Fantasy RPG Forum - Standing Trials

Yana was glad that she was right in her decision to use intimidation rather than just force her way through. The crowd would have opposed her if she had tried, forming a wall. Now though, be it because of the sword or anything else, they did part before her and her temporary companion, allowing them to pass without hindering too much. Some seemingly were oblivious as to what was going on, remaining in their spot, though they were easily shoved aside firmly. Yana wasn’t unnecessarily violent, but neither was she gentle. She was a professional after all, and it showed in her actions.

Before too long the two of them had managed to get through the gate, leaving the crowd of people behind. There, the Videnese Agent took charge once again, pulling at the Yludih’s arm and shouting something about a shortcut. Yana nodded briefly. “Lead the way,” she said, letting the man get in front of her so she could follow him. He led her through a system of tunnels, some known to the public, open for all, but some were obscure and hidden. Yana’s interest was piqued –honestly just about anything she did not yet know about would do—and she took care to memorize the location of these secret tunnels and the locations they led to. This was quickly turning into a productive activity indeed. Not that the Yludih had any malicious intent, mind, she merely figured that she could use them in case of emergency.

Corners were rounded in quick succession, and the pair found themselves in the exact position where the assassin was at the moment. Yana was truly impressed. Not only had they managed to get the target back in their sights, but they would have been close enough to catch up, if that had been necessary. Fortunately for the two of them, another pursuer had done their work for them already, having tackled the perpetrator, now wrestling them in the snow. Blows were exchanged, damage was taken, and the Agent cried for their ally to stop. Yana disagreed.

“Keep him down by any means necessary,” she ordered instead, “Killing him excluded!” As far as she was concerned, they needn’t be gentle at all. A few broken limbs would not hurt their cause. Neither would an unconscious target. They only needed to catch him alive so they could interrogate him, but what good was not killing an assassin if it gave them an opportunity to escape? They would be discouraged from fleeing if their knee was busted.

“As a matter of fact, I do,” Yana spoke, a tiny grin showing, “Good thing I like being prepared.” Perhaps all those arcs in the military had conditioned her to always expect combat situations. Especially at events such as these. She quickly pulled the Climber Vine bindings out of a pocket, and took a moment to recall what that dreadfully insufferable Naer had told her last season. Salt water, if memory served --which it did. With a few steps she approached the now pinned down assassin, and knelt beside them and the man keeping them in place. She reached for the assassin’s wrists, gripping them tightly, and twisting them behind the back of the suspect, one over the other. Then she told the Agent to keep them in place for a bit, while she removed the wrapper from the binding.

Just as she had been told, the vine itself was nicely stretchy and flexible; wrapping it around the wrists of the assassin was no problem whatsoever. She twisted the leftover ends around each other –there was too little vine left for a knot—and withdrew her hands to study her handiwork for a trill. To actually restrain the assassin she’d need some salt water though, of which enough was pouring from the pores of the Agent and the other man. She wasn’t sure if Yludih sweat was going to do the trick, so she decided not to use hers.

“Excuse me,” she said, reaching out for the human man’s forehead, wiping some sweat from his brow, then smearing it on the vine, which immediately began to shrink and tighten. Linika had said its strength was comparable to steel, in which case the assassin would not be removing these bonds any time soon. She turned back to the Agent then. “There you go, all tied up. Where do we take our prisoner now?”

The human male also got some of Yana’s attention though. A poor leader she’d be if she did not recognize and accept the role he’d played in this situation. He’d saved them a whole lot of trouble. She saluted him for a brief moment. “We greatly appreciate your assistance in this matter, mister…?” She paused momentarily, the infliction of her voice –though minimal—making it a question in regards to his name. After the brief pause, she continued: “Without you we would have been chasing this criminal down for a while longer. You have my thanks.”