"... Let's just cut and run!" Malik whispers, beginning to grab Lucius's arm to pull him away.
That's when a dark figure appears, drawing two knives. It glides out from the shadows, stabbing both guards in the neck. The troubadours scream and run.
"Aye, let's!" Lucius nods, running towards the docks. The shadow figure slowly follows, sheathing its knives, black cloak billowing behind them.
Malik follows Lucius, brushing by drunkards and late-night beggars. "So... where are we running?" Malik says somewhat breathlessly.
"My ship. My crew. I trust them, and they can protect us."
"You have a ship?" Malik smirks. "What for?"
"Perfectly legal things," Lucius grunts, vaulting over a crate. "You understand."
"Great! Then we can talk more about the ring and that knifey bastard."
The pair of rogues come upon the docks, moonlight glimmering upon the gentle waves. There's one ship that's clearly of Lupii design -- a multi-masted sailing ship, rather than the oar-driven ships of Amalanian captains. A night crew of Lupii sailors spot Lucius and wave at him.
"Captain! What's with the rush?"
"Hoist the gangplank once we're up, Gaius! If the guards don't get us, our mysterious assailant will!"
The sailors don't bat an eye at that statement. "Aye aye!"
Heavy boots thud up the gangplank, and the two stop, breathing heavily, once upon the deck. They turn towards the docks, and see the figure emerge from the shadows. Their hood lifts slightly, showing a blank white mask splattered with blood. Behind them, they drag a body, which they toss to the ground before them. A guard, throat slit, and with a crescent moon carved into their chest. Blood pools around them, soaking into the sandstone.
"Malakas!" one Lupii sailor shouts, shaking a fist at the figure. They begin to shout more insults in Lingva, which Malik doesn't understand. They sound mean, though.
"You're fine with sleeping down below deck, right?" Lucius asks Malik, not taking his eyes off of the figure. It slinks back into the shadows, leaving the corpse behind.
"I've slept worse places. The bar is very low."
"Good." Lucius claps Malik on the shoulder. "What's your plan, after laying low for tonight?"
"Well... I've lost a friend to some dangerous strangers, someone in a creepy mask chased us, and I'm a wanted man, again, in this city. Laying low for a while won't be enough. I want to figure out what's going on."
"And our lead?"
"Our?"
Lucius nods. "They tried to kill me, too. I don't like being hunted. I've already made my drop-off, so my ship is free to sail wherever." He rubs his chin. "All we have is the ring to go off of."
"And the symbol on it. Do you know anyone who's good with arcane symbols?"
Lucius nods. "Yeah, I know a guy. His name is..." he pauses, scratching his head. Shit, what was his name?
