Sulana burst through the hideout door and slammed it shut before ripping the barbed flechette out of her abdomen. She tossed the long needle aside, disgusted at it's barbaric creators, and pressed her back to the door. Those damned Limirens had nearly gotten her had it not been for the three inch thick leathers she'd worn over her patchwork coat. Luckily the wound wasn't serious. Just a few stitches and some bed rest. Although solid foods were out of the question for the next few days.

The sound of pounding feet echoed off in the distance. Sulana slapped a hand over her mouth and sank to the floor. Oh great stars, she pleaded to herself. Let them pass. Please just let them pass. Two shadows graced past the threshold along with two hushed voices.

"I saw her go this way." A woman's voice said. A young one. Eager and arrogant.

"All right new blood, don't get too hot on me now." A man's voice said next. Older this one was. Voice like a rock grinder. "She can't have gotten far. Let's go." The two voices padded off. Sulana let herself go only after the sounds of them had disappeared off in the distance.

"Guess you got away." The voice in her head whispered.

"Guess so." She stood back up shakily, breath low and raspy from the pain in her stomach. Injuries first, she concluded. Then she could figure out what to do next. She limped over to the cot and pulled open the nightstand's door closest. Inside she procured a small stash of cloth strips, needle and thread, and two sets of matchboxes. She opened the first one, recognizing the bulbous red heads of the matchsticks. The other one she stowed away. Their flames would be useful elsewhere. Once she'd found a better spot to hide away she was leaving this maddening dump of a Link. Blood crazed fools. It was a wonder their age had continued on as it did being ruled over by that psychotic Saint of theirs. No doubt maddened by the same voice that was occupying her own thoughts now. At least he was, until she'd fixed that for him.

"We were so close this time. So close to being whole once more." The voice whimpered.

"You say that every time." Sulana rolled her eyes.

"Because it is always true. Until you send them back to the Whole One. As you always do."

Striking a normal match, Sulana lit a fat lump of candle on the nightstand before tossing the useless twig away. Next came the needle which she tied up with string before heating the tip over the open flame until it was nice and hot. She pulled away the hand over her wound. The blood had gotten sticky now, clinging to her palm like wet paint. She'd need to work fast.

With some difficulty she stripped off her coat and leathers, revealing the puckered wound in her abdomen. Sulana sucked on her teeth and picked up the needle. The first jab stung like hell, sending hot waves of pain coursing through her. It took everything she had not to scream. With gritted teeth she sewed the wound shut before tying a thick knot and biting off the excess.

She cleaned the surrounding flesh before wrapping up the wound. The cloth pressed tightly to her skin, enough to staunch the flow of blood for now. She'd need to be careful to not reopen the wound though. No crazy antics for the next few days. Just lie low and strike a match to the next Link.

Sulana ran a hand through her thick red hair, pausing over a bald spot. Shit, after everything was said and done she'd forgotten the scuffle she had with the young Limiren.

"She tore a good chunk out of you." The voice in her head said.

"Don't remind me." Sulana hissed.

"And then they shot you."

"Stars I wish you'd shut up for once." but the voice was right though. The Limirens had a piece of her now, and given what she'd seen in this Link they'd use it to find her eventually. Rest it seemed wasn't a fucking option anymore. A day maybe, but that was it. She needed to get out of here. But first, she had to get the Limrens off her trail.

Sulana slid off the bed and pulled her pack from beneath. She plied the ratty satchel open and pulled out a corked glass decanter. The contents within swirled like liquid silver. Gently, she uncorked the bottle and held out her hand.

"Come on Silv. Come here." Sulana cooed. The liquid silver jumped out of the bottle like an eager puppy, slithering up and over her hand towards her shoulder to nuzzle at her cheek.

"Hey boy. Who's my good boy? Good boy Silv." She ran a finger over Silv's liquid flesh, feeling him ripple at her touch.

"All right Silv. Good boy. Now come here." She held out her hand and Silv leapt back obediently. "I need you to do something for me okay?" Gently, Sulana held up the spent needle. Silv quivered at the sight of it. "You want it? I know you do. Look at you all expectant. Well, how could I say no." She dropped the needle and in a flash Silv gobbled it up, disappearing within him.

"Now, be a good boy and sharpen for me." Silv quivered ever so slightly before morphing from an amorphous blob into a long thin blade the size of a dagger.

"That's a good boy." Sulana murmured before she directed the blade's edge towards her scalp.

*

Far off in the distance the great church bells tolled the death of St. Friar. Valena was sitting at her desk when she heard them, making the frown she wore crease ever deeper. For many in the city of Villdesong, the sound of the bells signified only two things: Life and Death. For Valena, the bells only signified her failure.

"Bloody damnation," Rouse tossed his Tome onto Valena's desk before pulling up a chair beside her. "They've been ringing those things for hours now. Those Magisters need to give the bell boys a break before their arms fall off." Rouse stared expectantly at her.

Valena made a noise that she'd heard, though her eyes never left the window. Thick gray overcast was already starting to form overhead, swallowing the city in a misty haze. Exactly how she was feeling right about now.

"Hello? Rouse jabbed her with a finger. "Valena. Anybody home?"

