The tall yinnish figure moved swiftly through the night shadows. Carefully trading its current dark patch for another, darker, space to lurk in. Drifting swiftly, yet imperceptibly, to the resting room of the Church of Austinian. Quietly it moved to a corner where it would not disturb any of the sleeping visitors, it gathered itself inside it's cloak and breathed a sigh of relief.
A sleeping yinn of the other side of the room stirred. The shadow sank deeper into the corner, hiding deeper in the depths of the dark material of her cloak. The tall, brown furred man sat up, sniffed the air, and quietly stood, gathering his white robes around himself, he carefully walked towards the shadow, picking his way precariously through the sleeping visitors; a few stirred, but none woke. The priest approached the shadow, and for a second it seemed as though his god, Austinian, was there beside h im, and with a wave of his hand a small ball of light appeared in his palm, casting a dim light in to the shadowed corner. The shadow lowered her hood quietly, and smirked wearily at him, golden fur glowing in the pale light. The man smiled briefly, then changed his look to one of concern.
"What are you doing out at night like this?" He asked, "It's not safe at all." He sat down beside her.
*much to close*
*the night, not safe? Maybe not to children and priests of good, but for me?*
*be grateful, fool, he does not question your place or abilities, he only expresses concern... be flattered and touched, not insulted, show him what you can reap from a dark night...*
The shadow reached into her cloak, and withdrew a small bag, plump and jingling with spoils of the night. She spilled a small number of the rings it contained into the priest's hand.
"Collecting earth rings." She grinned proudly.
*gods be! Don't let him ask how I got them, don't ask! Don't ask!*
He didn't.
The brown furred man chuckled lightly, and placed the rings back into the small bag. He gently placed his hand on hers. "Still, you worry me sometimes, you shouldn't go out alone...
*you think you can protect me from the night, priest? You are too late.*
...like that."
"I keep myself in one piece." She smirked.
He grinned, " You sure?" and poked tentatively at her cloak, as if expecting her to crumble and fall apart. She nearly did, the gentle touch tickled. She quietly giggled, and allowed him to pull her into a warm embrace.
*lost*
He ran his short claws gently through her golden fur, undoing a nights worth of tangles.
*let go*
She playfully nipped at his ear.
*I can't*
He smoothed her fur and looked down at her, love shining about him as if he was a follower of Taliena, she looked up at him...
*gods, I want to look on you with love*
...she looked up at him, gently, kindly, but a strange anxiety burned in her eyes.
*gods be, Lioness, what do you have to fear here?*
She buried herself in his warm chest.
*comfort, sleep, dreams, bad dreams, memories, bad memories*
*so much I don't dare tell you*
She was in Shalonesti, among the elves. They eyed her suspiciously, Austinians' symbol or no, to some she was still yinn. A small gift from Rhea, the leader of the elven clan, dangled on a chain from her wrist. Safe from harm in the green city, but not from the suspicious glances of it's inhabitants.
It was there by the river that the monk had appeared beside her. An important man from dae'Tok, on some business about a portal. His presence had caused much controversy among the clans and kingdoms, and she had hoped to avoid him, and his party, completely.
*Damned Serpent-eyed mannie probably knows what you are*
She smiled weakly at him.
*Probably knows who you are too*
He spoke to her in yinnish, she let he ears fall back in spite of herself, she disliked the language now, having spoken elvish and common for so long,
*memories. Bad memories*
even though the tidings were good, and kindly spoken.
*I despise you, and the blasted empire you try to run, do you hear me mannie?*
She returned the greetings, in common. He looked at her in a dubious and curious fashion, eyeing her dangerously he asked, "Lady, have you any sons?"
*dreaming still, memories come*
*what did you mean, Demegant? I have no one. my brother, how fairs the Arctic Bear? brother, yes, son? no. Arctic Bear Tygereye. Tygereye... the Guild, my family. My family, oh Gods be, the Tygereye, they seek to destroy the Guild, they seek to kill my brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters. They have been relentless in their search, they have found me, they will not rest till it is in their hands!*
She awoke, ears burning, and sweat dampening her fur; wide-eyed in horror.
