Ann & Finn

This is a work written under commission. I hope you enjoy it!

The proprietor of the Golden Lily covertly looked behind, making sure she wasn't being trailed. Night had not yet fallen, but in Finn's opinion, there wasn't quite enough light to actually determine if there was anyone following her. The shop owners hadn't yet bothered to light up their stores. No lights from the shops, and barely any from the dusk meant that it was actually the darkest time of the day in the marketplace. Combined with the mild crowd, it was the perfect time to pursue someone furtively, which the Noble unfortunately didn't realize.

Jinora, the proprietor, hadn't bothered bringing an entourage, which meant that it was important enough that she had to be present herself, and not spread news of her traveling. Only with luck had Ann figured out Jinora was meant for a meeting today. Finn and Ann had figured out which 'Jinora' was the decoy, and followed the other. Following both would have been an exercise in futility, as the information they could get without their artifact wouldn't be as savory.

"She has a good disguise," Ann whispered at his side. "Almost looks like a seamstress."

"Almost," Finn agreed. Jinora was dressed as a common. A drab gown covered her, and her dark hair was braided, but uncovered. Nobles always kept their hair covered, which sold the look. "Midtown Market that way?"

"Not too long then."

The Midtown Market, contrary to the name, was a disreputable area. Finn had strong suspicions that the constabulary avoided the territory only because they got paid to do so. But that was a trail for another day. In the gathering dusk, he could barely make out Jinora anymore. He only hoped they weren't heading into an ambush. To everyone beyond the Certain People, Ann and Finn were not in Ilian at all. Their services worked best when nobody expected them. At least, that was what Clipper believed.

After a minute of walking through dark alleyways, wading over eternal drunkards, and at one point, entering a tavern, they finally reached their destination. A dilapidated building, with no door, and no lights on. Jinora disappeared into the darkness in short order.

Ann, leaning against the wall of the abandoned house they'd entered, whispered, "Trap?"

"Most likely. Surely there is

no

reason for Jinora to enter

that

so late into the night."

"Hmm. Or maybe... she has a clandestine lover. Or lovers. We should enter."

Finn sighed, "It doesn't matter either way. We scale the wall with the rings, and enter through that window on the second floor."

"Maybe

that's

the trap."

"Maybe. You got a better idea?"

"Not really. Except chucking you out that window first chance we get."

"I'm going first then."

He opened his mind to the ring, feeling himself go invisible to everyone but himself and Ann. The rings they wore worked in tandem, and probably had far more uses than they knew yet. He knew that someone, somewhere, would call the use of these rings for simple espionage a waste of its talents. Finn would agree with those people, except when he was balls deep inside the queen of Terea. Then it made complete sense to use the rings as they did.

Scaling the decaying building was incredibly difficult in the dark, with most possible handholds in ruin, or too slick from the humidity to climb. Once he was on top, he immediately scanned the room. It appeared just as neglected as the rest of the structure. Once he was sure nobody lurked in the dark, he offered a hand down to Ann, he sneaked to the door, with Ann following him. Muffled sounds echoed from the bottom, and they continued their way downstairs. The ring didn't silence their surroundings, so any wrong touch, like tipping a piece of furniture down, would give them away.

The voices cleared as they creeped down the stairs. There was a single candle lit in the main chamber. The two women stared at each other over the flame, arguing in frustrated tones. Jinora was composed as usual, but being around her for so long had made him attuned to her emotions. She was annoyed. The other woman was quite tall, and had twin swords strapped to her back. Finn had never seen her before, nor did she match any description of the Kindread that he'd memorized. He couldn't make out much of her beyond that in the gloom. In a heated voice, she said, "Why? If the instructions were as explicit as-"

"They weren't. Your masters have always bought the same amount of seeds. If there was anything new in the instructions, either your birds forgot to write it, or, unlikely as it is, we missed it. I'd say-"

"We

cannot

make do."

"Meet us another time then."

"House Harriet knows our schedules. It knows we cannot compromise on this later."

"And as I've

said,

we cannot do more."

"If you are being this hostile, why shouldn't I simply hire another proprietor?"

There was a pause. Jinora had neatly wrapped the other woman in a net. Slowly, she said, "Why shouldn't

I

simply report you and your...

poultry farm...

to the Deathwatch?

