Shirley
*Well, shit.*

*Zed's footsteps echoed throughout the hallway, followed by perhaps a dozen more. Guards. He had underestimated just how many there would be, and they had seen him on his way out. The assassin rapidly turned the corner into the kitchen, knocking over random jars and candles alike before finding his way back out the front door.*

*He had been given another job while in the city. Isabelle was with him, but it was too good to pass up. The pay was easily enough to last them months. It seemed good enough for him.*

*The oil, alcohol and candles all converged. A small flame was all it took to send the kitchen up in a roaring fire, soon beginning to engulf the rooms surrounding it. From the outside, Zed took off his mask, letting himself breathe a bit as he looked at the house behind him, breathing hard.*
Susan
*Hmph.*

*This was the first time that Zed allowed Isabelle to accompany him to one of his services, despite being prohibited by the man from following him to the exact location. This exception was only due to the fact that 'it was too good to pass up', and even then she was unable to convince him that she could help him, whatever that job was.*

*Isabelle had followed him halfway, only stopping when he entered a mysterious house. She decided to stay close, but discreetly. The Fae looked at some stalls in the region, getting distracted along the way by a small mouse on the stone road.*

*Before she could observe the small creature, a noise reached her ears. Her lilac eyes flew to the house her husband had just left, a little dirty with ash. Worry became part of Isabelle's face as the thousands of thoughts that appeared in her mind. In an instant, she was already running towards Zed, looking him up and down before starting to question him.*

"What is happening?! What kind of *'job'* Was this?"
Shirley
*Zed looked as the house suddenly burst into flames, red and orange tongues lashing out the windows and licking the outside walls.*

"Well, that's great-"

*And suddenly heard Isabelle's voice behind him. What was she doing here? Hadn't he told her not to be here?*

"I, uh..."

*Several armed guards burst out of the flaming house, one looking back at the flames they had just escaped. The other two looked at the two figures in front of them; it didn't take much thinking to see who was responsible.*

"You!"
Susan
*The little Fae, who despite being in her human form was still short in stature, felt immensely intimidated by the whole situation. She alternated her gaze between the guards and her lover, Zed, for a brief moment confused as to what was happening.*

"Zed... Who are they..."

*Isabelle was clearly in a defensive pose, looking slightly scared. She could feel the heat of the flames burning her cheeks and beneath her cloak. A hand placed itself on the man's torso, as if begging him for answers, or simply to get out of there as quickly as possible.*
Shirley
*Guards and Isabelle. This situation was volatile at best and disasterous at worst. Under a ragged cloak, Zed silently unsheated two knives behind his back.*

"Isabelle... Stand back for me, ok?"

*The guards rushed forward, and Zed approached slowly. A flash of steel revealed the knife transforming into a long blade, cutting into the first guard. The others swung and missed, the assassin moving like a shadow as a cut and a thrust brought the others down with brutal efficiency. The sword becomes a dagger once more, and Zed's weapons are sheathed.*

"Now we run."

*Making a dash for it, Zed grabbed his lovers hand to pull her deeper into the city, hoping to lose the pursuers in the winding alleys and roads.*
Susan
"Oka-"

*Isabelle's words had barely been spoken and Zed had already moved. She did as she was asked and stayed away from danger. The scene was somewhat expected, but still surprising. In all the years they lived together, Zed had always traveled alone to work, and when he returned, he never told her the details. Now everything has become clearer. Zed's hidden face had finally shown itself to the Fae.*

*Isabelle had no reaction other than shock. Blood dripping from the guard lying on the ground, the same blood staining the blade Zed had used. Maybe this was too much information to process. But there was no time, the woman just followed her lover through the city, running as fast as she could while holding onto his hand tightly.*
Shirley
*Zed stopped in a deserted alleyway, taking deep breaths to slow his beating heart. He removed his hood and placed his hands lightly on Isabelle's shoulders, looking her in the eye.*

"Are you ok? You're not hurt, right?"

