Saif's Story

by Barbara G. Tarn

  "Let go," the man growled. "This is none of your business."

  "It is my business when a man abuses his family," Saif replied sternly. "Never hurt women or children, or be ready to pay the price."

  The man freed his arm and pushed him back.

  "Get out of here," he threatened with a pointed finger. "What I do with my bastards is none of your business."

  "They didn't ask to be put in the world," Saif said. "If you can't feed them and take care of them, set them free."

  The man scoffed. "Hah! And how would I feed myself, if they don't bring any money home?"

  "Sell your own goddamn body, you piece of shit!" the elder boy shouted angrily, holding his younger brother tight. "Except nobody gives a shit about your fat ass!"

  "Shut up, Karuna!" The man turned against his sons again, ignoring Saif and pummeling the boy with his fists.

  Saif clenched his teeth. He unwound the noose from his wrist and acted quickly. The man had a thick neck, but death was swiftly on him.

  Saif released the noose.

  "Acharya Saif!" Abhaya was by his side, wide-eyed and panting. "Is this allowed?"

  "Merciful death," Saif answered flatly.

  He looked at the two boys now huddled with their siblings. The younger victim of the beating seemed asleep, but Saif knew better. The elder looked up with eyes full of tears.

  "Thank you for delivering us, kind sir," he said.

  Saif nodded. "Will you be able to take care of the survivors?" he asked.

  The boy sniffled but nodded.

  Saif put a hand on his shoulder. "I trust you, Karuna the Sorrowful. If anyone else threatens you or your siblings, come and find me at the Assassins' Guild."

  "Acharya Saif, I thought we weren't supposed to tell who we are?" Abhaya complained.

  Saif rolled his eyes and turned to his apprentice."I guess it's time we went back to the Guild, Abhaya. Maybe we should have a talk with your father on what you learned here today."

  "You killed a fat bastard, and you weren't even paid for it," Abhaya said.

  "You obviously haven't understood our code yet." Saif put a hand on Abhaya's shoulder and steered him away from the dilapidated house. "I'm clearly not passing the message, so I will let your father explain things to you. Let's go."

  Before turning into a larger street, he gave a last glance to the orphans. The eldest was still looking at him, his back straight in the huddle of his siblings. Saif wished he could have Karuna as apprentice instead of Abhaya. He was almost certain that the slum boy would be a better student. Ah, well, maybe when Abhaya's training was complete...

  12.

  Saif hoped things would get better away from the city, but they didn't. While he enjoyed living in the forest, Abhaya hated it. And he had great trouble handling the noose, especially throwing it.

  "My father mentioned in Agharek they use blowguns, can I use that?" he complained after his umpteenth attempt at trying to strangle Saif who wore the training collar.

  Abhaya was eighteen now, he had put on muscle, but still didn't move like an assassin. He still behaved like a young nobleman stuck in an unpleasant situation with someone he was forced to obey but didn't particularly like.

  "No, we don't use poisons, Abhaya," Saif answered patiently. "In Agharek they don't have Genn healers. Do you have an idea of how many times they tried to poison King Naveen but the Genn saved him? That's why they ended up murdering him."

  "But this noose is... frustrating!" Abhaya snorted. He threw it at a red robin that was getting on his nerves with its chirping and missed. Saif raised his eyebrows. Still too much anger in Abhaya. He'd never make a good assassin unless he learned to control his fiery temper.

  He taught the apprentice the various herbs that could be found in the forest. How to deal with venomous viper bites. How to recognize some poisons by their smells. Those were the only lessons Abhaya enjoyed – and the wrestling, especially when he started gaining strength and managed to pin his acharya to the forest ground for a moment.

  One year and a half went by in the forest outside of Godwalkar. There was a village not too far and Saif knew Abhaya sometimes squeezed out of their cabin at night to find solace in some maiden's arms at the village. Saif was increasingly worried that Talwar's son would never be a real assassin.

  And then he found the blowgun, wrapped in Abhaya's sash.

  "What the hell is this?" he demanded, shoving it in his apprentice's face.

