Leofgyd and the Ring

Leofgyd pulled herself easily up onto the veranda roof and lay as flat as she could. The dark spotted leather of her armor and cloak concealed her just as the city patrol rounded the corner lanterns in hand. It wouldn't do for her to be spotted wandering the streets in her gear. She had served too many of the city guard their fair share of drinks, and her odd attire would surely bring questions she didn't want. She held perfectly still as they passed below her, oblivious to her presence. When they rounded the next corner, she silently rose and with a running kick to the next wall was up on the building roof.
She had spotted the man with the odd gemstone ring while she was serving at the Dragon's Blood, a relatively upscale tavern that she worked at. It wasn't a glamorous job, but it let her support her kids, and at the same time work her other more covert job with the Antikathonum. He had been well dressed and tipped well, and so she was partial to the idea that he was just some random gentleman with an interesting ruby on his ring. She had to be sure though, that gemstone had looked too peculiar and reminded her of some of the more evil devices that she had seen in the journals.
She got a silent running start and leapt across an alley to the next block, moving more silently as she approached the darkened window of the rooms he was renting. She pressed her back to the wall in the shadows while she listened carefully and looked around. If one is going to break into a suite, one should always make sure one is not observed. She breathed slowly, letting her body catch up to the silence she needed while she listened for signs of life inside. Then when she was satisfied that the occupant was either asleep or gone she slipped her knife under the window sill to open the latch. She slid the widow up soundlessly, sheathing her knife and slipped inside like a cat in the darkness. She paused there, letting her eyes adjust even further to the darkness, waiting silently then slowly closed the window behind her. She had just started looking for a light when some piece of furniture in the room creaked. She froze trying desperately to find the source of the noise. Was he in here?
"βεστιλ"
The word of magic rang in the darkness, and Leofgyd's whole body froze against her will.
She was caught!
"Well what have we here?" the man's voice said as he lit the flame on his hurricane lamp, "A woman?"
The man rose from his chair and strode over to her, pulling down the dark spotted scarf over her face.
"Oh dear, the bar wench no less! I had been told someone would be coming, but I didn't know it would be you." he said.
Leofgyd's eyes widened. He had been told? by who? was her cover blown? If her cover was blown that meant that her kids might not be as safe as she thought tucked into their beds at home.
He paced slowly around her frozen form, "Now my dear, who do you work for? Perhaps you are just a common thief?"
She groaned wordlessly through her frozen jaws unable to respond.
The man looked at her, considering then snapped his fingers releasing just her mouth from the spell for speech. She waggled her jaw for a moment considering, intentionally emphasizing the fear on her face perhaps to gain some kind of advantage.
"Well?" He prompted. "Who sent you? Are you the agent I was told to expect? Do you work for the Antikathonim?"
He slowly drew a blade from his belt.
"Yes" she said resigned to her cover being blown.
"Then its best that you tell me how much you know. I might not have to kill you"
She considered a moment considering her options.
"We know everything." she lied "We know you have aligned yourself with the ancient evil ones, and we know where you are."
Perhaps he wouldn't kill her if he saw no reason for it, she thought.
"Evil ones eh? The Masters gave us everything, culture, writing, even the first understanding of magic. No they aren't evil my dear, they only ask for service and respect which is their due. Perhaps you could understand that"
Leofgyd's suppressed a glare, was he really going to try and recruit her? Maybe she could use this to her advantage.
"The K'Thonum are evil slavers, they are playing you. We know about the ring too" she said hoping to engage him.
The man held up the ring and bragged "Oh do they? And for this they sent an under-trained little girl?"
She felt her temper flair but also a sense of satisfaction. He underestimated her. Good!
"I ... I am not under-trained" she stuttered intentionally "I was the top of my class in stealth! And whoever it is lies to you."
"The voices of the ring have never once lied to me. They told me you would be coming and here you are. I have been more than faithful to it, you can read my evidence if you can be a good girl about it" He pointed to the large journal and papers on his desk.
"I ...." she hesitated. She needed to know if that was all the artifacts he had. "I .... can't believe one little ring told you all that."
"The ring is very powerful. Its more than enough to let me hear the Masters and find more artifacts soon. Artifacts that I will surely share with a beauty such as you."
He only had one. Just the one and the journals that might even recruit more to his cause. That was all she needed to know.
"δεσπελμαγικ" Her voice rocked the room with confidence freeing her body with a spell of her own. At the same time her hand drew the rapier with the practice of years. With a sound like bird chirping once, it cut through the air and spitted his heart neatly between his ribs.
As the life in his eyes faded she hissed into his ear "*I* am an agent of the Antikathonum! We do not take classes, we teach them. I am no mere slip of a girl, I defend all beings from the likes of you!"
His body slid neatly off her spit, and she knelt and slammed the hilt of her rapier onto the ring. It broke in a flash of evil red light. Moving quickly, she poured the contents of the oil lamp over the journal and the papers on his desk, lighting them and letting them burn neatly for a moment making sure they were all well consumed by the fire, then she slipped out the window and into the night.
Now to get home and snuggle her children, her cover safe, her mission complete.