?Over yonder a sthootin ?appened.? Khosro spoke in a thick accent that lisped from his lack of front teeth. Spotty patches of facial hair covered his greasy face, and he always smelled as rotten as his teeth looked. Hawk hated speaking with the man, but he was one of his best contacts in the WestEnd. The Ranger tipped his head forward in intrigue, and dropped more silvers into Khosro?s change cup. The beggar continued. ?Right o?er dere, big bang was heard and sthome o? da unsthavory typesth sthaw a man run away from a sthort elf wit? green ?air.? The clink of a plethora of coins dropping into Khosro?s cups made his eyes gleam greedily. ? ?e was tall.? Khosro gestured with his hand way above his own head. ?Dark ?air and dark eyesth. Didn?t watch where ?e went, but the elf was taken ta Redmond.? Hawk?s cloak billowed wide about his body and he turned suddenly from the man, stalking from the alleyway with urgency in every step.

Peace, Lydia. What have you gotten yourself into? Hawk?s stoic countenance was maintained by the grace of his sculpted features, but a line creased his brow in a display of his worry. A fine friend you are, Hawk Jahad. He inwardly berated himself, letting his quiet steps fall into a trance like rhythm. Those few who got in his path scattered in fright with the malevolent gaze Hawk leveled unknowingly upon them. He inhaled a deep breath before the clinic?s door and pushed it open.

After a few inquiries and descriptions to the women at the receiving area, an attendant led Hawk back behind the curtains and to a room up the steps. When she opened the door he saw Lydia lying motionless on a bed, her skin flushed and pale. He was not as prepared for the sight as he thought he would be. He stepped to the side of her bed and his jaw tensed visibly with anguish. ?Lydia..? He started as he reached forward to scantly press his fingers to the back of her hand. He closed his eyes tightly and kneeled, taking Lydia?s hands into both of his own. He dipped his head, and whispering in his native tongue, began to recite a prayer. When he was done, he released Lydia?s hand and stood over her bed in silent vigil.

The attendants came in many times to check on Lydia, and there the Ranger stood, refusing to move from his spot. After many hours a matronly woman came with a tray, leaving it on the table. ?Your friend canno? eat, but you shall do her no good if you starve to death where you stand.? Hawk gave the woman a dip of his head in acknowledgement, and she left the room, flustered at how silent he was.

The afternoon sun was at its apex, casting yellow beams of light unadulterated by any sign of overcast. Hawk had left Khosro to his greed, and slipped out of the alleyway before the other man?s attention turned from the few coppers and silvers upon the cobbled stones. Khosro had indicated earlier to where Lydia had been shot, and Hawk made his way back to that same spot.

He focused intently upon the stones beneath his feet for any sign of blood, and tested the air for its scent. When the first traces of musky copper touched his nostrils he stopped and knelt, hovering just inches over the ground. The spray pattern of blood was defined by the small stains of crimson upon the worn stones. It was here Hawk began to gather the variety of scents present. They were too numerous, and the only one he could distinguish was Lydia?s. Noticing the pattern of blood he began to move to the stones where Lydia?s assailant had been standing. There was still nothing of note upon the ground, and unfortunately attacks like this were so common in this area the Guard had paid no attention to it. He shook his head and rose from his kneel, standing to his full height and disappeared into another alley. He would have to seek another approach, and the help of someone he held a deep respect for.

Hawk returned to Redmond Clinic in the evening and was greeted with a surprise. Lydia was awake, and speaking with Erin. He stayed for a time until Lydia needed rest, and spoke with her about what had happened. He gathered what little information he could and set out that night to find Alain.

Hawk had left the clinic for the Inn, when the familiar sight of the establishment came into view he lowered the hood of his cloak and broke the illusion it created around his body. He stepped to the door and opened it, and found exactly who he was looking for.

Alain was sitting by the bar with a cigarette in his hand. Hawk stopped by the bar, and greeted the other man respectfully. For a time they discussed Hawk?s troubles with finding Lydia?s assailant. Alain gave Hawk a few tips on what he could do, but was unable to offer his own assistance. With a nod to Alain, and an offer of his own assistance should the man ever need it, he left the Inn and proceeded out on his own.

