Talin paused mid-sentence as a puff of dust settled on the table before him. He raised his eyes to the ceiling where it had come from as his companion looked at him curiously.

"What?" Jared asked, his eyes flicking nervously to the silvered knife Talin had slowly and quietly drawn from his belt. Talin simply put a finger to his lips, and carefully arranged his dagger in an underhanded motion.

In a flash the door burst open, a nightmarish figure standing in the doorway, framed by the torchlight outside. Jared screamed as the figure advanced, its black cloak billowing behind it in the cold night air. The lamplight inside glistened off metallic greaves and gold filaments lacing the garments of the assassin as he drew his short scimitar in one fluid motion.

"If you're here for the money, I don't have it." Talin's posture was relaxed, but Jared could see sweat trickling down the back of his neck.

"I'm not here for money." The gravely voice sent chills through his bones.

"What do you want, then? I'm sure we can strike an arrangement."

"Make one with the Reaper."

The sword was in its sheath before Talin could even move, and in the brief instant it took him to realize he was not hurt, the assassin had disappeared. Talin's shoulders slumped, and he slowly replaced his dagger in its sheath.

"Well. That was..." He trailed off as he heard a thump behind him. Turning, he saw Jared's sightless eyes, stuck in an expression of disbelief.

Talin sighed. "Never make an enemy of the Forge, I suppose."