A Tenuous Partnership!

Una

"Is the old man still usable? If so, I can do what our partners have failed to do. I can make him talk."

Those were the words of a nobody. An individual so insignificant that I didn't even register his presence until he spoke so brazenly. His tone was condescending as if he had all the answers and could accomplish what we could not. That Old Bastard was tough to crack. He didn't respond to violence, nor could he be bartered with.

The noble he hooked his wagon to must be special to him if he's willing to withstand the punishment we've put him through. Yet, this skinny, green-haired elf believes he could miraculously make him speak. I am doubtful, but it wasn't my place to voice my concerns.

I watched as Boss Crow shifted his focus from the red-haired elf, who was the Boss of the other party, to the green-haired elf. He assessed the man before I felt the power of his gaze, and I spoke, 

"He is conscious. We had to be ruthless to him, but our healers have kept him stable. He should be healthy enough for questioning.

"Then, we should allow him to have an opportunity. He is the man that I spoke of. His talents are an asset, which we should take advantage of," the red-haired elf, who was named... Talio.

Crow looked at Talio before scratching his chin with his fearsome claws. I had once seen my Boss in action with those claws, and honestly, I would hope to never be on the other end of them.

"Fine with me. Luta, we're going in," Crow growled as he turned to face me and my partner.

Luta, much like myself, was a beastkin. However, unlike my dark black hair and fur, Luta's fur was a light gray. He was younger than I was and still relatively new to the band. Considering I was the one entrusted with his initiation, he was stationed with me to guard our new prisoners and oversee the interrogation.

It was an honor to be tasked with this job, considering Crow only allowed the most trustworthy and competent to guard precious items and people. It had been a long six years of working underneath Crow, so when he gestured for me to allow them in, I wasn't surprised. I glared at the trembling Luta before opening the door to allow our Boss and his partners into the interrogation room. They all entered, leaving me alone with Luta.

"You have to be firm. We represent the Boss, and we can't afford to look weak in front of our allies. It's a bad look," I scolded Luta, and he exhaled audibly.

"Ma'am, but I can't help it. Volke was glaring at me as if I were the one responsible for the prisoner's escape. I can tell he's blaming me," Luta whines. The man's ears drooped out of anxiety, and his tail quickened its sway.

"He doesn't blame you. I've already explained to the Boss that it was Ray's fault for underestimating the prisoner. He died for his arrogance, and the Boss reassured me that an incident like that would not happen again," I explained.

I spoke with confidence, but there was a doubt lingering in my mind. Crow was infuriated that the prisoners had managed to escape, even if only briefly. He made it very clear to me when we recovered him that allowing that mishap to transpire again would weaken his standing with his new potential partner. That is why I gave him my word that it would not happen under my watch, and now I can see why he made me swear to it.

"Volke is one thing, but did you see that masked figure? They stood up to Volke despite feeling his powerful malice. I nearly wet myself just by looking in their direction," Luta confessed, which both annoyed and grossed me out. "Boss has strange friends."

I rolled my eyes at the man's confession before crossing my arms and leaning against the wall.

"You're supposed to be a mercenary. You've fought in battle twice now. How could a tiny thing in a mask possibly intimidate you?" I scoffed. "Anyway, straighten your back and lower your voice. If Volke hears your implication, then he might make you regret it."

While I spoke mainly in jest, the truth of my words sent a shiver down the man's spine. He wrapped his arms around his body and trembled as if a cold front washed down the hallway.

"Right. I'll keep my mouth shut. In fact, I'm starting right now!" Luta declared, covering his mouth and then standing straight in attention.

For being an annoying coward, Luta was amusing to witness. A chuckle escaped from my lips, and I pushed myself from my wall to stand straight, too. A few minutes passed with us standing in silence when the door we were guarding finally creaked open.

"Una, the Boss wants you inside. I'm your replacement."

Champo, a beastman with gray fur, peered his massive head from the doorway before stepping out. His claws dripped blood, but they matched the gruesome, bloodied state of his armor and fur. He lumbered out and looked down at my stupor.

"The boss wants me?" I responded, catching my breath.

