by Macie Cage
“But what do you have to do? You say endurance, but couldn’t you just run laps around the castle until you collapse?”
Evander let out a dark chuckle. “If only,” he muttered.
“Eva, what the hell did they do?” Caiden was getting annoyed with his dodging.
“Pain, Caiden. You have to endure pain. Before anything happens, they give you a word. Some random word. If you say this word at any point in the week, it stops. Whoever is watching you will pull you out or whoever is hitting you will stop. However, if you say it then you fail. The goal is to survive the week without saying it. You either reach the end and pass, give up and use the safe word, or you die.” He glared over at the Prince who was staring at him wide-eyed.
“But— Eva, if I was eight, you were only ten. Are you kidding me? What do they do?”
“Well, it’s not like I knew it was my testing period. I was called into the training room, didn’t think much of it, then Ansom just grinned at me and told me to listen well. He said ‘rutabaga’ and next thing I knew, someone was behind me covering my nose and mouth with some kind of drug-soaked cloth. Then I woke up in the dark.” He trailed off with a hum then realized that Caiden was listening with rapt attention.
He sighed. “It was freezing. I woke up with a headache. I could barely see. It was damp. I could hear water somewhere relatively nearby. I had no idea what time it was. I had no idea what was going on. It took me a few minutes before I realized that I was being tested.”
“What did you do? Where were you?”
“I was in one of the underwater caves by the coast. Farther north, though I didn’t know that at the time. I got up and tried to feel my way around. It was freezing. My clothes were damp at that point and the walls were slimy with algae. I remembered thinking that it was weird, when the area I was in was above water, that there would be water dwelling plants on the walls. I felt around for a while but there was no way out. There were walls on three sides; one had a hole in it, but I didn’t think I’d fit, and the other sloped down from what I could tell, but there was only water that way.”
“Then…”
“Yeah. I realized after about a half hour that the water level was rising. That’s when I figured out I was in one of the caves. The only exit was underwater, and I had no idea where to go once I dove or how long I’d have to be under for. Not to mention it was freezing.”
“How’d you get out then?”
Evander smiled. “Well, after that I sat there for a few minutes and watched the water level keep rising. Then I realized that I could see the water and my surroundings fairly well for what was supposed to be an underwater cave. I looked up and saw that there was an opening farther up that I hadn’t seen before, since the sun hadn’t gotten there yet. I could see where the walls would reflect where it was wet, and it was only a half foot below the opening… maybe. I wasn’t sure at the time, but I didn’t want to risk drowning.”
“So, what, you just waited?”
“Pretty much. I won’t lie, it was terrifying. There came a point when I heard the sudden rush of water and the water level was going up really fast. I couldn’t see anymore, so I had to try and stay as still as I could while being pushed and pulled by the current. I actually missed the opening, got stuck on the cave ceiling, and went under for a minute.” He shivered at the memory. “It was so cold I thought I might die of hypothermia before I drowned, but I managed to get over to the point below the opening and the water level kept going up. All I had to do was tread until it wouldn’t go up anymore. I just braced against the walls as well as I could and dragged myself out.”
“So, where were you? Was there anyone there to help?”
Evander laughed. “No. I ripped off my clothes so they wouldn’t sap anymore body heat. I was shaking so bad I could barely stand. It was dark out, in the early winter, and I had nothing to help me survive. I rolled around in the dirt and grass to try and dry off and get feeling back in my limbs. I managed to find some kindling and I pulled the laces from my shirt to help get a fire started.”
“How the hell did you manage to survive that?”
“Honestly, I have no idea. I managed to get my clothes dry pretty quickly so it’s not like I was naked for all that long. I also didn’t let myself sleep. Caught some food once the sun was up again and started making my way back to the castle. Took a few days, but I did it.”
“A few days? Eva, you were gone for a week.”
Evander shifted uncomfortably. “Yeah. Once I got to the castle grounds, the one who must have been assigned to watch me revealed herself and told me to go through the Inner Castle, so I did. I thought it was over.”
