The Trials (Assassin's Intent Book 1)

by Lanford, K. W.

  They stood upon the roof of the guard tower as Aram scanned the area below. "Remind me when we get back to the Order to ask Yantis if there is a spell for seeing in the dark. If I am going to live my life skulking around in it, I’d dearly love to be able to see."

  Arlaina chuckled. "I know what you mean. I used to think Dimsey was part bat. Half the time I just followed him and hoped he knew where we were going."

  Aram pointed out a dark area towards the back of the building inside the lower inner wall of the castle. Arlaina nodded and they flew quietly over the outer courtyard, over the inner wall and landed lightly in the darkness beside the castle wall. Arlaina landed using the technique Aram had devised and he looked at her and smiled. "You’re not the only one who can learn new things." She said smugly.

  They quietly made their way around to the backside of the castle and came upon a servant’s door that was used to access the trash heap. The door was locked. Aram pulled the lock picks out of his boot and quickly opened the door. The narrow hallway inside was dark. The two of them slipped inside and Aram relocked the door. "Let them wonder how we got in."

  Dimsey had given him a rough layout of the castle, but the servant’s hallways were unknown to him. They made their way into the interior of the castle to try and find their bearings. The lower floors were mostly deserted. They saw a few servants going about their duties in the nighttime hours and a few guards who seemed content playing cards.

  They made their way onto the main stairs without incident, but half way up a guard turned the corner. He was heading down the stairs. The stairs were wide, but Aram doubted they were wide enough for the guard to pass them without notice. He looked around frantically. Arlaina slipped over the railing and slid down till only her fingers could be seem as she hung from the edge. Aram followed. The guard passed them by without a second glance.

  Aram let out a small sigh of relief and they climbed back onto the stairway. At the top of the stairs the hallway branched. According to what Dimsey had said. the left branch would take them towards another stairway. That one led down into the foundations of the castle where the vault waited. But to the right lay more stairs, heading up towards the higher levels and the journal Aram desperately wanted. They went to the right. The floor beside the stairway was open all the way down to the main floor and the main entry of the castle. A balcony overlooked the entrance at every level, all the way up to the top floor.

  From where they stood on the second floor, they could see that the higher up it went, the more lamps were lit. The top floor seemed to be busy even at this hour. The guard that had passed them on the stairs was on his way back up, so they headed up the second flight of stairs. The third floor was quiet. Perhaps they were rooms for visiting dignitaries or something. They crossed quickly to the next stairway and the next, until they were at the top of the stairs on the fifth floor.

  There were shadows to be found, but most didn’t touch one another, so they had to use timing to dart from one to the next. They went down the main hallway, stopping where it intersected with another. Aram peeked around the corner. There were two lamps on either side of the hall, only a few paces from where he stood. The portion of the hall they were in was bathed in darkness, but they would have to cross into the light to bypass this hallway. There was a guard leaning against the wall about six paces away. He appeared to be working on a blacksmith's puzzle, so Aram took his chance and darted across. Arlaina peeked around the corner and the guard was looking her way. She pulled her head back quickly. They heard his boots on the floor as he walked towards the intersection. Aram didn’t want to have to kill anyone, at least not until they had what they came for, but was prepared to do what was necessary.

  The guard pulled the lamp off the wall and stepped around the corner, looking around where Arlaina had been standing. Arlaina was hanging directly above his head. She had jumped and spread her legs wide, toes barely touching on either side of the hallway. Aram could tell her position was precarious at best. Then he saw her slip just a bit and knew he had to do something. He waved his hand and the lamp went out. The guard shook it to see if it had run out of oil and went back into the other hallway to get the other lamp. Arlaina dropped quietly to her feet and quickly crossed to Aram’s side. Aram could see the pain in her eyes and the slight limp as she ran over to him. They quickly moved further down the hall away from the guard. Aram held her face in both hands and whispered, "Are you alright?"

  She winced and shook her head no. "I think I pulled something. We need to find a safe place for you to open a portal and carry on without me."