The beastman nodded, and I quickly moved away from my post. This was quite an unexpected turn of events, but I wouldn't delay a moment longer. There were only a few instances where my Boss specifically called upon me, and each time, I had proven myself to be quite capable. That is the reason my pay is significantly higher than that of the majority of our band.

Sure, I was a capable fighter and tracker, but something told me that this was different. I pushed open the doorway into the room and presented myself before the Boss and his group. Their eyes burned into me as I approached, and I tried to project an air of confidence.

I was well aware of the handiwork of Champo and his partners, but I wasn't sure how to react when I laid my eyes on one of our prisoners. The room was hit with an unrecognizable stench of blood and death, and with it came a rise in my throat. The air was vacant, and after the old man's last escape, the room was stripped vacant as well. Only individuals resided within the room, and that included the bloodied and bruised old man.

I observed several claw marks across the old man's sides and chest, as well as deep purple bruises around his exposed torso. Blood coated his elderly features, and his hair was disheveled. The old man was dangling from the ceiling like a slab of meat at the butcher's table. As expected, the only area that remained untouched was the face of the old man, which was only streaked by blood dribbling from the corners of his mouth.

He swayed gently, likely from the last blow that he had received. He was challenging to look at, even considering my years of mercenary work. Yet, everyone in this room had no problems looking at him in this state. There was one thing that confused me once I realized it, and that was the dark-skinned elf.

He was handsome with bright green eyes. His braided hair was brown and tied neatly so that his ears poked from. If I were to guess, he would pass for a foreign nobleman. Despite his previous condition, his red ribbon remained perfectly in place to keep any loose strands from escaping.

While he was unconscious upon arrival, he should have been interrogated in a manner similar to that of his companion. However, no matter how I looked at him, not a single bloodstain was present on his markless face. He was tied to a chair across the room from his partner and was expressionless. The way he observed us was unnerving, but I pushed him out of my mind for the moment. I instead focused on presenting myself before the others. 

There were eight individuals in the room, and five of them were bundled together in a circle: the Boss, Volke, and Talio's group. While most of them didn't pay me any mind, the Boss and Talio granted me their undivided attention.

"You called?" I asked, standing straight.

"I did. We could use yer experience for what's next to come." The Boss turned to face the reserved elf and bared his fangs, "Tell her what ya told us!" 

The elf jumped at the sudden bark from the Boss and tilted his head toward the old man.

"No need to yell; I'm right here," the elf snapped back in a cold tone. He leaned his head back against the chair and ignored Volke's stomping approach.

"Watch yourself! You heard the Boss, so get to talking!"

Volke's words came out as a howl as he enlarged his claws and slashed toward the sitting elf. I was shocked to see Volke reveal his claws in that manner, but I quickly understood why. I watched as the sharp claws of the large beastman clammed against a magical barrier. Magical energy briefly reverberated from the impact, and Volke staggered back. However, there was no sight of anything blocking his path.

I had to pick my mouth off the floor as I witnessed something unbelievable. Determining from the stunned expression on the others, I wasn't the only one.

'Volke... was pushed back? That... That shouldn't be possible, and to think...it's invisible.'

Volke was not your average wolf beastman. He was far larger and powerful than any of the other members of our mercenary band. His claws could tear through stone with ease, and shields were useless before his power. I've seen him gut mages on the battlefield for arrogantly believing they were safe behind their magical barriers.

Just as Volke declared, Magical barriers are only as stable as the caster's mana reserves would allow, and it was a mana-costly spell to activate and keep maintained. It was common knowledge that repeated powerful attacks would leave the caster drained of their mana, but that common knowledge seemed irrelevant to this man.

Volke's eyes were as wide as saucers as he stared blankly at his claws and the elf. He was perplexed, and then anger took over. He snarled and launched another attack at the elf. Strike after strike caused the elf's magical barrier to radiate briefly, but the calm face of the elf remained the same. He watched Volke's attempt to bring down his barrier before shaking his head in disappointment.

"But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt," the elf stated with confidence and composure.

His odd phrase confused Volke, who stopped his latest attack to stare at the man. I watched on in disbelief as Volke prepared to begin his attack again.

"Stand down," the Boss growled, baring his teeth at Volke. "That one is odd, but he was willing to cooperate. Do not make him reconsider!"

