Tate led the horse into the stable where a boy slept beside a horse and she stopped as she recognised the boy. Bastian had left and Tate went over to the boy as he opened his eyes. Thomas recognised her.

"Tate? You escaped?" She shook her head and he helped her with the saddle. "You've been released? Who was such an idiot to release you?" She smirked at him and leaned close to his ear.

"The princes of Hillford want me to be assassin for all seven kingdoms," Thomas smirked and she watched him carefully. "Has Archer been buried? Did Azrael get revenge for him?" His eyes grew sad and looked at the horse for a long time.

"Archer was thrown in the river since nobody could claim him," He took out Azrael's pocket watch which had a crack in it. "Azrael was executed for trying to kill the Duke who ordered the assassination...Cain has taken over and has moved them to Hillford," He pressed the watch into her hand. "He was allowed visitors and he begged me to make sure you got this. I'm sorry, I know he was like family to you." Tate made sure that Bastian hadn't come looking for her yet before whispering to Thomas.

"What about Avery? Did you get her to Tantis? Did you give her to Duke Harrington as I asked?" He nodded and she kissed his cheek. "I knew saving you from the gallows was a good thing," She walked out and to Bastian. "I believe I know the owner and your brother's having a hard time getting rooms." Bastian frowned at her with a strange glint in his eyes.

"Then we'll help him," He offered her his arm and she took it after some hesitation. They went inside and saw Jareth trying to talk with the innkeeper. "Jareth, please let her take care of this." Jareth frowned but let her. Tate walked forward and the innkeeper looked at her before smiling sadly.

"Tate, I heard about Archer," Olaf said in Oelfaxan. "Why are you with the children of the man who had your parents killed?" She hugged him before explaining.

"I have no choice. I win a competition and I'll get to go home," She cleared her throat and gestured at the princes then herself. "We need rooms for the night, may we have some? I'll get them to overpay and buy your most disgusting ale," Olaf laughed and nodded. Tate switched back to common tongue. "Half a crown is a discount," She held her hand out for the money and Jareth shrugged before handing it over. She changed back to Oelfaxan. "Thank you old friend. I heard about Azrael...Was it painless?" Olaf nodded sadly and she turned to the princes. "We'll have to wait twenty minutes so he's giving us a discount on some ale." Olaf showed them the way to the tavern and gave her Archer's necklace. She put it on and went to the barkeep who grinned at her, showing his new gold teeth.

"Dragon Blade. You were right, I do look better with gold teeth. My wife disagreed," He was someone she had beaten up for information. "Your friends buying or did you get money from the guards for spreading your legs?" Tate laughed before slamming his head against the bar. She turned to the others in the tavern.

"Anyone else think I spread my legs for money?" Everyone including the princes shook their heads and she turned back to the barkeep. "Three ales, the special one for them two," Jareth put down a single gold coin and the barkeep took it before disappearing down the bar. "Sorry for the violence. He insulted my honour and I had to." They both nodded understandingly as they got their ales.

-

Jareth wondered why his brother seemed infatuated with the assassin. Was it how dangerous she was? Was it her determination? Was it how she seemed to notice everything? He took a sip of the ale and choked. She laughed and Bastian frowned as he drank his ale to choke as well. She drank hers and just smiled.

"I forgot the special one was disgusting, my apologies," Slowly, Bastian started to laugh and Jareth started to join in. "Personally, I thought that barkeep would've poisoned mine or something. He would've had a shock in a couple of minutes." Jareth frowned but drank the ale again and managed not to choke. Bastian looked at his ale carefully which meant he was about to ask a personal question so Jareth let him.

"How did you know the innkeeper? Why did he give you that necklace?" The necklace had a dragon on it and resembled the one of an archer already around her neck. She looked at the dragon with a sad smile.

"Before I was captured, I had a lover. His name was Archer. The innkeeper introduced us," She drank her ale before saying something that made Jareth feel sorry. "Your uncle the Duke had him killed. Soon afterward, your father had the only family I had killed for trying to avenge him...Sometimes I wonder if your uncle is the real king." Jareth shared a long look with Bastian.

"We do as well. Especially since our sister looks like him," She sighed before finishing her ale and the innkeeper came over speaking directly to Jareth. "I am sorry, I don't speak your language," The innkeeper looked at the assassin and spoke to her. She nodded and replied quietly. "Do we have rooms?" The assassin smirked at him.

"Olaf was kind enough to let us have his private rooms as he knows who I am travelling with," The innkeeper added something else that made the assassin stifle a laugh. "But he expects that neither of you will think about visiting during the night or he'll personally take away your manhood, prince or not." She made a snipping motion with her fingers and Bastian looked at the innkeeper.

"I promise I wouldn't do that, especially she's a highly trained assassin," The assassin said something to the innkeeper who smirked. "But I'll lock my brother in his chambers so he doesn't get any ideas," The assassin translated it because the innkeeper slapped Bastian on the back and walked away. "Does that mean he likes me?" The assassin nodded and led them to their chambers for the night.