Streets of Waterdeep
Theo was the first one up and was dressed fully to go out. With out warning he came down the stairs and went to the door. He needed answers to questions, and that left only one man to ask. This was going to be a tricky day as they were to leave for there adventure the next day and he still needed to double cheek his gear. He stopped at the door and his hand hovered over the latch. He took a deep breath... he was not sure he wanted the answer.
"Going somewhere?" Mydra said from her perch in the kitchen chair. In his rush to get out of the house he didn't even bother to look around to see if anyone was down there. She had tea and coffee brewing on the stove as she watched him with guarded eyes.
"I'm going to meet up with a contact." Theo said. Sounding why she seemed to have become so much more defencive than when she had first arrived. Theo woundered if it had something to do with his anger at Lance, or if after hearing his story of Kaja she had a darker thought in her mind.
"I see..." Mydra glanced down at her hands for a moment and the over to the stairs. "Look... we need to clear the air about something before we get on the road tomorrow. So when you have time I'd like to speak with you. Alone..." She knew she wasn't being the kindest but it was hard knowing who he was and her fear and anger bubbling up. She wasn't sure if she could turn her back around him now but... He'd save her the other day so was he even that person anymore? She was so confused.
"If you like I'm headed to a Tavern on the east side... Its oath day so much of the people are in church for most of the day... would you like to walk with me and talk about what ever is no your mind?" IT would also help him not back down from the information he was after.
Mydra rapped her nails against the table a few times in thought before she got to her feet. She crossed the room to where her weapons belt was and attached it to her waist. Slipping her arms into her cloaked she buttoned it up and flipped up her hood. She snapped her fingers in the direction of the beverages. Lance could finish them when he came down. She stared at Theo for a moment her eyes bright with uncertainty before her boots clicked against the floor and she crossed to his side. "Let's go."
Theo opened the door and went out onto the street feeling far to exposed. It was always this way on Oathday. It was the feeling of having almost no one to hide around. No crowds to be lost in. It was just how the world they lived in worked. It was almost a ghost town as they walked. "What is on your mind Mydra?" Theo asked walking next to her.
They walked in silence for a little while before Mydra decided to just come out with it. "Crimson Slaughter." She said the name quietly so no one would hear if they passed by a house. "I lived in the Underdark while you were down there. You murder my uncle." She licked her lips nervously as she glanced at him. "It was so long ago I didn't recognize you. I wasn't able to put two and two together." She frowned deeply as she turned to look at him more clearly. She wasn't sure how he was going to react so she had her mind open, ready to move.
Theo stopped walking when he heard the name... "What did you?" He spoke softly as his air left him. It was like being kicked in the gut. He listened to her speak, but he honestly just wanted her to stop talking about it. He cleared his throat and stared at Mydra like he could not honestly believe what she was saying. "That can't be true... You left the underdark as a child..." He realized that an elf was considered a child for nearly a century, and in some cases most eleven societies don't consider your an adult until you are one hundred and twenty. He fought to find the words to respond to her. He was not that monster anymore... He was an elf not a tool of fear or a slave of the arena. he finally barley managed. "That... is my Slave name..." Theo looked like he was defeated by having to admit so little aloud. Like taking possession of the name could somehow harm him.
Mydra swallowed passed the lump in her throat as she stared at him. "I turn 200 in a few months, Theo..." She didn't know what else to say, how to change this ugly truth so they could go back to how things were. She saw the defeated look about him and wasn't sure what it meant. "Theo... I need you to talk to me... we can't get past this..." She took a deep breath and shook her head. "I can't trust you if we don't talk..."
"For nearly a centery that was my name. That me-he's gone now." Theo looked like this conversation was hard on him. "I did a lot of things using that name, and there was a time before Kaja that I loved it." Theo seems to have nothing but shame to him now though. It seemed hard to talk about it.
Mydra laid a hand over her stomach as if hearing that caused her pain, which it did. It was her life's duty to care for people and he had slaughtered them, literally. She took a step back from him and inhaled deeply. "That doesn't make me want to trust you Theo. Telling me you loved it. It just makes me fear you more. I dont- I don't want to be afraid of you." The hand on her stomach turned into a fist as she sighed. "This isn't working. I'm just getting frustrated... Lance was wrong maybe I shouldn't have told you..."
