[Damion]

"Three men armed with swords... and you killed them with this?" Damion held up the small, bloody dagger that had belonged to his new prisoner. The man in the cage glanced at the knife in Damion's hand and stared back at him through the bars. "Nothing to say?" asked Damion.

"Your men were worse than amateurs," said Eric. His voice was weak, yet still defiant. "You should buy yourself some better help."

"Amateurs they may be... but you're here, aren't you? You and your friend in the next cage."

Therus lay unconscious in the cage immediately adjoining Eric's. Both cages were filthy with the spoor of the animals that had recently been kept there.

"Never seen him before in my life." said Eric

"That's not what I hear. You were seen speaking with him not long before he started causing trouble for one of my suppliers. Was that your doing?"

"I have nothing to say to you."

"Was it you who bought out the entire foosh supply right out from under me?"

"...no idea what you're talking about."

"Maybe not now, but soon you'll tell me what I want."

"And what is it that you want to know?"

"Who are you working for?"

"I told your friend in the club. I work for me."

"Don't waste my time with nonsense. I already know you're working for someone... and I have a pretty good idea who that is. But I want to hear it from you. I want a name. Information"

"You're not gonna get a damn thing from me."

"What does December want from me?"

"Who?"

"Don't toy with me! I've just about reached the end of my patience. What does December want!"

"To sell jewels, I suppose. He IS a jewel trader. Beyond that, I know nothing about nothing."

"You'd make me kill you? After all I've done for you?"

"What have you done for me besides lock me in this cage?"

"If it weren't for me, you'd still be a bleeding lump like your friend over there."

Eric ran his hand across his bare chest. The vicious whip-marks had faded, leaving barely-visible scars. The throwing stars had been pulled from his flesh, and the wounds treated with something that left them almost completely healed.

"How long have I been in here?"

"Just a few hours. It's almost dawn. Alchemy is a wonderful thing, is it not? Two...Three weeks worth of healing in just a few hours. Amazing, isn't it?"

"I've seen better." said Eric.

"I doubt that. But you'll see something truly amazing in a day or two."

"What would that be?"

"You'll just have to wait."

Damion pocketed the knife and turned to leave.

"Wait." said Eric.

"Yes?" Damion paused, but did not turn around.

"Who was the woman? In the alley?"

"That was your worst nightmare, Mr. Hood. Especially if you try to escape. In a few hours I'll introduce you to another of my associates... he has a way with prisoners who don't want to talk. Right now, I have some arrangements to make."

Damion walked away and left his prisoner to ponder his fate.

[Zade]

Zade awoke with a sigh. She felt sluggish, almost drugged. The sun was beaming through her open window, but she was still felt as if she could sleep for another eight hours. The night hadn't been an unusually long one, which left Zade wondering why she felt so fatigued.

There was a light knock at the door.

"Go away." said Zade. She closed her eyes and rolled over, placing her back to the locked door. The knock came again.

"I said GO AWAY!" she shouted.

There was no sound for a moment, and then another knock broke the silence. Zade stood up and snatched her robe off of the back of the chair. She wrapped it around her naked body and yanked open the door.

Fletcher stood in the hallway.

The man had bandages wrapped around his head and chest, as well as a splint on his right arm. His skin still bore the bruises from his encounter with the Ursinor, but even they had faded from purple blotches to faint dark spots under the skin.

Fletcher leaned against the doorframe and smiled weakly at Zade.

"Surprised to see me?" he asked.

"No; I knew it was you. You're the only person in the building who'll risk death by not going away when I tell them to. What do you want?"

"Well... I hear I owe you my life. I came to thank you."

"Uh-huh. You're welcome. Go away."

"But..."

"But what?"

The two stared at each other for an uncomfortable moment.

"Well?" said Zade

"You didn't have to do what you did for me.... with the potions and the bandages. I know you don't particularly care for me..."

"That's putting it mildly."

Fletcher sighed and rolled his eyes impatiently.

"Fletcher say what you came to say so I can get back to sleep."

"Well... you DID save my life, and I was wondering if there was some way I could make it up to you. Like maybe-"

"Fletcher, if you ask me out on a date I swear by every god on Ifreann that I will kill you where you stand."

"Oh. I mean... that wasn't... I...nothing."

Zade slammed the door and started back towards the bed.

