RP Stories/Negotiations with Snake Lord

Kabbato sat in the Five Heads tavern. He had been there for around half an hour - he always got to his meetings early, as it was a force of habit learned early on. After waiting his table had finally become free and the bartender gave a sly nod to Kabbato that was the code to sit down. Kabbato had been in the small town for a month building contacts and scoping the place out he needed to make sure he wouldn't have any surprises and he dealt with the issue at hand. Kabbato took his seat on the far corner table it was tucked away up the back which made sure no one would go near it unless they had a reason to, he sat with his back to the wall and could see the entire tavern from his spot. The tavern only had a handful of people after all it was just after dinner and wouldn't be busy for a few hours yet. Kabbato sat and reflected on the circumstances that got him to where he was today and having to deal with this mess. He had sent a letter to the wolves two months ago requesting a meeting he could only hope one of them would turn up and that his actions wouldn't lead to trouble for him. Of course he wanted to explain why he had to stab a pup and hoped the letter would at least get one of them to talk to him after all he valued his working relationship with them and needed them to allow him to transport goods through their territory. A lot was riding on this meeting now he would sit and wait.

Moments later, the same letter Kabbato had sent the Briarwolves was dropped onto the table in front of him.

He looked up and saw the shaman Jira standing before him, her face free of warpaint, her normally embellished hair now smoothed down into a loose ponytail, and her usual fur and leather armour hidden under the plain robe of an apprentice healer - it was lucky Kabbato knew her face, or he would not have recognized the inconspicuous looking mage in front of him as one of the Briarwolves at all. Jira motioned to the seat opposite Kabbato without breaking eye contact. "May I join you?"

Kabbato saw the letter drop and looked up to see Jira appear she looked strange she looked normal he would never get over how she can look normal.

"Ahh Jira of course you may sit I'm happy you have joined me" Kabbato gestured his hand and waited for Jira to take the seat.

"May I say you look very normal" he said this with a sly smile on his face "to business as I stated in the letter I wanted to discuss a situation with you involving one of the pups do you know any information about the incident that happened 3 months ago in Estra?"

Kabbato sat watching Jira whilst his snake Viciate started moving up his cloak to his shoulder to watch the crowd in the tavern.

Jira smirked at the comment on her appearance. " 'Normal' is subjective, and based only what is most common. This - " said Jira as she motioned to her well worn robe, " - is not 'normal' for me. I would say I look... appropriate for the circumstances. As for the pup, he has healed with minimal scarring. The snake venom in the wound was a complication, but nothing I couldn't handle."

Kabbato flashed a quick menacing look at Viciate then looked back at Jira. "I'm sorry about the poison ... that wasn't my fault. As you know Viciate has a mind of his own. I'm happy his healed well kind of anyway but I have two things to ask do you know why I had him stabbed and has this affected our business relationship? Kabbato sat back hopeful he could get some positive answers but couldn't read Jira's face.

Jira's face remained impassive as she regarded the Snake Lord closely. Despite her feelings about the man responsible for her pup being harmed, Jira was sent to negotiate and discuss - and this meant understanding the events in question from every angle.

"I have my suspicions as to why my pup was harmed... but I would like to hear your side of the story as well - as you know, poison and adrenaline occasionally addles the memory of the wounded, so his retelling may have... missed some details."

But of course, Jira always liked to have a drink in her hand when listening to a story, so she caught the attention of a roving barmaid and ordered a glass of wine.

"And for yourself?" she asked Kabbato politely.

"Why thank you I'll have a whisky thank you straight double shot"

Kabbato waited for the barmaid to leave and loudly took a deep breath and exhaled.

"As you know I have many business interest and one of my clients approached me as they wanted some people taken care of I advised that I'd provide an introduction... for a fee of course. I introduced him to the pup in question after all he had provided simular services to me in the past and the two created a contract.  After the job was completed he was captured and gave up my clients name which caused issues for him and me as it was my reputation he was working from so I had to spend money and time cleaning up his mess. As you know an assassin should die rather than give out the name of their contractor, so as punishment for a botched job I had him punished via stabbing but nothing too fatal. "

Kabbato paused as his drink arrived once the barmaid left again he continued: "Jira is this the story you were told?" Kabbato breathed deeply again and looked for any emotional flickers on Jira's face he was getting ready to move just in case.

