Table for Three

Ashe remember why you started.    The raven's feathers fluffed for a brief moment, and she half expected him to deny her. She couldn't blame him. Perhaps this unexpected meeting with him had gone better than she would have imagined. Maybe.. maybe she realized things she had been to afraid to look at before. But that didn't make them friends, did it? He was a smart man. An objective one. Even if she knew that she was no threat to him, how could he possibly be sure of that? An assassin raised, she knew better than most that anyone could betray anyone.    Ashe still felt an unexpected relief at his acceptance of the offer. She didn't quite understand why. Perhaps this was a man she wanted to get to know, to understand, and something about that worked uncomfortably under her skin. She didn't want to want to know him. He had no desire for it, he knew what she was and was appropriately put off, so why in the five hells would she care?    Then he mentioned the queens, and she was careful not to react too strongly. Still, even she could not hide the bristle of fur at the back of her neck, but she managed to quell the growl rising in her throat with a snort of air from her nose. They are no queens of mine, she half growled. She didn't know if she would ever release that knife, the one poised against those who thought to lord over her. She huffed a breath, looking down to the corpse beside them. But I understand. I'll keep an eye out for you.    She met his eye then, considering him carefully. He would not appreciate it, would not want it, but she extended an offer she realized she hadn't given anyone since Northaven. If you ever need anything, Jigano, she said, her voice carrying the weight of what the words meant to her. ...I would help. Her ear flicked, and her eyes held a touch of an amused glimmer. If you ever find yourself in need of a messenger with a specific skill set.