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Jace held the ferret against the wall, holding his knife against his throat. The ferrets lower lip seemed to quiver slightly as he tried to form words. "Ah. I see you know Jersa," The dragon said behind him.

"Yes," Jace said, staring the ferret down. He did not move, his hands at his side. "From back in Gruska," he said slowly, the terror on the ferret's face was quite clear.

The Mistress only hesitated a moment, before laying a hand on his shoulder. "If you could please let her-" Skagger cleared his throat and she looked back at him a moment. "Ah." She looked back at Jace. "Mr. Ozymandias. Please let him go."

Jace hesitated, looking at Jersa. That sounded like an accidental slip of words. But Jace leaned forward, taking a hard look at the ferret. It was just possible, if cleaned up quite a bit, Jersa could pass for female. That would take a lot of work. But the longer he looked, the more it was obvious. He stepped back slowly, returning the knife were it belonged. "Jersa and I have had a...rough time." He looked into his, or her, face. There was something in his or her eyes. "Sorry about the nose."

Skagger looked at Jersa, not having noticed it. As did the Mistress. "Did you break his nose?" she said, looking at the back of Jace's head.

Jace was giving the ferret a look that clearly said, 'the knife can always go back.' "I did. Just a little tussle as I left Gruska."

She looked at Jersa, who nodded. "Yeah...I...I had to stop him from getting away." Jersa's voice could pass for female, or male in common. "I did not succeed." A slight pause. "I didn't try that hard..."

"We will speak more of your travels once Mr. Ozymandias is settled." Jersa nodded solemnly and noticeably relaxed.

As they came to a door, Jace looked at the Mistress. "I would like to speak to Jersa and sort out some misconceptions I'm sure-" He paused as he tried to pick his words carefully. "...he has about what was going on. Please do not pester him over matters."

She nodded. "Of course." Jersa looked nervously from Jace to the Mistress.

Jace looked around the small room as he stepped in. There was a bed, a dresser, a small desk and chair, a full body mirror beside it, and a window. "If anyone enters this room without my permission..." He looked back at the group, his voice quite calm and slow. "There will be consequences." He shut the door and leaned against it, closing his eyes. He listened to the groups retreating footsteps, noting how one lingered a moment before following after.

He moved over and placed the briefcase on the desk, looking at it. "What the hell am I doing..." he said softly, as he paced around the room. "What have I gotten myself into..." He pulled the cloak off and tossed it onto the chair. He sat down on the bed, staring at his reflection in the mirror. Surprisingly, he looked quite well.

"A job." He found himself saying. "A way of life. A persona that you need." He frowned slightly and rubbed his face. "I can't get back to Auser while this war is going on...no ships will sail anywhere near Auser..." He licked his lips and laid down on the bed. But he was about to come into a lot of money. Three hundred and fifty dollars. That was more than enough to fix his watch, buy new clothes, and live comfortable for several years. "But there's a catch." He sat back up, looking at the mirror. "I have to be Mr. Ozymandias..." He took a deep breath. "I'm losing my mind..."

He stared at his reflection, his mind racing with what had happened. So many things had happened so quickly. He had a job now, and that was to make things happen. "Get things done..." He paused a moment. "He was a she..." He blinked, his thoughts stopping suddenly on Jersa. "And I had attacked him. Er, her..." He frowned slightly. After a moment of thought he decided he would find out what they preferred to be called. He still wasn't quite sure of it, he would have to find out if what he heard was actually just a slip up. But for now, "Her," he said slowly, and shook his head. "And I..." His mind went back to stripping the clothes from her body. She was flat chested. He shook his head again, trying to dislodge thoughts. It was a good thing there had been no need to remove all of her clothing, otherwise he would have gotten quite a surprise and felt even worse over the matter.

He shook his head and laid back on the bed. Then he had put on her clothes. It had been for survival then, but now it made him feel awkward. They had been so warm, and comfortable...did that make him a cross dresser? He shook his head. "No...no." He took a deep breath and rubbed his face. She had been dressed in men's clothing, at least as far as he could tell. What was the style for females in Gruska? He had only seen the one and he was not interested in fashion at the point, or the point after he had been struck over the head.

