[Filter: Vince]

I went to poke around the Fern Ridge estate last night, like we said, but the security there was crazy. They may just be paranoid, but I've got a little hint of a feeling. Why do you have so many guards, unless you've got a big reason to keep people out~?

Either way, we're going to need a better strategy than the current one to get in there. And they don't have any fancy parties we can sneak into coming up, hrm.

[Filter: Pandora, Vince]

Hey, there, lovely~ It looks like we've got some work for you to do for us, after all. I know, faster than you expected~

[Filter: Vince]

So, my favourite lackwitted groom.

How do I look~?

[Filter: Vince]

So, allow me to just double check something.

It's the Sun Garden estate that you've gotten yourself stuck on while going up the line, isn't it? Lady Talia and her court~? I just want to make sure before I absolutely knock you off your feet.

[Filter: Vince, Pandora]

Thanks very much for the help, Pandora~ If we need anything else, we'll let you know. For now, I think we're good. Just go back to floating around amidst the denizens and making yourself their friend. And if you hear anything interesting -- let us know~

[Filter: Vince]

Strange as she is, she got us this much. Putting it in the pile with the papers we managed to scrape together ourselves ...

... interesting~ What do you make of it all?

[Filter: Pandora, Vince]

Well, I think Vince and I have a sketchy plan worked out, and we have a role for you, so~ Ready to hear it?

[Filter: Miss Pandora and Vince]

Hello, hello~

I think we should talk, Miss Pandora. Do you know who I am~?

[Filter: Vince]

Well.

I had something happen today that was ... unexpected. And a little bizarre. Though I guess it filled in a blank for me ...

[Filter: Private]

Dragons.

Why do I feel like we've gotten into bed with a keg of kerosene sitting in a cookfire?

[Filter: Mydra]

Crisis averted ... sort of.

[Filter: Julian and Christopher]

Well, I don't know if you've heard even a hint of what's going on, but in the chance Mydra's said something, I'll let you know that I'm alive~

And if you haven't heard anything, then ... well, I'm still alive, fancy that.

[written almost illegibly fast]

[Filter: Mydra]

operation compromised we're in trouble send help

[scrawled quickly]

[Filter: Vince]

Well, Happy Rose Day.

[the page is smudged with dirt and spotted with raindrops]

[Filter: Vince]

Holy hell this is too dragonsdamned close. If it weren't for the rain bac there, we'd be screwed right now and as it is --

This does not look good.

[Filter: Private]

[this page is lightly smudged with dirt]

[the writing appears very slowly over a period of about an hour]

2 guards in front

1 in back

3 total 4? confirmed -- one patrolling inside

simple locks on back

high windows barred

two blind spots

three high areas nearby with clean shots two

[the rest of the writing appears normally]

Alright. I'll take out the one in the back. Hop down, use the blind spots, get to the back door, hope I remember how to pick a lock, ugh, Vince, this is why I have a partner to do that for me -- slip in, find a good spot, put an arrow in the back of the one inside if I need to ... find keys ...

... Shouldn't be too hard. This is a craphole, not a high security dungeon. Obviously, they just took him in for picking off scum, not anything more ...

... hm.

Right~

Tomorrow, maybe. We'll see if I can find Vince's picks by then. Right.

[Filter: Vince]

Second one down, then.

Yawn. This is really almost like spearing fish in a barrel. You'd think they'd be smart enough not just to follow you off into the dark alley.

I am want to formally complain. Add some challenge! If one of them even pulled a knife on you before his nek sprouted feathers, that would make it a little more satisfying~ Really.

[Filter: Vince]

And that's one down. Mission phase one: success!

Is there anywhere to stash the stiff down there? Shadowy alcove will do the trick, though I suppose I shouldn't give you advice on hiding evidence~

I have to pass that busy road with the cinnamon bun smell to get to you from here, and until all the evidence is gone, that's probably not a great idea. Guards like to follow me around, even when I have my bow. I think they assume I need protection~

[Filter: Vince]

Okay, now, serious business here, Vince~

We really need to do something about this. Now, I know you know that as well as I do, but I think we need to confront this head-on and find a solution. There's a reason the Bitchtress of Spies assigned us as partners, you know, and so long as your movements are hampered, like this, there's really only so much I can do. This was so damned touch and go even with both of us. I don't need to tell you it's been a two months since we managed much of anything constructive, and Julian and His Majesty are actually relying on us.

So, let's brainstorm. There are two ways to solve this, the way I see it. First way, we manage to shake these bounty hunters. Second way, we manage to shake the bounty. Third way, we find a way to work with both of them intact.

Any ideas? I vote we don't even lift our heads from these books until we've fixed this, and if I miss fireworks in three days because of it, I'm going to be cranky, and you won't like me when I'm cranky~

[Filter: Vince]

Ways To Get Rid Of Stalkers Who Are Seriously Cramping Our Style

- get money wired from Norey and just pay them off for more than they're getting from Wilma's dad
- kill them
- hire someone else to kill them (still requires getting money wired from Norey)
- poison them (same as killing them but more detailed ... yeah and also requires money for the poison)
- seduce them (not sure what this would help but it works in books, inexplicably)
- spread demoralizing rumours about what a badass you are in a fight
- spread rumours that cause them to fight amongst themselves and leave you alone
- hide (not different from current plan and interferes with mission objectives, but cheapest and most effective)
- disguise ourselves and make up new fake names (if we do this, I want a wear a fake mustache.)
- report them to city guards under false charges (likely to get us in trouble, but could be amusing coming up with suitable false charges)

Those were the best ones I could come up with, sorry.

[Filter: Private]

So, he had a birthday, hm~?

... annnd I can't believe that's the main thing on my mind. Mydra would probably fire me if she could read thoughts, and I think we should all be praying thanks that she can't.

Hm. We're really not accomplishing too much down here, lately, now are we? This bounty is really starting to get annoying. There has to be something ...

[Filter: Julian]

Well, I'm sure that could have done worse. Somehow. Like, if she were capable of reaching hands out and punching or strangling via journal ... that would have been slightly worse.

[Filter: Private]

Atsirians. Right.

I'm just going to tell Mom that I want to pick out some jewelery, and she really can't say no to that. It's just the market.

Dragons, and I thought she was bad before the riots and the misery.

[Filter: Private]

Atsirians. Right.

I'm just going to tell Mom that I want to pick out some jewelery, and she really can't say no to that. It's just the market.

Dragons, and I thought she was bad before the riots and the misery.