Shadows Within

Taeweth wasn't too surprised that Reinholt's aim was good enough to break the manacles from Selean without harming her. The tauren had already pulled out a set of simple robes for her companion, who donned them with an audible sigh of relief, then hugged her thankfully.
"You have my gratitude, strangers," the elf told the two men. "Might I ask your names?"
"That's Aneon," the warrior told her with a flick of his head, "and I'm Reinholt. Would you happen to know anything about her?"
Selean saw him nod down at the rogue. "Not much," she admitted, "but I think she has a bit more scruples that the others."
The warlock gave a dismissive scoff. "Cute. How do you figure that?"
The druid stood for a moment, trying to think of a diplomatic answer. "Call it... a hunch," she decided to say.

"Hmm. Well, I have one of my own," the half-elf said, pulling the rogue to her feet and removing her right glove, revealing a cog tattooed into the back of her hand.
Taeweth looked from the marking on the rogue's hand to the faces of her companions and back again several times, trying to gauge the situation. Selean seemed mildly surprised, Reinholt was eying the girl with caution, and Aneon still looked like he wanted to kick her ribcage in. "So... what does it mean?" she asked.
"That's the symbol of the Defias Brotherhood," the elf said, clearly mulling things over in her brain. "But, if that's the case, why were you being so cordial earlier?"
"I got a bad feeling about this job," she muttered, just loud enough for them all to hear.

"Well, then," Reinholt stated, "since you're being cooperative, I'd like to know about this 'job' of yours."
The rogue eyed him over once, a skeptical look on her face. "What's it to you, half-blood?"
Taeweth's eyebrows met her hairline. That's what was so odd about him! By the Earth Mother, how could I have missed THAT? She watched the warrior's response with care; he glared just a little, taking care not to tighten his grip. "I'm a soldier of the Alliance," he told her, placing weight behind his words, "and you're as good as a traitor. I know how the Brotherhood works when information's on the line, and we both know you're going to die if you don't tell me details."
The rogue pulled her mask away, giving the half-elf a dark glower. "I'd rather die than be under some bureaucrat's thumb 'till I wither away," she spat.
Aneon began to charge a spell in his hands. "Easily and gladly arranged," he hissed.

Selean stepped forward, blocking the fuming warlock's shot, and gave the human a stern face. "One life, Rohum. One chance," was all she told her.
The rogue looked up at her, then closed her eyes. "I've already had mine," she sighed, letting herself go slack in the warrior's grip.
Reinholt's voice was more sympathetic this time. "Not quite. I know someone who would be more than willing to watch over you. A minor noble, a tradesman... he's had reformed bandits with him before," he explained.
Rohum opened her eyes, not trying to keep the disbelief out of her face. "Who?"
"Edward Raxisallian," the warlock said, letting the bolt die off in his hands. "About the only upper-class he'd vouch for in person. Coming out of Reinholt," he told her with his young and frank tone, "that means something."

The brunette looked at the group, considering her options for a long moment. A small war raged in her mind; shut up and die, or give information to the same kind of people who'd left her out to rot?
For some reason, Rohum couldn't bear to keep her eyes opened when she spoke. "Our employer had us kidnap the druid," she began, pulling the details up in her head, "and steal a particular gemstone she had in her possession... and I think I know where these dimwits hid the thing."
Reinholt's grip loosened a fraction more, and he stepped to the side, eying her. "Well, if you'd be so kind?" he asked, motioning to the door with his left hand.

The rogue nodded, walking with her right arm still in the warrior's hand to the main hold of the derelict craft. She lead the group to a small hole that had been literally punched in the hull, covered with wattle-and-daub, knocked the hardened mixture away, and fished around inside. When she pulled her arm back out, a small and leafy pouch was held tight in her fist. She looked over her shoulder, sighted the night elf, and tossed it back to her.
Selean gave a nod of thanks, then eyed the bag with caution. She grasped the drawstring, slowly opening the pouch, and a wave of corruption rose from it like smoke.
"What it the gods' names?" Aneon muttered as the druid tied the bag shut with due haste. "That's damn near pure infernal arcana! Why the hell do you have that?"
Selean shook her head, a rueful look crossing her features. "Because the person who gave this to me never wanted it in him to start with," she intoned, then looked at the Rohum. "I'm more concerned with who would want this."
The rogue glanced between her and the half-blood. "Ask him yourselves. They should be here soon."