Between a Thief and Her Loot (Zenai)

[Shai]

Timestamp: 60th of Fall, 511 AV


Shai had been negligent. For several days now she’d spent her time socializing with the disreputable denizens of Sunberth. It was time to get down to business, her muscles were getting to tight and her thief’s tools were growing dusty. Pushing the few pieces of junk on the flat roof off towards the side, she made as much space as she could manage.

She began her workout with a few stretches. First Shai pulled one arm at a time over her head and held them for a thirty count. Then she stretched her legs, another thirty count each. Finally she loosened her hips by spreading her legs and lying as far forward as she could. After that she tumbled backwards three times and then stood to execute in a handspring back into her original location. She was sorely out of practice and the depth of stretches showed how remiss she’d been. It would have to do for now, she’d need to begin stretching and practicing every morning to get back into shape.

The fire in the Sunset Quarter only a handful of days ago had left the streets full of vagrants and Shai even more paranoid about her possessions. She rarely left anything of great value behind but on nights like this she was required to, she couldn’t be jingling while trying to stake out a mark. She pulled out her mizas and hid them behind a lose brick that was over twelve feet up a wall, it was safe as she could manage and she'd only found the spot by accident a few days past. She left her worldly objects in the small trunk in her tent except for her cloak, pants and shirt which she put on. Finally she had excavated the small pouch holding her thief’s tools; she inspected each tool to make sure it was in proper condition before putting them into small buttoned pockets inside her cloak. She secured the trunk as best as Shai had set out for the night's work.

It was a lovely late night in Sunberth except for the vagrants, the smell, the minor war, and the fact that most of the merchants had fled the city. But otherwise it was a good night. Shai crept out of her building by the front door, she never chose to scale walls to close to her home it would be terrible to give away her one sanctuary. Four or five blocks down the road, she’d lost count, Shai took an alley way on her right and then backtracked on the next road two blocks and then took another alleyway this one on her left. She ended up two blocks east and 3 blocks north of her home. Here she finally picked a suitably dark alley way and scaled the wall, keeping in the shadows where her cloak could provide camouflage. Once on the rooftops Shai let some of her paranoia fade, it was rare for her to encounter others above the city and when you did you didn’t interact. You never knew what you might meet on the roofs and it was better just to let them pass than risk meeting an assassin or worse.

Shai began to make her way towards the warehouses. She didn’t like venturing into castle commons and she wasn’t sure how long it would take for her to be comfortable there but sometimes necessity made demands and you simply obeyed. She needed a successful job; it’d been too long since the last one and with many merchants evicted her best option was the storage houses. Unfortunately with so many less merchants the prices on goods had gone through the roof which meant there’d be much stronger guards posted. Regardless Shai was going to take the chance to at least take a look. As she approached her destination Shai began moving slower keeping her step soft on the rooftops so no one detected her. When she finally got to the warehouse she thought would be her best bet she slipped down onto the wall of an adjacent building, starting out on a side not facing her target. Slowly she worked her way around the corners of the building until she had a good view of the storage house but still had a nice shadow to hide in. From here she waited and watched to see what the current defenses were.

[Zenai]

Season of Fall, Day 60, 511 AV

The night was a cold night but it was less cold than usual. Perhaps it was that hearth-fire that the rioters so nicely put in place or maybe Zenai was once again steaming from frustration. It was suppose his night off but Ol’ Legs needed more taggers on the duty and he asked Zenai to come work the night shifts. Actually, it wasn’t so much of asking but more of threatening Zenai that if he didn’t come to work, Zenai would be joining his brothers in the sea. Zenai couldn’t blame Ol’ Leg; he was just grumpy. These last few days saw businesses and merchants being forced to either close down or flee but most often than not, they did both. Something about merchants forming their own cartel and the other factions not tolerating more competition but it was mostly speculation. Either way, these were less merchants but more-than-the-usual number of angry people so each merchant caravan would need more escorts and guards. Instead of the usual four, they would be eight taggers per merchant caravan. Ol’ Leg didn’t like that ratio usually but circumstances have forced him to do so. Too many desperate people, too little merchants, too many opportunities for thieves, bandits and robbers and no room for mistakes.