"Fletcher must have hit his head a lot harder than I thought," she mumbled. Zade had just sat down on her bed when there was another knock at the door. Reluctantly, she stood up and opened the door. Fletcher was still standing in the hallway.

"What now?" asked Zade.

"I almost forgot. Damion wants you."

"Didn't need you to tell me that."

"A meeting, Zade. His office. Now."

"I'm there." sighed Zade. She shut the door and started getting dressed.

...

Twenty minutes later Zade walked into Damion's office. Several of the guards stood around, examining their weapons. Damion sat behind his desk, and Fletcher sat opposite him in a large, comfortable chair. Next to him was a wooden stool reserved for Zade.

She sat, folded her arms and sighed loudly.

"What now?" she said.

"The money I promised you..." Damion tossed a small pouch of gold coins. Zade deftly snatched it out of the air. She opened it and looked inside.

"This is what you owed me. But last night'll cost you extra," said Zade. "You hired me for bodyguarding, not kidnapping."

"Agreed. But there is something I want you to do first."

Zade raised an eyebrow, but remained silent.

"We must make preparations for the next show-"

"Wait," blurted Zade. "I thought we were dealing with this December person."

"I am."

"What? By kidnapping a couple of people? You can't just snatch a few of his people off the street and go on with business as usual!"

"That is exactly what I intend to do. December has made his move, and I have made mine. Now I must show him... and everyone else... that I am not afraid. I have the animals. The alchemist has stretched out our existing foosh supply with his new formula. There's no reason why I shouldn't host another event. The show goes on tomorrow night. Meanwhile, Fletcher will work on getting our guests to talk."

Zade looked at Fletcher. Damion's assistant had a worried look on his face, but seemed content to say nothing.

"You're going to get us all killed." said Zade.

"That, my dear, is YOUR problem. YOU are the bodyguard. And you've been doing a fine job. You have my utmost confidence."

Zade glared at Damion

"That is why I want you to make Fletcher's rounds today. We need the money from the shopkeepers."

"What?"

"The shopkeepers," said Fletcher. "It's time to collect the extortion money."

"Damion. You've just gotten on the bad side of possibly the most dangerous man in Montfort. I'm the only one in this building who could POSSIBLY keep you alive... and you're sending me away to run errands?"

"Yes." said Damion. "Be back before dark-"

"Damn right I'll be back before dark. I'm gonna be a walking target out there."

"I don't think so." said Damion. "December is missing two of his men. Right now he's having second thoughts about this entire affair."

"I don't think you can afford to make assumptions like that, Damion."

"Fine. Then take some of the guards with-"

"Not a chance!"

"Suit yourself. With the money you bring in, I can procure some last-minute items for the event, pay you for your services last night..."

One of the guards cleared his throat.

"...and then perhaps I'll have another job for you, Zade. One more suited to your talents."

"And what would that be?"

"You'll just have to wait."

"I don't like surprises."

"Don't worry. You'll be paid well... But you'd better get going now with those errands. We're burning daylight."

Zade stood and walked towards the door. Before she left, she took time to glare at each and every person in the room. The guards lowered their eyes. Fletcher shrugged. And Damion raised his eyebrows expectantly.

Zade walked out of the room.

"...Errand girl..." she said to herself, "I've GOT your errand-girl..."

-------------------------------

[December]

Nestled in the brightly lit back room of his store, December reclined in his comfortable chair. Lovvorn paced nervously back and forth in front of him, tattooed hands clenched tightly behind his back. The room was silent, save for Lovvorn's footsteps. The mage was lost in his mostly-sober thoughts, while his master simply waited.

The wait ended when N'Doki appeared... stepping out of a shadow in the corner. The room's only door was in the *opposite* wall, yet the necromancer walked out of the darkness as if through a special entrance known only to him. N'Doki carried a large bag slung over his bony shoulder.

December nodded at Lovvorn, who then made a waving gesture with his hand. The room pulsed with energy for the slightest of instants... and then the power quickly faded. The entire building was now sealed against unwanted surveillance and intrusion.

"The bag." said December.

N'Doki unslung the sack and dumped its contents out onto a wooden table before December. The bag had contained three human heads. All neatly severed, shrunken, and mummified. The freshly preserved skin was drawn and wrinkled, and reeked of oils and incense. Empty eye sockets peered out into space.