*Brother! Little White Bear, they will kill you to bring me, and it, to them*
*They torture you so greatly now that I can hear your screams in my sleep*
She quietly stood, Blackblade stirred, but slept on. For a moment she gazed at him, brown fur gently painted in the light of the morning sun. Sadness, confusion, and worry danced on her brow.
*Has the path of good been as easy as it looks for you, Priest? Why do I listen to the voices in the night at times? Why do I dare to answer their challenge? You are right, I shouldn't go out alone at night*
*I only wanted a piece of the action*
Taking inventory of herself; filling a water jug, and tossing some left over food in her pack, she walked towards the door. With quick, silent, movement she drew a small, silver dagger from deep within her dark cloak. It spun on her palm, perfectly balanced, and the light caught the small tiger-eye gem in its hilt; glittering and sparkling, watching the world.
"Unfinished business at the guild?"
Caught off guard, she quickly replaced the dagger in her cloak, looked to the door way in which the slight figure of an elf was silhouetted in the morning sun.
Biting her lip, shame almost appeared on her face for a second, but was quickly replaced by purpose. "Yes, I have to go, they mean to harm my brother, and all of Guild Tygereye."
Belegar looked at her with concern, "You are an Austinian."
"I am still Lioness."
He looked on her with a strange mixture of pride and disapproval. "Then do what you must, but remember us and your home here. I have no doubt "they" remember you all too well." His eyes met hers, staring deep inside of her, his concern was not just for her physical safety, but her soul's as well.
She returned the gaze,
*you found me, you saved me, I am not going to throw myself away like that again*
"I won't forget." She untied her horse, a huge Clydesdale, one of the few breeds of the southern lands that could carry a yinn. Lioness turned back to her elf friend, "Belegar?" She bit her lip thoughtfully, "Please, don't tell Blackblade where I have gone, I'm not sure he would understand. I doubt he even has heard of the Tygereye, even in tales."
The elf mage nodded, and Lioness mounted the giant horse. Without a backward glance, she spurred him off into the morning dew.
*Memories. Bad memories*
*Painpainpainpainpainpainpain!*
"...You found her a the bottom of the gorge?!..."
*Pain! Dreams, bad dreams*
"...Yes, she was being pursued by three uniformed ones..."
*Dreams. Bad dreams. Memories. Bad memories. Run! Pain!*
"...They caught up with her, and demanded something from her..."
*Run! Memories. Bad memories. Run! They have me, but they can't have it! Pain!*
"...She refused, and jumped off the clift..."
*Falling... . . . Kantilles, don't let them find my body, don't let them take it! Pain!*
"...I can't imagine anyone surviving that fall, its unnatural..."
*Pain! Dreams. Bad dreams! Survive what?!*
"...I think she is a mage or something..."
*Kantilles, gods, pain! I am dead*
"...She wears a symbol of Kantilles around her wrist..."
*Theef magic is strongest under a full moon*
"...Kkutk! The Mage save a yinn?!..."
*I am dead. Pain! I can't open my eyes*
"...It is quite possible, there is no reason why a yinn can't choose to follow the path of Good..."
*No good can come of this corpse. Burn me well, and bury the ashes, no trace of it must be found*
"...The path of Good? I give you a reason! Villages destroyed, thousands killed!..."
*Yes, killed. I am dead. Pain! ...but the dead don't feel pain*
"...Keska, it is highly unlikely this particular yinn had any hand in causing the wars..."
*voices?*
"...No!? Well kill it before it causes a new one! The Empire wants her dead, she wants herself dead, kill her, put her out of her misery before she becomes one to you, Makkkit Belegar..."
*yes, kill me. End the pain, I still live*
"...Enough, Keska..."
*voices of the living?*
"...but Rhea..."
*the living are speaking strange words*
"...Enough, she wakes..."
*pain! I can open my eyes. pain!*
"...Srys burn you both and the dog, Sikkevikk!..."
"Kill me." The pain was maddening, everything hurt. Bad smells assaulted her nose, and slowly, painfully, she opened her eyes. What she saw terrified her; two furless beasts staring at her, and another sulking in the corner of the small room. Lioness screamed, but no sound came; she couldn't move to protect herself, she could only whimper, "Kill me."