Hawk had no patience to deal with Parvez on most days. But the man, although filthy in ways Hawk could not imagine, knew almost everything that happened within the walls of RhyDin. They stood in one of the many dives in the WestEnd, a place renowned for its connections with the underworld. Anyone who had any illegal dealings in the city came to this place to seek employment or employees. "Just agree to one of my jobs Ranger. I promise it will pay nicely. Wouldn't you like to buy that green haired nymph of yours something nice for once? Just one job."

Before the assassin could react Hawk had lowered himself to the ground, turning in a circular motion with one of his legs extended, and swept Parvez's legs out from underneath his body. Rushing forward in a blur of motion, Hawk caught the assassin by his lapels so Parvez hovered just inches over the floor. The crowd present barely reacted. Such displays of violence were commonplace here. "My patience with you grows thin, assassin." Hawk spoke very close to the other man's face, his expressions and voice level, cold. "You know much. Too much. A pity for a man who holds such knowledge to be found with a blade in his back." Hawk gave the assassin a shake by his lapels. "The man in the drawing. Do you know him?"

There was open fear in the aged face of the assassin. He had spent decades perfecting his craft, it was a rarity that anyone surprised him with such quickness and ferocity. "He...was involved with an illegal slave liberating operation. He's been seen around here. Asking about Undertown. He's too obvious. Too blatant about his intentions. I'd never give him any information or offer him any work. He's taken to staying in a flat with boarded windows by the northern border of the WestEnd, trying to make it seem abandoned. But even a child could see through that facade."

Hawk lifted Parvez back to stand at the bar they stood near. The assassin tried to dust himself off as casually as he could. "You would have no want of anything if you took up with my cadre, Ranger." Parvez spoke with admiration in his voice. Hawk gave the assassin a fleeting glance and a shake of his head. The colors of Hawk's cloak began to filter with the various shades of garb of the other patrons present in the dive, and he soon disappeared amongst the throng.

Suspiciously Hector glanced about, more wary on this night than he had been on the others. If he had the feeling he was being watched, he was right. Hawk was kneeling down on the roof of the abandoned building that Hector was calling home, hovering over the edge, waiting to make his move.

Hector fumbled for his key and Hawk dropped down silently, and unnoticed behind him. Hector gave another suspicious glance behind him and saw that the night was moving behind him, flowing like liquid towards him. Stars exploded behind Hector?s vision and he realized he was slumped against the door. The darkness moved again, but this time it started to take shape, like that of a cloaked man. Hector moved out of the way just in time, and Hawk?s fist struck the door, cracking the wood. Hector rushed forward upon his feet and sent himself into Hawk?s mid-section thrusting the cloak from around the Ranger?s body so he came underneath more full view of the light. Hawk stumbled backwards and Hector swung his fists at him. The Ranger deftly avoided the blows, and followed with a snapping kick to Hector?s abdomen. Hector bent forward and hugged himself.

?You?ve come because of her, haven?t you?? He sneered as he tried again to strike the man who had attacked him. ?You?re going to have to kill me.? Again Hector tried to strike Hawk, and found that the Ranger blocked his attack once more. ?Because if you don?t she?ll go down with me. I promise that.? Hawk spun deftly and with a closed fist, back-handed Hector across the jaw. Dazed, Hector stumbled forward, and with that opening Hawk drew his right fist back behind his shoulder, and followed through with a devastating hook that sent Hector sprawling to the ground.

Hector was face down on the stones, breathing but not moving, down for the count. Hawk stepped over the man and leaned forward, removing a long piece of rope from one of the hidden pockets in his cloak. Hawk crossed Hector's hands at the wrists and bound them tight with the rope behind his back. The Ranger knelt down, and lifted the unconscious form of the man from the ground, and slung him over his shoulder. Supporting the man's weight easily, he walked to the nearest Guardhouse with his prisoner in tow.