"Ugggh." grunted Lovvorn.

"Dese men try to pay N'Doki an unwanted visit. Dey tromp t'rough de cemetary... loud enough to wake de dead."

"Where are the rest of them?" said the colorful mage.

N'Doki only smiled, flashing his sharp, white teeth.

"I do not suppose you took the time to question them. " said December.


"Dere was no need. Dey had de stench of VonSinterbourn all over dem."

December nodded.

"See..." said Lovvorn. "They tried for all of us. Except for you, December."

"So it would appear. And now it seems that VonSinterbourne has Eric in his custody. J'Hasp tracked Eric's scent to a dark ally, where three dead bodies were found. Eric was not among them."

"Just three?" said Lovvorn. "Usually takes a lot more than three."

"Not ALL of Damion's enforcers are skill-less amateurs. There is at least one professional among them. I have found that Therus is missing as well. This was obviously a strike against me."

"And Therus is..."

"Expendable."

"What about Eric? You want me to zap over and fetch him?"

"No."

"eh?"

"Eric has not summoned help."

"Maybe he can't. Maybe he's hurt. Or..." Lovvorn glanced nervously at N'Doki.

The necromancer stared off into space for moment, and then spoke.

"Eric has not passed over to de other side. He still walks among the mortals."

"Good." said December. "He stays where he is, for now. He is more than capable of looking after himself."

"But what do WE do?"

"Nothing. We wait... and watch. Damion will mistake my lack of retaliation for weakness... and his next actions are likely to be very foolish, and very advantageous to me. I already have suspicions on what that foolish act will be... We must be prepared to act. Have Rivus assemble a team of whatever passes for his best men. Ten or fifteen should be sufficient. They must be ready to move on a second's notice."

Lovvorn nodded in agreement.

"And prepare the special spell that you developed. I shall be directing this venture personally, but I do not wish to be recognized in the odd chance that there are survivors."

"Uhhh... you sure about that?"

"I want Damion's formula. I cannot risk having Rivus's ham-handed thugs accidentally destroy it. And N'Doki..."

"What do you wish of me, December?"

"...would you be so kind as to remove those heads from my antique table? The oil is ruining the wood."

-----------------------------------------------------

[Zade]

The day was going smoothly. Store after store, shop after shop, she collected Damion's gold with a bare minimum of violence. Over the months Fletcher had instilled so much fear into the local merchants that they offered no resistance when Zade showed up to collect the weekly 'protection' money. The fact that they all knew that Zade was one of the most dangerous women in Montfort didn't hurt much either.

Still, Zade found herself peeping around corners and casting nervous glances over her shoulders more often than usual. Several times during the day she swore that she was being followed. She would hear things behind her, in front of her, in almost every dark alley. Mostly they turned out to be cats or unusually large vermin of some kind. A few times she found nothing at all, even though she *knew* there had been something there. Twice she thought she *smelled* something. The first time, she tried to ignore it, but on the second occasion she found that she could not. Without slowing or stopping, she whipped her head around and looked behind her. She half-expected to see Blaymore standing there, or at least some of December's men. Instead, she caught a glimpse a creature... vaguely the size and shape of a man, but with a long tail and pale skin that was covered with patches of fur and scales. The thing was disappearing over the edge of one of the buildings, scurrying up the sheer wall and over onto the roof.

fur AND scales? she thought. Must be some of Vendredi's animals still running around.

She never saw (or smelled) the creature again that day, but she still had the feeling that she was constantly being watched.

She made several trips back to check on Damion and drop off caches of money. VonSinterboure was busy making arrangements for the foolhardy 'event.' Zade stopped long enough to try to change his mind, but Damion was as obstinate as ever.

"But I HAVE to..." he had said, "I must show that I am not afraid of this December. He does not frighten me, nor have his ridiculous games affected my business. The show must go on!"

Zade shook her head and walked away. Eric Hood was still refusing to talk, despite Fletcher's ministrations. There was something about Hood that just wasn't quite right. He was hiding something... something sinister.

Meanwhile, Damion still insisted that he had some 'special' mission for her after the money was collected. She had no idea what it was, but she was sure that she wouldn't like it. Whatever it was... he would pay dearly for her services.

The day wore on.