"You can't really understand why I enjoyed it at the time, but I can try explaining it to you." Theo didn't looked like he was just a bit frustrated himself. "I was a slave in the underdark to a horrid witch of a women. She used me as a means to wealth and fortune in the Bloody Arenas. I was fully resestant at first. She beat and battered me but I didn't break. She branded one side of my face and left massive scars on the other from knife cuts. I refused to fight the Arena... then she became a hole new level of evil." Theo's eyes showed he didn't want to bring up up. He did anyway. "Slave children... she brought in children, and one at a time she started to torture them. I agreeded to the Arena. I cryes for her to stop and spare the children..." Theo closed his eyes a moment. Then took a breath. "She tortured only one to death. It took hours. The looked to the rest and asked the frightened children. 'Do you wish to be free?' And they all begged for freedom..." Theo looked to Mydra. "You can guess what kind of freedom she gave them?" Theo asked Mydra. He was enraged thinking about it. He was taking a breath to calm down.
Mydra watched Theo closely for a moment before she couldn't take it any longer. She carefully took him into her arms, holding him close as she ran her hands up and down his back. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you relive that. I just... I needed to understand. I need to know that your not that man anymore." She whispered softly into his ear as she moved one of her hands to the back of his head. "It'll take me some time... to get used to this but I'm hoping we can move forward..."
"At first I had to do it to stop her from killing others..." Theo sighed. "It is not me anymore. I'm not that monster I was." Theo went on and spoke his final words on the matter. "It was like I was sick. I lied to the mistress to make her think I was her new toy... then I believed the lie... then the lie became me." Theo looked down at Mydra. He didn't know what to think of her seeing him back in those days...
Mydra sighed softly and gently pulled away from him. "Okay... for now, I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt. But... don't give me a reason to regret this." She licked her lips, her stomach still ached around him, she no longer felt that comfortable ease around him she did her first couple of days with him. Sighing heavily she ran a hand through her loose hair, knocking her hood from her head. "Now who are you going to meet to get information... what kind of information?"
Theo nodded and watched Mydra run her hands there her soft hair. It's silver shining in the morning light. He heard her speak and it reminded him. "Oh gods!" His eyes grew a bit. "We have to talk on the move." He turned on his hill and made for the east side. "Her name is Ruby. She and her sisters are information brokers... and for the right price thrives. If you had enough money they can play assassin. Though I have never meet anyone willing to pay two hundred thousand gold up front for hit." Theo explained as he kept his eyes open and moved watching to make sure that no one he didn't want to see him had. "I think the Assassin thing is just a way to remind people they are not be taken lightly. Not really a service they like to provide." Theo pointed out.
"Ttthhhhhheeee
eeeoooooo!" A young girl in a brownish-gold dress ran up and jumped into theos arms as he turned to face her. The girl could not be older than seven years, and looked like a pretty little human girl with hair that matched her dress... except her eyes color was the same as the dress. "Ruby sent me to find you! You were late so she changed the meeting and I am to take you there now!" She looked at Theo with a cute smile then asked. "Did you get me anything?"
Mydra flipped her hook back up onto her head as they walked along and listened to him talk. Great so they were on there way to talk to some shady people. Just wonderful. She was taken by surprise as a young girl threw herself in Theo's arms and stepped aside so that she wasn't in the way. She kept quiet feeling out of place and awkward but also not wanting to direct the girls attentions to her just yet. It was easier for her to get a feel for people when she get watch them when they were being themselves.
"I did." Theo said setting the girl down and pulling a peace of strange crystal from his belt. It had a strange glow to it. It amber most of the time, but when the light hit it just right the hole thing stone turned bright gold. "I have things for Jade, and Onix as well." Thought it was not visible his smile was bright. Theo did legitimately cared for the girls.
"I'm guessing another flow that can't be wilted for Jade... and a teddy for Onix." The girl looked to Mydra, and smiled a bit. "Hello!" She waved to Mydra in a cute way only a young child could manage. She then Hugged Theo once more. "Are you going to introduce us to your pretty girlfriend?" The girl asked.
