Cordell

We made our way to a little tavern Will said was the meeting place and we walked inside. Will approached the barkeep and I followed behind him. He leaned against the table and I took a seat on one of the barstools.

"I'm here to see Nila," Will whispered.

"Nila doesn't see anybody," He replied without looking up from his drink making.

Will whispered again, "Tell her William Thrisfalen is here and I'm sure she'll make an exception."

He grunted and whispered to one of the bouncers who walked over to a door in the very back of the tavern. A few minutes later the bouncer came back.

"Alright listen up," He announced. "We are closing up early tonight, everybody out."

The bouncer was a big guy and nobody argued with him. In a few minutes the room was empty and a woman walked out of the back room in a black shirt and black skirt, she had blonde hair.

She walked straight to William and punched him across the face. Surprisingly, he was knocked to the floor.

Before he could get up, she had a dagger at his throat, "Why do you think I should trust you with anything?"

"What are you talking about?" William asked, still slightly stunned.

I didn't know what to do so I just sat there, too terrified to move. She stood up and took a seat next to me. Her anger seemed to turn towards me.

"Did you lose something on the way here?" She asked me, obviously baiting me.

"Yes we did," I replied honestly. "I was hoping you could help us find it."

"Found and recovered, no thanks to either of you."

I was getting angry, Will had stood up.

"From what I heard you've been around for twenty years doing this sort of thing and you left it where it was," I replied. "Why'd you let somewhat give it to my mother in the first place if it's so important."

Nila turned to Will, "You haven't told her?"

Will shook his head, "She isn't ready."

Nila turned back to me, "Well if you want you can learn from the best."

I grinned as I replied, "Oh? Who's that?"

She stood up and turned to leave, "When you are ready to learn I'll be in there."

"Sheesh, no sense of humor," I grumbled. "Wait up Nila."

I followed her into the room and she closed it behind her.

"What about Will?" I asked.

She raised an eyebrow, "What about him? He can take care of himself. Didn't you hear about the army he almost singlehandedly routed?"

She shook her head, "I guess that's when I was having blood poisoning from that herb one of your agents gave me."

She shook her head, "That was me and it was to protect you in case they tried to use hawk's eye on you." Seeing my cluelessness she said, "It's a mind-altering agent used in brainwashing unwilling victims to serving the priests of madness. The fool don't realize we've infiltrated every corner of their organization and could cause it to tumble at any moment. They are so sure of hawk's eye that they don't even believe it has a natural counter."

I nodded, "Can we begin the training now?"

She grinned, "Of course, but it will only last for a few hours. You need to keep up the guise of Thelma and Bruce for the time being. If the noble and his wife, who just got to town, disappeared it would be quite suspictious."

We trained and when we got done and I was preparing to leave she said, "Don't worry, you'll see me in the morning."

I left and found Will gambling with the other men. He stood up and smirked, "Better luck next time suckers."

We left and got back to our room with enough time to catch some sleep before sunrise.