"I will do nothing of the sort." Said the white robed elf mage.
*Heh, stubborn old friend*
*You aren't joining elf cousins Rhea and Keska in the elf clan?*
*No, I am an Austinian. I have been appointed to set up a church south of here*
*Heh, I go with you, you need help, eh?*
*Really? You truly want to join?*
*Best offer I've had in a while, eh friend?*
*I will enjoy your help, friend*
*Daylight*
*Damn portal, makes yer mind fuzzy*
The Clydesdale wickered nervously, apparently he disliked the passage through the portal as much as his passenger. They stood just outside the yinnish capital, and Lioness breathed a nervous sigh.
*Collect your wits, they probably are expecting you*
She nudged her horse into a walk; joining in with the traffic along the road into the city's main gate. She rode quietly past the gate guards, neither of the young men made any move to stop her. One even beamed her a hopeful looking smile.
Inside the city, little had changed from how she remembered. Buildings tumbled and rebuilt, due to age or battles fought over the city, still sat in the same efficient layout that had been in place as long as the yinn could remember. Her horse plodded along through the maze of streets, his ears would flick nervously when others would pass him by; he had never seen so many yinn before. She turned him from the main streets, and on to the labyrinth of alleyways in-between buildings and walls. Few people dared travel these streets unescorted, even during the daylight. The alleys soon became completely devoid of life, save the scurrying of rats, and other vermin. Around a bend, in the midst of this wretched, diseased part of town was a dirty inn. The windows were boarded up, and the roof was badly in need of new shingles. The air smelled of smoke and grease.
She dismounted, and let a dirty furred stable boy lead the big animal to whatever served as stables.
*Gods, I hope I get done here before his hooves rot in those wretched stalls*
Tossing a couple gold at the boy she smiled and said, "Take care of him for me, eh?" With a wolfish grin and a nod the boy smiled, and lead the horse off.
Lioness took a deep breath, and entered the fine establishment. The insides reeked of the awful food, and the strong drinks served to a smelly, dirty clientele. She glanced around the room. With the glance she took in everything; people, exits, hidden rooms, and she slowly drew back into her cloak, into the safety of shadow. However, as she noticed, she was perhaps over dressed, and the keeper of the inn was quickly crossing the room to intercept her. A nervous man, but it was understandable, he had been catering to the underside of society too long not to be worried about something.
He eyed her dark cloak nervously, "May I help you, ma'am?"
"Dunno, am looking for someone." She glared at him, as a wicked smirk passed briefly on his face. She had the feeling she was about to hear the innkeeper's attempt at some form humor.
"Hrmmm., lots of people by that name here, to which Someone are you referring?" The man's smile disappeared as Lioness reached into the depths of her cloak. Out came her silver dagger, she spun it lightly in her hand, letting the tiger-eye catch the dim light, and quickly replaced it into the depths of her cloak. The innkeeper started breathing again, and pointed towards a niche hidden in the back of the room. Lioness nodded, smiled, and disappeared in to the shadows of the inn.
The table was occupied by two men. The large black furred one sat facing the room, keeping an eye on the door. The other was younger, rather skinny, and yellowish with black spots of dye painted on his pelt to resemble the fur of a spotted hunting cat. She approached the table, the black-furred one's eyes momentarily widened in surprise, but was quickly replaced by a stern gaze that had seen it all. The spotted one turned in his chair and unabashedly gaped in disbelief. He tried to compose himself; however, youth, excitement, and curiosity still bounced in his eyes.
The black-furred one spoke, his words harsh, and full of misery. "So sister, you aren't a ghost after all."
"Heh, you never were very good at following up on your victims. I remember running into more than one the day after they were assassinated."
"I don't think you came here to talk to me about the undead corpses you like to date, dear." He words reeked of sarcasm and displeasure.
"Don't talk about yourself like that, Puma," the young man piped in, "I know a really cute Necromancer, I bet she could revive you, or something."
“Cheetah...” Puma rubbed his forehead as if in pain, shot his bright companion a glance that could snuff a fire elemental, and gestured for Lioness to sit down.
“You see what I have to work with now," Puma spoke to her almost kind, conspiretal manner, "it is no wonder you were overlooked." Another glance at the spotted one, and it was answered with a shrug.
