Malgion's Hideout(Voldar)

[Jituska Kouba]

Jituska looked at her brother. She wanted to reach out her hand and smooth that worried look from his face. Instead, she took the bread and began tearing chunks from it, putting them in her mouth and chewing fervently. Ooh, this was good! She was quite unable to share the worry that Tojz seemed to be feeling. The bread rapidly disappeared, the pear soon followed it. There was just enough to stop the hunger, as she kept half the bread for her brother, who was eating slower than her.

She knew that he wouldn't normally have said yes. He preferred getting food the honest way, and only stole when he didn't have a choice. But this was different, this was not stealing because they'd starve otherwise. This was stealing because there were some men who felt that they had a right to another man's purse. And if Tojz wouldn't have said yes normally, that meant there was a reason why he'd said yes now.

Her look became examining. "You said yes because of me, didn't you?" She was quite unaware that she was just continuing her own train of thought, and that her brother probably wasn't following her. However, her next words should make it clear what she was talking about. "You only agreed to steal for them so that they wouldn't hurt me." He didn't really have to answer her, she knew it from the way his face was creased into a worrying frown. Edging a little closer, she pressed both her thumbs to the middle of his forehead, then moved them away from each other. It was quite clear that she was trying to smooth the frown away. Then she placed the tops of her index fingers on the corners of his mouth and pressed up, telling him to smile. She had done this many times before, and it had worked often. She could only hope that it would work now again.

She laid down her head on Tojzek's shoulder, closing her eyes as she did so. "Don't worry, Tojz. Everything will be all right, you will see. So long as we're together, everything will be all right." She stayed in this position for a while, then shifted so that she could lean on her brother more completely. She felt herself slide down into sleep - a healthier sleep than what she'd just been through. When she was only half awake, half in the world of dreams, she murmured: "I would have done it, you know. When they were finished, I'd have killed myself. I'm glad you helped, I don't want to leave you. I'm glad you're my brother." After that, she slided even further down, so that soon she was immersed in a dream. A peaceful smile spread over her face, which looked relaxed and so very, very young.

[Tojzek Kouba]

Tojzek went back to his bread and continued to brood worriedly as he chewed.  Mentally searching all possible methods of escape, he had to admit that being outside this cage would make it a lot easier.  Maybe they would get a chance to steal the key at some point?  He sighed visibly – these men would surely be on the look out for anything like that.  Their best bet was probably to gain a little trust by acting as if they wanted to do the tasks they were given.  But how far would they have to go?  The boy somehow doubted that pick pocketing was the limit of this group’s criminal activity.

Jituska had already gobbled down her bread and the pear whilst Tojzek had still only eaten a few bites of his bread.  Always aware of her movement, he turned to her as her look became more intense.  A questioning frown greeted her first sentence but she quickly elaborated.  Guilt made him pause a little; he had forgotten that she didn’t know the idea had actually been his.  Better that she should not know, he thought, or maybe it was just that he didn’t want her to loose faith in him.  She was the only person who thought he was worth anything and he selfishly wanted to protect that.  “So that they would help you, ‘tuska, as well as not slit my own throat.”  Bitter words once again.  As he went to stroke her hair again his sister reached towards his face, so he dropped his arms.  Trying jokingly to resist her smoothing fingers Tojzek failed and suddenly broke into laughter.  Some of his stress bubbled out in a series of short, amused sounds.   “What would I do without you, Jituska?” he asked softly, the clichéd question backed with a torrent of affection.

He settled himself more comfortably on the floor as she snuggled into him.  "Don't worry, Tojz. Everything will be all right, you will see. So long as we're together, everything will be all right."  For a moment Tojzek wished they could change places and he could be the happy, protected one for a change.  He wanted more than anything to believe the statement she had just made, but unfortunately he knew it to be wrong.  Could she really think that after what the men had tried to do?  The young man wondered if he protected her too much.  Today’s events had threatened her secure little world and look how she had reacted.  Or was that simply a reaction to that particular threat?  His heart warmed in pride as he remembered how she had stood up to them whilst he had still been dizzy from Jakal’s blow.  Finishing the bread he moved his legs around to a more comfortable position and closed his eyes.  There was little else he could do for the moment.

Jituska’s sleepy words broke his moment of relaxation.  Though he felt a rush of love for her at the expression of affection, it was tempered with worry.  The mere thought of loosing her caused so many horrible emotions to race through his body that for the moment he could not reply without fear of lashing out.  How could she think like that?  He needed her support just as must as she needed his protection.  Didn’t she realise that?  Quite a few minutes past in silence as Tojzek’s thoughts and paranoias whirled around his head.  He was loath to wake her now she was sleeping so happily, but he wanted to speak with her.  No, damn it, this was important!  He could not have the worry of her suicide on his mind as well as everything else. There just wasn’t enough space in his head for so much anxiety.

