A knife in the hand is worth two in the back.

[Boaz]

When someone has power, invariably someone else wishes to have said power for themselves. When the haves and the have nots are considered, strangely, it is the haves that strive the hardest to obtain greater things. Few with power will give it up willingly, so sometimes these things must be pried from their cold, dead fingers. Open warfare is a messy business, and so the profession of assassin was born.

Many people speak in awe of Kalthas the Black, who hails from the sun swept wastes of Karish. The powerful tremble at the very whisper of Clarissa the Rose, who’s beauty is only surpassed by her deadliness. Both of these, and few others are great artist, with amazing skill in stealth and martial prowess. They flaunt their skill, and revel in the fear of their targets. Seth on the other hand, is a professional. He knows the basic rule by heart, people can’t defend against the unknown, and the unwary are the easiest kills. He is a silent killer, the one that people in the know, and with the money, can learn how to contact.

 

 

“No! I am authorized to offer you 200,000 gold, and not a coin more!” venament argued the small man, while eyeing the shadows for a hint of movement.

“Daniel, Daniel. Such anger. If this conversation is to go well I would remind you to keep your voice civil and your hand away from that hidden dagger.”

Eyes wide, looking deeply into the surrounding gloom, the man asks, “How do you know my name? I have not told you and I have traveled far to meet you.”

“Heh, only a fool would meet someone they know absolutely nothing of. Now listen closely, I am not haggling. I am stating a fact. 200,000 before 150,000 after. There is no way it would be considered anything but a natural death. Can any others assure you of that?”

“My masters do not doubt your skill, but they do not consider even the life of a king to be worth so much!” Replied the contact.

From a different point came the reply, “Tell your masters that such a death would cause great turmoil within the kingdom.”

“Surely you jest! One such as yourself cannot care for the life of the peasants or the welfare of the Kingdom.”

“Fool, I could care less if all the peasants die. But chaos stops tax collection, and war is expensive. I refuse to harm my future business opportunities without proper compensation”, the voice softly hisses from directly behind the messenger. “Now, run away to your master, or masters and tell them my terms, they know the drop point, I expect they will agree to my price.”

The messenger turned towards the mouth of the ally, forcing himself to walk slowly. A soft whisper that tickles the back of his neck forces him to turn just before he steps into the dim light of the roadway.

“I said to come alone, you will find your companion one ally over, but rest easy, he died quickly.. .and quietly.”

“You fool! He was the King’s cousi.....” with eyes wide from the realization of the slip of his tongue, Daniel turned and ran out of the ally.

 

If anyone had been left in the area, they would have been able to hear a small chuckle and the sound of someone moving away and softly talking to themself, “Hmm.. I thought the blood looked a little blue.”

[Boaz]

An aged hand upon a balcony rail. A greying head with hair blowing in the breeze. Small children, the progeny of the aged hands owner, running through the rose garden below, with gardener’s scolding them to mind the thorns. The sound of the city, happy and busy, wafting over the walls. A woman, aged but with warm beauty and grace standing beside him turns to ask him....

 

“Your majesty, Sir Erik. I am sorry to bother you...”

The king looks up, to see his closest advisor and friend before him. “Ah Magellan, I am sorry I must have allowed my mind to wander off.”

“Ah, have you come to a decision then, sir?”

“No, I had avoided thinking of any decisions, I was just thinking of better times is all. And let me remind you again.. We are not in court, so drop the sir. Is there anymore word?”

“No sir. Nothing on the hunt for your cousin’s killer. Though I do have the report of the royal physician ready for you to read.” A sealed envelope is offered by an age spotted hand.

The room goes quiet as old but bright eyes read the report. “Hmm. A professional from the wounds it would seem.”

“Yes. The physician says that the two knife thrusts, one at the base of the skull and the other where the neck and the shoulders meet were both inflicted at the same time. So our killer is either a very natural bladesman, or a highly trained one.”

“Or both. One of the few ways to kill very quickly, without causing a major arterial spray. But the most important question is, why was Andrew in that ally in the first place? Or was he dumped there?”

After a moment of silence, “That is not known as of yet, we have our best agents working on the problem. Also, the guard around the twins has been doubled, and I wish you would allow us to do the same for you.”

A hand clinches around a swords pommel for just a moment, and then a quick release accompanied by a sigh, “Adam, I am sorry. I know how much it bothers you to have it otherwise, but the day I rely on some pups who haven’t even seen active combat protect me... well that will be the day I decide I am not fit to carry this crown anymore, a king has to be strong...” and then, barely audible... “in more ways than one...”