"Puma, I've come for Arctic Bear." Lioness's voice ached of worry.
"Keiichi." The name was spoken without feeling or regret. Her brother's given name, the one he had before he joined the Tygereye.
"Keiichi?" Lioness roared in disgust, "Why did you have him disowned?" The levity of a few minutes before was gone, she let her eyes burn holes into him. Puma became still colder.
"Wasn't worth the risk, he was a lousy thief, and his connection with you was endangering the entire guild."
Ears back in fury, Lioness's patience was shot, "Are times so bad that the Guild can't even protect a simple boy!?"
The leopard spotted one placed a calming hand on her shoulder, "Lioness, they killed Lynx."
*Lynx!*
Lioness sensed the furs rise on the back of Cheetah's neck, the younger man shot Puma a worried glance. The black furred yinn stirred and cursed, "They come," he muttered, "you two get out of here, I will sit and wait for them."
"You sure, Puma?" The leopard-spotted one looked at him with concern.
"No, curse you Cheetah, make like the spots and run, get Lioness outta here." Puma spat, distressed.
Cheetah stood, beckoned to Lioness, and together they slipped into the shadows, out the back, and into the street's sewer drain.
"Gods be, this place still reeks." Muttered Lioness as they traveled down the sewer system, through tunnels and secret doors; a maze of foul smelling slime.
"Getting soft in your plush new day job, Lady?" Cheetah sneered.
"I have endured far worse in the employ of my "plush" day job than I ever did in the Guild. Now where is Keiichi?"
"Stubborn. I would think you could guess that yourself."
"Oh, I have, I just want to hear you say it." Lioness snapped.
"Say what?"
"That you used him for bait, to bring me back to help you out of whatever this mess is you fools have gotten the guild into with the Serpent eye, and the governments. Well, I'll tell you now, I am here for Keiichi, whatever the rest of this mess is, its not my concern. I am taking my brother and leaving." She glared at his back as he lead her through the twists and turns, letting her eyes drill holes in his back, where she would lift a dagger to him.
*Not in that business anymore*
The young man spun around and stood before her, ears back, his face the confused mixture of sadness and fury, teeth barred, eyes tearing in frustration.
"Our mess!" Cheetah exploded, causing Lioness to back away, startled by the outburst. "Our mess?! This isn't our fault, its you and Lynx that fouled us up. You and whatever it is the pair of you stole to frighten them so! They thought they killed you, and didn't find it, so they went after Lynx, and every Tygereye that got in their way. Now Lynx is dead, and they found out you are still alive and well down south, playing with the elves, while the rest of us are up here dying for you!" The young man choked back a sob and continued, "The Temple of the Serpent eye has Keiichi now, probably playing with his mind to bring you out of the wood work, so your gonna have to help us, whether you like it or not!"
Lioness stood, taken a back for a moment, she frowned thoughtfully, "I know," she whispered, "I know, and have pretended not to care. I wish I didn't care, I had hoped to leave this life behind, but I can't." She rubbed her forehead in thought, and Cheetah placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry." He said, unsure of anything else to say to her now.
"No, it's not your fault," she looked up at him, eyes glittering with determination, "I will get the Guild out of my mess, I am still Tygereye, it is the least I can do, but it must be done my way, I don't want anymore deaths on my hands." She absently fingered the symbol of the Austinians that she wore around her neck.
"Agreed. Lioness, what is it? What is this thing that everyone fears and wants so badly?" The younger man looked at her, projecting an all to familiar mixture of horror, frustration, and curiosity.
*What is it?*
Lioness's hand clenched a small vial hidden deep with in the folds of her cloak.
*What is it? Gods, young Cheetah, I have asked that question before*
*Lynx? Dead?*
*Memories. Bad memories*
*you have been accepted into the school of the Mages, daughter, be proud*
*you will fight for our clan and country, just like the rest of our kin*
The young white robed apprentice walked down the abandoned city streets. Her golden-furred face scrunched in a permanent scowl, she wandered the alleyways lost in thought.
