"I said move it!"
Nick grunted in pain, stumbling forward at the forceful push from the Viper behind him.
"Nick!" came Maggie's muffled voice. He heard her try to turn and look at him. Then the sound of her being shoved forward as well, followed by another shout from one of the three Viper Gang Members around them. He grit his teeth and stood up to keep moving. The ropes on his wrists made his skin chafe. He struggled against them but they wouldn't budge. He could only guess that they put the same restraints on Maggie's wrists. The bag on his head prevented him from seeing anything save the waning light of the moon above them.
He heard something behind him snap. Then something heavy hit the stone road with a thump.
"I'm so sorry about that, love~," the familiar, sultry voice sent a fearful shiver up his spine. The feeling of something sharp lightly tapping his shoulder didn't help, "I tried to teach them to be polite, just like you did. But some of them just don't listen."
Nick grit his teeth and focused on putting one foot in front of the other. He called out, "Maggs? You alright?"
Though muffled, his words managed to reach her, "Yes. I'm fine. What about you?"
"You know it takes more than this to-" he felt the front of the bag get pushed into his mouth. The scent of metal and blood reached his nose. He looked down to see an iron gauntlet covering his mouth.
"Shhhh.~ No more talking.~ You need to save your breath for later," came the same sickening voice.
The gauntlet was removed, but Nick did as the woman said. He instead focused on following where the footsteps took them, while trying to listen for any kind of signal.
He cursed under his breath. Where the hell was Jet? This damn plan was his idea in the first place! Nick's mind briefly traveled back to the Manor where this all began.
----------------------------------------
"You want us to be bait!?" Nick stood up fast enough to make his chair rock. He directed an angry scowl at the mercenaries from across the table, "Are you insane!?"
Blitz and Maggie shushed the young man in unison, both pairs of eyes shifting towards the stairs. All in attendance around the kitchen table went silent. Two minutes passed by before anyone felt confident enough to speak again. The first to break the silence was Jet, his voice at a much more manageable volume than Nick's, "I know how it sounds but hear me out."
"What's there to hear?" Nick straightened his chair before sitting back down, his anger not abated in the slightest, "Your plan to stop the people who are trying to kidnap my sister, is to let them kidnap my sister. Oh, wait, no. That's not it. It's to let them kidnap my sister and ME!"
He points a finger at himself in frustration. Jet rolls his eyes before leaning forward, "That's the first part of the plan. Which you seem to be hung up on."
"Why wouldn't I be? It's basically giving Montgomery exactly what he wants!"
"Not exactly," Jet continues, "After all, Sentinel, Blitz, and I will be trailing the thugs he sends to take the two of you away. We'll stick nearby and, once they reach the fucker that sent them, we'll spring into action."
Jet's fist hit his open palm, a grin coming over his face. Nick, however, wasn't placated. He threw his hands up in frustration, "Oh, yeah, that sounds fine. Oh, wait, no it doesn't! You're saying we should put ourselves in danger with the only solace being that you three may be able to follow after us. Without any of the assholes who kidnap us seeing you. How can we trust that?"
Jet kept his expression neutral. He turned his attention to Maggie, "Maggie, what do you think?"
The girl's head shot up, revealing her wide eyes and floored expression. She floundered for an answer until she shook her head. Taking a moment to center herself, she finally looked up and answered, "I...I just...are you sure Mr. Montgomery would do that? Or that anyone would? I just can't imagine why anyone would do something like that."
"That's cause you try to be a nice person, Maggie," Blitz says while patting the girl on the shoulder from her right, "Being honest, I'm surprised you've managed to survive in the slums for so long. I've been in places like that and they don't tend to be kind to people like you."
Maggie nodded, surprised at the mercenary's praise. Blitz leaned back in her chair with a frown on her face, "Unfortunately, that's also why Montgomery would do something like this. From what your brother's told us, he's the kind of guy who loves to take advantage of others if he thinks he can get away with it. Probably figured you'd be easy to get to because you'd never suspect his real intentions. Now that he can't, he's showing his true colors."