"I see." said Jira. "Yes, your tale rings true with what my pup has told me. I can understand your predicament, and while you did wound one of my own, I would have done the same in your circumstance." Jira took a sip of her wine, letting Kabbato breathe for a moment.

"However - " Jira's eyes had suddenly become as cold as ice. "What interests me more is why you thought you were in a position to invite a pup do your client's dirty work for you, without asking the Alpha first." The shaman's eyes narrowed, and while the volume of her voice dropped to barely above a whisper, her tone was unmistakable.

"In getting him to work for you in the first place, you have placed OUR name at risk. The pup cannot be blamed for this, as he is young and is not yet grown enough to understand our ways. You, on the other hand, should know better than to lead a young pup astray, and in so doing, potentially lead an entire pack of wolves to your door."

Kabbato looked at Jira this is good he thought finally some emotion he could read. He paused for a moment and drunk his drink and placed the now empty glass on the table.

"I only acted to introduce him to a client at his request for business, whilst I didn't intend to have this become an issue I was hoping that by doing it this way I'd keep both you wolves and the Unread out of it if anything went wrong.  Now there has been retribution by some wolves who beheaded a member of the Black Rose that's the other reason I'm here to make sure hostilities between us don't start and to solve this in a well civilized matter."

Kabbato paused and looked down "At the end of the day I could of handled it better but you know sometimes even the wisest of us makes mistakes, so Jira can we allow this issue to end and call it even or is there something you want to make it go away? Kabbato lifted his head, his eyes showed a flicker of human emotion and he put his hand on the empty glass while looking at Jira once more.

"I would have y-"

Jira stopped mid sentence, as if cut off by something. The mage closed her eyes and furrowed her brow in concentration, as if listening intently to something only she could hear. After a few moments, Jira reopened her eyes and returned her focus to the Snake Lord, her tone composed and calm once more.

"The Alpha shares your desire for no further hostilities between our people. He suggests that we can avoid similar circumstances from happening again by ensuring better communications in future."

Jira listened again for the unheard sound, and continued:

"The Alpha wishes that any member of the Black Rose seeking official business with any Briarwolf, regardless of rank, should consult the Alpha and his Tribunal before further action is taken. Similarly, any wolf on business with the Black Rose will be instructed to seek the Lords for their council."

Jira spread her hands in a sign of peace. "Agreed?"

Viciate sat up on Kabbato's shoulder and let out a few hisses Kabbato didn't move but hissed back at his snake. He saw Jira moving around he guessed he heard something as well.

"Well Jira as you know I can't guarantee about the Black Rose as a whole but I will take your request to them and have a response to you within a month from today that's official.  However I can guarantee that I personally will agree to this as it will be good for all involved would this be acceptable?" Kabbato had a quick look around the tavern as Viciate again hissed at him.

"Now as stated in the letter I want to discuss a potential trade route that would run either through or near your territory are you in a position to discuss this today or would you like to move as I have a feeling this tavern may not be a good place to stay"

Kabbato hissed at Viciate and the snake on his shoulder started hissing in a rhythmic pattern as if singing a song.

Jira smiled. "Your personal acceptance of the terms is indeed acceptable, and I look forward to hearing from the Black Rose on its decision as a whole."

Jira eyed the snake carefully, wondering if Kabbato's 'feeling' about the safety of the tavern was an issue for her to worry about as well. Kabbato seemed so eager to discuss his trade route agreement... but then to suggest postponing it? Something must have him, or the snake, very concerned...

"Would you like to suggest another place we may discuss matters away from prying ears?"

Viciate stopped hissing and Kabbato looked up. "Jira get down, now!"

Jira ducked her head down as Viciate sprung like a coil and flew through the air to attack the barmaid who was making her way back to the table, Viciate attached himself to her neck and she fell down right away dead instantly from the snakes poison.