Then she heard a woman scream, "My child, they are trying to poison my baby!" As if on cue a child's wailing howl began to echo thought the streets. Following the sound, the apprentice turned the corner into a fray. A woman huddling over a baby, a man in the robes of a monk from the temple of the Serpent-eye, a pair of weasely looking officials from the local government, and two very confused police officers; all stood snarling and yelling in confusion. One of the officials was holding a small vial of a white powder over his head, which the monk fiercely grabbed at and pried from the official's hand.
"What is this treachery!?" the monk bellowed, examining the powder. Before the official could come up with an explanation, a new figure appeared to add to the confusion.
Clothed in black, the man ran into the fray, stabbing the monk in the side with a dagger, he grabbed the vial from the surprised man's hand. The police, who were totally befuddled into nonaction before, came alive and jumped the black cloaked assassin.
"Killer!"
"Thief!"
"Protect the innocent!" With that they wrestled the assassin to the ground.
Admist the confusion, yelling, crying and finger pointing the tiny vial fell unnoticed to the ground, and rolled its way slowly to where the young apprentice hid, watching the fight.
*what is this?*
She quickly picked up the vial and stuffed it into her pouch; she ducked quickly out of sight and down the alley. Only to turn the corner and run into another black cloaked man.
Not particularly tall or strong, the thickly grey-furred man flicked a strangely tufted ear in amusement, and smiled.
"It seems, little pincheress, that you have finished the job my foolish son bumbled." He held a hand out to her, "I would appreciate it if you would hand the vial over to me."
She bristled, "I have no idea what you are talking about."
"Little apprentice, you are a lousy liar, and a worse thief, now give me the vial, please." His tone soothing, hypnotic, and unconcerned.
"I have no idea what is going on here, but whatever is in this vial is dangerous, and I have no intention of just handing it over to the likes of you." She called a few of her cantrips to mind, preparing herself for the worst.
The man looked nonplused, "Clever girl, very well, name your price then, I will reward you handsomely for your work." He withdrew a plump bag, and gold danced on his finger tips and flashed in his eyes.
"What is it?" She demanded, horrified, frustrated, and curious at her new found power, "Who are you?!"
"Please child, allow me to purchase that from you, you will find that my offer is much better than most. Be assured, they probably saw you too, and will be after you soon." His robe fluttered in a passing breeze, a small gold and red symbol of an eye was embroidered on his collar. Faint footsteps, and the monk’s furious voice calling out to them could be heard in the breeze.
"Give me a little gold, and toss me in front of the wolves who hunt you?" She snarled in fury at the man.
"Please, I don't particularly take pride in the assassination of stubborn young women." A dagger like the one used by the other assassin danced on the grey-furred one's palm, in it was set a single tiger-eye jewel.
Her eyes lit up; footsteps and agitated howls getting closer by the second, she glared into the deep green eyes of the old assassin, "I finished your son's job, and demand his rank and place in the Guild." She said in a level, threatening voice.
The man gasped in disbelief, grabbed her by the collar and whispered, "Come with me, child." He ran down the alley a few paces, the foot steps of the angered monk sounded louder. The man pressed a brick into the side of a wall, and a slate on the ground moved to reveal a ladder leading down into a dark tunnel. "Hurry, down!"
The golden furred apprentice needed no urging, they dove into the hole, and a hidden lever shut the entrance, cutting off the light of day.
*when will I see that light again?*
The man lead her through the dark mazes carved from the sewer system and the rock the city was built upon. The deeper they went, the better maintained the tunnels became, till finally they stopped in a room of sorts, lit by a single torch. Green eyes studied her carefully, "I don't think you know entirely what you are getting in to here, so I give you another chance to get out."
She sighed as if the entire world was crushing her, "And do what? Become a nobody mage in a nowhere army, ripe for the slaughter in the next wars the Glorious Emperor or my clan get themselves into? Really, this is the best offer I have had in a while."
"Interesting, clever child of mine, and what is your name?"
She opened her mouth, but the man covered it with a finger, "No," he whispered, eyeing her golden fur, "You are Lioness Tygereye, and I am Lynx." He flicked his tufted ears and made a little bow, "Welcome to the Guild, child of mine, however, for your own safety I will have to teach you a little "theef magic" before I introduce you around to your new family."