“Sir, sorry to harp, but... your decision?”

“I haven’t arrived at one yet! I will know when I know!” A big fist hits the table, hard and the uncomfortable silence is broken by the sound of the distant tolling of a bell. “Now I believe that is the bell tolling out high moon. I believe it is time to see ourselves to bed.”

“Would you at least allow me to cast just a spell or two over you? Like I did back when we adventured together? Nothing major, just one to protect against blades, and another to warn me of any of your blood is spilled?”

“Uuuuhmmmmm...” a hand comes up to cover tired eyes, “yes, I will give you this one concession, but only because of our friendship. And only you are to be the recipient of the notice of my wounding, not the bloody guard. Understood?”

[Boaz]

Everyone needs someone they can trust, someone they know will be right there next to them when the knives are at your throat. Unfortunately, some don’t have such luxuries, and sometimes, when you need to talk to someone, you only have your own inner voice.

A quick peak around the corner. Two guards, both apparently competent from the way they carry their weapons, and the fact they are still alert at such a godless hour. Ok, time for a spell Seth my boy. A good long look at them is what is called for. Ok, twist the left finger just so, the index finger extended straight out, and make sure to inflect the last syllable. Ah there we go, done, as clear as a Kodena Mountain stream. Now time for a bold look, what with the looky- loos not being able to look back..hah. Hmm, one tall, one short.. seems we are dealing in pairs all over the place. A swordsman, and a pike man. A Pike man? In this hallway, why he wouldn’t even be able to swing that thing around without being in the center of the hall. Very poor choice for him and his friend’s defense. Ok, plan, need a plan. I wonder if they are in a non magic field like the gatehouse? *quick look down to his shirt with a pause to finger a jagged rip* Guess there is only one way to find out. Index finger crooked, semicircle counterclockwise, spit out the words like hot wax, hmm.. a fizzle. anti-magic indeed.

 

(A few minutes earlier)

Seed of the great god on the ground! How could the situation have become so bad so quickly? All I wanted to do was sneak through a back gatehouse..who has anti-magic protection on a back gatehouse? Stupid overconfidence, well a knife in the side is what one deserves in such situations I guess. Gods, the small one is going for the alarm bell’s pull rope again. Medilena, Goddess of the dark, guide this hand axe. YES! haha..grab that rope at 12 feet up why don’t you? Haha.

“Zeek! He cut the damn bell rope, I am going to have to make a run for the main house to warn the rest!” yells a small man over his shoulder as he heads for the door.

“You cowardly piece of Kodenay flesh, you get back here and help keep his blades from my heart!” Shouts the one that is 7 feet tall and looks like his parents wanted a lighthouse instead of a son.

Grrr... why doesn’t he just give up and fight? If he gets that heavy door open, he won’t need to make it to the main house, the sound of steel on steel will carry for hundreds of yards on a night like this. It might be audible even now. Ok gotta stop him.. and stop this damn ringing of steel, and it isn’t like the magic on my blades helps much in here.

Zeek’s eyes spring open wide at the sight of the dark stranger sheathing his dagger and pulling a rope and balls from his waist, a quick flick of the wrist, and it comes spinning past his head. At first Zeek’s mouth spreads into a grin at the miss, until he hears the thump of Isaac falling and the curses that come spilling from his friends mouth. But it spreads again at the sight of the other blade disappearing like it’s mate. “Seems strange for you to be giving up so quickly? Might you be planning a little magic? I would have though you would have realized before that our little place here is made to keep that from happening?”

Have to get him angry, need him to be confident, or angry, either one...all out offense is what I need from him. “Was the ogre that impregnated your mom this talkative? Or maybe you never knew him? Maybe too many ogres in your mothers bed for you to differentiate? Oops, sorry that was a multi-syllabic word. I guess what I am asking is, were you as confused on fathers day as the city whore’s son?” dumb oaf like him.. That should do it. Talk about their mothers and they get all fussy.

