The air was stale. It was rank with wisps of smoke that sailed past the florescent lights and into the shadows above. Music could be heard in fits and starts as the record skipped on the worn out phonograph. It was noon and The Red Lady Tavern was full with drifters, drunks, sailors.

It was a place where you can drink your cares away and have a nice warm meal to put in your belly. That was probably the only reason Eden even came into the damned place.

The Tavern was a shadow of its former self. Once the hub of the Old District, catering to the rich and powerful; now, only host to those who wish to drown their sorrows.

Maybe that is the reason she comes here. Even run down and beaten there was beauty in the old tavern. Hell, that could go for the damned city; industrial combining with natural beauty to form the city of Preseason.

But, Eden shouldn't be the one to talk about looks. She was just a little over average built with long raven black hair that framed her pale face, and mismatch colored eyes. One eye so blue it all most glowed and the other a deep emerald green.

Eden took a long swig of her mug of mead draining the last drops, before placing it back on the table.

"I see your travels haven't diminished your appetite," said a red-headed woman who proceeded to exchange Eden's empty mug for a full one.

"No, it has only made me thirst for more of your finest mead!" she replied, before taking a gulp.

The red-headed woman chuckled. "Aye, and one of the only few who are able afforded it ," she said, nodding over her shoulder to the other patrons around the tavern. "Most can only afford my cheapest brand."

Eden nodded thoughtfully picking at her fish. "Aye, but at least they are able to buy your cheapest, Reagan."

Reagan nodded solemnly. "So, do you have any kind of tales to tell?"

Eden paused for a heart beat, thinking thoughtfully. "Unfortunately no, not this time," Eden said, finishing the last bits of her food. "There hasn't been a worthwhile hunt since last month."

"That's good, maybe it's a sign from the gods telling you to switch to another and safer job lass," Reagan said, gathering up the empty plate.

"Nah, I'd rather hunt than sit around or do any mundane job anyway. And besides," Eden said, pushing her seat back and getting up. "If I were to retire the gods would just send something rather nasty and I'll be the one to clean it up."

Reagan heaved a sigh and shook her head. "One of these days, you'll end up biting more than you can chew."

Reaching into her pocket of her tunic she pulls out her money pouch. "You said that many times now, and I haven't met a man or beast that can matched my wits or sword couldn't take down," she replied confidently as she counted the gold coin.

She regarded the raven-haired woman, chewing on her next words before slowing them down. Eden was an arrogant lass, but what she said was true. She didn't become one of the greatest bounty hunters for having a pretty face.

"But I'll keep on saying it tell the day I die," Reagan said haughtily, but, with a smile the made her storm gray eyes bright with mirth.

"I hate to leave, but I do have some business to attended with the guild masters."

"Well don't be a stranger, now." Reagan said with a mischievous wink.

"I'll be back later for super, so save my seat." Eden said as she stood, placing two gold coins on the table.

2: Chapter Three

Once the meeting was over Eden deiced to head back to the Hunter's Guild and tell Bjorn about the deal. But, on arrival instead of the loud boom of Bjorn's laughter she heard his shouts of urgency and dismay.

"Bjorn what the seven hells is going on?" she shout as she approached the enraged bear of a man.

"Ah, Eden, you don't know how glad I am to see you!" He said, but the tension in his voice was still there.

"Did something go wrong?" she asked, as she watched the other members run back and forth. Arming each other weapons and armor. "Cause it looks like you are about to start a war..."

"Nah, lass, nothing that extreme; but it might as well be!" He said grimacing. "A few of are new recruits were tasks with sorting out a disturbance at the Silver Wolf Clubhouse fortnight ago. Needless to say they tossed out the trouble makers and didn't give it a second though, until an hour ago."

"An hour ago?" Eden tilled her head and gave Bjorn a questioning stare.

"Ah, that's when those trouble makers returned and this time they where not alone, "Bjorn heaves and pinches the bridge of his nose. "Apparently those arse where officers of The Reaper Syndicate and they demeaned that we hand over the ones who humiliated them then leaving."

Eden let's out a low whistles and shakes her head. "Now that what I call ill fated luck."

"You don't have to tell me that," Bjorn said, as her clenches his fist close. "And the blasted police aren't going to get involved unless there casualties or damage of property."

"And you need me to go over and tell them why it is a bad idea to pick a fight with you or the hunters Guild, right?"

"More or less..." Bjorn said trying to fringe innocence, or something close to it for a bear of a man can pull off.

"Oh come now, Bjorn!" Eden say patting him on the back of Bjorn. "I'll make the Hunter's Guild proud and give The Reaper Syndicate a small tastes of what is to come if they insist on continuing their folly."

Bidding Bjorn a farewell well she promised to return and tell all about it, plus about the deal with Mr. Laufey. Eden smirked to herself as she pushed through the crowd, making her way to the north-side of the city and to The Reaper Syndicate. Unaware of the pair of eyes watching her from the shadows.

3: Chapter Two

Upon entering the Hunter's Guild she was greeted by a bear of a man. Gray hair that was pulled into a long braid, with matching beard. His storm gray eyes sparkled with mirth as he placed a giant hand on Eden's shoulder."Eden, it has been ages since I last seen you!" he shouted, pulling her into a hug.

"It's good to see you too, Bjorn," she managed to say, after the brief hug. "Haven't change a bit."

The man named Bjorn snorted and ushered Eden to a corner of the hall. "Like I'd every change may ways now."

"It'll prove wise if you ever want to get married." Eden pointed out, as she settled into a chair.