Two men who were sitting at the bar stood up and pulled out daggers. They were dressed in brown cloaks and had quickly raised the cowls of their hoods over their heads to hide their faces. The rest of the patrons started screaming and some of them tried to run for the door... but a female with silver hair in a brown mages robe shimmered into appearance and quickly set a magical barrier between the door and the tavern. "Quick do it now!" she yelled and they two men started pushing their way through the panicking crowd towards Kabbato and Jira

"So sorry Jira for the interruption, it seems someone doesn't want this meeting to continue. Please tell me you are carrying a weapon or have some guards close by" with that Kabbato stood up from his chair and spoke in serpent speak a number of snakes started to slither out of his cloak to take positions around his body in preparation for what would come next.

Though currently weaponless, Jira was never without her magic. Ducking away from a throwing knife, she caught Kabbato's shoulder and bolstered his defences with a Stoneskin spell, before casting the same upon herself. Jira wanted nothing more than to launch a fireball, but with so many innocent bystanders rushing around, she wouldn't have a clear shot at the two cloaked men or the silver haired mage without the possibility of hurting someone else. Despite the sudden action, Jira was pleased that she had the foresight to make preparations just for such an event.

"Wolves!" she called to the three Briarwolves on the opposite side of the room, disguised in plain clothes as she was.

Rising swiftly, a cloaked man moved to Jira's side. He cast aside his cloak, revealing a tooled leather chestplate with shining arms clad in metal, drawing a knife and long dagger secreted in his belt Landak crouched ready to defend his friend and leader.

And in almost the same instance another man rose to aid Jira, he released the clasp that held together his cloak and grabbed the hilt of a short sword. Godric pulled from its sheath and released It to spin freely in the air only to catch it mid flight and ready his fighting stance alongside his friend.

A moment after his two comrades, the third man clumsily dove at the silver haired mage, drawing a dagger and small hatchet from his long sleeves. Floki had joined the fray.

In the instant that the three wolves jumped into action the snake wrapped around the elf standing by the outside of the door’s arm, whispered into her ear and she moved in an instant. She put her hand on the door of the tavern and instantly picked up the barrier barring entrance and exit. She closed her eyes and muttered a quick spell. The door flew open and a few of the scrambling patrons bundled out of the door. Sanna, the elven girl who had broken the barrier, stepped into the tavern preparing herself for a fight.

The silver hair mage made a simple hand gesture and flung the clumsy attacker into the bar then let out a laugh "I can't be harmed but such an attack" she looked at the rest of the tavern which was erupting into chaos. Once she sensed her barrier destroyed she turned around to see an elf in tattered black robes with a cut on her face. "Damn it, I was only ready for one mage, not two" she said softly then used a shimmer to teleport herself outside where she could fight better.

The two cloaked figures looked at the group near the table one steeped to the side "Kabbato I'll be the one to kill you tonight" he said in a calm assuring voice.

The other cloaked man flung the tables around him away and ripped his cloaks arms away to reveal tattoos covering his arms they appeared to move the suddenly jumped off his arms and attached to the heads of 7 patrons they stood up as if possessed and broke bottles bits of furniture and took a position in front of the tattooed man.

"Haha! This should be fun I haven't had the pleasure of cutting up wolves before".

Two of the seven walked over towards the bar where the wolf was only now getting up the other 5 holding their make shift weapons moved towards the other two wolves.

A look of confusion crossed Landak's face before he sprung into action. determined to protect both Jira and Floki he threw a knife at the chest of the puppet like minions before bringing his makeshift shield into a defensive stance. " I don't know who you are, or what you want, but I will kill you if you attack my pack mates."

In a daze. Floki fumbled around behind the bar for anything he could use as a weapon. Finding only shards of glass and ceramic plates. He scoops them up. Jumping up from behind the bar. A sharp pain surges from his leg. As he glance down a shard of frost glass is sticking out of his thigh. "Ouch" he mutters. One of the thralls almost on top of him, Floki threw the handful of glass and ceramic at its face.