Ol’ Legs gave Carsten, which in turn Zenai had to tag along, and her group the task of escorting a shipment of arms and armor down to the Cherry Bay. Zenai usually had to do food shipments but he got lucky today. He had heard that most of the food shipments were attacked viciously by a number of groups either being hungry rioters, opportunistic bandits or some other faction. Nights were also more dangerous and one does not usually do escorts at night; again, too dangerous and too many chances for an ambush. However, it seems something had forced Ol’ Leg to do it under unknown circumstances. It wasn’t Zenai’s place to know and all he had to do was follow Ol’ Leg’s orders. Zenai trusted the man had things under control.

“We almost done loading these wagons, Guppie?” Carsten asked.
Zenai nodded his head. “A couple more then we’re done. They’re bringing the rest out as we speak.”
“Good job, Guppie. Get on the last wagon with me then take your usual spot.”
His usual spot was sitting at the back of the wagon, guarding the rear while Carsten sat next to the driver. He was also supposed to chase down would-be thieves if it ever comes to that. He had to run them down a few times. The exercise did his legs some good.
“Alright, you oafs. Get your arses on those wagons. Sharp eyes and opened ears, people. I want this to be done fast and good. Move it!”
The owner of these products nodded his approval and took his seat at the first wagon.

The merchant, who goes by the name of Fabian, was the sort of person you would expect to trade weapons; expert swashbuckler and not afraid to throw dirty punches. Despite his old age, Fabian was physically in good shape but a few broken teeth, which made him whistle every time he spoke and breathe, as well as sporting a peg leg. He was finely dress, with an ornate long jacket and a fancy hat, for the occasion, with a rapier sheaved in his scabbard and Zenai could see a few glints inside his jacket, probably throwing-knives. Carsten said he used to be a privateer but he retired during his later years and became an arms merchant in Sunberth. Zenai has to admit; Sunberth was an interesting place with much more exciting rumors, gossips and stories. You wouldn’t get this kind of things in Syliras or Wind Reach.

Reins were slapped, horses were spurred and wagons were pulled. There were three wagons laden with swords, axes, chainmail, shield and whatever you need to equip your own little army. Each wagon had two guards on them while the other two walk in front of the caravan to act as scouts and spotters. Each of the guard including Carsten and Zenai had torches with them and it provided whatever light they needed to see in the dark. The moon was half out so that provided some light. Still, it was still too dark for Zenai’s liking and provided too much of an advantage for any would-be thieves. Zenai prayed that this escort goes without a hitch. The crates of weapons and armor also made a loud racket while the wagon moved over the bumpy streets of Sunberth. It almost sounded like “Hey people! I’m shipment of weapons and armor so you better kill these taggers and get me so you can either use or fence me for mizas. Come one, come all! Steal from these petchers! Yay!”

On their way out of the warehouse district, Zenai saw some of the other groups that just arrived or still in the midst of loading their own wagons. He wished they would go first instead of them. Like his own group, there were about eight guards each and they were of course under Ol’ Leg’s employment. The warehouse district was also “guarded” by gangs who made their turf within the normally quiet warehouse district but they would normally avoid Leg’s Taggers who were usually better armed and much better trained than the gang members with daggers or even short swords. Also, disrupting these shipments would normally stir the ire of Ol’ Leg or at worst, any one of the major factions in Sunberth who had a stake in Ol’ Leg’s Taggers operations.

Zenai then thought he heard movements and scanned his eyes around the corners of the building. If anything was there, he would have seen it right away but there was a pile crates someone could hide behind. He couldn’t see pass those.
“What is it, Guppie? Is Timmy trapped down the well?” Carsten asked sarcastically.
“No, he isn’t. I thought I heard something but I think its rats.”
Zenai double-checked by waving his torch at the direction of the corner.
Carsten looked at the direction that Zenai was referring to. “Again, keep an eye out.”
“Aye, Sera Carsten. Hope it’s going to be a quiet night.”
“You and me both.” Before going back to scanning things on her own arc of sight.
Zenai would have passed the corner of the building where someone could have hid behind in the shadows and that someone would have seen Zenai sitting behind the wagon, keeping an eye out for any thieves who want to fence these weapons.

[Shai]

Shai watched the small trade convoy. It was exactly what she had been looking for. Eight guards though, that would be rough. She’d been hoping for lighter cargo, with arms and armor she wouldn’t be able to make off with much. Turning her eyes on the beasts pulling the wagons, now maybe she could get away with a horse. A horse wouldn’t be an awful way to go but it would be tough, Shai couldn’t ride a horse and the only way to get away with it would be to flee on its back. Regardless, the little Symenestrea thief picked this caravan as her mark now she had to pick between two choices. Did she get herself a distraction or wait until they’re unloading and there are fewer guards to react? It was a valid question to pose and she mulled it over while slinking along behind the buildings watching the convoy’s progress.

