Grand Adventure ( sunspark + Silentworld )

[sunspark]

When Wymerus, a merchant prince from the Southern coast discovered that bandits had waylaid one of his caravans and made off with the goods, he offered a reward to any adventurers able to return them.

Casia and her brother spent the better part of two weeks tracking down the men, scouting their stronghold in the hills, and then driving then out of it when twilight fell.

Wymerus was immensely grateful to have his goods back. Silks from Illysia, spices and incense from Brav Tresh, a case of silver charms from the temples in Kajat - stamped with the likenesses of the thousand-and-one Kajati gods.

...unfortunately for him, he was not grateful enough to hand over the reward he had promised, and after turning over the spoils, Casia found herself and her brother escorted off his property by armed guards.

Infuriating, and it's just like the men of this nation to have no decency, and while she crouches in the darkness just beyond the wall of his estate, she thinks they should have just kept what they took. They could have melted down those silver charms and passed them off as--

Her train of thought cuts off as she sees the guards changing shift, and she lets her brother boost her up, over the wall. Hopping off, she lands silently, picking the lock and swinging the gate open to let him in.

"Hurry," she whispers. "We should be gone before he knows we were here."

 

[Silentworld]

Gaius felt naked, his armor gone for soft fabrics and leather of darkened hues. Less noise he argued, but otherwise missed the protection the chainmail rings and strips of steel privided. He wondered what had gotten him and his sister into this mess. But all that really mattered was that they were slighted out of weeks worth of work.

"Up you get Cas." He said, moving quickly to lift her up over a stone fence at her instruction. She was always the sly one of the pair, better with words and skulking about in the dark. They weren't very far apart in age, and he smiled with strait clean teeth as the gate swung open with nary a sound. "Lead the way. Remember where the prize is?"

The two of them would get their payment one way or another, and had spent the last few days watching the merchant prince's home. Monitoring guard patrols, shift times, and where what they wanted was on routine. It was late, and only the mercenaries paid to watch overnight would be moving about. How he found it hard to not speak, wanting to ramble just to break the silence.

Quickly they would get to the buildings, and the clattering of armour announced a pair coming out. It took all of his willpower to not voice his dismay at the two arriving faster than planned.

 

[sunspark]

"I remember," she says, her voice hushed. "...and the bastard owes us half again for making me climb that stupid wall."

Not that it's a hardship, she just wants to complain.

As the pair of guards approach, she flattens herself into an alcove, disappearing into the shadows. Casia dresses somewhat more casually when they're traveling, but here, she's dressed for work. She wears light armor of boiled black leather and metal backed gloves. Her boots reach her knees, and the soles are soft enough to move quietly in.

When they guard pass her, she coldcocks the first one, stepping over him almost before he hits the ground. Her brother can deal with the other, and she heads for the house.

She's been inside once before, and that was only to drop of the goods they recovered. Previously, Casia only barely managed to restrain herself from rolling her eyes at the tasteless extravagance, and now she doesn't bother. There's perfectly fenceable stuff laying around everywhere and she grabs whatever looks easy to carry and valuable.

Oh shit, there's that case of silver charms. She grabs it and tucks it under one arm, and when Gaius joins her, she nods towards the main stairs. "Up there."

 

[Silentworld]

Gaius nodded, a grim focus setting into his face as his sister complained. Yes they would be making him pay, and it would leave a scar a long time coming in his memory. His idea was to leave a not so kindly worded message behind, reminding the merchant that when dues are to be paid, that they will be one way or another.

He watched his sister vanish into the alcove, even though he knew where to look it was nearly impossible for the warrior to spy the shape of his sibling. A useful skill, but not one that Gaius possessed. Instead he took to hiding around the corner waiting until he heard the crumpling of one man to step out. The front of the two guards only had time to see his face for a fraction, before a sheathed sword slammed into it. He too crumpled on top of his partner.

He had come in once before, taking delight in the regality of the place. How Gaius wished to own his own manor. Or a castle even. Before having to come to these unwelcome ports, his only goal had been to join the king's knights. But that was out of the window, and his morals had gone with them. He didn't see what Cas had grabbed, but if she was holding it then it must be worth something to somebody. He knew she wouldn't waste her time on pointless ventures. "I know. Last on the left." He muttered softly, making his way up the long ornate staircase. He followed the path he had been instructed too, coming to a seemingly normal bedroom door. "Unlock it, before someone finds our sleeping friends." He says, readying the chains that had been wrapped and hanging off his belt, to dash in when the door opened.

 

[sunspark]

Casia pulls a pair of lockpicks from inside her armor and kneels down, the only noise the bare scrape of metal as she deftly manipulates the pins. Fifteen seconds later, there's a light 'click' and she turns the handle, easing the door open.

The bedroom behind the door is as ostentatious as the rest of the manor, and sleeping behind a gauzy curtain that covers the four post bed, is the merchant prince's daughter. Casia thinks her name might be Tessa, but she also doesn't care that much. The point here is that the girl is going to be worth the promised payment and half again, just like she said.

She steps out of the doorway, nodding to her brother.

 

[Silentworld]

The door was opened much faster than Gaius expected. Maybe they had spared some expenses on the locks, thinking that the handful of guards cpuld protect them. He scoffed at the thought, pushing the door open with a quiet creak that set him on edge. Still he moved quickly enough. A devious thought crept into his mind, seeing her sleeping. Pulling a cloth off her nightstand, her tore it in two. Crumpling one half into a ball and twisting the other. The silk cloth ball was shoved into her mouth suddenly, no doubt waking her, but the other strip would be tied tightly, gagging her and muffling any screams she made.

He would fight with the merchant prince's daughter for controll of her hands, twisting them behind and locking the iron clasps around her wrists. The chain was all one length, and with her arms out of the way, he was able to chain her feet as well. "Well Tessa, maybe this will remind your daddy to pay his debts." He said, grasping the girl and tossing her over his shoulder. "Cas, go ahead and get the boat ready. I'll be right behind." He spoke in a whisper to his sister, not able to move nearly as fast as she could, especially with their payment struggling.

 

[sunspark]

Tessa, the Prince's daughter, is close to Casia's age, or perhaps a year or two younger. She's pretty, in the softer way that women used to easy lives are. Where Casia is narrow and prickly and threaded with trim muscle, this girl is soft and smooth and delicate. Her blonde hair hangs down over her shoulders in a mass, disorderly from sleep.

She cries against the gag, confused and frightened, her voice muffled, and Casia disappears out the door.

A quick scout of their escape route confirms there are no more guards, and since Wymerus lives at the edge of the river that leads down to the Eastern Sea, the quickest path away with their prize is by boat.

Seizing the netting and branches they covered the boat with, she shoves them to one side. Casually, she tosses the box of silver into the bow, and pushes the boat out into the water, holding it steady as she waits for her brother.