  Abhaya had been practicing archery in the clearing outside the cabin and was startled by the question, but quickly recovered. His ice-blue eyes narrowed and he dropped the bow to snatch the blowgun out of Saif's hand.

  "I've been practicing on my own," he answered defiantly. "Look."

  He had a small leather pouch around his neck. Saif had always thought that it contained his money and maybe a token from his parents. It held black darts instead – wood skewers sharpened to a point – that fitted the blowgun hole perfectly.

  Abhaya quickly charged the weapon and blew it, sending five black darts onto the target he'd been using for his arrows. Perfect center. If that were a man, he'd be dead soon. Saif had no doubt the darts had been dipped in poison.

  Abhaya stared defiantly at him. "Merciful death. The poison wouldn't let anyone live long if I hit him so close to the heart."

  Saif grabbed the blowgun and broke it against his thigh, throwing it at Abhaya's feet.

  "This is not how we operate," he warned. "You will stop your experiments now, or I will take you back to the Guild and let your father decide your fate!"

  Abhaya clenched his teeth and scowled, but didn't snap back. He took his bow and resumed shooting arrows, but Saif could tell he was even angrier than before. He'd have to keep a better eye on the young man from now on.

  Abhaya finished the arrows, then went to the target to retrieve them and the darts. If looks could kill Saif would have been dead the way the young man stared at him as he headed back for the cabin. Saif followed him inside.

  "Abhaya, I don't like threatening you, but you're becoming increasingly hard to please and train," he said to the young man's back. "Maybe we should just go back to Godwalkar and let your father finish your training."

  "You will not drop me!" Abhaya screamed, swirling around with his darts in his fist. The black points came out of his hand as he shook it. "My father trusted you to train me! You will finish what you started!"

  "I can't. I'm clearly the wrong person for you. Now calm down, throw those things away and let's have something to eat."

  Abhaya growled and put the darts back in his pouch.

  "It would help if you obeyed me," Saif said. "I said to get rid of those."

  "Make me," Abhaya challenged him.

  Saif gave up. He went to their modest pantry and checked what food was available. He heard Abhaya go out again and he sighed. He went to the door of the cabin and saw him nurse his broken blowgun, trying to patch it back together.

  "Abhaya," he called, trying to sound patient. "Come and have something to eat."

  "You eat!" Abhaya spat. Then he put a dart inside the broken blowgun. He took the wild reed he had cut to use as a weapon to his lips and blew.

  Saif watched incredulous the little black dart in his chest. His mind slowed down even more and a shiver ran through him. He couldn't move and lost control of his muscles, crumbling to the ground and wondering if this was the end.

  ***

  Fever devoured him for some time and he was barely conscious of what was going on around him. He awoke in a cold attic, under a sliding roof, with a blond young woman by his side. At first he thought a Genn healer had found him, but then he noticed she had round ears.

  His throat was parched so he asked for water. She helped him drink and sit on the blanket he was lying on. Her gown looked different from the ones worn in Godwalkar.

  "Who are you?" he asked, still a little dazed.

  "My name is Mirabella. I'm a wisewoman, or a witch according to some," she answered wi
th a shrug. She had a slight accent, but seemed fluent in his language. She must be one of those northern barbarians, although he didn't know much about them. They were Human, therefore he had assumed they had no magic, but still she seemed to have healed him...

  "I have never met such a young wisewoman," he said, bowing to thank her. "I admit I don't remember much of what happened."

  "Last night a young man brought you to this inn, saying you'd been bitten by a snake," she said, serious. She had blue eyes like Prem and must be still in her twenties.

  "Ah. Abhaya." He frowned at the memory. "Where is he?" His apprentice had shot him with a poisoned dart. The young wisewoman must be talented if she had managed to save him.

  "I assume he's still out there, waiting for you," she answered. "It took me all night to rid you of the poison."

  Her pale cheeks colored under his stare. "Thank you," he said, observing her. She was young but not too shy to ask about the poisoned dart. He had to tell her about Abhaya.

  "My apprentice toyed with things he should have left alone," he said with a sigh. But then explaining to her what kind of guild he belonged to... no, he couldn't explain that to a foreigner. But since she was headed for Godwalkar, he could escort her and repay his debt. As a woman, she shouldn't be traveling alone.