Her hands did not go to her swords, but her posture immediately turned hostile. Beside him, Ann said, "Poultry farm? Talking as if they're being eavesdropped! That whore Jinora won't slip a word out if we don't do something."

"Do what, exactly?"

In response, she walked over to Jinora. Finn knew what she would do a moment before she did it. She thrust her hands inside the high neckline, tussling with the fabric as she tried to find Jinora's nipples, whose expression didn't change immediately, but that cold facade slipped for a moment. The moment was enough for her to snap out, "Nothing you say matters! You're speaking for masters who have always been vague in their instructions. What are we supposed to do when, inevitably, an order goes wrong?"

"Aha!" Ann said triumphantly. "You're gonna help me out, or what?"

With a sigh, Finn trudged over. She immediately remarked, "Oh, don't act so grumpy. I know how you've wanted her for

so

long. Just look at that nobl-y face.

I

have always wanted it reduced to a sloppy mess. All we have to do is frustrate her enough so she slips out a bite for us to mull over."

"Yeah, that's obviously going to work."

Before he could reply, the Kindread woman replied, "Our instructions... are always explicit. Is there no such thing as loyalty in House Harriet anymore? We have worked with you for a decade, and you threaten to rat us out this easily?"

Jinora shivered as he caressed the side of her face. This close, he could make out that she was pleased. The woman had pretty much led this conversation, threading it to form a tapestry she wanted sewn. As soon as she spoke, he kissed her, "That's obfioush... obviously true," he waited and touched their lips only at the most opportune moments after that, "There is still loymmm... ahem. There is still lo- gah!"

She jumped and stepped away, rubbing away at her lips. Both Ann and Finn sidestepped. She gave him a grim look, "You messed it up! What were you

doing

up there?"

"She obviously hasn't been kissed in a long time. Too sensitive."

Jinora refused to apologize for the outburst and continued, "What I'm saying is-" Ann's hands sneaked up her dress this time, pulling her stockings down. "-that we... we have an understanding. The T- the farm and House Harriet... have always had an understanding."

Her stockings had been pulled halfway down, and now she truly seemed agitated. The change wouldn't be noticeable to the warrior, but feeling it herself was bound to confuse her. Finn decided he wasn't needed here anymore, and walked to the Kindread member instead. She was almost as tall as him, so he didn't have to lean to kiss her rosy lips. Startled, her gaze widened, but she did not flinch. He cupped both sides of her face, and stared into the depths of her eyes. A moment later his lips connected with her eyebrows, trailing to the tip of her nose. Behind him, Jinora let out what sounded very much like a moan. A heartbeat passed before she said, "If this year, the troupe isn't able to- to rent as many rooms as they'd like, then you can bargain for more next year."

Ann let out a sigh in triumph, "So. It

is

the Troupe. I was right. You owe us a visit to the Deathwatch."

Finn groaned, "After this fiasco has been dealt with."

The troupe, specifically the Kindread, according to Jinora's notes, was the source of the illegally smuggled dragon parts they'd rooted out in multiple parts of the City of Light. Ilian had entered a pact with one of the foul beasts nearly a century ago. Root out dragon hunters within the kingdom, and Yirmir - at least, that's what Finn thought the dragon's name was - would aid the city in its time of need. Since the pact was nearly a century old, everyone and their grandmother knew smuggling dragon parts inside of the City of Light could earn you a lifetime underneath the Rosin palace.

"Seeing as you no longer have any objections," Jinora stated. "Then I'll commit this to paper."

Finn walked around the Troupe guard, and pressed himself against her back. Grabbing her breasts, he pulled to him. She gasped and actually melted against him. He took in her scent. Weapon oil for the most part, but a floral scent emanated from her hair. He kissed the back of her ear, and then prodded her to sit in one of the rickety chairs, where he knelt beside her.

As Jinora bent over a table to compose an agreement, Ann stepped behind her and pressed her crotch against her hips. She thrust herself so hard that the rickety table nearly collapsed. Finn, who was about to bury his face inside the Troupe guard's cleavage, hissed, "Careful!"

"Ugh, I'm careful enough. It's this table's fault," she suddenly perked up, caressing Jinora's back. "You wonder why House Harriet isn't earning more of a profit by getting them every room they want?"