Maggie's face got paler and paler as Blitz continued her analysis. The young girl shook her head and began mumbling, "But why? Wha-how could he..? But then, why should Nick and I let ourselves get taken? Shouldn't we stay here and prepare for them? Protect the children?"
"That's just it, lass," Sentinel continued in place of Blitz, "This plan is to protect the little ones. And this building. We don't know who he's sending, but we can be sure he won't just send some random thugs. Not if he wants this to look like a basic case of breaking and entering. He'll send people who are professional enough to not break too much, leave the kids alone, and get out without a sound."
"I don't see why he would be so careful," Nick replied with a shrug, "He normally is, but if he's as desperate as you're making him out to be, I don't see why he wouldn't just go all out."
"Just cause he's desperate doesn't mean he's lost all forms of sense," Sentinel continues, "He's still aware of the fact that Hunt owns this place and that she has kids here. If the people he hired damage her property or hurt her kids, she'll start tracking them down. And that'll eventually lead her back to him. Last thing he wants is to piss off a Noble from the Order."
"But then why come after us? He's got to know that we're friends with Cynthia."
"He does. And that's why he'll want to do this. His most likely plan is to kidnap you and your sister, drag the two of you to a secluded area, have his way with Maggie while you watch, then send you both back before getting ready to skip town."
"He...he would really do that?" Maggie wrapped her arms around herself as her body began to shake, "He...he wants to-"
"He's not gonna get to! I won't let him anywhere near you!" Nick stood up and ran to his sister's side. He placed his hands on her shoulders comfortingly. She stopped shaking but still held herself while trying to steady her breath. Nick looked up at the mercenaries, "Why can't we just wait and take whoever he sends on here? Wouldn't that give us the advantage?"
"Cause battles aren't exactly clean kid," Blitz pointed out, "Even if we're wrong and he sends the most incompetent dumbasses on the planet, they'll still likely smash the place up while they fight us. We'll try to avoid causing any damage to the property, but again, battles ain't like that."
"And we don't exactly want to cause any damage to the home of one of our comrades," Jet shrugs in agreement.
"And need I mention the fact that the little ones could get caught in the crossfire?" Sentinel jerks a thumb towards the stairs. Nick frowns but doesn't say anything in response. Sentinel takes the chance to continue, "And if the stars align and we manage to take all his hired help out without hurting the kids or breaking any of Hunt's stuff, then we're left with the fact that Montgomery still gets away."
"Even if we do manage to keep one or some of them alive and they talk, Montgomery can just deny everything they say. And we have no proof that he's lying. Even if Cynthia does believe us, the Guards likely won't," Jet finishes for the old mage.
"Why do we need the Guards? Not like they ever do anything when it comes to the slums," Nick pointed out.
"Oh, then I suppose we just walk up to Montgomery and make him pay for what he did. Then when the Guards show up and ask up why we killed an innocent merchant and land owner, we can just tell them that the guy hired thugs to come kidnap you two," Jet points out, "At least with the current plan we can guarantee the fucker dies. He won't do this anywhere that the Guards can easily get to or find. Otherwise he'd get caught in the act and either have to murder a Guard or abandon his plan. Meaning all it'll take is a single crossbow shot and this guy is out of your life."
Jet mimes firing said crossbow at the wall with a smile on his face. Blitz rolls her eyes at her lover before turning to Nick and Maggie. She could see that Nick had started to consider their side of things. He kept biting his bottom lip while shifting his gaze from Maggie to them. Maggie had her head facing the table this entire time, silent save for the occasional shaky breath. Blitz speaks to the siblings, "Listen, we think this is the best plan and we can promise the both of you we will be nearby. This wouldn't be the first time we've had to tail someone without being seen. But, if you two are honestly that against it, we won't do it. We'll have to rush it but we should be able to get a defensive line set up before they show up. So, what do you say?"