Mydra stepped forward with a soft smile for the young girl and held out her hand. "My name is Mydra and..." She bent down to whisper in the girls ear, loud enough for Theo to hear, teasing the girl. "Not the girlfriend. But thank you for the compliment of calling me pretty. You are very pretty yourself. What is your name?"
"Amber!" The girl said with a smile. "Mydra is a pretty name!" Amber grabbed her forearm and shook gently. "Oh... well that's good to! Now Ruby can keep swooning over him and it won't be weird for anyone!" Amber said enthusiastically.
"Amber!" Theo said. "That is what makes it odd. When you say those things." Theo shook his head then smiled brightly at Mydra. "Where dose your sister want to meet now?" He needed to make this quick. She was likely to not stay in one place wrong.
Mydra's eyebrows rose considerably. This girl was rather interesting and she held absolutely nothing back when she talked which seemed to make Theo uncomfortable. She smiled as she shook Amber's forearm back as well. "Amber is a lovely name as well, thank you." She chose to be silent from here on out so as not to distract the young girl.
"Oh! That's right! Follow me!" Amber turned and skipped on the street with Theo in toe and took hold of Mydra's hand. The young girl almost drug Mydra as she skipped along. She pulled the grown woman along like a dolly. They went only two blocks and the girl went down an ally where two other girls waited one in a Jade dress with sickly pale skin and red cheeks giving her a feverish appearance, and the other was a girl in a black set of leather armor. Her skin was pale as the dead and her lips looked ashen with hair of black and white strips. They both looked to be about fourteen or so. "Theo... who is this?" Asked the girl in black. As the one in Jade leveled a crossbow on her; it's design was strange and held two bolts in an over-under configuration making it look like two crossbows in one.
Theo spoke up stepping in front of Mydra. "She's with me. It would be a matter of time before lady Mydra met you all. Why not today?" Theo asked in a playful tone. "Jade lower the bow." The smiled at the two as he pulled down his scarf. His face turning cruel as he glared. "Onix. Tell your sister to lower the bow before I take offense to being drawn down on."
"Mydra..." Amber asked in a playful tone. "Please don't move til Ruby arrives." The girl had a knife blade pressed to her inner thigh any sharp move or push would send the blade into her femoral artery. "Ruby asked we make sure you are who you seem to be. So don't move too much. Or I might stab you on accident." The girl then gave out a little giggle and a sweet smile.
Mydra gave a sharp gasp at the feel of a blade on the inside of her thigh. Was this a trap? Was Theo just drawing her in, making her feel safe to them kill her? Was that what was happening? She narrowed her eyes down at the little girl before lifting them to look at the back of Theo's head. "Wonderful... A cross boy to my front and a knife to thigh... thank you, Theo. It's been a very interesting morning." Her voice would chill anyone but she was livid and he would know it.
"Onix... Jade... your playing a game with me you don't want to..." Theo sounded rather unhappy but like a scolding father more than a swordsman. a sniffle cut off Theo as the girl with the crossbow in the Jade dress then spoke up. "I can still hit her and you know it Theo... trying to use yourself as a human shield will not make a bit of difference for me." Onix interiors Jade. "I bet you can't." Jade looked offended at the remark. "Oh yeah? Let just see-" the entire conversation stopped at the sounds of boots hitting the cobble stone behind them and the two went quiet. "Amber lower your knife... Jade, lower your bow... Onix stop antagonizing your sister... Theo... I'm not happy you brought someone new. This was a simple information exchange. you know you can trust us, and I know you would. It presume you were aloud to just break the rules of a meeting... I'm sure she must be Mydra thought." A beautfule tall human women with a metherial brest plate holding a ruby erupting into a phoenix. Her hair was bloody red, and her eyes matched. She was unnatural pretty. Attractive... her appearance even made Mydra feel a burning in her lones for her. Amber pulled her knife away quickly and said. "Sorry. Hope we can become good friends after this!" Then ran to the two sisters past Theo. Ruby came around and looked Mydra in the eyes letting a soft hand slid up her neck and to her cheek. "Ohhh... Theo... this one is pretty... tell me pretty girl... what do I make you feel when you look into my eyes." Asking as if she knew the answer. The touchs in Mydra made her feel slightly weak in her knees. Like her body was wanting this woman with. I ability for her to say no.