The image of her laying, unconscious on the pine needles came back into his mind. She was quite slender, taller then him, though only by a few inches. The more he thought about it, the more feminine she looked. Rather wide hips... He shook his head again and rolled over onto his side. She was definitely rough and tough. He remembered the speed she rolled over. She was flexible...he put a hand over his face, and took a deep breath. "This is not where your head needs to be. It's not like she...he..." Then he thought about it. No, she wasn't very attractive, but that was because she was an absolute mess, caked in dirt and mud and trying to kill him. But maybe after she cleaned up...he rolled over and stared at the dresser.

What was it about her that he found so interesting? Sure it peeked his interest that she was pretending to be a man. But that wasn't it. He had met woman like that before. And men now that he came to think about it. There had been a few awkward moments at parties, but Jace was never rude and tended to laugh it off. People were who they wanted to be. But what was it about Jersa that made him want to seek her out? He was not too terribly good with woman, not without a few drinks and a bit of waving the Lord Foxern flag about a bit. He blinked and put a hand over his face. That was it. She was the only one who knew who he was. Who he truly was. Everyone who he cared about probably thought he was dead. But Jersa was a rock for him.

He looked at his hand. The thought occurred to him that he needed her. He needed someone to hold him together, to remind him that he was Lord Foxern and not Mr. Ozymandias. That that was just a cover. Something to be used and then gotten rid of when no longer needed. Would that be difficult to explain to her? Of course it would.

Then he had another thought. Mr. Ozymandias wouldn't think this way. He would be too concerned with what he was going to do next and where the next job was. Right now, however. He felt he needed a bath. But that would have to wait until tomorrow. Or perhaps longer. But that would be fine with Mr. Ozymandias. He would be used to roughing it, having traveled so far. Someone who's seen more than most people imagine and has dealt with situations that killed normal people. That's who he had to be to others. Someone who was obviously not Lord Foxern.

~

A soft knock upon the door made Jace open his eyes. He had fallen asleep and that was a good thing. He had needed the rest after last night. He sat up, his hand going to the knife, it was still there, as was everything else in the room. Nothing had moved. "Come in," he said, folding his legs and staring at the door. It opened slowly, cautiously. And there stood Jersa, her hands up defensively. "Have a seat. And close the door, please."

Jersa closed the door, then stood with her back against it. "I know who you are," she said, almost glaring at him, as if daring him to deny it.

Jace nodded. "I know," he said calmly, staring steadily back.

She gulped, but seemed to relax a bit. "I..." She paused a moment. "I haven't told anyone."

Again Jace nodded. "I know." He looked over to the window. "I'd be dead if you did..." He paused a moment. "I would much prefer that you not tell anyone."

Hesitation, but only a brief moment, before she nodded. "Alright...but, in return...you have to choose me for the job."

His thoughts narrowed as what was Mr. Ozymandias reasserted itself. "And what job would that be?"

"You know what happens when you lose someone in the hunt?" she said, looking down at the floor. Jace shook his head. "You're the next hunt."

"So..."

"They tried to kill me as soon as I was conscious," she said, sighing and shaking her head. "But when I woke up...I took out the hunter, got my things, and ran for it...I..." Hesitation. "I stabbed a man, that I had known for two years. Who was my friend...but refusing the hunt, means they hunt you..." Another sigh. "I don't blame him...he has a family..." Her voice trailed off. Jace waited a moment, letting her collect her thoughts a moment. "But I got out of there." She gestured to him. "In better shape than you." She gave him a slight smirk. "All I want is the job position."

"What job," he said slowly.

A bit of a long pause before she spoke, "The one the Mistress wants you to do," she said slowly, looking at him. To Jace, it looked like she was sizing him up.

"I do not doubt that you could clear the room and kill me before I pulled my knife," he said, looking at her out of the corner of his eye. She tensed. "And I would say I don't think I'd really stand a chance. Doesn't feel right...stabbing a girl..." The way she tried to press herself through the door confirmed Jace's suspicions.

"H-how..." she stammered, and then cleared her throat. "How'd you figure it out..." Her eyes went a wide. "D-did you...did you look? When you stripped me?"

"Wha-" Jace blinked and shook his head. "No, no no." He put up his hands, gesturing frantically with them. "I didn't. I thought you were a guy then. And I didn't want to see anymore of you than I had to."

"Good..." Her posture relaxed slightly. "So then...when the Mistress said..." Jace nodded before she finished and she sighed. "Damn it...and so you just threw a guess and wanted to see my reaction."