Volke stayed his hand for a moment before retracting his enlarged claws. He turned to face Crow and nodded with acceptance. He stood aside as the red-haired elf calmly approached the bound elf.

"I apologize for his lack of restraint, but we were curious whether or not you are aligned with the old man," Talio said once he made it to the outskirts of the man's barrier.

"Horace? We are associates. Yes," The elf responded with a firm head nod.

Talio nodded as well before turning to gesture toward the dangling Horace. The dark-skinned elf blinked slowly before shaking his head.

"I'm not surprised to see him like that, but as you can see, I have no intention of looking like that."

"I would hope so. Unlike my associates, I have no interest in unnecessary violence. If there is a way we can get what we want amicably, then I will gladly take that route. That being said, I can't reach a barter with a man whose name is unknown. Now, can I?"

"If you had asked first before kidnapping me, then you would have known my name. I notice that courtesy is lost," the prisoner scoffed.

In normal situations, you would find an individual in his position rattled or even fearful, but that was not the case for him. He sat straight, and his expression mirrored that of a stone. His gaze was hardened as he took each of us, but his eyes lingered the longest on the masked individual. He would then snap his attention to the green-haired elf and hummed loudly.

"I haven't heard much, but I understand that you are looking for someone specifically. Since Horace is here, that means you want Clarice," the prisoner said dryly.

"I believe I asked you for a name," Talio replied with a more commanding tone.

"And I believe I ignored the question. My name is irrelevant to you, but the knowledge I have isn't. Now, since I am curt, I'll inform you that my name is Bonner Drago, and I believe you were the ones who attacked my brother last night," Bonner declared.

Bonner's sharp eyes rested solely on Talio when he spoke before turning to the masked individual. He was analyzing them briefly until Talio scoffed and then chuckled loudly. Whether he was amused by the man's brazen challenge to his perceived authority or was entertained by his fierce glare was anyone's guess. Talio continued chuckling, which confused the Boss and the others.

Bonner was the only one who wasn't confused as if there was a secret understanding between the two elves. That secret understanding had me on edge briefly before the Boss spoke up,

"Ye'r amusement isn't earning us any coin, so I'll make things simpler for ya."

The Boss stalked toward the hanging Horace and bared his dangerous claws. Bonner watched the man calmly. He appeared to be unfazed by the fact that the Boss's claws were not mere inches from his ally's exposed torso.

"I'll start slowly, cutting into this bastard's gut if ya don't fix that look in ye'r eyes. Ya running ya mouth with the bravado of a free man, but don't mistake me as generous. Where is the girl?!"

"Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man," Bonner retorted as calm and composed as before. He spoke as if he were reciting something, but I could not recognize it.

'Is he speaking in code to the other man? He appears to have two modes. The flat-faced boldness and then this line-reading ice block. He switches on a dime, and I can't understand what he means.'

I stared hard at the elf and watched as his ears twitched ever so slightly. My eyes widened when I noticed something was amiss with his behavior. Before I could fully piece things together, Talio turned on his heels and faced the dangling Horace. The old man appeared to be breathing heavily at first glance, but something about that was odd. My gaze shifted back to the elf's ears, and I realized something about his skin tone.

'His skin... it is darker than what I'm used to seeing, but there is nothing peculiar about it. Shadow elves share that same skin complexion, but I have seen that distinctive act of ear twitching. Is he hearing something that we could not? No way. That couldn't be the case since Crow and Volke should have been able to detect the sound as well. If that's the case, then why is it rubbing me the wrong way?'

We, beastfolk, are renowned for our impressive hearing capabilities. A few of the people I know could hear a target from half a mile away. Even the subtlest of sounds should be detectable by our ears, even for the undertrained youth. However, as I stand here looking at him, I am starting to believe that this elf somehow has hearing superior to everyone here, and that shouldn't be possible.

The Boss's snout wrinkled as he made good on his threat. His claw dug into the side of the old man, yet more blood was spilled than cries of pain. A wound on that level would have tears spilling from a normal person's eyes. We watched as blood slipped slowly from the gash before more rushing down his side the wider the wound became. It was difficult to watch, and I had to avert my eyes

Talio watched with an unreadable expression as the Boss carved into the prisoner. Not a word was uttered to convince him to cease his actions. He instead focused on Bonner and how he reacted to the display. Bonner's expression tightened slightly before his resolve stoned his features.