  "You're the one who was poisoned by his own apprentice," she replied. "I'm quite safe, thank you."

  "But this is the south," he said. "Women don't travel unattended. Allow me to escort you there. I need to go back anyway."

  She hesitated, then nodded. Her stomach rumbled and he smiled. She must have skipped her meal to heal him.

  "Allow me to fill your belly, and then we can be on our way," he said, rising and putting his tunic back on while she gathered her things.

  They both went downstairs to the main room, where Abhaya sat in a corner, biting his nails, looking worried.

  "Saif!" He jumped to his feet at the sight of them.

  "I'm fine," Saif snapped.

  "I'm sorry, Saif..."

  "Acharya Saif, Abhaya. Being Talwar's son doesn't exempt you from the rules.

  "Acharya Saif, I didn't mean to hurt you..."

  Of course you did, you spoiled brat. At least Abhaya had taken him to a village and found a healer. He could have killed him and left him to rot in the forest. Although Abhaya knew what his father would say if he came back alone from his training. The young man was a little crazy, but not stupid.

  They sat at a table and ate in silence. Saif noticed how Abhaya looked at Mirabella who ignored him. The young man brooded when they left the tavern, headed for the city that lay ahead. Mirabella asked how far Godwalkar was, and Saif told her they'd have to spend a night under the stars. She didn't seem to mind.

  Abhaya was thankfully quiet for the whole trip and Saif said good-bye to the young northerner as soon as they were on the paved streets of Godwalkar, pointing her towards the university compound.

  "Saif, I'll be good if we go back to the woods now," Abhaya muttered as soon as she was out of earshot.

  "Abhaya, I'm sure your father will deem you ready with a shorter training period, but let him be the judge," Saif replied, looking forward to seeing Talwar again. The responsibility of training Abhaya would soon be lifted off his shoulders.

  ***

  "He did what?" Talwar stared aghast at his son, who stood still with his head hung. "Abhaya, how could you toy with a blowgun? That was not part of the training any more so than the sling you were so fond of!"

  "Sorry, Father," Abhaya muttered.

  "Why did you do it?" The Head of the Guild insisted, furious.

  Saif raised his hands to calm his superior. Nimdja looked surprised – neither of them expected Abhaya to be this treacherous. Talwar's small office felt very hot all of a sudden.

  "Abhaya is impatient, Talwar. He couldn't learn to use the noose, so he chose another path. We have misjudged him. We thought we could teach him to control himself. I failed, Talwar, and for this I beg your forgiveness." He bowed his head in submission.

  "I have nothing to forgive you for, Saif," Talwar snapped, glaring at his son. "You shame me, Abhaya. You obviously aren't made for this guild."

  "Who cares what means I use to finish the job?" Abhaya protested, his ice-blue eyes glaring back at his father. "Who made these damn rules anyway?"

  "I did!" Talwar slammed his hand on the desk, startling Abhaya, but also Nimdja and Saif who stood on the side. "Your mother did! This is not Agharek, Abhaya! There are Genn healers all over the city and your stupid poisons are useless! If you can't learn to be a noose-operator, you'll never be a proper assassin!"

  Abhaya clenched his teeth and stared at his feet. Talwar leaned back in his chair and turned to Saif.

  "Do you think he could learn? With more training, more people helping him?" He glanced at Nimdja who didn't move.

  Saif sighed and pondered. It hurt him to admit his failure, especially since the apprentice was his former acharya's son. Saif greatly admired Talwar who had made an honorable assassin out of him, but unfortunately Abhaya was nothing like his father. Or his mother, for that matter – except for the blue eyes.

  Abhaya was an arrogant young man who could become very dangerous if he completed the training. Abhaya felt everything was due him. Put him in a position of power and he could become a tyrant.

  "Talwar, I don't think your son should follow in your footsteps," Saif said at last, looking the Head of the Guild in the eyes. "He is too rash for this job."

  Talwar sighed but nodded.