Taking her tiny bony shoulders in his hands, the young man shook her awake - slightly more violently than he would usually have done.  “Wake up Jituska, I have something important you need to listen to.”  As she stirred he stopped shaking and stroked her face once, tucking a piece of hair back behind her shoulder.  As soon as he judged her to be conscious enough he began.  Hi face turned serious. “’tuska, I love you, and I promise I will always do my best to be there for you, no matter how bad it gets.”  He paused for a second to allow this to sink in, but continued before she had time to verbally react.  “I need you too, so much.  I need you to cheer me up when I’m worrying too much, and to keep me out of trouble as well.  And I need you to make the same promise to me, if you can.”  His eyes were filled with love for her, but his face was sincere; firm.

[Jituska Kouba]

It seemed to her as if she had slept only a few moments before Tojz shook her awake. Her body, needing the sleep after the ordeal she had been through, was slow to react. 'Hmm? 's it time already?' she murmured. At her brother's words, however, she came fully awake. The intensity behind them scared her a little.

When he was done speaking, she knew that she had got it wrong. She'd thought he would have understood. But he wouldn't have. After she had gone, he would've done something stupid, of that she was sure now. He was right, he needed her as much as she needed him. The realisation made her eyes go wide. How could she have thought about taking her own life, when there was someone who needed her so much?

Now that the immediate threat was gone, the dread was rapidly fading, leaving her to wonder why things had seemed so urgent. She was quickly turning back into the optimistic girl that woke up this morning. It was much nicer to feel this way than the fear and despair of earlier, anyway. She took Tojzek's right hand in both her own, looking up into his eyes earnestly. 'I promise, Tojz. I won't leave you.' She searched his eyes, trying to see if he believed her. He just had to believe her! She might have meant what she'd said earlier, but she meant this just as much. And now that she had promised, she would not go back on that. If he really needed her as much as he said he did, she would live, even when things got as bad as they had threatened to become.

When she was sure he believed her, she let go of his hand, bringing one of her own up to tug at a braid. A smile spread over her face as her optimistic side took firm hold again. Deliberately ignoring the bars that caged them, she said: 'At least we're out of the snow, and more or less warm.' She laughed at Tojzek's scowl. She knew that she ought to be a little more worried after the events that had overtaken them, but found that she couldn't. Her heart felt too light to be oppressed by their environment, and they would soon be outside again, if under the surveillance of one of the thieves.

Besides - although this was not something she consciously put into a coherent thought - her mind was staying away from dwelling too much on what could have happened. It was not in her nature to think about 'what if' anyway, certainly not when the conjectured situation was as bad as this one would be. It did not happen, therefore there was no use in thinking about it. Also - and again happening unconsciously - the whole lightheartedness was a reaction against the tension of earlier.

The hand that was near her hair felt that her braids had let go again. No wonder really, though her mind shied away from the reason. She looked at Tojz through her lashes, smiling shyly. 'Braid me again?' she asked. It was as much the request that was worded, as an offer to calm him down in one of the best ways that she knew. Or maybe calm both of them down. It worked both ways, more often than not. She scooted closer, offering her blonde head of hair to his deft hands. As she waited for him to begin, she put her thin arms around her knees; one of her favourite positions to be in.

She wondered what it would be like to work for thieves. Would she have to help, or just tag along like she usually did? She knew that she was a better pickpocket than her brother, even though she had never let him see that. She'd used her skill only sparingly. If they let her help, she could become even better. She didn't have the same reservations about stealing as Tojzek: as far as she was concerned some people could well afford it to 'lose' a few coins. And if she happened to 'find' them (even if that meant looking for them in their purse) then so be it. The difference for herself was minimal - whether she stole for Tojzek or for the thieves, she wouldn't keep anything anyway. And what would she need with coins, even if she did get to keep some? Tojz took care of all that. But yes, she looked forward to helping out, if only to practice finding things.

[Seh'nara Celebrindal]

In the adjacent room, Horace, Jakal, Taloon and Rodget were discussing the children's situation around a table. "Are you certain that you want to go with them, Jakal?" Horace asked the man who was sitting across him. He didn't like the way the way Jakal looked when he volunteered for the job. On the other hand, though, he could not risk the children running off and alerting the guards. It was too big a risk to let them go without any supervision. But if he did let them go with Jakal, considering his current relationship with them, they could easily anger him, and undoubtedly Jakal would grab at the chance to punish them in his own way.

"Yes." Jakal's cold tone sent shivers down Horace's spine. His eyes gleamed with malice, and Horace could only imagine what he was thinking. It was no question that it had something to do with the kids. As every second passed, he was more and more unsure of his decision to let Jakal bring the children out. With the way Jakal's lips were upturned in a sinister smile, he was more concerned with their safety rather than the MadCaps alone.

Taloon had also caught on Jakal's intentions. He liked Jakal, don't get it wrong, but this was a side he hated to see. "I'll go instead, Horace." Taloon looked at Jakal, blue eyes glaring at him. "Jakal, I don't think any one of us here would trust a dog with you right now, let alone two children." Jakal clenched his hands into fists. "I resent that, Taloon," Jakal replied tersely. "It sounds like you don't trust me."