That last guard on the end, he looked familiar but Shai couldn’t place where she had seen him before. It was a bad sign but not unusual. Most humans looked the same to Shai except for defining features like scars, strange skin colors or unusual statures. The bad part about it was that means she’d had cause to remember him which could mean he was an enemy or a friend of a friend, Shai didn’t steal from friends. Keeping her sounds down to a minimum Shai tried to get a good look at the last guard, eventually she gave up trying to recognize him and just accepted that she wasn’t stealing from him but the merchant he was guarding. Eventually she decided to wait, she would have preferred a distraction but none seemed to be forth coming. So instead Shai trailed behind the caravan watching the horses trying to pick her mark and also observing the guards to see which were the least attentive.

Shai eventually came to a gape in between buildings that had no shadow for her to safely cross through, how unlucky. So to try and stay out of sight she choose to scale the building and hope over ot the next building, tumbling as she landed into a shadow and hoping her maneuver was fast enough that no one caught sight of her.

[Zenai]

Zenai doesn’t know but his gut is acting way too strangely as if it was telling him something was watching them and intends to raid this caravan. He wanted to get off and scout it out for himself but the wagon suddenly jolted tilted to the left. Zenai was thrown off the wagon as the horses neighed and bucked. The driver calmed the beasts of burden down while Carsten got down and Zenai got up. Both went to investigate what happened and it was one of those worst case scenarios. One of the wheels of the wagon broke and from what Zenai can discern, they either have to get a new wagon or a new wheel. “Not good, not good at all.” Carsten worried.

As if to agree with Carsten, the merchant, Fabian got down from his own wagon to see what is holding up his operations. At the sight of the broken down wagon, Fabian cursed and screamed. Other than cursing in common, Zenai could catch a snip of Nari as well as a few other languages Zenai couldn’t understand but heard before. Carsten tried to calm the merchant down but Fabian seems a lot more angry and frustrated than you usually would when your wagon full of goods has broken down. Eventually, Carsten had to snap the former privateer out of his cursing marathon by slapping him in face which is followed by a “Shut up, you petching parrot! Now, calm down and we’ll think of something already!” Fabian look as if he was about to drew his rapier and slice Carsten to pieces for that slap. However, it seems Fabian thought otherwise and politely apologizes to Carsten for his outburst.

Carsten had a relatively lengthy discussion with Fabian. Too long of a discussion to be had in this situation; out guarding a shipment full of weapons and armor at the middle of the night in Sunberth. It’s like eating a bowl of razor-sharp knives sprinkled with crushed glass and no milk. Zenai and the other guards took position around the caravan, looking out for would-be attackers. This is too much of an opportunity to miss. Zenai kept an eye and ear out since there’s no telling what devious or evil individual would be seeking to slit their throats and gnaw on their bones. Maybe Zenai was a bit paranoid but that paranoia was quickly relieved when Carsten nodded to Fabian who then calls the taggers so the rest of the caravan would get going. Wait, they’re leaving us here? Alone? I want to go with them. NOW!

As the other two wagons disappeared into the night, it was only Zenai, Carsten, the driver as well as a big fella name Lug. Lug was a big man. A big, big man! Zenai worked with him a few times. He was the quiet sort and followed orders to the letter. Along with his big size, Lug had a giant axe strapped to his back and it wasn’t just for sure. Some time back, a wooden blockade was erected by some bandits but Lug was able to chop it away with just a few swings of his axe. Zenai doesn’t want to think about what he did to the bandits themselves. Pretty messy day, that was.

The three taggers huddled up. “Alright, Guppie and Lug. Listen up. I’ve discussed it with Fabian that it was best that the rest of caravan go on ahead without us while we fix this wagon. Don’t worry; I have confidence in your abilities.” Zenai puffed his chest out and Carsten was able to sense that. “Not so much the Guppie.” Zenai breathed out. “We’re pretty much out in the middle of nowhere and help is quite a distance away. Lug, I want you to either get a new wagon or a new wheel as well as the tools to fix this. Got it, Lug?” Lug simply beat his chest in acknowledgement. “Good boy. Now, go.” Lug went off to fulfill his assignment. Zenai could hear the heavy thumps of his footstep as he ran off to retrieve his quest items.