Finn was too busy, kissing the guard's nipples through her thick fabric to answer. Eventually, he pushed her knees apart, and tenderly settled the back of his head on her groin. He gently moved back and forth, stimulating her. Ann rolled his eyes at him and flicked the pen out of Jinora's hand, lying across the table. She lifted her skirt up, and thrust Jinora's hand inside. He couldn't bring it in himself to reprimand her, so he simply stared up at the guard, saying, "We should... leave."

"But we can't."

"Yeah..."

"Don't be so melodramatic."

"I wonder which one of the Gods cursed me with you. Imagine if I had Lisbet... or Faile, as my partner."

"Lisbet would report you to the Archmage and Faile might stab you first before doing that. For good measure."

"I think she's getting turned on. Shifting and rubbing her thighs all over my face. It kinda-"

"Don't change the subject."

Just then, the guard spoke up, "This place is so old, I think it might be a little... infested."

Ann burst out laughing, "Infested! You're

infesting

her! Hah!"

He groaned as Jinora said something in assent. The document was taking long enough that Finn decided he might as well finish the job like Ann. Undoing his trousers, he carefully placed his foot on the arm of the old chair. Making the guard lean against his leg, he positioned his stiff cock in front of her lips. Unfortunately a horse whisper from Ann came, "She's done."

"Done?" he was rubbing his dick on her lips. She had them clamped shut, but he already had a few ideas to get them open.

"The... document. Ugh," she suddenly stood, adjusting her skirt. "I don't think we can do anything to make them stay."

The troupe woman stood as well, leaving his dick throbbing in the air. She read over the document, and shook Jinora's hand, without saying a word. As she walked to the door however, she said, "My masters won't be happy with this outcome, Jinora. But I do hope that we meet on more friendly terms, some time."

"Maybe we should follow her," Ann whispered beside him. "It'll probably lead to a dead end, but maybe..." she pointed at his still-erect dick.

He shook his head and began to pull his trousers back up. Jinora did not wait even a moment after the door had closed, and marched to the backside of the building, exiting it. In most cases, it was best to leave their targets be, if they were expected somewhere. They'd learned the hard way that it could trigger a chain reaction and extreme suspicions about magic being in play. They couldn't do anything if the room was sprinkled with Tuloqian powder. Or any powder, really.

"Now what?" he asked once he was comfortable enough to walk.

"Umm. Report to Lady Kiruna?"

"So she could hound us on details? Honestly,

why

does she have to be a part of the operation?"

"Because Clipper. I'm just surprised the bastard hasn't sent at least a dozen stalkers our way, considering how curious he is about how we work."

"King Lorentz tolerates the man far too much."

"Now, just because you're still hard as a rock, doesn't mean you get to commit treason. Respect our honorable Spymaster."

"If only he was a woman..."

"Hush. I said no more treason. I'm thinking we humbly request an audience from Lady Kiruna. She'll be pretty mad at us for not waiting until morning, but that makes her a better target, right?"

"Let's just hope she doesn't slip deathrose powder down our drinks."

In a couple of hours, they were sitting next to the fireplace in Kiruna's study. Sneaking inside was not an option. The woman was a master assassin, and switched the rooms in her manor frequently. The decoy rooms were laced in enough poison to take down a team of horses. At least, that's what they'd learned. It was better to not play in a game of life with Joline Kiruna. Finn was getting impatient by the time the door slammed open and the assassin walked in.

"I trust," she said coldly, "that this is more important than the game of cards I just left."

She was dressed immaculately, ostensibly serving as a minor noble in the Court of Light. Each of her fingers was ringed, and her dark braid entwined with a ruby chain, meant to complement her red dress. Finn could tell the dress was made for combat. It fit snugly to her body, but he could imagine it tearing apart whenever she needed it to. His eyes, however, were drawn to the split in the dress around her chest. It highlighted the sides of her breasts, before rejoining just beneath. The fact that she wore this now meant she was meeting men of influence. Everything Kiruna did was

flawless.

She was the very image of an Ilian noblewoman, meant to hold her house as well as outside affairs. At least, that's what her image conveyed to others.

Beneath all that plump, she was a master of her craft. But to Finn, her image only made her more dangerous. If she kept her impressions so clean, with so much effort, how much more work would she put in to have someone killed? He wasn't sure their rings would help if she wanted them gone. Messing with her was a deadly risk, and if not for Ann, he would've stayed clear of her.

