Once Upon an Assassin

by Konstanz Silverbow

  I didn’t mean to reveal so much to Lily. I don’t even understand why I took her to the place where I first met her. The place where everything changed. But it felt right in the moment.

  Talking about my parents was inevitable once we got there, but I never expected the princess to give me a gift, and I could never thank her enough for it. The phoenix pendant now lays against my chest, where it will never leave.

  I can’t think clearly. Nothing is like before. Cordae broke me, turned me into something I’m not. I can’t keep being Derrick. It doesn’’t feel right. But I’ve been him for so long, I don’t know how to be Gavin. For Lily’s sake, I need to try.

  I put my hand on the pendant as I duck down into the shadows, staying close to the walls and away from the light as I sneak outside. I leave the castle gates and go to the market in search of Neo. Cordae will want to know what information I have for him regarding King Chavez’s plan.

  Cordae’s dragon flag covers the window at the north-west corner of the upper level of the inn, showing me which room belongs to Neo. I enter the inn and hurriedly cross the room, going up the steps and around the corner. I knock three times and wait for him to respond.

  The door opens a crack. “Hello?” Neo asks hesitantly.

  “It’s me, Neo. Open up.” I whisper, looking around to make sure we’re not drawing attention.

  “Hurry.” He pulls the door open farther.

  I push past him and snuff out the candle in the window. “I have news,” I say, ready for this meeting to be over with.

  “So do I.” He leans against the door, arms crossed over his chest.

  “What do you have for me?”

  “Cordae wishes to speak with you. Says he has another mission for you. So go see him yourself, rather than telling me what he needs to know. Or . . . don’t.” He raises his eyebrows, a cool look on his face. Almost as if he is testing me.

  “What are you suggesting?”

  “Nothing—nothing at all. Go see Cordae.” His expression goes blank, emotionless.

  Confused and in a hurry, I leave without more questioning. Now I wish I had brought Kova with me. It’s easy enough sneaking out alone, but to sneak out, sneak back in, and then sneak back out with a horse? Not as simple.

  But I do it, staying as small as possible, out of the light, away from open areas. I sneak into the stables and begin unlatching the stall door.

  “What the blazes is going on?” Hernan appears in the doorway, holding up a candle to get a better look at me.

  “I’m sorry, sir. I must attend to a personal matter.” I say, playing the innocent boy.

  He hesitates, looking around, avoiding my gaze. Finally, he looks back to me and nods. “Of course. And what am I to do if anyone comes asking for you?”

  “I should be back soon, but just in case, please let them know that an old friend called upon me for help, and I couldn’t say no. I will return quickly.”

  “Go on, then. Be safe.” He steps out of the path.

  “Thank you.” I lead Kova outside and saddle her. I mount and take leave. We go through the main gates, hoping for the best. Should anyone question our leaving, I can only hope that Hernan will tell people just what I asked of him.

  We make the short ride to the fort. Once I’m close enough that it is in my sight, but far away enough that I couldn’t give away its location, I tie Kova’s reins to a tree and take a long walk around to a hidden door only used in case of emergency.

  When I enter, Saar is standing beside the throne, looking angry, as always. Cordae is pacing, running a hand over his bald head—a nervous habit.

  “I have news,” I say.

  Both men look at me, startled.

  “It’s about time,” Saar remarks.

  Cordae doesn’t even acknowledge the comment. “What?”

  I tell him of the maps, and what I found in the king’s study. With every detail I divulge, a sick feeling comes over me. A pit in my stomach seems to grow hollower. But I tell him what I came to say.

  “Well done. You will continue working inside the castle as a servant until we have every last detail worked out. But for right now, I have a new mission for you. Are you up for the task, considering that you have been unable to leave the princess’s side since arriving in Tivor?”” Cordae asks, a slightly annoyed tone in his voice.

  “Of course, sir.” I nod, unsure if I am truly up for it. With Lily, I have a life that doesn’t involve taking others’ lives away. I can live, be free, be happy. It still means I am a servant, but how far off is that from what I am to Cordae?

