Ryanon leaned into his touch. "And what could you give me?" She ran her hand down his thick arm. "Could you give me all the riches in the world?"
He smiled. "Yes, I could and more. You wouldn't ever have to work again. I could give you a life of leisure."
"Is that what you think I want?" she whispered in his ear. "Do you think that I want to take the easy way out?"
Azur's laughter tickled the back of her neck. "No, you don't seem like that kind of girl."
"That's right and don't you forget that." She turned and started to walk away.
"Where are you going?"
Ryanon smiled down at him from the landing. "I have a duke to kill, haven't you heard? Scout, I guess." She moved her head to the side. It would be good to take care of her other job though...She had been putting it off for far too long.
Azur shook his head. "It's always about work with you, isn't it?"
Ryanon just flashed him a smile.
Upstairs in her room, Ryanon opened her closet, staring at it with her hands on her hips. Now, she was going to be in one of the roughest areas of town, far rougher than the slum pubs she was used to. The harbour was one of the most dangerous places in Skalavik. She had to look good, but at the same time, be able to quickly get away from anything.
She reached into her closet and pulled out a simple red dress. It would hit her at the knee, which still gave her plenty of room to hide weapons. Plus, if she paired it with tall boots that would give her even more room. She knew that it was something that she could run in as well. She held it up in front of herself and stared into the mirror. It was the perfect fit with her earth features.
She pulled her brown hair out of its braid. It would be really nice to know where and who she got her features from, but there was just simply no way to find out. She had been in Karlen's and Kieran's care since she was three. Before that, it had just been her and her brother on the streets.
She laid the dress out on her bed. Yes, this would get the job done. Besides, it wasn't like she was going to be killing the duke tonight. There was too much studying yet to. The timing just had to be right.
No, she would be killing a lord. Something that Masse didn't know.
She stared down at Karlen's notes again. "Lord Lowis Goldspire," she whispered. "Cheating on your wife while you were supposed to be at court meetings. You really were foolish enough to think that the rest of the court would cover for you." She shook her head. "Ah, men really are that foolish."
There was a knock on her door.
"Just a minute."
Masse huffed on the other side. "I am not waiting on you to make yourself beautiful, because we all know that is never going to happen."
Ryanon rolled her eyes as she stuffed one final knife under her dress. She did have swords, but knives were her choice method of killing and poison. There was something about killing a human with a sword that just wasn't honourable. A knife just made it all that much more personable. Poison made it easier to get away with murder though. Plus, knives and poisons were a lot easier to hid than a sword.
She ripped open the door. "Let's go and don't you dare slow me down."
Masse snorted. "I think you will be the one slowing me down." She looked Ryanon up and down, wrinkling her nose up. "Is that really what you're wearing?"
Ryanon stomped past her. "Come on."
The two young woman made their way out of the guild, snaking through the slums. Tonight, Skalavik's finest people were out. The werewolves and vampires stood outside every pub, staring at everyone. Though the claws weren't out now, Ryanon was sure that they soon would be. These weren't even the wildest of the breed, which was kind of the scary part. The wildest kind would come out on the next full moon.
The drug lords smiled as people approached them, their gold bags jiggled; while courtesans looked on, hoping for some kind of a job.
And like always, the cameras seemed to be looking the other way. There was too much nobility out and a scandal was something the court did not want.
Masse smiled as men from all walks of life approached her and whispered naughty things in her ear, to which she would laugh at and run her hand up their arm. Ryanon just sent these men a death glare whenever they approached her.
The crowds grew thicker and rougher the closer they got to Srilurk Landing. The edges of Nikirs Ocean were filled with ships as they prepared for an upcoming Market Day, which was still months away. Ryanon and Masse fought their way through the thick crowds, while keeping an eye out for soldiers and cameras. There were too many riches here tonight for them to be left unguarded.
"There," Ryanon hissed in Masse's ear. "Look to your left."
Masse's eyes shifted. Duke Wymond Cragshield was standing in front of pub, laughing with men who he wouldn't be caught dead with had he been sober. "Should we move?"
Ryanon's eyes shifted around. She nodded. "Remember, we can't spill blood here tonight. There's too many vampires out." She wasn't about to let Masse do the job without her. Masse didn't know the vampires who were out tonight would not come after blood.
Masse simply nodded, not giving Ryanon any lip.
They made their way toward the duke, doing their best to play the role of courtesans. Ryanon frowned and fought the urge to stab the next man in the throat who touched her.
Masse cursed under her breath. "We've got company." She pointed to a stack of barrels where three young men were lounging and laughing. "They really do need to work on their disguises."
Ryanon's eyes shifted over to Prince Vicar Morninghelm, Lord Tyon Cragshield, and Captain Dak Morninghelm. All three of them had a drunken look in their eyes. She shook her head. Dak should know better, but it was clear that his mind was on other things, as his eyes kept shifting to every young maiden how passed in front of them. "Sneaking out of the castle will not get them any points," Ryanon muttered to Masse.
Masse stared at Dak. "What should we do?"
"We are here for the duke, not them, and the duke is on the move again."
Masse looked through the thick crowds. "Where did he go?"