The two were silent for five minutes.
Nick began to open his mouth.
"L-lets do it."
The red haired man went silent at the sound of his sister's voice. Maggie slowly lifted her head up. Her body was shaking again, her lips quivered in fear, and she took some time to get her voice back. But she eventually said, "L-lets go with your plan. W-what do we need to do?"
----------------------------------------
Nick was surprised that Maggie had been the one to accept. Surprised and angry. This whole thing was way too dangerous for both of them! Especially when the thugs actually showed up.
He wasn't entirely surprised that it was the Vipers. He knew there was no way they could've gotten into the Pran's main district while avoiding the Guards without help from someone. Make sense that it would be a scumbag like Montgomery. Probably have a deal that he lets them do whatever they want as long as they give him a cut of whatever they steal. He just didn't think they would be doing his dirty work too.
What did surprise him was that...she was here.
"Ah, don't be nervous, Nick~," came that same voice as two gauntlets fell onto his shoulders, "We're almost there. In a few moments, we'll be all alone. We'll have plenty of time to catch up~."
A shiver went down Nick's spine as he heard Sera's voice whisper in his ear. He held his tongue while keeping his eyes forward. He didn't need Maggie to learn about that part of his life.
"Nick? Do...do you know her?" Maggie's question made his body tense up as he walked.
However, he wasn't the one to reply.
"Shut your mouth home wrecker!" stomps made their way to where Maggie was, Sera's voice suddenly filled with anger at the girl, "If it weren't for you, Nick wouldn't ha-"
"Leave her alone!" Nick shouted, dashing forward until he felt his shoulder hit something. Judging by how the yelp he heard didn't sound like Maggie, he guessed it was Sera and straightened himself. He felt two cold metal objects touch his neck and froze on the spot. A tense silence came over the group. The only sound was that of shuffling as whoever he hit got to her feet.
Nick felt something sharp poke him in the chest, "Don't worry, my love. I'm willing to forgive that. You'll see the light once she's outta of our way~. Keep them moving you two."
Nick took note of how many Vipers she said were around them and started walking again. If things went south or the mercenaries couldn't complete their plan...he'd deal with it himself. He wouldn't let that creep do anything to his sister.
They walked for what felt like hours in silence only broken by Sera's occasional "flirting". Nick kept his ears peeled for any sign that Jet, Sentinel, or Blitz were near them. But no matter how far they went, he couldn't catch anything. He didn't know whether to feel relieved or frightened.
Eventually, their journey came to an end. Nick heard a door creak open and then found himself pushed forward. The wind was replaced by stale air with a hint of humidity to it. He was forced onto his knees and soon heard a yelp to his right. The bag on his head was roughly yanked off and he grunted as his eyes adjusted to the new light level. As he blinked the darkness away he took note of where he found himself.
It was a wooden shack that was big enough to hold about ten people back to back. Three torches had been set into sconces on the east, north, and west walls. The roof was a flat rectangle made out of stone. There were no windows, making it so the only light came from the still open door and the torches.
However, as his vision cleared, Nick became aware of something else in the room. Something that made his skin crawl.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Set in the center and bolted to the floor was a single stockade. It was wooden with three holes set into it. The center was just big enough to fit an average sized head, while the two on the sides were clearly for wrists. The floor below it was covered in stains that he guessed were only a couple weeks old. The air was stale and filled with a scent he couldn't identify.
He looked to his left and his eyes widened as he saw Maggie in a similar state to him. She turned towards him, relief and fear warring in her eyes as they each made sure the other was safe. Once he was certain she was unharmed, Nick turned to see who their fellow occupants were.
He saw two Viper Gang Members standing with their backs to the walls on either side of them. They held short spears in their hands and were covered head to toe in dark green leather. Long hoods kept their faces hidden but he could tell their attention was firmly locked on the two of them. In front of Maggie and him he spotted two people that made him grit his teeth.
