Shadows seemed to change, seemed to move with each step. The moon, small and distant upon a velvet sky, shone little light upon the ground. The assassin needed no light to show the path, all that was needed was the candle lit windows that identified the manor. The assignment was simple, the target was easy, just getting in was the hard part. That was what she was told anyway.
The hired killer reached the outermost perimeter gates. The iron bars were wide enough for the assassin to squeeze, or so thought. Passing the right arm through the assassin cursed her breasts. Thought the leather outfit could easily slide through with little chance of grazing, the pain was noticeable. Once through she searched for an entrance.
The assassin thought back to her second life. There she was a nineteen-year-old merchant's daughter in a large town. Her life was simple, happy and average. She had met heartbreaks and encountered times of unbelievable joy. But she knew the truth of her experiences. Her entire life was set up by her owner. Everything she did, everyone she met was appointed to her on a timetable known only by her master.
As she crept past a sleeping guard, she thought about her master. She had met him once and once only. It was some weeks back yet she still remembered his face as if she had seen him only yesterday. It was a face a girl could not forget.
He entered the merchant's shop alone and the moment she saw him she knew exactly who he was. His shoulder length dark hair was loose, his eyes were as blue as the sky and his face was set on a friendly expression as if he was an actual customer.
But she saw through his act. She knew wanted her for an assignment. But why did he come himself? He could have sent the assignment through the usual way. A disguised assailant comes into the shop and hides the information under a stand while "browsing" around. She felt something was not as it seemed though she could not quite put her finger on it. He had walked through the shop as if he was interested in the stock then he had called for her assistance. When she had gone to him he had told her the assignment under his breath right there in the open. She knew that something was definitely not right.
She stealthily ducked into a doorway as the change of guard trooped by and as soon as they had rounded the corner she continued down the hall. She was in the house and running out of time, they would soon discover the bodies of the five perimeter guards that had spotted her and the alarm would spread through the entire estate. She would not have a chance to escape. As good as she is, she will be caught and maybe killed, even tortured to death if she was careless, or worst. This was going to be fun.
The assassin rounded a corner. She was fifty or so yards from completing her task. She crossed the hall to hide in the shadows, though it was not necessary, She could make herself invisible even in a lighted room.
"Third door on the left," she whispered under her breath. "A circlet of leaves with a dagger through it."
She found it, then crept up and tried the handle. It was not locked. She thought this was strange as her master told her that this person had many enemies, though they did not lock the door, there weren't even any guards standing post. She griped the hilt of the sword she had taken off an oriental warrior, a memento of a past assignment, and turned the handle.
Once inside she quickly, yet quietly closed the door and waited. It took less then a second for her eyes to adjust to the darkness of the room. The room was the private quarters of her intended target. A large canopied bed was to her right. There was other furniture in the room but she was interested in was the bed. And its occupant.
She crept towards the sleeping soul she was about to release from this world, her sword, now unsheathed, held low and her heart and mind determined. A movement. She stopped dead. She saw the bed covers move and rustle as the occupant turned over. Once again she moved towards her hapless target.
A sound outside the door made her stop again. She was halfway between the door and the bed as she turned her head slightly and saw a light under the door. She waited, anxious of been discovered but soon the light passed. She breathed again. She was frustrated with the delay, they would have discovered the bodies by now and would probably be on their way bearing the news that she was inside the grounds. She had to act quickly, this had to be finished as soon as possible and that meant right now.
Throwing caution into the wind she quickly ran over to the bed. Once there she raised the blade and aimed for the neck. It would be messy but it had to be done quickly, one good swipe would do it. She prepared herself then stopped. Something had a hold of her. She looked up and saw a thin cord around her wrists at its end a dark shadow had a hold of the cord. Before she could react the shadow had jumped onto the bed bringing the cord over the support beam. She was pulled off her feet as the cord tightened and wrenched the sword out of her hands. Quicker then she could possibly move the shadow had tied the cord to the bedpost and was now securing her legs to the bedside.