  Aram nodded. He found a door off the main hallway and peeked inside. It was an empty room with a bed, a wardrobe and two comfortable looking chairs. They stepped inside the room and closed the door. Aram focused on the vault of the Order and drew his circle. Soon Dimsey’s face was staring back at them from a room as dark as the one they were in. Dimsey leaned close. "You are there already?"

  Aram shook his head no and helped Arlaina into the portal. "Arlaina needed a rest." She kissed him on the cheek and stepped through. "I am close to the journal; with any luck the next portal to open will be the one you’re waiting for."

  Aram noticed Yantis behind Dimsey. "Yantis, do you know a spell that will allow me to see in the dark?" Yantis stepped forward and nodded. He waited for Aram to get ready and then cast his spell. Both rooms suddenly lightened to Aram’s eyes. This was perfect. He nodded his thanks to his uncle and closed the portal.

  His first thought was that perhaps the light spell would be more of a hindrance than the darkness, for he couldn’t see any shadows at all in the room. However, when he opened the door that fear abated, as long as there was natural light he could see the shadows. He went back into the hall and moved deeper into the castle.

  The hallway ended in a tee, with a great set of double doors directly across from him. There were two guards standing on either side of the doorway. This had to be the door he was looking for. Aram was trying to figure out how he would get past the two guards when one of them spoke. "I need to go to the privy." The other guard nodded and the man started walking towards Aram.

  Aram backtracked until he found a small alcove and stepped into it. The hallway was dark where he stood and the guard still at the doorway wouldn’t be able to see a thing. Aram quietly drew the dagger from his boot. When the guard passed him, he deftly reached out, slipped the blade to the man’s throat and pulled him tight up against the alcove.

  He had intended to simply kill the man, but he noticed something at the last second that stayed his hand. "A wise man in your position would remain quiet and cooperative." Aram whispered into the guard’s ear. The guard nodded slowly.

  Aram reached out with his free hand, lifted the braided rope from the man’s shoulder and held it before him. "These next few moments will surely be the most important of your life. I want you to think carefully before you answer this next question. The truth may save you." Again the guard nodded slowly. "What is your name and who do you give your loyalty to?" Aram felt the dagger move slightly as the man swallowed.

  "My name is Rodger and I have pledged myself and my honor to Lord Blackenwood. If you are one of the king’s men, I would rather die than deny my pledge."

  Aram eased the dagger from Rodger’s throat. "Good answer; so why are you not with the rest of your company headed into Warrington?"

  Rodger didn’t move, still unsure where the dagger had gone and whose hand held it. "I volunteered to stay behind to keep watch."

  Aram thought for a moment. "A noble gesture, but it is no longer required. Here is what I need you to do. Make your trip to the privy and return to your post. I don’t suppose you could convince your friend there to leave, could you?"

  Rodger still hadn’t moved an inch. "With all due respect, why should I take orders from an assassin in the dark?"

  Aram thought to himself for a moment. "Did you ever meet King Aramis?"

  Rodger nodded his head. "He was a good man and be
tter king. He is the reason I follow Lord Blackenwood."

  Aram removed his disguise and said. "Turn around."

  Rodger turned slowly and looked at Aram. It was dark in the hall, so Aram cast the light spell on him. Rodger’s eyes went wide. "By the gods, how can this be? I myself helped carry your lifeless body from these halls!"

  Aram patted his hands in the air before him. "There really isn’t a whole lot of time at the moment, but my name is Aram Blackenwood, son of Aramis and Mayla Blackenwood. Now, can you get the other guard to leave, or do I have to kill him?"

  Rodger’s eyes widened. "I know this will soon come to that, but John is a good man. I will find a way to get him to leave."

  Rodger went to the privy and returned a short time later eating a sweet cake. He took his post opposite John, smacking his lips and moaning in pleasure. John looked at him. "Well, didn’t you get me one?"

  Rodger set him with a dour look. "I’m not your nanny! Besides, I got it from Christina. I thought you would be happy for the excuse."

