[Flashback] Smoke and Mirrors (Nai'shee)

[Razia]

Razia turned away slightly, hissing a string of profanities in Nari. If the same sailor sent two thieves for the same item, it only meant one thing. They were set up. And that meant that their presence in the shop was known, or soon to be known, by local authorities. That left only one option; something Razia knew she would regret. She looked back at the girl, gritting her teeth. "Yeah, he hired me too." She muttered, crossing her arms and glancing over her shoulder out the window. No sign of anyone yet. They would have to hurry. The glinting dagger caught her eye, and she examined it for a moment, eyeing the lock on the glass case with frustration. However, the expression soon faded into a smirk as she spun back around to face the girl. "Hey," her tone increased in volume, and lightened, "are you any good at picking locks?"

[Nai'shee]

"More or less", she answered and took two of four wires she saved for these situations in her pocket. "But it'll probably take some time. I know how to do it, I just don't have how to practice, so I'm not fast... Hey, why would that guy hire both of us? Is it some kind of trap or was he just having fun making a competition? We should probably run after we pick that lock you're talking about." She thought about two safe routs - one was trough little streets in which lived just robbers and other scum, as Zeltivans liked to call them, and second one was abandoned building they could probably hide in until morning and mask the dagger for when they come out. She wanted to tell that to woman, but she silently waited for her to decide about lock on the daggers box, probably. Nai'shee wanted to bring whole box, it wasn't really heavy, but if they really were set up, there wasn't time for that.

[Razia]

Razia's eyes trailed along the walls and windows, seeking out signs of movement in the shadows. "My gut tells me he's too stupid to set us up, but too selfish to turn this into a practical joke," she stalked across the room, keeping low, and pointed to the box, "Pick it," she chirped, "I'll take care of the escape." She made her way to the opposite counter, vaulting it easily and landing beside the clerk's desk. She crouched, leafing through a variety of papers and documents. After taking a few, she gently folded them and stuffed them in her pockets, then stood. Glancing at the girl, she frowned, "Well don't just stand there, get to it!" The order was urgent, though not at all violent. She jumped over the clerk's desk and fell into a low walk, peeking out the window and whistling. The falcon appeared out of the darkness, perched on the opposite rooftop. "Stay close," she chimed, "and keep watch. This may take an unexpected turn for the worse."

[Nai'shee]

Nai'shee was pretty confused looking at Inarta "taking care of escape", but then she reminded her she has her job too. She turned back to the lock she had to pick. She crouched, holding the lock by her knees so it wouldn't move. She put one wire in it and slowly started turning cog-wheel by second one. It slipped her two times, so she decided to concentrate more. After fourth try she succeed, so she carefully opened lock and took it away. She opened it and took dagger. It was beautiful, indeed. "I'm done here", she said. "Let me hear escape plan."

[Razia]

Razia spun around to face the girl, beaming at the sight of the freed dagger. "Blue skies..." She chuckled under her breath, reaching to take it. However, the warning sound of a whistle caused her to hesitate before grasping the girl's wrist instead. "Follow me!" She barked, bolting for the window and leaping up the wall, slipping outside easily. After shooting a glance over her shoulder to make sure the girl was following, she jumped onto a crate against the opposite wall, placing a foot against the wall before pushing herself up toward the rooftop of the shop. Catching the edge with outstretched arms, she pulled herself up, kneeling and reaching back down to offer the girl a hand. "Hurry!" She hissed, looking toward the street, where torchlight danced about on the walls. Inspiration : Music

[Nai'shee]

Nai'shee followed her. She forgot about that, Inarta, she thought the whole time, but... However, she seemed to be fast, so she had to push herself a little. She accepted her hand while climbing roof. She couldn't ever jump that high to do that. She was experienced with roof-walking, so it wasn't really a problem, but Inarta was still pretty fast for her. What was her name? She actually haven't asked, have she? Well, she probably won't tell her real name anyways, so Inarta is enough for now. She took a look at her. She seemed like thinking, or concentrating on something in the moment. It was weird, but Nai'shee haven't spoke. She usually babbles as soon as she is sure nobody hears it in situation like this, but not now. Something in that woman woke respect in her.

[Razia]

Razia peered into the street, crouched, back arched, ready to pounce if someone got too close. As the muffled sound of footsteps drew near, she stepped back away from the edge. Once far enough into the roof, she stood to her full height, eyes fixed on the sky. After a short hesitation, she let out a long, musical whistle, and then another. The falcon fluttered into view for a moment before twirling and diving back down toward the street. A thunderous caw sounded from the sky above, and Razia smirked, making her way back to the edge of the building. "I hope you're not afraid of heights," Razia muttered, gazing down at the now visible few guards. There were four of them, huddled and wary, obviously knowing that their target was up ahead. They were startled by Anthion's call, and quickened their pace toward the shop. Frowning, Razia turned back to her new ally, "Can you fight?"

