A Chance Meeting - The Burglar Epilogue

It was raining again and Grae was shivering, he was caught off guard by the sudden downpour and the cold needles of wet, freezing cloth pushed against his skin. The way to Orsa had been a long one, but he was glad he was finally there. Even better, Jarek's inn's warmly glowing windows were giving him the strength for this final push.
The usually bustling port-city was fast emptying it's streets as the storm warnings were rang. People around him were pushing carts inside shelters and locking hinged window covers against the upcoming winds. They say it is going to be a bad one tonight. But the storm didn't bother Grae, he was going to get what he wanted and it was being brewed by old Jarek from honey and Eralan fruits. He could almost smell it.
At this point, each step was an effort, Grae glanced at the sky that was howling at him where the dark gray, black and blue were swirling together imitating a madman's painting. Out in the open sea, pillars of storms were slowly rising out of the waters, like some sea-god's fingers reaching out from the churning ocean, desperately trying to touch the skies above. A gust of wind threw his step off stopping him in his tracks, immediately after a colorful tarp flew past him, barely missing him. Someone in the markets was having an even worse day than him.
He stepped inside and the howls of the winds were turned into a whine and a rattle coming from the windows and the roofs above. He breathed in as he lowered his hood, letting his long black hair fall on his shoulders. He brushed his bearded chin as he slowly let out a deep breath, then smiled, a spiced fish stew was being prepared. From his right, a bearded middle-aged man in a red ruffled shirt with a rugged brown waistcoat was talking to an older woman, who then said something to him and they gave a quick glance at Grae.
The man finally recognized the visitor, his eyes widening and he bellowed a hearty laugh and shouted. -'By the shitting gods of war! I haven't seen you in a while!'
Grae then removed his coat, tossing it on a nearby bench and raised his hands in defense. -"Jarek! I'm sorry, it's been too long. I guess I got distracted.' Grae gave him a smile, though the dark around his eyes betrayed his exhaustion.
Without hesitation, Jarek came to him in long strides and gave him a hug. It was a long, warm and fatherly kind of hug. And after the first shock, Grae surrendered and wrapped his arms around Jarek. -'It's good to be back J.' Grae said with a tired sigh.
Jarek suddenly backed away and gave Grae an overly dramatic gasp. -'Gods boy! You're freezing! Rizzie!' He shouted towards the back of the room. Purposefully raising a finger. -'Come and give our boy some stew!'
Jarek sat Grae on a bench near the hearth on the other side of the room and threw a thick blanket over him. Then the door near the back crashed open and a rashadin dressed in a clean green buttoned shirt and a stained apron stepped outside holding a tray with a plate, some mugs and a big loaf of dark bread. He grinned through his oiled mustache, as he half kicked a stool near Grae towards him and slammed the tray on it. -'I'm surprised you're still alive.' He remarked, then turned away. Though after few steps he turned back and added. -'But I'm glad that you are.' Then mumbling to himself walked back in to the kitchen.
Jarek came back with a pitcher and poured Grae that smelled like tea that was laced with rum and said. -'Honestly, with the mess in the east, we weren't sure what had happened to all of you, you especially. But I'm truly glad you're alive and kicking. It's almost a family gathering of sorts!' Grae raised an eyebrow and turned his head over the shoulder. -'I'm not the only one who has come back?'
Noticing his surprise, Jarek just smiled and leaned in. -'Cin arrived just three day ago.' Jarek said. Then hushed his voice. -'She had this weird looking warrior-type with her, he was giving me the creeps.'
-'What are you two conspiring?' A third voice whispered near their ears.
-'Miss Cinder!' Jarek jumped. -'You almost gave me a heart attack!' Then with a dramatic flair cupped his hands over his chest. -'And worse still, you almost spilled his tea!' Pointing his finger at Grae who was busy burning his mouth at it.
But Cin was already laughing. It was an honest laugh, a laugh that warmed Grae more than the tea he was holding. Time really can heal things.
Cinder was wearing simple long white jacket. But her face told another story. Her gaunt and pale features were highlighted by darkened shallow eyes and ashen cropped hair. Her left temple was framed by a small row of tattoos that disappeared under her hair and on right, heavy burn scars that ran past her lips all the way to her neck and beyond.
-'Never change J.' She said with a gentle smile.
Jarek huffed a bit, then turned and nudged Grae to just say if he needed anything and walked back for the smiling woman he was talking before. And soon a friendly laughter rose from their table.