With that he withdrew the small vial from his cloak, Lioness gasped, and he handed it back to her.
"What is it?" She examined the vial carefully, puzzlement and curiosity lit her eyes.
"Theef magic, little one; a little trouble, a little insurance, a lot of dangerous secrets." He put a fatherly hand on her shoulder, "Come, daughter, I will share this little secret with you."
*gods be, I hate public speaking*
*I am not a leader*
*Kantilles, may your theef magic convince them*
*may you convince me too*
"It is an inhibitor." Lioness stood in the center of the den's main hall, deep underneath the surface of the city. The only light came from several magic balls of light that floated in the air above her. Around her, a large assembly of thieves, assassins, task-mages; her guild brothers and sisters, whispered nervously amongst themselves. "I cannot claim to truly know exactly how it works, or how it was even originally created, perhaps on the other plane. Only the monks perhaps know all of it's secrets, and they are not particularly forthcoming in their answers, if you can imagine."
A lone chuckle wafted through the hall.
*well... at least one of them won't kill me right away*
"The best I can explain it is that it reacts somehow with the physical body of the manationic, making it impossible for them to react with the other plane that they seem to draw from.
*or maybe I have it backwards, perhaps they lose their ability to react with this plane*
In other words, it renders them completely neutral, helpless to outside influence. In addition, it has no ill effects on non-manatonics." Eyebrows lifted, ears perked, whispers continued, one spoke out.
"You say this powder is perhaps from the other sprit plane itself, tell me, how is it possible to create more of it?" A skeptical, greedy voice.
*a ripple in time*
*if only you knew*
"Through our studies of the powder, we have discovered it is crystalline in nature. When added to water, it will dissolve, and then restructure itself in a greater quantity than before, gathering whatever energy and materials it needs from the air. The new, bigger batch seems just as effective as the previous one." Lioness's voice hid her inner horror at how this data must have been obtained.
"So lets just dump it in the temple water supply and be done with them, once and for all." Waves of dangerous agreement echoed through the gathering.
"A very possible scenario, however, I do not wish for it to come to that." She replied, "I will not have that many deaths on my hands."
"Why not? They care nothing of our lives, let us end it now while we still can!" A desperate plea.
"I have long controlled the secrets of this most deadly venom, and I will continue to decide how it will be used." Lioness groaned to herself, tired of the questioning and posturing she was being but through. “The Temple of the Serpent eye is a dangerous enemy, but could make a powerful ally in the new government.”
"I suggest you agree to the Lioness's demands, they are the best deal you will have." It was Puma's voice, harsh and tired, that rescued her. "The monks and keepers of the Temple of the Serpent eye are formidable opponents, with or without their mystical powers."
Puma turned to her, drained from his talks with the monks, but still life and determination flowed from him, "They come to bargain with us tomorrow on a number of issues and disputes, we need to decide a course of action now." He looked at Lioness expectedly, he was wearing a patch over where his right eye should be. He had managed to hide the wound from her under his cloak, his remaining eye sparkled at her with kindness, regret, and loyalty.
*my show... he knows what to do, but it is still my decision*
*I hate decisions*
She nodded at him, and he quickly withdrew a map out of his bag and unfolded it on to the table in the center of the room. A marvelous work of years of scouting and intelligence work, the highly detailed drawing showed the insides and surrounding areas of the Temple of the Serpent eye. Various high ranking members of the family closed in around the table, and Puma began his plans for the infiltration of the monk's home.
"Tonight we will make as much of the inhibitor as our laboratories can. Before day break two groups must infiltrate the temple complex. One must take their place at the head of the..." Lioness listened half heartedly to Puma's invasion plans, she would not take part, but she trusted him not to deliver the poison to the water supply unless she ordered it. The possibilities and power she held in her hands frightened her.