  John smiled and clapped him on the shoulder. "An hour?"

  Rodger nodded. "You’re in the privy, should anyone ask." John headed quickly down the hallway. In his haste to see Christina, he wouldn’t have noticed Aram if he was glowing.

  Aram walked up to the door. "Is anyone inside?"

  Rodger looked at him. "Just the king."

  Aram nodded. "If you see anyone coming; sneeze or something." Then he quietly slipped inside. The entry room to the king's quarters was spacious and lush beyond anything Aram could have imagined. The floors were covered in thick carpeting softer than the mattress he had slept on his whole life. Thanks to the light spell, even in the pitch darkness he could appreciate the workmanship that had gone into everything, from the chairs to the mantel above the massive fireplace.

  The door to the king's sleeping quarters was easy to spot. They were great gilded double doors. One of the doors was opened just a crack and Aram peeked inside. The king's bed was huge! He started to push open the door, but years of training kicked in and he checked the door carefully. There on the top of the door was a tin can propped precariously against the door and the wall. Aram knew the can would be filled with pieces of metal or rocks that would make quite the racket if it were to fall. He carefully reached up, set the can level on the top of the door and opened it gently. He stepped quietly into the room and looked around. Although there appeared to be someone sleeping in the bed, the whole room was covered in trip wires!

  It was meant to be a trap for any would-be assassin intending to do harm to the king. It would seem this king was taking care not to be taken like his predecessor. It took a little time and a lot of skill to avoid all the traps, but Aram made his way to the window sill. Special care had been taken around the window, ensuring that if someone entered though there, he would be bound to set off one trap or another. Aram had to disarm a few before he could lift up on the sill. It had been painted since his father had lived here, so he had to take his dagger and trace along the seams. Finally it lifted open and there inside was the journal. Aram removed the journal with shaking hands. He hugged it to his chest for just a moment and then slipped it into the pocket of his shirt.

  Aram carefully closed the sill and reset all the traps. He backtracked to the door and cautiously peeked out. Everything seemed to be in order, so he slipped out the door, closed it to just a crack and replaced the tin can the way he had found it. He took in the lay of the room and noticed a cabinet in the corner. Mostly due to curiosity, he went over to it and looked closely.

  It appeared to be a trophy case dedicated to the accomplishments of Stolly! Aram noticed there was a space between the side of the cabinet and the wall that made an excellent hiding place. From what he could see, even if it was mid day and the sun was shining into the room, that spot would be well concealed. The cabinet was about three feet deep and the space from the cabinet to the wall was also about three feet. That was plenty of room to make a portal, perhaps?

  He was looking at the floor trying to figure out how he could perfectly place a portal, when he noticed a ring in the carpet. It appeared to be a place where something round had been sitting for a long time and the carpet remembered its embrace. The pattern in the carpet, coupled with the circle seemed like a perfect focus, so he committed them to memory.

  Aram considered trying to find where the king was truly sleeping, but knew his friends would be waiting and worrying, so he quietly left the room. He looked up into the eyes of Rodger and saw the question in them. "No, I didn’t kill him. But if I find proof he is the reason my father died, he will die by my hand. We need to get to the vaults down in the cellar. I will follow you; if we pass any of your friends, distract them and I will pass by. I will only kill someone if I have to." Rodger nodded and led the way.

  Having a distraction made getting back down the stairs a trivial matter for Aram. When they got down into the cellars, Rodger stopped. "Around the next corner will be a small room leading to a doorway guarded by two men." He gave Aram a hard look. "These two men will be royal house guards; their loyalty will be for the king and will not waver which suits me just fine. They aren’t the type of men I would want to call comrade, or associate with in any way.

  What I am trying to tell you is, if the killing needs to start, these men would be deserving of killing first." Aram nodded and started to walk away when Rodger stopped him. "Although they are despicable men they are soldiers and deserve to die in battle rather than having their throats cut unaware. No one will hear the commotion from down here. Let me go in and kill them."

