"Our approach was different. It was the first time Isabelle was confident enough to take the lead. I admit it caught me off guard. I didn't let her do all the killing, I just didn't get a chance to intervene.

  I'm slower by choice, more methodical.

  We arrived at a locked door that I needed to pick. It made sense for Isabelle to be behind the door with her ranged weapon. From there she charged ahead of me every step of the way.

  A combination of her being adept with a ranged weapon, staying out of her way and focussing my efforts on getting the kidnapped women out, is why she did all the killing.

  There was a situation, for example, where I followed her into a room. We were being pursued by a guy blasting fire from his hands. On entering the room, I go to asses the woman who'd been assaulted. Isabelle is dealing with finishing off a kill, she needed no assistance. Before I got a chance, she had already taken position by the door.

  The woman is making noise, and in line of sight to the doorway, no time to argue and switch, I had to occupy myself with keeping her from being roasted. I would have taken the position at the door and slain the fire magic guy, Isabelle got there first. Plain and simple...

  Or if you prefer, the field medic couldn't keep up with the badass ranger." I said grinning.

  In reality, the sneaky assassin hadn't been able to keep up with the charging ranger swinging twin swords like she was clearing a path through tall grass.

  "Is that true?" I could sense Isabelle was overwhelmed.

  I looked at her with a subtle frown over wide open eyes, showing my palms.

  "It's a shame we broke up..." She said with an evil twinkle in her eye.

  I had no idea what she meant by that.

  "I need you back up and start from the beginning please, this sounds interesting." Said Gwendoline leaning forward, captivated.

  I gestured for Isabelle, who's looking to me, to take over.

  "You were first through the door, go ahead and tell the story."

  Isabelle told the story in all its gory detail, with bloodlust in her eyes, and excited fervor in her voice. Gwendoline enquired about my cloak at that part of the story, I lied and said I'd found a lower level brooch. She seemed to know as well as I did, the lowest cloak enhancing brooch was min. lv30. I'd deliberately smudged mine, the only real difference being the shine of metal, Isabelle's min. lv 30 was steel. My min. lv50 was silver, otherwise no visual difference. She decided to say nothing, just a silent look of quandary aimed at me, then told Isabelle to continue.

  . . .

  We arrived very late at Goderdzi and checked into an inn. The women took one room, I stashed some gear with them and headed to the communal men's room.

  The next day was fueled by a hearty breakfast called chirbuli, poached eggs in spiced tomato sauce with walnuts. As we ate, we went over what was known about the Varga siblings.

  Davit and Nino had arrived at the capital as young, already very corrupted adventurers. They'd come and go before eventually settling as members of a gang. Their adventurers' cards had been revoked for multiple accusations of theft, improper looting and extorting quest givers. They were also known for grave robbing and were suspected of being highwaymen, but it was never proven.

  Davit was an earth druid, his speciality was covering himself in dirt and rocks, transforming himself into a golem. In preparation we each borrowed a one handed warhammer from Xeothea's armoury. Min . lv25 for Isabelle and I. Even Melody got a min. lv37 just in case. Gwendoline got a very impressive min. lv52 warhammer, the best they could find.

  Nino was a monk, she channeled her magic into her body and practiced martial arts. It was noted she was both very tough, even without armour, and had powerful recovery magic. Even naked, she would be a tank.

  Their rumoured levels were over 40. Hence Isabelle and myself (as the lower level healer) needed help. I told Isabelle in no uncertain terms, the only way she could take down such a high level, would be in their sleep. She'd got lucky with the other Red liars.

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  During the raid, Davit was the believed cause of tremors and quakes, damaging the outer wall and buildings within. He had clearly avoided his overly distinctive golem magic. Armed with a sword and shield, a raider matching his description had followed around a woman matching Nino's.

  Nino had wreaked havoc, charging Xeothea's security with a bow staff. Reports from later of a woman in a blue bandana, with knuckle dusters, followed by a man and seen near four others in blue bandanas was almost certainly Nino. Either the bow staff broke or she got bored of it.

  We found the local equivalent of a sheriff who pointed to the rough area the Varga chalet was in.

  Our translator made clear no bribe was needed, the Varga siblings were not popular. The locals knew they are brother and sister, they did not approve of how close they were.

  . . .

