Zenkoh's Adventure

Chapter 10

As they arrive at Dryrest they see that it is surprisingly small, barely large enough to be considered a village. Making their way to the inn they don't see anything interesting about those living here either. Upon entering the inn they see a brown furred 6'9" male bearfolk behind the counter. Zenkoh walks up while pulling the package from her belt pouch.

Zenkoh: We're here to deliver a package.

Cygni: Ah, perfect. Been waiting for this.

Zenkoh hands him the package, which he puts behind the counter. He pulls a small sack from behind the counter and hands it to Zenkoh.

Cygni: This is your payment.

As he said that Zenkoh opened the sack, counting about 50 gold. She started to make her way out to check the board to see what jobs there might be around here before they moved on.

Kenzo was frustrated, the four he hired had ALL gotten arrested! He was getting tired of others not being able to do their jobs, he had his own things he had to do and picking up after failures wasn't one of them. Just then one of the kobold scouts came into his office.

Scout: Sir! Just like you had asked, a watch was kept on Dryrest, The gnoll was seen entering the inn.

Now this was interesting. That gnoll has managed to end up at each of the places he has tried to do something, somehow.

Scout: Irya was seen with them as well.

Kenzo: What?

What was Irya doing with the gnoll? That must be how she survived the gnoll camp then!

Kenzo: Send Alice in so I can give her orders to her.

The scout saluted him before leaving. Not long after a female 5'6" blue catfolk with black spots came in.

Alice: You called?

Kenzo: Yes, it seems that I need you to remove someone for me.

Alice had a vicious smile cross her face for a quick second.

Alice: I AM a trained assassin, it is what I do. So...who needs removing.

Kenzo: There is a gnoll and a catfolk at Dryrest that need to be dealt with, I'll be coming as well...there is someone there I want to see.

Not seeing anything of interest on the board Zenkoh returns to the other two. They were waiting at a table, looking over a map. From what she could see the next closest town while still moving toward the ruins was the town of Wildebell. Pointing at that spot on the map Zenkoh speaks up.

Zenkoh: I say that's where we go next. That way we can keep going towards the ruins.

Maria: Seems like it should be a pretty straightforward trip as well, no forests or anything else between here and there.

While they are talking Irya can't help but have a terrible feeling for some reason, she can't put her finger on it though. As she looks around Irya sees a blue catfolk go upstairs to a room, but doesn't think anything of it.

Zenkoh: Ok, let's get a room for the night.

Zenkoh makes her way to the innkeeper.

Zenkoh: One room please.

Cygni: That's three gold.

Zenkoh hands over the gold before they all head upstairs. They make their way into the room before getting comfortable and going to sleep.

The next day, they make for the trail not wanting to waste any time. Not long after leaving the town they see a blue catfolk ahead of them. The catfolk glances behind them and then seems to slow down.

As they get closer they see the catfolk suddenly spin around and throw a dagger, cutting Maria across her left arm, before pulling a dagger and managing to cut Zenkoh across the left side of her face.

Zenkoh: Oh! You're dead!

Just as she says this her body feels heavy, almost like lead! Zenkoh has to lean on her tower shield, unable to hold herself up. Maria falls to her knees, her body heavy and sluggish.

Alice: Paralytic venom...useful is it not? Not even a gnoll as large as you can avoid its effects!

As she said this Kenzo came out from behind a tree he was using as cover. A smug look on his face.

Kenzo: Now that wasn't so hard was it? Irya you can stand there and watch someone do their job properly, A job you failed to do.

Irya clenched her fists and grit her teeth. Why was he here? Had he followed them?

As she was asking herself these questions Alice was making her way towards Zenkoh. As Alice got close she drew her dagger and began to line up a stab into Zenkoh's neck, Zenkoh baring her teeth and growling but unable to do anything else.

Tears began to stream down Irya's face.

*Flashback*

Kenzo: I warned you that failure again would mean that there would be consequences!

As he said this a black furred female canine was brought in by two guards.

Kenzo: Now your friend will be the one to pay for your mistake.

This was a nightmare. Irya could do nothing but watch as Kenzo unsheathed her rapier before walking to her friend.

Irya: No...please don't!

Irya was restrained by a guard before she could do anything, only able to watch what happened next. Kenzo lined up the tip of the rapier with the canine's heart. Then he plunged it into her chest, puncturing her heart, killing her instantly.

*Present Time*

As tears continued to stream down Irya's face she unsheathed her rapier. She rushed Alice who barely managed to dodge backwards, avoiding getting stabbed in the throat.

Alice: Whoa! Kenzo I thought you said she worked for you!

Kenzo stayed silent and simply watched what was unfolding in front of him.

Irya: I'm not going to just stand by and watch you kill someone again! Not this time!

As she said this she rushed Alice again making thrust after thrust with her rapier not giving Alice any time to do anything but try to keep herself out of range.

Alice: Kenzo get her off of me!

Irya continued to rush Alice down, she grit her teeth while remembering how she just let what happened last time just happen, too afraid to do anything. She refused to let fear stop her again!

Alice: Kenzo! Do something! Get her off of me before she-

Her shouting was interrupted by the sound of rapier piercing flesh. As she slowly looked down she could see Irya's rapier in her chest, right through her heart. Irya extracts her rapier from Alice's chest, who proceeds to crumple to the ground. Irya just stood there, tears streaming down her face as she drops her rapier and falls to her knees.

Kenzo had seen enough! Irya had openly betrayed him, he would have to deal with her another time, the paralytic venom would be wearing off soon. Kenzo rushed his way out of sight before either of the two could finish getting up.

Once Zenkoh and Maria could finally stand Maria made to chase Kenzo but Zenkoh grabbed her shoulder causing Maria to look at her quizzically. Zenkoh shook her head before making her way to where Irya was. Zenkoh sat behind Irya before pulling her into an embrace, as soon as she did Irya turned around and buried her face in Zenkoh's chest and began sobbing, for letting her friend die all those years ago, for not doing anything for fear of what Kenzo might do, for all her pent up stress and feelings. Zenkoh held her the entire time, she knew what it was like to lose everything and she knew Irya would need someone to help her pick up the pieces.

Maria simply stood nearby, watching to make sure Kenzo didn't come back. What Irya did was brave, she gave up everything to stop what was about to happen. She likely didn't have anywhere to go now. She guessed one more traveling partner wouldn't be that bad.

Zenkoh: Thank you, Irya.