Luca walked with a swagger down the gloomy street, lit only by the dim glow of spark-lamps. The narrow street was little more than an alley, one of the hundreds that wound through the Gray District, lined with tall, narrow and lopsided houses. But Luca paid the houses that he passed no attention, instead continuing towards the imposingly built gates that stood at the end of the street, blocking the path to a sprawling house. Two equally imposing figures stood before the gates, rough looking thugs with short, wicked knives and spark pistols in their belts. If Luca was intimidated, he did not show it, smiling at the two men as he came closer to them, his voice echoing down the street. [i][b]“Good evening, lads. I’m here to see Baldo Gabor.”[/b][/i] The two thugs glanced at each other, before the shorter of the two spoke, his hand going to rest on the handle of his pistol. His voice was thick and hard-edged as he all but spat out the words. [i][b]“Who the hell are you?”[/b][/i] Luca’s face was a mask of exaggerated shock as he stopped, three paces away from the two figures. [i][b]“You wound me, sir. Valeriano D’Ascanio at your service.”[/b][/i] His deep, exaggerated bow was met with blank stares for a moment, before the taller thug frowned slightly and nodded slowly. His voice was thin and nasal, unsuited to his hulking frame. [i][b]“You’re that lord aren’t you? The mercenary that everyone keeps talking about in the Drunkard’s Compass?” “So you have heard of me! I’m glad. But I do prefer sellsword, more charming don’t you think?”[/b][/i] The two figures glanced at each other again, both frowning and unsure of their next move, until the shorter of the two seemed to remember something, turning back to Luca. [i][b]“What are you coming to see Baldo for?” “To kill him.”[/b][/i] There was a moment of silence, Luca smiling confidently as he watched the two thug’s faces, almost able to see the cogs frantically wheeling, until the shorter one finally found his voice. [i][b]“You what?” “Unfortunately your employer has made some powerful enemies. I am, as I said, a sellsword. And they pay well.”[/b][/i] By now both of the guards had their hands on their weapons, and had taken a step back towards the gate, given confidence by the hardened metal at their backs. The taller man spoke again, his voice suspicious. [b][i]“What are you telling us for?” “Because you have a choice, my friends. Which do you value more, your lives, or his?”[/i][/b] The two thugs glanced at each other, but they seemed to remember themselves, and the shorter one grinned as he pulled the long, wicked-looking knife from his belt as he turned back to Luca. [i][b]“Baldo pays well too. More than enough to kill some lord who wants to play as a mercenary.”[/b][/i] Luca frowned and shook his head, almost apologetically, even as the second thug also pulled out his knife. [i][b]“It’s sellsword. And you should spend more time listening in the Compass. Such a shame.”[/b][/i] With a flourish, Luca pulled the long, thin blade of Rosa free from her sheath, and swung it a few times through the air with ease, before levelling it towards the two guards. He gestured with his free hand, a smile on his face again. [i][b]“After you, gentleman.”[/b][/i] The shorter thug came at him first, charging forwards and swinging the knife at his head. Luca moved almost effortlessly, the heavy swing soaring past him and the momentum sending the thug stumbling past. The taller of the guards was more hesitant, but Luca didn’t hesitate. The rapier flashed through the air, slicing across the thug’s hand, leaving a deep slash and causing the knife to clatter down to the cobblestones below. The hulking figure staggered back, but he wasn’t quick enough, Rosa flashing through the air again as Luca drove the blade through the man’s neck. Pulling it free with a flourish, Luca left the thug to crumple to the ground desperately clutching at the blood spurting from his opened throat. Luca turned to face the remaining guard, who stood a pace away, a look of sheer disbelief across his face. The smile never left the sellsword face, and he beckoned mockingly with his free hand. Hurrying backwards, the knife falling from his hand as he grabbed desperately for the spark pistol in his belt, panic filling his eyes. Luca closed the gap in an instant, the rapier plunging into the thug’s stomach, the point protruding from his back stained with blood. Luca pulled the blade free, the guard sprawling across the cobbles. Looking down at the man at his feet, Luca shook his head apologetically. Kicking the knife and the pistol away from the thug’s reach, he dropped to one knee, leaning close as he placed his free hand on the man’s shoulder. [i][b]“You should live. Do your best to stop the bleeding, I’ll be back soon.”[/b][/i] Leaving the first guard trying to stem the blood seeping from his belly, Luca stepped over the still corpse of the second, pushing open the gates and striding quickly towards the house at the end of the narrow path. Rosa still unsheathed and clutched in one hand, dripping blood as he walked, Luca opened the simple wooden door of the house with a solid kick that splintered the lock. He stopped for a moment, listening in the doorway, and heard raised voices in one of the rooms up the rickety stairs. Bounding up them, he reached the door at the same time as Baldo Gabor began to pull it open. Slamming his shoulder against the door elicited a cry of shock from Baldo as he fell back, and a scream from further in the room. Continuing his momentum into the room, Luca pinned Baldo to the floor, a boot pressing down on the man’s chest. Baldo Gabor was a fat man, his thin hair quickly receding, and there was absolute fear in his bulging eyes as he looked up at the sellsword. And he was naked. Luca held Baldo’s wild stare as he brought Rosa’s point to press against his thick throat. [i][b]“The Bevrek family send their regards.”[/b][/i] The rapier was so sharp that it took only the slightest pressure for it to slide through Baldo’s throat. He struggled feebly for a minute, before lying still. Luca pulled Rosa free, and looked around the room. Obviously a bedroom, a large bed dominated much of the space, in which cowered a beautiful, young woman, desperately clutching the sheets to cover herself and as naked as Baldo was. Luca nodded towards her, smiling slightly, before wiping his sword clean and sheathing it. [i][b]"Good evening, sorry to interrupt."[/b][/i] The girl nodded frantically, watching him with terror as he turned and strode from the room. By the time Luca had returned to the gates, the surviving guard had dragged himself to almost within grabbing distance of the spark pistol, leaving a trail of thick blood behind him on the street. Luca sighed slightly as he strode towards the miserable figure. Taking the spark pistol from the floor himself, Luca leant close to the man again, his voice low. [i][b]“Valeriano D’Ascanio, try and remember the name this time. Tell your friends what happened here.”[/b][/i] With that, Luca rose to his feet, tossing the spark-pistol away and striding back down the street, whistling a jaunty tune as he went. A dark figure stepped out of the shadows, glancing up and down the street before it spoke in a hushed voice. [i][b]“Is it done?”[/b][/i] Luca nodded, holding out a hand as he flashed a winning smile. [i][b]“As promised.”[/b][/i] The figure placed a purse of stones into Luca’s outstretched hand before melting back into the shadows, hurrying away down a narrow alley. Luca continued his tune as he carried on down the street. His whistling stopped suddenly, and he backtracked slightly to inspect a white talon marked onto the street wall. A smile crept across his handsome face as he set off again, his tune forgotten, and his pace doubled as he wound through the streets of the Gray District, towards the ramshackle cabin known as The Nest.