And Then What?

[Suzaku]

Suzaku crouched behind the building as a night guard walked by. It was a quarter moon and there was little light. He brought his hand back and gripped the hilt of his blade. The Night Crawlers had an large network of communications; informants and spies all lay in wait for orders to come in. Apparently one couldn't handle the pressure and blabbed about the group. Suzaku was purifying the group of any unwanted traitors.

He turned the corner and picked open the door lock. Shadows danced around the corner as another guard was making his way, torch in hand. Suzaku quickly pushed the door open and silently closed it behind him. The home was dark and quiet, no moonlight shined in through the windows. He walked quietly heel-toe, gripping his blade in it's sheath.

He walked across the room and entered the open bedroom where a small candle was about to go out. In bed laid a man, asleep. He stepped next to the bed and pulled out his sword. He covered the man's mouth, but he awoke frightened and trying to push Suzaku off.

"Shh. The Night Crawlers send their regards." With that, Suzaku pierced the man's throat, still muffling his moans and screams of help. Once the kicking and struggling stopped and it became apparent that the man was finally dead, Suzaku wiped his blade on the man's blanket and sheathed it.

[Suzaku]

Suzaku was running between the trees as he escaped the large village. The man had apparently informed the guards and they were watching the entire time, albeit reacting rather late. Suzaku cursed his foolishness. He should have known the man would be expecting trouble. His shadow and those of the trees lay in front of him as the guards chased him, holding their torches. An arrow whizzed by his arm, followed by another and another. Suzaku cursed again.

An arrow pierced his right arm, the blood oozing out. Suzaku screamed and cursed. He pulled out the arrow and broke off the arrow head, throwing it back at one of the pursuing guards. The arrowhead struck him in the gut and he toppled over in pain.

His arm was in pain, the arrow hurt him and throwing it back didn't help the arm. He had to think fast or he'd lose too much blood too quickly. He turned his head quickly to count the guards. Two... the other one must be tending to the injured one... From his leather gauntlet, he pulled out both his throwing knives, wielding them with both hands.

He quickly used his momentum to push himself up a tree in front of him and clamored up the branch. Once the torch light was below him, Suzaku dropped down onto one of the guards and stabbed his knife into his neck. The other guard flinched in surprise and Suzaku threw his other knife into the man's chest. He unsheathed his blade and stabbed the fallen men again. He quickly grabbed his knives and put them back into their hiding spot. He started running again.

[Suzaku]

It was early dawn by the time Suzaku had entered the small string of caverns leading to the Night Crawlers fort. The fort was small so the caverns were necessary as both storage, passage and dorming for all the men. He limbered through the secret cave and upon reaching the fort called for a cleric. Injuries were a common place among the men and Suzaku was no exception. He's gained himself a number of injuries and scars while working with them.

A cleric quickly ran up and healed the wound, healing it completely. Suzaku nodded to the man. "Tell the boss I'm here." The cleric walked off to the upper part of the fort. After a few minutes a large burly man came walking towards him. He had a large axe strapped to his back and two more hand axes strapped to his thighs.

"Suzaku. The cleric tells me you were injured." The boss said.

"Just an arrow. There were guards chasing me. But the job's done." The burly man nodded and scratched his chin. From his pocket he tossed Suzaku a small coin purse.

"There's your payment. I'm assuming you're ready for another job?" Suzaku thought for a second and nodded his head. "Good. We've just received word that a number of weeks ago, a former member of ours made himself known to Marquess Santaruz. Some time prior to that we lost a major.... debt collector and his small entourage. They worked as part of our networking. We're not sure if the two cases are related but I want you to handle them both. The first takes priority. His name's Balthier. He's a mage." The burly man walked back from where he came.

Suzaku sighed. He grabbed some loaves of bread and tossed them into a small sack and made his way back out the caves.

[Suzaku]

Suzaku had left the fort a number of hours ago and was making his way towards Santaruz. He spoke to a contact in a village a while back, Balthier was apparently held hostage and was due to be hanged but a small group came in and rescued him. Suzaku would speak to Marquess Santaruz.

He approached the looming gates of Santaruz and stared up at the guard. "You. I wish to speak to the Marquess. Tell him A night emissary is here." The guard seemed to panic a little and dashed off to the main castle. Suzaku smirked. They knew what it meant.

He slowly entered the city and looked onward towards the castle. A small regiment of troops were walking out with a man behind them. He seemed worried, jitty. "Um hello. How may I help you?" He was twiddling with his fingers and looking around worriedly. Suzaku laughed.

"I want to know about someone who escaped your grasp a number of weeks ago. He goes by the name of Balthier." The Marquess's face turned pale. His face began to drip.

[gabbiano]

Gabbiano sat cross-legged on a roof, snacking aimlessly on a piece of hardened bread. His journey to Santaruz was short and fairly easy, and he also enjoyed observing the impressive skill of a thief who had recently entered the city... Gabbiano smiled.

With his expert ears, he received the name Balthier, and a chill was sent down his spine. Balthier was here? he thought to himself, and then wondered what was being discussed about his apparent sibling. This isn't good...

Quietly, Gabbiano descended the roof onto a balcony, then swung down from it's bars, landing nicely on his feet at the street. He retreated into an alley, where he could better hear the discussion. The main that had entered the city, the fellow thief, seemed malicious. Moreover, the Marquess seemed to be a little on edge upon being asked about Balthier... and Gabbiano was curious.

[Suzaku]

In his peripheral vision, Suzaku noticed a figure hide in the alleyway nearby. He smirked and continued talking to the Marquess. "Tell me. What happened? Where was he going?"