"Violence isn't needed, yet you resort to it anyway," Bonner said with an exhale. "Where I'm from, we do not negotiate with terrorists. However, I am willing to make an exception."

The Boss ceased his carving into Horace's side and looked at the dark-skinned elf. His eyes gleamed with the desire for violence, and the sight of them sent a shiver down my spine. There were only a few times that look appeared in his eyes, and that was on the battlefield.

The sight of carnage and the deep scent of blood activated this side of the man. It was a side of him that should only be relied upon in specific situations. Yet, there was a feeling within me that this situation was not the usual one.

Talio looked at the Boss, and the beastman flicked the accumulation of blood from his claws onto the ground. It splattered upon impact, casting evidence of the deadly deed that he had performed.

"While I wouldn't call ourselves terrorists, we will use whatever means necessary to bring you to the table. He may not have shouted in anguish as anyone else would have, but that doesn't mean he's unkillable. We will take his life if necessary," Talio remarked dismissively.

He stepped in Bonner's direction and placed his hand to interact with the man's shield. His hand glided across what appeared to be thin air as he made his remark. Unitimaded, Bonner merely watched as the Boss gripped Horace's neck with his powerful hand.

"I return your attention to my associate's previous question. Where is Clarice von Angea?" Talio asked. After delivering the question, he pointed toward the strangled Horace and added, "Cover his mouth, not his neck. It is subtle, but he is running interference with his magic."

That is when everything clicked for me. As I watched the Boss raise his eyebrow, Horace struck again. The old man's eyes flew open, and he began to struggle against his confines. His actions caught the Boss off guard, which allowed him to propel himself forward and backward. However, that little escape attempt was squashed immediately. He attempted to kick the Boss in his chest, but he couldn't gain enough momentum to do so.

His feet were caught in the beastman's arms, and he was ripped down from the ceiling. The sickly thud of him hitting the ground on his back made me flinch, but the unrelenting foot of the Boss rained down onto the old man's chest. No matter how tough you portray yourself, those powerful stomps would break the wind from your chained lips.

For the first time, Bonner's expression shifted from calmness to a burst of panic. His eyes widened as he watched his associate get his chest caved inward. I expected him to begin the usual begging and pleading. Still, when he suddenly started encouraging my Boss to stomp him, it threw even the mannered Talio into a state of confusion.

"Hit him! Stomp him harder! There we go! Make him bleed more for his insolence!"

His words came off as taunting, and the Boss reacted in kind. In a rage, the Boss turned his head in the elf's direction and launched himself.

"I've had enough of you, elf! I'll tear you limb from limb!"

His claws arched through the air before predictably slamming into Bonner's invisible barrier. The panicked Bonner's face went blank immediately when he saw that result. It was as if he expected that reaction and that unsettled me. There was something off about this situation. We should be the ones with the power and the leverage. Horace was being flayed like a fish, and Bonner encouraged violence against a man who should have been his ally.

'There must be something that I am missing. What haven't the others stepped in? Talio and his crew, I could understand, but why not Volke? He should be the one in this situation. Volke is the one with the volatile temper. I have yet to realize why the Boss requested me in here for this.'

No matter how hard I thought about it, nothing in this situation made sense to me. The dynamics are all wrong. This situation isn't how it should be. I watched on in a state of unease as the Boss constantly slashed Bonner's barriers with unfettered hatred.

'Is the boss entering his...'

A loud, ear-piercing howl erupted from the Boss's throat as he focused on his task, and that was when it hit me—the sudden burst of irrationality alongside the fierceness of his attack. The Boss has entered his primal rage. A part of me wanted to attempt to calm him down, but I did not have a death wish. Invoking the ire of one entranced with their primal rage was a death sentence, and it was only a matter of time before the boss peaked in his strength and fulfilled his threat again.

"That should've been enough to bring down that barrier, yet it stands," the green-haired elf remarked calmly. "Plus, he's taken this chance to escape."