  “Good. A lovely friend of mine . . .” The way he says it, the menacing smile on his face, lets me know this is no friend. “Has something I need. You are to retrieve it, bring it back, and give it to no one but me. Is your mission clear?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Good. The witch’s name is Tohomoth. She can be found in the Ruined Castle of Sephet. She is not expecting you, so your skills will be needed. Get in, find her, and let her know I cannot wait any longer. She knows what I seek. If she will not give it to you, do whatever it takes to get it from her. I must have it, no matter the cost.” His tone has gone from pretended friendly to dark in an instant.

  Even I fear his wrath when he gets in this mood. I nod, assuring him I know what my task is. I turn and leave, careful to watch my surroundings as I exit the fort. If King Chavez is having this area watched, it would be best that I’m not seen here.

  I slip between the trees and climb onto Kova’s saddle. Wanting to get back to Tivor as soon as possible, I push Kova to go as fast, as hard as she can.

  We make it to the edge of Tivor’s land. I make a slight change of immediate plans and turn left instead of going straight on to the ruined castle. Rather than going through Tivor’s castle gates, I turn and go toward the west side and find the hidden door leading straight to Lily’’s wing. “Stay put.” I run my hand over Kova’s mane and sneak through the underbrush, pushing my way to the door.

  I enter and walk down the passage, wondering whether to make some noise or to continue on silently. Do I alert her to my presence, or will that cause her to worry about an intruder?

  I go for alerting her. “Lily?” I call out.

  Nothing. The corridor remains silent. I continue forward until I reach the second door. I knock and wait for a response. I can’t enter without permission, but I need to tell the princess I must go away for a few days. If not, I could come back to nothing at all, including a job.

  I knock once more. If she doesn’t respond, I’ll walk away, no matter the consequences when I get back. I count to twenty. With a sigh, I turn around and begin walking back the way I came.

  My shadow appears before me on the floor. The door behind me has opened. “Gavin?” I spin on my heel.

  “Good evening, Princess. Sorry to disturb you. I ju—” She holds up her hand, signaling for me to stop talking.

  “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine. I just . . . I have a favor to ask.”

  “Oh?” She takes a step closer.

  “I need to leave for a few days. It’s a personal matter I can’t discuss at the moment, but I’m hoping you will convince Hera not to give my job away while I’m gone?”

  “What’s going on? Gavin, you can talk to me. You can trust me.”

  “I know, Lily. I do. I just need you to trust me. I promise that in due time, I will tell you anything you wish to know. But right now, I have to go. I just need to know that I will still have a place to call home in four days.”

  “All right.” She nods, perhaps not fully convinced, but agreeing just the same.

  I lean forward and do something that just a week ago, I never would have considered doing. I kiss her on the cheek. “Thank you.”

  The ride is long and hard. I only stop for short breaks, water, and food. The sun is rising, the castle ruins I head for illuminated by the orange glow. I smile and push Kova to make the last stretch of road.

  I dismount
and leave Kova in the forest, going the rest of the way on foot. I step through the castle doors, though it doesn’t matter, considering it isn’t fully repaired and large holes are surrounded by rubble, the area that used to be walls.

  I take calculated steps, avoiding making any noise, careful not to step wrong and get hurt. Sunlight spills in, showing me a path. I walk along, listening for any indication that someone else is even here. But the world has fallen silent.

  No birds’ song in the air, no bugs’ chirp. Nothing. It makes the place eerier. I would suspect that a witch living in someone else’s home wouldn’’t want people to know about it, so it makes sense that she would remain quiet. But the fowls and beasts? That is suspicious.

  Pillars have fallen to the ground, split and damaged. The throne is split in two. There’s nothing on this level, in these rooms, that says anyone is living here. I sneak around and over the rummage and debris and go up the stairs, watching every step in case it isn’t stable.

  I make it to the top unscathed, the steps still intact. I draw an arrow from my quiver and nock it into the bow, holding it at the ready as I look into each room I pass.