"I trust you, Jakal. Just not with two living things now."

"So you wish to take over?"

"I was already in charge, Jakal." By this time, both men were standing up, face to face, palms leaning against the table. A fight was clearly eminent, if not for the timely intervention of Horace.

"Shut your yapping, both of ya. I don't care if you don't like it Jakal. I agree wit Taloon. If he's so willing, he goes." Jakal glanced at Horace. "I dislike your meddling, old man," Jakal said, eyes boring into Horace's own. "Hold your tongue." A sharp voice cut through the red haze that both were covered in. Surprisingly, it was Taloon who spoke. "Have you forgotten, Jakal? Horace is in charge until Fallen comes back. You give Horace the same respect you would for Fallen."

Jakal eyes narrowed as he looked from Horace to Taloon, and back to Horace again. Suddenly, he sat down and put his feet up on the table. "I can see that I am outnumbered, so do it your way. I wash my hands of this matter." Horace nodded, Taloon grinned. His eyes flicked to the clock on the wall. "Smart move, Jakal. Horace, I think I'll start them now. It'll be better to break them in quicker." Horace nodded once more.

Taloon pushed back his chair and walked to the next room where the children were. He headed for the cage. On the way, he casually swiped the keys from the table in the centre of the room. The keys jangled in his hands as he unlocked the cage. "Well, children. My name is Taloon, and I'll be replacing Jakal. Don't worry. I don't waste my strength punishing people for nothing." He pulled open the cage's door and gestured outside with a smirk. "Shall we?"

[Tojzek Kouba]

Tojzek let his arms fall as he finished his speech, running them slowly down her arms to the floor.  His eyes looked into her young, familiar face.  He suddenly noticed a smudge of dirt on the large defined jaw bone and wanted to wipe it off.  Should he have eased her into the idea a little more?  But no, that wasn’t really his way.  Words were things of weight, importance, and anyway he had never been good at making them fancy.  Jituska must be used to it by now he hoped.

Her warm little hands found one of his and she looked back at him with what he suspected was the same level of intensity his face had shown just a few seconds ago.  Maybe he should have toned it down a bit after all.  'I promise, Tojz. I won't leave you.'  Her eyes seemed to seek his belief and, unable to say it in words, he drew her skinny frame into a close hug.  Placing a light kiss on her cheek he released her, and a part of the worry lifted.  His sister was going to struggle through everything too.  It was more possible that they would get through this together.  More at least.  Unharmed?  He was not sure, but that wasn’t worth thinking about.  They could only try.

And as soon as Tojzek released his sister from the hug she seemed to be her normal happy self once more.  He nodded agreement at her observation, but the frown stayed on his face.  He would have felt a lot happier out in the snow to be honest, cold but free to look after themselves.  On the other hand the freedom included the freedom to starve as well.  But they hadn’t come so close to that yet.  He could work, and they had other ways of making money too.  The young man was aware that this would not be the first time Jituska had pick pocketed.  Or the first time he had attempted to either.  For some reason the thought of his sister stealing was so much worse than him doing it himself.  Did the fact that they were being forced to steal for a gang of thieves make it any better? He mused over the issue as he began to braid her hair once more. 

What if they got caught?  To be honest he was far more likely to than Jituska; her agile hands were far more practised than his.  Still, as he finished her hair for the second time that day, he could not resist saying “You will be careful ‘tuska, won’t you?  We have to steal for them, but somehow I don’t think the city guards will accept the excuse He told me to.”  For once a vain attempt at humour, perhaps to make up for his over-intensity before.  But just as he smiled at his sister, heavy footsteps rounded the corner to their cell.

But it wasn’t Jakal, it was the other one, the one who had held his knife to Tojzek’s throat in the street as well as when he had woken up here.  The boy remembered his speed with the weapon, and the brief smile faded from his face.  This man would not be easily tricked.  Damn it. "Well, children. My name is Taloon, and I'll be replacing Jakal. Don't worry. I don't waste my strength punishing people for nothing."  Tojzek wondered exactly what would be considered “something” by this man.  Probably anything.  The young man stood up as Taloon opened the door and offered a hand to Jituska as well.  He threw a mild glare at him, but prepared to follow wherever he saw fit to lead.

[Seh'nara Celebrindal]

Taloon glanced at the two scruffy kids that followed him. Briefly, his mind played with the option of taking the girl when they were out of sight, but he dismissed it almost immediately. The boy would never allow that to happen, that was for sure. Besides, he could always bed some other whore. Little girls were never really his thing.

As the trio headed out of the interrogation room and into the common room, Jakal's head rose, and a sneer grew on his sharp face. The smile held nothing but contempt; accompanied by his cold eyes, his whole demeanour sent chills down Taloon's spine. Bastard.