Ryanon nodded to a falling down pub with that was in the shape of a pirate's hat. She had also seen the lord heading in this direction. Tonight could not get any better.
Masse gulped. "Why did he pick there?"
Ryanon grabbed Masse and stared pulling her toward it. "Because it has the best courtesans. Everyone knows that."
They slipped into the pub and sat down at a back table.
"Where is he?" Masse hissed. "You told me he was here."
Ryanon held her finger up to her lips. "Actually, we're not after the duke tonight."
Masse's mouth dropped. "I thought that's what Karlen sent us here for."
"She didn't tell you about the other part. Now, go play with the boys. I see some sailors making eyes at you. I have work to do."
Masse's eyes shifted to the sailors in question. "I'm only doing this, because they are cute." She got to her feet and walked off like a lovely swan.
Now that she was gone, it was time to get ready for the real job.
It didn't take long for the half drunken Lord Lowis Goldspire to stumble through the door, laughing with rather harsh looking group of sailors. The lord's eyes darted around the pub, looking at the courtesans.
Ryanon moved from her place in the shadows, settling into a seat close to the stairs. She carefully pulled off her cloak and adjusted her dress in a least modest manner. She placed her legs so that a little bit of skin was exposed, but so the dagger on her leg remained hidden.
The lord's eyes briefly landed on her as he made his way to the bar.
Ryanon gave him a small smile as he dumped a pile of gold on the oak surface and ordered up another round of drinks for everyone. She just did not understand how people like him could drink like that whenever there were bad things out there.
"Aren't you a pretty thing?" the lord whispered as he sat an ale down in front of her. "A pretty thing like you should not be out here all by he
rself."
Ryanon batted her eyelashes in the way she knew drove men mad. "Why don't you fix that?" She ran her hand down his fat chest, smiling as if she was actually enjoying doing it. "We could upstairs and get to know each other." She dropped her voice with each word. "Do you know what I mean?"
The lord gagged on as his ale as he nodded. He offered a thick hand out to her. "I always keep a room here, you know. I can't have the wife find out about this."
Ryanon took his hand. "Well, we can't let her get in the way of our little game."
The lord ran his chubby hand along her face. "That was just what I was thinking."
Ryanon allowed the lord to lead her up the ancient stairs. If only he knew that, he was playing a game with a devil.
He stopped outside a door that was the furthest away from any of the others. He pulled a large, brass key out from his tunic and slowly opened the door. "After you, my lady."
Ryanon stepped through the door. Sure, the room was large, but that wasn't the first thing she noticed. In the corner, there was a large window. She walked slowly over to it and stared down at the trash-ridden street. Her eyes scanned the rooftops. No cameras.
"I know the view is not the best," the lord said as he put his arms around her waist. "However, the bed is lovely."
Ryanon gave him a smile as he started to nuzzle her neck. Men were such pigs. "Why don't we go try it out?"
Lord Lowis Goldspire led her over to the bed. Ryanon pulled out a blindfold and offered it him. He laughed. "Well, I do like the way you think," he said as he allowed her to blindfold him.
Ryanon smiled as she ran one hand down his stomach while the other reached for her knife. "Tell me, my lord, does your wife know that you're here?"
The lord laughed. "No, she thinks that I'm at a meeting. Oh, she is so stupid."
Ryanon fingered her knife. "And what would she do to you if she found out?"
"She'd probably kill me."
"I see." Ryanon bent her face close to the lord's. "Tell me something."
"Anything," the lord breathed.
"Do you like pain?"
The lord's laughter filled the room. "Oh, sweetheart, I knew you were a wild one the moment I laid eyes on you. Give it to me!"
"Well, if I must." Ryanon raised the knife above her head before driving it into the lord's chest.
Lord Lowis Goldspire did not even have time to cry out before his life left him.
Ryanon quickly climbed off him, wiped her knife clean on his tunic, and turned to the window. She gave the dead lord one final look over before disappearing out the window.
Masse could find her own way back home.
Chapter Five: At the Castle
Dak looked up from yet another report on something that really didn't matter. He hated how much time and energy it took him to make it through these reports. Words just did not make any sense to him.
He narrowed his eyes at the next line. It was something about the upcoming Market Day or so he thought. Why he was reading about Market Day now was beyond him? They had Yule to get through first.
"Captain Morninghelm."
Dak looked up as one of his men entered his office.
"The king requests your presence in the throne room, sir."
Dak slowly turned the page over. "Did he say what for?"
The man shook his head. Judging by the amount of stubble and baby fat on his face, he was much more a boy than a man. "He just told me to come get you and I didn't think to ask for a reason." His voice shook ever so softly as the words came out of his mouth.
Dak stood up, pulling his on his uniform jacket and buttoning it up. "You will come to understand that the king and I have a very complicated relationship. You will have to forgive me for seeming sharp."
The guard nodded. "Yes, sir."
Dak strolled past him. Now, he normally did not get called to the throne room. His men could handle the petty detail of guarding the royal family within the castle. In fact, Dak could go weeks without even seeing his family.
He walked through the open throne room doors without even bothering to have himself announced, like everyone else was required to.