Zenai pretty much knew why Carsten sent Lug instead of anyone else. Lug was big and strong; the things that would the fear into anyone that comes across him. He can pretty much handle himself while Carsten and Zenai guard the wagon all alone. Zenai still wished the others would have waited with them but then again, better to save whatever you can rather than trying to save everything but lose it in the end. This was Sunberth so when you gamble, be prepared for losses. Still, he couldn’t help but think that Fabian is a lot more concern about this particular wagon. It wasn’t like it was filled with gold and jewelry which is worth more than swords or daggers.

Somehow Fate likes to be ironic. Zenai and Carsten heard a loud thump from the wagon. Zenai and Carsten blinked once then twice then thrice. They couldn’t believe it; one of the trunks fell off but instead of containing swords, shields or chainmail, it was filled gold mizas. So very much gold mizas. The driver of the wagon saw it with wide, greedy eyes. Carsten saw this herself and pointed at the driver. “Keep your eyes to yourself. One word of this and be sure that you’re going to be singing with the fishes.” The driver nodded in fear and tended to the horses instead. “Guppie, help me get the stuff back inside that trunk. Don’t want us to be attracting flies.” Zenai simply nodded as he and Carsten scooped the mizas back into the trunk.

So much mizas… This was probably the most gold mizas he has held in his hands in his entire life. “Focus, Guppie. We’re Ol’ Leg’s Taggers. Remember that.” Zenai nodded as he remembered that the taggers were the most honest guards you can hire in Sunberth. He wouldn’t sully the tagger’s reputation as his honor wouldn’t allow him as well as the thought of Ol’ Leg taking one of Zenai’s own leg for himself. No wonder that Fabian was flipping his hat; there was more to it than your typical shipment of arms. He probably wanted to avoid Ol’ Leg’s “export duties”. It was then Carsten held up a jewel-encrusted Isurian steel-bladed rapier. It was probably the most precious, and expensive, thing Zenai saw in his life and apparently, Carsten too as she gawk at the blade as well. It was wrapped in fine silk and it had a name attached to it, probably the rapier’s name and it said, “Izurdin’s Fingernail”.

OOCI'm gonna let you steal it from Carsten. just don't kill her. Steal the sword then allow me to pursue you.

[Shai]

Shai stuck to the shadow she’d tumbled into. From this vantage point she had an excellent view of her good fortune; one of the wagons was immobilized. Her muscles tensed and she had to consciously even out her breathing, she was getting too excited and that would lead to stupid mistakes. She was just deciding to act when her fortunes multiplied by more mizas than she could count. Shai crawled closer along the roof to get a better look. There were still choices to make, so many choices. The horse was no longer a good target instead the mizas took it's place, but how many could she really get away with? A handful? What would she do about the two remaining guards? Her first question was answered when the female guard picked up the rapier. There was no doubt about her target, that rapier was worth more than Shai could hope to own, it wasn’t that she could estimate value very well but the gems alone would keep her happily fed and housed for at least a season. This trip went from casual scouting into a paramount heist in less time than it took to breath.

She needed to incapacitate the guard holding the blade; it was her best chance to get it from the woman without killing her. If at all possible Shai would avoid shedding living blood. She didn’t have anything handy that could debilitate the guard but maybe . . . it was just an idea but it might work. If not well it might surprise the guard long enough for the Symenestra to relieve her of the rapier and run.

Shai reached down and tied the ends of her cloak around her waist to prevent it from obstructing her movements. Then Shai began to carefully scale head first down the wall, staying in a shadow as much as possible. She hoped the guards would be too preoccupied with the mizas and their find to notice the living shadow creeping towards street level. Eventually Shai got into her desired position, she was only about nine feet off the ground, but she didn’t intend to jump to the street that might injure her, instead her desired landing spot was much more alive.

She crouched against the wall and tensed her legs. After one brief breath the Symenestra lunged from the wall and onto the back of the unsuspecting woman. Shai reached the woman with her arms first allowing her to grip the woman’s shoulders and brace herself for the rest of her ninety-five pounds hitting the woman's lower in her back. She rode the female guard to the ground and managed to land the maneuver with the woman face down and Shai crouched on her back. Finally one of Shai’s plans went as she had meant it to. Shai reached down to grab the rapier and began fleeing in the same heartbeat. As she jumped over the wagon and headed for a an alleyway the Symenestra made a fatal error. She looked back.

