Fernando stood outside the bar, the red hood of his cloak low over his face flapping in the night breeze as he played a grave melody on his pan pipes. The song told of evil, of failing armies and broken empires, of people distressed and innocent lives lost. He swayed gently to the melody, his mind, body and soul completely engrossed in the music. His jet black hair hung down over his shoulders, that tattered bandanna that he wrapped around his forehead stark against the pale of his skin.

The melody slowed down, a blissful, minor trill signifying the end of the piece with a flourish. Fernando heaved a sigh, the mood of the piece hung heavy on his heart. Opening his eyes he took a step backwards, surprised at the crowd that had accumulated around him. A cheer went up and one spectator shouted for the elf to take his hood off.

Rummaging through his memories, Fernando failed to remember having a mission in this town and came to the conclusion that it was probably safe to reveal his identity.

Placing both hands on his long hood, the elf lifted it up and over his head slowly, eventually dropping it at his back and looking at the crowd through piercing, black eyes, his head held high to indicate superiority.

The crowd cheered once more with appreciation, but the young elf ignored them, one particular person stood out from them and he wanted to know who they were.

Wellby heard the music, he understood what the song's story was to begin with. It reminded him of the childhood stories he heard, of his hometown lore.

It was fairly good, but Wellby did not cheer when it was finished. He just stared from under his own hood.

When the person revealed his race, Wellby's eyes flashed. An elf! He didn't think they existed on this world.

Wellby folded his arms when the elf looked straight at him. He was perfectly comfortable in the crowd until that look was given. He walked away and started to head down the street.

Fernando bowed gracefully to the crowd, smiling politely at all their faces before pulling his red hood back over his head and instantly dropping his facade smile.

If he thinks he's going to just walk away, he's got another thing coming...

The elf flew upwards into the night sky, cape flapping violently, dry leaves swirling in the wind that carried him. After hovering momentarily in the air he darted towards the man he had noticed and landed right in front of him, their hoods just brushing in the slight breeze.

The atmosphere was tense, but Fernando stood there nonetheless, smiling coldly.

'You interest me... who are you?' he whispered with a slightly sinister note, his pinkish-grey lips curling upwards.

As he was walking away, Wellby put up his own hood, mainly because it comforted him. It shadowed his face from strangers, hid any recognition and emotion from onlookers.

He was not surprised to see the elf land in front of him, but he kept walking anyway.

But he replied as he walked by in mysterious tones, "I am one who appreciates music. Now, walk with me and tell me who you are as well."

Fernando tensed indignantly as the stranger walked straight past him but he followed, none the less - drawn by curiosity.

'That's hardly an introduction...' he whispered in a low voice, treading hot on the man's heels, 'Many people in this world appreciate music, not just you.'

The elf sneered, this stranger could be working for a rival agency - why would he give away his identity?

'Prove to me you're an honest person and I just might think about it...'

A beggar came up and grappled at Fernando's feet, pleading for money.

'Lord s-sir...' he spluttered uselessly, his speech inhibited by an awkward stutter, 'S-s-s-pare s-some change f-f-for the p-poor?'

He noticed the clouded look in the man's pale eyes and the erratic movements of his body and kicked him off with a booted foot, disgusted.

'If you're going to spend your charity on escapism, go get lost and don't let me see you again, or you'll find yourself making excuses on your day of judgement sooner than you expect.' he warned cruelly, spitting a the ground. He hissed violently and the man scuttled away down a side ally wailing and whimpering like a beaten hound.

Fernando leaned against the brick wall coolly, allowing his hood to fall further down his face and waited for the stranger to speak, his piercing black eyes staring intently from under the crimson hood.

Wellby snorted at the response.

"Many? You might be surprised. People love music, yes, but they don't see its power. I believe you do." Wellby turned his head for emphasis.

"Oh, I'm not honest. You'll just have to give it freely. Why need I be honest to a stranger?" Wellby stated the obvious.

He watched the pitiful scene play before his eyes. At first, his heart quivered at the sight of the man, but Wellby hardened his heart against it. It seemed this other did as well.

