Closed Lily in the Devil's Garden

[Naeya]

Lily in the Devil's Garden Timestamp: 5th Day of Fall, 513 AV "Please...!" The word came out in a sharp gasp as Naeya's lungs screamed for air. The konti's chest heaved beneath her tunic and her heart hammered in her ears. If she could just stop running, just catch her breath, just reach the tavern... "Please..." Her muscles burned as she stumbled down a shadowy side street, green eyes scanning desperately in front while sharp ears tuned in to the cheerful whistling behind. What the petch was that tavern's name? Pig something. Pig's Tail, Pig's Snout... Pig's Arse? It wouldn't much matter if her legs gave out. The white hood of her cloak flapped uselessly behind her as she panted for breath, nearly tripping over her own feet with exhaustion. If she could only find a familiar landmark, a familiar sign, something! It was all so damningly foreign, so utterly unlike the home she'd left long ago. Everything from the broken down or boarded up windows to the sagging roofs and walls screamed of poverty. And the people? The people were worst of all. The whistling stopped. "Please," Naeya whispered for what she hoped would be the last time, and sent a silent prayer up to the heavens. She had almost worked up the courage to throw a quick glance behind her when - "Little fish, little fish..." The stranger's singsong words dripped with syrup and false promises. "Don't run away, little fish," the syrupy voice coaxed. He was so much closer than she'd thought. "You have something I want. And I always get what I want." The konti very nearly collapsed from fear when she felt bony fingers groping and grasping at her cloaked shoulder, pinching at hidden trap muscles and grabbing demandingly at her neck. Her legs shuddered to a halt, and she wobbled from the sudden weakness that flooded her body. "I don't have anything of value, nothing you could possibly want!" Naeya choked out. One last resistance. "I think y'do, dear. I think y'do." The bony fingers, surprisingly strong, closed insistently around her neck and forced the konti to turn toward their owner. She blinked twice and squinted, blinded by the patch of sunlight that obstructed her vision. Before her eyes could adjust, the man's hand moved to the necklace - her necklace, her jade necklace - and snatched it away in one swift motion, snapping the silver chain in half. Without even a moment to process what had happened, Naeya felt a sharp pain in her temples as she was backhanded against the wall. Her head slammed heavily backward into the wood, and she slumped easily to the ground. The last thing she saw as her vision began to close in was a pair of muddy red shoes scurrying away. Then? Blackness.

[Daedalus Dagwood]

A large puff of air bellowed from his nose in an act of personal defiance against allowing himself to sigh. No! Today Daedalus was not going to sigh. He rolled his shoulders to adjust his pack which rested against the fabric on his back of the long black coat he wore. He had just got off work which meant the smell of smoke and steel clung to him after spending hours in a foundry melting molten metal as if he covered himself in brimstone. It was a smell the Metalsmith thoroughly enjoyed, though contemplated visiting the hot springs later to get rid of the slightly distinct smell later. It was a light smell, though knew it would get worse later once he goes back to the foundry.

He walked with a silent furry in his eyes as he narrowed them to give off a look of anger. It wasn't because he was mad but rather to simply give off the impression of being a threat. Having lived in Sunberth his entire life, Daedalus was no simple outsider. He had seen enough of the new comers get jumped simply because they were smiling so his expression was meant to show that he was no mere prey to be stalked. He always carried his rapier sword which rested on his left hip in its scabbard. As he walked it lightly patted against his thigh with each of his strides. The weapon fully visible to ready to be drawn should any hostile situation arise.

Even though Daedalus walked around most people, looping, lacing, and turning past incoming pedestrians. There were a few people every so often who move out of his own way as they saw him walking towards them. Was he a thug? A mugger? As soon as he watched them move from his path he would quicken his pace to move past them. His destination was the Pigs Foot Tavern to enjoy a drink after a hard day of work. All he wanted to do was relax with a cup of ale, listen to people as they talk, and maybe think up something new to craft and create.

His hazel eyes moved along the edges of the buildings as he walked past them. A women stood atop a building. His stare was filled with disinterest as he continued his pace with a mean look in his eyes. However, a rush colder then an arctic breeze flooded through the metalsmith's mind. Everything suddenly became unimportant as his eyes widened, his peripheral vision showing the silhouette of the women along the ground.

