Sigrid was sitting in her tower room in the mansion planning on how to get to her mark when something caught her attention. It may have been a scent on the wind, she was not sure. But she was certain that something was wrong. She had learned long ago to trust those feelings when they came. She stood up and climbed out onto the roof. She needed both hands when climbing, so the daggers stayed where they were. She stayed close to the wall. Moving silently with quick steps.
It was just before two bells and most of the East Side was quiet. A soothing wind alleviated some of the heat, but not enough. Sweat trickled down Sigrid's brow. As she passed over from the tower to the roof of the west wing, she saw it. She pushed herself closer to the tower wall. A figure was perched on the edge of the west wing roof, in towards the garden. It sat perfectly still. Unnaturally still. Sigrid drew a long silent breath and focused on her movement. She made it halfway across the roof before the figure turned towards her. She saw two glowing yellow eyes looking at her. She sprinted. Ten quick steps and she would be there. After eight steps the figure blinked. And disappeared. Sigrid had already initiated the leap towards the figure and now was targeting empty air. She twisted trying to get her feet down on the roof first. And stepped on nothing. She thrust her arms out and caught the edge of the gutter and stopped herself from plummeting to the flagstones below. Breathing hard she heaved herself up on the roof. She pulled her longknife and held it out in front of her. Turning around in a circle. Looking. But not finding. Her heart beat hard in her chest. She climbed up to the ridge. As the towers started ringing for second bell, she caught a glimpse of something dropping down on the other side of the roof. She ran over. The echoes of the tower bells beat with her heart. The figure jumped off the edge of the roof. And was gone.
It had been a week since she last had a day off. Ever since the incident with the figure on the mansion roof a month ago Sigrid had been on her toes. She did not let Jarl get out of her sight. Even when he was with the princess she was there. Hiding. Watching. Listening. She spent the first two weeks after the incident searching for the figure. But there were no traces. It was like... Magic. She had considered asking Jarl but did not want to. Mirja was out of the question. Ever since she had rejected the woman, she had seemed to be avoiding both her and Jarl. She hadn't seen the woman at all in two weeks. Like she had been swallowed by the earth. She didn't know any other magicians. The College was back from summer break and tonight Jarl was with the Mistresses and she had almost ten hours to herself.
The idiot was where he usually was on Sacreday evening. Under the large oak between the dormitories with his little gang of friends. Sigrid climbed up to the second floor of Jarl's dormitory and got a good view from one of the hallway windows. She could not hear what they were saying but it looked like they had ... fun. She caught a word here and there from reading their lips, but it did not give enough context. Sigrid frowned. How long were they going to be there?
When the towers struck eleven bells the little gathering started to dissolve.
Finally.
She ran up to the roof and followed the Idiot over to one of the dormitories on the west side, close to the bookshop district. He entered the door to the dormitory. She could see him walking up the stairs to the third floor. The corridors of all the College buildings were lit during the dark hours and his shadow moved back and forth as he passed the little shining spheres that sat in small alcoves. He entered one of the side corridors. She had a one in two chance that his room was facing her direction. She waited. And there. A light shone up and she could see him through his window. Third floor, fourth from the left.
She made her way to his building using the roofs. One of the leaps challenged even her, but she landed quietly and continued.
Good thing people seldom look up.
She slid down over the edge of the roof and got her footing between the stones. The College buildings were almost too easy to climb. She quickly made her way down to the Idiot's window and peeked in. He was already in bed. The window was slightly open, as was every window in the entire city. The summer was coming to its end, thank the gods, but it was still as hot as in a bullfighter's codpiece. She waited until she could hear him snoring before silently climbing in. She pulled out her longdagger and put it to his throat. She sat down on his bed. His eyes fluttered open and then went wide as he saw her. And felt the dagger.
"I swear, we meant no harm," he wheezed.
The dagger cut slightly into his skin as he talked. She glared at him. She had no idea what he was talking about.
"It was Haleigh's idea."
Sigrid let off the pressure slightly.
"Keep talking. Give me every detail."
The Idiot swallowed.
"She's the one that suggested starting the rumor."
He hesitated.
"Go on," she said pushing harder on the dagger drawing another sliver of blood.
"The rumor that you are one of the Sisters of Infinite Mercy and that Jarl has you bound up in his room all night doing whatever he wants with you."
Sigrid blinked. Well, you got half of it right.
"What's your name."
"Aelric."
"Aelric what?"
The boy looked at her trying to comprehend the question. Then his mouth opened slightly and closed again before answering.
"We don't have last names."
Not so stupid after all.
"Who are we?"
Aelric studied her for a blink before a slight push with the dagger made him answer.
"The Pureborn."
Sigrid looked at the boy. The fear was retreating in his features. He was still afraid of her, but at least he thought that he had a chance of surviving the night. She had seen it so many times before.
"Tell me about the Pureborn," she said easing the dagger off his throat.
Aelric took a deep breath and looked at her for a long time.
"You won't kill me?"
"Depends. Not right now at least."
He looked at her apparently trying to find out if she was serious. She was serious. He swallowed again.
"The Pureborn are the results when two trained magicians agree and act on a magic enhanced union. The goal is to create the offspring with the highest probability for significant magic potential. The offspring is then raised in the creche and taught according to rote starting at eighteen months."
He paused. It sounded like he was reciting from a book. He likely was. Sigrid frowned and fear returned to the Idiot's features.
"So, you're an orphan."
She said this without a hint of a question. The Idiot, no Aelric, she corrected herself, blinked twice.
"Don't make me poke you again," she said holding up the dagger in front of him.
He nodded.
"Yes. Yes. We are all orphans. Or. At least our parents are not officially known to us."
She raised an eyebrow.
"You know who your parents are?"
Aelric looked at the dagger. He seemed to be considering something. He was not good at keeping his emotions off his face. He nodded. He did not elaborate. She briefly thought of forcing the answer out of him, but she was simply not that interested.
"Why are you here? In my room?"
The question came as somewhat of a surprise. She shouldn't have been surprised. It was the obvious question.
"I have a proposal for you."
The question was visible in his eyes.
"Wha-"
She put the tip of the dagger to his throat again.
"The proposal is as follows. I do what I want with you and in return you do not tell a living soul, or I cut your fingers off. One by one."
He opened his mouth and seemed about to start talking several times. She looked at him. That was not fear on his face. No. He was curious.
"And if I say no?"
She shrugged.
"I might let you go. Or not. Haven't decided yet."
She was telling the truth. She hadn't decided. She hadn't even planned for what would happen if he said no. She could let him go. Or drop him out the window. The fall from the third floor should break his neck. It couldn't be too uncommon with suicides, not given the living conditions and the stress from the Masters and Mistresses.
"Okay."