“You were wrong?” Caiden guessed.
“Dead wrong.” Evander sighed. “Got jumped almost as soon as I got to the training room and dragged to an area I’d never been to before.”
This time it was Caiden shifting nervously. “What happened?”
“Oh, they beat me senseless. Using every tool in the arsenal. Every torture technique. All the while, the administrator would be talking in the background. ‘All you have to do is say the word. All of it will end, I promise.’ Her voice was so soothing. ‘Just say it. That’s all you have to do.’”
“And you didn’t?”
Evander snorted out a laugh. “No. And I told her that too. ‘If I do that, sure, it’ll stop. You’ll just kill me, and I won’t have to feel it anymore.’ She didn’t like that answer. She didn’t like that I could speak at all.”
“I thought you said that they’d stop if you said the safe-word.”
“That’s what they told us. But everyone who failed was never heard from again. We were told they ran away, that they were given alternate positions throughout the kingdom. It never sat well with me. I guessed, and I was right.”
“So you never said the safe-word?”
“Never.”
“How long did they keep you there?”
“About… Hell if I know, it was a long time ago.”
“Eva, you were ten. You’re telling me that they tortured a ten-year-old for days?”
“I was ten. Riu was thirteen. Karen was nine. Another was fifteen.” Evander shrugged. “We are assassins. We are spies. And we all know everyone else. If we were discovered and tortured for information, it wouldn’t matter our ages.”
“I guess… Still, it's barbaric.”
“Necessary, but yes.” He chuckled. “I wouldn’t go anywhere near the woman who’d administered my test for the next… well, actually I still avoid her if at all possible. She’s nice. She actually apologized and always gives me little gifts when she sees me. She’s fairly old now.”
Caiden hummed but seemed content with the answers he was given.
“When we get home, I’m gonna ask Karen to make some mulled wine, the kind with apples and cinnamon that she made for my birthday. And pudding. And bread. Sweet bread and mulled wine.” Caiden laughed, but it was a strained sound. “If she’s still there, that is.”
“She will be.” Evander found himself reassuring him. “She’s a tough woman, not to mention she got along well with Riu. I’m sure she’ll be fine. There were several of them that didn’t exactly follow Ansom’s ideology but managed to keep their heads down enough to not be noticed. It’ll be fine.”
Caiden smiled but it was another voice that replied.
“Oh, really? You’ll have to give me their names.”
Twelve
Month of the Maiden 22, 421 HE
Both of them turned towards the edge of the firelight. Ansom was skulking just out of view, his form nothing more than a darker patch of shade in the night.
“Now, Evander, I know we’ve had our misunderstandings, but I will offer you one last chance. If you complete your duty, I won’t be forced to kill you.”
“You’d just kill me as soon as I went back with you.” Evander drew out his daggers. “Besides, we both know you’ll have just as hard a time with or without Caiden there.” He poured a tone of mockery
into his voice. Now that he knew Ansom’s weakness, it was almost too easy to goad him.
The jab hit home and Evander sucked in a breath, fighting himself to hold perfectly still as the sound of a knife flying through the air made him want to duck. Had he done so, it would have killed him. As he stood, the weapon sailed past his side.
Evander darted forward, watched Ansom raise his weapons, and just before he came into striking distance, his foot struck a shadow and he dove, revealing the Prince who’d been just behind him. He came out a few yards away, watching Caiden’s blow strike against a dagger, deflected.
Evander drew one of the few throwing daggers he had left and threw, watching in annoyance as Ansom leaned back to avoid it. However, while the blade didn’t hit, it allowed Caiden to get clear.
Ansom backed out of the light and for a second, Evander lost track of him.
“Eva!”
Evander pulled with his ability and twisted. The knife grazed past his shoulder but didn’t break skin.
“Two against one and I will still kill you both without any effort.” Ansom’s voice was a sigh of disappointment.