Jira longed to chase after the silver haired mage, but her duty was to her pack first - she had asked them to accompany her and now they were in danger. Now that the door had burst open and most of the innocent patrons had fled, Jira had no hesitations in charging up dual fireballs and launching them at the tattooed assassin, knowing that the minions would likely fall if the source of the magic was destroyed.

Godric ran toward a nearby stool and lunged off it toward the thralls, before his feet touch the ground he had slashed at one of the thralls that was caught off guard.

The newly created puppets had knives throwing from one of the guards hit them in the chest but it didn't even slow them down they kept moving forward towards their targets. The tattooed man heard one of them speak but didn't bother with a reply he had his orders and they were to kill the targets. He commanded his puppets to start their attack. One of the two leaned over to look behind the bar only to get a heap of glass in his face it made him move back but only for an instant before taking one of his arms and reaching in to grab the young wolf behind the bar.

One of the puppets was caught off guard by a flying wolf he was slashed across the back of the head the wound was very deep and he fell to the ground only for two of the others to throw sharp bottles at the now landed wolf. The remaining two held out sharp bits of wood with nails sticking out and headed towards the wolf with the shield then started rushing towards him with one jumping and grabbing the shield and the other one side stepping to try and attack his side hoping to find an opening. The Tattooed man was smiling he loved using puppets to fight but then saw a pair of fireballs heading his way with none of him puppets held back for defence something he would curse himself for later he quickly ducked however wasn't totally unscathed and smelt burning that came from his head "Too close" he muttered to himself. The man spoke as he stood up "Wow that was close but don't you want to go catch our boss she's right outside you know"

Outside the tavern, the silver haired mage stood looking at the elf in tattered black robes "So you're a mage... I can sense it... why don't you join me instead" she said full of confidence her voice was alluring as if she was trying to put a trance on her "Join me, Join me, Join me" she said again trying to hypnotize the elf in front of her.

Jira heard the magically alluring voice in her head too, but her devotion to her pack was keeping her focused. Without even looking, Jira sent a fireball speeding behind her, zooming out the door... before exploding right in the face of the silver haired mage, breaking her concentration. "Bitch."

Sanna turned on the mage. Appearing to mindlessly walk towards the silver haired mage. She smiled at the elf walking mindlessly towards her then a fireball flew towards her and erupted in her face. Sanna used this precise moment to launch her attack. While the silver haired mage was dazed from the sudden explosion Sanna leapt forward and sent another explosion into the mage. She fumbled backwards in retreat. Sanna stepping forward and popping off explosion after explosion at the mage as she stumbled backwards trying to escape.

The Silver hair mage put up a barrier to protect herself from the first fire ball but couldn't get the second one in time and was knocked back she was forced back fighting against two mages was much too hard but she had to finish the mission and now she knew mind control wouldn't work it was time to take this fight to another level. She summoned an icicle and flung it towards the elf, and readied two fireballs to follow, ready to throw. It was clear she wasn't a normal Mage.

Slashing at one of tendrils attached to the head of the thrall in front of him Landak let go of the stool he used as a shield and kicked it at the face of the mindless beast who grabbed it. "Bastards." he said slightly unnerved at the use of mind control.

Floki scrambled for a weapon. But instead he was hauled onto the bar. The thralls hands around his throat. Choking. Floki's world was quickly growing dark. And dull. Except the sharp pain in his leg. "Ha" Floki balked as he tore the shard from his leg.... and buried it into the eye of the thrall. Coughing violently, Floki took a moment to catch his breath.

