Bounty-ful

"I think the four of us together can handle it..." Thea said, "We are not exactly easy to defeat ourselves..."

"While that is true, to not take every precaution possible would be foolish." Ephraim said, "One man or no, he could still be a problem."

"yes I agree," Thea said, "but at the moment we are meant to be discussing whether or not we will accept the trade, not what we will do to stop the man. We will probably need more information for that..."

"It's rather dangerous," Aurelia warned.

"But I think we've got to go through with it," Kestrel said firmly, "We've got no other way of getting what we need."

Aurelia shrugged slightly, flicking her hair over her shoulder with one hand.

"I wasn't suggesting that we turn her down, only that we need to be careful."

"Exactly my thoughts" Ephraim agreed, "we'll need a plan, but that shouldn't be too hard to figure out. It seems as though we agree on what to do, so how do we tell her?"

"I've got some ideas," Kestrel said, walking over to the door, unlocking it and yanking it open. Akiralta was leaning against the wall casually, only raising an eyebrow at Kestrel's abrupt appearance. She sauntered inside, closing and locking the door behind her.

"I take it you've reached a decision?"

"I believe so, yes," Ephraim said, "and I doubt you don't already know our conclusion, but on the off chance you weren't listening to every word, we agree to your arrangement."

Akiralta tapped the wall.

"Anti-listening spells, didn't you see? No matter. I'm glad to hear your decision."

Kestrel held up a finger.

"With a few changes. Our job is tougher--and more dangerous--than yours. So I propose we split the difference between the two jobs. Extra cash for the harder job."

Akiralta looked slightly pained.

"I might have to make it up in services. Cash flow is a problem for me right now. But we can decide the specifics later. Let's trade information."

"Information is always useful..." Thea said, "why don't you begin?"

Akiralta reached into her jacket and pulled out a handful of neatly-folded papers, which she tossed on the table.

"Maps, schedules, and lists of known Marid assassins. It's possible they contracted out, but I doubt they'd trust a contract assassin when sensitive information's involved. The mark is staying in a tenement on the west side of the city right now. He only leaves to get food and look for a buyer for his information. His stops are marked on the map, starred where he stops most often. The next sheet is his schedule. I've also marked down all of the Marid assassins that work out of Gron Graston and aren't currently occupied. I've got a star next to the assassin that I've seen in the mark's neighbourhood. I'm guessing that the assassin will have his location inside of two days, so you'll have to move fairly fast. A lot of the alleyways near the tenement would be good for an ambush, but that works both ways. Any questions?"

Thea slipped the map away from the rest of the papers and began looking over it intently, tuning out everything else in the room. After a few moments, she put the map back, having gleamed everything she could get out of it.

"Useful." Ephraim nodded appreciatively, "And is this information permanently ours?"

Akiralta shrugged.

"I have copies. And it's of limited use, since I'll be moving him after you retrieve him anyways. But the Marid assassins list is mine. If they get wind that I have it, they'll either shake up the ranks or send all of them after me, and even I can't hide from that."

Kestrel cleared her throat.

"And as for Ghom Warden, the only information we have is from a man who works on the docks, name of Tolltaker, and the information on the bounty board."

"I can work with that," Akiralta nodded, "Anything else you folks need?"

"I was, of course, asking after the assassin list, but no matter." Ephraim shrugged, "beyond that, I think we're good."

"I'll leave you to it, then," Akiralta said, saluting the group, "Stick around the area and I'll find you when I get back. You've got the room for another ten minutes."

With that, she headed out the door. Aurelia sighed.

"Well, seeing as we're locked in to an agreement, we'd better get down to business."

"I agree" Ephraim said, "we're going to need a plan if we intend to take down an assassin."

Kestrel mulled over the maps for a few minutes and then frowned.

"I think I'd prefer going for a stroll around this area rather than planning just from maps. It's hard to get an idea for the heights and such. Anyone else interested?"

"sure," Thea said, "I think that is a good plan."

"It's a good idea, but it would probably be best to split up and take different areas in pairs. That way, if the assassin is watching, it'll be less suspicious." Ephraim said, "right now I propose two of us go and look at the first few places while the other two stay back and start developing a strategy. Once the first pair has seen enough, they come back to a headquarters, which I presume will be the ship, and the other pair heads out. This way we reduce suspicion, constantly increase intel, and always have a strategy being developed."

Aurelia nodded. "Good idea. I propose that Kestrel and Thea go first, since they'll seem less threatening to anyone watching the area. Ephraim and I can go later, taking more of a stealthy approach. Any objections?"

"Sounds fine to me," Thea said, "however, I do wonder what I should appear like..."

Thea tried several variations of a young girl, before settling on a very plain looking girl, wearing average clothes, and carrying a small basket.

"Perhaps if we look as though we are going to market?"

"That should work well enough." Ephraim agreed, "you two should go scout out the more open areas now; Aurelia and I will look into the alleyways and possible ambush spots later. Now," he said, turning to Aurelia, "do you wish for me to walk in front or behind on the way back to the ship?"

Aurelia stretched, yawning slightly.

"Oh, I don't think it will make much of a difference. Walk wherever you will."

In the meantime, Kestrel nodded to Thea.

"I like the disguise. But I doubt that area's where respectable people go to market. We might need to look a little down on our luck."

Which, Kestrel reflected, isn't too far from the truth for me.

Thea shrugged as her appearance changed, and her body became sickly thin looking, with hollow cheeks, while her clothing became ripped and muddy, and hung off her body as though it had fit a long time ago when she had been better fed.
"Better?" she asked, sounding tired and slightly ill.

"Eerie" Ephraim commented, heading towards the door, "and yes, certainly poorer." Once he reached the door, he turned to Aurelia, bowed his head, and gestured towards the threshold.