Showdown

[Faro/Blade]

Blade only nodded in agreement. He approached the stable owner, who was fitting a saddle to one of the horses.

"Hello, Rond." Blade said, resting his elbow on the horse's lower back. "We're here to call in a favor."

"I knew this day would come. Glad to be in debt to you than that other fella." Rond replied, leaning against the side of the horse's stall, arms crossed in impatience. "So what do you need?" He asked. "Horses for the both of you?"

"Well actually, it's five horses." Blade answered.

"Five horses?" He exclaimed. "I have a family to feed, I can't give away five horses."

"We need only borrow them for a while. Give us one hour, and you can pick them up then."

"Alright, fine. Where are you going?" Rond asked. Blade expressed his ignorance by turning to Torak, realizing that he never actually read Icylius' note.

[Azrael/Iris]

"To take care of a nuisance." Torak calmly stated to the stable owner.

Something didn't feel right. He felt as if something was watching them. He had no wish to see Rond hurt. He was a good man with a family and even though he had fallen on hard times and required the Assassins help. The Master Assassin still wished to not see their old client harmed.

His yellow eyes locked in with Blade's eyes, hoping the message would be told through his intense eye lock which only lasted a few seconds.

[Faro/Blade]

"Not what I meant." Blade said. Moments later, Torak's stare bored into him. It was a look he rarely got: Torak preferred to hide his eyes in any other circumstance. "Alright, I'll go ask Icylius myself." Blade left the stable and looked over market stalls, not actually buying anything. All the while watched the crowd. When singled out someone he was sure was watching him, he turned to the man, and waved at him, a confident smirk on his face. Three people left the area quickly. Their synchronized movements betraying them. Blade left down a different alleyway, as they fled, their cover blown. A few quick turns later, and he came upon the man he waved to only seconds before. He struck quickly, bum-rushing the man into a house. "Hello there." He said, Naga's whip coiling itself around the man's wrists.

He brought the man behind the stables, signaling Torak with three quick bird whistles.

[Azrael/Iris]

Torak kept his eyes peeled for any of the men that were stalking about Clock Town. Trying to find them. Rond was busy preparing the horses for their travels.

Three bird calls reached Torak's ears and he turned his head in the direction they came. "Excuse me, Rond. I will be right back." Torak excused himself and went to investigate what Blade had discovered.

Once he was behind the stables, he saw a man who's wrists were wrapped around by Naga's whip, the Master Assassin strode forward and glared down the man before saying "Speak. What were you doing following us?" Torak asked calmly.

The man laughed and spat in Torak's face, before the man knew it. A gash had appeared on his face and his dagger was removed from it's sheath. He looked at Torak who was holding the dagger with blood dripping from it.

"That could have easily been your throat, friend." Torak slyly said, he pointed the dagger at the man's neck before repeating his question.

"Hired." The man blankly stated.

"By whom?"

The man laughed once more before speaking in a strange language that it's origin's were neither in Hyrule nor Termina.

"The King of Carnavora sends his regards, Wolf Assassin."

The man laughed before his head seemed to twist until a sickening crack was heard and he went limp.

Torak stared at the body for a minute or so. Did that man speak the truth...have they really...

Torak shook his head. Now was not the time for his own problems. He would deal with this after they defeat Syrus and reclaim their capture comrades.

"Let us dispose of this body. I do not want suspicions being held about Rond because of some otherworldly being snapping the neck of this fellow." Torak said, he motioned with his head a nearby well.

[Faro/Blade]

"Some kind of suicide enchantment?" Blade wondered aloud. He lifted the man's body with ease, and deposited him in the well. Blade returned to Torak, and nearly asked him what the man had said before he realized the hypocrisy of the question. "It's done. Have Rond's dog get the scent of the horses before we leave, that he may pick them up once we've left them behind."

[Azrael/Iris]

"Good idea, my brother." Torak said as they walked out from behind the stables and saw Rond holding the reins of the five horses.

"Let your dog sniff your horses, so you may track them down when we are done with them." Torak said, petting the dog as it rushed towards him, happily wagging it's tail.

"I thought you were bringing them back?!" Rond objected.

"We might not." Torak plainly stated.

Rond nodded and his dog went forward, sniffing each of the horses and barked when it was done.