[Nai'shee]

She heard footsteps near on her right and moved back almost at the same as woman, crouching on the top balancing her body with right hand, and left Inarta do the rest. She saw lights in the center of the city, pretty far from here, so she guessed most of guards are there. She heard Inarta lift few whistles to the sky. Girl carefully looked above her and there was nothing... yet. She wanted to answer she could fight with the sword, but she left her stupid pride and childish games aside, because she remembered this time it wasn't just her. If they capture them they'll capture Inarta she was supposed to help to, but now she felt as a burden to her. She said: "Unarmed no. I can fight with the sword, but not very well either. Well, we have that dagger, but we don't want to damage it too much... They know where we are, they're heading to the right side, probably to climb. Listen, if we don't have time to escape I can fuss them a bit, so we can meet somewhere else or don't meet at all, whatever. I bet I know this city better then they do.", she finished with explorer's smile. She probably knew every shortcut here, and some of them weren't big enough for adults. She felt she was really talking too much for this kind of situation, so she turned around to face them when they come, and then finished her thought. "I'm sure I'm faster then they are, but I doubt about fighting, they win there."

[Razia]

The tone in the girl's voice caused Razia to smile. It was rare to find eager adventurers nowadays. The girl reminded her much of herself at that age, only with a better attitude. In all, she liked her, and did not want to get her thrown in jail. With this deduction, Razia sucked in a breath. They had about two minutes before the guards were on top of them. The Inarta nodded to the girl, grinning, "Alright, here's how it'll go. I'll hold them off and you escape. Find a way to the docks, if you can." She placed a hand on the girl's shoulder, looking her in the eye, "If they catch you, make some noise. I'll come get you. Otherwise, meet me at the docks." With that, she patted her shoulder, standing and whistling once more. Andaer appeared, flapping up and landing on her outstretched arm. "Go with our new friend, and make sure she stays safe." The order was authoritative, yet gentle. The falcon chirped in understanding looking at the girl and twittering before taking off. Razia turned back to the girl, smiling, "Now, hurry. Andaer will protect you and alert you of any danger up ahead." She smiled, then turned to face the alleyway where the guards were gathering, waiting for their assumed assailant to emerge from the front doors of the shop. Razia crouched above them, then leaped down, tackling one to the ground. She rolled off of him, kicking out the next guard's ankles. Another perried with a strike of his sword toward her stomach, and she deflected it, elbowing him in the jaw and pushing him into the other guard, who dropped his torch. A moment later, Razia socked him in the throat, then kicked him to the ground. She stepped over one writhing guard into the street, pressing herself against the wall. She listened, waiting for the next set of guards to come her way.

[Nai'shee]

Nai'shee was surprised to hear totally new plan. She wanted to be of some use, she didn't wanted Inarta to fight alone, but she guessed she wouldn't help anyway, so she just watched her jumping down at the guards. Well, if she can't do anything else, she'll help at least a bit. She went behind the fighting guards and jumped to the ground. Few of them noticed her, as she started to run. After some murmur they two of them started to chase her, while others kept fighting. She smiled, slightly running into a dark street. She assumed Inarta was worried, but she couldn't follow them anyways. Her second thought was that she'll be recognized. It would be terrible if she had to leave city. But it was dark night and they won't be able to prove anything. Most think that she is just unskilled homeless kid who has childish dream of being a sailor. Footsteps behind her were monotonic, so she assumed she is keeping the distance. It was harder for them to run while carrying armors and weapons. She turned left before the thief-quart, assuming they would find something strange there too, she didn't wanted to be traitor. At night like this one many of them are active. She now headed in wrong direction, but she needed to loose these guys before she shows where she was going. She jumped on some bags, and then to the roof, purposely overturning them, then quickly past across the building, landing in a parallel street. It will take them a while to come back here, but they will probably intercept her. Instead of that she remembered the big house which was still building. Children used to play there while it's day, but it was made for escaper's cat eyes at night. She started to run again, in that direction, before they get to there. Once she gets to her terrain she's safe. She entered the big building like her own room, she knew every corner of this. She scraped through bricks and entered the future hall. She could hide here and wait, but she must be in docks soon, so she had to escape fastest possible. Few seconds later she was spying the street from the second floor. It took a while for guards to come, but when they did they just passed a building, trying to reach the place she landed on. As she would stay there. She had to run now, before backup comes. She jumped to bushes behind the building, and run straight for docks, without even trying to hide anymore. If she is late she can afford more hiding and running around, but if she makes it in time, she didn't wanted to lose time on such a tings. She was at the docks after a minute or so, panting, so she just hid with some covered groceries waiting for the boat to pick them tomorrow morning and waited to hear Inarta coming. She made it in time. She smiled.