Horace stood up and held up a hand to stop the group's progress. "Taloon. You bring them back, don't get them killed," Horace said. Taloon grinned at the old man. Somehow, he could feel that Horace was concerned about them, hiding the fact that he maybe liked the two. Taloon nodded, the sides of his eyes crinkling with his grin.

Pushing the children forwards, Taloon pulled open the door, and ushered both out into the mild cold outside. It's time to put them to the test.

[Capher]

After passing the security Taloon and Jit entered the main hall. Horace was sitting on his chair next to Fallen's, their present leader, who was absent at the moment. No one would sit in Fallen's chair, not even Horace, though he was the interim leader of the MadCaps in Fallen's absence.

Horace seemed to be deep in thought, or else drunk, thought Taloon, as they walked into the main room, and sat down. Roget was in corner but came forward when he saw them come in. He had a lecherous grin on his face and his fists were covered with dried blood.

"Well, how much she git?" Jakal asked, leering at Jit.

Taloon had begun to respect the girl and had even began to think of her as a little sister.

He gave Roget a withering glance. "Back off, Roget. You know Horace sees first and then divides up the spoils as the rules dictate. All I will tell you is that she did good, and you had better respect her for she did her "nobs" Taloon said evenly.

Roget rubbed the stubble of his beard as he looked first at the girl and then back at Taloon. "What she do, Taloon? Give you a little?" He asked.

Taloon's reaction was quick and decisive and Horace who was heading in thier direction could not have stopped it even if he could. Taloon's twin throwing knives came out of pratcially nowhere and went whistling through the air, both blades, keen and sharp found their marks.

Roget's face looked stupified as he looked down at his chest and saw the handles of Taloon's knives so close to one another that they looked liked one handle. His heart was so startled by the sudden appearance of steel penetrating it that it took a blink for it to register and send the message up to Roget's brain, but by the time the message reached Roget's brain, he had toppled over, and fell on the floor. His eyes wide open in surprise.

Horace stumped over, took one look at Roget and then turned on Taloon. "What in Coor's name are you doing? Trying to get yourself killed? Roget has many friends and when they find out you killed him because of her, they will kill you as sure as a cow headed for the slaughter bin."

Taloon took the coins that Jit had stolen and threw them on the table, some of them rolled off, landed on the floor and rolled a few peds away. "I don't think so, Horace. She made her nobs and she did it in style. Roget insulted me and little sis here. I think they will understand. If not, then I will make sure they do!" Taloon answered back.

Horace stared at the coins thrown on the table. There was enough money on that table to feed the MadCaps for a month or more. He glanced at the girl. was she that good? or was she very lucky? Did the boy and the girl lie to them and they actually were practiced thieves? So many questions crossed his mind.

Taloon saw Horace's face and chuckled. "Horace forget what you're thinking. She does not even know what she stole. She has no idea of the value of money."

"What? She does not know the difference between a san or a gold bard?" Horace asked incrediously.

Taloon shook his head, "Nope, none whatsoever and I think we should get our healer to take a look at her. Litte Sis seems to be coming down with something. I would hate for it to catching and worse, I would hate for her to be down when she could be stealing. She is a natural."

Horace turned back to Jit. "You're not lying? You have no clue whatsoever of the value of what lies here?" He asked.

Taloon had walked over and had retrieved his knives. "Horace, I told you. Are you doubting my word as well?"

"No, Taloon. Not yours, hers. Either she got very lucky, or she and her brother have been lying to us all along and that must be dealt with."

Taloon paused thinking and then replied, "I do not think Little Sis is lying, however if she is I promise to be the one to punish her and her brother. Is that a deal, Horace?" Taloon asked, wiping the blood off his blades and quickly sheathing them in his belt.

Horace nodded. "Acceptable, but I still would like to hear if from her, if you do not mind?"

Taloon chuckled. "She made her nobs. She can speak for herself," he said.

Horace turned back to Jit. "Well, answer the question," he demanded.

[Jituska Kouba]

Jituska had grown a few nailsbreadths with the praise she got from Taloon. All the way to the hideout, there was a certain spring in her step as she walked beside him. There was... something... in his manner that convinced her that his attention had shifted. She could never have put it into words, but she felt that she was no longer an object of interest to him, not the way she was to Roget. So, so long as Tojzek wasn't with them, she drew to him more or less naturally. So he wasn't one of those older men that Tojz was always protecting her from. He was... strong. Perhaps even stronger than her brother. And that was not meant purely physically, though it *was* rather probable.

When they entered the hideout, the first thing she noticed was Roget's ever-present leer. However, he asked about her theft, for which she was grateful. She was not at all prepared for what followed. His leer intensified with his words... and then turned off. For good. She looked with big brown eyes at the two knives sticking out of his chest, close to each other. For a moment, she thought about backing away from Taloon, but then she realised that she wouldn't have to fear Roget anymore. He wouldn't be waiting for his chance every time she turned her back to him. But she couldn't really get herself to move closer to him either - after all, he'd just killed someone. He'd really actually robbed a person of his life, even if she hated that person with all her heart... She wondered when Tojzek was going to come back. She wanted his comforting presence near her, telling her that somehow everything was going to be alright.

