Hunting bandits

[Kender Bard]

"No but you don't need to be around the Guild to help them," Talon argued. "Has Echo thought of getting outside help yet?"

[Northen Light36]

"I don't know," Acqua replies, a note of hurt surprise creeping into her tone. "Echo hasn't said a word to me about this." The fact she'd had to find out from the guild gossip might hurt Acqua's feelings, but it's a sign of Echo's attempt to keep Acqua out of danger.

[Kender Bard]

Talon wasn't sure what to say to that. "Well, if you can find out, let me know. You know I want to keep you safe. And though I'm not a thief myself, I don't think they're bad folk."

[Northen Light36]

Acqua smiles at the compliment to her friends. "It's a shame you're not," she laughs. "You'd like the Guild, Talon." She sighes wistfully. "I miss the life sometimes," she admits. "Not that I don't like Talen'sul," Acqua adds hastily. "It's just... Aside from missing you, Alethia and Amaro, I had some great times with Echo and Mat. I'd say half the guards in Ilyamen wanted to see the three of up locked up and rest were itching to toss us off a rooftop." Laughing, Acqua shakes her head.

"We're not here for a chat about the past though, are we?" she says with a grin. "Any ideas on where we should start with this job?" The thief has a couple of ideas herself, but she's willing to bow to Talon's greater experience.

[Kender Bard]

"Well, maybe-"

Talon's words were cut off abruptly. A net from above was dropped down above them and five bandits stepped out of their hiding places, swords out and pointed at the two of them.

"That was easy," one said casually. "What do we have here?"

[Northen Light36]

Acqua and Faith exchange a glance, neither sure whether to laugh or sigh in disgust. "You have got to be kidding," Acqua mutters, then looks at the bandit who spoke. "Well, I see a bunch of guild rejects," she remarks, mockingly casually. Then she wrinkles her nose. "Who apparently don't even have the wit to bathe."

While Acqua distracts the bandits, Faith slips out of the net with ease - carrying Acqua's boot knife - and vanishes into the underbush.

[Kender Bard]

Talon giggles - up u ntil the bandit slaps at Acqua with the flat of his sword, hard. "HEY!" he snarls, only to receive a boot in the gut.

"Shut up," the bandit says casually and nods to his companions. Two move in closer and put the points of their swords close to the pair while the other gathers up the ends of the net and ties them together. Evidently this rope was specially made for just such a trap. He gives a sharp whistle and a mule plods out into view from where it had been browsing on what little clumps of grass it could find.

"Are you okay?" Talon asks Acqua in a whisper as the mule's saddle is readjusted. He's not quite sure what the bandits have planned.

[Northen Light36]

Despite her efforts not to let it happen, Acqua teared up a little in reaction to the blow. "I'm fine," she replies in an equally quiet whisper. "You okay?" she adds softly, watching the bandits out of the corner of her eyes for any reaction to the whispering.

[Kender Bard]

Talon gives a short nod but then remains still and quiet as the lead bandit walks back over and looks at the two.

"Why are you here?" he asks simply. The two bandits with their swords on the pair never waver in their stance, and the swordtips remain close to the necks of the pair.

[Northen Light36]

"Out for a stroll," Acqua says dryly. Then she scowls and adds, "What members of the Guild of Thieves do is no business of yours." It's a typically Guild-ish reaction to bandits, who even the Guild tend to look down on, and Acqua has no interrest in seeing what this lot would do with mercs.

[Kender Bard]

"If you're just a guild rat then I see no reason why we should keep competition alive," the lead bandit replied blandly as his comrade pushed the sword forward enough to prick the skin of Acqua's neck.

"Wait!" Talon blurted, his mind racing to think of some way to salvage the situation. The bandit with the sword on Acqua paused and the leader turned a vaguely curious look at him. If looks could speak, the man would be asking Talon to perform an amusing trick. "We were heading to Humontis to speak with the Guild on a major treasure find. It's very well hidden. Kill us, and you won't have any idea where it is."

The bandit leader chuckled, a deep and rumbling sound. "And do you have any proof as to where this little treasure pile is or should I go with my gut and assume you're lying to save your hides?"

Talon bit his lip. He didn't carry much wealth on him; it didn't interest him. It was flashy, heavy, and not practical for a man of his work. But there was one thing that he always had, something that could save them...

With obvious pain in his eyes he fiddled with his wedding ring. The bandit's gaze was drawn to it and he looked a bit more thoughtful; considering the story more seriously now.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua pulls away from the sword tip and deliberately lets the light catch her Melissan family heirloom ring as she moves. Being as old and clearly valuable as it is, it's not something the adverage thief would wear - unless they were confident they could afford to risk losing it. Acqua inwardly cringes at the thought of losing it - it was a gift from Amaro after all - but it might help support Talon's story.

[Kender Bard]

The bandit on Acqua is a bit jumpy. When she moves, he moves his sword forward to suddenly cut her along the cheek.

"Stop it!" Talon shouted, growing more angry. The bandit leader waved to his man but didn't look apologetic.

"Re-net-sore-neck," the bandit said to his men, using a short, staccato code. The bandits nod and suddenly move. One keeps their sword on Acqua as the other moves his sword away, very quickly sliding it under the net to point at Talon's chest instead. Then the one on Acqua does the same. Still holding the two at swordpoint, the lead bandit removes the heavy net. "Get up very, very slowly."

[Northen Light36]

Acqua winced at the cut, but stays silent as she gets slowly to her feet and glares at the bandit leader. Her eyes flicker to the two with the swords, considering her chances of disarming them without getting herself or Talon killed.

Idly she wishes she was with Echo right now. Her ability to distract men is always welcome.

[Kender Bard]

As though reading her mind, the bandit leader chuckles. "I don't think you're that fast. Twitchy here seems to have a taste for your blood."

The bandit next to her chuckled softly. The leader snapped his fingers twice and the one by Acqua began to pat her down and take away her swords and knives while the one by Talon waited patiently and alert.