The no man's land that was Fyrcon Nysos ran some eighty-four miles long. The land was covered by thick jungle and tall mountains that ran from the coasts to the center. There was something about this island. Some strange primal feeling she couldn't place as if nature itself was warning her to stay away, a warning she seldom heeded.
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Raycene walked the top of her ship, the beautiful island periodically stealing her gaze. A salty sea breeze and morning sun greeted her skin and the sounds of seabirds and sailor shanties filled her ears. The familiar and unfamiliar on-deck crew sang and nodded to her as she passed. She stood next to the fat Gresani man that had served her father for years.
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"Can we port here, Tannor?"
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"Ha, tell me where you see a port," Tannor said.
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"Drop anchor then, whatever its called," she said with a wave of the hand.
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"We can't land here, this island is full of gray fang lizards, the big ones with the venomous bite."
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"We can outrun some lizards I'm sure," Raycene said with a smile.
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"That's how they get you, they bite you and let you run off to die then a hoard of em' come along and feast on your remains. Once one sinks its teeth into your flesh you never stop bleeding, well at least not until you've bled all you can bleed."
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"That sounds like a horrible way for one to die."
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"Between them and the sabercats, I think there's plenty of horrid ways to die on that island."
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"Isn't this island too hot for a sabercat?"
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"One would assume but it is not. Don't go getting any ideas now, one sabercat on this vessel is more than enough."
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"Alright then, how far to the nearest city?"
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"We should be to Aeos come nightfall, Ray."
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"How long would it take if we were to push straight for Jhyr?"
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"I'd wager another day and a half, Ray. But, word is, Jhyr's ports aren't open, they're only letting their recognized merchants and citizens into the city. They're preparing for something."
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That Qabari peacock of a prince probably alerted the bitch of Jyhr long ago, she thought. "Viel then? Siren's song?"
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"We can try there, Ray but war is brewing, let us be quick so that we don't end up in the midst."
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"What's the matter Tannor? Scared of a little warfare?"
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"- Ships ahead! Ships ahead port side!" a crewman shouted.
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In an instant, her ship was alive as the men readied and rushed. Raycene looked to her left at a cove full of empty and unmoving ships. Ray counted some twenty-five ships, each with their black sails down, rocking and swaying on gentle waves.
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"Where are the crew? Who would leave a fleet this large unattended?"
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"I don't know," Tannor said running his fingers through his thick beard. "It's not a good omen, I can say that much. Best we leave before some sea she-demon sets upon us."
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"Yes...we should leave."
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"Perhaps Aeos isn't the worst idea then, Ray?"
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"Perhaps. I'd prefer to restrict our sailing for the day anyway, no night war for me."
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The sky had grown dark well before they reached the port of Aeos. The crew had fallen asleep shortly after porting and Tannor fell soon after them. Raycene stretched her legs on dry land and began to wonder about the paved streets of the city. Even in the dark the tan-stone buildings looked proud, crowned with beautiful blue roofing that ran from port to palace.
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Raycene found the walls of the buildings to have better fingerholds than any she had ever known. The roofing was not slick even in the face of humidity and sea breeze and she found that the roofs were so close she need not jump between them as a step would suffice.
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The streets were all but empty, the only was that of the moon and occasional brazier. Only the city guard roamed, caparisoned with spear and hoplon; clad in silver muscle cuirass' with pale blue cloaks that followed behind them. They walked through the streets at will and without formation, laughing and drinking.
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These men need to train with the Aran guard and learn some discipline. Shame nothing interesting is going on here. I should tire myself out tonight and sleep while sailing. What is there to see in Aeos? The menagerie? The lighthouse? The shark shore? I suppose I could see something of interest at the menagerie.
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Her rooftop flight was short-lived, she arrived at the small fort in the center of the city in only a few minutes. The two guards below chatted below, their weapons carelessly placed aside, as they switched shifts, unaware of Raycene above them. It was as she watched them from above that she realized she was not the only one with eyes on the soldiers.
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From the shadows of an adjoining alley a pair of golden eyes peered at the men, they had not yet seen it but it surely saw them. The eyes drew closer to the firelight and out from the shadow walked the largest wolf Raycene had ever seen.
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It's the size of a tiger! she thought in awe.
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The men didn't notice the black beast until it was already upon them. The man it leaped on didn't have time to scream, only his companion cried out as he watched the wolf bite down on his companion's throat. Before he could reach his spear a shadow emerged from behind and was on him, cutting his throat.
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The wolf lapped at the blood from the soldier's throat that it had torn out the man's dying squirms and kicks did nothing to deter it. The fire unveiled the woman that was the shadow, her ebony skin absorbing the light as she crouched to search the soldier's bodies.
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An Alorian? How did she get here there were no Alorian ships in the harbor.
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Her thoughts were cut short by strong arms that reached out from behind her. One hand covered her mouth the other tried to lift her. Before her mind could think her body moved. She reached up and behind herself finding her assailants head. In half a breath she threw him over her shoulder, drew her bow.
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"I see someone has improved her reaction time," the voice of her brother, Matteo, whispered through a small groan.
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"I almost killed you! What are you doing here!?" she harshly whispered through gritted teeth.
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"Give me a moment sister, I'm a bit winded," he said rolling to his side.
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Raycene delivered the hardest kick to his buttock that she could muster. "Get up!"
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"Hell on earth girl, that hurt!" he said in a loud whisper.
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"Why are you here? I'm not splitting any money with you!"
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"I'm not here for money, though now that I know you're being paid-"
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"No, Matt I'm not sharing."
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"I suppose we can figure that out after we deal with her," Matteo said rising and pointing.
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Ray turned around to find the shadow standing behind her, bloody kamas in each hand.
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"Hail friend," Ray said in the Alorian tongue.
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The shadow girl gave no movement.
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"Can you speak Gresani?" Ray asked in her mother tongue.
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"We are not friends. I speak many languages, my favorites are death and money," she said in the common tongue of Thacian
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I like her.
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"I saw your skill below, it would be a shame for two female warriors of our caliber to face-off like this."
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"A shame for you perhaps."
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"There's two of us and one of you, Alorian."
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"I assure you I am not alone."
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Raycene jabbed her brother with an elbow. "Perhaps we can leave this roof on peaceful terms, we're all foreigners in this city so you have nothing to fear from me."
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"Your sigil, you're the famed fanged assassins, the ones that strike fear into the hearts of petty nobles everywhere. The notion is rather funny don't you think? Your fame, given your line of work."
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"We prefer the term mercenaries," Matteo corrected.
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"Mercenaries huh? So you're here on a contract I take it?"
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Neither Ray nor Matt gave a reply.
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"Tell me or don't it doesn't matter; what does matter is the price it would take to hire the two of you for a...side mission, of sorts."
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The siblings glanced at each other, each smirking.
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