While most of Shai’s features flashed by in a shadowed blur her two bright amethyst eyes flashed brilliantly in Zenai’s direction. It was a remarkable feature, something to track someone by. She’d looked back to see if she was followed, she should have just run. Now she made her retreat down an alley way, any alley way. She needed to get out of sight before she fled up a wall otherwise the hunt would go from chasing a thief to slaying a monster.

[Zenai]

Zenai didn’t see it coming and when it did, he thought a living shadow came alive and burst forth from its shadowy world of the night to take whatever shiny things for its lair. Carsten fell on the ground hard as the shadow used her to soften its landing. Zenai could only watch as the shadow grabbed the rapier off of Carsten’s hands and running towards the alleyway. As the shadow passed by, Zenai could only see two jeweled eyes; amethyst from the looks of it. Zenai was enthralled by it for it both spoke of deadly beauty but somehow, he felt like he has seen those eyes before.

“Guppie! Stop gawking and get that petcher!” Zenai snapped out of his stupor. Petch! It already ran too far down the alleyway for Zenai to chase down and keep it in sight. Common sense kicked him in the head and Zenai came to realization that horses are faster than people and he hope that horses also ran faster than shadows. He ran towards the driver and took the reins off his hand. Zenai then cut whatever binds the horse to the wagon and mounted the beast. Zenai hoped his days of horse riding would pay off as he slapped the reins and directed the horse down towards the alleyway. Zenai assume that Carsten will recover and follow when she can but for now, Zenai has to keep the shadow in his sights and pursue it.

How does one keep track and keep up with a shadow? Zenai had to use whatever senses he has as well as pure instinct and gut feeling. Zenai galloped down the alleyway. Too narrow for a wagon to fit through and maybe just a tight fit for a mounted rider. He doesn’t exactly have a choice. If they fail to get back that rapier, Ol’ Leg is going to have a field day with the Guppie and maybe with Fabian too Zenai hoped but better do it right now rather than face Ol’ Leg’s ire. Zenai, with one hand on the reins and the other had his talon sword, chased down the shadow. For now, it seems to keep on ground level where Zenai could easily gallop if it wasn’t for the various obstacles in his way. The shadow ducked, jumped and slide throughout this obstacle horse while Zenai had to duck below signs and roofs and his horse had to jump over whatever is in its way. Here and there, Zenai had to cut away ropes, cloths-lines and various other entangling obstacles with his talon sword.

For now, it looks like it is even odds between Zenai and the shadow as they raced down the narrow alleys and the occasionally the main streets. Zenai wished he had something to put the odds in his favor. Something like a bow so he can shoot down his prey or the very least, a spear or lance so he can reach out and skewer the thief. Zenai only had his wits and his talon swords. His wits are doing him good thus far but his talon swords are more for close quarter melee. He has to chase and catch up to the shadow before he can actually have the opportunity to take a swipe at his target but he is still slowed down by narrow alleys and sudden turns.

Luckily, the shadow hasn’t climb up onto the roofs of buildings otherwise Zenai would have a difficult time actually pursing it. It’s not like his horse can climb up ladders, do impossible jumps or even flying through the air but he wished it can do all those and more. Zenai has to be satisfied keeping the shadow in sight and preventing it from escaping to the higher levels where his horse can reach. He also keeps an eye out for anything that would aid him in this catch. Anything at all! He hoped that Carsten catch up with Zenai or Lug coming his way and helping out.

[Shai]

Shai hated running, she wasn’t conditioned for it. She had to do something about that horse. The guard was gaining on her; she hadn’t counted on him taking a mount. It seemed to the thief that her path would lead her straight through the temple square and in that open square the rider would catch her easily. She nearly lost her balance when the knot keeping her cloak up fell undone and the cloak flung out behind her. It was a normal weight but unexpected. When the cloak flared out behind the fleeing spider it revealed a silhouette view of the short lithe runner. She’d regained her bearings but now had another disadvantage in her free cloak slowing her down and catching on debris. Each new obstacle to her escape lessened her choices; she needed to act before she completely ran out of options.

