A Mother's Day Out (Shai)

by **Darian** on March 9th, 2012, 5:24 am

The subtle glare caught the edge of his vision as he stepped into the camp, and turning about, he could see the tree now, and just as well the blade that caused the reflection of the firelight. His time for rage had long passed but so too had the time for tip toeing around, and boldly responding to the call he strode forward, and only when he was within feet of the tree did he notice the weapon the woman bore in her hand. Perhaps this woman wasn't all bark and actually was a woman lured to the rouges bed. There was as assured way to find out in any case.

"Better if you where a thieve of names than you serving as simple bedding for a rogue, though regardless of your profession, there is yet a debt to be balanced between us, and I'll have immediate returns regardless of who may be using your body" He remarked fluidly, his hazel eyes never leaving the woman up in the tree. If he was intimidated in this camp, he didn't show it, for why should he feel intimidated in a camp in which he knew it's most capable residents and one that he was currently residing in more or less. Though in that respect they seemed to be on even footing.

by **Shai** on March 9th, 2012, 6:33 am

Shai’s laughter outstripped the chorus of crickets on that late fall night. It shouldn’t have been funny; she should have taken him seriously, especially now that she was within his sword’s reach. As her chuckles subsided she looked down at Darian and smiled like the cat who caught the canary. Her plans just dissipated like so many half remembered dreams under less eventful starlit skies; he had ruined them and probably didn’t even know it. “Here I was Azo, all ready to fear and respect you, but then you say something like that. How can I take you seriously?” The Symenestra snorted and pulled herself up to sit crouched on the tree limb; slender fingers still grasped the kukri.

“Let us suppose for a moment that your combat prowess makes us equals.” The concept was ludicrous, though the spider would keep that to herself. “That ended the moment you stepped foot in this camp.” Settling one arm on a knee she clicked her opposite hand’s nails against the blade in an excessively even rhythm. Biting her lip to hold back another peel of mirth she continued when she regained her composure. “Reevaluate the situation and try again. Take your time. I am a fount of patience, it is necessary for success as a thief of anything, names or otherwise.” She cleared her throat, “And as for your debt to me… it may wait until you have come to comprehension.”

by **Darian** on March 9th, 2012, 6:45 am

At her words he simply sighed and let his gaze cast to the ground. They always had to be difficult, and so useless in effect. His hand went to his hip then and slowly he drew his longsword while his eyes shot up to lock onto hers. He was quite through playing games.

"So you'd think, but I know the men of this camp as well, and eat and sleep here just as you do, your advantage is null, and your claim to debt foolish. It is you who owe me for the life of the slaver you killed, and my employer does not take words in payment, so keep shut unless its to spew forth how to repay me instead of the incessant dribble that continues to come out of your mouth" Darian spoke, his voice ice cold, and his steel bared to the air now. His knuckles whitened as he gripped his longsword, and calculating he watched her, wondering if his hand would be forced.

by **Shai** on March 9th, 2012, 7:09 am

She sighed to match Darian’s, her humor replaced with weary acceptance. Standing up without even a swagger for balance, because Symenestra required no such counter balancing, she struck the tree hard with the kukri sticking it in the tree trunk where it would be safe. “Then, you are done and I am done. The debt you owe me is petty regardless, mostly an annoyance and a sacrifice. If you do truly know these men then I will assume you are worth the few mizas it will put me out anyways.” The posturing ended after the blade sunk into the wood; she promptly sat back down on the branch and let her feet dangle. Either he would attack her or he wouldn't, she was in his reach either way and under no uncertain terms would she be fleeing from him while in gang territory. “As for your supposed debt you will be receiving no such recompense. The life of a human means nothing, you are all but vessels. Vessels that once dead have no value. Even if I had killed your man unfairly there would be no deficit.”

Shai shrugged and looked at him, if this encounter ended violently that would be his choice. “This back and forth without giving ground is pointless. So here is some ground strange shadow; I have not lied to you once tonight.” Nonchalantly the spider pondered what else might be worth admitting, it was still strange to call herself a member of the gang but it was the truth. “I am the Edge’s thief, Shai.” Clearly the man knew what the Crimson Edge was; otherwise he would never have been in this camp. “What is your name human?” Hopefully he would remember what she had said earlier; if he didn’t tell her, Antar would. Then again, he seemed stubborn he may refuse to tell her just on principle alone.

by **Darian** on March 9th, 2012, 7:30 am

He gritted his teeth, and was tempted to lash out at the woman as she dangled her feet closer, though reason once more prevailed and instead of lashing out for bloodshed he found himself sliding his blade back into it's sheath. There had been enough bloodshed for tonight and killing her would give him no pleasure, nor advantage as her life was as inconsequential as she claimed the slavers to be. Besides, from the take he had received from the thugs in the street, he explain away the slavers death easily, and keep a healthy profit for himself in the process of.

