Marlena listened, her hand still on the door handle as he spoke. She knew he was right, and she'd love to be the one to kill the man herself. She was in no position to argue and opened the door, breathing deep as she stepped out into the open.
It was dark now, the shadows keeping her hidden as she stayed by the door, waiting patiently, a slight satisfaction rising knowing what would be happening in that cellar.
Kiga nodded once she left and the rest was done in the cellar. There was a commotion, some yelling, a lot of what sounded like wind and an.... eagle? And certainly, the ruckus of fighting. But it was over quite quickly.
Kiga came out the door with three young girls in tow, all who looked to be no older than twelve and all of whom looked truly terrified. He seemed upset but was wearing a blue hood over his head, his face cloaked in shadow. He took the lead and made for the gate immediately.
I will clear the way, they aren't about to climb. Then we can inform the Sentinels. I think they'll find him quite ready to fess up. Not to mention this.
He held a few pieces of parchment, presumably torn from some book or another. He stuffed it into his shirt and then took off like a shot, wind whipping about in his trail. He struck like a shadow, fast and furious, the night making it hard for her to follow his motion. He did not kill, he did not need to; but whistled soon enough and called her over.
Right. This shit whole is shut down. Those girls need to be taken care of. The Sentinel can lock the bastards up. When that is said and done, let me know. I'll be watching.
Marlena stepped away from the wall as the door opened, moving straight to the small girls that followed him out the door, checking each of them over and offering soft words of reassurance. She may have been unsociable, but she wasn't heartless, and children were a weak spot in her armor. Looking up when he spoke, she gave only a nod in reply before straightening and taking the hands of two of the children.
They'd barely made it to the front of the building when she heard the whistle, breaking into a jog to reach him faster. The Sentinel building wasn't as far away as she had expected, but she had no idea of what to do with the children. These girls were either taken from their families or orphans, she would have to hope the Sentinel had some idea.
She gently tugged at the hand of the smallest girl, giving a soft smile to her before leading the three along the street and ignoring the sick feeling in her stomach at having to deal with the Sentinel. Having learned long ago how to put on a show, she told the girls to agree with what she says before running to a group of three Sentinel guards ahead of them, the girls running along behind on little legs. By the time they catch up, Marlena's act is in full swing, tears and pleading for them to to go back to the building to see if any other girls are trapped in a building with a mad man.
As the Sentinel run back in the direction she and the girls came from, the tears dry up immediately and a smile is on her lips. Now all she had to do was to find somewhere safe to put the children.
It was some time later when Kiga dropped from the shadows and approached a weary and now alone Marlena. The moon was bright, the night was now quiet and somehow, the breeze whispered that all was well in Wistvale.
He managed a slight smile when he studied her expression, then shrugged it off and bounced back to sit on one of the many crates that cluttered this alleyway.
So. You took care of everything then. Tell me how it went down.
Marlena wraps her arms around herself, the shawl having been lost sometime ago and leaving her shoulders at the mercy of the cool night air. She looks around for a moment before catching sight of a barrel outside of a dark building, wandering over to it and setting herself on the makeshift seat. She had heard him, but was taking her time in answering, relaxing slowly after the earlier events.
Simple enough...
The girls are with the orphanage for now and the Sentinel went to the house. The man confessed as you said he would.
Kiga nodded then and smiled, quite satisfied. He produced the same papers from earlier.
He will change his mind and these will help. From his ledger, human trafficking, his signature. I'll be keeping these until I'm sure they're in the right hands. He'll be put away for life and I am sure the blue looney will enjoy having the lead on his connections.
Which is of importance to us. They aren't within Wistvale and the Sentinel doesn't have the reach to get to them. The people I work for? Well we just might.
Now tell me this Marlena, if I hadn't come with you tonight; what would you have done?
She nodded as he spoke, breathing deeply and exhaling slowly. She yawns softly, a hand lifting to hide the movement with the back of her hand. Marlena wasn't being rude, she was just beginning to tire, and it was starting to show.
That's easy. I'd have charmed my way in, made it to the cellar and either left after hearing what we did because I was actually thinking and I know I couldn't do anything, or I would have ended up dead by trying to kill the man down there. Either way, The situation for the girls wouldn't have changed at all.
Kiga nodded and thought for a time, gently spinning a throwing knife through his fingers. He then looked up at her, as if confused.
No. You did well. And you're right. Rushing in there would have gotten you hurt or worse.
But, you still wanted to help. Because you saw it as wrong. That's a good start. You're obviously equipped to get your way, but you chose to climb into the property. You thought outside the box. That's good, being flexible is good.
I think, me personally; that you're going to be a valuable asset. If you are interested. Nothing permanent, no crazy joining ceremony and such; just some work. I spoke to Gray and he's very interested. He said to give you this.
Kiga plucks one sheet of paper from the rest and hands it to Marlena with a gracious nod.
Marlena gives a soft sound of amusement at his words and shakes her head gently before taking the paper from him, the lack of light making it difficult to read.
Climbing in would have been my first choice if I was dressed appropriately. Charm works, yes, but on the rare occasion, it doesn't. In a dress I have nothing but my knife, and I don't have the skill to incapacitate someone. I'm not a murderer. I won't kill people who don't deserve it.
But thank you. Work that you can do is good when you can get it. I won't be turning it down.
He was gone before she could say anything, leaving her there with the word 'home' running around her head. She'd never had a real home. No where she'd felt connected to. Maybe because she was so used to moving on before trouble came to her. All the sweet talk in the world wouldn't help her if the men she'd stolen from realized before she was well out of town.
She sighed softly and stood from the barrel, walking the few yards to the corner of the alley where a lantern hung from the corner of a house. Here, she could read what Grayell had written before making the journey back to the tavern.