After three blocks of dodging rubbish and veering around corners Shai was beginning to get winded. The weight of the rapier was no aid; it threw off her familiar balance. Of course, the rapier. She hadn’t considered the object a weapon because she was so unused to having any defense besides her natural ones. The horse needed to go and there was no time like the present. Shai swung around a sharp corner and flattened herself against the wall. It was a dangerous maneuver. If the plan went well the horse would essentially be lame and its only use was on the dinner table. If things went poorly the horse would get her and crush her skull, she wouldn’t need to worry about getting away then. But there was yet around possibility, she might miss the horse’s legs and simply make a sharp maneuver that would be difficult for the guard to follow. It was a gamble but this was Sunberth, if there was anywhere on Mizahar a gamble was appropriate it was here.

Shai waited for what seemed a season but was probably only a moment. The rider had followed her so far she couldn’t imagine one corner would magically deter him. The rapier was ready in her right hand, she wasn’t sure how to really use the weapon only a vague sense of how to hold it and to slash or stab. Her aim was to slash. When the rider finally rounded the corner she slashed out at the horse’s hind quarters trying to sever the delicate muscles that made its legs work. In a split second her eyes stole a glimpse of the rider, it was Bob’s guard from the rat races. If she’d had a second to consider the ramifications she would have but now was not the time. She didn’t spare a glance to see if her plan was a success, she slipped back around the corner avoiding any rebuke from the horse’s hooves. Shai needed to rest longer but she didn’t have that luxury, instead she fled back down the alley and took a different turn in a new direction. As she took this corner her long charcoal braid whipped out from its confine beneath her hood and left a perfect tail to mark her direction.

[Zenai]

Petch! That shadow ain’t a shadow. It’s just some little thieving thief! I’ll show him…or her or whatever. I’m going to run him or her down soon. As Zenai realized they were headed towards the temple grounds where the wide open streets would be very advantageous for Zenai to pursue his prey. Zenai cursed the few times he saw the thief almost trip and Zenai could have caught up with the thief but there was still obstacles in the way of his own horse. Why can’t things be easy? Oh right, that’s life for you… Still, he was making good progress as he rode on. The thief maybe running out of breath but these horses were made for working for an entire day and do not tire easily and if it comes to it, Zenai is well enough to run after the thief on foot but he isn’t going to abandoned his horse just yet.

The thief has gone around a corner, nothing peculiar about that since they turn a lot of corners during the pursuit. However, this was a lot of different as when Zenai turned around the corner with his horse, the horse neighed in pain as if something sliced off its legs. Indeed, something did slice off its legs and now, the horse, and Zenai along with it, is tumbled forward for a violent fall. Zenai, before the horse completes its fall, jumps off the horse. He hopes he doesn’t crash down as hard as the horse and would be able to land more softly than he would have had if he stayed on the horse. He partly succeeded by not breaking any of his bones and is still capable of chasing down the thief but partly failed because it petching hurts anyway!

Zenai had no time to feel pain and hoped his limbs especially his legs cooperate and work through the pain. Zenai got up just in time to see the thief going back from where they came from. Zenai pushed himself off the ground and started to run after the thief. First, he jogged and when his legs got a good footing on the ground, he went for a full run, not wanting to the thief to be out of sights. Luckily, he did this quite a few times since his induction as one of Old Leg’s taggers. Once you were put in a position and somehow are able to do it, you were marked forever as they guy that can do it. Zenai didn’t have any real qualms about it since he was just a Guppie and Carsten is still pretty much his leader but Zenai wouldn’t mind one of cushier jobs as the guy who just sat next to the driver. Somehow, Zenai felt he was the only Guppie in Sunberth. He wished someone else would come in and be the Fish that chased down thieves and beggars that were stupid enough to steal from them. In the meantime, he was still the Guppie with the job of chasing down successful pickpockets and Zenai was getting better at it. His legs were more responsive now, going into motion of lifting each other so they would move forward. Zenai breathed in and out depending on which leg came up. Right, breathe in. Left, breathe out. This allows a steading intake of air for the long distance run he’s about to enter.

Like one of those contest of strength, running was one skill that’s quite important especially for those word runners Tua would have running around Sunberth. Speed was of importance but not as much as actually getting the message to its intended receiver. Of course, you can try to outrun your attackers but that hardly works in the narrow alleys of Sunberth where you can still be intercepted and ambushed. Zenai wasn’t a word runner but he still needs to run on the count of he needs to run down those little raiders and this one was no exception. Zenai jumped, ducked and slide after his prey, being accustomed to the many obstacles in Sunberth. On a related note, couldn’t Sunberth be a bit more clean and orderly? Suddenly, the thief let loose falling planks but Zenai still had his talon sword in his hand. Grabbing it with both hands, Zenai chops and kicks away the wooden planks then continue his pursuit. That was a typical tactic to throw off pursuers. Variations included fruits, dirt and feces. He needs to get a mask for these kinds of things.

