Journeyman Assassin

by Brian Keller

  For the next two scenarios, the dagger card was deliberately dealt to Kolrem and Rukle, respectively. Cooper thought this defeated the purpose of having the cards, but he understood the purpose behind it. Those killings were done smoothly. Cooper felt a little relieved when Scenarios class ended and students were dismissed.

  Master Brais was standing on the edge of the Trap when the students entered the Arena. Once he’d determined that all were present, he spoke, “For those of you who do not know me, I am Master Brais. I am your Advanced Movement instructor. He pointed above him and as eyes followed his gesture, Evan stepped out onto a high course platform. He grasped a rope and slid down to stand near Master Brais. As he descended the rope Master Brais spoke again, “This is Mister Evan. He is my assistant. You will follow his instructions as if they were my own. If he or I give you contradictory instructions, follow whichever is the most recent.”

  He paused long enough to look at each student individually before he explained how class would be conducted, “In this class we will be playing games. The two games we will play outside are The Raid and The Pursuit. The number of exercises, or games, we play each night will depend on how quickly each one is finished. The raid will have one student performing the role of bait; the pursuit will have the rabbit. The rabbit is mobile, the bait is not. In each game, one of you will play the self-explanatory role of the Hunter. Six to eight of you will perform the role of guards. Their role is to intercept the hunter or simply protect the bait. A successful hunter will earn ten points. A guard that defeats or captures a hunter gains a single point. In the event of more than one guard sharing in defeating or capturing a hunter, the point will be divided by the guards involved. Bait can defend himself but cannot earn points. The rabbit, once attacked, may evade but may not fight. Successfully evading and escaping earns the rabbit one point. I will restate in order to clarify; the rabbit does not attempt to evade or escape until after they have been attacked.” Master Brais paused to make sure everyone understood. There were no questions so he continued, “Since we will be out in different areas of the city, this leaves half the class acting as lookouts for the class participants. We will need to be warned of City Watchmen as well as potential threats. Guild members are being attacked and killed by person or persons unknown, so the lookouts have very real roles to perform. On an administrative note, if a guard is ‘removed’ by the hunter, the guard will join the ranks of the lookouts until the game is over. At the end of each game, roles will be exchanged. Participants become lookouts and vice-versa. Then Evan will assign hunter and bait, or rabbit. Then the players will take positions as assigned and the game will begin again. Throughout the course, I will oversee the lookouts while Evan monitors the game.”

  Master Brais turned to Evan and gave him a nod. Evan faced the class and his voice carried clearly, “We will spend the first several games in the Trade Quarter. This should be familiar ground to everyone. If, at any time, you become hopelessly separated from the class, make your way to the Scribe’s Storefront. At any time, if someone is discovered missing, the game will stop, we will search briefly and then send someone to the Scribe’s storefront to retrieve them. If the person is not at the storefront, then a more thorough search will be conducted. Usually no one becomes lost for very long. Someone that is missing for more than thirty minutes has most likely fallen from a height and is either unconscious, injured or dead.”

  This revelation brought a general buzz of comments from the students and Evan spoke again, “Master Brais keeps a record of hunter and bait or rabbit in each exercise as well as how points were awarded. All of you will have equal opportunity in each role, so all have equal opportunity to earn points.” Evan turned and looked to Master Brais, who gave him another nod. Evan continued, “If there are no questions, meet us on the roof in eight minutes.” Several students sprinted for the doors, those that knew about the hatch in the ceiling, sprinted for the ropes. Birt had started towards the door, but turned to follow Cooper, Rukle and Kolrem. As he saw them begin climbing the ropes, Birt’s voice could be heard from below, “Aww. I should’ve known. I should’ve just ran out the door with the rest of them.” Cooper grinned as he heard sounds of Birt’s efforts as he struggled to follow.

  Chapter 33

  Five minutes later, most of the students were on the roof chiding the others that were still making the climb. Cooper had been the fourth person to reach the lofty height of the second story rooftop since Master Brais, Evan and Kolrem all had the benefit of Manifested speed and Rukle had been caught off guard when everyone took off running. Even though he’d started slow, Rukle nearly reached the top before Cooper, he was a good climber. Kolrem, Cooper and Rukle were settled in the shadows listening to the banter of their classmates. A rapid series of comments, mostly overlapping, “Take your time, sweetheart. We have all night.” “Waiting on you. No rush.” “Waddiya think. We got nuthin’ to do here?” and the simple, “Hurry up.” Master Brais and Evan didn’t even seem to be paying attention, their attention was turned outward as they scanned the immediate surroundings of the Trade Quarter.

  Once the students were all on the rooftop, Master Brais assembled them to stand together and made a vertical cutting motion with his hand, dividing the class in half, gesturing to one side, “Participants.” and the other, “Lookouts. Lookouts come with me. Evan will take care of the participants.” The master turned to Evan, “Let’s use Bait for the first game. Fewer moving parts. In fact, keep him right here on this rooftop. Don’t forget to describe the tactics for their first time out.” Evan nodded as Master Brais turned and walked to the edge of the rooftop. Cooper, Rukle, Habbon, Boyd and five other students followed him.