Daedalus suddenly felt disappointment in his home city, causing a slow anger to bring true emotion into his eyes. No longer simply acting mad but feeling enraged at the fact a woman had fallen victim to the city. He couldn't stand when women or children laid insured on the streets. His legs seemed to move by themselves into a sudden sprint towards her. Daedalus nearly crashed into a small beggar boy that stepped in front of his path in an attempt to slow him down to ask for a hand out. "Not, now kid." He said as he rushed past the boy to finally managing to reach her side.

"Don't be dead." Were the only words he said as he knelled down next to her. Daedalus didn't notice her race upon noticing her fair complexion and light blonde hair. No. It was the blue and green scales on her hands and webbing along her fingers that caused him to quirk a brow. "A Konti." It made him madder for some reason after knowing her race. She was lovely, like most of her race were. It went against his nature to see something ,or rather 'someone', so lovely treated harshly.

"Miss? Are you alright?" He said as he tried to wake her from her unconsciousness. Having held a hand under her nose moments before speaking to feel her breathing which made him sigh in relief. Since it was a good sigh, he allowed himself to make it as he looked at her head. Noticing the tall tell signs of being hit on the head from the marks whatever hit her had left. "Wake up." Letting his hand move to rest on her side then shake her lightly.

[Naeya]

The blackness swallowed her up, muddling her senses as she fell deeper and deeper into an infinite void. Time was meaningless. Minutes, maybe hours, slipped through her grasp. All she knew was the warm and comforting darkness. And then the pain began. It started as an irritation, like someone knocking on her door while she was trying to sleep. She twitched restlessly and tried to burrow deeper into the black. But the knock at her door was persistent, and was joined with disjointed whispers. "-you all right?" A harsh light lit in the corner of her mind as the knocking turned into drumming, and a familiar smell drifted into her consciousness. Smoke. Steel. The drumming beat on, and every strike of the drum was a heavier strike against her skull. Thump... thumP...thuMP... thUMP... tHUMP... "Wake up." THUMP. "Ungh..." Naeya groaned and blinked slowly, trying to orient herself to her surroundings. She felt a hand on her side and lifted her head unsteadily to meet its owner's gaze. Her thoughts were still much too hazy for her body to react, and so her green eyes continued to stare stupidly at the cloaked stranger as she made an effort to piece together how she came to be lying splayed out on the ground. "Red," she muttered, the memories slowly being filtered back. "Red shoes..." Involuntarily, she glanced at the shoes of the human kneeling before her. Black boots. Not the same man. Slowly, very slowly, the konti used the palms of her hands to push herself upward until she was settled in a seated position against the grimy wooden wall. She inhaled and exhaled shakily, and offered the stranger a grimaced smile. "Hi." A throbbing headache had already begun beneath her skull. She took a moment to collect her scattered thoughts. Running. Whistling. Necklace - necklace. Her left hand shot to her neck, fingers feeling around for her most treasured possession. She was praying that she'd simply imagined the thief and had really just tripped on her way to the tavern. But no such luck. The jade necklace was gone. The konti's eyes narrowed as her anger sparked. She huffed herself up into a sluggish stand, urging her mind to ignore the pounding on her skull until she could settle this matter. Her shoulders set stubbornly as she turned to the man beside her. "Hi. Sorry. I-I'm new to this city. Would you be able to tell me where I can go to report a crime?" Thump. Naeya winced and sucked in a pained breath, lifting a scaled hand to the left side of her head. A small bump was already beginning to form and, though she didn't know it, the beginnings of a bruise were starting to appear on her right cheek. Ow...

[Daedalus Dagwood]

Daedalus looked into her green eyes as she simply gazed up at him from the ground in silence. Her words held no meaning to Metalsmith when she randomly mentioned the color red. He believed It to be a sign that she was simply dazed and confused from whatever happened to her. As he watched her sit upright the hand he held on her side stayed where it was as his free hand moved to hover above her body in preparation to catch her should she fall. After she was fully seated, he pulled his hands away from her with worry in his eyes for her and disappointment in his city.

Despite the emotions expressed in his eyes Daedalus was a man who always smiled. It was a natural reaction that was in his nature to preform. Even while he was previously forcing himself to give off a aura of anger to keep himself far from the appearance of being prey, he would make mistakes at times when his smile would form a smirk on his lips. He remained in a low crouch in front of the women so once she smiled at him, his smiled greeted hers in return.

