Chapter 134 Assassins in the Woods (1/2)
Nix spent a few more minutes looking at dockets before shutting the hud down A glance to his left told him that Semmi was still at it.
”We're heading out for a bit Sem.”
The blonde scout barely looked up. ”Okay... I'm reviewing all the dockets that are expiring in the next 2 weeks. I'll present anything pressing at the guild meetings.”
Nix took Shae's hand and together they left the Guild Office. The sound of running footsteps caused him to turn. The Ain'Dhassi who had helped him write up the contracted skidded to a halt in front of him.
”Er... Something I can do for you?” Nix noticed the man's frosty demeanor was gone.
The Ain'Dhassi dropped to his knees and touched his head to the floor. ”Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, sir!”
”Hey... easy there.” Nix bent down and grabbed his arm, gently helping him back to his feet. ”Going to hurt yourself doing that.”
”I'm Solamane Manu, of Clan Manu. All three of my elder brothers were taken prisoner in the Mere Stone Wars.”
”Solamane? Nice to meet you, I'm Nix and this is Shae.” Nix put a hand on the Ice Dhassi's shoulder. ”I hope everything works out for you.”
Shae pulled him down the hall, leaving the Dhassi staring at them. ”Sorry, we're meeting someone.”
Nix bit down a laugh as he was pulled down the hall by Shae. Fajii must have braided the Salamander's hair earlier, when braided it only hung to her waist. ”What's the rush? Are we late?”
Shae shook her head and held tightly to his hand.
/Inferno: Ronnie: Who can make me a crown? Darsi? You can make one of those?
/Inferno: Darsi: I suppose I could. What kind of enchantment do you want?
/Inferno: Ronnie: None... just has to be pretty.
/Inferno: Sharl: Give it an intelligence bonus. Maybe that will help.
They found Fajii looking at rings, there was a wide variety of them. Some with magical enhancements, others just nice to look at. She looked up when they approached her.
”Nix.. there's a man behind me. He's been watching me since I arrived.” Fajii held a gold ring up. ”Do you like this one Nix?”
Nix nodded and spotted the man right away. He wasn't even trying to avert his eyes. ”I don't blame him, you look very nice today.”
Shae smiled in agreement, ”he probably thinks you are a dhassi like him.”
Nix looked objectively at Fajii. Although Aquarion on the outside, she no longer could pass for one of them. She was almost as dark as Ronnie, her ears came to perfect points and her brown hair was streaked with red. The verticle iris's from the Scorched Earth Temple had turned Fajii into an exotic beauty.
The dhassi finally decided to approach them. He had light-colored hair and green eyes. His pointed ears were definitely longer then Fajii's. ”May I ask what clan you belong to Miss?”
”I'm from the Inferno Guild.” Fajii gave him a pleasant smile while she purchased the gold ring that caught her eye.
The dhassi seemed to freeze for a moment. ”A dhassi has joined a human guild?”
Fajii's smile faded. ”I'm an Aquarion from Colonial. Do you even know what that means? I can live, eat, breathe and sleep underwater.”
Shae let a small laugh slip out, she quickly covered it with a slender hand. ”Watching someone for so long is a bit rude. It makes me curious as to your purpose.”
”Is my Clansman bothering you, Guild Leader Nix?” A young Fir'Dhassi woman spoke from behind them. ”I'm Tura Umi Strom and this gentleman is one of my older cousins.”
The Dhassi in question bowed deeply. ”Tura Umi, I was only making conversation.”
Nix raised an eyebrow, ”Strom? Relation to Bael?”
Umi smiled slightly. She had the lightest brown eyes Nix had ever seen, her hair was a deep auburn color. ”Favorite Uncle...” She stood up straight and deepened her voice in a fair imitation of the Bael that Inferno had met. ”I stand outside of the Clan!”
Fajii and Shae both laughed at the gesture.
Nix had to bite his lip to keep from joining them. ”He seemed very stern.”
/Inferno: Nix: Semmi, look up Tura Umi Strom, please.
/Inferno: Semmi: Daughter of the Clan Strom Leader, second strongest Clan among the Fir'Dhassi. They have 18 votes.
”He wasn't bothering us, he mistook me for a Dhassi female.” Fajii moved to Nix's other side and handed him the ring she had purchased. ”I bought this for you Nix.”
”Hmm?” Nix slipped the ring over his free thumb. As an Aquarion, Fajii was without guile. She would say the same things in public that she would say in private. He held out his hand and examined it. ”Goes with my eyes?”
Shae nodded. ”Pretty.”
”Please accept my invitation to visit the Clan Strom Office in Parliament, we are located on the 3rd floor.” Umi slipped a hand through her older cousin's arm, making it clear that he was leaving with her.
”I'll pass but I won't say no to a cold Toma sometime.” Nix let himself get pulled away by the ever impatient Shae.
Oasis System Message: All War Captives that have been held for three years or longer, must be released immediately.
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Nix spent the afternoon wandering the busy Parliament courtyards with Shae and Fajii. The trio had wandered to the orchards and found themselves near the magical barrier.
/Inferno: Nix: Can you sense anything Shae?
/Inferno: Shae: Only that I can't cross. It's tied into the power of Earth or Nature, I can't tell which. An Earth Nemesis could probably break out.
/Inferno: Nix: Let's head back, I'm going to do more research at the Guild Office.
He parted ways with Shae and Fajii when they decided to head back to Colonial. Semmi was still sitting at the same desk, flipping through the different menus.
”Working kinda hard Sem.” Nix smiled at her when he walked in.
Semmi covered a yawn. ”I want to replace the desk by the window with a couch. Sound good?”
Nix took a seat at his desk and leaned back. ”See to it. Let's keep a warm blanket and soft pillow on it.”
Semmi nodded. ”Deal.”
[Ice Sparrow]
A tiny, ice colored bird landed on the desk.
Semmi stood and put out a hand for him to hop on. She then opened his desk hud and pointed to an area directly North of Parliament. ”This is the place you asked about.”
She placed him on the window sill next to the open window again. ”Try not to get eaten.”
Nix cocked his little ice head to one side and pecked at her hand. ”Don't be so clingy.”
Nix stayed lower this time and moved in a circular pattern towards the barrier. He would exit the barrier near the orchards and stay in the trees. He hoped to avoid any flying predators.