"Grazie for the horses, amico." Torak thanked him, grabbing two reins in one hand and another in the other hand.

[Faro/Blade]

Blade went back to Rond before they left. He considered using the assassin's farewell, but if anyone was listening in, he would become a target.

"Stay out of trouble." He said, leaving to follow Torak.

[Argoth/Maximus]

Icylius hurriedly exited the bar after Blade and Torak. He searched for them for only about a minute before he saw them heading toward the stables. The moon loomed overhead like a giant spotlight, allowing him to get a clear view of each assassin. He began to follow them, firmly clutching the letter in hand. About halfway to the stables he stoppped realizing that Alemine and Kadina weren't behind him. Icylius shrugged, he had to get to Max right away and he knew they would eventually catch up. As Icylius turned around to continue he heard a faint whistle and then briefly witnessed a metallic object whiz by in his peripherals. A sharp pain followed the sound and before he could make sense of anything what seemed like sand was thrown into his eyes. Icylius cried out, reeling backward and clawing at the sand that was stealing his vision. He heard a voice say, "Can't control what you can't see!" followed by a blunt object striking him in the chest. He crashed into the ground with an 'oof!' while furiously attempting to blink away the sand. With what little image he could gather he discerned that his attacker was indeed a woman. Icylius raised his arm in an attempt to defend himself but it was effortlessly and viciously knocked away. The next thing he saw was a fist smashing into his face, and it was lights out.

The note lay where his body fell.

The woman roughly grabbed her prey by the collar and hoisted him over her shoulder. She quickly looked around then sprinted off into the darkness.

Maximus now layed in a small damp cell with a single torch lighting the space. The small boy sat in the corner hugging his knees and sleeping against the wall. Suddenly the door burst open and Syrus arrogantly stalked in. "Wake up Maxy, we have a party to prepare for..hm hm hm hmmm." A very menacing smile spread across his face as he finished the words.

[Faro/Blade]

Blade and Torak made their way back to the inn, the horses they pulled alongside them forced the people to give the assassins a wide berth. as the people moved aside, Blade noticed a scrap of paper lying in the street, noteable only for its smell: the smell of Icylius' fear, among other things.

"Icylius is gone, I'll find him. Stay with the horses." Blade ran into the alley as he tapped in to his demon powers; increasing his abilities twofold, and causing his eyes to become bloodshot, with slitted pupils. Focusing on Icylius' scent, his enhanced speed allowed him to quickly catch up with the teen's assailant.

"Just where do you think you're going?" Blade yelled out.

[Eldrin/Vai]

The thief ran down an alleyway, panting heavily. His eyes burned and his cheeks stung from the tears that were relentlessly streaming from his bloodshot eyes. He trembled in the cool air of late winter. The soiled threadbare rags he wore as clothes did little to protect him from the elements. His only solace from the biting winds was the warm blood that ran down his arm from a deep gash in his bicep. He came to a halt at the end of the alleyway and waited nervously.

It was not long before a voice reached his ears from somewhere above him. It was a whimsical voice, happy and slightly taunting. Charming in an infuriating way as it always seemed to know more than its owner could honestly claim to. Not that he would, for honesty was not his forté, and he generally avoided it at all costs. He was free to do anything he pleased at all costs, seeing as the price he payed was never at his own expense. "Ah, is that piss an' blood I smell? Must be the snitch come to find refuge in the greatest thief in the land!"

"Jus' shut up an' show yerself! D'ya wanna do business or not? Ah've got others who'd buy it at twice yer price. Withou' tha harrassin'!" He snarled at the shadows around him.

"Twice my price, eh? Your right, along with a knife in your back. Face it snitch, you're out of options. After what you did to the guild, they'll slit your throat long before you get a chance to make a deal with them. Rule three of freelancing is take what you can get. And I'm all you can get..." The mysterious man said, shifting into view. He stood perched on the edge of a rooftop, just above the thief.

The thief pivoted and stared up at his colleague. "Like ye can talk anyway! Yer freelance too!"