It was just after dusk when Zade finished the last of the collections and returned to headquarters. Surprisingly, she was not tired despite having walked from one end of Montfort to the other several times during the day. Damion was busy negotiating with a wine importer, so Zade dropped off the gold and decided to get some sleep. After an hour of staring up at the ceiling, she reconsidered and thought a few drinks would be just what she needed...

...

Zade strode defiantly down the dirty Montfort street, her long brown legs drawing the attention of every bum and miscreant that was within drooling distance. Her black whip bounced on her hip, slapping against the bare flesh of her upper thigh. Her skimpy leather armor hugged her lithe frame, accentuating her womanly features to the point that some nearby males suddenly had to excuse themselves to avoid embarrassment.

The dark stairs leading to the Pan-Demonica loomed ahead. Zade smiled... perhaps a drink or six would put her in the mood for whatever Damion had planned.

A gang of unruly rogues was gathered at the base of the stairs. With violence being prohibited inside the club, those seeking fun of a more physical nature were forced to pursue it outside.

Zade scowled as the men turned towards her. One dung-brain detached itself from the herd and approached. Zade's right hand automatically curled into a tight fist.

"Hey there, baby," said the soon-to-be unconscious male.

Zade grunted a response and walked past him. The man walked alongside her for a moment and then stepped in front.

"You know," the idiot continued, "you've got the prettiest legs I've ever seen. They must be tired, though... cause you've been running through my mind all ni-"

*WHACK!*

The man hit the street and rolled into the gutter. Two more drones broke loose from the pack and swaggered towards her.

The first was a large, muscular man with a patch over one eye.

"Now THERE's a lady what know's how to take care of herself," he said as he approached. She could smell the beer from several long paces away. "Nice whip. What ya' carryin' around in that armor, babe..."

'Patch' stepped in close and ran his dirty hand up Zade's thigh, cupping her crotch through the leather armor.

"What do you say me and yaaaAAAAYYYY!!!!"

The man suddenly found himself flat on his back looking up at the night sky. Zade grasped his arm and twisted it sharply, cracking several bones. She then took the time to break every one of the man's fingers before rendering him unconscious with
a kick to the head.

The third man reached her and grabbed her by the shoulder. Zade twisted, threw her arm behind the man's neck and caught him in a headlock. She began punching him in the face
and didn't stop until he went limp. Then she dropped him on the ground like a sack of dirty laundry and proceeded down the street.

The remainder of the group of men had mysteriously vanished.

Zade mounted the steps and banged on the large metal door at the top. It opened almost immediately and Zade stepped inside.

"Welcome back..." said Leonardo. The assassin-turned- bouncer bowed slightly and smiled. "I see you've been keeping the streets clear..."

Zade smiled back and then drew a sudden breath. All of her weapons... whip, throwing stars, and the five daggers she had hidden in various places... began vibrating furiously.
They hummed against her flesh for a few seconds and stopped. Nearby, in a dark corner of the balcony, the Imp clucked and chittered.

Leonardo raised an eyebrow.

"Now THAT's an unusual place to hide a dagger," he said.

"Don't ask." replied Zade.

"Oh, I wasn't. I'm sure I don't want to know. Going down?"

"Absolutely."

Zade descended the stairs leading into the stone pit that served as the main room of the club. As she moved out of earshot, Leonardo leaned over to the Imp's pedestal and whispered to the beast...

"...was it a large dagger or a small one?"

"I HEARD that!" Zade shouted over her shoulder.

Zade reached bottom and shoved her way through the crowd, scanning for an empty table. She found one right away.

Zade sat herself down and signaled for a serving girl.

[Sottie]

Opia led the swami of intoxication through the chambers of the alchemist's mind. "Most interesting," the swami said as he observed a living memory, a blue-cloaked figure walked through a wall, He disappeared with impossible rapidity leaving a dead bard in his wake. The opium-inspired dreams and hallucinations of Damion Sinterbourne's alchemist swirled once again. A school of alchemists, a colleague mysteriously murdered, this man had suffered much for one not of the adventuring professions.

"Ah, here we are," Sottie said as the opium spirit lead the disembodied fakir through the halls of the alchemist's mind. Memories of the alchemist working on the potion. Sottie had already been able to isolate the herbal and fungal ingredients in the berserking potion by consulting the relevant nature spirits to see if they were present in the blend, but the
alchemical ingredients were beyond him. The fakir felt for his wizard's mind. Rafe was sitting near the fakir's body, across from the opium hookah. He had inhaled enough opium smoke that Sottie was able to easily communicate the relevant symbols, images and procedures while he was out of his body examining the alchemists opium-clouded mind. Much delving and much time passed before Rafe was at last satisfied with the results.