After seeing the thrall he had slashed fall to the ground, Godric soon caught sight of the bottles flying toward him he ducked but was not quick in doing so, this had lead to Godric being cut by one of the bottles on the shoulder, but the adrenaline coursing through him had made him numb to the pain. He then dashed backwards to regroup with his wolves. One of the puppets fell after being slashed in the head the other one that was hanging onto the bar stool was flung back onto his ass and slowly climbed up then grabbed the stool and charged at the wolf he got close and swag. Another puppet headed towards the regrouping wolf but wasn't fast enough to stop him moving, he broke off an arm from a table and then charged at the same time as his comrade wildly swinging at the moving wolf. One of the two near the bar was stabbed in the eye he fell over and didn't move he was still. The other one then moved towards him he then grabbed two broken bottles brandished one and chucked another one at the wolf. Kabbato sent 20 serpents flying towards the robbed man who had challenged him they had stood looking at each other as the intense battle went around them now it was time for him to get involved he wanted this done fast each of the snakes bit into the robbed man but all burnt in an instant

"You're immune to poison I see..." Kabbato said

"Why yes, I have been selected for this task as none of your poison or snakes can harm me... so how does it feel, Snake Lord, to be powerless?" the man let out a laugh before charging towards Kabbato he pulled out two short swords and jumped over a table looking to cut Kabbato in half, however Kabbato side stepped the attack and opened his cloak to draw his twin short wakizashi the two traded attacks each going for a killing blow but blocking the other's attack then jumped back

"You're good, why don't you tell me who sent you?" Kabbato said already feeling the adrenalin building up. Before Floki had a chance to rest. A broken bottle was lacerating his chest. He rolled off the bar top. Landing with the most weight on his good leg. his confusion cleared as the reality of the situation sunk in. He drew the shortsword strapped to the small of his back. The pain was immense. He could feel streams of blood pouring down his chest, stomach, back and leg.

Then he started to giggle. His voice changed. His mind changed.

He lost himself in the delirium of his alter ego. Howling hysterically with a strange mix of pain, pleasure, bloodlust and psychosis. This thing that was once Floki dived at the thrall. With all the force it could muster it stabbed at the thralls heart. It didn't care what happened to itself. It was no longer a man or a wolf. All this thing that used to be Floki, was intent. Intent to kill. Not just the thrall. But everything. Outside the tavern, Sanna saw the icicle speeding towards her, she summoned a fire ball in the last seconds side stepping at the same time, the icicle grazed past the fire ball and Sanna's arm making another tear in her robes and opening an old scar. Sanna let out a blood curdling scream that echoed around the walls of the tavern and nearby buildings. This was an old scar that she had gotten from an old foe. It was a magical one that would never heal properly and always caused Sanna a great deal of pain if she ever thought badly about the "foe". She looked up at the mage with a new hint of fire in her eyes. She drew a dagger from a belt on her leg and held it to her hand. She sliced her hand and yelped slightly in pain, before cackling a little. Then again she cut across part of her arm, and the across her cheek. With each cut there was less whimpering and more sounds of pleasure. Her gaze never leaving the mage who watched the transformation of something very sinister before her. Sanna cackled menacingly as she stepped forward.

"You've just witnessed a levelling of my power" she snarled. "if you're going to play dirty then so will I" Sanna cackled again as she held the dagger in her cut hand and began summoning a fire ball in the other...

Jira winced with pain at the volume of Sanna's echoing scream, and suddenly had to duck when the windows of the tavern shattered inward from the sound.

Surrounded by shards of glass from broken windows, shattered bottles and drinking glasses, and hearing yelps of pain and cackles of laughter from outside, Jira knew she had to hurry - Sanna was in danger, and not just from the enemy mage. The windows open to the air, and all the innocents completely out of the way, Jira called upon the wind - drawing in a mighty tempest, picking up every shard of glass into the air in a swirling flurry around her...

"WOLVES, DOWN!"

Grunting from the impact of the thrall's hit Landak jumped backwards only to be assailed by a echoing shriek. covering his head from the storm of glass shards around him Landak barely heard Jira's shout. Diving to the ground Landak crawled underneath one of the remaining standing tables. "What are you doing, Jira?" he called out, voice muffled by the thick wood of the table above him.

Kabbato and the cloaked man charged at each other their blades moving at a blinding speed each attacking and countering in an instant, it was clear this assassin was well trained he started pushing Kabbato back towards the wall. "Looks like you know what you are doing - who sent you?" Kabbato said over the sounds of their blades connecting.