"All I need is my battle-ax for companionship, and if I need a women well..." he trailed off raising his eyebrows suggestively, making Eden roll her eyes.

"Well, friend what business did you what to discus with me?" she said, changing the subject before Bjorn start recounting his "conquest" in great detail.

"Oh, right," he begins. "I'd like for you to take on a job of the utmost importance."

She raised an eye brow and tiled her head to one side. "What sort of job our we talking about, Bjorn?" she said, growing suspicious of what this job might be. "Cause if it's a job from the..."

"This job is not from the King so don't worry," he interrupted. "This is a private job and it's worth a bit of gold."

"So, where is this client?" Eden asked, turning her head to face the hall.

"Well, if you take the job he'll meet you at the Rose Water Hotel." he said, pulling out small key and a letter. "With a little something extra for your time."

Eden takes the key and Latter. "So, I can just go down and talk to him and if I don't accept I still keep this little extra?"

He shrugged and leaned his large frame back into his chair. "If you feel so inclined, but you should hear him out first."

She nodded and placed the key in her satchel and opened the letter. Written in the letter was the room number and the clients name."Laufey is his name." she murmured, flipping the small note around.

"So, it would seem."

"Well, Bjorn is there anything else?"

"Not for the moment, but when you meet with this Laufey contact me afterward."

"I'll see what I can do, but no promises." she said, smirking.

"All right then, I won't keep you waiting." he said.

At the Rose Water Hotel, Eden found the room quite easily. It was on the third floor at the end of the hall. The hotel was a posh and ritzy place built only two years ago in the Light District. Eden wondered what type of person this Laufey was, but decided to form a complete opinion once she met him. She took out the room key and opened the room was just like the rest of the hotel: far too expensive for Eden's liking. She moved further into the room and placed the key on the small table by the window.

Once adjusted to the low light of the room, she could see she was not in the bedroom, but the sitting area. Unlike the cheap hotels she liked to go to, this one was split into three sections. Before she could knock the voice of Laufey, or she assumed it was, beckoned her to come in.

"Hello, Mr. Laufey?" she asked, slipping through the door. "I'm Eden Black...

"From the Hunter's Guild," a smooth voice called out of the gloom.

She squinted around trying to see where the owner of the voice sat when she was suddenly blinded by light. Temporary disoriented she stumbled back into the door.

"Are you all right?" the voice asked, with a touch of concern and a dose of amusement.

Eden cursed under her breath, straightening up. "Yes, I am well. And I assume you are Mr. Laufey?"

"Yes. Do you care to have a seat or do you prefer to stand by the door?" he asked, even more amused than before.

Eden than turn to see Laufey sitting in one of the chairs in the corner of the room. The man seemed way to tall for the small chair he was siting in. Another thing she noticed was how handsome he was. Black hair slicked back from his pale face, with two emerald eyes that sparkled with amusement with a hint of dangerous intellect behind it.

"Thank you for the offer, Mr. Laufey, but I came to negotiate the terms of the contract." she said, through gritted teeth.

"Of course," Laufey said, watching as Eden took the seat across from him. "But before we get down to business I'd like for you to call me Laufey, not Mister."

"All right, fair enough. So, what sort of job do you have that?" she asked, folding her arms across her chest.

"A job easy enough for you and will pay handsomely," Laufey said coolly,leaning back while placing his folded hands upon a crossed knee.

Her interest was piqued she let a grin creep on her lips. "Ah, Bjorn told me something about that," she said, letting her arms drop from where they were resting and to her sides. "And the gift for meeting you?"

"That's part of it, but I was referring to the reward for accepting and completing the terms of the contract." he said.

"And if I don't accept?" she asked, giving him a pointed stare.

"Then I'll give you the gift and you'll be on your way." he replies, shrugging carelessly. "But, it would be in you best interest to stay and listen to the terms of the contract."

"Fair enough, so what is this job?" she asked. "Must be something big, if you are willing to pay for just an audience."

"A dangerous man from Black Rock Prison escaped not more than a few days ago. I want you to find and detain him before the end of next week." he said, as if her were talking about the weather.

"A man from Black Rock Prison is something worth the pay, but why isn't the City Watch or King's personal guard taking care of this?" Eden asked, her mismatched colored eyes narrowing to slits.

"The City Watch is a group of bumbling idiots and the King doesn't want to let the ignorant populace know that its famed prison prison lost one of its inmates." he said, undeterred by Eden's icy stare. "But, you have no need to worry, you have placed more men in that prison than anyone, this won't be any different."

Eden's stare softened a bit and she parted into a smile. "That I have, and I'll be horned to help you where the fool watch and uncaring king would have failed you, Laufey."

"Indeed, Miss Black," he said, allowing a smile to appear on his features.

"And you can do me a favor, just call me Eden," she said. "I dislike formality."

Laufey let out a soft chuckle before nodding. "Very well, Eden. So it seems you have accepted the terms of the contract. But, there is also one other thing I must tell you."

"Oh, and what is it?" she asked, wondering what he might be hiding.

"You are not accustomed," he said, making Eden a bit uneasy. But, if he notice he didn't let it show. "I'll be assisting and accompanying you on your task."

An eye brow shot up on Eden's forehead. "Do you not trust me?"

He shakes slightly. "No, it's just a precaution and you'll need certain things you'll not be able to get to without official authorization."

Eden should have known there would be a catch, but' this wasn't as bad as some of the others she dealt with. "All right, that's fine by me, but keep in mind I'll be doing things my way understand?"

"Of course Eden, as long as you get results."

"Trust me, you'll be having your inmate before the end of the week."