The first council

Garth knew when to make himself scarce which Sly deeply appreciated. The farmer did seem a bit out of his depth and had moved off to inspect one of he cottages furthest from the longhouse and smithy. That left only Simon, Ariel, the bandits and Leah who was suddenly very alone. Sly elbowed Ariel lightly and directed the angel toward the dwarf with a quick nod and slightly pleading look before indicating Lara and Nyali. Thankfully Ariel understood and went to keep the solitary twin company so Sly could speak to the bandit girls without an audience.

"Well, at least you get some of it." He said to the two after they had broken their kiss. "But we should talk. Exhibitionism doesn't seem to be Lara's kink anyway." He said as he ushered them into his home, playing mysterious and just not being able to resist a bit of teasing. he never said he wasn't a bit of an asshole.

When all three were inside he realized that he hadn't really used the place for anything except sex and talking to Ari so his furnishings were more than sparse. Besides the large bed covered in furs, after if you are going to live like a barbarian that's the best part. If only all his problems were this easy to fix. With a bit of earth magic he simply pressed out a square depression a few feet deep next to the fireplace and placed some furs on the edges.

"There, that's better. We can sit and speak eye to eye." He said indicating the places across and adjacent to him as he sat. Lara took the place opposite him and Nyali the one closer. The cat-girl eyed him suspiciously while her partner kept her gaze on the fire.

Nyali's voice was a low purr as she leaned toward Sly. "So, you have us all alone m'lord. Whatever will you do with us?" She asked as Lara went rigid.

"Actually, Lara, I want to do something for you." Sly said, kneeling down in front of her as she gathered the courage to look at him. She keep opening her mouth to question him but the words fell still. "Nothing to fear, you survived and I won't blame you for that. Whatever you had to do before now does not matter to me. I know you told me the truth." He finally caught her eye at those last words.

"I always told the truth." She sighed, sagging a bit.

"I know, you get off clean. I'd still like you to stay, this place is meant for you. Both of you." He said catching Nyali in his gaze too. "But you should have a choice. Stand." He commanded and she obeyed without the ability not to. "That's the last time that will work." He said as he revealed her mark. "Be unbound." And she was, though it entirely lacked the drama of unbinding Ariel. Lara shuddered and slumped back into her seat.

"Do I get that too?" Nyali asked.

Sly took the time to read her more deeply before firmly responding. "No. Not yet."

"Wait why?" She demanded.

"I know you would stab me in the back if it was advantageous for you."

She tried to deny it but Sly just shook his head before continuing. "I don't even really blame you. You have one priority other than yourself and that's not me. That's her." He said glancing at Lara.

"That's so unfair!" She hissed.

"I don't think so, when you don't pose a danger to me or my neighbors you go free." Sly said without emotion.

"Not that, the freaky mind-reader thing. You even knew about Declan. It's an unfair advantage!" Nyali was getting more frustrated by the second. The reality that she could neither fight nor bullshit her way out of this sinking in.

"Yes, it is." Came the light, musical, voice from the doorway as Ariel entered. "Though he is not reading your mind, he just knows things. How do you think I ended up here?" Ariel came to a stop leaning on Sly's shoulder.

"Ari, what have we said about telling people we don't entirely trust things they don't need to know?" Sly chided as he pulled the angel down next to him on the bench.

"Don't do that anymore." Ari replied more rote than abashed.

"The thing is, as much as I can know, I'm far from omniscient and in a lot of ways more ignorant of this world than either of you." Sly's admission caught both women off guard. "I hadn't really stepped foot in your world before yesterday and I'm already in some shit. Lara, I'll give you an out. Anywhere in the world you want to go I'll get you there. Throw in some gems to let you start over. I'll give the rest the same offer." He felt deep into the earth around him producing a handful of rough cut gemstones.

"What kinda trouble are we talkin'? And what do you mean meant for us?" She asked.

"Well he did promise to betray demon lords after making off with a wealth of power." Ariel piped in.

"And this place is for those that don't fit anywhere in the light or dark. It's about a secure as can be." Sly finished.

Lara looked long and hard at the gems, then Nyali, before shaking her head. "I got one friend and a job here. I'm better than yesterday." She eventually looked back to the cat-girl. "Besides, I'm her best friend!" She wrapped the struggling Nyali in a bear hug lifting her with casual ease and spinning her around before placing her back down looking rumpled.

"So what do you actually want from us then?" Nyali asked as she un-rumpled herself.

"Knowledge, advice. A local guide." Sly answered.

"We can do that, right?" Lara interjected before Nyali could respond.

"Fine but I want to get paid." The cat-girl muttered eyeing the gems.

"Deal!" Sly happily agreed, summoning a second handful. "For both of you."