"Shut up and die" the man said in a voice full of anger this was his chance Kabbato thrusted slowly towards the man he blocked easily then Kabbato used his strength to push him backwards with that Kabbato jumped into the air as the man readied to impale him Kabbato shed his skin it flew at the assassin and caused him to drop his guard with that Kabbato dug his blades into the man's head killing him in an instant.

He pulled his blades out only to hear Sanna scream and sensed Jira's power. "Ohh shit." Kabbato thought "Those two are going to destroy this place."

Kabbato looked around at the destruction already created... "sighhhh I hope I don't have to pay for this." Kabbato joined the pups on the ground he knew better than to get in their way.

The tattooed man looked on in horror at the wolf eating his puppet "That's gross" he said before calling his wildly swinging puppet back to him and ducked behind him he looked in horror as glass started flying around the room he thought "What did I get myself into" he sat close to the floor as glass started hitting his puppet. The puppet at the bar fell down with the blade in his heart his body was still wiggling but it wouldn't get up. It crawled toward the wolf that stabbed it trying to grab its legs.

At this point Godric had been tucked under a table due to Jira's command, he had witnessed the death of the assassin and was still in awe from the sight of Kabbato shedding his skin. He looked up at the mass of broken bottles and shards of glass that were swirling around in the air. Godric could not help but feel this wasn't going to end well.

Floki dropped to his knees. Kneeling on the thrall's chest. He dragged his short sword out of its chest. The thing that was once Floki giggled as it stabbed the thrall over and over in the chest. To no avail. An echoing shriek pierced its ears and a second later it heard a silly girl yell "Wolves down!". The thing that was Floki was getting weaker. The blood loss was making it even more deliriously. Over and over it stabbed in to the things chest. It was left with a gaping hole where its heart used to be. And still the thrall tried to grab at Floki's neck. Taking the shortsword in both hands it drew the blade up over its head and slammed it down towards the thrall's head. With the blow to the head the puppet stopped moving and the tattooed man glanced back to the wolf on the ground then back to Jira's storm he didn't like where this was going the puppet in front of him was still standing barely after being impaled with glass.

The silver haired mage stepped back and held her bleeding are she sensed all the power from the two mages "this has gotten way out of hand" she weighed up her options. Before throwing another fireball at Sanna. Sanna flicked the fireball away effortlessly and hit the ground quickly she sensed Jira was about to "explode" in a powerful outburst. She flicked her hood over her head in the process and hands over her head she muttered a shield spell. Whatever was about to come she'll need all the shield she can muster.

The Silver haired mage saw her fireball get swatted away then the elf duck she used her magic to sense Jira's building storm the two and one of the puppets were the only people standing "hmmm I wonder what she's up to" suddenly a cold chill ran up her spine.

The thing that was once Floki slumped between the dead thrall and the bar. his blood loss was taking a toll, he let out a small giggle then collapsed. darkness clouded his vision, his breath shallow, in that last instant he regained himself, he remembered who he was, what he stood for, and who his friends where. "Jira, Help." he whispered almost inaudibly. "Godric? Landak? Someone?". he slipped into un-conciousness.

Sanna heard the tiny plea for help and felt the presence of the others inside the tavern unable to help. Sanna knew the being who pleaded didn't have long and needed urgent help. Sanna still under her cloak and shield paused to see if anyone was reacting to the plea. From inside the whirling tornado of broken glass, Jira could see flashes of the tavern - Landak diving and skidding under a table, Godric protecting his face with his arms, Kabbato ducking behind the table that had been turned over in his fight with the assassin, and Floki.. Floki holding onto his last few ounces of strength... not sheltered from the hailstorm of glass she was planning on unleashing. And then there was the other assassin, cowering behind his thralls, hoping to avoid the onslaught...

He threatened her pack.

He needed to die.