"By choice, my friend... I choose to free myself from the hindrance of the guild. Never have I owed my allegiance to them. Though it is hardly through lack of effort on their part." He said chuckling strangely. In one swift movement he mounted and slid down a gutter pipe on the side of the building. A metallic clink resounded through the alleyway as the soles of his buckled shoes struck the street below. He stood in front of the thief, gazing pleasantly at him with his wild red eyes. His charcoal black hair fell over his forehead and just barely touched his eyes, but not enough to obscure his sight. "Eldrin's the name, buddy. Don't forget it! "

The other thief stared incredulously at Eldrin, much to the latter's delight. "Ah already know yer name, moron. This is tha sixteenth time ye've introduced yerself this week!"

Eldrin shrugged. "Didja ever forget it?"

"Nope..."

"Bingo!" Eldrin yelled, throwing in an overly-enthusiastic fist pump. "Good thing I reminded ya, huh?" He said, smiling at the annoyed thief.

"Can we ge' on with this? Or are ye just gonna wait fer me ta bleed out?" The thief grumbled, gesturing to his arm wound.

"What that paper cut?" Eldrin asked, chuckling. "Oh fine then! What a party pooper! Change of plans though, you tell me somethin' I need to know, and I might fence that for ya."

"But... That's not-"

"Fair? Neither is life! Now shut up an' listen up." Eldrin said, snickering maliciously. "I'm lookin' for someone. A kid. Nine-ish, blond hair, green eyes, pretty muscular for a kid... Can do some freaky shape shiftin'. Name's Maximus, but most just call him Max."

The thief's eyes widened with intrigue as Eldrin spoke of the boy. "Hooey! Tha's one popular brat! Seems e'erybody wants ta find 'im!"

"Just tell me where he is!" Eldrin snapped, brandishing the claws of Avarice menacingly.

"Okay, okay! No need ta go swinging them slashey thingies!" The thief said, backing away from Eldrin's weapon. "'Course Ah don' see how ye could kill me... Seein' as Ah've got tha info ye need."

Eldrin scoffed at the man's comment, his momentary hostility gone as fast as it had come. "Really? Is that what you think?" He asked, his voice almost tempting the thief to say something wrong. His red eyes glinted dangerously with a wild light that seemed to come from within. "See these eyes o' mine? They're the blood red eyes of a Sheikah. The eyes of a shadow warrior, a ghost walker... We Sheikah can talk to the dead, don't you know? So I don't have to keep you alive to interrogate you." He said grinning mischievously. His voice didn't betray the fact that he was completely bluffing.

"Fine! The kid's in Snowhead! Holed up in some cave." The thief said as his back hit the wall behind him. "But yer gonna have some trouble if yer lookin' ta hold 'im hostage! He's after 'im too, ye know!"

Eldrin had turned to leave, but now found himself interested again. If Syrus knew where Maximus was hiding, things were getting desperate. "Who?! Who's after the boy?!" He asked, a hint of savagery behind his calm voice.

"Ye've heard of 'im, e'eryone has... Tha Wolf, Tha Wrath o' Carnavora," The thief shuddered violently at the thought, what little was left in his bladder leaked out. The name he whispered was done so with the utmost fear and complete respect. "Torak!"

"Torak?" Eldrin smiled suddenly. "Why didn't ya say that in the first place?!" Eldrin asked, chuckling with relief. If Torak was looking for Max as well, there was little reason to worry for the boy's safety. Eldrin turned on his heel and walked toward the street.

"W-wait!" The thief said, digging in his pocket. "What about this?!" He asked, producing a gold amulet with a diamond in the center. It was obviously a priceless family heirloom. "Ye said ye'd fence it fer me if I tol' ye!"

Eldrin turned back to the man and smiled mischeiviously. "I said I might... But thanks for reminding me!" He said snatching the amulet from the man's grasp. Before the thief could even react to this sudden treachery the metal sole of Eldrin's shoe smashed into his face. Blood gushed from the man's broken nose as his head was flung back into the brick wall behind him. The thief's skull slammed into the brick wall was dull thud, knocking him unconscious.

"Forget everything you knew from the guild! You're a real thief now! Rule number one of freelancing: There is no honor among thieves!" Eldrin said, laughing uproariously and pocketing the amulet as he left the alley.

Two men and a woman stood just outside the alleyway, waiting for Eldrin. "Hello, darling." He said, addressing the woman. "Your snitch is over there, and I even incapacitated him for ya! Just for you..." He winked at her and smirked.

