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 Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2024 3:37 pm
While some of the staffing had been vetted by others before being confirmed by Nyko himself, there were a few that he’d hired purely on recommendation. His Oban contacts promised nothing, but the best which was why Nyko was even giving strangers a chance. How was he to know which were Dazhiq’s spies? Or how many had their own agenda, given the number of high-profile names were on the guest list?
It had taken a matter of days were Nyko’s unsettled feelings to reach a head and eventually the Matorian had called each of the unspoken for’s to his manor for a proper interview. The matorian was settled behind a massive, quartz desk that was trimmed in gold. Once I burn this place I might actually keep this. It was ostentatious to be sure, but there was something about the look that spoke to him.
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Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2024 3:57 pm
When Mino’aka had been approached by a lone, Oban woman during her patrols she’d been wary. It wasn’t the first time she’d been backstabbed trying to stop a smuggling operation, but she was kind. For a few nights Mina had grown closer to the woman, spoken with a few others who could vouch for her and when the topic of work came up she was willing to listen.
A guard job in Sulburi? At a noble’s wedding? At first she’d been appalled, ready to decline such an offer because of her outsider’s status, but the woman, named Jyna, had quickly stopped her. Her client would be an outsider, a vocalist named Nicosia, who needed protection. She’d been hired that night, was nearly ready to go to Sulburi in preparation, when she was summoned directly by her benefactor. And that…was worrisome. Was her contract being revoked before it ever began?
Just to be sure Mina made sure to dress in her armor, weapons at her side, and the little Hapuna debated wearing her mask. That was, after all, how the Oban had found her in the first place but here it felt wrong. So, instead, she’d shown up at the manor as she was and was shown inside. When she made it to his office she stood in the doorway, hands crossed infront of her and heart nearly beating out of her chest. “My name is Mino’aka. I received your summons and came as quickly as I could.”
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Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2024 4:00 pm
Looking up from his desk, Nyko’s gaze turned to the doorway and stalled. “You’re a little small, aren’t you?” The words were out before he could even think to filter them. “I’ve heard that Kahikina were as tall as Aishans. Guess they were wrong.” She was a young, slip of a thing, but the way the girl carried herself in that armor let him know he was dealing with a professional. It was heavy enough that if she weren’t used to it she would have slouched. Mina, though, she stood taller than her stature.
“Please, have a seat and if you’re thirsty I can have something sent for you.”
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Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2024 4:12 pm
Mina bristled. “If you’re stabbed with a dagger you aren’t any less dead than if you were stabbed with a sword.” Perhaps that was the wrong thing to say infront of her new employer, especially given the nature of the job, but being talked about as if she were a child upset her. He may have been taller than her, but that didn’t mean he was any better at his job than a shorter man would be! For a moment she thought about walking out all together until Mina reminded herself about her empty coin purse.
Don’t let him get to you. Lifting her head, the Hapuna moved into the room and gracefully took her seat. “Just like there are differences with earthlings there are differences with Kahikians. The Hapuna are shorter than Moakai, but my lack of height doesn’t make me any less capable, I assure you.”
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Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2024 4:17 pm
Well now that…”I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.” He’d walked right into it and while Nyko felt genuinely embarrassed, he also couldn’t take back his words. Jyna spoke well of the girls cheerful nature and now all he was seeing was the same cold, sharp exterior that he got whenever he angered Yunan.
“Jyna's notes said that you were well trained with a whip-“ His eyes traveled to the chain whip at her side, “-a sword, and magic? That’s impressive. Usually those that practice martial fighting don’t dabble into magic and vice versa.” He very nearly said it must have been hard, given the amount of training needed, but Nyko caught himself. Anything else and she might turn that whip against him.
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Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2024 4:24 pm
“I’ve made friends in Matori that have made learning easier. Even on my worst days having them by my side has made the transition so much more rewarding.” The decision to leave home hadn’t been easy and neither were her first few months of life in Matori. She’d wanted so badly to have a fresh start that Mina hadn’t thought once about how much work that would take. There had been weeks when she owed money to others and couldn’t pay, but now things were finally starting to look up for her.
“Jyna mentioned that I would be working as your personal guard for the event. Is my position a formality or do you have many enemies in Oba?”
