“If you don’t believe that two reasons are sufficient to stay my hand with steel drawn against you, that actually comes to bear rather neatly with the third point,” Iskondra said to the downed man. She lowered her sword a fraction of an inch towards his face, bringing the sparking blue orb almost in contact with his skin. “Which is that ending the life of a lowly assassin is a task more fit for an executioner… or an exterminator. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that I would not stoop to doing so, if pressed to the point. It is only for the sake of the fourth and most important reason that I have not slain you.”
“So, only one real reason, then,” Tauri grunted.
“Listen to me… I am on the verge of an incredibly valuable find, but I have no allies, few resources, and limited experience navigating the sort of demimonde in which a person such as you operates,” Iskondra said. “While I am well-equipped to deal with any foe, I am sorely vulnerable to ambushes by foes who leave me with no opportunity to bring my sword into play.”
“Good to know,” Tauri said. “Will bear in mind for future.”
“I am proposing a partnership, you fool.”
“Rather not work with woman with fool for partner,” Tauri said.
“I am on the trail of an ancient treasure of incalculable worth,” the swordswoman said.
“What treasure?”
“That must remain my secret,” Iskondra said. “I am not averse to an equitable division, but I will not blithely give it away… nor am I likely to get it for myself if I must constantly watch for threats from the shadow. What I need is for someone to watch my back.”
“Turn around,” Tauri said. “See how I do.”
“You would be the ideal candidate, in that your presence could forestall further pursuit by Hulgar’s agents,” Iskondra said. “Any suspicion that fell upon you would fall away when you presented him with payment in full, plus appropriate interest.”
“From whose share?”
“Tauri, if you understood the sheer scope and scale of the wealth of which I speak, you would understand that it scarcely matters,” Iskondra said. “My debt, your fees… they’ll seem as drops of water compared to the volume of the Outer Sea.”
“Not your share, then.”
“We can sort out the petty details when we’ve come to a formal accord,” Iskondra said. “And naturally, any agreement on how to divide expenses must be subject to verification of the exact extent and condition of the aforementioned trove.”
“Funny. Sounded pretty certain of extent,” Tauri said. “Sure it’s real?”
“It has to be,” Iskondra said. “I have invested far too much for there to be any doubt on my part… but if you’re not interested in the position, well… you leave me with very little choice.”
“Go ahead,” Tauri said. “Do it.”
Iskondra threw her head back and let out a frustrated cry, almost a roar, and the blue orb exploded in a bright flash in front of Tauri’s eyes. He rolled to the side immediately, getting up into a defensive crouch and waving his hands around to try to ward off her next attack… but when his vision cleared, he saw that she was gone.
“Coward after all,” he muttered, getting to his feet and heading for the bar.
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