Warning: Alleys may contain Conspirators

[Rattrap]

The dark of night had come, in a much more natural manner than so many weeks prior; the month had been for the most part, lightless, and many of Myrken Wood's inhabitants were still untrusting of the moon and her like. Still, there will always be those who appreciate the cover of darkness, such as the two individuals who could have been found speaking in a deadend allyway, which wasn't uncommon. Their conversation certainly would have caught the attention of the right listener, if only one were present.

"I see your mission went well," observed one of the two, speaking with a desert-dweller's accent.

"Not quite. We were beaten to the kill," replied the other in a considerably different, Italian accent.

"Still, you were able to join their ranks?"

"Of course. Straka would be foolish to deny somebody of my skill; they need all the help they can get."

"Good, good. How long do you think it will take you to rise?"

"Not long. Especially if certain people offer their positions."

"That can be arranged. You will have to work on your own in the meantime, however. Councilor O'Cynen's death will make people more wary of any more demise."

"Did you have anything to do with that?"

"No, but I don't believe that he died 'accidentally'. I knew him too well for that."

Footsteps approached, crunching the cobblestone street with a methodic pace. Both men looked, unstartled, to the alley entrance. They met each other's gaze only once more to offer a nod in parting before the taller individual exited the alley, stepping into the torchlight where his Straka uniform shone clearly. A patrol dressed in the same moved slowly by. "Oh, geez! Didn't see you there, uh..." one guardsmen said with a start.

"Masaccio," the Italian offered.

"Right, sorry. I'm bad with names..."

"Nessun problema."

The two guardsmen nodded and continued on their patrol, crunching cobblestones and occasionally tossing idle conversation around. Had either man been a senior guardsman, they might have questioned why the new recruit had just come from an alley; Masaccio chose his spots carefully, though. He did not glance over his shoulder knowing full well that his companion would not be there. Instead, he stepped out onto the road and continued his own patrol, meeting up with his partner just a block away.