Plans are made

"Maria always knew her way around borders others forced on her, but breaking an oath should be impossible."

"That means she had help", Venosa asked. The huntress's face was portraying her normal cheerful smile but her eyes had become cold.

"Or more likely still has. Considering that you are still alive, it seems very likely that she hasn't found her target yet."

Skarras' lips twitched but she didn't say a thing. "That or she didn`t find someone to bind the dagger to next."

All eyes traveled towards me. "You are right, using the heart-blood-dagger would mean he will bond to the next person again, so if Maria doesn`t want to be next she needs someone else to hold it, while it takes effect."

Skarra`s voice carried a mixture of surprise and acknowledgement. Apparently I had said something smart.

"It would be wise to assume she is with company either way. Because I am bound by the oath I count on you guys to have my back while I confront Maria."

Lopus hit his left palm with his right fist.

"It will be an honor to fight alongside such capable comrades."

Excitement radiated from him like light from the sun. Venosa on the other hand didn't look very pleased. Her eyes wandered around while she pondered on Skarras words.

"Do you really think yourself capable of killing the person that took you off the streets."

Skarras' expression darkened. Something was hiding under the features of her face, something she didn't want us to know. Her hands were clenched into fists.

"I can and I will. Maria has shown what she thinks of me when she left me. We are nothing more than a nightstalker and her target at this point."

The two hunters exchanged a look, with Lopus shrugging and Venosa rolling her eyes.

"Fine", she said. It sounded like she wanted to add something but didn`t. After a few moments of silence I pointed my finger at my face.

"What about me?"

The three looked at me like I had just teleported between them. "Sometimes I forget that you exist", Lopus said, giving me an apologetic smile.

"I mean do you have any experience with fighting?"

Skarra shook her head, answering Venosas question.

"Yes I have. I survived a clash with bandits and a fight with two bears."

"The same way you survived that baby-bird?"

Venosa gave me a sympathetic smile, making my blood shoot into my face as I remember my less than heroic acts.

"I think it would be best if you stick with Skarra. You two seemed to at least have your roles figured out."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that Nothol would hinder us more than he would you, if what you told us is true."

I looked at Skarra. She wouldn't tell them how my clash with the bears went, would she?

"What did you tell them?"

"Just that I saved your ass and you mine."

Venosa smiled.

"Mhmmmm."