After getting some street food we approached the Red Liar's headquarters. There was nowhere for two people to sit without being noticed nearby, so we found a way to climb up onto a building overlooking the headquarters.

  Isabelle got to learn about a major part of this kind of work, patience. After three hours watching we learnt the front door was opened only from the inside, a couple knocks and a doorman slid open a viewing hatch to check. No one was posted outside.

  After some bickering it was agreed I'd sneak down to get a look at the door, while Isabelle kept watch, then upon my return, she could sneak around the back to look for other doors.

  . . .

  The front door was heavy wood, a plank had been nailed over the keyhole. Judging by the speed of opening and having listened carefully, it was only a keyturn to open the door, if there was anything like a draw bar then it wasn't in use. I had to hope that if I needed to enter, the keyhole was behind that plank.

  . . .

  Isabelle returned, reporting there was a locked hatch to the basement, what was once a back door had been sealed shut. Noises and candle light from the basement windows indicated people down there, otherwise the property was quiet.

  An hour later, now in darkness, the three male heads of the Red Liars returned. Something else Hans and Lando told us, was that the only female Red Liar leader had a boyfriend, and would often stay somewhere else.

  She must've been out because the three men had decided to go hunting, unfortunately unbeknown to them, their choice of prey justified our intervention.

  One man carried an intoxicated woman over his shoulder, the other pushed his victim along by her back, while the other just dragged his date by the wrist. While they had maybe flirted and accepted attention, it was clear none of the women wanted to any further with these miscreants.

  They'd survive... maybe. Probably a knock to their confidence, a brutal unjustified lesson about drinking with strange men. However I knew this wouldn't fly with Isabelle. Looked like we'd be intervening.

  "Do as I say, and the first thing we do when we get down is run to opposite ends of this street, try to find someone, tell them to fetch guards and mention Armen— Got it?"

  "We don't—" Issabelle tried to butt in.

  "We don't have time to argue, you're right." I stared Isabelle down.

  . . .

  Meeting back in the middle, we faced the door.

  "I told some beggars. Here take one of these." Isabelle handed me an explosive potion, I nodded thanks while pocketing it. I had found a man heading home from dirty work, the filthy guy ran off terrified, but had agreed to get the guards.

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  "Aim for the hatch on the door." I commanded.

  I gestured for us the move forward while extracting a throwing knife, the tool I'm most willing to use as a pry bar. Isabelle nocks an arrow. We could hear screams from inside. I got my blade under the plank... I smiled. Of course these guys had made mistakes in the past and had to use a key from the outside. I quietly pulled the loose plank off then set it down. Looking into the keyhole, I saw the key inside from the other side, already in easy position to push out. I took a deep breath then looked at Isabelle. She drew back her arrow.

  Thump, Thump!

  Shhhhik- FWIP!

  Clink.

  Thud!

  As the arrow struck between the doorman's eyes, I pushed the key out, and had picked the simple lock before the body fell. Despite looking forward, the doorman had no time to process what he was seeing, it had been a one shot stealth kill.

  I stood and gripped the door by the hatch opening. We heard murmurs from the basement, the body dropping had drawn attention. Isabelle had several other arrows ready in her fingers as she drew one back. I opened the door, preparing throwing knives as I did.

  Isabelle started firing immediately, arrow after arrow. I came around from behind the door. Both men that ventured up were dead at the end of the corridor. Stairs going up, stairs going down. Noises, shouts of inquiry from the basement, possibly 3-4 others down there.

  I underhand lobbed my explosive potion into the stairs that led to the basement.

  BOOM!

  Creeeeak—Crash!

  Coming up would be less easy without stairs, however we'd lost the element of surprise.

  Isabelle charged in. One of the bedrooms was downstairs. A Red Liar leader stepped out in his underwear waving a knife. He came out facing the basement stairs. Though over lv30, without armour, Isabelle had the advantage.

  The first of Isabelle's new Xeothea forged short swords, refined looking Enep inspired blades with this kingdom's style of handle, struck the side of his neck. The second was thrust, twisted and wretched out his liver.

  In a frenzy she alternated stabs from both blades as though a clockwork automaton. Calls from above and below. The calls from above sounded like they were coming from a window above the door. Isabelle moved to the stairs as I shushed a screaming woman, telling her to get out.

  I caught up with Isabelle as she neared the top of the stairs, the guy was still shouting from the window, hurling abuse at the woman he thought had somehow caused all the noise while escaping.

  Isabelle quickly switched to her bow then swung into the hallway firing. The man was struck in the neck, pitching forward he fell out the window.

  A door opened, and a strange orange glow filled the hall as a swearing leader leaned out of his bedroom, his burning palms held out. I threw my arms and cloak over Isabelle, pushing my chest into her back, taking in the smell of her hair as I bundled us both together under my cloak.

  The fire struck and surrounded us. The cloak-enhancing brooch did its job.

  I opened my cloak, and Isabelle accidentally headbutted me as she raised her head, letting loose an arrow. A decorative tapestry above the stairs was ablaze just behind us. The fire magic user ducked back into his room. I followed up with a throwing knife.

  The nearest door opened, and a sword-wielding leader burst out swinging. I caught the downward strike with a throwing knife, then punched the blade aside before it could slide off. The fire caster hesitated, seeing his friend in the way.

  There was something familiar about the sword...

  Isabelle had dropped her bow and thrust an arrow into the swordsman's gut. As he lurched backward, she drew one of her swords. I threw the knife in my hand toward his face; he deflected it with his sword, raising his guard. Isabelle slashed at his wrists.

  I backed up, throwing a couple of knives to keep the pyromaniac in his room. As the knives left my hand, Isabelle drew her other sword and stood up. She charged the swordsman, hacking and stabbing as they both entered the swordsman's bedroom.

  I quickly entered the room behind her, avoiding a fireball as I did.