Sottie was awakened next to the hookah some hours later with an enormous thirst. Rafe was gone. Perhaps he was running some laboratory tests or working on his strange magnetic spell that sought to control the razor worg's hair style. The fakir cleaned up and put on some fresh clothes. He took his silver flute, with the golden mouthpiece and kama blade, a few assorted flasks and powders, some star shuriken, some coin and was on his way bar-hopping. The yogi of drink mentally checked the ambiance of the brotherhood of intoxication at several local drinking establishments as he set out the door. Sottie yipped back a salutation at the imported timber wolves that had greeted him as he walked through the re-planted Japanese gardens of intoxication now gracing the brewery grounds. The werewolf swami was, after all, their alpha male as well.

The streets of Montfort were dark and silent save for a few bums that Sottie greeted by name on his way to the PanDemonica. As he descended the stairs, he saw a man grimace as a demoness chewed on his hand. Sottie was about to take some more mushroom powder, when he realized what he was seeing.

[Clussh]

The medicine demoness finished injecting surgical glue into the man's finger bones with her needle fangs and set all the bones with a deft snap of her powerful hands. That'll be 5 silver sparrows, Patch.

[Patch]

"Oouuu!" Patch yelled as his bones snapped into place. For a brief moment, Patch looked as if he was going to try to haggle the doctor down. A drop of drool dripped from the demoness' toothy maw to the ground. Patch swallowed hard and dug in his pockets. He handed the money to the doctor.

[Clussh]

The demoness smiled and entered the bar.

[Sottie]

"Good evening doctor," the yogi of drink said bowing slightly as he entered the tavern. "Good eve, Leonardo." The ace of cups felt his stars and blade vibrate. He spared a quick glance at the imp.

[Clussh]

The demoness wrapped her tail around the imp and whispered something into his ear.

[Sottie]

Sottie had never seen the imp frisk anyone before, but by the way his nostrils kept moving and his tail whisked the air as he searched the demoness, the vicar of intoxication guessed he was enjoying himself immensely. The fakir shrugged and returned
Leonardo's scowl with a grin, and from a corner of his eye he caught sight of the shapely figure of a familiar young woman. "Most auspicious," the swami thought to himself. He circled around toward Zade, coming towards her from the rear. The swami had a little test in mind. As he approached, he voiced a sound, not exactly a yip or a growl, but rather a mixture, and one male wolves often used to greet desirable females.

[Zade]

"I don't know who you are," said Zade without turning around, "But if you want to keep all of your teeth then you'd better..."

Zade stopped talking and frowned slightly. She sniffed the air, paused, and turned around to view the man who had walked up behind her.

"You..." she said as she recognized Sottie. She smiled.

"Now what would a brew-master be doing in a place like THIS?"

[Sottie]

As Sottie spotted the woman sniff the air, he wondered if Zade might be transforming into a most attractive bitch after all, a most auspicious development if it were true. Certainly she had the ideal temperament and instincts.

"It is part of my job as brewmaster to examine the tail end...," Sottie chuckled jovially, his eyes twinkling. "The end users, the actual drinkers of the Inebridee ales. It's important to
see how our products are consumed, thus I take upon myself the _great_ burden of visiting all of the drinking establishments in Montfort with studious frequency," Sottie mopped his brow dramatically with the back of a large, warm hand. "And what
might Montfort's most alluring enforcer be doing in an establishment such as this?" Sottie spread his arms as he indicated the PanDemonica.

As he spread his arms the yogi of drink caught sight of the imp from the corner of his eye. He had seen the creature stare at new clients before, but he was not sure that the client being stared at currently was new, and certainly never had he seen the flow of saliva from the creature's mouth reach such proportions that it dripped onto the floor.

[Zade]

"Yeah," she said, not believing a word of what Sottie had said. "Sure."

There must obviously be more to this man than it seemed. Of course that concept was difficult to grasp, since Sottie was such a LARGE man to begin with....

"Well, since you're here you might as well sit." Zade reached out with her bare leg and lightly kicked the chair opposite her.