Suddenly, the thief almost slipped and Zenai took the opportunity to catch up to her. The thief may have wasted half a second to stabilize him/her-self but it was just enough for Zenai to get within grabbing reach. He could have tried to cut off the tendons of her legs but that would be too cruel and he wants to bring this thief to Carsten for judgment. Zenai got closer and closer, he puts more power into his legs and its strides. Zenai’s heart raced as he got closer, so close to his prize and ending this interesting night. He surged forward, almost leaping and was able to grab the cloak of the thief. Finally! He just needs to pull the thief to the ground and pin him/her down then probably beat the daylights out of the thief for stealing the rapier, killing the horse and making him run.

The thief turns her head around. He knew somehow the thief was a woman but he couldn’t tell exactly. He has seen feminine man before and he prefers to err on the side of caution. Again, those amethyst eyes look so familiar. Her other facial features came into view and Zenai’s heart skipped a beat. Time seemed to stop for Zenai to analyze the face that belongs to the thief and comprehend the consequences of all this. It was Shai alright. He didn’t want to believe at first but this time he was sure. Shai was one of Bob’s associates and since Bob is Zenai’s friend, Zenai and Shai were connected. This is going to be bad for Zenai. Old Leg is going to make him swim with the fishes if he knew. Heck, he would even offer Zenai to Rykol as a peace-offering for the trouble on Zenai’s first day of work. This is bad, real bad. Do Zenai deal with Shai by chasing her down and give her a beating of a lifetime for this thievery or does Zenai let Shai go and he would need to face the consequences? He could probably join Bob’s… No, Zenai owed Legs and by Wysar’s judging eye, he would not let Old Legs down. Now, it’s the matter of stopping her in her tracks.

[Shai]

Shai gasped as her pursuer grabbed her cloak from behind. The neck tie pulled painfully against her neck and momentarily stopped her ability to breath. As soon as Shai’s running momentum ceased she managed to back up and spin on her heel. With Zenai still holding her cloak this maneuver put Shai in close proximity to him, too close for swords. She could see the recognition clearly written on his face. “Oh, Boy, you really should have let me escape.” But now there was no helping it, he had to be convinced by force or words to free her. If he could lie she’d hope to use words but she suspected he was simply a hired muscle, not at all known for their intelligence. It was best for both of them and any relations they would have in the future if she made it clear he had lost the thief due to her skill not to his bias. Besides she had no reason to want him to lose his guard job, it was always good policy to know someone in guard positions. Even if the guard didn’t like you enough to let you get away with your illicit activities you would know their strengths and more importantly their weaknesses, win-win really.

A toe to toe fight was always a bad situation for the thief, she simply didn’t have the combat abilities required to win. All she had at her disposal was claws, venom, and the rapier. Venom was a last resort there was no need to disfigure the man, although she had eaten earlier this day so he would live through the injection but the pain would probably be debilitating. No, no venom, yet. Shai swiped at his exposed cheek with her left claws. She wasn’t sure if she hit but that wasn’t the point, the point was Zenai’s loosening grip on her cloak. It gave Shai enough time to yank her cloak from his grasp and jump back out of immediate reach. “Should have, but I guess we are beyond that. So what will it be? Daring duel to the death or shall I seduce you with my feminine wiles?” The second half of her proposal was a joke; Shai had all the feminine wiles of a prostitute’s left toe nail and the body of a tree in winter. So to punctuate that there really wasn’t a second option, Shai rose the rapier in her right hand. Widening her legs she took a sword’s men stance, or at least what she thought was a sword’s men stance. She’d never used a sword before tonight but she understood the concept well enough, stab with the pointy end and slash with the sharp side. But she had spotted Zenai’s swords on previous occasions and guessed that they weren’t for show, she’d need to come up with another way to take him out and quickly.