"Lady Kiruna," Ann was quick to scrape before the woman, standing and giving her an elegant bow. "I hope everything goes well? As for the late arrival, it simply could not wait."

"Of course it couldn't. Now, do sit, both of you. Finn, pour us that bottle, will you? No, you dimwit. The one underneath. Ann, wipe these glasses. I'm not sure what was in them last. Yes, thank you."

The worst part about Kiruna was that she

made

them want to obey her, even if she wasn't their superior. When Kiruna entered your room at midnight, it was

she

who was going to tell you what to do about it, no matter if you liked it or not. Ann said she found that exciting, and he had to admit that it sent a thrill down his insides each time they paid her a visit too. But the fear was always present.

"The ladies will obviously remark on my absence. I expect you entered via the Warren?" at their nod, she continued. "Hmph. Still keeping your identity secret? I must tell you, you are

not

important enough to have a price on your head."

"Nonetheless," Ann, despite behaving meekly, could not hide the scalding tone from her voice. "Would you like to hear the news?"

"Yes," she sipped her wine. "Let's see what tidbit you've managed to gather this time."

Finn still did not understand why half of the Certain People were against them. Their jealousy at their accomplishments seemed inane to him. After all, he'd never been envious of Kiruna's skill at dealing death. But she and others seemed to take it as a fault of their own for not discovering their secret. The worst part of it was that the other half hailed them as figures of legends. He could stand them even less than Kiruna's ilk.

"It's the Kindread. As far as we could hear, they're the ones leasing the properties that are indirectly under house Harriet. Every year. They've been doing this every year."

"The

Kindread?

" Kiruna's tone never changed. "If this were coming from someone else, I wouldn't believe it. Hmm..."

"They're likely the ones smuggling the parts then."

"Or they were framed."

Ann leaned against her chair, saying, "You do realize how

trustworthy

our information is."

"Oh, I tend to regard everything with suspicion, Ann dear. As I've always maintained, I do not like the secrets you keep. Someone could be feeding you information and you might not realize it."

"As you wish, Lady Kiruna. That's pretty much what we have."

"Is it? And what will you do next?"

"Is that your business to know?"

"No, but it is the Royal Spymaster's. You would do well to mind your tongue, girl."

"As should you, Lady Kiruna."

Her amber gaze stayed on Ann. And for a moment, he wondered if she'd gone too far. Their dislike of each other had been quite open, but they never dared lift a hand against each other. That was the last thing Clipper would want. And in Ilian, Clipper's wants were law.

"If you want to behave like sulky children," Kiruna abruptly stood. "Just make sure to report to me whatever it is you want to do. Leave by the backdoor, and don't make your presence known. Have a good night."

The door slammed shut behind her. Finn took a deep breath, saying, "That did not go well."

"That woman," Ann hissed, "One of these days..."

"One of these days?"

"What we do to her does not count. I've got more planned."

Contrary to what Kiruna said, the backdoor was watched. They hadn't bothered figuring out who the watcher was. All they knew was that Kiruna expected each visitor to leave from the backdoor, so they could be noted. Just as they were undoubtedly logged by the spy at the Warren entrance. Having two separate people at the job was apparently better. They'd figured they could simply exit via the backdoor so Kiruna thought they'd left. Then they could sneak back inside since they never left the grounds, until opportunity brought the door open once again.

A few hours later, they were crouching inside a storage room on the first floor, right next to the room where Kiruna and her cronies gossipped. The room was safe, as they'd seen a servant use it a few minutes prior, but they'd activated their rings just in case. It also had an entrance to the hallway beyond, which made it perfect. Ann made a face at his suggestion that they wait. She peeked through the keyhole at the room beyond, saying, "Ridiculous. I don't want to wait anymore. See, that's Lady Saffir, and Mierin. Mierin, from the apothecary over at the East Gate?"

"Let me have a look," he said. But she didn't budge, even after he tried to shove her.

"Hush! Mierin looks so uncomfortable."

"Just let me look!"

"Ugh, fine."

There wasn't much beyond what she'd already told him. He turned as the door behind them clicked open, but it was only Ann, who said, "I'm tired of waiting. You can sit there and watch me, or join me. Your choice. It's close enough that the ring would work either way."