“Hey lovey.” His greeting was filled with familiarity even though they were strangers. When her hand moved to absently feel for something at her collar bone Daedalus knew that whoever did this to her had taken her necklace. He slowly stood from his crouch as he watched the Konti stand to her feet.

"Report a crime?" Daedalus didn't mean to laugh at her but the sudden chuckle he made after hearing her question was hilarious to the native Sunberthian. “Well love, I hate to say it but... Welcome to the lawless city of Sunberth. Home of endless possibilities and people willing to manipulate, step on, or kill each other to reach them."

He narrowed his eyes slightly in sympathetic pain as glanced around. "I'm sorry to say but its most likely gone unless you know who took it and go take it back yourself." He reached out with his left arm to see if she wanted help. "Your new to the city, so do you need any help walking to the tent city? Or Sunset Quarters? I don't think you are in any shape to go after a thief. Would just be better for you to buy something new to replace your losses."

[Naeya]

"Pardon me?" She must have heard him wrong. She'd thought he'd said - "Lawless? What do you mean lawless? What sort of city can survive without a justice system?" The konti's confusion was genuine. She'd grown up in Riverfall, where "Law" and "Order" were the names that akalak regularly gave to their two fists. The akalak lived and died to protect her city from all manner of chaos - glassbeaks, storms, criminals. Laws existed for a reason. Many, many reasons, in fact. Laws encouraged prosperity, community, and safety. Besides, there was freedom in safety... wasn't there? "Wouldn't everything just fall into shambles?" she asked, her forehead knotting in puzzlement. "Would it not cause complete disorder? Poverty, sickness, people being mugged in broad dayligh- Ah. I see." She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, careful not to brush her bruising cheek. "Is... is it always like this?" Naeya couldn't keep the mild look of horror out of her eyes at the thought. "And... what about my necklace?" The question came out in a plaintive mew, like a kitten whose tail had just been stepped on. As she registered the look of sympathy on the man's face, she knew the answer would not be good news. Take it back myself? That would mean I'd have to stay... here. She released a resigned sigh, and rubbed her forehead as her headache deepened. "I wish it were as simple as buying something new," she said. "It's just- you know. Family keepsake and all. You understand, I'm sure. I'll be needing it back." Naeya smiled crookedly. "But perhaps after a day's rest." The stranger offered out his arm, which Naeya took after a moment's hesitation. Her slender fingers wrapped lightly around the crook of his elbow, just enough to keep her balance without seeming intimate. "I'm staying in Sunset Quarters," she added, back-tracking to his earlier question. "But I'm sure you have far better things to do than walk me home..." Despite her polite refusal, however, she hoped he didn't. In truth, she felt much too shaken to return to her apartment alone and she welcomed the man's company. His presence was oddly comforting, despite his unfamiliarity. She glanced sideways at her companion. Naeya had hardly noticed his height, despite the man being at least a foot taller. If she were being honest, he was on the short side (as most humans were) compared to the giants she'd grown up with. Men - brothers and friends alike - had towered over her all her life. She'd become so used to asserting herself with words that her small size was mostly detrimental only when it came to reaching the top shelf. "So," she said after a moment's pause, quirking an eyebrow at her escort. "Which kind of handsome Sunberthian sociopath are you? "Manipulator, charlatan, or killer?"

[Daedalus Dagwood]

Daedalus couldn't blame her for her inability to understand the concept of the city itself. "You have to understand one thing about the city, lovey, that many people in life often chose the cold comforts of security over the prospects of true liberty to live free. There is a chaos to the city and just like nature itself the inherent chaos is also what keeps it in check. Predators are their to always strike down threats. And by that very same concept, gangs form in the city as they strive for power. You just need the will to survive to make it. Like slowly growing weed making its way out of the ground to grow through cracks in stone."

Daedalus wasn't blind to the problems in the way the city ran. He understood the need for change. The need to move forward, to progress, to lead through innovation through stagnation and decay to the heights that were within its potential. As he looked to the konti, he noticed that he had not caught her name. It was something he ignored for the moment as he walked with her down a path leading to the Sunset Quarters. As he walked he motioned his free hand towards various roads and paths.

Even though she had given him the opportunity to leave, Daedalus simply ignored the words as he walked with her. "Down those roads will lead you towards the north-eastern portion of the city known as The Wolf's Den. You will want to stay away from there. Seeing as how you had trouble on the normal street, then gods only know what trouble you would get into there..."