  Aram placed a hand on Rodger’s shoulder. "A man with honor is something I would never disrespect. If you feel these men deserve a fight, I shall stand with you." Aram pulled his sword out of his pocket and strapped it on his waist.

  Rodger smiled. "It is good to once again serve an honorable man." The two of them stepped around the corner side by side.

  The two guards drew their swords. "What is this all about?"

  Aram stepped smoothly into the room. "Well, it is about me going inside that vault. Whichever one of you is the better swordsman is welcome to try and stop me."

  The guard who spoke charged Aram. The other went for Rodger, saying, "I knew you were a traitor. I shall enjoy killing you; scum."

  Aram didn’t spare much thought for the two of them. Either Rodger could handle himself, or he was a fool for wanting a direct challenge. The guard on Aram came in with a heavy swing of his long sword. Aram still hadn’t drawn his blade and was content to see what the elite of King Broden had to offer in a fair fight. He ducked the swing and spun under the guard's arm, delivering a hard jab into his kidney. The guard spun away from the punch enough to lessen the blow, but not enough to keep the wince from his face as he spun around facing Aram on even footing. Aram nodded. His respect grew just a bit.

  The guard came in with a series of quick stabs, intended to have Aram leaning forward over his toes and unable to avoid the quick backhanded slash that followed. Aram wasn’t the average swordsman the guard was used to sparing with. Instead of bending over the stabbing sword, he bent around it. Aram was sliding his hips side to side in a kind of eerie dance. When the backhanded slash came, Aram was ready and followed it in, landing a quick jab to the guard’s nose. The guard quickly retreated two steps, blood flowing freely from his busted nose.

  Aram drew his sword, held out his hand toward the guard and beckoned him forward with a small smile on his face. The guard looked at Aram, then over to his friend who was hard pressed by Rodger. He charged, but Aram noticed the look in his eye. It was a feint. He intended to run past, no doubt to get help. Instead of reaching to block the sword Aram knew wouldn’t fall, he flicked the point of his sword out to the side and across the guard’s throat as he tried to pass by. The guard dropped his sword, clasping his hands to his throat in a futile attempt to keep his life blood from escaping.

  Aram looked at the end of his sword. The edge was so sharp; the tip of
the sword had passed through the man’s flesh so quickly there wasn’t even any blood on the blade. Aram shrugged to himself and thought, nice blade as he sheathed the sword.

  He walked over to the fight that was still going on with Rodger and the last guard. The guard was trying to keep an eye on Aram as well and was finding himself hard pressed. Aram chuckled out loud. "You may want to pay more attention to the man with the sword."

  The guard refocused his attention on Rodger and Aram watched a few exchanges. He moved to stand by Rodger's sword arm and pointed to the elbow. "You are dropping your elbow before a slash. That is a tell; it’s allowing him to counter more efficiently." Rodger grunted in acknowledgment and Aram noticed the elbow change into the proper position. Aram continued to circle slowly, as if he were just an instructor, teaching a student fighting with a wooden sword.

  "Drop your lead foot back under your knee it is extended too far and you’re losing your balance." Again Rodger corrected himself in mid battle. "That’s better. Now with your weight more evenly distributed, you have another weapon at your command."

  Rodger smiled as he suddenly understood what Aram was talking about. He spun his sword up high, causing the guard to duck just a bit and raise his own sword above his head. When he did, Rodger’s back foot snapped forward connecting solidly with the guard’s nose. Aram applauded while Rodger quickly finished off the stunned guard.

  Rodger looked at Aram in amazement. "That was incredible! With each little thing you pointed out, I could feel the shift in the battle. Where did you learn to fight?"

  Aram smiled and clapped him on the back. "I just finished my fourteenth year at the Order. I was bound to pick up a thing or two."

  Rodger laughed. "Okay, so now what are we supposed to do?"

  Aram grinned, pulled out his lock picks and quickly opened the door. "Now, my new friend, we rob the bastard blind!"