  Once he had the students ringed around, him he gave additional guidance, “You’re not playing a game. Your job is real. You’re protecting yourselves and your classmates. Don’t watch the game. The bait is stationary so there’s no need to follow the participants. If the Hunter or a guard picks a spot near you, ignore them. Make sure you pick a spot where you can see at least one other guard.” Master Brais began pointing out corners of buildings and rooftops of nearby buildings as he assigned locations surrounding the Guild house, “You, there… You, there.”, until he ran out of students. As Cooper moved to occupy his location, he saw the participants begin to scatter as well. A few of them made a bit of noise as they scrambled down from the roof. He supposed that didn’t matter so much since the game hadn’t started yet, but it still seemed sloppy.

  From his vantage point he could see two other guards, and was pretty sure they could see him too. Habbon had picked an obvious location but he had a good view all around him. They’d been watching the city around them for more than thirty minutes when Cooper heard Habbon yell, “What the- Hey!” Habbon went to the edge of his roof, looking at something beyond Cooper’s view. Habbon yelled around him, into the night, “Everyone! Over here!” and he disappeared off the roof to drop down to the ground. Cooper quickly moved along the rooftops to reach the point where Habbon had been standing. When he got there he looked in the direction that Habbon had been looking but couldn’t see anything except Master Brais slipping quickly and soundlessly from shadow to shadow. Cooper jumped down and tried to keep pace with his teacher while looking around for whatever had caused Habbon to yell. As Cooper rounded a corner, he saw that Master Brais was standing over a body on the ground. He was speaking to Rukle and Boyd who were standing on the roof above him. Boyd was answering, “Yeah. I saw what happened. I just couldn’t get here fast enough. Habbon’s over there.” Cooper felt a sinking feeling in his gut. The way Boyd said it… Cooper surged forward to see around the edge of the building, in the direction Boyd was pointing. Habbon lay on the ground. He wasn’t moving. As Cooper rushed forward, Master Brais intercepted him. Cooper struggled in his instructor’s grasp and Master Brais hissed, “Are you going to rush towards your death? The killer may be using Habbon as bait, just like he used this boy to bring Habbon to him.” Evan had joined Rukle and Boyd on
the rooftop above, “Sir. I can reposition the lookouts…?” The instructor replied immediately, “No!” Then he added, “These are all students.” He turned his attention to Boyd, “What did you see?” Boyd had been looking around the area, he shifted his attention back to Master Brais, “It was one guy with a crossbow. When Habbon yelled, I turned to look and I saw him. Tarek was already down. I saw Habbon drop down to follow the man and I lost sight of both of them. I’ve seen the man before.” Master Brais turned to Cooper, pointing to the darts in his wristband, “Are you any good with those?” Cooper nodded, “I’m all right, but not much beyond about fifteen feet.” Master Brais nodded, “Come with me, and stay close to me. We’re going to get Habbon.”

  By the time they’d returned with Master Brais carrying Habbon’s body, Boyd was already on the ground kneeling beside the other boy. “Tarek”, is what Boyd had called him. Master Brais gently laid Habbon’s body on the ground and pulled out the crossbow bolt. He handed it to Rukle, who’d just joined them, “Be careful. There’s still poison there.” Cooper saw the bolt had some kind of specialized tip. He’d never seen anything like it before. He chastised himself for losing his concentration and re-directed his attention back towards where Habbon had been laying, watching for any potential threat. Master Brais pulled the bolt from Tarek as well and handed that to Rukle, “Keep those safe. We need those.” He then asked Boyd, “I’ve heard you’re strong. Can you carry one of these boys?” Boyd’s voice sounded a little tight when he replied, “Yes, sir.” Master Brais nodded and called up to Evan, “Keep the lookouts watching until we’ve made it inside. Then bring them in quickly.” As the teacher scooped Habbon into his arms again, Cooper thought he heard him mutter, “I knew this was a bad idea.”

  They created quite a disturbance as they carried the two boys’ bodies through the storefront and into the Copyist’s Room. As they passed into the hallway Master Brais called out, “Who knows where Miss Camilla’s room is? Anyone?” Cooper volunteered, “I do.” He was already sprinting in that direction as Master Brais answered, “Well go and get-“, then raised his voice to Cooper’s back, “We’ll be in her classroom!”