-'He never does change, now does he? No matter what happens?' Cin said, looking after him. Her voice suddenly quiet. Grae was concentrating on his dinner, but this didn't stop Cin. -'Look, I'm glad you're fine, but we've been waiting for you. Come upstairs when you're finished.'
Grae noticed her tone, that was not a suggestion and after a long stare simply nodded to her. -'Great! I'll see you soon.' Cin said. Then came closer to Grae. 'Don't disappear like last time.' Her voice dead serious. Then without making a single sound strode away and up the stairs on the right back corner of the room.
Grae was enjoying the food Rizzie had prepared for him. The fish stew was seasoned just the right way, hot enough to warm the body, but not too hot to take away from the experience.
His mind was a storm of thoughts. He was glad to see Jarek, but how had Cin known that he would be here? Of all the Far-Spikes from his old squad, how was she still alive? Why all the cloak and dagger? Was she in trouble? He took a long sip of the tea and shrugged. He would find out soon enough.
Finishing the meal. Grae went to thank Jarek, who then promised him that he could stay here for a while. Finally upstairs, he quickly found the right door. Before knocking, he looked around, taking mental remark of the room, it's covers and exits. Then unclipped the blade on his belt and walked for the door.
-'Don't just stand there, come in!' He heard Cin's voice.
Stepping inside, he found himself inside what reminded him of war-rooms of old. Plans and maps were laid down on the table, which had been moved into the middle of the room. Dozens of notes and names were scribbled on all of them.
Cin was currently leaning over one of the maps, raising her head as Grae entered.
Her jacket was off, revealing the dark Far-Spike bodyglove.
-'And so the soldier boy returns.' Cin said with a joyless smirk.
Grae noticed the man sitting in the corner, he was peeling a fruit and keeping his ice cold eyes on him. His presence had something eerie and unsettling about it. His skin was incredibly pale, contrasted even further by the dark, ramshackle armor he wore. He barely blinked. And after a few moments, he recognized the problem. The man was not breathing, at all.
Grae turned back to Cin. Her face serious. -'What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?' Grae said.
-'No, not me.' She shook her head. 'But first, I need to be sure about your loyalties.' -'You know where they are.' Grae answered. Keeping his eyes on hers. -'You know I have to be sure?' Cin said. -'I know, but you should know I'm a free man now.'
-'That is exactly what worries me.' Cin remarked, then walked to a cabinet near Grae. She took out a wooden case and placed it on the table. 'Now, please take off your clothes.' Cin said. I need to be sure you're not marked in any way.
Grae hasitated. 'Or I'll have him take them off for you.' She pointed to the warrior.
Grae looked back at the door, then shrugged and began undressing, soon he was naked before them both. Cin took a brush and a small pouch full of fine white powder from the box and began thoroughly inspecting his skin. Sometimes stopping at certain scars and giving him a curious looks.
This continued for a while, until she closed the case with look of finality. -'He is clean.' She said to the man. 'No hidden runes or markings.' The man nodded, then sheathed the small sword Grae hadn't even noticed he had until now. 'Only a lot of new scars and wounds.' She added.
-'What happened to you? Many of those scars were recent.' Cin said while leaning to a wall and watching him getting dressed. -'I could ask the same from you. Last time I saw you, you were in your deathbed.' Grae said. 'How did you managed to survive, those.' Nodding to her scars.
Cin blushed and brushed her scars with her fingers. 'I was saved'.
-Must have been one hell of a healer.' Grae said.
-'You could say that. After healers the Bal-Arian bastards failed us, this Dalian priestess of sort came and fixed me. I think she called herself Nushala.' Cin took off the glove on her right arm. And showed it to Grae. The hand too was completely covered in burns, with small chunks of muscle missing. -'They were sure I'd lose this entire arm. But no, here it is and the pain is just, gone.' Grae raised his eyebrow. -'A cleric? Did you have to sell your soul for that or what?.' Keeping his eyes on her maimed hand.
-'Don't think so, didn't even ask for a drop of blood. They say she just came out of nowhere, walked into our camp like she owned the place and somehow made all of this.' She motioned her face. 'Well, better.' -'I know I was in the brink, but the magic she used, there was something different in it, something weird about it, something- I don't know, raw?' Her eyes were gazing somewhere far.
Cin quickly regained her posture. -'Now, enough about me, what about you?'