The shade of red that was on Zeek’s face was only outdone by the red running down Seth’s side, as he began his furious attack. A quick overhand swing powerful, but not overreaching, dealt with by a quick sidestep to the left and a rabbit punch to the side of the head. Damn, he wasn’t even stunned by that. A bellow of rage and the sword arm sweeps to the right, following Seth’s movement. A quick step back(out of the swords range) followed by a quick step in, left hand placed on the sword arm’s wrist, and an elbow to the armpit of the offending arm swiftly follows. I think I felt a rib break, I pray I felt it break..break..break damn you. Zeek pulls his arm back with an accompanying burst of air from his lungs, but a quick straight hand punch slams into Seth’s right cheek, as the arm is brought right back out. I swear, he hits me in the face one more time, and I will pull these blades out and make him a castrato. I have got to finish this quickly before his friend gets out of that bola. The big man finally makes a major mistake as he lunges towards the apparently stunned assassin. A strait stabbing motion, arm extended fully, body weight on front foot, all momentum forward, finally I can end this.

The small one gasps in relieve as he anticipates Zeek skewering the intruder, but it turns to a moan of fear. It all looked so cut and dry, the intruder was done for, but Isaac’s swift eyes caught what happened, even if his brain refused to process it. Zeek’s straight stab, the intruder shifting his feet and moving to the outside of the stab, and leading the attacking arm forward. Zeek stumbling off balance, and the movement of the assassin into his body. Zeek’s head resting against where the other’s arm and chest meet, and him cupping the back of Zeek’s head to keep Zeek moving in the circle around him. Zeek apparently beginning to regain his balance as he tries to stop his forward(more like circular now) momentum. The assassin waits until just the right moment to release the sword arm, and as Zeek begins to stand the assassin removes his hold and moves his arm to grip both hands together, locking the giant’s head into a vise. Isaac winches while he watches the intruder use Zeek’s own height and momentum against him. The assassin sets his feet, and twists his whole upper body in the opposite direction of Zeek’s momentum, and a wet crack is heard as the neck breaks. Zeek only has time to drum his feet once, before it is done and his body is dropped to the floor like a sack of potatoes.

“Now, please quit trying to untie those bolas..and stop all that screaming. It is unbecoming, and I doubt anyone can hear you through these walls. What are you looking at? Ah yes the bell rope. Yes I do have to agree if I had missed, it would have been a much different story. Now, one question before I am done. How do you want it? Heart or neck?”

Edited June 15, 2005 by Boaz

[Boaz]

(Back in the present)

 

Trusting the spell of invisibility and his years of training to remain undetected, Seth rounds the corner of the hall and moves silently to within a few feet of the guards.

 

Kalic Adjusted his grip on the pike and thought for the hundredth time that night that maybe just maybe any other job would be more exciting that his current occupation. Of course that all changed when the cloaked figure appeared less than 10 feet away from him, and to be honest it was probably only the barrier his helm created that kept his eyes from popping right out of his head. Without even an instant of thought his body went into the procedure that had been drilled into his muscles for the last 10 years... 2 steps to the center of the hall, and a quick flick of his wrist began the spinning of his pike. This he could keep doing with the deadly flourishes and twists for hours. His mind no longer thought or felt, all that existed was the body. He barely even noticed when the bolt from the hand crossbow found the soft flesh of his companion's thigh, or the spasms that started to wrack his body.

 

Heh, poor guy. Too bad anti-magic doesn't affect the poison of the Hyrui. Now, how to beat this guy? I can't see a place on him that isn't covered in an inch of steel. A quick trust...ah...nice reflexes..didn't even get close.. but how are you on the outside...hmm...not bad there either...ahhh.. Seth's mental dialog is broken by the sudden need to backpedal as the pike man begins an elaborate and deadly forward dance. The large pike man continues to press his advantage, and it is obvious that even thought Seth fights his hardest, slowly..very very slowly he is forced to move back... Gods..what a conservative, how many openings do I have to give? any other fighter would have me another 10 feet back..well at least there should be a foot or two between him and the antimagic feild... A sudden darkness descends over both combatants... Suddenly the pike man seems to realize the other change, maybe air pressure, premonition.... for what ever reason, he begins to turn around, but too late. Seth slams his short sword into the armpit of his enemy's upraised arm, and he reflexively hunches over on that side his dirk is slipped into the newly formed gap between the left shoulder and helm.

 

Let's see, the antimagic field ends about 2 feet before the door..so maybe magical alarms too? Seth closes his eyes and begins to concentrate, when he reopens his eyes he is able to follow the flow of magic around the door, and notice the magic from the door flowing off in on direction and ending in one of the stones on the wall. After careful consideration of the situation, he moves to the body of the swordsman, removes the right gauntlet and presses the palm against the block. With a barely audible sound almost like a soft breath...the reinforced double doors unseal. With death on his mind and silence as his companion, Seth walks into the private rooms of the Duke of Klandish.........