"Get your hands off her Ruby." There was a blade right against her neck as Theo spoke. Ruby stared lustfully at Mydra. "Feeling jealous Theo? You want me to touch you ins-" Theo flat bladder her ear. "Stay to business." He lowered his sword after that. "Is she down there?" Ruby smiled and turned to face Roland. "She's down there... but you don't want to see her Theo. Just let it go. She's as good as dead for you... it's not the Kaja you remember... she makes the crimson slaughter look pathetic by comparison." Theo's eyes were full of rage.
Mydra stood stock still as Ruby inspected her. She didn't like the way the woman made her feel. She wasn't sure what exactly it was that was doing it to her but when the womans bare hands touched her Mydra couldn't help but gasp. She licked her lips when her hand fell away, her eyes darted over to Theo as her threatened her with his blade. What the hell was going on? She took a step back from them, hoping some distanced helped but it didn't seem to. When Ruby mentioned the name Kaja Mydra frowned. She thought that the woman was dead, was that what this adventure was all about?
"No... she's in there. She didn't give up on me I won't give up on her." Theo looked at Ruby. "What city?" He knew the answer. It was Gloomrot. Baloth likely had her hostage... using her to attract attention to the Black Pits. The bloody arena...
"Gloomrot, but you know that. Just like you know she's fighting in the arena. She's a slave... Theo Mother wanted me to talk you out of this... I know it's no use. I know your not going to ever stop trying to get her back, but you don't want to see what she is now. Kaja is dead Theo. Please... don't go to Gloomrot..." Ruby seemed fully human in this moment. Like a smitten girl begging her betrothed not to go to war.
"Thank you Ruby. Let mother know I'm happy she cares, and I'll see her soon." Theo dropped a bag on the ground and walked for the ally exit. He didn't say a word as he walked. If she was alive he would find her. If she was a slave. He would free her. If she was beyond saving... he would be the one to end her. He started back for the house at a somber pace.
Ruby picked up the bag and put it on her belt. "Don't trust him..." she said looking at Mydra as Theo walked out of the ally. "Also... the troll put a bounty on you. A big one. Don't get caught by his boys... they are supposed to return you with a broken will..." Amber then spoke up. "Miss Mydra... please don't be made I put a knife to you... we just have to be careful... a lot of people want Ruby and mother dead... all of us really..."
She crossed her arms over her ample chest, listening to the encounter in silence. She wondered what Theo's feelings for this Kaja were exactly. Was she just his prison mate that had kept him sane all those years or had they fallen in love? It didn't really matter to her anymore, what feelings she could have been growing towards him she could allow any longer. They wouldn't be right, she couldn't allow herself to trust him. Especially after Ruby's warning. She breathed a soft sigh at her words and placed a gentle hand on the woman's shoulder. "Thank you, I appreciate that... Both warnings..." She looked down at Amber and smiled sweetly, give a soft shake of her head. "No little one, I'm not mad. Family comes first, always. You keep Ruby and your mama safe...All of you" She looked around at the women as she ruffled the little girls hair before hurrying after Theo, making sure her hood was secure on her head. "Let's get back to the house." She said under her breath so that only Theo could hear.
"Excuse me miss!" A young man cried after Mydra. "Miss? You dropped this."
Theo stopped and turned to face the young man. He was a stalky human with blond hair and green eyes. He was well kept and worse a red clock with the hood down. His open clock revealed a leather breast plate, and a rapier hung from his belt on one side and three wands on the other. He worse a house seal of a knight family, and smiled revealing a nice set of white teeth. "Lady." He offered a peace of parchment.
