Silverthorn swallowed nervously. He had still never gotten over his acute fear of Densetsu. The man was a better fighter and smarter man than anyone in the tribe. "Yes, Densetsu. Yes. But... you do understand the job situation, correct?"
Densetsu nodded, leaning back in the chair he occupied. The room was small, allowing only his table and chairs enough to let Silverthorn and Densetsu sit, but Den leaned back anyway. "Of course I do. You want me to take up arms with the elite party coming after... Skan, and after gaining their trust, you want me to kidnap one of their numbers and take them here. But why can I not kill one of them? It is easier to bring an animal in dead than alive."
Silverthorn shook his head. "Because, I want them to suffer! They killed my best spy, and a good friend of mine, plus five elite soldiers. I will set a trap for them, and after getting the money, they can watch Skan die before dying themselves."
Densetsu personally thought that this was a very stupid plan. Very, very stupid. But a job was a job, even if it was a bit more difficult to him. It didn't matter to Densetsu if the plan worked, even if he would prefer to kill Skan himself, it wouldn't matter. "Fine. Is this all?"
Silverthorn held out his hand to shake. Densetsu looked at it, said nothing, and left. Silverthorn gulped.
"Bastard..." he muttered, looking after Densetsu.
"The Ringing Mountains?" asked Silvara. "Are you sure?"
Tod nodded. "Yes. Yes, I am very sure. I spent six years there, as a slave. I DO know."
The party of three were making their way north to the Ringing Mountains, which was really only one mountain, but in the past, was a whole range. At the base of the mountain, a lush forest was spread around, and in this forest did the tribe of elves live.
"Why are we taking the long way?" grumbled Deric, as they made their way down a well pave road. Tad growled under his breath. "We can just as easier take a shortcut through the woods!"
Tad hadn't thought of that. "I was going to, you dumb bastard!" Instantly he changed course, Deric sighing and shaking his head as he followed, brining up the rear behind Silvara.
The forest was very thin, and not very big, so a lot of light could make its way through, and few animals but squirrels and snakes lived there. Therefore, Tad was surprised when Deric reacted to somethings movement.
"Stop!" the elf hissed, grabbing a sword by the hilt, but not drawing it. Tad, as much as he hated to admit it, knew that Deric had better ears, so stopped breathing, straining to hear.
Soon, he heard something making it's way through the woods. Something big, no squirrel. From behind a tree, it made its appearance.
He was definately a human. Long, light blond hair hung to his waist, and Mako green eyes were framed with a small pair of spectacles. He wore a black trenchcoat and an unbuttoned blue shirt underneath, but this was all Tad or Deric needed to see.
"Sephiroth!" roared Tad, and Deric unsheathed his swords, right behind Tad in his charge. Silvara stayed behind, yelling for Tad and Deric to stop, but niether heard. The man's face paled and leaped to the side, barely missing Tad's punches and Deric's sword swipes.
"Stop!" said the man. "I am not Sephiroth!"
"He isn't!" yelled Silvara, and that stopped Tad instantly. Deric, too stopped, but did not sheath his swords.
The man panted, a bit red in the face, obviously from adrenaline and exhertion. For the first time, Tad noticed a white ash staff, capped with bronze casing at the ends, and adorned with a sapphire in the center.
"No, I'm not," said the man. "I am Cyphus Vincent. I apologize for looking like someone," he said a bit angrily. Tad blushed and Deric sheathed his swords, equally embarassed. "However, I do get that a lot. Why are you people in such a hurry?"
Tad didn't want to answer, and opened his mouth to tell him to shut up, but Silvara beat him to the punch.
"We are looking to save this man's brother, my brother in law, Skan Erreden."
Tad looked back at Silvara in amazement, then decided to drop it when Silvara smiled. He would forgive anything of hers when she smiled like that.
Cyphus laughed. "A rescue mission? From who, might I ask? I have heard of Skandranon, if only by reputation. The genious and leader of the Engineers Guild?"
Tad snarled inwardly when Cyphus called Skan a genious, after getting in a fight with him. But, he answered truthfully, taking after Silvara's example. "We are saving my brother from the Forest Runners."
The color came back to Cyphus's face. "The Forest Runners!? The elves?? Please, take me with you!"
Tad blinked. "What?" Cyphus nodded.
"The Forest Runners have twice already tried to take these woods, and when I fought for my own defense," said Cyphus, tightening a fist with one hand. "And now, I have a bounty on my head. It wouldn't hurt if I were to go and give a hand dealing them a blow."
Tad looked back to Silvara, who smiled and nodded. Tad himself nodded, then extended a hand. Cyphus shook it. "Welcome to the team, Cyphus!"
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