The birds singing was now being echoed out as a larger and larger gathering of carrion birds assembled within the branches of all the trees that surrounded the clearing. A few travellers had paused and glanced over to view the scene, but the sight of the lifeless bodies on the ground were enough to cause them to hasten their journeys and disappear from sight down the long dirt road. It was a bit surprising that none of the city guards had approached the three men that remained standing upright. Perhaps the D'ol Dathri had paid them off? That wouldn't come as much of a surprise, what with Ornestoro admitting to testing the shaven-haired 'monk' if he were still a capable fighter. Getting the city guards involved accidentally would only cause nothing but trouble. Not that 'trouble' would be any concern for the shaven-headed 'monk'. Nomi just stared at him in silence for a moment and just smirked to himself as he wondered if his old friend would be stupid enough to start a fight with the soldiers that protected the city. Perhaps if he were paid enough, who knew?

The bandit who wielded the greatsword from earlier stirred and came to, where he sat up and winced before clenching both his hands over his face, feeling the broken nose that had now stopped bleeding. One glance up at the blind man caused panic to overcome the bandit as he shuffled backwards on his butt, trying to get away. The noises he made caused the silver-haired man to glance down and just grin, which prompted the greatsword user to scramble up to his feet and flee the scene as quickly as his feet would carry him. The blind man just stood there, as solid as a statue and kept his arms folded across his chest. There was no point in stepping on ants. The bandit had learned his lesson. He'd not be kidnapping kitchen hands again any time soon. Hearing the D'ol Dathri speak to the blind man in his native tongue, Nomi 'glanced' to Jintaru and just stared at him with an expressionless look spread across his face. He didn't understand nor speak D'ol Dath-tar. Fortunately the shaven-headed 'monk' had saved Nomi the trouble of asking what the wealthy looking 'pedder of information' had said.

Nomi scoffed at the words that left his old friend's lips and he appeared to look back towards the D'ol Dathri, 'staring' at him much the same way the blind man 'looked' inside of Jintaru back at the tavern. Interestingly, this Ornestoro fellow was a very difficult man to read. He kept his cards close to his chest and his body language was but a murmur of a whisper. However, there were some things that were impossible to hide. After a second or two of silence, Nomi stepped towards the tall, dark-skinned man and sniffed the air about him a couple of times. He smelt of the rich, his clothes carried a scent of only the finest fragrances. This made who asked for payment, had no need for coin.
”Payment? If he can throw away one thousand gold for your head, the last thing he needs is more gold.”
The blind man snorted in Jintaru's direction, before he raised his right hand and held up an index finger, asking for a moment. Lowering his hand back down and unclasping the buckle that secured the flap of his satchel down, Nomi's hand buried deep within his bag before he pulled out an object wrapped in cloth. The shape of the item was that of a crescent moon, but it was thinner and sharper at one end. It was about eight inches long. The cloth it was wrapped in was damp and appeared to have a spell enchanted into the fabric to constantly keep it sodden at that.

”I've been trying to find a use for this, but I cannot. Perhaps a man of your... connections, might find use for it.”
Nomi tossed the object to the floor, where the fabric that covered it opened up, revealed a jet black claw underneath. Exposure to the dry air caused the claw to set aflame instantly and the fire burned with a ferocious intensity. The heat coming off it was unreal. With a smirk on the blind man's lips, he nodded his head towards the claw that lay upon the ground just before Ornestoro's feet.
”That is a claw of Naur Runya, the Dragon of Flames. Don't loose that cloth. It's enchanted to keep the flames under control.”
With his payment offered, the blind man waited a moment to see if there was any reaction from the peddler of information. Nomi's hand returned to within his satchel were he dug out the scroll fragment that he had revealed to the shaven-headed 'monk' earlier in the day. That same dark power radiated off the piece of ancient parchment the moment it was pulled from the blind man's bag. The veins within the silver-haired man's hand and forearm once more started to turn black, as if the scroll itself was corrupting his very body. Allowing the fragment to fall open on it's own accord, Nomi flashed the image of the jet black crystal to Ornestoro.
”I want to know where I can find this.”

Both men waited as Nomi reached into his satchel. Jintaru knew what the blind man was hiding inside and the thought of it set the hairs on the back of his neck on end. When the silver haired swordsman withdrew the claw and tossed it Ornestoro's feet, a certain amount of relief washed over him. But he knew it was merely a delay, there wa one reason that brought Nomi here and it wasn't to catch up with old friends.

"Payment does not always mean gold, czandur." Ornestoro addressed Nomi directly for the first time. As the claw came to rest at Ornestoro's feet and the burlap that enshrouded it fell open, the D'ol Dathri's eyes reflected the fire that erupted from the object. He had heard of the power of these claws but had never seen one up close, certainly never been in a position to possess one. He found the new revelation to do little to quell his distrust of the blind man. With the toe of an elegant sandal, he kicked the shroud back around the claw, dampening the fire enough for him to pick it up and fully wrap it up once more. He tucked the claw into the fold of his tunic. The D'ol Dathri knew of several uses for it and would waste as little time as possible exploring them.

