The Dead Rabbit

[mat13295]

Within a tavern hidden behind a vale there lies within not merry enjoyment and drunken buffoonery. No, this tavern appears at first to be empty. Save for a single Lapine standing watch at the tavern door. Her foot is raised to stamp back against the cobblestone of the building holding it aloft. Her eyes narrow into the distance all while a pair of alert ears seem to twitch with every tiny noise coming deeper within the tavern. Now and again, they seem to try and sneak a peek in through the smallest of cracks betwixt the door frame and door that separated them from tonight's affairs within the tavern.

-

Within there seemed to be a couple more Lapine and a trio of human men, each one carrying different blades and blunt instruments best suited for clubbing heads.Two of them were surrounding a table. One flanked what appeared to be the leader of the group with the other standing behind a rather skittish and aged human man. The two human guards seemed to be inching closer to prevent the lapine guard from closing the distance to the old man sitting at his table.

-

The constant muttering and bickering finally comes to a halt as the old man's bony palms slam down upon the table. His voice was cracked and raspy as biting words are released. The youngest of the Lapine, the one beyond the door simply rolls her eyes as she starts hearing the man shout. This was the most dull part of her job and the most aggravating. A dangerous combination for one barely of age. Thankfully, the voice of the eldest rabbit causes the hackels on her neck to rise as that stern voice speaks next.

-

The room grows silent before the jingling of coinage could be heard being passed over before the group of Lapine start walking out in single file. Eventually the young Lapine speaks. "So, what's the job?" They ask. Finally, some work. The money had been rolling in slow as of late. The elderly Lapine pauses to turn towards her. "Dealing with a magi that stole something from our client. Pay is about five thousand for his goods with two thousand given in advance."

-

Time passes

--

-

It is the dead of night. Beyond the vale is the source of the contractor's current woes: The manor of a blood magi of minor ill repute. The small Lapine scratches a claw against her scabbard in quiet anticipation as a couple of other Lapine skulk off to investigate. In the meantime she looks over towards her Mentor. "Feels like they were trying to lowball us." The Mentor in turn quirks a brow. "Listening in were you? I'd have to agree though. It's why those two are out scouting. I got a bad feeling."

-

He looks up to the sky to check the time via the stars. "Ten minutes and we go in. Prepare your sword and spells, Minerva." The Lapine girl nods as she fidgets with her scabbard and slowly withdraws it to be held by her sword. Common iron may not fare well against a Magi. But the sudden flare of raw mana around her? That most definitely could level the playing field with her mentor also calling upon the raw mana from within to enshroud the pair.

-

Ten minutes pass as the two pass the time with very light sparring. Minerva of course gets trounced by the much older, larger and cunning mercenary. A hand of metal is outstretched to lift her back up. "Patience is key. Speaking of which...We've been patient enough with Mark and Leo. We better go check on them." Minerva huffs as she wipes dirt off of her padded tunic. "Fingers crossed it's just Mark being blind in the woods again!"

-

The two hop the fence as Minerva pauses to look at some footsteps close by. "Boot marks. They definitely came this way." She whispers as the old Mentor nods without a word. The two of them circle around the manor to try and locate where the two had entered onlyto discover the cellar door was open. "Of course...Leo is getting hammered again." The youngest Dead Rabbit says with a sigh. The Mentor reaches for her shoulder as she attempts to enter. "No." He wrinkles his nose. "Draw your weapon and stay behind me."

-

Minerva was never one to question her mentor and that blade is held alongside a simple heater shield. The old man moves with a hobble to his gait as they go down the stairs while Minerva carefully follows suit with her back to his. Soon they emerged from the cellar into what seemed to be a chapel. And yet, the pews were missing, the lectern not adorned with holy texts but something magical. And the remains of Leo and Mark strewn upon a set of sacrificial runes dedicated to some dark power.

-

"Ahh, another pair of uninvited guests. You're just in time for the ceremony to-" Two blades are drawn in an instant to face the sudden voice that carried a hint of madness to it. "To the ceremony of uplifting! Gods, do you people have any sense of drama these days!?" They shout with a visible pout. The Mentor nudges Minerva. "Grab that book on the Lectern. I'll keep him busy." The wizard's brow furrows as they notice they were being paid no attention. "Fah! No matter, more bodies for her, more knowledge for me! No more pain for you! It's win-win-win!" They say as the wizard suddenly yanks a dagger out from Leo's lifeless body. The blood follows alognside the blade as it swirls around into a menacing dagger. The Wizard lunges. The Mentor deflects. And Minerva runs. She snags the book from the lectern, one that was clearly not what they were after and yet she pockets it anyways in fear. It's what her Mentor said to do, right?

-

And as it's stolen, the wizard howls in anger. "HOW DARE YOU DISTURB THE-" A blade cuts its way straight down the Wizard's shoulder, wrenching itself against bone as he collapses into a bloody puddle. He gurgles as their hand reaches up, pointing towards the tome in Minerva's hand. The Mentor sighs as he yanks the blade free as the wizard chokes on whatever words they were to speak. "Good job, kid..." He sighs out while looking towards the remains of their comrades. The ritual of sacrifice had already been completed some time ago. There was naught but lifeless bodies present with foul marks left to linger upon the hearts where the blade had gouged them out.

-

The Mentor throws a pouch towards Minerva as he stares at her behind his helmet. "There's your keep. And...Your last pay." He says while sitting himself down before those bodies. The loss already was weighing on him. Minerva had yet to truly process what had happened, only that she held now a strange tome full of blood magic. "Wh-What do you mean? You're getting ri-"

-

"I'm giving you a new life." he cuts her off as he folds his arms over his lap. "The company was on the brink of bankruptcy before this, kid. This was our last shot and a gamble." He reaches over to close the eyes of the two lapine. "And I lost more than just the house and the shirt on our backs." He says before slowly lifting himself up. "There's a city some ways south of here. Take what's left in the pay and go start up a new life." he doesn't listen to any of her protests as he begins to turn and leave.

-

Left with but that tome and blade now in her hands, Minerva is left on her own with but a single instruction to fulfill. To head to the city south and start a new life. Would she be more than a common mercenary living bounty to bounty? Or will she leave a legacy that the Dead Rabbits had once hoped to achieve in their more innocent days? Perhaps the answers even lay within that tome.