Her complement had not escaped him as he glanced over at her when she called him handsome. "Oh? Lets see?" he mused to himself for a moment in silence before nodding his head. "If I had to chose between Manipulator, charlatan, or killer? I would pick charlatan." He smiled at her for a moment before explaining his decision. "When most people here the word 'charlatan' they think of a person who's life is a forgery in and of itself. But, charlatans are often underestimated. It is better to be underestimated in Sunberth."

He chuckled softly, only soft enough for her to hear it as he then shook his head. "Though, If i had to chose what would be I'd go with the word 'innovator'. I enjoy building things that will last, learning new ideas to make my life better and by extension the lives of those I care for and the rest of the world." He glanced back to the path ahead of them as he continued to speak. "My name is Daedalus Dagwood, though you may call me Dae if you wish."

[Naeya]

Liberty to live free is good and well, but is there any freedom in forever being afraid? Naeya's brow wrinkled at her companion's words, but she kept her question to herself. She didn't understand nearly enough about the city, or the man beside her, to ask. Perhaps, unlike foreigners, the native Sunberthians were not always afraid. Perhaps they revelled in defying their fears. Or, perhaps, they kept their fears hidden and festering in their hearts, like an afternoon shadow waiting patiently for night. She frowned at the thought before turning her attention to Sunberth's streets in an effort to orient herself to the city. Her companion was kind enough to point out several city districts as they walked, and she was sure to listen carefully to his words. "The Wolf's Den? It even sounds sinister," she said, offering him a tired, but teasing, smile. "What sort of trouble? More muggers and thieves? There must be an awful lot of competition in that line of work if that's the case." Her words were joking, but she took his warning seriously. Eventually, she was hoping to return home with her senses in tact. She was sure that there were only so many times one could be bashed on the head before their brains turned to jelly. The roads they passed were all narrow and unorganized, winding haphazardly around each other only to connect at the most unexpected points, and some of the buildings seemed to be hanging on only by the threads of their foundation. The path they now walked was just wide enough for two, and she had to squeeze clumsily behind her companion whenever a resident desired to pass. Naeya stayed quiet as Daedalus spoke, happy to listen to the man's easy words. Her head still throbbed, but she noticed the pain lessened with the distraction of his voice. "Daedalus Dagwood, the innovator," she repeated. "Now I know who I need to thank for walking me home. Thank you, Daedalus, for your kindness. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." She smiled warmly at him before continuing. "My name is Naeya." They walked a few feet before she turned to him once more. "And what sort of things do you build, Daedalus- Dae? What's your craft?" On the path ahead, a stick-thin man sat slumped against the wall in a pile of rags. The man's clothes were tattered and torn, and he had no shoes with which to warm his feet. His eyes were closed, but his hands were cupped open on his knees. The konti's eyes grew sad, and she began to poke around her pocket for a spare coin. She was hardly carrying any mizas with her (thank goddess), so it took her a moment to come up with the copper miza which she dropped carefully into the man's waiting hands. "Avalis bless you," Naeya whispered. A wave of dizziness washed over her, and she tightened her grip on Daedalus' arm as her vision went white. She squeezed her eyes closed and slowed to a stop, resting her free hand on her temples. If she had been thinking clearly, she might have recognized the signs of a mild concussion. As it was, she simply wanted to sleep. "I'm sorry," she said after a moment, glancing up at her companion once her sight cleared. "I think I'm still recovering. I just need to lie down when I get home, and I'm sure I'll be fine." Mod's NoteMinus 1 CM

[Daedalus Dagwood]

There was a distinct difference between being afraid compared to being prepared. It was a line that many Sunberthans walked as they tried to make their way through life. With one wrong move a person could quickly turn from being extremely self aware to enter into the realms of truly insane paranoia. There were many fears that Daedalus carried deep within his heart that were locked away so tight that he would carry them to his grave. However, the more common fears of lost of a loved one were the kinds that he wasn't afraid to show.

He narrowed his eyes when she smiled at him. “Filled with terrible beggars who would take anything from you, rapists, murderers, and those who enjoy giving pain in the place of pleasure.” His voice was deep, though soft as if telling a scary bedtime story to a child. A tell that would keep a child from playing to far in a forest less a monster carry them away. His low spoken words turned into a soft chuckle as he continued on his way guiding his companion though the city.

