"Where'd she go?!" A large, older Qarthan male yelled.

"I don't know." The short and round female said back in frustration.

Rahn held her breath as she watched them from above. As she conversed with different vendors or passers by over the past few days, she had been putting little feelers out there. She made simple statements to let others know she wasn't in love with the way the current Premier had handled recent events, that they weren't harsh enough on their punishments. Apparently she must have not been as discreet as she thought and this couple were strong supporters of the royal family.

She had barely climbed on top of the awning before they'd come rushing down the street. She ducked back to the center of the cloth in case they were smart enough to look up.

"Forget it." The female said. "We need to get back to the shop."

"Fine."

She listened as they stomped back up the street and gave it a few minutes after that, just in case, before jumping down and walking down the street in the opposite direction like nothing had happened.

"That was quite the show." She tensed and jumped back in a defensive stance.

The woman held her hands up. "Relax, I'm not trying to harm you."

Rahn forced her stance to neutral but remained vigilant in her watch of the woman. When she didn't say anything further, Rahn proceeded to take a few more steps in the direction she was headed, keeping a discreet eye on the woman, who continued staring at her.

"Did you mean what you said?" The woman called out to her as she was almost to the end of the alley.

She turned and eyed the woman. "What about it?" Rahn said defensively.

"Most people think the king and queen are wonderful, even love them. Why wouldn't you agree?"

Rahn rolled her eyes, pretending to be annoyed. "What? I'm supposed to love them too just because everyone else does?"

The woman shrugged. "It's what most would do."

Putting on her best face of frustration, she responded "Yeah well, I'm not most people." With that statement, Rahn turned her back to the woman and continued on her way. She couldn't seem too eager. She needed to seem brave enough to speak her mind but not too foolish.

After turning the corner and walking a handful of steps, out of the woman's sight, Rahn stopped to fix the binding on her shoe. Not that it needed to be fixed. She was, in fact, waiting to see if the woman followed her. Hearing soft footsteps behind her, she stood and continue to walking on her way, as if she didn't know they were there.

"That's good to know." The woman spoke from behind her, and Rahn turned to huff at the woman.

"You following me now? Are you trying to do a people's arrest like the elder couple?" Rahn eyed the woman up and down as she crossed her arms. Do you think you'll have better luck than them?

The woman smiled and let out a chuckle. "No, quite the opposite actually. I've noticed you these past few days. Speaking against the Premier. Comments here and there."

"Oh, so you're a stalker?"

"No. Just a quiet observer. Like you, I am not most people. I'm glad to see that the way the Premier have handled these current events have opened your eyes to their faults."

"Yeah?" Rahn did her best to feign indifference. To pretend like she didn't care. Meanwhile, her heart was spiking. Could this be the connection she was looking for? So soon?

"It's always good to know you're not alone, yeah?"

"I guess." Rahn responded. "Not that it will do us any good." She turned to leave again. "See you around."

She didn't turn to look back at the woman. And she didn't hear the woman follow her. Just in case, she made it a point to make a couple pit stops before going back to her temporary home. She didn't really need more supplies, but she couldn't afford to lead the woman straight back to her house. Just in case she was being followed. By the time she left the different shops, she was confident no one was tailing her.

She unlocked her dwelling and threw the day's purchases on the kitchen counter before grabbing a vial of purple liquid out of the fridge, drinking the sustenance she needed before pulling out some fresh meat and vegetables.

She didn't know for sure if this woman was the contact she needed, but she had a good feeling about it. Tonight she would treat herself to fresh food. She started prepping her meal, humming a tune as she did. As she turned on the gas stove, she froze as the sound of her back door knob twisting caught her ears. She grabbed the knife she'd been using on the vegetables and tucked it against her wrist as she ducked behind the kitchen doorway. If they walked in, she'd be there to surprise them.

The door slowly opened and a tall male walked through, closing it behind him and slowly making his way through the hall.

"I could have killed you, you know." She said as she stepped out from her hiding spot.

He turned slowly, as if she hadn't surprised him at all. She couldn't read anything from his mask-covered face that was covered in shadow from his hood. He crossed his arms and stared at her, unamused.

"I am supposed to be a normal person living here, normal people get visitors who knock. Try it next time." She huffed as she turned from the hallway entrance and returned to the kitchen.

"Come on." She beckoned him in. "I was making an evening meal, you're welcome to join me."

He silently followed her into the kitchen and stood, leaning against the counter as she cooked.

"So is there a reason for your visit or did you just miss me?" She turned to see him watching her, but got no response. "I haven't seen you since you dropped me off here. What exactly is it we're supposed to be doing together?"

Tossing the chunks of meat into a pan on the stove, she then turned to lean against the adjacent counter, matching his stare. After several moments of silence, she turned and added the cooked meat to the raw vegetables on the two plates and carried them to the table.

"You can get yourself a drink, I'm not a maid." She sat down and began to eat, not waiting for him to join her.

"So are you actually mute or do you simply choose not to speak?" She watched him while she ate. He hadn't moved from his spot at the counter. "If you just want to stand there and watch me eat, that's your business. But you're not following me into the hot bath I'm treating myself to after this. She watched to see if that got any reaction out of him, but of course it didn't.

When she finished her plate, she reached forward and grabbed the other plate, he obviously wasn't going to eat it. When she had finished them both off, she stood and went to the sink, rinsing them off before leaving them there to wash later.

"Well, this has been fun, but I don't have all night. I've been out doing actual work all day and I'm ready to wash and go to bed. Unless there's anything you actually need from me? Or anything you'd like to share?"

After another long moment of silence, she grunted in frustration. "This home may be temporary, but for now it's mine. Out." She pointed to the door.

"When he didn't move she walked towards him in an effort to pass him and go down the hallway toward the back door. But before she got past him, she heard him speak at barely more than a whisper.

"Any progress?"

She turned her head up toward him and raised her hairless brow muscle at him, surprised he finally spoke and annoyed that he had expected her to just share everything with him just because he showed up. That's what he'd been waiting on instead of just asking her in the first place? Or maybe he got his kicks from staring at females while they ate. Who knows with males. "My orders tell me to report only to one person, and that's not you."

"So you have nothing." Again, he spoke quietly. She'd be lying if she said she didn't like the way his voice sent tingles up her spine from this close proximity. Something about them speaking softly in her dark hallway sent her skin tingling. But she pushed the feeling away and walked past him and down the hall, unlocking the door. "Out."

When he was right next to her at the door he paused as if he wanted to say more, looking straight ahead out into the darkness. "Report to Lord Kahal tomorrow by midday meal."

"I have a few more days before my report to him."

"Tomorrow." He said before he walked out and closed the door behind him.



~~~~~



Author's Note:

I know these first chapters are short and not much is happening yet but I promise they'll lead into more meaty chapters soon!

What are your thoughts on everything so far?