The Nameless Assassins

A Favor for Brannon

By the time Ash's ventures bore fruit and Irimina invited us to tea, I'd almost scrubbed the scent of Faith's perfume out of my pores. Just to be on the safe side, though, I donned my most severe, forbidding, governess-y dress, complete with my most severe, forbidding, governess-y expression. I didn't know how much of a deterrent came from my outfit, my demeanor, or Faith's own sense of self-preservation, but my lap stayed mercifully crewmate-free when we sat down in the Kinclaith parlor.

Draped over her usual divan, Irimina was contemplating the steam rising from her teapot. As she rose to pour for the guests, she drawled, "I have a job for you – if you're free."

"For you, always," Ash replied promptly.

Faith gasped, as proud as a parent whose toddler had just started spewing classical verse. "You stole my line!"

With a dry smirk, he answered, "I'm learning."

Wonderful. And here I was thinking that one Faith was already more than any crew should have to handle. Folding my hands demurely in my lap, I sighed quietly to myself.

Apparently Irimina felt the same way. Cutting through their nonsense, she steered us back to business. "I have a family friend, Brannon Keel. I'd like to do a favor for him."

Based on that opening, the young nobleman had been too proud to reveal who really came up with the idea for the hostile casino takeover. Or maybe Ash had urged him to take credit. Whatever the reason, Ash and I gave Irimina matching blank, expectant stares. Faith was too busy investigating a blueberry scone to react.

"Do you know the Golden Stag in Silkshore?"

"I've heard of it," I said neutrally.

As if dreading that our patron was about to confess family ties to its owner as well, Ash replied, "I do." In the reluctant tone of one determined to do his duty, he disclosed, "It's complicated, but I happen to despise it. It's personal."

Irimina looked as if she quite liked that response. She refilled my teacup, saying, "I need you to remove the proprietress, Helene."

With an air of relief, he told her, "That's what we're here for."

Faith, who was holding a cup of tea in one hand and a petit four in the other, gave him a very weird look.

Ignoring her with admirable determination, Irimina continued, "Brannon and I would both like it to look like an accident."

At that, Faith's entire face lit up like Spiregarden Theater on show night. "We're very creative at coming up with accidents!" To emphasize that statement, she took a large bite of cake.

Irimina nodded appreciatively, acknowledging said creativity and all the impediments it had removed for her in the past. "And I've been impressed by your...accidents. However, in this case, I'm worried about the Hive's attention. I'd like to keep my and Brannon's names far, far away."

Gulping down the mouthful of cake, Faith proclaimed mournfully, "I have an artistic spirit that just keeps getting crushed." Then she sank all the way down on the sofa until her skirts rucked up around her knees.

Ash's eyes, however, widened at the thought of a(nother) lucrative sideline for the crew. "Faith, do you teach drama classes?" he wondered out loud.

On the verge of sliding right off the sofa cushions, Faith dismissed it immediately. "I have no time. I'm too busy murdering people." And preserving her dignity. Although that might have been a lost cause from the start.