"Yes, and I see you confiscated a prize for yourself as well." The woman said in a stern, business-like manner.

Eldrin chuckled. "Couldn't be too sure that the guild wouldn't try to screw me over... Again. Had to make some kind of profit in any event." He said, patting the place where he had stored his loot.

"Those days of the guild are long gone." She said, tossing Eldrin a small sack filled with rupees. "That is your payment, and an extra bonus as a token of good faith and respect from the Guildmaster." The woman said.

"Give him my regards, and my gratitude." Eldrin said, making a hand gesture as if to tip his imaginary hat to her. He turned and began walking down the street.

"Selt, Mezzo! Grab the snitch!" The woman barked at the two men at her sides.

"Yes Miss Fae!" The one called Mezzo replied, as the one named Selt walked toward the snitch.

"Wait! Eldrin!" Fae yelled at the thief as he walked away.

"Yes, my love?" Eldrin responded, turning back to face her.

"The assassin named Blade was last seen at the Stock Pot Inn in the company of a boy with black hair and emerald eyes." Fae said, walking away. Mezzo and Selt followed along carrying the snitch between them.

A quick trip to a small unoccupied townhouse where Ayishe had taken up temporary residence yielded Eldrin a winter outfit. Ayishe begrudgingly lent him her favorite coat. It was a high collared long leather overcoat that reached his knees. The Gerudo insignia was embroidered on the back of the coat across the pronounced shoulders. Due to some quick tailoring by Sayo, the coat now featured fur lining around the collar. He also wore black pants, a thick white doublet, and fur lined brown leather boots.

Not long afterwards, Eldrin arrived at the Stock Pot. He moved to greet Torak and Blade, but before he could Blade took off down the street. Eldrin shrugged and swiped the note off of the ground. "Looks like I'm late to the party! Oh well, I suppose this would be Maxie's location?" Eldrin asked, holding the note out to Torak. He paused suddenly, "Five horses?"

[Argoth/Maximus]

The woman carrying Icylius glanced behind her and her anger peaked,Dammit! I thought he was alone! she thought, shoving a pedestrian out of her way. I could try and lose him but my efforts would be futile, he is a member of the assassins. Shit! The mysterious woman growled in anger and tossed Icylius behind her in the direct line of Blade. Icylius bounced off the ground a couple times before he skid to a halt. Consciousness crept back into his skull and he slowly returned to his feet. "Ugh, what the hell just happened? Whatever, we need to find Max. Is everybody ready Blade? The note said they were in a cave near the peak of some mountain in Snowhead. It's marked on the note, just follow it. I'm going to go ahead, I'll meet you all there." he finished. Icylius nodded to Blade and flew off in the direction of Snowhead.

Syrus tossed Max out the mouth of the cave and breathed in heavily with delight, "Ready kid? Haha! This is going to be great. All your friends will get to see you die. And I have something rather important to tell them. I think they're going to like it." Maximus just lay on the ground, not moving. He had bruises and cuts all over his body, clear signs of taking a heavy beating. His clothes were torn as well, and Syrus stalked over to him once more. "You know Max, I really do like having you around, maybe I won't kill you, hm hm." Then he delivered a hard kick to the boy's ribcage. The force of the kick sent him sliding across the ground about six feet. Maximus began frantically trying to get air back into his lungs, the kick had knocked the wind out of him. "Sorry about this Maxy, but I can't have you trying to get all heroic on me," Syrus knelt beside Max and wrenched his hair so that his face was lifted upward. "You understand don't you? I mean I can't let you get away again can I. Hm hm, well, this time I'm not sure you'll be alive by the end, but what can you do? Am I right?" Syrus slammed his face into the snow and got up.

Thom came stomping out of the mouth of the cave just as he did, "It's done. What do you want us to do with the ninja?"
Syrus turned around and grinned, "I think it's about time I have a little chat with old Mathayus, I'm sure he is DYING to know where his daughter is. Keep an eye on the kid until I'm done." Thom grunted in compliance and walked over to Max.

