Reo wakes up in a dark room that stinks of must and rain. His body aches from lying on the stone floor. The only indication of where he's at comes from a small window high up. He cranes his neck to see through it, and all that is manageable is a sight of rows of gabled roofs. Nice to know I'm still in Kiern and not on a ship to some old forgotten hole in the Nightlands. Reo hisses as a sharp pain at the back of his skull makes his body tremble. He looks around for a sign of anything, his muscles protesting in response. Through the darkness, a small figure is lying in a heap on the floor. Reo tries to stand, to do anything, but his hands are bound tightly. He scoots over to it to see better. It's a girl who couldn't be much older than him. The only thing he could make out was her long white blonde hair in a loose braid. A few hours of silence and occasional sleep later, the girl begins to stir. He stares at her a while longer for any signs of life. She sits up and almost jumps out of her skin when she notices him.
"Goddess, you scared the life out of me." She mumbles, her Loran accent rolling in thick waves off her tongue. Reo ducks his head down.
"I'm sorry."
"Do you know where we are?" She asks. Her voice reminds him of wind chimes. Reo shakes his head.
"No idea, do you know how you got here Miss..."
"Calliope. I was jumped by some Sola goons. What about you?"
"Me too. The leader, I think her name is Clementine asked me to treat her son, then I got knocked over the head."
She hums in response. Reo opens his mouth to say something else, but he's interrupted by the heavy wooden door opening with a deafening creak. Two burly men, both Suna enter. They grab the two kids and drag them by their collars to what looks like Clementine's office. The men throw them into an ungraceful heap on the floor.
"Untie their restraints." Clementine says sharply in Suna. Reo's knowledge of Suna is quite good due to his time serving in the ju haleer, the Valor sector of the Sunarai military. One of the men grabs him like a ragdoll and unties his restraints before throwing him down again. Reo stands and stretches his arms and legs. His joints creak at the movement. Calliope stretches as well, her movements limber. She's tiny, about three heads shorter than him and quite slender but her exposed arms are muscular. She brushes her hair from her face to reveal the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. Her left eye is a light sky blue, like most Lorans but her right eye is a vibrant lavender purple. She has a sharp jaw and a defined nose which has a piercing on her left nostril. Her eye shape and lips are soft in contrast. Even though she's obviously Loran, her violet eye is Allori. He didn't notice he was gawking until Calliope looks at him with an arched eyebrow. He quickly turns away, heat rising to his cheeks. "So Clementine, what do you need me for so much so that you had to kidnap me?" Calliope asks, her voice sharp enough to cut Marchian steel. They stare at each other like cats getting ready to attack. He could tell that they have a history. Clementine folds her hands under her chin and glares at Calliope. She turns her head away to stare at Reo.
"Because I have a task for you both." She says flatly. "The job requires people with a unique set of abilities that you and Reo both possess." She speaks in a condescending drawl. Calliope glances at Reo.
"Clementine, you know I work alone. What is the meaning of this?" Clementine stares at Calliope as if she's stupid.
"This can't be a solo mission. Besides, it won't kill you to have a partner this one time." Calliope rolls her eyes and scoffs. She crosses her arms and slinks back, making herself even smaller.
"What is this...task?" Reo asks. A smile tugs at the corners of the Suna woman's lips, creating the same pit of dread that he felt when they first met. Calliope rocks back and forth on her heels.
"I want the two of you to go to Allori and retrieve Son Drasha esh Valoras."
Reo's brain short circuits. All he could do was gape at her. She wants them to take The Book of Valors, one of the most heavily guarded books in the world.
"Why?" Is all Reo could manage to say. Clementine's stares daggers at him and he flinches.
"My interests are none of your concern." Calliope steps forward.
"Okay, so we get you this...thing. What's in it for us?" She asks.
"Six million lerche each and," She stares at Calliope. "Freedom." Calliope's guarded expression falters for a moment and she bites her lip, the hope in her eyes disappears as fast as it came.
Six million lerche.
Reo and Calliope stare at each other. Clementine wants two strangers to travel to Allori, steal a priceless relic, and get six million lerche for it. Reo stares at Clementine incredulously. Clementine leaves her office, motioning them to follow. She leads them to a small room next door.
"I'll let the two of you discuss it, I'll be back later." She leaves the two of them alone in looming silence. Reo puts his head into his hands
"This woman is insane," He says, sighing heavily.
"Tell me Reo, what is this Son Drasha esh Valoras?" The words roll off her tongue as if Allori was her native language. He lifts his head to meet her multicolored gaze. Her guarded expression reminds him of a suit of armor.
"It translates to The Book of Valors. It's a series of manuscripts that if given to a Valor, they could become one of the most powerful beings in the world." Calliope leans against a wall with her arms crossed, deep in thought.
"Why would someone like Clementine need it?"
"I don't know, she's not a Valor I can tell that much." Once Reo realizes what he says, his eyes widen. She stares at him, her lavender eye glinting.
"You're a Valor." It wasn't a question. Reo nods preparing for the judging stares and the vile words that might be said. Valors are humans with a specific unique ability. Because of this, not very many people like Valors, in fact most people hate them. They hate him. But the rude stares and harsh words didn't come. She just nods and looks down at her hair cascading over her shoulder.
"Are you going to accept it? The task?" He asks.
"Yes, I need to. I have to." The tone of her voice is resolute as if she has left no room for anyone to challenge her decision. Regardless of how much she needs the reward, she has no idea how treacherous this job will be.
"Why would you want to do something so dangerous? You could die." Calliope stares at nothing, face completely blank.
"Reasons. What about you?" Reo shrugs.
"Reasons." Calliope smiles a smile that Reo could stare at for the rest of his life. The two of them exchange a glance and nod. They would do this together. Two strangers going on a mission to retrieve the most guarded item in the world.