Thoughts about her brother were forced to the back of her mind when Horace approached her and asked about the money. Why was everyone so interested in the money? It was just a bunch of metal, wasn't it? Taloon tried to help her, but the old man pressed on. She looked at the coins for a moment, frowning just a bit, and shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not lying. I'm not a thief. Well, not really. I practiced a bit since Tojz and I went away, but he never allows me to steal, so I only did it a very few times. When we have some money, he's the one to take care of it, and if I somehow get some I just give it to him."

She looked once more at the pile, shrugged again, and turned her attention to Horace. Was this what he wanted to hear? She didn't want to be punished when she didn't think she'd done something wrong. Well, she didn't like to be punished anyway, but at least when she'd actually done something, there was some kind of logic to it. Now though... When Taloon had just praised her so, why would he turn against her? She tried to keep the worry down and just wait for what they would say, but she couldn't suppress a quick glance at her recently acquired friend, and a little fidgetting with her hands happened seemingly on its own as well. Looking from the one to the other, she wished again - and far more vehemently - that her brother would be here to help her.

[Capher]

"I'm not lying. I'm not a thief. Well, not really. I practiced a bit since Tojz and I went away, but he never allows me to steal, so I only did it a very few times. When we have some money, he's the one to take care of it, and if I somehow get some I just give it to him." Jit said.

Taloon smiled at her and gave her a nod.

Horace stood there a bit dumbfounded. He had protected her and her brother because he had thought that eventually he could get word to Damien and get the two children out. However, it seemed, at least the girl, had gotten extremely lucky, or as Taloon said Roget had told him, she was a natural.

A natural thief was rare. Usually, most thieves were thieves because of necessity: to stay alive, for instance, and if you looked at them, most had at least one digit of a finger missing or more. But a natural thief was like the wind; you felt it, but could not tell where it came from or where it went, you only knew it had been there. And in the case of a natural, if you were their unfortunate victim, you did not notice anything missing until they were long gone and there was nothing you could do about it. Taloon, was one of those rare breeds, besides being a very good assassin as well. As Roget's lifeless body, that was being dragged out of the room testified.

Horace glanced at Taloon and saw that he had taken a shine to her. Whether it was because of her abilities or because of her beauty, Horace could not say, but he knew the look Taloon was giving her. She had made her nobs and as Taloon had said, "In Style."

Horace wondered if the girl's brother could be a natural as well?

"Jit," he finally said, "You have done well. Exceptionally well. The coins that lay upon this table will be able to feed and clothe us for the rest of the spring and summer as well. Since you do not know the value of what these coins are I suppose I..."

"If you do not mind, Horace. I think that should be my job, since I was the one who first saw and brought them into our little group," interrupted Taloon, "and I believe Little Sis, is sick, or becoming sick. I think we should call our healer to have a look at her.

Horace shrugged his shoulders. "That is the law of our order. She is yours to teach Taloon," Horace said, emphasizing the word teach. "and you," he pointed to a young boy, who was standing in the shadows watching everything, "go get Vika and tell her that she is needed.  The boy dashed off.

Taloon grinned. "It will be my pleasure," Taloon answered as he walked toward Jit, softly took her hand and then guided her to pick up a coin.  He could feel her apprehension, but also the heat that generated from her.

"Little Sis, this is your first lesson. This coin," Taloon picked up a small copper colored coin, "this coin is called a san. It is the smallest value of the coins I proudly say you brought our way. "Let's count them as a "One or Single coin,"

[Tojzek Kouba]

The burnt wound stung and throbbed with each little movement as Tojz followed the man through a different entrance and into the hideout.  Now Jakal was in front of him he had dropped the stern, angry gaze, reverting to his usual blank visage instead.  It was becoming more and more difficult to keep up the scorn which the boy felt all these villains deserved – in truth the on-the-field healing had impressed him.  Confusion was welling inside his usually straight-forward thoughts as he struggled between the gratitude for this man’s treatment of him and contempt for the group in general.

At least with the other men there was no such doubt.  He stepped into the room where they were gathered, and the scene before him did little to calm his fears.  Blood stained the floor in the centre; fresh, wet, oozing blood. What had they done to her?! His heart skipped more than one beat and colour drained from his face.  The air seemed to suddenly become thin, as if the oxygen in it was not quite enough to sustain him.  The world was slightly darkened, blurry, and he made an effort to snap himself out of the confines of his shock.  Surely she hadn’t performed that badly? He dragged his eyes from the dark mess, looking around for the culprit.  Instead they hit the one person he was not expecting to find upright – his sister was standing over to one side, seemingly unharmed although talking to possibly the most dangerous man in the room – Taloon.  Without even thinking he ripped his feet from the floor and strode over to her, placing his hand on her arm with visible tenderness.  The shock and fear still showed a little in his eyes, along with a little pain from the darkened slit in his side.  Instead of greeting her verbally he turned to the men beside her.