  "Very well, then. You're relieved from the training. Abhaya, you will pack your things and travel to Agharek. Go to the Temple of Zindagi and knock on the door of the monastery attached to it. They're used to training rebellious young men from all walks of life."

  "Father!" Abhaya protested. His father's glare silenced him.

  "You will become a fighting monk of Zindagi instead of an assassin," Talwar said, determined. "You might be a little old to join, but I'm sure they'll test you and let you skip some classes. I'll write to the abbot today, and you'll take the letter with you."

  Saif's heart sank. He felt sorry for Abhaya, turned out of his home, but in all conscience he really couldn't see Talwar's son as an assassin. Maybe a goddess and her fighting monks could help Abhaya to become a better man.

  Talwar dismissed them and Nimdja walked Saif to his room with a worried look on his face.

  "I can't believe he almost killed you! How did you survive the poisoned dart?"

  "He took me to the closest village, and in the inn there was this young woman headed for Godwalkar," Saif answered, thinking back to Mirabella. "She healed me in a night. And she doesn't have Genn blood."

  "Wonders never cease," Nimdja said, shaking his head.

  Saif grinned. "I hope she finds a wisewoman to complete her education..."

  13.

  It felt good to be home, to sleep in his own bed again. Alone. Without worries about the student sleeping on the floor.

  Things were more or less the same in Godwalkar. There had been a change in the staff at the guild's building, since Farman and Yafita had retired and left with their children. The new cook was male and the doorkeeper a bulky man with dark skin and a shaved head.

  Saif went to the canteen feeling lighter and met Nimdja and Francisca there. Her childhood friends were happy to see him and he asked them if they planned parenthood anytime soon. Francisca was almost thirty-five, it was time she gave birth before it was too late.

  "I can't have a green-eyed baby, so I'm still thinking about it," Francisca teased. But she squeezed Nimdja's hand and smiled fondly at him.

  And then Guisarme walked in, tall, slender, her pointed ears hidden under her blond mane.

  "Saif! Good to see you! Someone has been waiting for you for a long time!"

  "Don't tell me." Nimdja chuckled. "The street boy is still out there."

  "He's in now, waiting for Saif." She smiled. "How come you're back early, Saif?"


  "I had... trouble with Abhaya," Saif muttered. Guisarme rolled her eyes.

  "Why am I not surprised," she commented.

  Saif tried to learn more about the person waiting for him, but both Nimdja and Guisarme seemed to enjoy giving him vague answers. He gave up and went to the entrance to meet the visitor, mostly because he saw Abhaya enter the canteen with Talwar. The young man scowled at him as he quickly left.

  "Hello, Acharya Saif, do you remember me?"

  Saif stared puzzled at the teen, then remembered those determined black eyes. Karuna the Sorrowful. The tough elder son who had tried to protect his little brother from an abusive father. And now he wanted to be an assassin.

  Saif half-smiled, still studying him. Well, then. Maybe the orphan he had created two years earlier would be a better apprentice than Abhaya.

  "Come," he said, guiding Karuna to the cloistered courtyard.

  They sat across the stairs to the upper floor and the door to the canteen where the guild was gathering to discuss Abhaya. Saif was glad he didn't have to go through that. He was glad Karuna was giving him an excuse to be outside.

  "I remember you. Your father was the bastard who liked to beat those who couldn't defend themselves, and sold his own children's bodies."

  "Yes, Acharya Saif." The teen's voice was more manly, but still very sweet, quite sexy. A bedroom voice if there was any. "You saved me from him. Your silken noose freed me. I want to be like you, Acharya Saif. I want to learn weapons and stealth, and to kill bad people who deserve to die."

  If he hadn't been so shy at the time, that would have been exactly what he'd have told Talwar when he was still a slum boy. Except Talwar was only a few years older than him, while he could probably be the teen's father.

  "I haven't agreed to train you yet," he said, amused. "So stop calling me acharya. We are men of honor, but sometimes we kill the undeserving without anyone paying us."

  "But never hurt women or children," Karuna said. "That's what you said two years ago."

  "And we stick to that rule." Saif nodded. "But we don't kill for pleasure. Heck, we don't even kill for revenge. And we don't use poisons."