“Says the man who brought seven people to kill the failure and the pitiful little Prince and still failed,” Evander spat.
“I did not fail. It was a test of their strength and they overestimated themselves.” The words were hissed.
Evander turned to find the man crouched atop a crumbling wall. There was a glint of steel in the firelight and Evander ran forward again, keeping the shadows constantly shifting and hiding his form. Ansom was so focused on trying to kill him that he seemed not to notice Caiden as the Prince slowly made his way around the ruin to get behind him.
Evander danced, leaving just enough of himself exposed to keep Ansom’s attention. Caiden was quick. Just as he entered the man’s peripheral vision, he lunged, not giving the assassin any chance to perceive him.
It was almost inhuman how quickly Ansom moved, his body twisting with perfect balance on his perch, a hand catching the Prince around the throat. He used Caiden’s momentum to spin and throw the younger man into the ground.
Caiden hit hard and slid, crashing to a stop when he hit a pile of rubble.
“Caiden!” Evander twitched in the Prince’s direction, stopping short of getting his head bashed in by a rock. Ansom must have been running out of knives.
“You should know better than to take your eyes off of me, Evander.”
Evander turned to face him as he stood atop the wall and glared.
“Now, now, what’s that look for? The meek little servant is nowhere to be found. How unfortunate.” The older assassin jumped and rolled to break his fall, the movement made with an effortless grace.
Evander didn’t let him recover. He sprinted forward and forced himself not to think. Not to trust the training that had been hammered into his head until he was fighting instinct itself. Ansom raised his arm and threw. Evander didn’t deviate his path, he didn’t try to dodge, and the dagger sailed past his left side. As soon as Ansom realized he wasn’t dodging left, he threw another and once again Evander forced himself not to dodge. This one skated past his right side.
Ansom snarled and threw straight at him, and Evander dove forward. The dagger went above his head as he pulled himself through a shadow, appearing a few feet to Ansom’s right. He threw a dagger at him to keep his attention and watched the man smack it aside. By then, Evander was close enough to engage in melee combat.
If he could just keep Ansom up close, then he couldn’t use his ability. Instead of locking blades, Ansom dropped his and grabbed Evander as he got within range. They stood in a deadlock for a moment.
As long as Ansom had a hold of him, Evander couldn’t use his ability either. Granted, he could attempt to pull him into the shadows and let him suffocate, but Evander wasn't entirely sure that he’d be able to stop halfway through. He’d tried it after the fight with the elites and it was an instant teleportation. He couldn't just stop. That and even if he succeeded, Ansom wouldn't let go once they were in there. They’d both end up dead. Maybe as a last resort.
For a man in his forties, Ansom was just as strong as someone in their prime, experience making up for any physical loss. Evander took a deep breath. While his instinct was to try and hook his leg around Ansom’s feet to try and trip him, he struggled against the urge and instead shifted his weight and waited until Ansom took advantage of the movement to try and overpower him.
He was prepared for it and used that power against him. He flipped them, pushing Ansom into the ground, then gave a yelp as he was kicked. Ansom had managed to get his feet between them and used the position to launch him over his head.
Evander rolled, saw Ansom in the process of throwing, and dove into the next shadow he hit. He came out swinging at the man, pleased when his blade skated across his back. The wound was too shallow to kill, the slash catching spine and rib, however it didn’t have enough power to get past the bone to a kill point. But he knew it would hurt. Evander landed in Ansom’s shadow and dove into it. He popped up some ways away and saw Ansom’s expression of fury.
He danced. He was a rush of motion, diving in and out of shadows, randomizing his entrances. Sometimes nowhere near his target, and others he came out with blades spinning. Evander was a constant barrage of movement. Ansom fell into a rhythm with him. He was adjusting to the pattern, or the lack thereof.
Then, finally, Ansom hit. Evander knew where his mistake was. He’d tried for one too many passes. It wasn’t a deep cut, just across his chest, since he’d managed to stop his forward momentum in time. He threw himself away before the other could follow up with another blow.