She was strung up unable to move as she saw the shadow light the lanterns around the room and then shake the bed's occupant. She watched as the occupant talk to the darkly dressed assailant who was in fact another assassin. She watched as the assassin left the room, her neck straining to see him leave.
"I thought you said you could pull this off without a glitch," came a familiar voice.
She turned her head to look into the face of her master.
"Surprise!" He said mockingly, shrugging his shoulders and raising his hands out wide.
"What's going on?" she asked struggling on her bonds.
"Don't do that," his face took on a look of concern, "It will only hurt more."
"Then get me down and tell me what the hell is going on!" she half screamed.
" Ok, have it your way." He picked up a dagger from the bedside table and walked towards her. "Just promise to behave."
"I'll try to hold myself back," she said with heavy sarcasm as the cord to her feet was cut. She found that even with the cord cut she couldn't loosen the loop.
"It's all in the knot," he said as he put his shoulder against her stomach and cut the cord to her wrist's. She dropped onto his shoulder and he gently sat her onto the bed.
The assassin checked her wrist's. The cord had dug deep and her hands were wet with blood. Her ankles were the same. She tried to work them loose but couldn't, she winced as she tried again.
"I told you not to do that," he laid a gentle hand on her wrist's and cut the cord with his dagger. She immediately went for her thin dagger that was belted at her waist, but couldn't find the hilt.
"Looking for these?" he produced four needle point blades. "I took them from you as I cut you down."
"You have fast hands," she said as she looked up into his face.
"Not fast, just gentle." With a quick movement he threw the daggers towards the door, striking the precise centre in unison.
"And accurate." She looked into his blue eyes. "What do you want with me?".
"Nothing yet," he got up and moved towards a cabinet. It was then she saw the hilt of her sword lying just under the satin bed covers. Could he have overlooked it?
She quickly reached down and snatched up the blade, then quietly slid it back into its scabbard. She moved awkwardly as her ankles were still bound, but she managed to hide the hilt from sight. She did her best to make no noise.
"Would you like a drink?" he said as he poured himself a glass of red wine.
"No, thanks."
"Your choice," he put down the iron bound canister and walked back towards the bed, sipping his wine.
"Could you tell me what is going on?" she said as he knelt in front of her. "And could you do something about this?" she showed him her bleeding wrists.
"Oh, so sorry," he said as he put down his glass and took up a corner of the bed sheets, then with a quick tug the satin fabric tore. Long strips were made from the valuable sheet and he bound her wounds. He then took up his glass and pored its contents onto the bandage. She winced as the sting of alcohol seeped through the fabric.
"For an assassin your features are very becoming." He cut the cord at her ankles.
"Thank you for the compliment." She winced and watched as he dressed the wounds to her ankles, then he reached for the empty glass.
"Out of wine," he said as he looked at the bottom of the glass, "be right back".
He was half way across the room when she saw her chance. Quietly, she got up off the bed, drawing her sword as she went. She crept up behind her master. This would free her from a life of killing for the sake of living. A quick strike would end his bound to her and finally she would be free to do whatever she wanted to do. And that's to live a normal life without being bound to a second one, a life that kept her days intolerable and her night's a living nightmare.
He reached the cabinet and started to pour the wine. The sound of rich wine into a glass hid her final movement as she raised the razor sharp blade over her shoulder for a swipe at the neck. It would be messy but very effective. She set herself and swung with practised power, precision and speed.
Sparks flew into her eyes as her blade struck the canister. Blinded, she staggered back and swung again to gain enough time to clear her eyes, but her sword was jerked from her and a powerful pair of hands griped her bleeding wrists. She screamed as she was lifted off her feet and thrown upon the bed. She landed heavily then curled up and held her knees close to her chest. She lay there and expected the worst but only felt a gentle hand upon her shoulder.
"Never give up," her master sat beside her and gently forced her to sit up, "you still have a lot to learn."
Her eyes cleared and she looked at her master. Her tear streaked face seemed to awaken something in the master assassin. His eyes seemed to change to take on a look of pity.