  As fast as Cooper was, he had no chance of keeping pace with Miss Camilla. There’d never been anything that suggested she had Manifested for speed. She had. By the time he’d reached the classroom, Miss Camilla was seated and examining one of the crossbow bolts and Master Brais was questioning Boyd. Boyd was answering, “Yes. I’ve seen the man before. He lives in the South Warrens and it’s known that he’ll do about anything for a few coins.” Master Brais had been leaned down, listening. He now stood upright and looked around him, “Alright. Miss Camilla doesn’t need all of us here stomping around her classroom. Class is dismissed for tonight. All of you return to your rooms and try to settle yourselves enough to get some sleep… except for you.” He pointed at Boyd. Cooper protested, “But, sir! Miss?” Miss Camilla shook her head, “Not this time, Cooper. But when you get back to your room, wake Aden and send him here.” Cooper gritted his teeth and did as he was directed, but not before kneeling beside Habbon’s lifeless body and saying goodbye to his classmate. Before he reached the door he heard Miss Camilla speaking, “Master Brais, do you know where Master Corwell’s chambers are? It is he and Master Jonah who are now in charge of the investigation. They’ve managed to relieve me of that burden in light of my Adept ranking and my “taxing teaching responsibilities”. If you would be so kind as to inform him of tonight’s events? While you’re doing that, I may continue to interfere with his investigation, otherwise I’ll need to go and inform him myself.” Cooper turned to listen, it didn’t look obvious since other students were still making their way out of the room. Master Brais’ cowl concealed his face below his eyes, but there was no mistaking the fact that he was smiling. He bowed his head to Miss Camilla, “I will go and retrieve Master Corwell. It should take me no more than, hmm, shall we say, twenty minutes?” He then turned to Cooper and made a brisk shoo-ing gesture. Miss Camilla returned to her work as Boyd sat quietly against the wall.

  When Cooper returned to the bay, he woke Aden and summarized all that had happened. Despite his obvious excitement, Aden’s expression was both dread and sorrow, “Habbon’s dead?” Cooper’s head sagged, “Yes. We brought his body back with us.” Aden asked, “Was it quick?” Cooper wondered whether he was asking whether it was painless, or whether the poison worked that fast. Cooper decided the answer was the same either way, “It only took me a minute or two to get there. He was dead by then.” Then Cooper added, “Master Corwell will be on his way to Miss Camilla’s room shortly. If you want a chance to see any of it, you’d better hurry.” Aden nodded and rushed from the room.

  The following morning, when Cooper awoke, Aden’s bed was empty. Cooper thought of this as a good sign, “If he’s still helping, at least Master Corwell didn’t send him away.” He went about his morning routine and tried to enjoy his breakfast, but with so many classmates asking about what had happened the night before he was forced to revisit the events he’d rather simply put behind him. It was the first time he recalled that his breakfast had no flavor.

  Once he was seated in the Anatomy classroom, it was apparent that Aden and Miss Camilla hadn’t slept. They still appeared fully capable, but fatigued. Miss Camilla devoted her full attention to demonstrating how ligaments held joints together and drew particular attention to where those ligaments were for each particular joint. When it was apparent that a couple of students weren’t fully paying attention Miss Camilla’s voice took on an edge, “This is testable information. If you wish for a long career of doing nothing but copying manuscripts, then carry on as you are. But I’d rather you simply state that intent and save me the effort of trying to teach you.” As for Cooper, he couldn’t make sketches and notes quickly enough, but he tried. He didn’t miss a word.

  In Advanced Combat class, what Cooper wanted to do was learn to use a sword so he could add that ability to Salder Varen’s repertoire. Instead, he focused on helping his classmates put arrows into their targets, rather than simply scarring the walls around them. As their classmates became more skilled, Cooper and Kolrem spent more of their time practicing archery as well. Practicing helped the time pass faster.

  During lunch, Aden joined them. He was hurrying through his meal and when asked he replied between chewing, “We, the Advanced Apothecary class, that is, have been working on antidotes for this poison. The whole time you’ve been gone, in fact. Only now we’re really close to getting it right, I think. We’ve got one for drinking and one to be applied to the wound. They aren’t finished yet, and it’s too bad we couldn’t have completed them before now. Though Habbon still might not have been saved. The crossbow bolt that hit him likely would’ve killed him, poison or no.” Aden took a quick drink to clear his throat, “Did you see the crossbow bolts?” Cooper and Kolrem nodded and Aden continued, “They had a tiny bladder inside the tip. When the bolt hits, it pushes poison into the wound like a baker pushes frosting through a funnel to decorate a cake. It’s genius. Too bad it’s being used on us.” Cooper wondered aloud, “A new poison and a custom delivery system. Who would design all this? And why use it against us? Who stands to gain? What could anyone hope to gain?” Aden was shaking his head, “There’s several Master’s asking those same questions. No one has answers.” Cooper looked at Kolrem, “Well, Boyd said he recognized the guy…” It was then Cooper realized the dining hall had gone silent and Kolrem was no longer looking at him. Cooper expected to see Felis when he turned his head. What he hadn’t expected was that Felis wasn’t alone. As soon as Cooper turned to look, Felis pointed at both Kolrem and him as he spoke, “There’s a hunting party going out tonight. The two of you are coming along.” Felis then gestured indicating himself and his two fellows, “The three of us can probably handle it but we were told we’d need a couple more to stay near Boyd once he’d pointed out where this guy lives. We Assassins are in shorter supply these days, and we don’t know how many people
might be in this place. I got both of you excused from class tonight. You have no idea what we had to go through to get that approved. Meet us in the Arena after dinner. Bring your bows.” The three Assassins simply turned without waiting for a reply and left the dining hall. Kolrem looked at Cooper, “So, that’s what that feels like. I had kind of wondered. Is it always a mix of excitement and terror? Or is it just because it’s my first time?” Cooper muttered, “You get used to it.”