Wellby leaned against the wall next to the elf and smiled.

"You were watched."

'I hate beggars that waste your money on drugs...' the elf muttered contemptuously.

Fernando smiled. This man was good.

'Yes, in fact I do.' he admitted, but he didn't want to give too much away, he still didn't know enough about this guy.

He turned his head slightly and stared in frank bewilderment at the stranger.

'I'm an agent, I say nothing until I know where you and I stand.' the elf shook his head in bemusement.

The night had turned cold and Fernando's sharp senses picked up the distinct smell of a storm on the wind. An owl hooted and flew away as the first blaze of lightning struck not so far away. As the thunder boomed, the horses and mules in the nearby stable snorted and stamped in anxiety for the events to come. It was going to be a bad one and it was coming fast.

He kicked of the wall and sprung up on to the roof.

'If you want to talk, I'll meet you at the back table in the far right corner of the bar.'

Fernando flew off using the wind and swept down to the entrance of the bar, nodding at the man who armed the door. The smoky atmosphere hit him like a blow and he gently pushed away a few persistent fans, making his way rapidly to the back of the room and perching himself on a hard wooden stool.

He waved to a waitress who promptly made her way over to the table.

'Two tankards of your finest ale, Honey.' he ordered kindly tucking the coins into her bodice with an impersonal hand. She winked and ran off to do as he bid, her tattered skirts trailing along the floor.

Wellby was barely able to cipher out what an agent was, based on how the elf talked. It explained why he was being mysterious and careful.

"You'll have some expaining to do first." Wellby muttered.

Wellby grinned under his hood when he heard the thunder in the distance, he loved storms very much, and this one sounded promising.

He watched the elf depart.
"So you want to talk, or you assume that I want to talk to you. That's different." Wellby told himself.

He looked up to a window in the building across the road.
"Spy any more or I'll kill you!" Wellby shouted.

He slowly made his way over to the bar. Wellby looked through the window and saw two mugs, one filled, the other partly drunk, next to the elf.
"Just like I thought, he wants to talk, or he expects to." Wellby stated again.

But he decided to wait outside and see if anyone else came along.

Fernando sat in a very nonchalant manner at his table in the corner, slowly draining his tankard of ale.

I hope he knows I'm not going to chase after him... the elf thought typically, as he noticed the figure standing at the door.

He sighed and kicked his feet up on to the table, breathing in the smoky atmosphere and cringing - cigarettes were a dirty habit, frowned upon by most people. He saw a couple of guys looking strangely furtive in the corner adjacent to him, exchanging something and whispering quietly. He noticed the glint of a silver badge at the smaller man's breast.

'I wonder what they're up too...' he muttered curiously, staring as the strangers stole frightened glances around the room, 'Nothing good, I suspect.'

Fernando stood up and walked over, picking the smaller dark man up by the collar. He kicked and thrashed about, but was no match for him. The elf slowly pushed his cloak aside, revealing two black pirate guns sitting on opposite hips and two twin sabres sitting behind either gun.

'I also have a dagger up either sleeve, a handy supply of rope and kick blade on the ends of my boots, so don't move...' he said the last words with such venom that the man cowered, his fair haired companion .

'Who are you working for, huh? Tell me right now or you'll be looking for your ear lobe on the floor.' Fernando popped a long dagger out of his right sleeve and waved it around his face, letting it rest on his ear.

Fernando was a good man and resented doing this, but he had no choice - these could be spies, or worse; assassins.

That stranger I met earlier could probably help if he wanted... Interrogation is always fun, especially when they might be enemies.

When the elf walked to another table, Wellby snapped into focus. These two men were up to no good, for which Wellby had nothing against, but he was bored.

He snuck onto a table behind the men, and watched the elf threaten the small man. But his attention was focused on the taller one, the one left alone.

When Wellby saw the dagger flip into the man's hands, he jumped towards him, giving a quick blow to the neck, laying him flat.

He walked up to the elf emotionless and said, "You forgot one."

He looked at the smaller man with malice, "I warned you, did I not?" he asked.
Turning to the elf, he said, "I told you; you were watched."