“Just when I wake up and think, you know he might just already seen all your dumbest moves and you got the other issues out of your system, you commit suicide. Worse you take us with us.” This time it was Anne fuming and my supposed friend Khyon in her corner. This was still about Skulltaker of course although it was the third day already, even if he was here (he was they found the fourth body this morning) Fortunately it was the last missing person, in towns like Wellington there was a fair share of metaphorical ghosts. People whose disappearance would go unnoticed maybe for eternity, maybe until bodies were found. I, not trying to sound even more like the monster we were hunting didn't care. They all died within several hours of each other. The town had a doctor, old Albius, and I have no doubt this upset him very, very much. See, that made me sad in a way. I did not care for Albius in the same way I cared for four to five I made sure were safe that night, and Hana noticed it almost immediately, she was always a smart girl, and not only city-smart. Once I heard her humming the song Orphanages Quire had to learn for some event during my brief stay there. It was a piece of work from some European composer, whose name escaped me, even if I did know it ever, I never revealed that I heard her, it seemed like a private moment. Nor did I ever ask her how she ended up here. In the end, why did it matter? By the sounds next door Khyon, now officially my Eskimo brother, had a rather good time with Sabrina, if The Bull targeted her or him, he'd at least die happy. But considering I had to slip him something in the dring I doubt this could be considered my fault. In my defense, once we called the girls he became as natural conversationalist as a broom in a closet, even prostitutes have some standards. So at one of 100 bathroom breaks I jumped and ran to the blackjack table where Doc Albuis was when I said what I wanted he raised his eyebrows “I never would thought you have such issues, you have a bit of a reputation around here you know?” I shrugged “I'm a freak doc what can I say, now ladies are waiting” I pitched my head toward the still Khyonless table, I wasn't sure he wasn't trying to fit through the window “Oh two at once, say no more.” Old Doc took his big black bag he carried always for emergencies. He took a small bottle and a thin piece of paper placed two small spoons inside and professionally wrapped it. and giving it to me I slid 5$ to him and took a pause thinking. This will be a long night. “Give me a doze of cocaine Doc, make it stronger. Also one bottle of liquid laudanum.” He raised both brows and opened his mouth but before anything came out 20$ entered his pocket. “Coke is for tomorrow so I return lost energy and laudanum is for treating pain from sword and bow wounds.” His brows raise in alarm “You are wounded?” “No, but I will be in 2 days, also too far to get your services so leave laudanum unsigned on the bottle in case certain people get their hands on it.” While he placed my order in the small black bag. I hissed in the dealer's ear “This man comes out at least even or there will be a shortage of hands above the wrist, spread the word.” Dealer glances at my abundance of blades, especially nasty Bowie at my waist, and nods fighting to swallow. I was back at the table and chuck in Khyons drank an entire dose. Quickly stirring it with my finger, I look at Sabrina She shrugs “Whatever gets the train rolling Hak I'm about to doze off. No, you won't” I poured half of the coke in front of her “Quickly now.” As the pro, she makes the line with a male razor she produces from her stocking and sniffs it in a second. I look at Hana and she shakes her head. which was good since the Khyon finally appeared making some excuses, but dust at the split between his hat and the adornment actually confirms my suspicions. He actually DID try to go out the window, half panicking he downed his drink in one gulp prompting the three of us to exchange glances. I wrote “Sorry” on a napkin to Sabrina she philosophically just shrugged and when he was undoing the top button from a certain onset of heat calling for another round she imitated herself destroying that line. Well, she was right, out of all the girls at the premises she was likely prepared to handle blitzed out of his socks Khyon and I tended to believe it. I barely resisted saluting her as Khyon lost basic mental functions threw her over the shoulder and actually teleported both to the top floor running toward the rooms. Out of basic precaution, we took the joined rooms. Hanna chuckled “We are walking, got that.” I couldn't help but smile at the note of authority in her voice “Yes ma'am.” “So, shall we?” I stood up properly pulled her chair back and then offered her the hook of my hand where she rested both of hers, one properly tucked under and the second above, giving a formal pose note of intimacy. We climbed the stairs, and I heard a befuddled