To his surprise, Ansom stood, daggers at the ready a few yards away instead of following after him.
The elder assassin smirked at him with a predatory glee that made him cautiously take stock of his surroundings. Then Evander realized with a growing sense of dread that his back was up against the fire now. He would have to step forward to enter any shadows, and that motion was much more obvious. Ansom would kill him the second he moved.
He could pull his shadows and try to disorient the man while he moved into a better position, but he’d given that trick away while trying to distract him for Caiden. He was stuck unless he was willing to roll through fire to try and get away. That would put him at an even worse disadvantage.
His gaze slid to Caiden, who was struggling into a standing position, but he was clearly hurt. He winced in pain as a blade shot past his head, barely grazing his neck.
Ansom tisked. “A shame. You were doing so well, too.” He casually dusted himself off and slid a familiar knife from its sheath at his thigh. Evander’s throwing knife that he’d left behind when escaping with Caiden.
“With this, it’ll be almost too easy. Poor Prince. His own servant killed him in cold blood, I was simply too late to save him.” His voice was pitched into an annoying, honey coated sympathy. “Don’t worry. You won’t have to witness it.”
He flipped the dagger in his hand, pulled back his arm, and he threw. Evander didn’t move. He couldn’t. Caiden moved faster than Evander ever thought possible. He’d been in motion as Ansom had started talking but suddenly he was in front of him, arms outstretched.
Evander saw it. His own shadow thrown against Caiden’s back. He didn’t have time to wonder if it would work. It had to. He lunged forward, dragging himself through the shadow, through Caiden, sword first.
A choked noise and resistance against his blade made him look up. Ansom’s face was turned to the left, his knife embedded in the shadow that was splintered off to the side. The assassin’s expression was one of shock, disbelief, and no small amount of anger.
“You guessed wrong,” Evander muttered, driving the sword home as he rose from Ansom’s shadow.
It was an odd feeling as the man shuddered, his breath leaving him as he went limp. Evander had killed before. After all, there had been several attempts on Caiden’s life in the past. Yet this one fe
lt hollow, unreal.
Ansom was dead.
Evander looked up at Caiden then froze, his heart dropping into his stomach. Caiden was on the ground, Ansom’s— his dagger deep in his stomach. He felt like he couldn’t breathe.
“Caiden?” He ran forward in a panic, afraid to touch him lest he make it worse. “Caiden!”
“Quit… yelling.” The man’s voice was wet sounding, his breath wheezing.
Relief broke over him. “Caiden, you have to stay awake. I don’t know how to fix this.”
A weak chuckle. “You… can’t.”
“Shut up. There has to be something.”
Caiden huffed out a laugh, his hand pressed to the wound, the knife still in him, giving him a little more time before he bled out. “Eva… you don’t even know the difference… between an herb and a weed…”
“I know, dammit! Just… shit.” His throat was tight, his eyes burning as he tried desperately to think of something, of anything.
“It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. Just… Gods, just please, please tell me what to do.”
The Prince just smiled at him, his eyes glassy, face quickly becoming white.
“Why did you do that if you knew he was aiming to kill?”
“Because… he needed to die… and you wouldn’t let the chance… go to waste.” Talking seemed to take effort for him.
“Idiot. I hated you for so damn long. Why…?” His voice broke.
Caiden chuckled but it came out as a wheeze, his limbs starting to tremble. “You never hated me. Just jealous, right?”
Evander stared at him. He felt like his soul was slowly being shredded as he gently took hold of the man’s hand, keeping pressure on the wound since Caiden couldn’t.
He knew. He’d always known. He’d never truly hated Caiden. How could he? The Prince spent his days lazing about, playing, having fun, yet he commanded all the respect, all of the love and adoration, without having to do anything. He’d hated him for that. He’d worked so hard for so long, only to be abused, cursed, and spat upon for no reason over and over again. He’d hated it.