  The third door down the second hall is curious—a makeshift bed on the floor, some clothes strewn about, but nothing that could belong to a full-grown woman. Stepping further into the room, I look a little more closely.

  “Hello?” I whisper.

  Little eyes peek up at me from the bedding on the floor. “Are you here to take me away?”

  A piece of me wants to leave right now. To turn back and run. Pretend I was never here. That would be Gavin. But Derrick—he wants to go through with it. Retrieve the items Cordae demanded.

  “Come here.” I squat down and beckon for the girl to come closer.

  She pushes back the blanket and tiptoes toward me. “Are you going to take me?” she asks again, looking me in the eye. Scared, but not of me.

  “What’s your name?” I brush hair back from her eyes, wanting to comfort her. Needing her to trust me.

  “Aletha.” Her voice is barely audible.

  “I need you to come with me, Aletha. Everything will be okay.” I grab her upper arm and turn around, walking back into the corridor. She comes with me without complaint, never resisting.

  We go forward until there is nowhere else to go. A good portion of the castle is useless, unsafe to travel through. Finding nothing else of use up here, I turn us around and go back, all the way down the staircase and to the opposite end of the castle.

  Hidden in a small alcove is another set of stairs leading down. “Come on, Aletha,” I say, not even sure why, and begin our descent.

  The door at the bottom of the steps creak open when I push on it. Streams of sunlight filter in through the windows. The wall appears mostly intact. Some burn marks scar the stone, but they appear to be much fresher than some of the other damage.

  A wheezing sound followed by a strangled cough catch me off guard. I whip around, ready to defend myself. The room extends behind the staircase. There, chained to the wall, a collar around his neck, lies a blue-and-green-scaled dragon. Small in size, it is no bigger than a full-grown wolf. His silver wings are damaged. I don’t know whether to feel bad for the creature, or to fear it despite the leash.

  “I do not worry about someone trying to touch my dragon. However, when someone gets anywhere near my daughter, they better fear for their life,” a woman says threateningly from behind me.

  I don’t dare let go of Aletha’s arm. Slowly, I turn around to face Tohomoth. The woman before me is beautiful. Long almond-colored hair, kept out of her face by a deep red sash. Deep blue eyes.

  “Nice to meet you too, Tohomoth.” I push the weaker half of myself away, forcing Gavin to become Derrick once again. I must be strong. I must finish my task. I’ve already started——there’s no going back now.

  “I doubt that. Who are you, and what are you doing here?” She takes a step closer, eyeing her daughter.

  “My name is Derrick.” Tohomoth’s eyes widen slightly, her mouth agape. “And I’m here on behalf of Cordae. He says you have something he needs. Something I’m here to get. If you hand it over, I will leave peacefully. It will be as if I was never here at all,” I say with a smile, sweeping my arm out in a welcoming gesture. It’s all a façade.

  “Derrick, Cordae’s greatest weapon. I would expect no less. Do you know what it is you’re here to get? What it is the master sent his puppet to retrieve?”” She grins, showing a set of perfect teeth. Not what I expected.

  “Does it matter? I’ll know if you’re lying to me. And if I return to Cordae with the wrong thing, he’ll only send me back to kill you.”

  “I would like to see you try.” She leans closer, circling around me.

  I keep moving, never letting the witch out of my sight. “You really think it would be that hard?”

  “Considering I have magic and you don’t, it would be impossible.”

  Her words jolt me. She’s right, and apparently, we both know it. But she doesn’t know that the reason is Lily. I can’t kill. Not again. I’’ve got to change. I can’t be someone unworthy of the princess’s love. I need her. She has made me feel whole again. She has shown me that I don’t need to work for Cordae any longer.

  “Tohomoth, just give me what I came for, and we can both walk away. I don’t want to hurt you. And I certainly don’t want to hurt your daughter.””

  The witch waves her hand, the motion followed by a faint clicking before chain hits the floor. The dragon, now standing behind her, is free from its chain.

  “I didn’t want to make the serum for Cordae, and now that I have a better idea of what he intends to do with it, I can’t give it to you. I’’m sorry, Derrick. I truly am. But I would die protecting it.”