In front and to the left of them stood Sera. Outside of getting taller she hadn't changed since he last saw her. Same cruel looking iron gauntlets, same tan skin, silver hair, red eyes, and savage look on her sharp face. Three flask filled with a strange white liquid hung off the leather strap she kept looped around her short pants, the only article of clothing she wore besides the cut short white shirt that only covered her boobs. She kept her eyes locked on him, tongue licking her lips while she groped at her own breasts. He turned away from her, both in disgust and to observe the other person standing in front of them.
Brigid Montgomery.
"You did well, Viper King. Or should I say, Queen?" Brigid chuckled, his fat belly wobbling slightly as he did. He was wearing a fancy velvet robe that dragged along the floor as he walked forward. The man stopped in front of Nick, looking down on him with a cruel smile, "Nick Mercer. I'm certain you know why you're here?"
Nick didn't bother answering the man. He just stared up at him with defiance burning in his eyes. Montgomery kept talking despite the boy's gaze, "It's because you made a mistake. You thought you could get away from me. Stop me from taking what is mine. But today? Today you will learn that I always get what I want."
He said this with a cruel growl in the back of his throat. He started crouching to be level with Nick...and Nick took the opportunity to spit in the man's face.
The glob of spittle hit the merchant square in the eye. Brigid jumped back, wiping at the liquid with his sleeve and yelling out obscenities. Nick merely smiled, "Aaawww, don't wipe it off. Made you look prettier. Come closer, I got another one to replace it!"
Montgomery's face went red and he prepared to stomp towards Nick. Sera raised a hand and stopped the merchant, iron claw dangerously close to his fat neck. She looked the man in the eyes with a baleful glare, "Don't. Remember our deal. You get the girl and don't touch Nick."
Brigid looked away from the Viper Queen. He took a moment to compose himself before shrugging, "Right. As you say."
Then he turned a lecherous glare onto Maggie. The girl tried to scoot away from the man but the Viper closest to her pushed her back into position. Montgomery knelt to her level and placed a hand on her cheek. She turned away from him and closed her eyes while he began to laugh, "Not a scratch on her perfect skin. Marvelous. Simply marvelous. Oh, I am going to enjoy you my little Maggie."
"Why?" Maggie sobbed out, "Why are you doing this? Was...was Nick right about you?"
Brigid laughed, "Oh! Wonderful! Such innocence and purity. Even when faced with my true self you still believe that the mask I showed you was real! That, that is why I must have you!"
He grabbed the hem of her dress. Nick moved to push the man over but was forced to the ground by Sera. She bent to his ear and whispered, "No, no. He gets to have his fun while you watch. Then you'll see what a whore your sister is, he gets to take her home, and then we have our fun~!"
Nick screamed in fury as Brigid yanked downward. Maggie's dress tore open revealing her breasts to the air. Montgomery stood up and grabbed his robe-
Only to be forced back as a crossbow bolt pierced his shoulder.
The merchant cried out in pain as the two Vipers ran to the door.
The moment they reached the threshold another bolt slammed into the one on the left's head. He died before he hit the ground. The other found themselves stabbed through the stomach by an invisible blade before having their neck slit open by a quick second slash. He gurgled his last as the sword was wrenched from his torso. Sera jumped up and back, making the third bolt soar over her head.
Nick and Maggie turned to the door. The air began to shimmer and the next second Jet, Blitz, and Sentinel all appeared. Blitz held a bloody longsword in one hand with a dagger in the other and walked on Jet's left. Sentinel was on his right, a purple glow slowly disappearing from the tip of the staff he wielded. In the center of their formation was Jet, crossbow held across his shoulder, and a shit eating grin on his face.
