Sun had set on the training grounds in Ael’Tharyn, shining on young knights and assassins in training. The training grounds smelled blood and sweat, the smell that was very familiar to all but not liked by any. The group of high ranked assassins had just finished their training and had headed inside a tavern just outside the castle to relax and replenish their strengths. The tavern was called the house of the hidden, it was a public tavern but hardly anyone entered as assassins were the most usual guests and no sane man ever wanted to be next to a cold-blooded murderer. They were sitting at the table, drinking enjoying themselves when one of the older assassins spoke: “We can’t tolerate this much longer my friends, we can’t let Vaelor Ael’Tharyn disrespect us for any longer by sending a sixteen-year-old boy on the most important of missions instead of us, his most experienced assassins.” “He speaks the truth” another one agreed” that snot-nose is getting all the glory and fame while we rot here, if only I got a chance to get him somewhere with no one to intervene” “and you would do what?” one of the younger assassins asked mockingly. “I would make him curse the day he was born and torture him to the point of where he would beg me to kill him, and only then I would.” The young assassins laughed so hard that one of them nearly suffocated. “Did I say something funny, boy?” The young assassin looked insulted but didn’t bat the eyelid and said “That snot-nose, as you called him, would chop your cock off and feed it to you if he was feeling kind” The old man’s expression shifted, he had been disrespected by a kid. He thought himself a killer, a man with reputation that would send shivers down peoples spines when hearing the story, but this boy, barely over nineteen years old dared to speak to him in this manner and even worse, used another kid as a threat. “How dare you speak to me that way you insolent pup?” He drew his blade” I am the great assassin of Elyndar, and one ten assassins who ambushed the usurper king Aeryon Ael’Tharyn gave the crown to the rightful king Vaelor. “Yet, all this talk, all those threats and wherever you’re actually around him, you cower like a mouse and hide in a corner scared and trembling like a little girl.” “You son of a whore, I’ll carve your heart out and shove it down your throat.” He was about to say when the door fling Open and from there a figure watched over the tavern with pair of golden eyes. “Shadow assassin” they acknowledged in unison. Including the man who was calling him a snot-nose and making threats just a moment ago. He walked in and sat down at a table “Ale, he shouted and threw a gold coin towards the table.” They brought him the ale in an instant, as if they knew he was already coming. He drank it in one go and commanded “Another.” And they brought him another. The assassins stood frozen and watched as he emptied one after another until he had drunk half the barrel. “So” he suddenly spoke” Mirken the lone blade, you think me a snot-nose?” Everyone turned to look at Mirken who’s face had gone pale, as if he had just seen a demon. “No, of course not shadow assassin, you’re the strongest and the mightiest of us all…” “tsk, tsk, tsk. Lies, lies, just a second ago you were talking about making me curse my own birthday and torture me until I begged for death, was it? I believe.” The man’s face was losing color, he had now turned white and he felt as if his body was unable to move, he was unable to speak, unable to breathe. At last he managed to murmur “Gods no, you must’ve been lied to. Those sons of whores will tell you anything to turn you against us” He pointed his finger at the younger assassins, as Arthur smiled” Which one of your tattles telling assess lied to the shadow assassin?” He continued acting as If he hadn’t said the words just moments ago. “Are you suggesting I am deaf, lone blade?” Arthur asked. “what? Forgive me I don’t understand.” “Well, you said I’ve been lied to, so you are saying my ears lie to me, hence you are calling me deaf.” “I am confused, how does that make sense?” “I heard everything you dumb cunt, how you said that you wished you caught me in a solo encounter and how you would make me beg and all that bullshit” As more and more words left Arthur’s mouth the lone blade became paler and paler” I am here, what will you do?” The tavern fell as silent as a graveyard. “Nothing, good.” One of the younger assassins stood up, mustered the courage and spoke “Shadow assassin, surely you don’t intend to leave this disrespect without a response.” All the faces turned to the boy, younger ones smiled, elders closed their eyes, the lone blade was no longer there. The world had long collapsed for him, and he stood there just as flesh, the fear consumed him and refused to let go, his ego was swallowed whole by the shadow assassins presence. “The man has nothing to say, I think that’s enough” Arthur said without turning” But I like you’re thinking” he added. Then he got up, paid for his drinks and headed out the way he came in. The young assassin noticed one of the elders holding a hidden blade and how he unsheathed it as Arthur walked closer. Before he could say anything the elder moved, but It was only a step. What followed was the sound of an old man’s body hitting the cold stone floor and blood gushing out from his throat, painting the floor red. “Anyone else got any surprises for me?” Arthur asked unfazed.” The room fell silent again, only the sound of pouring blood remained, only for a moment. He walked out of there, as all felt relieved, everyone but the young ones and