“Those paths lead to Stumble Alley.” Daedalus let the words linger in the air for a moment as if something sinister were to attack them for simply speaking the words. “There are many things there like the Disappearing Drunk Tavern, and assorted shops. Just never, ever; for the love of all the gods, go or stay there beyond nightfall of the twenty-second bell.” It was a warning that he couldn't really logically explain. It was just a warning from a native Sunberthan to an outsider that it was dangerous. “There is a library in Stumble Alley that I visit while the sun is up which is often empty. Not easy to find the place, but the alley is not all bad during the day.”

When the paths narrowed weaved between the decaying walls of buildings that were unsafe to live in even for the insects that called them homes. A seriousness seemed to chase away Daedalus's smile as his eyes narrowed in caution. His eight hand moved to rest on the hilt of his rapier as he stared deeply at any incoming person that wished to walk past him. Narrow spaces were always dangerous, and he was ready to fight anyone who wished to take the advantage from him. Even as several people walked around them on the path, his eyes followed them until they vanished from his peripheral vision.

Once she returned to his side again he continued their conversation. A smirk grew on his lips even though his eyes remained narrowed. "A lovely name that fits such a stunning woman,Naeya. Although I believe the pleasure is all mine." He couldn't outright say the blunt thoughts he had about his attractive companion so he left them as words unspoken. "My skill of trade is to create metals and cast Items out of the metals. Like a Holy symbol of gold, a door knob of silver, rings of steel, even forks of bronze to use to eat. I am a metalsmith."

Daedalus had seen the homeless man, eyed him, and was fully intent on simply passing the man over. When Naeya started to search for something on her person he couldn't help but glance at her with a strange sense of curiosity. His brow rose as he watched the copper piece fall into the mans hand. His curiosity grew as he heard her whispered words. "Avalis?" He thought to himself as it was a god or goddess that he wasn't all that familiar with.

When the woman's grip on his arm increased, Daedalus paused in his tracks. His free right arm moved from the hilt of his rapier to rest atop of her hand on his left arm. If she began to fall he would be able to just pull her arm up and over his shoulder to keep her upright. "Lets get you home than." He was about to continue walking when a nose caught his attention.

Footsteps receding.

A blade being drawn.

Heavy breathing overlapping loudly above the ambient sounds of the city.

Daedalus's hand fell from where it rested atop of Naeya's hand to draw his rapier from its scabbard. Turning slightly until he was turned around with his rapier held out horizontally to point the tip of the blade towards whoever was behind them.

The beggar that she had given money to had drawn a dagger on them.

[Naeya]

"Always befriend a local" was Naeya's cardinal rule for traveling to strange lands. Over the last year, she'd spent much of her time musing on her Novice Traveler status and always came back to that one rule. Locals, while sometimes skittish around foreigners, knew the lay of the land and the unspoken laws better than anyone else. They knew where to find a safe place to sleep, where the best bread could be found, and when the regular boats and caravans came and went. With Sunberth, a city that was looking less safe by the chime, Daedalus' guidance was particularly valuable. The Wolf's Den, Stumble Alley, the general lawlessness of the region... it would have taken Naeya ages to sort it all out on her own, and who knew what would have happened to her in the meantime. She was beginning to see his presence as a gift from Avalis, sent to keep the young konti safe from harm. It was just her luck that he also happened to be a handsome, charming metalsmith. A handsome, charming metalsmith who had no idea she'd just spent three seasons on an isle filled primarily with women. Are you trying to get me in trouble here, mother goddess? Naeya looked gratefully at Daedalus upon feeling his right hand on her own as the dizzy spell passed over her. "Yes, let's," she replied, testing out her balance and finding it steady. She had just begun to walk forward when she felt a resistance from her companion, who was reaching for his sword. Her shoulders stiffened and she dropped her hand from his arm as she, too, turned to see who had joined them. The beggar's face was stony as he pointed the dagger in Daedalus' direction, careful to stay beyond the point of the rapier. He was as thin as Naeya had previously observed, but was taller than expected and looked to have had wiry muscles at a luckier point in his life. She eyed the man's dagger, held with a quivering hand, and the narrow path in which they were currently stuck. Neither situation was ideal, nor did they bode well should a fight occur. For the second time this day, she cursed herself for having left home without a weapon. "Please," she implored the beggar, stepping a half-foot in front of Daedalus and holding her palms outward in a gesture of peace. "We don't want any trouble. Just let us go on our way." The man curled his lip and waved the dagger menacingly. He jabbed the weapon in the direction of her pockets, and motioned toward himself with his free hand. "More," he demanded, his voice parched and strained. Shyke. "You don't want to do this..." she said soothingly, standing her ground and trying to hide the nerves that had crept into her voice. "I gave you everything I had. That was the only coin I carried." As she spoke, she slowly lowered her palms toward the ground to indicate that she wished the beggar to do the same. "I know you don't want to hurt anyone. Please, just take what I gave you and go." But it was difficult to appeal to a man's gentler side when he was starving. Starving men were desperate men, and desperate men did desperate things when cornered. The beggar turned his focus to Daedalus, a wild look entering his eyes. Naeya stepped back nervously and edged behind her companion, allowing him more room to move should he require it. "Drop it," the man said, nodding at Dae's sword. "Drop it or... or I'll kill ya. I swear I'll do it. I swear I'll-" He lunged forward murderously, his dagger aiming straight for Daedalus' heart.