*new memories. Bad memories*
*gods save us, we only wanted a piece of the action*
*keep this*
*what for? You'll need every bit to fix the water should we come to...*
*it won't come to that, but the one you will be speaking with will need... convincing*
*Puma, I can't do this*
*you can, please Lioness, its for your own safety, I don't want you killed again*
*you did a lousy job of it last time*
*and I hope to repeat the performance*
Brown fur, dark robes, arrogant eyes. The aged monk stared across the table at her with a displeased scowl on his face. The bickering between them up till now had been pointless, petty, like the sounds of someone who was hiding something, or stalling for more time. He had a small entourage with him, most had been forced to wait outside, but they had brought Keiichi in with them, and made a good show of their cruelty to him. Lioness pretended not to care. Fine wine was poured into a pair of golden wine glasses for them. A symbol of hospitality for the monk, as symbol of danger for Lioness.
*so, he is stalling, after all*
*we will be invaded and killed unless he is stopped*
He looked at the wine distrustfully, as if it might bite.
"Distrustful of your gracious hostess? How rude." Lioness reached for his goblet to take a sip from it.
"No," he batted her hand away, and smiled wickedly, "I choose my own tester." He gestured to Cheetah, who was standing off to the side, watching the monk and his entourage carefully. Cheetah, without worry or hesitation, stepped forward, and took a respectful sip from the goblet. Ears perked in curiosity, the monk, apparently convinced, drank from the cup.
*Kantilles, I never wanted to use your magic like this*
"Your guild has quite an interesting list of demands, an especially long one for a guild so out of power." The monk eyed his papers, and smiled smugly at her, taking a sip of wine to wet his dry mouth.
"We have provided numerous assistances to the current government in obtaining its power, as well as the power that your order currently holds in the Empire. Even you could not have missed the mysterious disappearance of several key opponents? We mearly ask suitable payment for services rendered."
The man chuckled, "I have also noticed the mysterious disappearance of a number of key proponents, how would the Tygereye care to explain that?" He glared at her with contempt, his eyes where turning red and irritated.
"They were late in their payments, as the Temple of the Serpent eye is now, it would be a pity for us to have to foreclose on you too." She smiled sweetly, "In addition to the demands given to you by Puma, I expect my blood-brother, Keiichi, to be returned to my custody."
The monk stood and pounded his fists on the table, toppling his now empty wine glass.
*is he shaking? He doesn't look well at all*
"He will be returned when you return the item to me!" yelled the monk.
Lioness looked on him with pity, "I already have."
Dry nose, bloodshot eyes burning; the shivering monk howled in fury, and attempted to end the life of the one called Lioness. He could not.
The monk lunged across the table at her, but was stopped by Cheetah and another bodyguard. A young man from the monk's embassy burst into the room, perhaps just discovering his own powers himself, he looked at the sight of his master in horror.
"The Temple reports intruders, they believe it's the Tygereye." He reported to the his master, staring at him in fear, horror, and confusion.
Week and vulnerable, the monk turned to Lioness in horror. "We will kill every last one of them." He whispered in a garbled voice, blood draining from his muzzle.
"They are instructed to drown themselves, and the poison, in the Temple water supply systems should this deal not go through to our liking." Lioness reported matter-of-factly, trying not to think of what she was really saying. "You will find them perfectly loyal to the Guild, it is unlikely you will find them anywhere but floating in the water."
The monk looked at her madly, then glanced at Cheetah, who was still standing beside him, in case he tried another physical assault on the Godmother Tygereye. "Yes, yes, perfectly loyal to Lioness Tygereye." he chuckled to himself and muttered madly.
Lioness glanced at the young monk in training who, like the rest of his group, was held transfixed in horror at the transformation of the once proud, handsome, older man.
*gods be, what a horrible thing to watch*
*they did the same to my master and brother*
*this will never end, the boy will attempt to do the same to me*
*please understand me! I don't want to fight anymore, just peace with you and your kin!*
She looked at the monk pleadingly, "Spare your oath brothers and sisters this torture, agree to Tygereye's terms, please." She felt sick.
"All... is agreed to. Tygereye can... continue it's... business ventures... just destroy the p.. poison.. all of it." The man gasped, coughing up phlegm and blood. Lioness took the vial from her cloak, and poured the small remainder of the powder in her possession into her last swallow of wine. She drank it quickly, assuring that never again would it be used against another.
*Austinian's music dims*
*gods forgive me*
"Very good my daughter, you have served me well." A familiar voice echoed through the hall, Lioness spun and her jaw dropped in horror, looking upon a ghost.