The chair flew back several feet.

[Sottie]

"You are most gracious," Sottie said sitting down.

From the corner of his eye he saw the medicine demoness talking to various drinkers. No doubt advertising her, "no questions asked," secret clinic in the under city somewhere beneath the clinic of the coliseum, her normal clinic. The Fakir observed that her spiked tail seemed to be moving with greater than normal frequency. After finishing at one table, she began working her way back towards the door and the Imp up the
opposite row of tables. She winked at the Imp, as it came her way.

[Zade]

A movement on the balcony caught her eye, and Zade looked up. Leonardo was scanning the crowd like a hawk looking for prey. Behind him, the Imp was rubbing flesh with a large reptilian thing that nearly matched it in ugliness. She saw the tip of it's little red wings flutter with delight as the reptile caressed it's chest.

Zade quickly looked away and locked eyes with a passing
waitress.

"WENCH!!!" Zade bellowed. Her shout caused nearly every waitress in the club to turn in her direction, along with quite a few men as well. The serving girl approached timidly.

"Bring me two Dark Taints and a Spiced Ale."

[Sottie]

"And a stein of gold for me, please," Sottie smiled.

[Waitress]

"Yes, ma'am. Anything to eat?"

"No. Wait... bring me a steak."

"How you want that cooked?"

"Raw."

"Excuse me?

"Steak! Rare! Now go get it!"

[Sottie]

"and one for me, very rare," Sottie smiled.

[Zade]

Zade turned once more to Sottie. Despite her intention to spend the night alone... with
several stiff drinks... she found that she was actually glad to see a familiar face.

"So... how is that brewery of yours?"

[Sottie]

"We had a most unfortunate occurrence the other night, but, thank the gods of drink, our luck was good and our losses were relatively minor. What _frigid_ curse the gods of drink might have bestowed on the perpetrators in return for their mischief, I shudder to think, but only a few barrels were lost. To take my mind off our losses, I have re-created the brewery's Japanese gardens of intoxication. Great beauty is healing to the mind. It is good to see your beauty and strength out from under Fletcher's shadow. I do believe colleagues more appropriate to your immanent qualifications could be found," Sottie smiled. "Have you been feeling fit?"


[Zade]

"Never better," she said. She reflected on the truthfulness of her words... physically, she had never felt better than she had over the past few days. Strange...

"And as for my colleagues, I go where the money takes me. Same as everyone else, I imagine. Someone who's an ally one day could be an enemy the next. And vice-versa..." Zade winked at Sottie. It had sounded like the brewmaster was making her an offer. Zade wondered what kind of enemies Sottie had. The brewmaster seemed to have an abundance of cash, and his enemies, if any, must certainly be much less dangerous than Damion's.

[Sottie]

"Now and again I do run into a job, or an adventure. What sort of work generally interests you?" Sottie took a sip of Inebridee gold and smiled.

[Zade]

"Damage," said Zade. "I can cause it. I can prevent it. The first is more fun... although I doubt you'd be in need of THOSE services."

Zade gulped her first two mugs of Dark Taint and signaled the waitress for two more. She then began to sip her Spiced Ale as she continued talking.

"I usually work alone. Other people tend to get in my way. Then they get hurt. I should warn you that I'm currently under contract... but that business has taken a rather dark turn towards some territory I'd rather not visit... at least not for the current price."

Zade paused and sniffed the air...

"What's that smell? Ahh... food's here..."

The waitress had returned with more drinks as well as the rare steaks that both Zade and Sottie had ordered.

Zade eyed Sottie's food, and then looked at her own.

"You know," she said, "I usually have my meat well done, But this food looks... and smells... delicious!"

[Sottie]

"Indeed, there's no food better than a fine, rare steak, save perhaps running down a stag under the full moon and tasting the meat while it's still fresh and warm," Sottie smiled. "Do you hunt?"

From the corner of his eye the ace of cups could see the imp following the demoness into one of those strange side rooms that seemed to appear now and again. As the Imp followed her through the door, the demoness' sinuous tail glided over the Imp's shoulder, the spike caressed down his back, his wings fluttered with excitement, then the door shut behind him.

[Zade]

"The only hunting I've done is when someone owes me money. I leave the game hunting to Simon. He's asked me to accompany him lots of times, but I..."