Valena swatted his hand away and glowered at him. "Quit it Rouse. I'm not in the mood today."

"Oh, I can see that." Rouse placed his hands behind his head and leaned back in his chair. "I've seen that scowl enough times to know you mean business right now." He sat there quietly for a while, watching Valena taking in the church bells, the city noise outside, the scraping footsteps of the other Limirens as they worked inside, fingers plucking away at their Tomes. "This about the assassin?"

"Of course it fucking is," Valena grumbled, sinking her chin deeper into the palm of her hand. "She got away. From us. The people hand chosen by St. Friar himself to protect him." She closed her eyes and let out a long, withered sigh. "Why they haven't sent us to the chopping block I'll never know."

"Don't beat yourself up kid." Rouse assured her. "This whole thing was way beyond our pay grade anyway. We're civil servants, not knights of the realm."

"We could have done something."

"Yeah well," Rouse kicked his feet onto the desk. "We did. Damn near did everything save using the Razor, but Prefect Gabbon keeps those under lock and key. You'd need an act of God to get him giving you one."

Valena stared at Rouse before glaring down at his boots. "You're being awfully flippant about this," she said before pushing his legs off her desk.

Rouse came up his chair in a lurch. "I'm thick blooded. What can I say?"

"Says enough," Valena rubbed the bridge of her nose. "I still can't believe Gabbon assigned me under you. I'm a River Red for Saint's sake. How did he think putting us together would be a good idea?"

"Hey now," Rouse gave a mocking frown. "That's just mean. You've learned a lot under my tutelage as an apprentice Limiren."

"Like how to be lazy and get away with it?" Valena shot back, hiding her growing smile behind a closed fist. Rouse be damned but was he good at pulling people out of a temper. She blamed his thick blood. Made him more likable she supposed.

"Ah, you wound me." Rouse pressed the back of his palm to his forehead, mouth agape as he squeezed his eyes shut.

A knock at the door from the other side of the room drew Valena's attention away suddenly. She stood to answer, only for the person to let themselves in moments later. Prefect Gabbon stepped inside dressed sharply in his Captain's uniform, the starched red and white coat befitting the Limiren's station was accenting well with golden shoulder tassels and an officer's cord round the left arm.

Valena immediately snapped to attention. "Prefect Gabbon!"

The Prefect stared at the both of them with those bull doggish eyes of his, offering neither a smile nor a frown. "Limiren Rouse. Apprentice Valena." Gabbon acknowledged. "I have a matter to speak with you both about. Report to my office immediately." Offering no other explanation, the Prefect turned and left, shutting the door behind him. The other Limirens stared briefly towards the both of them before returning to work.

"Bloody rot," Valena snapped her gaze over at Rouse. "What's all this about?" She asked, searching him for answers. He merely gave a wry smile as he sat up from his chair.

"Don't say I never taught you something," He said as he swiped his Tome off the desk. "Here's the lesson for today. I'm going to show you when best to cash in a favor." Rouse stepped away towards the door, stopping just before reaching the knob to look over his shoulder. Valena boggled at him. "Well? Come along New Blood. Prefect's orders."

Valena snapped out of her daze and marched over, following Rouse past the Limiren's precinct and into the main hall. Rouse was already half way down before she caught up to him. "Do you think this is about the assassin?" She asked.

"Maybe." was all Rouse said.

"Oh Sanguiness," Valena began to fret. "He's sacking us. I just know he's sacking us. I'd rather go to the block. Better dead than jobless."

Rouse shrugged. "Who knows. Gabbon's got quite the poker face."

"Come on, I'm being serious. If you know something then tell me. Don't leave me in the dark here."

"Aw," Rouse pouted. "But it's so much more fun watching you struggle to figure it out."

"You're vindictive." Valena pointed out.

"I'm thick blooded." He countered. They rounded the hallway into a vaulted, well furnished meeting room. Citizen's from various districts within Villdesong were milling about, either speaking with the Limirens assigned to their case or waiting for their turn sitting amidst the furniture.

Valena destination lay farther beyond where a grand staircase coiled up to the second floor. A few of the Limirens acknowledged her as she passed by. Even a few citizens felt the need to bow, although Valena had a feeling they were bowing more towards the uniform than to herself. The bright red and white wool coat stood a stark contrast to the cold grays and muddy browns that colored Villdesong. It made them stand out, something that Valena had seen to be both a blessing and a curse as of her apprenticeship.

She and Rouse took to the stairs, moving aside to let a clerk pass through on their way down. At the top they meandered down a different hallway, before finally reaching the double doors of Prefect Gabbon's office. Rouse reached for the knob.

"Wait." Valena said.

Rouse stopped just short of opening the door. He looked over at her. "What's up kid?"

"I'm...," Valena tugged at the hem of her starched uniform.

"Nervous?" Rouse asked. Valena nodded her head. "Ah come on kid. Lighten up. If Prefect Gabbon wanted to sack us. He'd do it right in front of the others. Use us as an example no?"

True, Valena concluded. Gabbon by all intents and purposes was a bonafide son of a bitch. Rouse's words rang true, even if it didn't hide the anxiety welling up inside her. "Okay."

"All right then." Rouse smiled. "Then let's not keep the big guy waiting." And with that he opened the door.