Then came the moment Jintaru knew was coming. He watched as Nomi took the scroll from his satchel. He felt his hand twitch towards the handle of his sword. He felt the blood in his veins turn to mercury. He saw no such reaction from the stone-faced man opposite him. Ornestoro barely reacted, a slight tilt of his head was the only indication he had even seen what Nomi was holding. He glanced back at Jintaru and there was something dancing at the back of his eyes, not fear, more a sense of foreboding. Ornestoro knew what this thing was and he knew its significance, that much was certain. Jintaru was almost excited to see witness whatever reaction was to come from the dark-skinned D'ol Dathri. He turned back to Nomi so both men were facing him. He saw the effect contact with the scroll was having on his body. That kind of corruption was not mortal, it was not of this time. Whatever dark power roiled within the scroll, it was spreading into Nomi too. How far could this spread? If it can do this to one man in a matter of seconds, how long would it take to corrupt a city, a country, a world. The notion did not fill Jintaru with wonder or excitement. It frightened him. What firghtened him more was that his companions didn't seem to share his apprehension.

"You have little idea what you hold in your hands, czandur." Ornestoro began. "I can enlighten you. But it will be expensive." A sly smile crept across Ornestoro's lips and he took a step towards Nomi. "I will consider the claw payment for my agreeing to speak with you. The words I will speak will cost you more." He looked back at Jintaru. "Do you remember the seige in Rathia, fadzir?"

"Of course, one of the best jobs you found for me. Very lucrative...it paid for my bed and board for months." Jintaru nodded.

"Indeed, it was very lucrative for both of us." Ornestoro gestured a palm towards Nomi and the outstreteched scroll fragment. "This, is even more lucrative than that." He smiled. That look, Jintaru had seen in his friend many times before and it always meant trouble. But trouble always meant gold and adventure. Jintaru couldn't help but smile back. Ornestoro returned his attention to Nomi. "So, blind man." He began. "Are you prepared to strike another deal for the information you seek?"

It was almost a shame to have to give up the claw to the peddler of information, but the blind man's satchel did weight a lot less right now and that was relief to his shoulder at least. The Dragon of Flame was still alive somewhere in the world, and the silver-haired man would track the beast down and claim another of it's claws if he ever needed one. Either that or he'd just steal the one back off Ornestoro, but such thoughts were not crossing his might right now. All he wanted to hear were the words he sought; where he had to go next to find the crystal that was drawn upon the ancient scroll fragment. After a moment of revealing the item, Nomi brought the fragment of parchment into both his hands where he carefully, delicately folded it back up. Upon returning it to his satchel, the dark power that oozed off of it like the stink of a poisonous slime, vanished. The blind man 'looked' to his arm, brining it up before his face at arm's reach, where he tilted his head a fraction. The black colouring to his veins made it look like he had ink instead of blood, but all the silver-haired man could do was to smirk at it.

With a swipe of his arm through the air before him, the blind man 'shook' the blackness from his veins, causing a trail of black smoke to appear before him that wafted away instantly in the breeze, vaporising as it blew into the air. Brushing some of his long hair back behind his ear, Nomi's smirk faded to a frown as he listened to the words that were finally spoken to him, not being translated through the 'monk'. The blind man folded his arms across his chest and tapped the toes of his right foot upon the grass underneath, speaking no words to the D'ol Dathri as he aid that he required further payment for the information Nomi sought.
That's the trouble with rich bastards like you. You're greedy. Always wanting more, more, more. You assume you can milk me for even greater goods if you acknowledge my ability in being able to obtain the claw of a Dragon. I'd like to see your gold and your wealth save you from getting you stomach slit open.
The silver-haired man thought to himself as he listened to the conversation Ornestoro had with the shaven-headed man. They spoke of Rathia, and the blind man cocked an eyebrow underneath his blindfold.

The cawing of the carrion birds had settled down a little now as the large birds grew brave enough to venture close to the slain men, where they tucked into their lunch. The bandit who brandished the club from earlier was starting to wake up, but sight of the blind man and his shaven-headed companion caused him to scramble to his feet and flee the scene. No attention was paid to him, as the blind man kept his attention focused on the peddler of information, watching him as he stepped closer. His words would have made the blind man roll his eyes, were he to have any. Nomi 'glanced' to Jintaru and the blind man couldn't help but grin and let out a small chuckle.
”Well well, that's the first time I think you've genuinely smiled today, old friend.”
The silver-haired man looked back towards Ornestoro and he shook his head from side to side a few times, his arms remaining folded across his chest.
”You shall get no more items from me, D'ol Dathri, but it sounds like you have something else in mind for your 'payment', if you mention Rathia and speak the word 'lucrative'. As for the crystal on the scroll fragment, I have a couple of ideas as to what it might be, but all I care for right now is to get my hands on it. If to achieve that, I need to do some of your dirty work, then so be it. I could use a little exercise. Your pathetic excuse for sell-swords to claim his head was hardly enough for a warm up.”
The blind man spoke up, jabbing a thumb in Jintaru's direction upon mentioning the head that was supposed to be claimed.