Mydra turned, she stepped in front of Theo and carefully, quickly replaced his scarf around his face. She gave him a quick wink before the young man could say anything before turning to face him. "I dropped something? I don't believe I did..." Mydra frowned at the boy as he offered the piece of parchment to her. She stared down at it as she reached out to take it. She glanced over her shoulder at Theo, unsure. Were they walking into a trap? Why was she so defensive all the time now? "I didn't drop anything..." She whispered to him as her hand curled around the piece of parchment. "Thank you." She mumbled to the you man as she slowly unrolled the paper. She gasped aloud at the sight of it. "The fucking asshole..." She stumbled back into Theo as her eyes darted up to look at the boy in front of her. "Theo..."
"Your smart." Theo told the young man. "You can't act on a writ unless the target of your writ is aware they have had a bounty placed on them..." Theo placed an arm over Mydra and gripped her tightly. "Having the writ target read it; I used to do when I served them. One problem with your plan."
"Oh? What would that be?" The young knight asked. "Three more of my house are coming closer now." He pointed them out; all three human dressed the same as he was. "Your out numbered and my house is Magus. Spell swords... You can't stop us, and if you do then your crime is akin to attacking a guard. So as far as I can tell you have lost."
"I'm not talking about fighting you... I'm a bounty hunter too." Theo held Mydra tightly pressing her body to his. "So thanks for serving my bounty her writ." Theo didn't draw, he didn't activate some magic power, he just yelled. "Guards! My bounty is resisting! I need assistance!" Then turning on his heel he faced a city guard watch station, and six city guards ran out towards Theo and Mydra. "What!?" The Knights eyes filled with anger. "You... have made a mistake today knife ear." The knight looked to the guards. "This is my bounty." The knight informed the guards "I served her the bounty writ!" Theo wrapped his other arm around Mydra. "Guards. I Theodoric have positive controls of my bounty showing proof of entitlement to payment, custody, and ability to request to use your holding cells." The guards took Mydra from Theo. "Your clam is acknowledged and witnessed by the city guard of Waterdeep." A Sergent replied to Theo as he finished his request.
Mydra's eyes widened as Theo changed tactics. She wasn't sure if it was for show or what but she saw red. The moment his arm wrapped around her she no longer felt like it was an act. "Theo..." She whispered as her hands flew up to pull his arm away from her. Her head swam with confusion as more knights surrounded them. Her body stiffened as he tugged her against him. Don't trust him... Ruby's words rang through her head as her anger built. She was beginning to see what the woman meant. As his other arm wrapped around her and he shouted for the city guards her eyes swam with tears. "Theo..." Her voice was louder this time. When the guards took possesion of her she struggled, not sure what to do at this point she turned to look at Theo, eyes blazing. "God damn son of a bitch... I trusted you!" She hissed as a tear streamed down her cheek, whether out of anger or sadness she wasn't quite sure. As the the guards hauled her away she spit at his feet. One of the guards slapped her hard across the face, causing her to cry out as the carried her into the tower and threw her into a cell. She landed on her ass as the door slammed shut behind her, her chest heaving. What is happening...
It was hours in a dark cell and all hope seemed to be lost. Theo must of turned of Mydra. He saw ten thousand gold and decided to sell Mydra for it. "She's this way sir." A guard said through the wooden door. As the foot steps feel a rather deep voice responded. "Good." The foot steps feel like hammers on the floor in Mydra's ears as every step brought closer a dark man with dark purpose closer. His walk was that of a knight strong and sturdy. His fitted steel armor barley making a sound beyond the impact of his massive boots on the stone floor. The key slid into the lock and it felt for Mydra like a knife sliding into her back. The lock turned... the door opened and two guards stepped in. "On your feet! I feel bad for you girl." The senior man said. Then with out warning a sword in scabbard thrust into the back of the older mans head, and a quick cross blow to the other guards head slamming the poor boy into the wall before the weapon went up and then slammed down into his collarbone snapping it like a twig. The massive figure stepped in as the young guard cried in pain. The black armored figure looked at him through helm slit and spoke. "Quiet boy... or I'll Take more than just your sword arm today." It was now clear the deep voice was Gord. The guard whimpered in his pain. "I trust they didn't treat you too poorly my dear." Gord offered her his armored hand after returning his sword to his belt.