patron at the Blackjack table “He just tripled his bet and won for the 4th time, it's crazy.” I heard the old physician say in a slightly superior voice “You just need to know the flow of the cards Nick old sport. I think I'll cash out for tonight.” As he went to take his winnings our looks met briefly and there was a quick wink. Old Fox was old but not a complete imbecile, seeing Khyon's behavior and mine, plus his abrupt change of luck he added two and two together I imagine pretty quickly I touched my hat for goodbye. He continued seemingly still talking about cards, “Flow my old man like blood, says is important. If you were stabbed, it would hurt, and you'd want it to stop come to me and ask for a prescription, and I'd first make sure why it hurts then treat the pain itself. Pain kills one patient out of 30, and inflammation untreated kills 12 out of 30. Just because we wanted to stop the pain without knowing what's causing it, if it's a wound, secondary bleeding, sepsis, chunk of the opponent weapon still inside better to suffer a few more days than die.” “Yeah, and you apparently were liberal with whiskey too let's go find you a carriage.” “Ah O.K. but I'm paying for yours too, cards Devils were kind to me tonight.” Other men chukled “Card Gods Albius.” “Not tonight Nick, not tonight.”

Two in the next room were not really quiet. Hanna chuckled “Did he just try to improvise limerick about his...rudder?” “I'm afraid so. But he's not only to be blamed, didn't she call it “undying flame” like five minutes ago” “Considering how much of the stuff you dumped inside I wouldn't be surprised if she was literal, flame part included.” I gave a half smile “Oy, it's called improvisation for a reason. Let's hope both are fine tomorrow.” Hanna just shook her head moving across the room taking a heavy nightgown staying in the equivalent of a sleeping gown but...much, much more revealing, and took from the nightstand bottle of whiskey I shook my head taking out the second portion of cocaine “I have to be concentrated, and awake.” “Knowing cocaine horny too.” I deflected “And imagine, there you are.” Hanna took a sip of whiskey cuddling in the large chair, tucking her bare feet under her, it made her look almost minuscule “So will you tell me yourself, or will I have to pry it out of you? I will find out anyway why not just save us both grief? You yourself because I know you don't like to be silent, cold type, you do have a villain type but it falls in the chattier category, also you like me.” “Hanna...” “Don't worry I know it's not that type of “like”, you don't have sex with someone that many times as we did, and not figure out a thing or two about them, we have a similar sense of humor, we enjoy each others time, and that's why you here I think. If I married I'd have you be godfather to one of my children. If I stopped working we might still hook up from time to time, but we would never date. Feel better?” “Well hot girl just told me she'd never date me while implying she knows I'm here only to protect her so yeah I'm awesome.” She grabs one pillow and throws it at me “Asswipe.” I laughed and caught the pillow then stood up moving to the chair “What are you doing?” “Making moves at you.” “Yeah, and I'm Snowhite.” “So shut up, you wanted answers and I figured to prevent that chair from eating you” I sat in one corner and there was still enough space for her, like the chair was made for Half-Giants, Hanna laid down placing her touch and lower parts on the chair and made herself cozy on my chest. Giving me a generous eyeful. “Thanks, friend” “With, occasional, benefits. And I'm still working here on your dime, so you actually can kill the night any way you like.” I shook my head “Actually it's HIS dime and it sounds like he's really getting his money's worth.” Sounds from the adjoining room stopped being even close to Human a while back and it sounded like two large primates in heat.” “Now answers.” she was really like a dog with a bone, I sighed “Yeah.” I took a deep breath “People will die tonight, hope is no more than 4. Our forces are stretched at most concentrated places, Roughly around 50% of the people are either at the table, bar, or girls so 2 of us are here. We have all the largest hubs covered, around 80% of people with at least one of us there. A lot of others are home. This is not, his M.O. He'll go for harder kills so fortified places, groups coming and leaving, and warrior-looking folk moving about.” “Thanks.” “Why?” “Fort trying to lie about this, I know you likely tried to make 4-5 people safe, you don't care if 90% of this city burns, but you will lie, so I can feel better, so... thanks.” I was at a loss for words for a few seconds before kinda automatically said “You're welcome.” “Uhuh. Good night.” almost like a cat, she made a place to sleep half on my bed, half on me, and went to sleep leaving my cocked-up mind to jump at shadows. That is what I was thinking during this lecture.

