Falcon/Kestrel
Kestrel, Chosen Of The Maiden Of Secrets
The inn was busy, but inns in Nexus always were. The crowds flowed smoothly around the table where Jhagatai and Kestrel sat, the auras of the two Exalts effectively concealing it from casual attention. Jhagatai frowned and dragged a hand across the top of his shaven head.
"Explain it to me again," he said. "Slowly. And with pictures."
Kestrel smiled at him. "It's very simple. All you have to do is shoot the monk without killing him, then leave and blend in as only we can do. I know you're good enough, I've seen you shoot."
"I understand that part," Jhagatai said, shaking his head, "I just don't see how it all fits in. Why am I attacking one of your allies while he tries to rescue someone you want rescued?"
"Because then he'll come after you instead of paying attention to Ely. The others are more than powerful enough to protect him from whoever the Silver Pact send."
"But why am I distracting Nine?" asked Jhagatai, scowling at Kestrel. "What purpose does it serve?"
"Nine is a very... righteous man," Kestrel said, choosing her words carefully, "and he has his own views of how the celestial order is supposed to work. He is the only one likely to work out what I'm doing and the only one who can stop me from doing it. So you, my trusted ally, are going to distract him while the proper patsies do what I want."
Jhagatai exhaled loudly and rolled his eyes. "There's an easier way than that, surely? Can't you just explain things to him? I've seen how persuasive you can be."
Kestrel smiled sadly and brushed a lock of golden hair out of her face. "Trust me, Jhag. Have I ever steered you wrong before?"
Jhagatai smiled his tight smile. "Well, I did let you cook dinner for me once. That was almost a bad experience - if I didn't know that poison trick, I'd have been sick for a week. As it happens-"
"You conveyed the food poisoning to that Yozi cult leader in Gethamane, and he was so distracted the Erymanthus he had managed to summon ate him and was poisoned in return, and then you shot it down as is your divine duty."
Jhagatai stared at Kestrel, open-mouthed. "You knew that was going to happen?" He rolled his eyes at the ceiling. "Of course you did."
There was a moment of silence. Jhagatai spoke quietly. "You could have told me, Kes. We're friends, remember?"
Kestrel shook her head. "If I had told you, you might have chosen to do things differently. That cultist was clever, and a blood-ape controlled by his will would have been a more difficult opponent."
"I would still have won."
"Maybe. With my help-"
"Your manipulation."
"With my manipulation, the battle was easy and your life was in almost no danger." Kestrel looked at him imploringly. "I do look out for you, Jhag. I look out for everyone, although it might not be obvious."
A waitress absently left two drinks on the table and wandered away. Jhagatai smiled again. "That would be you buying a round, then?"
"I even arranged for money to make its way to the till." Kestrel smiled apologetically.
Jhagatai sipped his drink. "Nothing about you is obvious, Kes. You spend too much time in the Mask."
"I don't need to be obvious," she said. "So long as Creation doesn't disappear into a hole or get swallowed up by the Wyld, it doesn't matter. So long as the world is saved, I don't care if no one ever realises they were in danger. In fact, it's better if they don't."
"To the anonymous hero," said Jhagatai, raising his glass.
"Not completely anonymous," Kestrel said. "When all's said and done, I get the respect and admiration of my peers."
"Well, those of us who'll put up with you," said Jhagatai with a half-smile. "Your friends."
Kestrel shrugged. "Who else matters?"
The man lounged casually in his chair, a glass of wine held elegantly between his slim fingers. He fixed Kestrel with a sidelong glance over the ruins of dinner. The two were physical opposites - he was tall, with a shaven head and the rich brown skin of an Eastener. His gestures were expansive and his conversation continuous and sparkling. Kestrel was short, a Northener with pale skin and blonde hair. She was quiet where he spoke, and her body language subtle where his was blatant.
Of course, there was more to it than that. By accentuating their differences, he was trying to lead Kestrel away from their similarities. Kestrel and Falcon were both Exalts, and they were both out to con the other into being a pawn in their schemes. Kestrel knew it wasn't going to work, and so did he, but she appreciated the message - I know what you're up to, he was telling her, and I can do it too.
"Thank you for a wonderful dinner," Kestrel began as the waiter brought small cups of thick black coffee.
"It was my pleasure," Falcon replied graciously. "I don't believe I've had such distinguished company since Sierra first dined with me here."
"Did you hear what happened to her?" Kestrel asked politely, already knowing the answer.
"I was there," Falcon replied. "We did try to help her..."
Kestrel shook her head. "I'm not sure there was much you could do against the fair folk and the exalted of the underworld."
"I had the fair folk wrapped around my little finger," Falcon said grimly, "and Domino... it's just a matter of time."
"Yes... time seems to be your ally, doesn't it? I hear you are quite impressively rich now."
"Time is only your ally if you don't waste it. A little financial manoeuvering and a little hard work can bring great rewards."
Kestrel nodded. "So much so that I was thinking of getting into commerce myself."
Falcon gave a thin smile. "Please, tell me all about it. I'm always interested in commercial enterprises."
"Well," said Kestrel, putting on her best 'airhead' expression, "I was thinking of buying up all the drugs in Great Forks and shipping them to Yu Shan."
"That would require a staggering sum of money, and make no profit at all. Try again."
Kestrel was impressed. A lot of Falcon's money stemmed from the drug trade in Great Forks, but he hadn't batted an eyelid at her threat.
"How about if I just bought everything in Nexus? Surely someone would want all those things."
Falcon stared at Kestrel, letting a trace of steel slip into his gaze. Kestrel matched it. The two stared into each others' eyes for a while, searching for weakness.
"Tell me Kestrel," Falcon said, finishing his coffee, "are you really as rich as you claim to be?"
"I have... a salary." Kestrel knew that Falcon's magic could detect her lies.
"A good salary?"
Kestrel named a figure. Falcon raised an eyebrow.
"Every year," Kestrel added. Falcon nodded.
"I see." He sat back and looked thoughtful. Kestrel restrained herself from grinning like a shark.
"Of course, I'm no expert in commercial matters," she said innocently. "It would be so much easier if I could just give my money to someone else to invest on my behalf."
"Allow me to offer my services," Falcon said promptly. The 'friendly businessman' mask was back in place.
"That would be wonderful," Kestrel said, smiling sweetly. She knew his magic would tell him she was telling the truth. "I could arrange for a regular shipment of... well, what form do you prefer your currency in?"
"Jade, for preference."
"A regular shipment of jade, then. And then when I come back to you..."
"You'll be even richer than you thought you were - minus a small fee, of course."
"Of course," Kestrel smiled again, well aware that the crafty Solar would be skimming as much off the top as he could get away with. "Shall I drop by your office tomorrow to... formalise things?"
"That would be perfect," said Falcon.
"Oh, and as a gesture of goodwill," Kestrel added as she rose to leave - it would pay to keep Falcon sweet - "I hear the Guild are sending assassins after you again."
Falcon nodded. "A properly armed and equipped group. Outcaste dragon-blooded, gods and elite foot soldiers."
"Well," said Kestrel, "if there's anything I can do... it is in my best interests to help you out, now."
"Don't worry about me," the Exalted merchant said with a predatory grin. "I have a plan."