The glass shards whirled closer and closer to her face, when suddenly a great blaze of blue shot upwards, engulfing the tornado... not even tempered glass would withstand the heat of spirit fire, and when the sapphire flames withdrew, every single shard had been transformed into the molten ball of liquid glass held suspended in Jira's hands, swirling and spinning in the air like a silver whirlpool.

With all the grace of a dancer, Jira willed the molten mass to flow like water, guiding it through the air, calmly and fluidly...

... before bringing the boiling hot liquid glass flooding down onto the assassin's head.

The molten glass flowed over him, encasing his flesh and preserving the body with perfect clarity... entombed completely in 3 inches of crystal clear glass. He barely even had time to scream. The tavern cleared of enemies, Jira's rage was snuffed out like a candle in a rainstorm as she rushed to Floki's side, immediately singing healing songs of the forest, while frantically ripping strips of cloth from her robe and bandaging his wounds, hoping beyond hope that Floki could somehow recover from this...

Getting up slowly from under the now splintered table Landak brushed wood splinters from his jerkin. "Bloody hell Jira. didn't know you could do that!" taking his last two throwing knives Landak called out "Godric help me with the last of these scum."

Sprinting out the unhinged doors Landak tackles the white haired mage to the ground. Godric moved swiftly through the tavern, close behind Landak. After Landak had tackled the silver hair mage to the ground Godric put his sword to her throat and looked to Landak as if waiting for the signal to end her life.

Shaking his head to ward off Godric's killing blow, Landak flips his dagger and hits the mage in the temple with the pommel knocking her out. Dragging the unconscious white haired mage back through the tavern doors Landak dumped her unceremoniously at his feet "Jira should we question her?" Floki gasped. His whole body hurt. He could barely move. Jira had stitched his wounds. But she could not replace the massive amount of blood Floki had lost. He was weak. Drifting in and out of consciousness. "Jira? Floki asked. "Are those fuckers dead?"

Kabbato looked up at the last assassin die and he smiled "brutal " he thought to himself, he got up and patted the dust from his cloak then looked around at the destruction "I bet I get stuck with the bill" he said to himself as he watched Jira rush over to her fallen pup, a thought crossed his mind where was Viciate.

Following Landak back into the tavern Godric looked over to Jira and Floki, Godric ran over and saw the massive amount of blood pooled on the floor were Fluke's leg was.

He said to Jira "He is losing too much blood, what do we do?" He look to Jira waiting for a reply.

Jira never even looked up from her healing, but reached behind her, and drew upon her magic once more, melting a small lump of glass in her outstretched hand, and with a fluid movement of her wrist, the molten glass formed itself into a set of enchanted manacles, and attached selves to the unconscious silver haired mage.

Viciate had slithered over to the fallen wolf and coiled on his tail poking his head up to look at him barely conscious he decided he had better help but as with everything he needed something out of it. He opened a telepathic link to Jira and Floki "Greetingsss I am the God Viciate. Jira you have only partly healed thisss one and you don't have the power left to do it sssso allow me I can however you must both agree and a deal mussst be struck" the snakes red eyes looked at Floki if he died he could always eat him he thought.. no he would be better to live. "Whatsss your choice mortalsss?"

Landak grinned at Jira's powerful display of magic, righting an unbroken chair Landak sat down waiting to see what would unfold.

Sanna rose from the ground quickly and quietly. She rushed to Floki's side next to Jira. "Let me try something" said Sanna with a tone of questioning as if asking but going ahead anyway. She knew a small bit of dark magic that may save his life. The wound on her hand now beginning to clot had stopped bleeding. Sanna took her dagger and reopened the wound then placed the once again bleeding wound against Floki's chest where he was still bleeding through the rags. She began a chant willing life and power back into him.

Floki started to convulse violently.

Suddenly a blast of wind shot forth, and all who were not wolf kind stumbled back by its sheer force. "HE IS NOT YOURS TO HEAL!" Jira roared.

Landak blinks in surprise and fingers the hilt of his daggers weary of another imminent fight

Viciate didn't move from his spot "your losing him allow me to heal him"

" Ji...jira..." Floki stammered weakly "sn...snake...d...deal..".