Zade thought back to her recent experience with Damion and the Ursinor. That had actually been *fun.*

"Now that I think about it, hunting might actually be something I could learn to
like."

She glanced at her food once more, and was surprised to see that she had already
eaten almost half of it. The plate was a bloody mess. Zade licked her lips in anticipation of devouring the remainder.

"I'm starting to like a lot of things lately," she said as she tore into the food.

[Sottie]

"Good, then perhaps we could make a hunting date for the next full moon. Next to drinking and brewing, hunting and adventuring are among my favorite activities. I see you also drink well," the brewmaster smiled jovially. There was nothing like the feeling of strong drink joining with a strong woman. Sottie drained his drink and motioned to a waitress with his empty stein, "A stein of Taint, please."

[Zade]

"Full moon, eh? Sounds good."

Suddenly, Zade remembered something.

"Do you hunt with dogs? I don't care for 'em... and usually they don't like me either."

[Sottie]

Sottie chuckled, "I don't mind dogs, but I prefer to hunt without them or with the Inebridee wolves. Some people see no difference between a wolf and dog, but I assure you there is a _great_ deal of difference.

[Zade]

"Inebridee wolves." Zade repeated to herself. She started to press the matter further, but decided that it would be in bad taste to mention that she had run into Sottie's wolves while trying to wreck his establishment.

"Well, I guess I'll see you on the next full moon... assuming I'm not busy with other things. In my line of work things tend to come up suddenly. Speaking of work, if you have need of my services, feel free to look me up. I'm usually here during my free time... or just outside having a workout."

Zade paused long enough to finish off her food.

"By the way," she continued, "you don't have any dealings with a jewel trader by the name of December, do you?"

[Sottie]

"December is one of Montfort's newest businessmen. Naturally, I would not yet know him. We have never even met; I do not even know what he looks like, but I expect we will make one another's acquaintance soon enough, businessmen tend to meet in the course of business, after all, just as friends meet in the course of drinking," Sottie smiled an enigmatic smile and chuckled.

[Zade]

Zade nodded.

"Just wondering. His name came up in some other business."

Zade finished off her drinks and considered buying another round for herself. She decided against it... there was no need getting drunk this early, especially with Damion's
'mystery mission' still needing to be dealt with. Zade flagged down the waitress and settled the bill.

"Well," she said to Sottie. "I guess I'll see you next full moon, then?"

[Sottie]

"Indeed, I believe we will have an excellent time. I would invite you to stay and drink, but I understand, in your line of work, unpredictable hours are the rule." Sottie smiled. He did not show it but, he was a bit worried about the beautiful young woman. As much as he admired Zade, the yogi of drink realized that as long as she was employed by Sinterbourne, the gods of drink were likely to grant her nothing but sour luck. He hoped
the keener senses and reflexes that were moving in her of late would save her from undue harm. It would be a great shame if a spirit of such strength was undone by ill-fortune.

[Zade]

The silky mercenary stood and made her way to the door. She glanced back at Sottie and found him watching her. She smiled... which caught the eye of several patrons who had
assumed that she was incapable of that particular facial expression.

Zade mounted the steps to the balcony, nodded at Leonardo, and was gone.

---

[Zade]

"You want me to WHAT!" screamed Zade. Damion leaned back in his chair, trying to put ome distance between himself and his irate bodyguard. In the window behind him, the nearly-full moon beamed its silvery light into his spacious office.

"You heard me," said Damion. "I want December. Dead. Tonight."

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOU MIND!!!!!"

"Now, Zade, listen to reason."

"YOU'RE a fine one to talk about reason! You want to put a hit out on one of the deadliest men in Montfort!"

"So YOU say. I see things differently."

"Oh, really." Zade folded her arms and tapped her foot impatiently. "This, I have GOT to hear."

"We've had two of him men in custody for an entire day. If this really was the December that you SAY he is, then he would have done something by now. You've been out in the open since this morning, but no one has so much as laid a finger on you."

"I was just BAIT, is that it?"

"Quite right."

"Thanks Damion."

"It was just an... what does the alchemist call them? An experiment! Yes... a test. If December were going to do something, then he would have done it to YOU."

"Maybe he did," sighed Zade, "Maybe I'm dead and I'm in Hell and it looks exactly like THIS place. My eternal punishment is to be stuck here listening to you! Is Fetcher still here?"

"Yes..."

