Chapter 99

"I'm sending you out of the city for a while," Sabine announced as they entered their room at the Prancing Cockatrice. Seated in a chair, she was cleaning her blade.

"Is that really necessary? We're right in the middle of an investigation. Speaking of which, did you learn from the man who was waiting for us here? " Tobias asked, his voice stern yet confused.

Riley could feel his worry mixing with her own, making her paws tingle upon the stone.

"I learned that you've got a two-gold bounty on your head that was set from within his organization. Other than that, things are too compartmentalized for him to know anything more. In any case, he won't be anyone's problem anymore, but it doesn't solve the issue at hand," she replied, her tone cold and matter-of-fact.

"You killed him?" Riley asked, fearing the answer.

"I didn't actually, but he might wish he was. While you two are out clearing some bounties for me, I'm going to trade him back to his bosses, well, what's left him. I might just be able to get in front of this," she replied.

"What business do you have with the underworld?" Tobias asked.

"We've had dealings from time to time. We serve the Ashenrealm, and sometimes that means getting your hands dirty. This little war that Chadrick started is bad for business. It's straining my contacts and putting my operatives at risk. You're not effective if you're constantly looking over your shoulder," she replied.

"But what if there's another murder in the meantime?" Tobias pressed.

Sabine shrugged. "Then it's another chance to catch the perpetrator. We've already got twenty-three dead; what's one more?"

Riley balked, "That's cold."

"That's life, Ranger, people die. Frequently, they die in unpleasant ways. We're one of the few that stand between the people and that unfortunate reality, so you better get comfortable with the fact it happens," Sabine lectured.

"I understand death happens, but that doesn't mean I'm going to become calloused to it. It's not nothing. Every one of those victims was a person!" Riley challenged, her ears heating in anger.

Sabine smiled sadly. "Hold on to that as long as you can."

"That's bullshit. At some point, you made a choice to stop caring. I don't have to make the same one," the hare drummed her hind paw in defiance.

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"You're right, and if you can manage it, you're a better Ranger than I am, speaking of which," Sabine drew out her coin purse and counted out eight silvers.

"What's this about?" Tobias asked.

"Riley's back pay. Neither of you works for free," she replied.

"Wow, I never expected to be paid," Riley admitted.

"You are entirely too innocent for your posting," Sabine shook her head, staring at Riley with a type of concerned wonder.

"I'm not innocent. I'm principled," she countered.

"Principles or not, it's eight silver! Riley, pop it into your inventory before Sabine changes her mind," Tobias prompted as the older ranger grinned.

"Either way, limitations will get you killed," Sabine lectured, shifting in her seat.

"How long do you think it will take to get the heat off us?" Tobias set to pacing as a wave of jumbled emotions hit Riley.

"Who knows, but you being seen in Ashenvale isn't going to help any of us at the moment. I need time to work my connections and see if I can't leverage things in our favor or at least shift things back to neutral," Sabine explained.

"Do I still have time to see the Abbot and maybe get Riley's armor? We can move with stealth, but there are preparations I'd like to make that may help us survive," Tobias said, wearing new grooves in the floor.

"Provided you can do it without being seen, and otherwise base out of here, I'm willing to give you a few days," she replied.

Tobias nodded. "Ok, that's fair. Do we have a secure runner that can go to the Castle for me and make the inquiries with Justinian?"

"I'll see to that myself tomorrow; otherwise leave me a list of what you need, and I'll see it's acquired." At that, Sabine rose and sheathed her sword.

"I'll have it by the morning, and you may want to post more guard. We spied another assassin around my parents' house," Tobias replied as they each clasped arms.

Sabine pinched the skin between her eyes. "I've only got so many I consider reliable, but I'll see to it. Why didn't you handle this yourselves?"

Tobias looked towards Riley. "We didn't want to give away the fact that we were operating in the area. If we killed them, it would be the equivalent of sending up a flare that my family was a viable way to acquire me. I didn't want to put them in the crosshairs by acting impetuously."

Sabine considered his words. "That was good thinking. Right now, they're fishing. Two gold is a lot for anyone below the first tier which is ample incentive. The best thing you can do is not be seen, which is why I'm sending you out of town."

"Perhaps we'll wait to meet with the Abbot then," Tobias replied.

"It's probably wise. We'll meet again tomorrow, and then I'll have some bounties for you to chase. We'll coordinate further from there after you're supplied," she said, leaving and shutting the door behind her.

Tobias sighed, moved over to the desk, and began working on a list.

Riley hopped after him. "You're all jumbled up inside."

"People are trying to kill me; one of them showed up near my family, and for all the power my title is supposed to give me, I feel like things are burning, and I'm in want of a bucket to pitch water," he replied.

"We'll face it a day at a time. We've got Sabine, we've got each other, and I just netted a salary. You'll feel better after I get you a jaunty hat like Justinian's." Tobias looked at Riley before laughing quietly.

"I don't think I have the ego for a jaunty hat, but thanks," he reached down and fuzzed her ears.

"Is it weird that I'm looking forward to hunting monsters for a while?" Riley asked.

"Considering our lives lately, it will be less stressful," Tobias sighed before setting to work on making a list.