"Hope we're not too late," he said while stepping up to Nick's side. He jerked his head towards Nick then Maggie and his companions jumped into action. Sentinel pulled off the cloak he was wearing and covered Maggie with it. Blitz quickly cut through Nick's bonds while Sentinel did the same with Maggie's. Nick rushed to his sister's side, wrapping his arms around her as she did the same to him.
"It's OK Maggie. It's OK. It's gonna be OK," he repeated while running a hand through her hair. Maggie babbled and sobbed into his chest, her tears staining his skin as she let her fear out. Nick looked up at the mercenaries around them, "But...how did-"
"Magic, kid," Sentinel tapped his staff against the ground as he stood up, "I may be getting old, but I've still got enough juice left to cast a simple invisibility spell."
"You two ok?" Blitz asked while taking up position at Jet's right.
Nick nodded, "I am. Maggie...Maggie's a little shaken though. Cause of that fucker over there."
Nick growled as he turned his head to Montgomery. The merchant was on the ground, rolling around while clutching at the bolt in his left shoulder.
"Aaaahhhh! Aaaaahhhh!" he screamed as blood dripped from his shoulder. His thrashing made his robes come undone, revealing that the man was completely nude beneath his clothes. All in attendance winced as they beheld his hairy, naked body. He sat up and stared at the five people across from him, eyes narrowed in fury. He shouted, "You bastards! Do you know who I am!? How dare you do this to me?!"
He turned his attention to Sera, "What are you waiting for!? Kill them! Kill them all!"
Sera rubbed her chin with her left hand. Her eyes went to Brigid, then the mercenaries, then to Nick and Maggie. She lingered on the two of them for a few moments. Her red eyes met Nick's blue ones. The two stared each other down, a silent conversation passing between them in the span of seconds.
Then Sera turned back to Montgomery. With a viscous smile on her face she told the fat merchant, "No."
Brigid's rage broke.
"NO!?" he got to his feet, ignoring the pain in his shoulder to glare pure murder at Sera, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN!? DON'T FORGET THAT YOU WORK FOR ME! I OWN YOU! I OWN YOUR SHITTY LITTLE GANG! NOW DO AS I SA-
Sera slapped the man hard enough to send him flying into the western wall. The torch above him rattled in its sconce as he hit the floor. He scrambled to his feet, eyes wide with shock at what Sera just did. His hand went to the four bloody lines across his face.
Sera looked at him like he was a piece of garbage, "Don't mistake our partnership, Montgomery. I don't need you. I never needed you. I just thought having someone with your wealth on our side was a nice perk. But I've always been prepared to cut you off if you ever put us in danger. And when I have to decide between protecting you or saving my own skin...it's an easy choice."
She shrugged and turned towards the mercenaries. Jet had his loaded crossbow leveled at her, Sentinel held his staff in both hands, and Blitz had her twin weapons held out in a wide stance. Jet spoke first, "You're not going anywhere. Do you think you could get by us?"
"Oh I wouldn't underestimate me if I were you. This isn't the first time I've gotten away with my back to the wall," she turned her gaze to Nick and winked at him, "I'll see you again, my love~. We'll have our fun next time we meet. It'll be just like old times."
Her hand twitched and Jet let fly. She knocked the bolt out of the air with her left hand and ripped a flask off her strap with her right. Jet shouted for everyone to duck as she threw the flask at their feet. It exploded into a bright light that blinded everyone in the room. Nick closed his eyes while holding Maggie close, Jet and Sentinel covered their eyes, but Blitz struck out with her blade even while her sight was gone. There was a sharp grunt of pain, followed by the sound of footsteps getting farther and farther away from the building.
When the light died down and everyone regained their vision, Sera was gone. However, Blitz's blade had a new streak of blood on it and near her feet was a trail of blood.
"Got her," Blitz said and turned to Jet, "Should we follow her?"
Their leader turned to Nick, "How well does she know the area?"