"Yup." He gave her a slight smile. "But I would really like to know what the job is about. If I knew what it was, I'd be glad to hire you on. You sound very capable to me if you got out of Gruska so easily."

She gave a sigh of relief, and relaxed. "Ok..." She suddenly brightened up and gave him a smile. "Since you'll take me, I'll explain. Basically..." Jersa moved around the room in a cautious manner. "There's a large meeting..." She pulled the chair out slowly and sat down in it backwards, looking at Jace. "Most of the guild heads will be there...and it'll be to discuss what to do about the war."

Jace arched a brow and tilted his his to the side. "And where do I come in?"

"Well, there's supposed to be someone who does not belong to any guild, an outsider who can sort of give a perspective from outside." She gestured at him. "Which is you. It was the thieves guild's turn to pick someone...and the Mistress chose you." She gave a slight shrug, she was relaxing more and more as time passed.

"I see. So I'm supposed to just sit there and make everyone uncomfortable."

She nodded. "Yup. The Mistress trusts you, for some reason. To some extent." She paused as she looked at him, as if trying to think. "And part of this is you needing assistants, for protection and other services. One thief, a wizard..." Slight hesitation, Jace was getting used to the way she hesitated. Though he was still trying to figure out why she did it. "And an assassin. Plus anyone else you see fit."

Jace nodded slightly. "Let me guess, it's because some people wont like an outsider being there?"

She nodded slowly. "Partly..." He looked at her. "The other part of the job...is that if the guilds need something to be done that can't technically be called by guild ruling, you are to do that task. Or if they need more than a thief, a wizard, and an assassin for a task." She looked at the door a moment. "You are quite important..." She stood up and placed a bag on the desk. "Your half payment."

Jace nodded and moved to the side of the bed, though he did not get up. "Very good...I need the money..."

"I'm surprised that you managed to get it out of the Mistress...normally she would have laughed at such an attempt..." She gave Jace a look, a mix of admiration and irritation. He knew that look well.

He gave a slight shrug. "I can be quite convincing if I need to be."

She nodded slightly, rubbing her nose. "I know..." He looked out the window. "Mistress really wants to know what happened to my nose..."

He shrugged again. "Just tell her that I do not want to speak of it yet and told you not to tell anyone. Simple as that."

Jersa nodded and moved slowly towards the door. Jace knew she did not trust him. "Don't try to run."

He smiled a bit, looking at her. "Why ever would I run? This is far too interesting." He looked at the bag, laying beside the briefcase. "Besides...nowhere to run to..."

She hesitated. "The Mistress would like you to choose the assassin and the wizard..." Jace nodded slowly, but did not look at her. His hand wandered to the pocket of his vest. She watched his every little movement. "I will tell her that you have chosen me."

He took a deep breath, and nodded. "Yes," he said and stood up slowly. "Where would I find artificers?"

She blinked, giving him a look. "On Cunning Street. When you leave the guild, take a left and head that way, you'll come to it eventually."

Jace nodded and sighed softly. "Alright..." He paused. "Thank you." She did not say anything to him and merely left. He sighed softly again and rubbed his face. There was silence for a moment before he moved to the desk and put the money into the briefcase.

~

He landed on the ground lightly and picked the briefcase back up. He supposed that there was an easier way in and out, but he honestly didn't care. The air was cool and thick fog made it hard to see more than a block away. He looked to his right and then to his left. "Left till Cunning street..." he said slowly.

"Mornin' Mr. Ozymandias." Jace turned to find an orange tabby dressed in all black. "Dr. Minsra would like a word with you." His voice was extremely cheerful, almost annoyingly so. Those bright and shining eyes seemed to conflict with everything else about him.

Jace looked him up and down a moment, his clothes were baggy, but purposefully so. Everything about him said 'Assassin.' "I'm not surprised he would," Jace said and looked back towards the direction of Cunning Street. The tabby's mouth fell open slightly and then moved a bit, trying to form words. "Of course, I would like a word with him as well..." He turned back to him. "So, in the end, perfect timing." Part of him was worried, but only a small part of him. The part that was Mr. Ozymandias said that this was a good thing. Meeting people, powerful people, and making them know who you are, is a good thing. It didn't matter if you knew who they were, it was easy to find out.

