instructed and actually got ahold of her dress for all of three seconds. Long enough for Inaya to draw the dagger and plunge it into his forearm.

He screamed, she withdrew the blade, and shoved it in his eye. He went quiet, still, and limp.

When Inaya straightened from wiping it off on the guard's shirt, she frowned. Again, he'd managed to knock them all out without doing much damage. Inaya was starting to think he was sparing them on purpose. If he'd expected her to leave someone alive, he probably shouldn't have given her something pointy.

Amaya planned on intervening in Inaya and the remaining guard if he had to, but she had managed herself just fine. His face didn't change all that much when she killed the man, and he was able to put it behind him almost immediately.

He understood why she did it. He understood how she could so easily kill these men. After everything they had put her through, he would want to do the same.

"Nice job," he winked before peering through the door.

The coast was clear. "You ready? It's not too late to turn back, y'know."

Inaya clenched her jaw, steeling herself. She very much wanted to go, but she wasn't about to admit that to Amaya. For a handful of reasons. Besides, she'd never let her fear get the best of her when she'd been a captive. She wouldn't now.

So she tucked the blade away and gestured with a wave. "After you, oh fearless leader." Using the quip to help cover how anxious she really was.

"After you, oh fearless leader."

Amaya blinked. Fearless.. leader? That sounded familiar. He shook off the brief moment of déjà vu and nodded. "Right, c'mon," he said before moving through the door.

The main entrance hall was practically empty. He figured there would be more guards once inside the underground maze, especially considering their previous stunts. Perhaps it was their previous stunts that caused the lack of guards up front, and kept them closer to Nicholas and the rest of the highest bidders. Still, they turned a corner and the bounty hunter acted accordingly: taking them quickly, quietly, and efficiently. This process became routine as they ventured further into the dungeon halls, stretches with nothing, corners with guards, knocking them out when he could and leaving the remains to Inaya to deal with as she pleased.

After some time of quiet navigating, they came to a fork that split into three pathways. The echoes of the patron's nipped at the walls surrounding them: some laughing, some fighting, some fucking, all of them most likely drunk. How long do these type of shitty events go for, anyway? At some point these men had to go home, right?

He peered over his shoulder to look at his companion. "What is your woman's intuition saying," he started in a whisper, "about which path to take?"