  “What do you care, witch?”

  She cocks her head to the side. “That title only means I have magic, and am not royalty. It doesn’t make me evil.”

  “How can I take your word for it? You’re working for Cordae. That makes you evil.”

  “Then what does that make you?” she counters.

  “It doesn’t matter. I didn’t have a choice. You do.” I straighten my shoulders, forcing myself to remain calm and collected.

  “You have a choice now. He can’t stop you from walking away.” Her voice softens.

  “This isn’t about me. Give me what Cordae wants or your daughter is going to pay the ultimate price.” I squeeze Aletha’’s arm.

  “Ink, protect her,” Tohomoth says, waving her hand again.

  The dragon lurches forward, knocking me to the ground, and landing on top of me. My weight shatters my bow as I hit the floor. I hear arrows slide out of the quiver. I can’t breathe. My vision goes blank except for the stars I’m now seeing. I reach for my dagger and protect my face, putting the blade of my weapon against the dragon’s throat.

  It does very little to dissuade the beast from staying right where he is. I shove at his chest, squirming, trying to get out from under him. I drop my dagger and pick it back up by the blade, throwing it toward Aletha before continuing to try to get away from Ink.

  The sound of my dagger hitting a wall and falling to the floor rings throughout the room just as I get to my feet. Ink prepares to attack again, raising his wings and lurching forward. I sidestep his path, sending him into the very wall where Tohomoth was standing just a second ago.

  She’s racing up the stairs, Aletha in tow. “Tohomoth! Give me the serum!” I run after her, slamming the door closed to at least slow down Ink.

  “Never!” She turns slightly, yelling down the steps.

  I only catch a glimpse, but the vials are in her left hand. I pull my second dagger out of my boot. “Give me the vials, or your daughter dies. I don’t need to be standing beside her to make this shot, witch!”

  Tohomoth misses a step, falling to the ground. Aletha falls with her. I leap over the girl and hurriedly gather the vials from the steps. Five bottles intact. One is broken, and the liquid has spi
lled.

  “Derrick!” She reaches out, grabbing at my ankle as I pass by.

  It catches me off guard, but I shake it off and continue until suddenly it feels like I’m back on the floor. No air in my lungs. It feels like she’s using her magic to hold me in place. “Don’t you dare take those bottles.” She glares at me as she stands. “I—” She’s cut off as her dragon breaks through the door, flying past her, once again knocking her to the ground by accident in an attempt to get to me.

  I don’t stick around to finish hearing her out. I run, the dragon on my heels. He flies above me, about to stop me in my tracks when he lunges right into one of the few remaining standing pillars.

  I can’t help but feel sad for the beast. He was already hurt. If not for that, I would be dragon dinner at the moment.

  I don’t stop running until I’ve made it outside, beyond the tree line, right where I left Kova. I slow barely enough to mount and stash the vials in the saddlebags before taking off again. We don’t stop for several more hours. Exhausted from going all night and having only barely escaped, with the sun blazing and in our eyes, I begin searching for a place to make camp.

  We arrive at Cordae’s fort, and the sun has yet to rise. I feel exhaustion throughout every part of me. A dull thudding begins in my head, causing it to ache. I ignore the pain and go in search of Cordae.

  He isn’t in the throne room, so I stride toward his private quarters. I knock briskly on the door, impatient for this to be over with.

  “Who dares awaken me?” Cordae’s most feared voice threatens.

  “It is I, G—Derrick.” I fist my hands, cursing at myself for slipping up. How could I even think about calling myself Gavin to Cordae?

  The door swings open. He doesn’t seem disturbed by the slip-up. “Do you have it?” He leans closer, eager as if he is a child receiving a gift.

  I pull the bottles from my satchel and hand them to him. He holds them up to the light, examining every last drop through the bottle.

  “What is it?”

  “You will know soon enough, Derrick. It is best you not know all the details, should you be caught while in Tivor. Just know that soon, it won’t matter if Chavez is prepared. With this, we will be unstoppable.” He holds it up again, a smile wide on his face.