"Like the back of her hand. If you follow her, she'll either throw you off or set up an ambush. Better to let her limp away for now," the young man said, completely ignoring how Jet asked him something that specific about Sera. Something only someone who knew her personally would know.
Jet narrowed his eyes at Nick, then clicked his tongue. He reloaded his crossbow and then pointed it towards Brigid, who was on the floor with his hands up in a pleading gesture, "What about him? This guy's your tormentor. So, I'll let you decide what happens to him."
Nick looked up at the groveling merchant. His eyes met the fat man's dead on. The memories of everything the man had done came to him at that moment. How he kept raising the rent. How he leered at Maggie whenever he visited and thought they weren't looking. What happened to Veronica. What happened to so many other girls in the slums. And that wasn't even mentioning how he was in with the Vipers.
Nick scowled at the man. His eyes went up the wall...and locked on to the sconce where a torch was hanging.
A cold, determined expression crossed his face. He turned to Sentinel and asked, "Could you light this place up with a spell?"
Sentinel immediately understood what Nick was talking about. He looked up at the torches and hummed, "Could...but it would need to be a big spell. And that could give us away...unless there was some fire lying around."
"Jet."
"I got ya, Nick. Blitz, get those torches down. I'll make sure fat ass over there can't get away," Jet said while approaching the merchant with his crossbow in hand. Blitz said nothing as she made her way towards the first of the torches.
"N-n-no. No. No. Don't do it. I...I have money! Lots of it! Y-You're sellswords, right? Just name your price and I'll-"
Jet silenced the merchant by grabbing the bolt and yanking it from his shoulder. As the fat man screamed, Jet quickly stabbed it through his left leg and into the wooden floor below. Then he shot another bolt into his other leg. As he reloaded over the merchant's screams he spoke, "Yeah, we are sellswords. But we happen to be ones with at least a bit of conscience."
He kicked the merchant onto his back and shot a bolt through his right arm, "Not always. A lot of time we do ignore it for the sake of coin. Especially when we're hurting for food. But if there's one type of person out there we never take coin or jobs from? It's people like you."
He shot one last bolt through Brigid's other arm. The merchant had stopped screaming now. Instead he focused his efforts on trying to pull himself up. But no matter what he did, he couldn't move his limbs at all. Jet picked the man up with one hand as the sound of flames catching on wood reached his ears. He walked him over to the stockade, pushed it open with his other hand, then threw the merchant onto it. He slammed it shut on the fat man, the skin on Montgomery's neck and wrists bulging as he was locked inside. Jet smiled and patted the stockade before walking away from the trapped man. Smoke began to fill the room as Blitz knocked another torch from its sconce. Sentinel took the opportunity to draw the fire from the fallen torch. A small string of fire no bigger than a leash snaked its way from the torch. It hit the walls of the room and immediately started eating away at the wood and supports.
Brigid began to panic, eyes watering as the smoke started getting thicker. He coughed as it entered his lungs trying to find someway out.
But, as he watched the last of the torches drop and the five other people walk out of the building, he knew there was no escape.
The last thing he saw was Nick Mercer's eyes staring at him. Not an ounce of pity was inside them.
The door slammed shut, leaving him in the clutches of the rapidly expanding fire.
Brigid Montgomery, merchant and land owner of Pran, burned to death screaming in a shack on the edge of the slums.
And the only witness was the half waned moon staring down on the rapidly burning building.
----------------------------------------
The three sellswords, Nick, and Maggie made it back to the manor right when the moon reached its zenith in the night sky. Jet walked up to the front door and knocked on it three times in rapid succession. Then he waited for five seconds before knocking three more times.
There was a commotion behind the door. Then it slowly opened revealing Horace with Marcus standing on his shoulders, and Gloria on top of Marcus as she pulled the door open. Blitz was quick to rush in and grab the door, using one hand to stop the children from falling. Jet and Sentinel helped Nick lead Maggie through the door. The girl was still shaken, hands holding the cloak Sentinel had given her close. Her teeth chattered and her eyes were locked on her feet as she slowly made her way into the building.