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Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2024 4:28 pm
“I wish that I had less.” Nyko admitted with a sardonic smirk. “There are many here that would rather I go back to Belrea, but until my work is done I can’t leave. Admittedly, I can’t stand this country so the sooner this wedding is over with the happier I’ll be.” Leaning back in his seat, the Matorian crossed one leg over the other and allowed himself to relax a bit. “Do you often take jobs in Oba or is this your first? Jyna said that you were living in Matori so I wasn’t sure If travel was part of your usual fare.”
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Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2024 4:32 pm
Unlike Nicosia, Mina didn’t alter her position. She stayed as poised as she had when she first sat down and only moved to adjust her hips. “I live in Matori and you’re right, most of my work is there. I’ve never actually been to Oba before, but…the pay was worth the trip.” She didn’t want to make it sound as if she were a common sell sword, and yet the moment Jyna had told her the amount she could expect Mina’s jaw had dropped. That would be enough to pay her rent for a year! And more! Her cheeks warmed to a rich, deep gold just thinking about it. “It’s a little dry for my tastes.”
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Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2024 5:35 pm
“There’s no shame in that.” He added with a soft smile. “I’m fortunate now to work in what I love, but it wasn’t always the case.” At one point in his life he had been on the other side of the desk. She was already doing much better than him; he would still have been by the door, and nowhere near a seat.
“My assistant, Effi, will give you details of the event before you leave. Time, date, location, and all of that. For now I need you to familiarize yourself with the exterior of the estate and make sure not to be seen. It’s important that Dazhiq’s staff doesn’t recognize you so she'll give you extra coin for a cloak if you need one."
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Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2024 6:01 pm
“Is there a reason I’m being hidden? I’m sorry I just thought it might be important for Lord Dazhiq’s staff to know who I am before they allow me onto the grounds.” Wasn’t that a security risk for nobility? Or was this a purposeful choice? “I’ll do whatever you ask of me within reason, but I just find it odd.” Maybe she was asking too many questions or perhaps Mina could see a thread of something else underneath the Matorian’s veneer. He was hiding something, but she just couldn’t be sure of what.
“Do you fear Lord Dazhiq’s intent?”
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2024 7:16 am
[6]
“I think I would be a fool if I didn’t.” Any Oban in a position of power could easily find some way to eliminate an upstart Matorian. Even if it had been years since slavery was abolished there were those in underground channels that would gladly see Nyko kept in a root cellar or at the very least in a gilded cage. “If you’re caught I expect you to answer truthfully, but within reason. Say that you are part of the entertainment security and if they press you show them this.” He reached over to open the top drawer of the desk and pulled free a small envelope. Atop it was a max seal, marked with the sigil of this house, and his own signature.
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2024 7:19 am
As Mino’aka took possession of the letter she looked down upon the sigil with no small amount of curiosity. There was…so much that went into Oban politics and while she’d thought it ended in noble families she was beginning to think it spread throughout all of the elite. Could she ever hope to keep up with something like that? You’re a long way from home now, aren’t you? If her mother ever learned the truth of her daughter’s business dealings she would likely be impressed by the earnings and upset that anyone thought he capable enough to make them.
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2024 7:26 am
[7]
“While you’re there, I’d also like for you to keep an eye out for the Bride and Groom. They’ll have their own guard detail, but if you see anything untoward happening or something of that ilk report it to either me or Effi directly.” Slipping in a foreigner to act as the private guard for an entertainer wouldn’t be difficult, but getting her closer to them would be harder. Still, with his own duties having someone who could mostly slip around the event unnoticed would take some of the weight off Nyko’s shoulders. “I’ll let them know ahead of time to expect you.”
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2024 7:30 am
Keeping an eye on the main couple wouldn’t be difficult. Even at the smaller ceremonies back home the couple of the hour had always been placed above the rest. Mina doubted she would have a hard time keeping up with them, but she also knew that the greater the light one exuded the deeper the shadows. So, with that information in mind, she nodded her head and made a mental note of it.
“They must have a great deal of influence to bring you back to Oba if you were in Belrea. I hope you don’t think I’m rude for having never heard of you before.”
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2024 7:34 am
[8]
“It’s alright; I prefer that you don’t know me. It makes trying to impress you a lot easier.” Nyko couldn’t help, but to grin. If it were anyone who knew him from a past life he might have to put on airs of wealth, and those who knew him in Belrea already had an idea of an overconfident vocalist. This girl, though? She was just some slip of a thing in a new country trying to make a name for herself. It was like a twisted version of himself and he respected her all the more for it.
“Do you like music, Mina?’
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