Jintaru turned towards Nomi, the smile that had once parted his lips fell away. "It's the first time today I have found something worth smiling about." He said. He looked around, they ought to leave soon, the dead would soon being attracting more than mere carrion birds, and Jintaru certainly didn't want any unnecessary attention from the law. As he glanced back towards Ornestoro, he saw the man staring at Nomi and knew that the D'ol Dathri's mind was working overtime to process this new information and formulate a plan. Jintaru didn't know what the scroll depicted or where it had come from, he didn't care to, but he knew that Ornestoro knew. He could see in his friend's eyes that he knew what it was, and that it was extremely valuable.

"If that is what you seek, czandur, you will get plenty of exercise just trying to acquire it."Ornestoro began. "Although I am troubled. You are like the child who has found the father's crossbow...you are so enraptured by your new prize that you have no idea the danger you are in." He flashed a smirk at Nomi. "What you seek are crystals, or more precisely, several shards which combine to form a single, larger crystal. The power of this item is unfathomable. Many texts have been written about it but most of them argue and contradict one another more times than they agree." The D'ol Dathri crossed his arms. "I, however, do know the possibilities inherent in this object and, most importantly for you, czandur, I could find out where you ought to begin your search."

Jintaru cocked his head. Horses. Four. Mounted. Coming from the North. He flicked his eyes up to Nomi, knowing that the blind man would have felt them too. "I think we ought finish this elsewhere. We've lingered too long."

The blind man smirked and he took a step closer towards the D'ol Dathri, resulting in him now standing as close to the peddler of information as the shaven-headed man himself was. However, Nomi allowed his smirk to widen as he turned his head to 'glance' in Jintaru's direction, not hiding the expression on his face as he started to play a little mind game with the 'monk'. Jintaru was fast, impossibly so, but the blind man was equal. Nomi was teasing the 'monk', taunting him with where he stood and the look he was giving. He cared not for what Ornestoro himself thought right now, but Nomi wanted to provoke the shaven-headed man. Could Jintaru reach his bow and fire an arrow before the silver-haired man sunk his fist into Ornestoro's face? It was painful to fight back the temptation to find out. The little scuffle from earlier had relit a fire within the blind man, an urge of blood lust, the desire to fight for your life. He wanted to pull out his blade and attack the shaven-headed man so much that he visible clenched his hands into tight fists to stop himself. He never took his 'gaze' off of Jintaru though. He just continued to 'stare' at him as he visualized a battle between them both in his mind. Of course, this was against the 'old Jin Long'. This new version of his old friend might have a couple new tricks up his sleeve. That bow for starters.

As Ornestoro spoke, the tension and provocation from the blind man vanished almost instantly. His arms relaxed as did his hands, though they swiftly folded themselves across the silver-haired man's chest.
”That's good to hear D'ol Dathri, but your words of danger are wasted on me, for I live danger, thrive off it.”
A sinister smirk spread across the blind man's lips as he turned his head in Ornestoro's direction, 'staring' straight at him and tilting his head a fraction to the right. He listened as the wealthy man continued to speak, his smirk growing wider when he started to finally say the words he wished to hear. Nomi cared not if Ornestoro knew of what the crystal did, so long as he pointed the blind man in the right direction in where to find it... but news of the sketch upon his scroll fragment being a fragment itself of a larger object, was both interesting to hear and bothersome at the same time. The blind man had used his innate ability to 'see' with his mind to study the scroll fragment in great depth when he had returned from Mor Sgaithatch, and the notches on the lower third of the crystal fragment did suggest the piece of part of a larger item. But the question was how many of these shards were there in total?
”That's what I wanted to hear, D'ol Dathri. You go find out where I can find this 'shard' and I'll go take your 'dog' here for a walk.”

However, the sound of horses rapidly approaching their location cut the blind man's smirk from his face entirely. He whirled around and glanced to Jintaru, whom he knew had also felt their approach. To a normal man, there was no sound bar the wind in the grass and leaves alongside the caws of the carrion birds. But Nomi knew that mounted men were approaching, armed and armoured by the sound of it. Seems that one of the travellers along the main road had finally found some of the soldiers patrolling the city and had informed them of the situation involving the blind man and his old friend. Perhaps it was the kitchen hand himself, thinking he was doing the right thing in calling for help?
”Indeed my 'old friend'. It's time we disappeared. Any suggestions?”
The blind man turned about and walked back across the clearing towards the main road, enough so that he could 'look' down the dirt road in both directions. Sure enough, a cloud of dust was on the horizon to the west and four silhouettes were gradually growing larger. Nomi smirked and glanced back over his shoulder towards Jintaru, where he brought up his right hand to besides his head, fingers slowly curling around the handle of his katana that was tied to his back.
”Unless you want me to sort this out?”
He said in a dark, taunting tone.