"I was right. Hell.... definitely Hell..."

"Now Zade, are you going to do this thing for me?"

"No. Absolutely not."

"I'll pay you."

"You already owe me money."

"Here." Damion reached down behind the desk and pulled up a medium-size sack of gold coins. He placed it on the table in front of him.

Zade's eyes widened.

"For last night's services... a very good job, by the way. Plus some extra... for tonight."

"I'm not doing it."

"Count the gold. I'm sure you'll find that I'm being quite generous... far above the normal fee for such things. And I'm willing to negotiate. I got an excellent deal on the wine... plus I was able to make the purchase on credit. No need to buy food for the animals since they're fighting tomorrow night. I-"

"I said, I'm not doing it."

"Of course you are."

"What? Are you going to ORDER me to do it? I don't think so."

"But think of it, Zade. I will pay any price..."

"Why? If this guy is as harmless as you mistakenly THINK he is, then why bother with him at all? Why not just leave him alone?"

"It is HIS war. He made the first move. He started this, and I will finish it."

"Then YOU go and kill him. Leave me out of it."

"But you are already in, Zade. You kidnapped his men for me. Which is exactly why, if he were going to make a move, it would be against YOU."

"And how would he know that? The only people who know I was involved are locked away in the basement."

Zade had a sudden flash... a memory of the creature that had been following her earlier. She got a sick, sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"Okay, suppose you're right," said Zade. "That's all the more reason to stay AWAY. Just give the man what he wants, Damion. This business isn't for you. "

"I am a VonSinterbourne from a long line of VonSinterbournes! Royalty, every one of them. I decide what is and is not for me."

"I don't think December cares about the VonSinterbourne family line."

"Zade-"

"No. You're not making any sense. The more you talk, the more I'm convinced that I'm working for a madman."

"Fine. Then I WILL do it myself." Damion stood and strapped his rapier to his side.

"Sit down, Damion."

"I have found out where this man lives, and I am going there now. Accompany me if you wish."

Damion walked toward the door. Zade grabbed him by the shoulder and flung him back across his desk.

"OOOFF!" said Damion as he nearly slid of his desk and onto the floor. "That hurt!"

"Sorry. Guess I don't know my own strength. Not that you don't deserve it."

Zade helped her employer get up. As she did so, her eye caught the moon as is rose high in the night sky. She suddenly realized that she was hungry again.

"Here..." Damion picked up the sack of gold and held it out to Zade. "Do the job."

"I said..." Zade felt slightly dizzy. She shook her head and it passed. "I said no."

"You hesitated. You're thinking about it, yes?"

"No. He's too dangerous."

"Even for you?"

"No. For you. You shouldn't be playing this game. December is too..."

Zade's eyes left Damion's face and once again fixed on the bright moon. Her mind began to wander... a dark street... a man in a blue hooded robe... a conversation... a warning...

...[flashback]...

"...This 'December' character? I'm not afraid of him."

"He's coming for Sinterbourne, which means he's coming for you. Stay away from him. He's dangerous."

"So am I."

"No. Dangerous."

...[end flashback]...

How DARE he tell me what to do! thought Zade. Trying to lord over my life like I belong to HIM! He ruins my life more times than I can count... and now he want's to tell ME what to do!!??!! Too Dangerous.... I'll SHOW him who's DANGEROUS!!"

Zade snapped back to the present. Her face had contorted into a frightening scowl.

"GIMME THAT!!" Zade snatched the sack of gold out of Damion's hand. "Consider this guy DEAD!" She turned and stormed out of the room

"Zade?" said Damion. He jogged after her. "Zade, you were growling... what was that all abou-"

Zade spun, grabbed Damion by the throat and lifted him off of the ground. She snarled with teeth that seemed a little too large, and then flung him several yards back down the hall.

"HEEEY!!" shouted Damion as he thudded to a halt. He stood and brushed off his clothes. Meanwhile, Zade was disappearing down the hall. Damion called after her. "Don't you want to know where he lives?!"

"Tell me on my way out..." Zade kicked open the door that lead to her room. She entered, and the sound of chaos arose as she rummaged through her belongings, selecting her best weapons. She emerged a few minutes later.

"On second though... let ME find him...." With clenched teeth and flaring nostrils, Zade shoved past Damion and headed down the stairs.

[To Be Continued]