Mydra had scrambled to her feet at the sound of the heavy footsteps coming in her direction. The only thing to sit on in the cell was a bit of straw, which she was fine with really, it was better then the alternative. She listened intently at the voices and sounds from the other side of the door and frowned deeply. The key turning in her door sent a shiver up her spine, as if a cold bucket of ice water had been thrown on her. As the door swung open several things happened before her eyes. The deep voice before her took her by surprise. "Gord..." She whispered as she hurled herself across the cell and into his arms, not caring that she was dirty and probably smelled awful. It was then that she realized that this man worked with Theo... the one who had put her in here. "No... no no no... wait..." She let go, shoving him away as fear and confusion clouded her eyes. "What's going on..."
"A jail break my dear..." Gord said with a rather proper tone. "Lance should be here soon." Gord said. "Calm yourself. Your safe now." Gord stepped back out of the cell and looked down the hall. "Lance and Theo should have been here by now..." he thought aloud. Then a heartbeat later the sounds of thunder filled there ears. "Sounds like there in the way after all." Gord stepped back into the cell. "I hope your ready to leave."
"Ready to leave? Ready to leave?!" Each time she said it the words got louder with her increasing rage. "I shouldn't be here in the first place, Gord!" She began pacing back and forth in the cell like she had done when they first threw her in, like a caged panther. Her eyes shown brightly with her pent up anger as she cursed under her breath. "I didn't do anything to be put in here... Fucking unbelievable..."
Gord stared at her dumb founded a moment then explained. "You did in fact do nothing wrong, but a writ of bounty approved by the city has been arranged for your live capture. Theo thought quick and saved your skin. He could have let them capture you in the street. Instead he abided the law, and got you to safety. Not the nicest safety... but safe! Now you can be as angry at him for not drawing on a bounty hunter as you like, but Lance and I would have done the same. Now we are breaking you out of here." Gord looked down the hall and the door erupted off its hinges.
"Lance... I had the key." Theo's voice rang down the hall. "That was just showing off, and reminding the guards some people are not to be fooled with." Lance replied.
"That's just great, Gord..." She shook her head as she glanced around the room. "At least this cell was bigger than my last." She mumbled. She hadn't meant to say it but she hoped he didn't hear her. It had been a slip of the tongue and one she didn't plan on making again. "Let's just get the hell out of here." It appeared Mydra's sweet dexterity was gone for now. She slipped past Gord, being careful not to touch him as she stepped out into the hallway where she saw Lance... and Theo. Her eyes were cold as she took the two of them in, no warmth was found in the drow at the moment as sh stood before them. She had braided her hair since Theo had last seen her. It cascaded down her back, done tightly as if done in anger. If they took in her closely they would see not only anger, but fear, cold, hard, terror.
Lance smiled at Mydra. Then had a slight frown. "You look like you have been locked in a cell for five hours." Lance said as he walked passed her to the end of the hall and started sketching on the wall.
"My lady?" Lance offered her back her sword belt with sword and her armor and bags. "Good thing you packed up last night because we need to get going after we get out of here." Theo then noticed her hair was back and her expression was one of anger... not just anger in her eyes. Fear as well. "I didn't abandon you... I was coming back. I just needed help to get you out of here, and we had to wait for a shift change." Why did see seem so afraid?
Mydra reattached her belt, making sure that nothing was missing. She felt confident that all her weapons were there as she slung her bags her head. As Theo came forward she back away from him a few steps, not trusting herself not to hit him. "You know what Theo? It's fine... I don't need any explanations I just want the hell out of here." She moved the Lance's side and stared into the elves eyes. "Can we please go?"
Gord and Theo exchanged a look then went to watch the door. "I think she's mad at you Theo." Gord said without hiding the laughter in his voice. "Stuff it Gord." Theo responded.
Lance looked at Mydra. "Oh? Are you sure you wouldn't like to stay a while longer?" Lance asked as he finished a magic rune on the wall. He then performed a few hand signs and pressed his palms to the wall. As he did so the wall changed shape into an archway then extended almost fifty feet to a natural cavern. "Let's go!" He called over his shoulder to the two watching the door. "Let's get out of here Mydra." He told her.
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