"I'll settle for that, thief. I'm known as Craevan, a name known well by your rogue" He said before sighing and taking a place on a patch of ground and allowing himself to look idly up at the woman. Why did she have to be involved with Antar? So much for a bloody night of torture he mused, though he knew he couldn't be always that lucky.

by **Shai** on March 12th, 2012, 12:18 am

Reaching up, Shai tugged the kukri back out of the tree and swung down. Instead of landing on her feet though she rolled she hit the earth and tumbled to spread the impact to more solid parts of her frame. An eight foot leap would very easily break the bones of a less dexterous Symenestra. Regianing her feet she arose with her back to Darian. The symenestra had no idea if ‘Craevan’ was an alias and in the end it really did not matter. The purpose of knowing his name was to have a moniker to apply to the human. The spider had an alias as well but as time had attached actions to that name it became far more valuable as a secret to know Shaisha than to simply know a thief named Shai. Inwardly, the woman smiled, it was such a contrary life she led.

“So why is it that you know the rogue?” Tucking the blade in her belt the Spider spun on her toes to face him.

by **Darian** on March 18th, 2012, 3:39 am

"You could say we have a history" Darian started, his sitting position on the ground affording him a nice view of the woman, even if it hardly offered him any tactical advantage. "I've worked with the rogue over the course of seasons, and after our most recent bit of bloodletting, he offered me a place here" As his words finished drowning out in the quietness, he studied her pale skin, and long arms. A question came to mind, and with it a cruel smirk.

"I've answered a question now for you so how about you answer one for me milk skin. Of what race do you claim, for you certainly aren't any blooded human I've seen" Darian groused, his eyes combing her form even as his hand found the hilt of his dagger through a hidden pocket on the thigh of his armor. He could never be too careful after all.

by **Shai** on March 18th, 2012, 4:45 am

Nodding as the pieces fell into place. He had explained how he knew Antar’s name and alias, how he knew the camp’s location, and his relationship to the rogue. Noting his new expression carefully, Shai considered just how to answer him. A pseudonym for her race wouldn’t save any information, still if he was unable to identify her by her racial characteristics it was unlikely he knew anything of what to meant to be of the woven city. “I am by no means human. The race you are looking for is called Symenestra.”

Clicking her nails together rhythmically the lithe thief cynically appraised the swordsman. Now she knew his name and his connection, it was time to see if she might put him to some use. If he was worthless to her this might be their last encounter. Certainly he had skill with the sword he’d drawn earlier, for no plebian could take out four men, but if he was utterly unmalleable then there was little use in the human for her. Luckily, the spider rarely encountered someone so resistant that she couldn’t task them to her needs in some ways; some souls just required a more subtle suggestion. "Names and games out of the way, I suppose it is time to decide how to move forward. Though I suppose that is usually an unspoken arrangement. So what is it human, enemies? ...or mild acquaintances?"

by **Darian** on March 18th, 2012, 5:11 am

The name resounded in his head, nicking cords of familiarity, though he could not claim an all encompassing understanding of what exactly a symenestra could do. All he could bring to mind were the drunken tavern tales spouted about the Pig's foot every now and again about the vile creatures of that race raping women, and biting men clean in half. A tavern tale to be trusted little, but one with a kernel of truth to be sure. At least the offering of her race brought a moniker in mind.

"Well well widower, suits me fine to name you acquaintance, though you'll not find my sword by yours anytime soon until I know more about you creature, and the filthy creatures you name as blood" Darian sneered, stretching out one of his legs while he pried loose on of his daggers with his right hand, enough so that it remained hidden but it's hilt was firmly in hand.

by **Shai** on March 18th, 2012, 5:30 am

The term Widow was familiar to the Symenestra, it wasn’t a kind term, but familiarity had desensitized her to its venom. “How rude to call such a young woman a widow.” She remarked with the play on the word’s other meaning. “Also we are quite clean, much more so than your kin if Sunberth is any standard.”

Taking a step back the spider kept her eyes on him, something was amiss but she couldn’t be certain what. It might have been unfounded or maybe that he accompanied a potential peace with a derogative. It wasn’t concrete enough for her to turn tail only to add a pace to the distance between them. “It is quite alright, whenever I so rarely requires blades there are plenty at hand.” She tapped a finger against the kukri’s hilt to illustrate. “Regardless, the same for you; I rarely engage in actual combat anyways.” No, if the thief was facing someone toe-to-toe the encounter had already got awry. “I suppose though that we are neighbors.” She mused quietly, “If you should require someone of elusive nature perhaps I might be persuaded.” Quirking an eyebrow she added, “With the right precautions and recompense of course.”