"Lynx." She gasped. The gathering broke into the murmuring of voices; the crime lord held up a hand, and all was silent.
"Yes, child, you aren't the only one who can fake their own death, you know." The small, gray man flicked his tufted ears in amusement. Tygereyes and Serpent eyes gaped alike at the mysterious man.
*I didn't fake my death. I tried to commit suicide and failed*
*instead of me, everyone else dies*
"You bastard." Lioness snarled at him, "What are you doing? None of this was necessary!"
"Of course it was, my dear. Tygereye was getting accused of having something we didn't. It was rather bothersome, and in truth even we thought you dead; till we heard you mentioned in one of Demegant's mission reports to shut the portal. A very naughty thing for you to try to do, my pet, you know I like to keep opportunities open. At any rate, since you evaded all my scouts, and I still needed your vial, I decided to kill two birds with one stone."
Lioness raised an eyebrow at him.
"I needed the vial to finish this deal, and to test your loyalty, my child."
Lioness laid back her ears in shame, and spun away from him. Her eyes fell on the monk, who lay shivering in the fetal position on the floor. His young apprentice sat beside him, trying to relive his pain. Her tearing eyes then glanced across the room in to the shadow. In horror she saw another, resting against the wall, his eyes shut in pain, spotted fur hidden in the dark.
"Cheetah!" She rushed over to him, and propped him up against her, his body strangely light and weak, "Oh gods be, not you too."
Cheetah looked up at her, adoration and admiration glistening in his young eyes, "Perfectly loyal to Lioness Tygereye." He gurgled, and shuddered. Lioness closed his eyes, gently covered his face with his dark cloak, and turned to face Lynx.
"You see, clever child of mine, the Guild is perfectly loyal to you, I had to make sure you were still perfectly loyal to it." He smiled his infernally calm grin.
Lioness glanced around the room in disgust. "I am an Austinian, I am taking my brother and leaving." She announced, and walked over to where her white-furred brother sat, tied, dirty and beaten.
"That you are, my child, and a wise one, you solved this problem with a minimal amount of bloodshed, not necessary the course of action that would have most pleased the Guild, but they will thank you later for that." Lynx continued to talk, but Lioness didn't hear him. She finished untieing her brother, and helped him stand. Looking around the room where Cheetah's corpse now lay, and the shivering monk lay ready to join him, "Two deaths, is still two too many." She spoke sadly, and slowly lead her limping brother to the exit.
Lynx called out to her, almost desperately, "I gave you a chance to get out long ago, daughter, you are stuck with us now, you can't turn your back on your family!"
"No." She whispered, "I can't."
As she walked out of the room, she passed the monk and the boy, the young man looked up at her with sadness and confusion.
*this isn't over, Assassin*
*I'm sorry*
*we all want a piece of the action*
*memories. More bad memories*
*Tuefry says I am only a pawn of the gods. I hope he is right, for right now it seems I am a pawn of something far worse*
*You'll be back, my daughter, you can't turn your back on your family*
"Lioness, I'm still hungry." Keiichi, Lioness, and Blackblade sat in the Church of Austinian.
"Here, allow me," Blackblade closed his eyes a moment and uttered a short prayer. A number of mushrooms appeared on the floor near Keiichi.
"Wow, neat!" Keiichi collected the mushrooms and practiced tossing them in the air, and catching them in his mouth. He had only moderate success.
"You never told me you had a brother, Lioness." Blackblade looked put out.
She smiled at him, and gently touched his face, "I guess I am sometimes a little absent minded when it comes to family." She leaned over and gently kissed him.
*memories. Good memoires*
She stood, "I better go get Keiichi some earth rings, it looks like he could use a bit of wisdom on eating efficiently." She shot her brother a playful smirk as a wayward mushroom bounced off his muzzle.
As she was leaving, Belegar, who was working on enchanting a sword called her over to him. He looked at her with concern. "Are you okay?" He asked her softly.
Lioness sighed and thought a moment, "Yeah, I guess I just needed a reminder of how important my family here is." She smiled thoughtfully, and looked across the room at Blackblade.
She looked on him with love.
- Jessica Lynn Freeman - 9-26-97