1 Chapter 1

The scent of the sea drifted through the early morning fog as the tavern door creaked open, another sailor wandering in from the docks. The fire danced as the gentle breeze from the doorway stirred the hearth. Fishermen softly chattered as the brunette bartender served the stale ale, the calmness easing the patrons before going out once more for their hunt. Among them, a cloaked figure sipped their cup quietly, their face hidden within the confines of their hood.

The door swings open, slamming into the wall, bits of slivers falling to the ground as three individuals entered the tavern. The soft chatter going silent as the individuals approach the bartender briskly. The woman let out a scoff at the sight of the trio, not at all pleased that they came to disturb the peace of her business. The center gentleman leaned against the bar, a creepy smirk playing on his thin lips as he pushed his greased black hair back from his pale face.

"Ah, sweet Cassandra." his voice hitched on her name, making her lip curl up in a scowl. Her amber eyes narrowed at the lanky rat before her.

"Randy... Why have you graced us with your presence?" she asked sarcastically, picking up a dirty rag, pushing his arm from the bar, causing him to stumbling a bit and wipes the spot he was leaning on. After he regains his balance, Randy cleared his throat and opening his arms out wide, a grin on his face.

"Word has reached the King that a mercenary has arrived in port." he spoke up, and the patrons looked about each other confusingly before finally settling their eyes on the cloaked figure hidden in the back. Randy followed the stares to the back corner and his smile turned into a sneer. Cassandra furrowed her brows as he left the bar to approach the patron.

"Leave them be, Randy. They have only just arrived here." Cassandra spoke up, but he didn't turn back. He continued his stroll over to the back table, his hands on his hips as he stood beside the cloaked stranger. The unknown patron brought their tankard to their lips, showing no interest in Randy's presence. He leaned down, his face hovering closer to the hood, but couldn't see pass the shadows of their cowl.

"Aw, are you the shy type?" he joked, reaching out a hand to pull back the hood, when the stranger lashed out with their hand and gripped his wrist tightly. Taken aback, Randy stared wide eyed as the patron slowly got to their feet. A sense of confusion filled him as this individual was shorter than he was, and appeared to be on the slender side.

"Not shy, but..." a women's voice escaped from the shadows of her hood as she pulled it down. Golden blonde hair swayed freely, her piercing green eyes staring Randy down, "I mind my own business."

Whispers filled the tavern, questions about the mystery woman, compliments to her beauty, yet a few hushed tones of uneasiness. Randy inclined his head, getting over the confusion and his cocky smirk returning to his lips.

"My my, a woman mercenary. What are the odds?" he asked, and she pushed his hand away, sitting back down with her ale.

"If you're just here to bother me, you're not worth my time." she said, but Randy slammed his hand on the table, knocking the tankard over. The woman stared as the copper colored liquid pooled onto the wooden table.

He leaned down, closing the distance between himself and the mercenary, lowering his voice.

"Whether you like it or not, I am definitely worth your time." he smiled like a snake, reaching for her arm. Her eyes locked with his, and for a moment he thought he felt time slow down. Her body shifted in the seat, grabbed his arm instead and twisted it behind his back, slamming his face into the spilled ale. He let out a cry of surprise from the change of events. She leaned down by his ear.

"You're right, that was well worth my time." she said, putting pressure on his arm into his back, making him cry out again, this time in pain.

"Dammit, don't! You'll break my arm!" he whined his pleas, but she only continued to apply the pressure, moving his arm further up his back. With his eyes clenched shut, he cried out, "Idiots! Don't just stand there! Get this bitch off of me!" He ordered, and the two men, now looking closely appear to be twins, he walked in with finally stepped forward, drawing her eyes to them. The man on the left wore his sandy blonde hair in a tight bun on his head, his pointed ears sticking out through the strands. He wore dark brown leather armor, a dagger sitting at his hip. The man on the right let his scraggly sandy blonde hair sway freely, hiding his pointed ears in the mess. He wore a maroon leather armor to stand out from his twin brother, a short sword strapped to his hip.

The dagger-wielding twin reached for her cloak, but she side stepped his reach, snapping off her cloak and wrapped it around his head. He let out a yell, grabbing at the cloak to pull it off, when his brother pulled out his short word and swung downward at her. She grabbed the twin she covered up and pushed him into his brother. He hesitates with the swing, barely missing his brother as they collided and clashed into a table behind them.

Randy stood up straight, rubbing his shoulder as he turned to face her, a scowl replacing the snake-like smile that was on his face prior. He pulled out a dagger from his belt, anger burning in his black eyes as he lunged at her back. She side stepped, the dagger stabbing the space her body left from, her eyes reflecting off the blade. She slammed her hand into his elbow, the blunt force causing the dagger to loosen from his grasp, and with her extended hand, catching it and swiftly brings the dagger to his throat.

For a moment, only the cackling flames from the hearth was the only sound that filled the room. Randy stared at the woman before him, finally able to get a better look of her since her cloak was removed. Her blonde hair swayed against her lower back, scars decorated her arms, possible wounds from fights like this one that healed over time. Her leather armor dyed black and different shades of green. But what caught his eye was the pair of daggers and shortsword strapped to her belt, not once being withdrawn to fight.

Slow clapping sounded from the entrance to the tavern, drawing everyone's attention. A tall gentleman leaned against the door frame, wearing a silver breastplate and a long sword displayed at his hip. His short brown hair sleeked back slightly, appearing to look a bit damp. A playful smile on his chiseled face.

"And I thought I was going to have a boring morning." he said, getting off the doorframe and began to walk over. The woman eyed the man suspiciously, flipping the dagger so she held the tip of the blade between her thumb and index finger, the hilt presented to Randy. He swallowed the lump in his throat, taking hold of the hilt, a sense of relief filling him as he sheathed it. When he glanced back up again, his eyes took in what appeared to be a fist before making contact with his nose, a loud crack after making contact. His hands reached up to clutch his face, blood pooling into his hands.

"You crazy bitch!" he yelled, stumbling back into the chairs behind him and tumbled over. The woman scoffed, reaching down to pick up the tankard that initiated the fight and held it upside down.

"That was for spilling my ale." she said, walking over to the twins and snagged up her cloak from them. The man paused next to the bar, his arms crossed as the woman walked up next to him, placing the tankard on the counter. Cassandra raised a brow at the blonde, picking up the tankard and proceeded to fill it up with more ale.

"I see the rumors are true." the man spoke again, but the woman paid him no mind. He glanced back over to Randy at his two sidekicks, narrowing his eyes, "Looks like your ways of persuasion needs some work, Randy. Aubron, Rydel. Clean up will you, I'm sure we don't need Cassandra to dirty up her hands after the mess you made." he commanded, looking back at Cassandra and gives her a wink. Though Cassandra rolled her eyes at him, for a moment, her cheeks flushed lightly. The man returned his gaze back to the woman next to him, taking in her appearance, "Now, Miss Winters. Or can I call you Rayne?"