Chapter 42: Strike the Bloodline
They both spotted Irsted and Trish in the same alley where they’d met the night before. The two stood near the mouth of the street, quietly exchanging words with an informant.
The informant was dressed in tattered layers, hood drawn low, blending perfectly with the usual homeless drifters that loitered in this part of Underzen.
Perfect cover for anything shady.
Corven and Rose waited a beat until the informant disappeared down the street before stepping forward.
"Hey," Corven said casually. "What’s the job this time?"
Irsted’s canine ears gave a twitch. He looked over his shoulder, nodding. "You two got here quick. Good. Saves us some time."
He gestured toward Trish. "Go ahead. Your turn."
Without a word, Trish stepped forward and handed them a rolled parchment. Corven took it, unrolling it halfway to see a detailed floor plan. It included guard rotations, marked blind spots, patrol routes—even notes on hidden or unguarded entry points.
"Our objective is to extract the heir from Clan Heist," Trish said, her tone clipped and direct. "The local clans have started making moves. Yesterday’s mess was just the start. Things are heating up fast."
Corven’s eyes narrowed as he skimmed the map. He tilted it so Rose could view it too.
"Looks like a serious job. Are you two really allowed to just hand this over to us?"
Irsted chuckled, folding his arms over his chest. "You’re exactly the ones we can hand it to. You don’t belong to any faction yet. No ties. That makes you useful. And trustworthy."