“I said there would be collateral damage, there was collateral damage, and only one of four was, sorta, kinda, if you squint a decent man the rest were pieces of shit. But that is not what buns your taint is it, it's the fact that I told him the truth. That is a real issue. You don't care about the people of the town.” She looked at me, light simmering behind her inhuman eyes “Abso-fucking-lutely true, you endangered the mission.” “I did not.” Anne turned to Santino “Could you...” just to notice he was silently chuckling and likely for a while. Her voice dropped in warmth several more degrees “Could you share the joke, because I don't see what is so funny.” Santino looked at her and wiped a tear from the corner of his eye still chuckling. “Oh, nothing about the situation specifically, just about how the things in general change. As for the situation we're in I agree with Hákon” “What? Are you...” “I agree with the boy too.” Ronald was sitting on a log destroying bottle of whiskey and occasionally passing me the bottle “Well two drunks...” Red came out of the half-dark “I agree with Hákon too, and I don't drink.” Anne looked at the Elf and took a deep breath “O.K. I'll listen. Start” Red shrugged “Who actually met and talked with this... The Bull character.” Only my hand went up “Who worked with him before?” Still, just my hand stayed up “Now, the most important one who saw and heard the discussion between them a few days ago?” Still just my hand. Red shrugged “I could continue, but I don't want to test the endurance of Hákon's hand. I have no idea about this “The Bull” character but Hákon so far delivered every time, none of us know the position he was in. Yet he delivered again in a way we find odd, yes there I'm with you. But he's the only one who ever talked with this person face to face, which I understand is a challenge to do even once. He did it twice, I'm ready to believe he'd made the right decision again. He did not let us down before.” Anne looked at her and sighed before glancing at me “Do you think this will work?” I was tempted to quip but managed to keep my temper

”Yes.” “Red is right you DID deliver so far, and almost died a few times in the process. You earned some leeway...some.” Khyon started “But..” Red interfered “You are more angry you got drugged than anything else, I'd be too. But that is a private matter. Deal with it privately. This is larger than us.” Khyon bit the lower lip and got silent. I almost chuckled but Red then said “Hákon your last rep is due, meet me on the field in five minutes.” Since I took Drow Saber she taught me how to use single-edged curved blades. The saber I took wasn't that much curved so that helped a great deal, but saying that, I have no idea how much worse it would be if I had no practice at all. And now something in her voice told me to run. Still, in five minutes, I was on the practice ground. Saber in my hand. The voice came from my left “It's been a while since I put my neck so far for someone.” Something was off, I closed my eyes and allowed my tendrils to roam. “So you trust that psychopath whose last victim was today drawn from a sewer drain.” “I trust he'll do what he said” The attack came from my back I blocked three times but when I counter-attacked there was nothing there. “Why?” I didn't move Red still used only one sword, which was a significantly large handicap. Her two Shamsirs were not only more curved, but she could kill me with one of them whenever she felt like it. That is how it felt. But not tonight. She still fought handicapped, with only one sword, but this was not practice. I felt movement on my right and I blasted the area around me with fire, feeling movement on my left. I caught the blade with mine and did not let it go. She tried to disengage, but the spine of my saber followed. Then I stepped in the only way of retreat, and her viciously sharp blade went through the front of my right leg like it was not there “OK you proved...” Aether bolt caught her in solar plexus, and our swords were still entangled, I led her blade to my left leg, and as before, the damn thing was so sharp I felt nothing as it cut through my artery, except seeing blood spurt nearly 5 feet. She was mortified, but