The Choices You Make

Stepping closer to the figure you can start to make out his features. He was well built and most likely stood just around six feet tall, his arms were toned as he was wearing just a regular cotton shirt that appeared to be cut off on the arms to showcase the entire length of them. Markings, tattoos and other pieces of art coated his right arm completely almost making it look like he actually had a sleeve on. His cut short jet black hair, a silver stud pierces through his left eyebrow and many other silver studs pierce through his left ear. His unkempt face starting to show the early signs of a beard growing in but also highlights his defined jawline. His blue eyes connect with yours as you come to a halt a few paces before him just waiting for him to start his conversation. The entire time he masterfully twirls a small three inch dagger gracefully between his fingers showcasing how prepared and efficient he most likely is with daggers.

"Huh..." The man pushes himself up from the rock he was sitting on and takes a step closer to you, giving himself a very long look at you as his eyes trail along your body.

"Shade?" you question him as your curiosity is getting the better of you. "What do you want?" you press on.

"Hear me out for a minute..." he clears his throat "My reports told me you were hit, but until I received your head there was no guarantee that you were actually dead. I was told you were still unconscious and being brought up to the Syndicate and there was no way you'd make a full recovery." he begins "I've heard this all before and as always, no head, no payout." his pacing around continues as that tiny dagger repeatedly circles around his fingers almost magically. "So after about fifteen days of never hearing a word about you, fifteen days of not a single report or sighting of you. After being told that even though you weren't dead yet, there was no way you would wake up again. Being told that the person who shot you would end your life while you were still unconscious if needed." he bites his lower lip randomly and shrugs one shoulder "I figured, it must have happened." he stops moving his blade then starts to look at his hand, bringing the tip of the blade into his fingertips to clear out some of the gunk under his nail "It's hard to stay out of sight of the Reach for such an extended amount of time especially if that person is as famous and beloved as you are."

You just squint your eyes back at the man before you, watching him just casually telling you his story.

"So I gave the bounty out to the person who shot you under the impression that you were actually gone. The gold was given, the bounty finished, another person of interest dead, another tally for the Reach." he once again clears the dirt from under his finger nails before going back to twirling that blade through out his fingers "So imagine my surprise, when another twenty days go by and I get word that you're alive, that the all, powerful Darien returned from the dead."

You just continue your bout of silence as you just stand your ground and listen to the man continue talking.

"I don't like to be made a fool of, "Darien." he stops moving the blade between his fingers as he now connects to your gaze "The bounty given out, the person claiming you dead, yet now..." he gives out a soft chuckle and motions his hand gesturing you from your feet to your head "Here you are. Alive and well?" he turns around, his back facing you as he walks over to the boulder he was originally sitting down on. He rests his hands on it briefly before turning back your direction, "I had to see it with my own eyes, had to see that you really were alive and kicking. Normally I never leave Loner's Reach but when someone as powerful as you, with a bounty that large, I decided I'd make the journey north to this dreaded Syndicate land." his hand runs through his hair briefly, scratching the side "So here's what's going to happen."

You tilt your head to the side waiting to hear what the man is about to offer.

"That person who claimed you is going to disappear." he pauses "And if they can't pay back the entire claim then, well..." he let's out a terrifying chuckle "They'll stay gone, forever in the shade." his voice dropping deep "But, if they can pay it all back, they might just lose a hand, a finger, an ear, an eye, something, but either way your bounty returns and once again, your head will be up for grabs."

He holds his breath, trying his best to gauge your reaction "Or..." a devious grin forms on his face "I'll tell you the name of the person who shot you and you can serve justice to them yourself." he senses the smirk forming on your face "His death will serve as a reminder for those who defy the Reach." his eyes glare at you "Not only do you get to serve your own justice, but I won't even replace your bounty. As far as you're concerned, you would no longer be hunted. For that though, there would be two conditions."

You swallow, thinking of the words Shade has been saying "What conditions?" your curiosity is sparking.

"Before they die, I want this person to know where this was coming from. The last words you will say to them, For The Reach." he brings his hand up and pretends to slice his dagger across his throat "After you say those three words, end their life and as they bleed out and their soul leaves their body, they'll know the Reach came for them."

You stutter briefly in your step as you continue your stare into this somewhat twisted man "And the other condition?"

"You'll owe me." his eyes squint and he just let's those few words sink in "One favor. You won't know what it is or when it will happen but sometime in the future I will call upon you and when that happens, no questions asked, you will answer that call." he then ends the conversation abruptly "Think about it, Darien, I'll give you a day." he smirks at you before about ten random warriors step out from behind rocks and boulders surrounding you.

You look around at the warriors around you, their identities shrouded behind the darkness and their hoods, "How will I find you tomorrow?" you ask.

He sits back down on the rock and slowly moves his head up to connect with your eyes. and with one final mysterious grin "You won't..." he says with a very cocky attitude "But the Reach will find you." he then motions with his hand almost shooing you away as he again drops his vision from you and starts back up with his dagger.

Your head spins around, looking at all the warriors dressed in darker clothes that are surrounding you. You know they are just here for his protection but it's crazy that you didn't see any of them the entire time you were walking out this direction and then all of a sudden you're completely surrounded. With a pivot in your step you start to make your way back towards the Syndicate.

The entire walk back, your mind raced with what just happened. Do you have Shade just handle the person who attacked you but then there is the potential your bounty goes back live and you once again will be hunted? Or do you request Shade to tell you who shot you and take matters into your own hands, thus removing the bounty and not having to constantly watch behind your back? Taking matters into your own hands is what you really want to do but owing that man a favor, especially knowing he could ask anything of you, may not be the wisest of decisions...