Sanna stepped back. Her hands in defence. "Heal him then" she said tardily, and stormed out of the barely a tavern. "Emotion won't help you!" She called back through the door.

Jira locked eyes with the snake and spoke calmly but firmly. "Viciate, thank you for your offer, but we will make no such deals. I may not have the power to heal him, but the Ancestors do." With that, Jira signalled for the rest of her pack to lift Floki, while she began to chant in the ancient words, keeping him alive long enough to return to the rest of the pack - Floki would need the help of every wolf around him to survive.

Springing to action, Landak grasps Floki's shoulders, motioning for Godric to take his legs. Together the two wolves Godric, quickly took Floki's legs and begun to lift his body.

Viciate saw the determination in Jira's eyes "I wassss only trying to help you. I wissssh you luck - I don't want him to die either." Viciate slithered back to Kabbato was walking over to the silver haired mage his guard had left "so emotional" he thought he looked at Jira and the gathering wolves "Don't worry my friends you heal your comrade and I'll watch your backs with that he sat at the feet of the fallen mage and sent snakes from his arms to take positions around the broken tavern. Even as the wolves lifted their fallen brother, Jira never broke contact with her patient, keeping her hands over his head and heart, stabilising his health and numbing the pain. Jira turned to face Kabbato. "In light of the circumstances, we will need to discuss your trade route another time."

Just as the pack reached the door, Jira called to momentary halt, quickly fished a bulging pouch of gold coins from her bag and tossed it to Kabbato. "For my share of the damages."

Sanna watched from a distance and looked to Kabbato who watched also. Sanna slipped into the shadows of the eve of the broken tavern. Her hood raised above her head all you could see was the glint of her eyes from the shadows. She was furious she was denied the ability to heal the injured wolf but she respected the wishes of the mage. She didn't want to cross her as she knew there was a great deal difference in their powers. Sanna, her short time with her true kin had learned a lot and wanted to help. She looked again to Kabbato before leaning against the wall to watch the door as the pack of wolves left.

Kabbato sat and watched the pack leave he sent a snake to pick it up "Till next time Wolvessss" he stood up and looked at the mage still on the ground "Well I guess the questions can now start" he said to himself.

Sanna sat down leaning against the wall, she ripped a shred of fabric from her tattered robe and wrapped it around the enchanted wound. She glared at Kabbato. That was his doing and she knew it would never heal. No matter what she did it would always cause her pain. she was thankful it was in her offhand arm but it did make drawing a bow difficult even though that was her specialty after magic. She didn't care for the other wounds as they had clotted and were already healing over. Her blood rage was over so the wounds closed themselves. She stood up and met Kabbato in the middle of the room. "Now what master?" she queried to him.

"Kabbato looked up at Sanna this is where I teach you how we ask questions" with that he pulled out a knife from his belt and looked at it then took another look at the mage "She's never going to look the same" he thought to himself.

________________________________________________________________________

Two weeks later... a letter arrives in the Briar:


 * To Alpha Sairus, Beta Bramble and Denmother Jira, leaders of the Briarwolves,


 * I thank you once more for sending someone to discuss the issue and resolve it with me. I have to say, after witnessing the skill and strength of your Wolves I’m very thankful I’m not on your bad side. I have heard that Floki has made a recovery and didn’t die -  this is very good news and he showed a very strong determination in the fight. I would also like to say Landak and Godric also have my thanks as they showed skill and were a sight to see in the battle.


 * I have talked to the captured mage and have found out some information - unfortunately I can’t trust that this letter will get to you without being seen by others, so I have decided that in a show of good faith for the deal already struck and the promise of an official answer to terms Jira presented, I shall visit you personally to share what I have learned and also talk about many other matters with yourselves.


 * I will send a messenger over the next few weeks to start planning a visit to you for these discussions with your permission of course. Please send a reply with the messenger who hands this over he will know where to reach me.


 * I thank you and your men once more and look forward to some less lively discussions soon.


 * Kabbato Alric


 * P.S. a little tip - be careful of a person who’s name starts with M