'His chance to...escape? What is he talking about?'

I attempted to rack my mind for any clue about how this situation spiraled so poorly, but I decided to rely on what was in front of me. When I did so, my jaw dropped. Where there once a bleeding old man was nothing more than a puddle of blood. Whether it was when we all focused on the Boss's attack or after his howl, I didn't know, but the footsteps within the blood pool indicated that the old man had escaped.

The revelation of his disappearance stunned me, and my heart began to race. I wouldn't expect to take the blame for what transpired, but still. This was another monumental failure. We all should know this, so why does everyone other than the Boss look so reserved?

"He should be gone; you can stop with the act," Talio said. His voice carried throughout the room, and a heavy sense of authority radiated from it. He began clapping slowly as if he had witnessed the ending of a play.

'This fool! Doesn't he know that once riled up by their primal rage, a beastman can't-'

After delivering one final blow to the invisible barrier of the dark-skinned self, the Boss ceased his actions. His eyes returned to normal, and his teeth sheathed themselves behind his lips. When he turned to face us, his eyes showed no indication of his prior outburst.

"Good, this act was getting tiring! I don't know why I allowed ya to talk me into this!" the Boss hissed after letting out a loud exhale.

"You've played your part well, Shifter. Your talents are awe-inspiring," Talio said.

As the Boss approached, my reality was shattered right before my eyes. What stood before me was not the Boss, but instead...

'The green-haired elf, but how? when?!'

Right before my eyes, the visage of the Boss changed into Talio's smug subordinate. He was rubbing his knuckles, likely from his repeated attempts to break through Bonner's barrier.

A mischievous grin warped his features as he placed his hand on the shoulder of his doppelganger. The fact that there were two of them caused me a new headache, but as soon as I witnessed the doppelganger shift into the Boss, I was stunned beyond belief. I had no idea what had just transpired and why it had transpired. 

"Can someone explain to me what is going on? I-I," my words stammered as I rubbed my temples tenderly.

"I can't say that I expected that, but I should have," Bonner said, interrupting me.

"Horace wouldn't tell us anything about his charge, but he spoke freely about you and your friends when you were unconscious," Talio said, flashing a confident grin. "In exchange for us not pursuing his mistress any longer, he has bartered you and your friends to us."

A genuine expression of surprise appeared on Bonner's face as the man retreated in his mind for a moment. 

"Makes sense; Horace's loyalty is to Clarice and not us. He never liked or trusted us, so his betrayal won't come as a surprise. What does surprise me is that you're willing to let Clarice go. I was told you wanted her family eliminated," Bonner said.

"The foxkin told you that, right?" Talio asked, and Bonner wrinkled his nose.

"His name is Mark, and yes, he did. He also informed Horace, and that is why he likely bartered with you."

"I'm aware, but Horace doesn't intend to hold up his end of our deal. If he were, then you wouldn't be here. He plans to take her and escape Astana, leaving you and your friends to deal with us on their behalf. Are you going to allow that to happen, or will you negotiate despite your homeland's morals, Moonlit Elf?"

"I recommend choosing the second option. Yer friends should be more important than some arrogant noblewoman and her treacherous servant," the Boss said as he joined Talio at his side.

Bonner recluses within his mind for a moment. He began to assess his situation, which included turning his gaze to the blood puddle where Horace had once lain. He no doubt realized that he was in a no-win situation and was quickly growing desperate. I do not know whose plan it was to portray whatever scheme the Boss and his associates performed; it was close to turning Bonner. I could see it in his eyes. His lips pursed as if he was going to speak, but he held his tongue.

He looked at Talio and the Boss before turning to the man referred to as "Shifter" by Talio. He studied Shifter specifically before looking at Volke and then the masked woman. 

"I will admit, Talio, that you are quite the schemer," Bonner remarked with a serious expression. "Somehow, you've understood Horace's misguided mistrust and played it against us. I don't know what you said to achieve that, but I am impressed."

Unimpressed by Bonner's praise towards Talio, Volke snapped at the elf, "The question was, will you allow him to cause the death of your friends or not? Your empty praise means-"

"Who asked you? Why are you talking?" Bonner retorted, glaring at the large wolf beastman.