“Who’s blood is that?”.  The words came out slightly more violently than they were meant, and, aware of his rudeness and slightly embarassed by its cheekiness, he dropped his eyes to the table they had gathered around.  Another shock awaited him there, for resting on the surface was the kind of money it would take him a year to earn.  Where had it come from?  The advantages of being part of this group were stacking up against his better judgement; the coins in front of him represented a long period of security and comfort.  Although they were also a prize someone, somewhere, would be quite eager to get back.  Whoever this wealth belonged to probably had the means to employ a great deal of well-armed people to punish the theif.  Did these people really have the resources to protect such treasure?  And was this a usual haul for them or the acumulation of several months of work?  Despite his usually consevative word output, and the fact that he had already burst in on the group rather rudely, his curiousity was peaked enough to ask.  "And where did this come from?"

[Capher]

Taloon turned his head when he heard others enter the main room. The boy, Tojz came stumbling in and Jakal was somewhat a bit farther behind him. Taloon quickly noticed the boy's torn shirt and his keen eyes took in the slight oozing wound on the boys side.  His eyes swept up to Jakal in a silent question.

Jakal shook his head, no.

Taloon nodded and then the boy saw his sister and he half-ran, half- stumbled over to her, He touched her arm and his eyes swept the floor. Taloon could clearly see that the boy could see the blood that Roget had spilled after being pinned by his knives.

“Who’s blood is that?”. The boy asked.

Before Taloon or any other person in the room could answer the boy's eyes must have seen the coins on the table for he quickly asked. "And where did this come from?"

Taloon smiled and put his arm over Jit's shoulder. "Last question answered first, though you are in no place to demand anything, I am quite proud to tell you that Little Sis here, stole all of that coin. According to the late Roget, she is a natural and I agreed with him. Little Sis is one of those rare gifted people that have the natual talent to become great, no, even better than that, magnificent thieves," Taloon answered, smiling at Jit, "You should be proud of her, she made her nobs her first time out, most thieves do not make thier nobs until after many tries, and some still are working at it. Little Sis, is going to turn out to be one great thief after I teach her a few more things; as far as the blood on the floor, it is Roget's. He made accusation's against Little Sis and myself. Since Little Sis had no defender I did the defending and Roget, sadly," Taloon drew his throwing knives out of his belt, glanced at them, and then lovingingly put them back before he continued, "was no match for my twins."

He swept his eyes over the boy. "And what do you have? Does the natural gift run in the family?" Taloon asked, already guessing the answer.

Jakal had made his way to the table and was staring at the coins; listening to Taloon talking to the boy. Was the girl a natural, as Taloon was bragging, or did she get lucky? Jakal thought to himself as he mentally counted out the coins and how much was there. He let out a slow whistle when the final tally came to his head, Four thousand sans. A tidy sum.

Taloon's question shook Jakal out of his reviere. He chuckled, "No, at least not today. The boy stole a pot, but when he was almost caught and had to run, he jumped on a roof, the pot broke under him and a shard of it pierced him in the right side ribs. I had to do some emergency cutting to get the shard out to prevent infection but I think he should be looked at by Vika as soon as possible," Jakal answered.

The room burst out laughing when they heard what happened with the boy. Taloon had been so enamoured with Jit that knowing that thier were others all about the main room; whores, pickpockets, panderer's, thieves and even murderers were all in their own little nooks and crannies all around the main room. Taloon didn't laugh, he just smiled.

Another man that did not laugh was Horace; everything was turning upside down. He had thought that the boy and his sister would not be any good and eventually Taloon, Jakal and Roget would forget about them and eventually he would find a way to get a message to Damien or perhaps miraculously Damien would be in the square at the same time as one or the other of the children would be and rescue them.

However, now that of all people the girl, Jituska, had made her nobs and in a spectacular way, she was going to have Taloon's special attention and instruction, so she will be almost impossible to be able to escape, if she wanted to and looking at the glow on the girls face Horace was so sure now. As Horace looked at both of them he wondered if the boy had enough influence upon his sister to overcome the influence and attention of Taloon before it was too late? And could he get a message out to Damien to rescue these two before it was too late?

[Jituska Kouba]

Jituska glowed with pride at all the praise she was getting. She'd just grabbed a handful of coins, and look where it got her. She paid close attention to Taloon's instruction, even though it was hard to get her head around all the numbers she tried the best she could. Gradually, her distrust of Taloon - and the part he had played in the scene earlier - vanished from her mind. She focused on the coins until a disturbance at the entrance told her that her brother had arrived.

First he demanded whose the blood was. She'd forgotten about that already, in the excitement of getting to know all the different coins, and realising just how much it was that she'd stolen. Perhaps she ought to be sadder that someone had died because of her, but then she hadn't really gotten a good look at him dead, and he'd been rather beastly to her. Then Tojz asked about the coins. She positively beamed as Taloon explained that she had stolen all that treasure. When he was done speaking and talked with Jakal, she paid no more attention, but dashed from the side of the man who had adopted her as his 'Little Sis' to her actual brother, throwing her hands around his neck.