  It was hours of trekking. We'd been advised to follow a certain stream, it led to a small waterfall within the Varga's land. They used the basin for bathing and dipping in, after using a sauna they'd built nearby. A path from the basin would lead to the chalet.

  I sensed we were being watched. The sauna appeared in use. The ladies started heading toward it. In a hushed voice I said I'm going to piss before any action starts.

  . . .

  Facing a tree, pretending to pee, my trap was set. I didn't have to wait long— maxed out SidestepMirage.

  Fwoosh!

  Nino's hand stopped just off the tree bark. She blinked, why wasn't there blood? Why wasn't there a head falling at her feet? She was naked save a towel around her waist. No time to check out her boobs though.

  I wrapped my arm around her throat, kneed the back of her knee, and started executing a rear naked chokehold before she could do anything more than gasp.

  . . .

  "Sorry took a while, made a new friend." I said arriving back to the ladies.

  Nino was over my shoulder, hogtied with none other than the former escape rope (magic depleted, it was just rope), and gagged with her own towel.

  Isabelle raised her hand and looked away grimacing, when Nino's bare arse was angled her way.

  "I forgot to say, that rope can be recharged, I wouldn't mind it back." Gwendoline whispered.

  Any opportunity for myself or anyone else to say anything was cut short.

  "Da! Ramdeni dro sch'irdeba ts'q'lis mot'anas?"

  Between assassinations, there's plenty of time to learn nearby languages. Translation "Sister! How long's it take to fetch water?" Seems sister had been greedy, wanted all the fun for herself. The ground beneath us tremored as Davit looked around. He seemed unfazed and stepped back into the sauna. We all knew he had sensed us.

  "Isabelle ready your arrows, those blunt ones you showed me. Melody stay back behind me... Mind if I borrow your warhammer, I'm used to dual wielding? Harvey boost us and heal if needed."

  Gwendoline took Melody's warhammer in her weak hand, as Isabelle readied her arrows. She had recovered all five specialised tips after the totem fight. Melody cast a spell of protection over all of us.

  Gwendoline approached at an angle, crouching, ready to spring. Melody not far behind, her wand in hand. Isabelle was crouched directly in line with the door, an arrow partially drawn. I was a step back, crouching beside Isabelle.

  "Davit! Come outside!" Commanded Gwendoline.

  Shit! Ivy growing and arching over the door of the sauna, spread out across the ground to about a metre in front, rustled.

  Pufffffff!

  Fountains of nasty spray erupted from the ivy, enveloping Gwendoline and Melody. This wasn't something Davit had just made, they'd been growing for a while, it was a deliberate defence and very powerful.

  Gwendoline stood for a second more than Melody before collapsing. I fired SoothWave their way.

  Smash! RARRR!

  Golem Davit burst from the sauna, Isabelle fired off one arrow before shielding herself from the door landing beside her, sending dirt and splinters flying. I rolled one way and Isabelle rolled the other avoiding a kick from Davit.

  I had no choice but to hope Isabelle could keep avoiding Davit as he lumbered after her, ignoring me, I was just a healer after all. Melody especially was dying fast. Another SoothWave before I got close enough, between the two of them, I use Triage. Gwendoline got some healing magic, Melody more.

  I glanced back, Isabelle was clever, she only avoided, running circles around Davit. Keep it up friend!

  I poured Antidote potion down Melody's throat. I cast NeutraliseAll as it was kicking in, doubling down to banish the powerful toxins.

  "Aa!"

  Isabelle had lost her bow, her left hand looked injured, but she was still moving.

  Gwendoline got the same treatment, consuming my last antidote, I should have brought more Antidotes against an earth druid. Hopefully Melody had one, if needed.

  My hand, over Gwendoline's heart, blasted maxed out healing magic into her. She pushed me aside and charged into the fray.

  Two warhammer blows to Davits left leg, exploded dirt and stones away. Isabelle used the distraction to run to me. I cast heal in her direction, then went to wallop Davit with my own warhammer.

  For the sake of performance, I only struck and ducked back, distracting blows that created openings for Gwendoline.

  The head of Xeothea's stumbled over debris, a magic missile from Melody prevented Davit's backhand landing.

  Rock and dirt armour crumbling off, Davit fell to his knees. He smirked, his eyes glowing. Gwendoline, at his 1 o'clock, ceased her advance. The ground shook violently. I was a little further than Gwendoline, at his 8 o'clock.

  Stalagmites burst from the ground!