Liaena raised an eyebrow at Donald. “I don’t know exactly which blades you are talking about, but I think I’m good”

Reaching into her satchel and rummaging for quite some time for a vial, Liaena pulled a saucer towards her and poured a small measure of the liquid into it, enough to barely cover the bottom as she pushed it back towards Donald. 

Glancing down at the proffered liquid, the little assassin gave Liaena a brief askance look before bending down to scoop some up in a hand. Liaena returned the look with a deadpan. “Sorry, I would join you. But I don’t feel like being a giant”

Taking a mouthful of the liquid, Donalds eyes widened momentarily as a numbing feeling of lethargy crept over him….before he collapsed on the table, both having a) returned to his original size and b) fallen fast asleep. 

“….”

Ignoring the now even more high pitched squeaking from Astrid, Liaena studied the man in silence for a minute before pulling one of the less stained pieces of parchment from Doins desk towards her and locating a functional pen. Writing reasonably slowly as she gathered her thoughts, she glanced through it once when she was finished, folded and inserted it into the inside pocket of the mans coat. 

The parchment in question read thusly:

 [i]Good morning. 

You’re free to go as per our agreement. Sorry, but I will be keeping your girlfriend with me as insurance should you try and interfere with me in the future. Assuming I survive this and you don’t double cross me, I promise I will release her as soon as Sherpa is dealt with.

I hope you don’t take this personally, as you said yourself that I have no reason to trust your word. I don’t even want her any longer than I can avoid, but unfortunately I can’t afford to take any chances. [/i]

There was no signature. There was however, a postscript. 

[i]If you happen to remember anything else that could help with the surviving part, the dwarves know where to find me. 

L [/i]

Leaving the room and closing the door carefully behind her, Liaena caught the arm of a red Vanguard member that was walking past. The place was mostly deserted, it was the early hours of the morning after all and the fuss of the White Hands visit had died down. “Hey. There’s a guy asleep in there who might be a bit angry in the morning. If anyone asks, he’s free to leave whenever he wants and I said it was fine”

“Uhhh….right” The Vanguard member said after a pause, during which time he gave her a very funny look before realising she was entirely serious. “And who are[b] you[/b], exactly?”

“Oh, nobody important” Liaena smiled back, before making for the stairs, already heading down them. Outside, the darkness of the night was eerily quiet after the excitement it had seen. “Fran knows me. Goodnight”