[Daedalus Dagwood]

For all of his noble traits and valiant snits, Daedalus was essentially an objective observer of the world around him. He wasn't by nature one of those people who went out at random with the specific intent of trying to save people from trouble within Sunberth. Even though he had originally decided to check on the woman's safety, had Naeya expressed that she was a local of the city then he would have just left her to lay on the street to make her way home alone.

However, since she was innocent to the city Daedalus felt obliged to intercede into her situation. It was in his nature to imbue a semblance of order into the lives of others that could be aided by his own personal influence. As a moral objectivists who walked the thin line of sunberth's chaotic nature. He never sought to do anything that would cause him to tilt past the general boundaries of social normality.

He was never one to aid the down trodden who were being subjected by the higher powers within the city, however would work to aid someone if it would give him a good reputation. He never 'openly' vied for power that would cause a mob to form against him, or let go of any control that would cause him to lower to the levels of a beggar.It was why he was content with ignoring the beggar.

Likewise, when it came to the woman he felt obliged to help the new comer become acquainted to the city. She was naive to the ways of the city which meant that she couldn't properly make her way through the city life. He was Honorable enough to give a stranger a chance to carve their way through life. Also, the fact that the Konti was one of the most attractive women he had ever seen aided in his decision to help her.

Now Daedalus stood with his Rapier pointed at the homeless man. He felt apathetic towards the beggar fully intent on fighting the man even as he listened to Naeya trying to plead with the person to stand down. The homeless knew their place in life. To Daedalus they were people who willingly slept on the dirty, foul smelling, bodily excrement covered, trash filled streets. Anyone who was content with that lie deserved their fates.

When the beggar spoke to Daedalus about dropping his weapon, the metalsmith responded by taking a stable defensive stance once Naeya stood behind him. He lowered the handle of his rapier so that it was held at the level of his waist causing the blade point diagonally upwards towards the beggars head.

Daedalus's Rapier had the advantage when it came to thrusting lunge attacks. Considering thrusting attacks were the primary use of his weapon, Daedalus responded with a lunging thrust of his own. He took a massive step forward with his right leg causing the forward movement of his body to add power and speed to the thrust he preformed. Daedalus pushed the rapier forward. The blade was already pointed towards the Beggars upper body; though specifically he aimed to stab the man in the head but with the man charging in so fast he decided to stab him in the shoulder of the mans weapon wielding arm.

The beggars attack was interrupted as the tip of Daedalus's rapier pierced through the man's left shoulder before he could get close enough to strike at the Metalsmith. As soon as the tip of his steel blade tore into the mans flesh, Daedalus turned his wrist slightly to twist the blade inside of the beggars shoulder to turn the clean stab into a torn gaping wound.

The homeless man yelped in sudden pain which caused his dagger wielding arm to fall to the mans side. "Drop your dagger. Or lose the arm." Said as he started to twist the blade within the mans wound, raking the mans wound into a wider gash. Either out of compliance, or sheer pain the dagger fell from the mans hand.

The look in Daedalus's eyes showed an intent to kill. Though, he suddenly wondered what his companion would think If she saw him kill the man. It was a question he kept to himself as he looked down at the injured man.