Grae shrugged. 'Unlike the rest of our squad, I stayed.' Cin squinted her eyes. Grae waved his hand dismissively and continued. 'But after what happened, the company was soon disbanded and I joined Tarm's squad and continued my tour with the Long-Spikes instead.' He sighed.
-'Peacekeeping there, skirmish there and then I was... let go.' Grae's voice lingering on the last word. 'Though lately I did have a chance on with some Riekian Shamans and you know how they are?' Cin nodded. -'I did something I should have done a long time ago. After which the Judicators arrived and took me away for one of their judgments.' Grae said.
Cin gave a long whistle of surprise and said. 'Yet you are still here, I'm impressed.' -'Maybe, but things happened and I got away' Grae said and finished buttoning his shirt. Then grabbed a chair and leaned forwards and continued. 'Now, you said you were expecting me? How? And you said someone was in trouble?'
Cin and the warrior exchanged looks, then nodded. 'To answer your first question; I had a contact near Ar-Elan's border who recognized you and sent me a Far-Reed. I had him follow you for a while, until I was sure where you were going.'
Grae squinted his eyes. Cin held up her hand. "I'm sorry about that, but your presence is a welcomed surprise.' -'Now for the second; You remember the Firelord?'
-'El's and Erek's ship? I heard that it was burned down and that they survived. I've always wondered what those two have been doing nowadays.' Grae said.
-'After Eliza and the rest got away. They took refuge in Amaran's Undercity. I've been in steady contact with them and their "operation" '. Cin said, she was shuffling for some papers.
-'Bold place to take refuge, but it suits those two.' Grae said grinning.
-'It does, but we have a problem. We were suppose to meet up and she was suppose to give me something.' She found the right a paper, a letter and hand it to Grae. Who began to read. Grae's face turned dark.
-'That is a big prize you are going after. You both are insane, this could lead to another war!'

-'Not if get the the information from El.' Cin countered. 'She has Information that might save us from another conflict, something very discriminating.' She said and looked at the warrior in the corner. 'But, something happened, we lost contact with them.'

This did the trick as Grae skipped a breath. -'Something happened to the our Hawks?' He demanded. -'To Eliza?!'
-'A little bird has told me that after they had obtained the information, they were double-crossed and that their safe house was raided.' She said, looking into his eyes. He was clearly getting agitated.
-'But El managed to get away? Right? There is no way the imbecilic city guards could capture a bloody Far-Spike! Grae growled.
Cin shook her head and gestured Grae to hush his mouth. -'My sources say, that the royal stonies took her and killed the rest.'
Grae cursed.
-'The worst part is that, apparently she wasn't arrested. According to my sources, she was taken for... for Vorkariar.' Cin shuddered at the last words.
Upon hearing the name, Grae froze, eyes wide. The warrior in the corner spat on the ground.
-'That's impossible!' Grae stood up and turned his back on Cin. 'I saw him die!' He was visibly shaking now. 'I saw it and so did Bracha!' His voice breaking. -'There is no coming back from that kind of... mutilation.'
-'Trust me, the Doctor still lives, somehow. And he's got his hands on our little bird.'
-'Look, Grae, my sources say that she is still fine, but not for long.' Cin pushed another letter towards him. 'You know that we cannot leave her to that fate.'
Grae nodded slowly.
-'Death is preferable.' Blunted the warrior in the corner. Voicing what all were thinking. His voice was strong and surprisingly calm. 'I saw what the thing did to my tribe. The things he turned them into.'
Grae finally saw what he was. Though the man was somehow changed, he had the features. The strong jaw, the ridged nose, even his eyes still had some violet left. 'You are one of the Kurannon? One of the northern tribes of, of Karanass... Grae's words died off and he forced a deep bow.
-'I, I am so sorry.'
The warrior shook his head and raised his hand. 'Don't be. I blame the architect, not the hammer in his hand.'
Grae turned to Cin. 'Where did you find him?'
-'I've know him for a long time, even before he was- changed.' Cin sighed and walked over to Grae and took his hand.
-'I'll be honest with you. I need your help with this. You are one of- if not the best swordsman I know. And I know you deeply care about El and more importantly, I need that information. For you, for him and for closure.'
Grae stood still for moment, then took a deep breath. Until finally clutching her hand back and reassuringly placed his other on her shoulder and smiled.
-'We will get our little bird back.'