[Sytze]

“You know, I’m beginning to question the use of this… this witch hunt more and more,” Arkanis Gath said sulkily. “More importantly, I question the logic and reasoning behind it all.”

“Really now?” Kachiko interjected. She pulled her hood off her head, and let her hair, which was normally tied in a knot, dance freely in the soft wind. “So, tell me, then, what has actually changed since we have left?” she asked rhetorically, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

She knew perfectly well that, just like herself, Arkanis was against this all. He loathed the command Aran had given him, but was wise enough not to disobey the order. Just like herself, Arkanis despised the hunt. Not because of the hunt itself, not at all, but because of the hunted one. A friend, and a dear one at that. The hunt itself was actually fun, more fun than any Arkanis had ever had, she knew. Probably because he wasn’t just tracking anyone, he was tracking one of the most capable rogues of Athkatla. One that had eluded the Shadow Thieves and even Gath himself for weeks.

Perhaps that’s why we’re still following him, Kachiko mused. To see who’s the better. She shook her head knowingly, dismissing the notion immediatly. They were with nearly ten, while he was alone. It was a hunt even Arkanis knew was unfair and could only have one outcome. He would die, and she would put this all behind her, as if it were a mere dream. A mere nightmare.

If only her heart was as easily convinced as her mind.

Arkanis eyed her coolly, but didn’t react, for she was right. Nothing had changed since the day Aran had given him the order. It was not for the first time in the past weeks that he thought about abandoning this whole nonsense. Yet he knew that wasn’t possible. Aran would never accept it, would never allow him to get back to Athkatla alive. He turned around, where several thieves were obediently awaiting his orders, but ignored them like he had done the whole week. They were bothersome company, an annoyance, yet undeniably useful. The last week Arkanis had asked himself multiple times why Aran had send these deadly thieves –and deadly they were, though not nearly as skilled as he or Kachiko- with him on a hunt. Backup was an option. Making sure he obeyed orders was another one, although Aran must’ve realised that he could dispose of the fools without too much trouble. No, they were here because Aran wanted Sytze gone, no matter the cost, no matter how much the guild was weakened in their absence.

Arkanis grinned intractable. Many would die in the encounter, he knew, and that was just what the Guild deserved. No, not the Guild, he corrected himself. It was what Aran deserved for foolishly demanding the promising man’s demise.

He was interrupted by Yaneasha, wearing a cheerful expression. “He’s near us,” he grinned evilly, “finally, the time has come to pay the bastard back for all this trouble.” Several thieves got the same cheerful expression on their faces when they heard his words.

Glares more wicked and angry than Yaneasha had ever received from anyone were now send his way by both Arkanis and Kachiko, stealing most of the cheer from him. Still, he shrugged it away nonchalantly.

Gofus, the fourth of Arkanis’ personal and elite band of thieves, watched it all knowingly. Unlike the others, he had no personal feelings dominating his emotions. He barely knew his intended victim. Arkanis cared for Sytze, saw him as a friend, perhaps even saw a reflection of himself in the younger man. Kachiko’s emotions cornering the renegade rogue ran even deeper, Gofus knew. Although she had assumed an uncaring, emotionless mask the whole journey, he knew Kachiko cared, even loved the renegade.

And lastly there was Yaneasha, who stood at the complete other side of the spectrum. The man hated Sytze, deeply. If it was jealousy, simple wickedness, or something else, Gofus didn’t know for sure, but he guessed the first. The looks he gave Kachiko now and then were undeniable and it was well-known that he hated Sytze for the quick ascension he had made within Aran’s ranks. Yaneasha had no idea why they were send on this mission either, but it was clear that he was quite happy and content with it.

Gofus shrugged, he didn’t care what would happen, as long as he could return to the city as soon as mortally possible, because the forest was starting to annoy him. “Let us find him then, and get it over with,” he growled. That earned him a few agreeing nods from several of the other thieves, who were equally displeased with the situation.

Arkanis chuckled. “Tracking and then finding Sytze was the easiest part of this all,” he said dryly, “capturing or killing him will prove to be a completely different matter.” He saw several thieves becoming wanly, concerned by Arkanis’ words. Words which were coming from one of the most powerful thieves in Athkatla, and words which were spoken after days, weeks of hunting.

Arkanis simply didn’t care, they had to know who they were dealing with.