It was a long, empty wood. You would be hard-pressed to find anything unusual about it. In fact Martha Terrywin was thing the same thing as she strolled through it. She was so sure it was normal she almost fell down the six foot hole.
“Damn! Who put that there?” These words echoed through the woods at high speed as the voice rung out. And she was so sure this was going to be normal.
She ran on, and soon heard a faint buzzing from behind. She glanced back and saw the two great disks coming at her. Swiftly she jumped, twirled, drew her four foot long blade, and landed in a fighters crouch. Just as swiftly she dispatched one of the disks with her tsurugi Bree Tejina. The shards fell were thy hung.
Now where’s the other? The second disk over shot, twisted around, and hit a tree.
“IS THAT YOUR BEST!’ she bellows to the trees. Onwards she runs. Suddenly the forest brakes into a clearing. The sound of panting reaches her ears. And then a great, vicious, growl; and smack it was upon her. A great ravenous dog had jumped her and was trying to break her neck. The monstrous beast had its claws posed in an attempt to maul her back. She drops to the ground and smashes her back against the ground. The dog squeals and lets go long enough for Martha to grab it. She raises it up to deal a final blow.
“Stop.” It is an order, not a request. She lowers the animal to the ground. She turns slowly to meet this new threat, sword raised. Upon seeing the small old man in front of her she relaxes.
“You nearly killed my puppy” the newcomer exclaims. “He’s the only one I have left.” The man runs over and picks the huge dog up bodily. The man walks to the mouth of the path, while miraculously supporting his dog.
“You would have more left if you stop making me do this every time you have a job.” Martha mumbles. “O but I love watching you fight, plus there are perks.” The small, elderly man waves at her midriff. One impulse she looks down and notices the dog had completely destroyed her shirt. She repressed the urge to smack her employer.
“What’s the job?” She states in a definite tone.
“Now lets not be so hasty. We haven’t yet arrived. Come, let’s finish the walk.” Thy walk on across to the other side of the field there was a little encampment on the other side. It looked new. She was pretty sure it wouldn’t be there the next day.
The man she knew as Long stepped into the small patio. He immediately made himself comfortable; she took the moment to sheath her sword. She took a seat across from the man.
“Tea? It’s supposed to be quite healthy for you.”
“Why not.” She takes the offered tea almost reluctantly. “The job?” she says after a few minutes of quiet. This seems to stir the man who appeared to be asleep.
“What about it?”
“What is it? Another simple assassination?”
“No, not this time. Quite the opposite in fact. This time you have to capture some one. It’s different, I know, but it should prove interesting. Plus your take is good. Here is your info. Now off with you.” Interestingly, he didn’t have that folder a moment ago.