As the children separated and Blitz closed the door, Marcus ran to his brother's side. He started to pull at Nick's pant leg with a worried look on his face, "Big brother? Is something wrong with big sister?"
Nick flinched at his brother's words. He took in multiple deep breaths before turning to look down at his younger brother. He a forced smile as he spoke, "Y-yeah. She's fine. She just...just needs some rest. So I'm gonna take her to her room to sleep for a bit."
He gently pulled Marcus off his leg and started making his way upstairs. Jet and Sentinel stopped to let him go be with his sister. Marcus made to follow them, but Gloria grabbed him by the shoulder. She shook her head as he looked at her and pulled him into the living room. Horace watched his sister pull the Mercer sibling along before turning his narrowed eyes at Jet. He nodded to the sellsword before walking after his sister.
The three mercenaries let out breaths they didn't know they were holding.
"Well, that's done," Jet said while leaning against a wall.
"Yep," Sentinel said while crossing his arms. His eyes were locked on the stairs where Nick and Maggie just were, "Gonna take a bit for that lass to calm down."
"At least we got there before he did anything too bad," Blitz pointed out from her position next to the door, "But I still don't think we should've let that Viper girl get away."
"Yeah, but Nick was probably right. Chasing someone who knows the terrain better than you is just asking for trouble," Jet points out while stretching his arms towards the ceiling.
"Yeah...we need to ask him about that. I have a feeling he knows that girl a bit better than we think," Blitz said with narrowed eyes.
"Not now," Sentinel turned towards the girl, "If we ask him about it now, he'll probably clam up and never tell us. Let the lad take care of his sister first. Then we can deal with all that shit."
"I have to agree with Sen," Jet jerked a thumb towards the stairs, "People aren't exactly forthcoming with secrets after something like that. Even if it was only a close call."
Blitz nodded then began to make her way towards the stairs...when a knock came from the door.
And along with it a voice.
"Hey, Cynthia! You back yet?"
Jet, Blitz, and Sentinel were immediately on edge. Whispering, Jet asked what they were all thinking, "Did Cynthia hire someone else?"
"If she did, she never told us," Blitz said while moving back to the door. She looked through the peephole to see who was there. Confusion and surprise flooded her as she beheld Guard Captain Felix and two women standing next to him.
"It's the Guard Captain," Blitz said to her two comrades.
"You're sure?" Sentinel asked as he went into the living room.
"I made sure to get a good look at the guy when we first entered this town. Never know when we might need to talk to the guy. He's got two girls with him. Can't get a good look at them from here. Should we let him in?"
Jet pursed his lips. He stepped towards the door and asked Blitz to take a step back. When he placed a hand on the door handle he told her, "Be ready for anything."
She nodded and placed her hands on her sheathed weapons. Jet slowly opened the door a crack. He locked eyes with the Guard Captain and spoke in a neutral tone, "Can I help you, sir?"
Felix narrowed his eyes, "You friends of Cynthia?"
"Kind of. Are you?"
"In a way. Is she back?" Felix leaned to the left, trying to see around Jet's frame.
Jet shook his head, "Not yet."
Felix grunted then said, "Well, mind if I come in? I've got something important to tell her and it needs to be in-person. And I need to bring the two of them with me."
He waved a hand towards the two women at his side. Jet narrowed his eyes at them. They looked...strange. Both were dressed in all black, but one had a wide brimmed hat on with a rapier at her side. The other only had one arm but had a curved sword at her hip.
He looked back to the Guard Captain, "Might I ask what is so important that you need to come inside?"
"Details about how Druella is planning to attack Pran in three weeks," Felix said without an ounce of sarcasm in his voice.
Jet was silent for a moment.
Then he turned around, "Blitz, put your weapons up. We're letting them in."