“Cunning,” said Eola thoughtfully. “Well, I may be able to help. Perhaps. I don't suppose you're prepared to tell me who your client is, are you?”
“No,” said Liriel pointedly. “Honestly Eola, I'm a professional.”
“Pity,” said Eola, shrugging. “I'm just wondering who is high-ranked enough to want to do all this, but not high-ranked enough to take on a Hag and survive politically. Can't be a Briar Heart, they don't have the imagination.” She smiled sweetly, resting an elbow on the table and propping her head up. “Never mind. I'm sure you'll tell me in good time. I'm allowed to know the target at least, hmm?”
“A Hagraven called Petra at Blind Cliff Cave,” Liriel told her. “She's imprisoned her sister Melka, and M- my client thinks that if we pay Melka a visit and offer to deal with her sister, she might be persuaded to back our client in return.”
“Hags. I knew it,” said Eola, grinning. “Count me in on this one, Liriel. I just have one question. You said this might not be the only job, and honestly, if I was in charge of a number of Forsworn camps and was looking to consolidate my hold on the rest, Blind Cliff Cave would barely figure in my plans.”
“That's not a question,” said Liriel, wondering what on earth was going on in the girl's head.
“No, it's not. My question is – these targets. Would the King in Rags be among them? Madanach?”
Liriel's breath caught in her throat, heart pounding, world going into slow motion at the mere thought of Madanach dying. Never, no never, he's my friend, he's one of us, I'd take my own life before I'd take his.
“No,” Liriel rasped, her throat going dry. “No, we're not going after him.”
Eola closed her eyes, smiling as if at some secret only she knew. Opening them, she sat up, shook herself down and got to her feet.
“Then I'm in.” She held out a hand to Liriel, smiling at her. “Shall we?”
Liriel nodded mutely, not at all sure what had just happened there, but something had shifted in the wind and she had the uncanny feeling Eola had guessed who the client was.
“Let's get going,” Liriel said hastily. “We've got some Hagravens to sort out.”
Re: Nightshade and Juniper 3.8
“No,” said Liriel pointedly. “Honestly Eola, I'm a professional.”
“Pity,” said Eola, shrugging. “I'm just wondering who is high-ranked enough to want to do all this, but not high-ranked enough to take on a Hag and survive politically. Can't be a Briar Heart, they don't have the imagination.” She smiled sweetly, resting an elbow on the table and propping her head up. “Never mind. I'm sure you'll tell me in good time. I'm allowed to know the target at least, hmm?”
“A Hagraven called Petra at Blind Cliff Cave,” Liriel told her. “She's imprisoned her sister Melka, and M- my client thinks that if we pay Melka a visit and offer to deal with her sister, she might be persuaded to back our client in return.”
“Hags. I knew it,” said Eola, grinning. “Count me in on this one, Liriel. I just have one question. You said this might not be the only job, and honestly, if I was in charge of a number of Forsworn camps and was looking to consolidate my hold on the rest, Blind Cliff Cave would barely figure in my plans.”
“That's not a question,” said Liriel, wondering what on earth was going on in the girl's head.
“No, it's not. My question is – these targets. Would the King in Rags be among them? Madanach?”
Liriel's breath caught in her throat, heart pounding, world going into slow motion at the mere thought of Madanach dying. Never, no never, he's my friend, he's one of us, I'd take my own life before I'd take his.
“No,” Liriel rasped, her throat going dry. “No, we're not going after him.”
Eola closed her eyes, smiling as if at some secret only she knew. Opening them, she sat up, shook herself down and got to her feet.
“Then I'm in.” She held out a hand to Liriel, smiling at her. “Shall we?”
Liriel nodded mutely, not at all sure what had just happened there, but something had shifted in the wind and she had the uncanny feeling Eola had guessed who the client was.
“Let's get going,” Liriel said hastily. “We've got some Hagravens to sort out.”