The Bounty of Love

Chapter 3

Her ears twitched as she heard the many conversations going on around her. The rumor was spreading well. She wasn’t surprised, Love always had a way with words. She steered the carriage to the planned spot in the road outside of town. When she arrived she released the horses, let them run wherever they may.

“Hope this isn’t a waste of time and coin,” she said with a sigh.

She went to work making it look like bandits robbed a big carriage. Pushed it over, tossed coin and arrows about the scene, ripped, broke things. When she was done she took her spot in a nearby tree to wait for Love, hopefully with Pain in tow. She kept her bow at the ready.

She didn’t have to wait long. Her ear twitched at the sound of boots approaching.  She could smell Love on the breeze.

He strode into the clearing looking down at Pain as they walked, “Look I owe you for the last job whether we like each other or not. And for the last time I don’t know where the damned Fox is.”

Love knew exactly where she was; perched in the tree. He could smell the poison on the tip of her arrow he knew she had trained on Pain. “good job my little Fox. Hope she prepared for this little snag though,” he thought as he looked behind them at the small group Pain chose to bring with them. Looked like a few hired mercenaries he bought for protection.

“That bitch always shows up at my scores and makes problems,” Pain growled. “That’s why I have back up today!” He sounded so proud of himself.

As Pain started to rummage through the debris of the carriage he didn’t hear the 3 arrows wiz through the air leaving him only 2 hired goons left standing. As Love drew his blade to take the last of them Pain looked up and tried to run. He didn’t get far before she landed in front of him. She slid a throwing knife across her tongue as Pain drew his blade. She laughed as she threw her knife grazing his arm.

“You missed you bitch!”

She ran at him laughing. She jumped, dodged his kick and slapped the blade out of his hand. He could move, she would give him that. They blocked punches and kicks from each other as they looked like a blur. Pain saw an opening, went to sweep her legs but he froze. Something felt wrong he couldn’t move. His eyes went wide, she laughed in his face as she stood in front of him, her fanged grin wide.

“Nightshade you fool ass Kobold. Unlike you I know my poisons and I use them well. You should have dodged the blade!” She laughed as she started tying him up, then shoved a handful of leaves in his mouth before strapping that shut too.

“Snake plant leaves. You’re gonna take a nap Pain, while we go on a little trip. The nightshade shouldn’t kill you, maybe.” She laughed as she dragged him bound behind her to where Love was finishing off the last of Pains hired help.

As Love sheathed his sword he turned and looked at Fox. “Well it doesn’t look like you took too much damage my little Fox.”
She hadn’t realized she had taken any until he said anything. She looked herself over and noticed the blood on her left hip. She sucked air between her teeth as she touched it.

“Would ya look at that. The little bastard actually got me. Mmm I’m gonna have to take care of it now its kinda deep.”

She passed off the rope she was dragging Pain with to Love, walked over to the busted carriage and sat down on wheel that lay detached. She rummaged through her pockets, pulled out a small leather pouch and a flask . She took a swig from the flask holding it in her mouth as she pulled a match out of the pouch. She struck it, held it near her hip, and spat what was in her mouth at the match causing a burst of flame, essentially cauterizing the wound. She took another swig of the flask before pouring the rest on the wound and pulled a needle and thread out of the pouch. She winced quietly as she sewed the wound shut. All Love could do is watch her. He was just as bad about fixing his own injuries, but he didn’t take near as much damage as she did. He knew for her it was just another scar she would forget where she got it from.

“Glad ya always have that patch kit handy.” He chuckled as she walked beside him.

“Never leave home without it Love.” She smiled. “Let’s hurry up this drop off, we got 2 more to get and I need a very strong drink.”