Syrus strolled back into the cave with malicious confidence. The interior of the cave was quite vast. Upon entrance it immediately opened up into a wide expanse with smooth cave walls and evenly spaced torches along them. It was as if the entire mounain had been hollowed out. There were about forty elegantly chiseled steps that led down to the to the main floor. Back against the far wall was a masterfully crafted throne carved from the very stone of the cave. Just before the throne sat Mathayus chained to the floor. Syrus walked up to his chair and sat before the defeated ninja. "Ahhh Mathayus, how you been? Hope those shackles aren't too tight, if they are just speak up. Ha! I crack myself up. I'll just get right down to it. I have your daughter, and you want her back. Well, that just isn't going to happen yet. Let's make a deal here shall we? You help me retrieve help me capture that irritating thief Eldrin, and I'll give you back your daughter. How does that sound?"

Mathayus didn't say a word, but his cold, piercing gaze rested upon Sryrus. "I'll even prove to you she is alive. Auria! Bring in the girl." She complied and in a few moments Mathayus's only child entered the room. There was a blind fold on her eyes and a pair of shackles were around her wrists. Mathayus's eyes augmented at this and he immediately lashed out at Syrus. "There is no need for this, Syrus. Take those off her."
"They'll come off when you capture the thief. Do we have a deal or not? I could just kill you both right now if that's how you want it."
Mathayus answered through clenched teeth, "Fine."
"Oh good. Here are the rules. Cross me, she dies. Try and trick me, she dies. Fail me, she dies. Do ANYTHING that I do not approve of and she dies. You are my temporary slave until this job is finished. Then after that feel free to take all the vengeance you want, I could care less. And believe me Mathayus, I will know when you try anything, I will be watching you." Syrus stood up from his throne and walked down the three steps toward Mathayus. "Alright, so here is how this is gonna work."

About an hour later Icylius arrived at his destination, and down below he could clearly see the boy he had been looking for for so long. But just as he was flying in to land a huge goron scooped him up off the ground and took him back into the cave. Icylius gritted his teeth together in anger and his eyes narrowed. He would return Max to safety if it was the last thing he did.

Thom entered the cave and hurriedly walked over to Syrus, who had just finished talking to Mathayus. "They're here." He said, tossing Max next to Mathayus.

Syrus instantly had a delighted look on his face, "Marvelous! Let's give our party guests a very warm welcome...hm hm hm hm hmmmmm"

[Faro/Blade]

Blade and the others reached the cave shortly after Icylius was brought before Syrus. At Blade's request, they left the horses with the Gorons before making the rest of the journey on foot. There was no one outside the cave, but Blade knew that the inside wouldn't be so empty. Blade knew there would be no way to end the coming battle quickly, so he decided to go with the quickest plan.

"Rush in as quiet as you can, when you reach something hostile, hit it with everything you've got. Syrus is a pompous asshole, so anyone he's captured so far will probably be lying or kneeling before him. Attack anything that's standing up." Blade explained.

[Eldrin/Vai]

"Mkay!" Eldrin exclaimed a little louder than he probably should have. The thief cartwheeled past Blade enthusiastically and ran into the cave. Upon entering the massive cavern, Eldrin's red eyes grew wide. "Holy mother o' Din!"

After taking in the scene inside, Eldrin knew exactly what he had to do. Max and Icylius could wait for now, but as far as he could tell, Mathayus was about to take on everyone. He was outnumbered three to one, and the least Eldrin could was fix those odds. Sending a single fireball headed straight for Syrus, Eldrin leaped down the stairs. He ran straight for Mathayus, aiming a kick for the back of the Goron's head on the way. Of course, he had not really considered the fact that Gorons have stone heads. Regardless, he stood back to back with Mathayus holding his arms in a fighting stance. "What kind of ninja are you?! Aren't you guys supposed to be sneaky?" He teased playfully. Just then he noticed Maximus on the ground next to Mathayus. "Hey, kid! What's up?" He asked nudging Max with his boot.

[Azrael/Iris]

Torak only sighed as he watched Eldrin cart wheel into the cave. He had hoped they would've been able to at least get the advantage of surprise... maybe even study their enemy's liar and work out a strategy. Taking in the fact of the last few times they had fought Syrus... they were always extremely outmatched due to Syrus' abilities.

He walked calmly into the cave and stood next to Eldrin.

[Faro/Blade]

After seeing Eldrin's display, Blade decided it would be better to save his power for coming battle. He walked into the cave, standing closer to the entrance than the others so it would be more difficult for them to be surrounded.