"Oh Tojz, isn't it wonderful? I saw this guy, he was so rich, dressed all fine, finer than we could ever wear, and his pouch of money was hanging almost on his back, instead of out front where he could see it, and I remembered him from earlier, you remember when we saw the guy who was dressed in black? Anyway, I'd run into this guy then and he was all high and mighty against me, and now he's standing there talking to someone, so I made sure that he couldn't see me and the merchant he was talking with neither, and then I took a handful of coins and now they're all saying how good I did."

She suddenly noticed the laughing people around them, and she glanced from them back to Tojzek. "Why are they laughing, Tojz?" Her babbling had drowned out any words that Jakal had spoken, but now she wished she could have heard what is was they were laughing about. She looked uncertainly from her brother to Taloon and back again, wondering what she had missed.

[Tojzek Kouba]

Taloon seemed rather pleased about something Tojzek thought, and even answered the boy’s question with more tolerance than it probably deserved.   His sister had taken all that money!  The young boy was frozen in shock for a few moments, his eyes flicking up to Taloon to check the man’s seriousness.  And then down to the two throwing knifes as the man’s nimble fingers caressed the metal.  Tojz could not pretend to be sorry that Roget was out of the way, especially away from his sister, but he had certainly been right about Taloon; far too dangerous to cross.  And what was this murderer doing latching on to his sister?  The vibe didn’t seem quite sexual, but who was he to be “teaching” Tuska?  Why did he suddenly feel he needed to kill a man for her?  The only reason there could be for his interest was the money she had stolen.  And what if he encouraged her to steal even more?  Could he not see it was dangerous, if she had been spotted by anyone at all then the whole town would be after her, the merchant would make sure of it.  Was he really going to expect her to pull it off again?  And again and again and again?  And how much of this money would she see in payment for taking all the risk?  She was being used almost as badly as if she would have been forced into prostitution, but he had asked for this hadn’t he.  Tojzek felt sick with the thought, but unlike before he kept it to himself.  He could all too easily imagine Taloon seeing him as a threat to his sister’s progress, like Roget had been only a few minutes ago.

Tojzek’s face burned a little as the room burst into laughter at his failure, but by that time his sister had thrown herself into his arms and was jabbering away, pleased with herself.  He hugged her closer, even though it made him wince a little as the wound in his side compressed.  She was so happy, but did she not see the danger?  Her rambled description of the man only served to make him more nervous; the man could have seen her before, and sounded pretty powerful.  The type of man with enough influence to get a thief all the way to the gallows.  Tojz’s mind shyed away from that particular thought, and sort something in the room to prevent him from giving into the panic which wanted to wash over him.  Looking over his excitable sister’s shoulder took Tojzek’s eyes over towards Horace.  Strange, the man looked almost as uncomfortable as Tojz himself felt.  There was something there that could offer the meanest smidgen of help, although it could just be the mutual wariness of Taloon. 

“Why are they laughing Tojz” asked the precious little girl in his arms, and he swallowed the confused thoughts to answer.   “Because I didn’t do as well as my little sister, that’s why” he replied, smiling faintly in a way he knew she would probably see right through. But, there were more important things.  “Did anyone see you ‘tuska?  Anyone at all?”  His voice was low, just for her to hear, but he wasn’t quite sure what he’d do if she said yes. Tojzek wasn’t feeling particularly up to dealing with all these new complications.  He wanted time to think, possibly someone to ask for some information about the group, to talk to, but how much could he get from someone like Jakal or Horace?  Both of them had shown a little kindness, but he still needed to be extremely careful. His tired, worried mind longed for the simplicity of the streets again.  Or possibly just a bed, or something to stop his side from aching.  Someone had mentioned a healer hadn’t they?

[Capher]

Vika walked in to the room at the sounds of laughter. She turned her face toward those laughing and wondered who they were laughing at. She knew it was not her.No one wanted Vika angry with them and though they had been laughing at someone else, if she thought they were laughing at her she could kill them and they would not even know it until death came knocking on their door.

Vika was an intimidating woman: not by stature, but by her knowledge of herbs and poisons. She was not a very pretty woman, she only stood a little over a ped tall, was on the heavy side, and her face was marred with burn scars; scars she had received from her former master who had the philosophy of teaching his students with pain if they got something wrong or had irritated him. It was probably why he did not have many students. but Vika endured and when she had learned all she could from him she used what he taught her to kill him and watched with a smile as he groaned in agony as the posion she gave him ate him from the inside out; then she took everything the man had, herbs, money, utensils and left; eventually she came to work for the MadCaps who paid her, gave her shelter, and she felt needed and at home.

Her white dress was not threadbare, unlike most of the other women in this place, though it was more grey than white. She had decided that if she was going to be a healer she may as well as look the part. It flowed about her, the hem almost touching the floor. Her brown hair was spun up into a severe bun and her eyes, the same color as her hair, was the only thing not cold about her; they were alive with inquisitive excitement.