~

The guild of the assassin's was far more impressive than the one of the thieves guild. It was a tall, sleek building, with a surprising number of windows. The main gate was, unsurprisingly, left open. It never hurt to have an open door policy when it comes to killing people. Or inhume as the assassin's put it. It sounds better. More professional. Especially since they don't think of it as murder. It helps not to think of it not as murder.

But it was a nice place, oddly comfortable. As was the large chair that Jace was sitting in. The tabby had asked him to sit and wait for Dr. Minsra, as he was inspecting new students. He found it quite humorous that the head of the assassin's guild was considered a doctor. However, it made sense. Who knows more about how people die than a doctor? "A mass murderer..." Jace muttered and shook his head.

"I've not killed that many people, Mr. Ozymandias." The voice was calm and smooth, to use a cliché, like silk. Or a fine wine. Yes, wine. Jace liked that term better. He wanted a drink. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw a tall, thin stoat, dressed in the blackest black that Jace had ever seen. It was almost difficult to look at. "Care for a drink?" He moved to a cupboard, which Jace had noted had many, many bottles in it.

"Depends on what it is." He said in response. "Something unpoisoned would be preferable." He gave the stoat a smile.

The stoat gave him a slight smile, as one politely saying that yes, the joke was amusing, but he had heard it before. "There's no contract on you Mr. Ozymandias. We do not kill without payment."

"Yet," Jace added to the end of the sentence, leaning slightly back in his chair. He reached back, undoing the knife from his belt, sheath and all.

"Plan on making enemies, Mr. Ozymandias?" He came over, placing a rather large glass of wine beside his chair, before moving to the desk and sitting behind it.

"As many as necessary." He pulled out the knife, sheath and all, and placed it on the table. Both men stared at it. "I believe that you wanted to see me, because of this." He paused. "As well as other things."

"Yes..." His fingers moved slowly over the sheath, before picking it up. "Among other things..." The knife had never seemed very interesting to Jace, it had merely been Mr. Tompkin's knife. The white rat had always had with him, though Jace couldn't see it sometimes, he could feel that it was there. It had made him feel safer. "I...I have not seen this in...a long time..." said Dr. Minsra, as he stared at the knife.

"So it's true then..." Jace sighed and rubbed his face. Part of him had hoped that it was not, that it had been just a knife, something that made him feel safe.

"Yes..." He placed the knife down on the table. "He's dead than?" Jace nodded slowly, it hurt to say it, or to even hear it. "That is a shame...Thomas Tompkin was a great assassin...inhumed quite a number of people and retired over twenty years ago." He pushed the knife towards Jace, who picked it back up. "Do you know who killed him?"

Jace shook his head. "I intend to find out." The words came out instinctively and he realized that he would, too. He would be damned if he didn't.

Dr. Minsra nodded. "I will offer my services if you require." Jace looked at him, arching a brow. "Thomas was a close friend of mine. He was..." he paused and then sighed, "He was the best of his time. In line to be the next head of the assassin's guild. But instead, he retired." There was almost a bitter tone to his voice. "But now, on to business." Dr. Minsra straightened up, looking at him. "You need an assassin for the job. I have a few that I think would qualify for-"

Jace raised his hand and he stopped. "I don't want an expert. I want someone new. Someone competent, but who has not..." he paused, "Inhumed anyone as of yet." Now it was Dr. Minsra's turn to arch a brow at Jace. "Someone with obvious skill."

He looked thoughtfully at Jace a moment. "Alright Mr. Ozymandias...I think there are a few students who passed their test recently, and have not been contracted yet..." The stare only lasted for a moment longer and then smiled slightly as realization dawned. "I see...someone who has been on contracts will be more used to it a certain way...a more malleable subject is needed for this particular job due to it's nature." He nodded appreciatively.

"Quite," was all Jace could manage to say. The real reason was he wanted someone who was not desensitized to murder. Someone who would think before killing.

"I will make note of that and will contact you once a suitable person has been found." Dr. Minsra began reading papers on his desk. "Do not let me keep you, Mr. Ozymandias, I'm sure you're a very busy man."

With that, Jace left, without another word. There was nothing left to say to the man. He was annoyingly aware of the weight of the dagger, but he would get used to it. For now, he needed a wizard. But first...he needed the ticking to come back.