Aeverys laughed at Ssalosins back as he scurried away. She though...yes, it was a scurry. There had even been a flash of fear in his face.
Even Tavius must have seen it. She could sense him tensing his talons, like a Hawk who just spotted it's prey.
"Well, I believe you made a good impression Tavius. He flinched."
She motioned for him to follow her to her quarters, leaving Rigos in silence, to decide what he would.
Later...
Aeverys brought out two glasses and wine-her best stock, brewed by Sanctuary Aeon monks in the foothills. She found it was best to slightly dull the wits before engaging in such things as she was about to. Ordering another mans-or womans-death was not so easy on the conscience-since she preferred to do it herself.
She poured him a glass, and handed it to him. She was sitting behind her desk, reclining in her favorite easy chair. A good place for what she had to do.
"Drink, Tavius."
Instead of waiting for a response, she sipped her own, and manipulated a small device under the desk. She knew enough of technology to have gotten her engineers to make her the scrambler-which helpfully disabled electronic ears her enemies had used against her before.
...and thus, she began to speak of the target. Casually.
"You wanted a challenging job? I've got one for you-a King. Your highest personal mark yet, I believe. Then again, you probably already knew all this-you certainly showed up at an opportune time."
She grinned. The thought of King Renard dead was a pleasing one. As it was to many these days-even Renards own family had been ashamed at his actions, and the rumors were the mans retinue was growing smaller every day as his funds ran out. Soldier need to be paid-only foolish idealists though soldiers merely worked for loyalty.
Hmph. Loyalty would not feed a hungry belly, or warm your family in winter. Loyalty was something you earned-the least, was being able to provide for your soldiers. How long could he do that for them?
"Well, he's not much of a King anymore, so maybe he doesn't count. Damn fool lost his kingdom. He's on the run, trying to gather support among the Xenos to fight us. I need you to end his miserable life."
Aeverys grinned, leaning forward.
"Payment is quarter of an imperial credit...unless you can kill him in your special way. So no one can be sure if it was you or the Pancreators 'divine will' that struck him down. In that case, I'll pay you a full half credit, at the cost of your reputation I guess.
In fact, you can earn your double pay through many means-bring him back to me alive, for example-or kill him in an amusingly humiliating way. I leave the specifics up to you, naturally."
And thus, the contract was set. She fished a target profile from her desk and handed it to him. If he took the file-he took the job.