"Dak," his mother, Queen Ariana, said with a smile. "It's good to see you." She gave her son a once over. "You're way too thin. You have been working way too much."
"You know how it is. I can't help it."
She rested her hand on his cheek. "I know."
Dak peered over her shoulder. "Where is he?"
"He's by the windows with Vicar and Alse."
Dak turned to go to the great windows that lined the front of the throne room, which overlooked the gardens.
"Dak," Ariana whispered. "Please try to be civil with each other, for me."
"I will if he does."
King Teodric Morninghelm stood in front of the windows with the two children, who in his mind, were the most worthy of the family name. Alse was the crown jewel of the family as her suitors were usually men of even greater nations that Xandria. On the other hand, Vicar was also highly valued as he was to become the next ruler of Xandria.
Dak cleared his throat. "You wished to see me."
Teodric turned around, smiling at his son, but the warmth did not reach his eyes. "I have a job for you."
Dak looked over at Vicar, who peered lazily at him. "Okay."
Teodric shook his head. "It is that tone that will cost you your head one of these days, boy." He paused. "I have sent a message to Queen Amberfall of the Nature Fairies requesting an audience with her. In the event that she says yes, I will need your finest men."
Dak put his hands behind his back as he stared out the window. A group of ladies were making their way across the garden, whispering to each other. "How many men?"
"A few dozen," Teodric answered. "Don't send me those buffoons that you sent last time either. I swear they were drunk on the job."
Dak just slowly nodded. His father said that about every man that he sent. "Anything else?"
"Mess this up, boy, and it will cost you more than just your job. You need to realize how high the stakes are. If we fail with Amberfall, we will never get another chance." Teodric's eyes darted over to his other two children, who were listening very closely. "You are going to have to step up to the plate. I will not let you fail this, like you have failed in the past."
Dak's eyes narrowed. He felt his fists ball up behind him. "I am not a failure," he hissed. "Just remember that you put me in this job."
Teodric snorted. "The only reason you have this job is because your mother begged me to give it to you. She couldn't stand the idea of you being tossed on the streets, which is where I would have put you."
Dak's fists drew tighter. He really could kill his father with just a simple punch to the throat. After all, the king had hit him more times than he cared to count.
Alse cleared her throat. "Father, Dak really is trying. It's not his fault that his mind doesn't work. None of us asked for this."
With these words, the king seemed to relax, just a little bit. "You are dismissed. Now, get out of my sight."
Dak turned and exited the throne room. He knew Alse meant well, but those words were just not the best to use. There was nothing wrong with his mind; every Healer in the land had told his family that. There was nothing wrong with his intelligence; with the right tutor he would have been able to read a lot better than he did. He really had thought that at least his mother would have done so, but she ended up taking him to the Assassin's Guild. Dak really hadn't been able to figure out how his mother had pulled that one off.
He rounded the corner, mentally groaning as a female voice filled his ears. " Lady Lina Lowfallow," he said, bowing.
Lina smiled at him. "You really don't have to bow to me. It is a pleasure for me to be in your company."
Dak moved around her. "I really do have to get back to work. It was lovely to see you."
Lina placed her hands neatly in front of her. "You know that I really could help you. Don't let my gender
cause you to doubt me."
Dak turned. "It really has nothing to do with that. Now, I really must be leaving."
He stomped back into his office, only to be interrupted again the moment he lowered himself back down into his chair.
"Captain, you had better come!" Juel Firedew ran into the office, loaded down with guns and other weapons. "There's been a murder down at Srilurk Landing!"
Dak looked lazily up at him. "How is that different than any other day?"
"Because it's Lord Lowis Goldspire!"
Dak jumped to his feet, grabbing all the weapons he could. "Juel, get me a dozen men."
Juel turned and rushed out with Dak right behind him.
Murders were common enough in Srilurk Landing, but a highborn being murdered there was almost unheard of. The fact that killer was also lurking there made it seem even more like a paid job. Dak shook his head. He just hoped that the killer was someone he didn't know.
In the late morning hours, Srilurk Landing looked just like any normal harbour. Boats and sailors were about their business of unloading treasures from all over the world. Normally, the guard would have stopped and chatted with the sailors, but today both parties just acted like the other did not exist.
The pubs that lined the harbour looked like nothing more than ghost towns. Their old signs blew in the gentle ocean wind, creating a constant banging that made Dak want to tear the signs off their rusty nails.
Juel nodded to a pub, the one they had been fooling around in front of last night. "He's in here. We really didn't get much out of the owner. It seems like he's involved in some activities that go against the crown."
Dak waved a hand at Juel. "He will talk, they always do."
Juel shifted his weight from foot to foot. "If you say so. He did say that the lord had been gutted and was complaining about how hard it would be to get the stains out of the floor. Apparently, the lord also had an issue with staying loyal to his wife."
"Wonder how Lady Alexia will take this," Dak mused.
Juel and Dak stepped into the pub. Its floor was so well worn that Dak guessed that it must be a popular night life scene. Sure, he came down here with his men, but he never dared entered this particular pub. The rumour was that they did not clean their goblets and were so dirty that you could no longer see their markings.
Once Page 4