"And if I had not come along you would now be dead?" Dryn laughed, the tone was mocking.

"No matter, now to the task at hand." Dryn turned looking past Uthar. "Is this the lady to cause our diversion?"

When Uthar had looked out the window and turned suddenly and bolted down the stairs, Jade called out to him.

Sensing that he had not heard her she peered out the window to try and discover what Uthar had seen.

A lone man was surrounded by some strange looking men asking questions, Uthar charged out and killed one man taking the rest by surprise.

Jade covered her mouth with her hand as she watched the short battle play out. When it was all over Jade quietly walked down the stairs and out to the alleyway.

I looked up at the woman and grunted before searching the last body.

"This is Jade, she agreed to our proposal."

Once I has finished I pocketed the coin purse and got to my feet, heaving up the body onto my shoulder I began walking deeper into the alleyway. With my other hand I grabbed a hold if the wrist of another corpse and began the slow wrestle of dragging them into the darkness.

Dryn followed suit before scooping some of the ashes into a small vile and spreading the rest on the winds.

Dryn watched them disappear and began dragging the other body into the shadows. “Jade, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Has Uthar filled you in on what you are to do?”

*

Jade glared at Dryn. “Somewhat, but I fail to see why I would help two murderers. Those guards were just doing their job.”

*
Dryn studied her for a moment. “Everyone is a murderer, whether through intentions or committing the so called crime.”

Dryn sighed wearily. “It is a loss, but necessary in the long run, I fear they all may had died in the days yet to come, which is why you and Uthar have to help me.”

*
Jade frowned. “What is he talking about Uthar?”

I gave a solitary, strange laugh and turned to face them.

"No I don't, but it's beginning to sound more like my own predicament."

Dryn smirked. "Could be that our destiny's are to intertwine for the time being, it could be the documents I have to recover and your ambush in the forest are connected, but we wont know till my employer has them.”

“Now, Jade, Uthar. We have to act fast, no doubt that this scuffle has been heard, others will come to investigate. You two cause a scene to distract them, I wont be long.“

Dryn bolted to a building covered in vines and began steadily climbing. When he reached a window ledge he crouched on it and began picking the lock on the window.

*

Jade looked at Uthar as Dryn began his clime. “Well… Your friend sure is odd.”

Glancing down the road Jade noticed shadows of people coming down the path. “What’s the plan then, Uthar?”

Without time to thoroughly think out a plan I simply went with the first thing that came to mind.

"Just act naturally."

I slapped her cheek, not viciously but enough to leave a mark and gave her a powerful push into the street. Slowly I walked out after her, clenching my fists, allowing my muscles to bulge and acted as menacing as possible. I found it hard to create the emotion artificially but my scars, my sword and my pure, white hair were not a comforting sight to behold in normal, day-lit circumstances. Hopefully it would be enough to convince them and draw in their attention.

Jade tumbled out into the street, her eyes glared at Uthar before softening as she understood.

Some towns folk stopped what errands they were doing to watch as they saw a large man step out after a woman and strike her.
Some of the younger lads pointed Uthar out to some guards.

Uthar recognized the face of one guard, the younger soldier at the gate.

The man crossed his arms, while smirking. "Well well well, if it isn't the stranger causing trouble."

I snorted,

"I payed good money, and yet this whore tried to scam me. In my land I would be allowed to carry out justice as I see fit."

All lies but I assumed that he would not know better.

The man frowned. "Well this is NOT your land, so your rules don't apply here."

Jade looked up at the man. "Don't get involved John."

The man called John looked down at Jade for a moment and drew his sword. Looking back at Uthar, John readied himself defensively. “Under the laws of this land I place you both under arrest.”

I scoffed; genuinely humoured by the innocent remark. I placed my right hand behind me a gently embraced the leather of my sword's handle.

"Do not be stupid. Surely you do not wish to travel to your gods yet, fool."

From above Uthar and John was a startled scream. When they looked they caught the last moments of some poor soul’s last living moments.

A shadowed figure stood holding a man by his neck over the ledge of a parapet.
The man was fair haired, with a muscular build wearing nobleman’s clothing.

His oppressor was cloaked, hiding his face, but it was apparent he had minor wounds. Deep cuts in his leather armor showed fresh blood, and he was breathing heavily.

With one last look into his face, the mysterious cloaked figure let go of his burden.

John gasped as the nobleman let out one last fearful scream of terror, and was silenced with a sickening crunch of bones breaking onto the cobbled streets.

Passing Uthar, John knelt beside the corpse. “Who was that man?”

From above Uthar and John was a startled scream. When they looked they caught the last moments of some poor soul’s last living moments.

A shadowed figure stood holding a man by his neck over the ledge of a parapet.
The man was fair haired, with a muscular build wearing nobleman’s clothing.

His oppressor was cloaked, hiding his face, but it was apparent he had minor wounds. Deep cuts in his leather armor showed fresh blood, and he was breathing heavily.

With one last look into his face, the mysterious cloaked figure let go of his burden.

John gasped as the nobleman let out one last fearful scream of terror, and was silenced with a sickening crunch of bones breaking onto the cobbled streets.

Passing Uthar, John knelt beside the corpse. “Who was that man?”

Glancing to Jade I gestured with a nod of my head, and mouthed the words 'Go'. Facing the guards and taking a step back I uttered in a helpful tone,

"I do believe that that was your duke."

John stood and glanced to where the shadowed figure used to be, withdrawing a key from his tunic, John opened the door to the duke's home, hefting his sword he entered the dark, seemingly empty home of his master.

When Uthar mouthed the word "Go", Jade stood and hid a short distance away in an alleyway to watch.

*

Dryn crouched on the ledge and withdrew his pick-locks, Uthar and Jade were starting to draw a large crowd.
Soon Dryn heard the satisfying sound of a "click" as the window became unlocked.
Storing his picks back in his belt pouch.
Dryn, cautiously and slowly opened the window, checking to make sure it wasn't too loud.

Once inside Dryn got to work, carefully searching the premises for the documents.
A small strong box caught his attention, removing his lock-picks once again, Dryn tried to unlock the box. Eventually he opened the box, after breaking two of his picks.

Inside where many papers and a small coin purse. Though Dryn was tempted to steal the coin as well, he shook his head and rifled through the paper scanning for the documents, he cam across a leather folder with a strange rune imprinted on it.

Opening the book, Dryn sighed with relief.

"I've been waiting for you."

Dryn froze, and looked towards the sound while slipping the book into his cloak, there in a doorway was a nobleman with a sword drawn.

Dryn drew a dagger and a knife from there sheaths.

The nobleman laughed. "So, you are the infiltrator my spy's told me about, you wont live long, and I will take much pleasure in killing you."

Dryn smiled slyly and launched his knife at the man, barely blocking this the nobleman lunged forwards. Dryn blocked easily, but paused as he felt a surge of power from the sword.
The nobleman laughed as his blade flashed about Dryns body.
Dryn parried most but several of the attacks got through his defenses drawing blood.

Finally Dryn sank to one knee.
The nobleman took a step back to prepare for a death blow aimed at Dryn heart.

Dryns eyes flashed, the nobleman's blade started to descend.
With a grunt Dryn stood and caught the nobleman's hands, the tip of the blade nearly touching his chest.

with one fluid motion Dryn disarmed the man and grabbed him around the neck, the man's eyes grew wide. Dryn waled over to the window and held the man out over it. the man let out a shriek as Dryn tightened his grip.

With one last look at the noble Dryn let go, and watched as the body hit the ground.

Quickly Dryn climbed to the roof and began jumping from house to house, when he was a good deal away, he climbed down and made his way to the inn.