Takoff receives an urgent message

As the women were talking, a faint whistling filled their ears, a whistling that Takoff recognized. "Oh, no, not now. I'm not ready." All three women turned their heads up and watched as a small origami swan fluttered through the wind above them, coming into view from far away and falling to the sky, daintily landing in Takoff's lap and unfolding into a letter. Takoff lifted it up, her two passengers peering over her shoulders curiously.

Operative Watcher,

You have a new mission. Congratulations, you must be doing something right. Your next target was last seen in a stolen coach heading towards the border of the kingdom. You're looking for a 3' 10" male Forest Gnome with brown hair and olive skin. Please note that, by request of the client, in order to receive the full payment, the target must be delivered to the guild within 72 hours, alive. Good luck.

Best wishes,

Maria Valdez

"Shit," Takoff grumbled as she crumpled up the letter and tossed it into the back of the wagon. "Of course, they had to send me a rush job before I could resupply. Bastards."

"What does that mean?" Thurkla asked tentatively.

In answer, Takoff pulled on the reins and turned the wagon in a 180, nearly sending her passengers flying as they clung to each other for balance. "It means we're taking a detour."

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Nearly an hour of riding at top speed later, Takoff led the wagon into a small patch of trees on the edge of the road, hiding it from view while her naked passengers doubled over on the ground from whiplash and motion sickness. Thurkla was lying on her back, her bare chest heaving with massive breaths, while Morgala was leaning over a bush and dry heaving. Takoff was mostly ignoring them, focusing her attention on the border gate leading into the free territory of Rudeia. If her mark was really trying to escape the kingdom, he'd have to travel through these gates to take the shortest route. She only hoped she had beaten him there.

"You two stay by the wagon. " Takoff said as she turned around to look at her unwanted companions. "With any luck, this will be over in a few hours and we can get back on the road." The dwarf walked over to the wagon and started pulling out equipment, ending up with a large black crossbow and a small satchel full of ammunition and repair tools.

"What should we do if something happens?" Thurkla asked, pulling herself to her knees.

"Nothing. If I can't handle something, you two sure can't either. Just stay hidden and wait for me to come back. Once I'm done, we'll head to the guild, I'll get paid and resupply, and we'll be back on the road to the keep." Both women looked back at the bounty hunter, or more accurately her shapely naked rear end, and couldn't help but lose a little confidence in her abilities. "Don't look at me like that," Takoff hissed at her clients. "I'm good at my job, and I'll prove it to you right now."