"Um...uh....he was traveling with the remnants of the Ostian army. In exchange for their lives, he gave me his. However... a small group rescued him. I don't know where he was going or if he is still with them." He shook his head and wiped the sweat from his brow.

Suzaku thought for a moment. "Interesting. Is there anything else you'd like to tell me?" He had heard about the Ostian survivors. They had fought back some of the Night Crawlers during a scouting mission. Not only was their plant killed but they have a number of strong-willed, able-bodied men among them. They were a threat. But not part of my objective.

"Th-that's all I know." He gulped loudly and continued to sweat excessively, even his guards were worried. Suzaku nodded and turned around. He glanced into the alleyway and smiled.

"Well then. I'll be off. Thank you for your help my lord." He started off towards the exit walking at a slow pace.

[gabbiano]

Gabbiano smiled. Never before had he seen such ability to strike fear into the hearts of officials, especially by doing things such as simply... talking to them. Gabbiano clearly admired this man, be he an assassin, or whatever he was. He was part of some mercenary group, and that was really all he needed to know.

Gabbiano smiled wryly, and spoke before stepping from the darkness. "Impressive," He said, revealing himself. "I wouldn't have been able to do something so intimidating." Gabbiano chuckled and pulled his cloak around him. "I hear the name Balthier," he began studying this other thief.

"I know this man. And I can help you track him down." Gabbiano said this, then stopped to think. If he's really my brother... I probably shouldn't have... He thought, then bit his lip.

The thief shrugged it off, then continued. "He's my kin, but I hate him. I can help you."

[Suzaku]

"So you have brother issues?" Suzaku laughed. This was certainly a surprise. His target's brother helping him? Brilliant. "The Marquess didn't provide any more information then I already knew. I wonder if you can. A number of weeks ago, your apparent brother made a trip to Illia. Do you know why or of his current whereabouts?"

The two were walking out the city, the Marquess standing near the castle. There were guards on the walls watching the pair as they paced across the street. This man was certainly an interesting character. This mission was moving alot quicker then he expected. He thought he may have had to travel to Illia, but if this man proves useful, he wouldn't have to anymore.

He also wouldn't have to kill him.

[gabbiano]

OOC: Last sentence is great.

IC:
Gabbiano smiled, but lowered his head and shut his eyes. "Yeah, you could say that... Brother issues."

He began to walk with this man, and noticed that they were clearly being watched by more than just one guard. This made Gabbiano smile... he only wished he was able to strike more fear into the hearts of those that opposed him. He sighed.

"I can, yes." He started, looking into the sky. "He traveled to Ilia when I was with the Ilian military, en route to Sacae. He appeared in the fields to meet me; I hadn't known that I had any kin. I shooed him off quickly enough... And I think he retreated back into the company he was previously in." He stopped, allowing the other thief to think... as well as himself.

"And if I remember correctly, that group is near Badon."

[Suzaku]

Excellent. That saves me a trip. He smiled. This man was proving useful. He looked more closely at the man and laughed to himself. His clothes suggested a thief of sorts. He began to laugh louder when he noticed the man's blade along his lower back, similar to his own.

"Well then. Tell me your name and we'll be on our way to Badon." He was beginning to like this man, he was becoming a valuable asset and would at least provide some entertainment and support if and when they encountered the Ostian Remnants.

They had walked out of the city, the gates closing behind them. Since this green clothed man was going to live, it was time they made acquaintances. "You can call me Kaiba."

[gabbiano]

"Kaiba..." Gabbiano was too narrow eyed, and observing the man called Kaiba as he studied Gabbiano, and then glanced at his blade. Gabbiano did the same, and smiled, noticing that - although this Kaiba's blade was longer - it was kept in the same place.

"My name is Gabbiano," He said, meeting the other thief's eye. "It means Seagull in... another language." He dropped the sentence, seeing as though he couldn't remember what language it was.

"To Badon, then." Gabbiano said, following Kaiba. "Which way shall we take?"

OOC: Lol, it's Italian

[Suzaku]

"We'll take the main road west. It should take us directly there. Walking will take us a few hours, since neither of us have horses...?" He didn't mind walking, but he wanted to get this done and over with. It was tedious tracking someone down.

"We'll stop by a village along the way. It looks like we both could use some warm food." He pointed to the stale bread crumbs spread thinly across Gabbiano's cloak.

[gabbiano]

"My guess is that Balthier hasn't moved from his position anyway. As far as I know, he should still be in his Badon camp... from what I hear." Gabbiano said, then smiling. "And I hear many things."

The thief brushed himself off, and nodded in agreement. "Yes, we'll stop somewhere. As far as my knowledge of the land goes, the main road west leads to a village not far from here; in fact, not even a day's journey. Judging by the time of day, we could reach it by nightfall."

[Suzaku]

If he's still in the camp... how would we get in... He began to scratch his chin. "Nightfall. Perfect. Let's get moving then." He increased his pace and was walking quickly down the western road.

The sun was shining and it made him feel hot under his black clothes. After a while, he requested a break and sat down under a tree. He pulled out a loaf of bread. Taking a small piece, he began to eat. He showed no real concern for his companion nor did he offer any of the bread.

[gabbiano]

Gabbiano chuckled, and followed swiftly behind the dark-garbed thief. Making good time, they approached the outside of the city as the sun began to dangle into the sky, flirting with dusk.

As this Kaiba sat underneath the tree, Gabbiano sat adjacent under the next tree. As he ate, Gabbiano didn't insinuate that he wanted any anyway; he was feeling full, regardless of how empty his stomach was. He watched as Kaiba ate the bread furiously, then spoke up.

"We're nearly to the city."