not for long as I blasted her 30 feet into the wall. She was out, now Coup de Grass, I blasted fire from my forefinger, and blue flame cut an inch into the stone until it was next to her neck. Done. I carefully laid down and closed my eyes when I heard “Oh you dumb fuck, you dumb, dumb fuck, open your eyes.” I peeked it was, naturally, Khyon applying the Arts to fix my left leg and normal medicine to the right one. Both of his hands were bloody to the elbows. “Check her out, I wasn't gentle.” “As fuck I will, you will just fall asleep again.” I grunted and the healing lights showed up in my hands I placed them at the wounds. “Now go and check her out!” “You will keep that going?” “Yeah for as long as I can, so feel free to hurry.” He went away and I allowed for healing to do its stuff. What she did was odd, especially after her public support, I understood this was some sort of test, and I also understood I took it too far but I did not like being manhandled. I held my own against The Bull, I sure as hell wasn't to back off now. My palms started to go numb, I had enough juice left, but I was more of a burst user. Healing and stuff like that was more like a marathon, it tested endurance more than power, I didn't like it and I did not use those disciplines often. Now I was paying the price for it, I shut my eyes and concentrated. “You are an idiot.” Red was next to me she did not look too banged up Khyon did his job well as always. “You decided it was a perfect opportunity to test me.” “Not test you in killing yourself.” “You are better than me, I had to think outside the box.” She shook her head and removed my hands placing hers “I'm getting sick of patching you up.” Khyon returned, by his wet hands and absence of blood it was easy to guess he was on the basin. He got next to my right leg and nodded to Red “I'll finish here, you concentrate on dumbasses artery.” “Love you two shower upon me really makes me warm and fuzzy.” Both snapped at the same time “Shut up!!” after some 15 minutes it was done. And Khyon sighed leaning back while Red stood up “I'm knackered, I'm off to sleep, try not to think “out of the box” too much.” “Yes, doc.” She threw a rag she used to wipe her forehead and hand to my face and left. Khyon sighed “Being your friend is a literal and unending nightmare.” “Well, it does have its ups and downs.” “Name me on up,” “Want me to recite the limerick you composed about your dick last night, I clearly brought out the artist in you.” “Open your mouth again and I'm breaking your jaw.” I chuckled laying on my back, unwilling to test walking yet. “Your stunt better not be compromising tomorrow.” “What's tomorrow?” “Your next to last job for the rifle.” I raised my eyebrow “One you called easy one.” “Comparetivly.” “Well, don't keep me in suspense.” “We are escorting one Elven dignitary from one High house to another.” “What does that have to do with spotting job, and the rifle in general? And don't High Houses have their own guard?” “Spotting, none. Rifle plenty. It's not like it will always be used like a Sniper with all benefits on your side. This tests versatility, how will it perform if surprise attacked, and does not know in advance what components to use in advance. As for the guard, this is a secret mission. Unmarked carriage, standard crew outside. I as the gunner and driver outside, you with our charge inside. Keep both Hand Crossbow and Helen ready, I suggest a larger-than-usual amount and variety of enchanted ammo.” I glanced at him “You expect something.” He was silent for a moment “Call it a gut feeling, we are undermanned for this job if things go South as they tend to.” I thought for a second “Can you get me more of unpoisoned, garden variety bolts for Hand Crossbow?” “Sure. Why?” “I don't see why I couldn't enchant them too, same as bullets, it's probably even safer, no gunpowder to worry about.” He smiled “And three explosive bolts shot in one press of a trigger...” he started “...could do something about our “undermanned” problem.” “You are getting another quarrel with 20 brand spanking new bolts.” I grinned “This might be fun.” He kicked my shoulder “It would for you...fucking psycho.” But he was grinning from ear to ear too.