"You little!" Volke wanted to take a step back, but he quickly remembered that Bonner spoke from the inside of his barrier. The Boss also gestured for Volke to cease his impulsive actions.

"As I was saying, your schemes were good, but I have no intentions of betraying my betrayer. Considering you sent Shifter, as you call him, after Q and me, I can assume you sent someone after Mark. Humor me. Is that right?"

Talio observed the man as he spoke. It was eerie how well the expressions of the two elves mirrored each other. They stared into each other's eyes as if they were the only ones in the room. 

"Your friend would be joining you here soon if that is the case."

"That we could agree on. I'll tell you what's going to happen, and we'll all see if I'm correct," Bonner stated.

Talio was amazed by the return of boldness from the dark-skinned elf. He tilted his head and looked at the Boss to see if he had any reservations. The Boss thought for a moment before erupting into howling laughter. 

"I'm interested. Let's hear it, elf!"

"You heard the man. How do you foresee this transpiring?" Talio asked mockingly.

"You've likely realized that Mark had recovered after your failed ambush, so you should expect the same to occur. Once Mark returns and realizes that we aren't at our meeting area, he will search for us. You may not know the man as well as I do, but he will take our capture as a slight against him."

"And so what if he does?" Talio challenged.

"You'd be dead if we wanted it long before he finds you."

"That's a possibility, but I wouldn't recommend it. You see, if Mark finds out that a hair on my head was harmed, he'll reap havoc on whatever part of town we find ourselves in. Right now, he's more interested in evasion rather than confrontation, and that's good for you. We had no interest in confronting you, but you've forced his hand. Remember you slighted him, and one thing Mark can't handle is a slight against him."

"I'm not sure if you were intimidating us or what, but he's no threat to us," Volke growled. "I'll crush his head before he realizes what happened to him."

"I'm sure you believe that, but we live in reality. Within this reality, I'm going to stay right here, safely behind my barrier, which none of you can bring down, apparently, and Mark is going to track me to this location."

"Your tale is compelling, but I doubt it. I plunged my sword into your friend's back, so I know his limitations. His limitation ends at the first three beastfolk he'll encounter in this building, and that is if what you said was true. I've accounted for the possibility of failure, so I'll remind you that the only way he'll join you is by being dragged in here," Talio declared coldly.

Unbothered by the coldness of his words, Bonner shrugged his shoulders and turned his eyes towards Shifter. The man was unamused by the current situation and had shifted his focus to other events. He was watching the other two wolf beastmen in the room cleaning up the escape, Horace's blood.

"We shall see," Bonner declared before closing his lips.

Signaling the end of their conversation, Talio looked toward the Boss and made his way out. His allies, Shifter, and the masked figure didn't delay following them. Confused about what to do, I hesitated, but the sound of the Boss's voice spurred me into action.

"Una, come."

I followed quickly. Once we had exited the room, I realized Volke had stayed inside to watch over our lone prisoner. The reason why was obvious, so I left that thought alone. I continued trailing the group in silence until the Boss spoke up,

"Yer taking his words seriously, aren't ya?"

"I want certainty, and that includes taking threats like that into account. It is possible that the foxkin escaped my first option, and if what he said is true, then you may come after him," Talio answered. 

The Boss began scratching his chin before stopping in his tracks. His dangerous gaze kicked my heart into motion. The red-haired Talio stopped as well and turned to face his subordinates.

"You heard the man, so that means you're up, Una. Track that old bastard down and find their hideout. Take some of them men with you!" he ordered.

Upon my vigorous nodding, Talio issued his order, "Ripper, go with her. Provide some assistance where you can. Bonner was confident in his friend's abilities, so we'll have to shatter it. Capture the foxkin and bring him to us. Failure will set us back."

The masked figure, whom I know as Ripper, nodded as well and unsheathed her dagger. She began inspecting it before sheathing it again. It was an odd gesture, but I had to let it go. The task before me was simple. Do not fail their orders, and so I moved through the halls of our hideout to collect the men necessary to fulfill my orders. With Ripper on my trail, I felt a surge in confidence in our success.

'I will not fail! I will not fail! Watch yourself, foxkin, for I will not fail!'