OOCshe's just being dramatic don't worry no lasting physical harm will result XD

[Zenai]

“Oh! You petching bitch!” Zenai exclaimed as the thief had left a superficial wound on Zenai’s cheeks. It wasn’t lethal, or at least that’s what Zenai thought, but it still petching hurt and knowing women, they would have inclinations to have nice, sharp nails. Zenai made a mental note that if he is able to apprehend the thief, he would break her nails for safety reasons. Zenai had to let go of the thief’s cloak to soothe the spiking pain on his cheeks. Petch! He shouldn’t have let go but luckily for Zenai, the thief came around to face Zenai with the rapier in hand. There was blood on it so Zenai came to the conclusion that the rapier was indeed used to but his horse down.

So, a duel; finally, something Zenai was more competent at. The other option was not so attractive especially when she is from a race of spider-people. Who knew what was under there! Zenai doesn’t want to find out and all he wants is that rapier back. Shai answered her own question by taking a fighting stance. Zenai fought back a giggle as he saw how bad a stance she did. Zenai didn’t want her to know that Zenai would underestimate her but then again, she could be just opening herself up so Zenai would overextend himself and be open to her attacks. He has to take this in strides as there’s no telling what she can do. He was glad enough that she stuck around to fight Zenai. It would give time for Carsten and Lug to find them.

For now, he has to keep her busy. Zenai drew his other talon sword out and took his own fighting stance. Zenai analyzed the fight and he concluded that there are too many uncertainties. Zenai doesn’t exactly know neither what are Shai’s combat capabilities nor about her other “special” abilities. Zenai never liked going into a fight blind. He can deal with the generic bandit but when it comes to people like Shai, you wouldn’t know what to expect. He has to take a chance otherwise she would escape with the rapier and Old Leg would throw the Guppie back into the sea.

The moon was out and it shed some light on the fighting arena that Shai and Zenai are fighting in. The moon shines it rays upon the blades drawn as if blessing them for this match. The wind howled its demand for battle by funneling itself through the alleyway and downwind from Zenai thus cooling the sweat on the combatants so it would give the chills to both Shai and Zenai. The echoes were the cheering and jeering of the shadows who were participants to this fight; their silent shouting pushing Zenai or Shai to attack the other. Zenai would not disappoint them.

Zenai was the first to press on with his attack and charged towards the thief who stood her ground with the rapier in one hand. Zenai grinned as he saw his first advantage over Shai; his two talon swords. Unless Shai had a hidden weapon, Zenai had the advantage two blades rather than having one. Zenai could throw more slashes and stabs than Shai could parry or block with her one rapier. Zenai doesn’t think Shai had the strength to grab onto one of Zenai’s arms. Then there’s the matter of Zenai’s other “weapons”, namely his fists and knees. Zenai would toss them into the fight when the opportunity comes. Finally, Zenai actually had some armor on to protect him from nimbler attacks that would have been laced with poisons or venoms.

Again, he has to remember to be cautious with this relatively unknown opponent. Zenai went for the basics to test her skills and strength. Zenai got ready for his attack by getting ready to go for a double-bladed whirlwind strike against Shai’s left. As Zenai almost reached within striking distance of Shai, he twirled around, spinning on his toes. A classic whirlwind attack, something Zenai favors as an opening move. He usually puts more power into that first attack. Whether it successfully hits Shai or she was able to dodge or block it, mattered little to Zenai because he would use the momentum to spin around for a second strike. He usually accompanies it with a knee kick but he still doesn’t know what Shai is capable of and he doesn’t want to show all of his moves yet. The element of surprise would be important in this specific duel.

Zenai would then go for a flurry of low power attacks to test her defenses. He would stab and slash as much as possible and in addition, you add in some power strikes and double-sword blows to see how she handles it. Zenai doesn’t want to overcommit with these few clashes of the sword. Maybe if she thinks she has a chance against the Guppie, she would be more likely to stay on to beat Zenai, though he wouldn’t let her do it so easily. Zenai would deliver a mixture of strikes against her sides from his two blades as well as from the top and bottom. In short, Zenai would send her a variety of sword attacks which include various cuts from various directions and a mixture of low and mid-level strikes to test her reaction.

Zenai has to be careful though; she could just run anytime soon and Zenai has to pin her down long enough to be found or to tire her out and make her submit. Zenai also had to be careful of any hidden weapons from any of her nooks and crannies as well as her feet. Zenai would allow her to take his ground to pull her into more favorable ground where Zenai can trap her. Then there’s the issue of her rapier; from the looks of it, it can do both do damage and look good doing it. Zenai has to be aware of it else it can be used to bludgeon Zenai especially on the ends where the gems are.