She walked stately toward Horace and the group gathered around the main table in the hall. She noticed first, Taloon. How could you not notice the man? He was tall, lithe, handsome, in a cruel sort of way, and could charm the pants off of most women if he chose to do so. She also noticed that he seemed to have taken a liking to a young blonde haired girl who seemed half his age. She noticed the blood on the floor and saw the trail leading to a door on the far side of the room. She wondered who it had been.

Then she noticed Jakal and a young boy who seemed to look a bit like the young girl who had one of Taloon's arms draped around her shoulder. The boy seemed to be hurt, but he began to demand some things.

Vika grimmaced. She did not know who this boy was but you do not demand anything around here, unless you were Fallen, Horace and Taloon. Fallen was their new leader, after he and his men had killed their old one. He had left and gave Horace his authority until he returned from wherever he went and Taloon, well...though he had no outright authority, his temper and quickness with his knives kind of gave him the right by attrition; if you demanded something from him, and he did not like it, you usually went out that door trailing blood, just like someother unfortunate soul had just been.

"Am I needed?" She asked.

Horace torn from his thoughts turned. Vika's eyes lit up as she saw the pile of coins on the table. She wondered who had acquired such wealth? Probably Taloon, she thought as she glanced up at Taloon. But he gave her a sly nod of his head and then tilted it toward the girl who had by now was clinging to the boy and asking him questions. The laughter was drowning out her questions and the boy's answers. Vika slowly ganced around the room and the laughter slowly died out until it was so quiet all you could hear was the girl asking the boy, whom Vika now assumed was her brother, what everyone was laughing about?

Vika could see the boy was older and knew what they were laughing about but seemed embarrassed to tell his sister. She also noticed the torn shirt on the boy and the oozing wound upon the boy's right side.

She walked around the table, went up to the girl and the boy who was held up under one arm by Jakal, and spoke. "Girl, this boy needs healing attention. Jakal follow me and be gentle with the boy. I see your handiwork, and perhaps it was needed, but now he needs my care."

she turned and began walking toward the far left wall; never looking behind her knowing that Jakal would do as she asked, if he knew what was good for him, and Jakal knew what was good for him.

Jakal turned his head and looked at Tojz. "You heard the lady. Let's go. You can talk to "Little Sis" after Vika has you all healed." Jakal noticed that his sister was not about to let her brother go and was clinging to him.

"Lady Vika," Jakal called, "Could Little Sis come along with her brother? She does not seem to want to leave him."

Vika halted. She liked it when someone called her a "lady" and normally most would not unless they really wanted something from her, like Jakal did now. Also the thought ran through her head, that Taloon did not have as much control over the girl as she had first thought. "She may come," she said, and then continued on her way.

Jakal looked at both the boy and girl. "Let's go. You do not want to keep Lady Vika waiting; besides your brother does need a healer and Lady Vika is the best," he leaned closer and then whispered to the two of them, "and besides she is the only healer we have."

He propelled Tojz toward the direction Vika had taken, whether the girl came or not, he was not going to disobey Vika's request.

[Jituska Kouba]

Worried for her brother's health, she followed him and the healer. It made her kinda proud that she should be successful where he had failed, but something kept her from rubbing his nose in it - at the moment, probably the wound in his side. She quickly grabbed his hand, just to be sure that they wouldn't be seperated. As they walked behind the woman, she whispered the answer to his question. "I don't think anyone saw me, Tojz. The selling man and the haughty man were talking, and I walked away without hurrying, because you just know they'll notice you when you run, don't you? And I didn't really go all that far, though far enough away, and I didn't hear any outcry, so he must not have noticed that he has money missing." Shrugging, she dismissed him from his mind. "He had enough of it anyway."

With that, the rich man no longer figured in her thoughts. Instead she concentrated on her brother. "But how did you get wounded enough that a healer needs to look at it?" She still had a tight grip on his hand and wasn't planning on letting go. Being taught by Taloon was all fine and well, but her first concern lay with her brother, at least until he was taken care of. When the little group entered a different room, she sat to the side, close enough to him but out of the way of the healer woman, so that she could do her job. She drew up her sandaled feet on the chair and put her skinny arms around her legs. Perched on the chair like that, she watched with interest at the woman's actions. She should like to know a bit about healing. Maybe the woman knew something to help against those colds that she was always getting.

Just thinking about her colds made her remember that she'd just got one again. Soon enough, her throat was hurting again - she'd managed to forget the pain in all the excitement - and she sneezed a few times. Gods, how she hated those colds. She felt that she had to blow her nose, but she didn't have any kind of handkerchief, so she settled for sliding a grubby hand under it in an attempt to stop her nose from running. Otherwise, she sat quiet, just glad that she was near her brother. With one hand, she tugged her grey dress over her knees, then rested her chin on it, waiting until the woman was ready with her ministrations.

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