*Like a wild animal, the assassin then looked back and forth through the alley. He could hear the bustling of guards; no doubt that the house guards would be alerting the armored city ones. While he could possibly evade capture by himself, having Isabelle with him meant it was too risky to stay in the city. Or was it? Should they retreat to the forest?*

"I know it's a lot, but, you have to listen to me. We're in danger."
Susan
*Isabelle fought to get her breathing back. She had never run like this, except for the day she escaped from the hands of slavery. She leaned one hand against the stone wall, resting her lungs as her head swam. With Zed's touch, her attention was shifted to him.*

"I'm not hurt, Zed! But what just happened??"

*With each passing second she became more worried, even more so with the way the man was acting. She needed answers. But she could wait until they were safe. Her eyes alternated between Zed's, eager for a shred of revelation.*

"Where are we going, Zed? What did you do?"
Shirley
"I'm thinking, I'm thinking. I may have made some powerful people very angry."

*Briefly, he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. When he opened them again, his typical calmness returned.*

"Ok. We're going to the forest. We'll need to retreat to a different city, since this one will probably be on high alert."

*Then, out of the corner of his eye, the assassin spotted another cloaked figure in the alley. It lifted a hand, holding a pouch. The figure tossed it over, Zed catching and opening it. Sure enough, it was coins. The assasssin nodded to the mysterious figure, who then disappeared.*

"We have the payment. There's nothing left in the city now."
Susan
*There it was.*

*That little moment when Zed allowed the other side to be revealed. Isabelle had never seen him in such a way; so anxious, somehow insecure in his words. She placed a hand on his face in approval, a small gesture to support his brief moment of regaining control.*

*She nodded slowly, taking a few breaths before standing firmly on the ground again. Upon seeing the mysterious figure approaching, she stayed behind her lover, ready in case she needed to run again. For her happiness, and probably Zed's, that was not necessary.*

*Seeing him walking away, she grabs the hand of the man beside her, squeezing gently.*

"We'll be fine, right?"
Shirley
"Of course. We'll be ok. I just... Haven't had to do this with another person before. Used to always be every person for themselves."

*His thumb rubbed the hand that grasped his, aiming to comfort her. A smile appeared on his face as he ran a hand through his hair. This would be a challenge.*

"Let's see... Gate, wall, or river?"

*Disguises were most likely out of the question. Isabelle's lilac colored hair and bright eyes would stick out like a flower sprouting in a coal mine. Plus, there were very little plans if they got caught.*

"...Did I teach you how to swim?"
Susan
*Zed's words of comfort made her less worried. A few years ago, he saved her from her former owner, or rather, he kidnapped her and then saved her from slavery. From that moment on, her loyalty was completely given to Zed, and today she would prove it once again.* 

"Right. We'll be fine."

*She looked at him with a smile, which soon faded into a blank face. Swim? Isabelle blinked twice at the man, probably her face already told him the answer.*

"No."
Shirley
"Well. I guess it's going to be time to cause a little more chaos then. Let's get close to the city gate. Make sure to keep your hood up, and try to cover your hair."

*Clasping her hand, Zed led her throughout the city, which had already been sent on high alert. Part of him doubted that they could escape the city sneakily. In that case, he hoped that Isabelle would forgive a little more violence.*

*Distractions, distractions. Farm animals? Not good enough. It would have to be fire. Zed lead his lover into a stable, filled with plenty of hay.*

"I'm going to light all this up and try to spread it. Once the guards get away from the gate, that's when we run, ok?"
Susan
"More... Chaos?"

*Isabelle covered her long hair with the white cape she wore, preventing her features from standing out in the crowd. Even though the whole situation scared her, the thought that in the end she and Zed could have a long rest comforted her. Well, after a long conversation about this situation.*

*As they entered the stable, she looked around, somewhat uncertain as to what the man's exact plan was. The Fae moved a little closer to him and looked at the hay.*

"Can I help you?"