Mirken, who saw his lifelong friend get massacred and made a fool as they used to make others look like. Arthur walked in the streets; he had not a drop of blood on him from the encounter. That was his talent, He never got dirty during kills, and somehow always managed to keep his hands clean. Arthur walked towards the castle, where he had to get his gift and then he had to leave for Isenvar. All eyes were fixed on him as always, especially the women. He was desired by all but none could have him. He was impossible to seduce. In the streets he bumped into Lukyres who was out for business of his own. “Huh, where is the shadow assassins headed at this hour?” he asked. “To the palace to take my precious gift from the king himself, you have never got anything like that from him, have you? How unfortunate.” Lukyres laughed “last time I saw you, you were in a rush to meet Madias. What did he have for you?” “Nothing, he said he wanted to talk, but I found him in a state so drunken he could barely remember his name.” “Ha, that’s classic Madias, always drank until blackout Used to say, if you can remember yourself well, means you haven’t drunk enough.” “Seems like he has been living by that rule, and hasn’t broken it once. Well I haven’t seen him break it.” Athur said. “Me neither” Lukyres responded “And I am older than you. I remember you as a tiny boy, what happened to that tiny kid?” Arthur sighed, he was clearly annoyed with that one “You are four years older than me; you didn’t even know how to speak at the time.” “Be aware of how you speak to the elders!” Lukyres joked again. “Get lost, you fuckwit” Arthur told him and walked past him” “As you say, you insolence” Lukyres followed up. Arthur shook his head “Telling me that arrogance will doom me, his frivolity will doom him, way before me.” He walked to the castle gates, where the guards let him in without a word, but none of them looked at him. They always avoided any contact with him. Moreover, they despised him but never dared show it. Which deer would dare anger a lion. He walked up the massive staircase made of marble and made it to the garden of Aelys. He saw the queen walking the gardens and made all his efforts to avoid her after the previous confrontation. “Arthur” a voice called out to him He heard it, but tried to act down on it, but the queen knew everything and knew that Arthur had heard him clearly. “Arthur don’t ignore me, we both know you can hear me.” Arthur still pretended not to and kept walking. “Fine, ignore me if you want I knew you were afraid of me.” Arthurs eyes widened when he heard that, “What does the queen want from me? Other women I understand but her? She is the queen; I am her servant. No, what am I even thinking, she just needs me just like her husband does” Arthur turned around and went closer to the queen, who stared at him unfazed, unmoved. “Huh, so I finally caught your attention” “Certainly, my queen.” Arthur responded coldly. “Well, I called you over this time to ask something of you.” Arthur thought to himself “This will be interesting” Seralyne gave him a parchment, with a serpents seal. “I know you are leaving soon, but please can you get that to a man near the docks, he goes by the names Moris.” Arthur looked taken a back” “A secret Letter? What can she possibly have to hide?” He thought to himself. “I’ll try my best, my queen, he told her and took the parchment.” “One thing, you can’t get caught” She said in fear?” Please Arthur, you’re the only one who doesn’t tattletale everything to my husband, we both know what kind of man you are” Arthur fell in a deeper confusion “Did she say please? She must be pretty desperate.” “It will be done my queen, I swear it.” “Really, that easily?” She asked almost as confused. “You are my queen. I obey your commands just as much as I obey the kings.” “Do you know?” The queen asked him. “Yes” Arthur responded simply because he had nothing else to say. “Very well then” She said with a smug satisfied face “Just know this, I can’t reward as my husband can, but I’ll see what I can do” Arthur felt some sort of sensation that he had never felt before, he was an assassin, a man who got paid to do his job, and yet this woman, who was richer than most was standing in front of him, giving him a job and he had no intention of asking for a reward. “I don’t ask for anything my queen, you are not obliged to pay me, neither is the king, I am your servant and I am only doing my job.” He didn’t know if he had handled that right, but he noticed the queens eyes softening, relaxing a bit. “My queen, he bowed his head and left Seralyne in the garden.” He walked in the council chamber where the sorcerer supreme had awaited his arrival. “Shadow assassin” The sorcerer supreme addressed him “Sorcerer supreme” Arthur bowed but the sorcerer stood him back up instantly. “You don’t bow to me boy, I am no lord, nor a king, I am a servant just like you, just to the gods.” Arthur nodded but thought to himself “What is this old cunt even talking about” “Your ring has been created” He answered. And he showed Arthur a simple bronze ring, which had scriptures all over it. He took the ring and took a good look at it “It looks ordinary from the outside, but it has all the power you may require.” The sorcerer supreme said. “How does it work?” Arthur asked curiously. “Whenever an illusion occurs, the ring will vibrate and upon closer contact the rings scriptures will turn red and will break the illusion. If you encounter a stronger magic, it will vibrate rapidly and try its best to protect you, and it will, against almost anything.” “Almost?” “Well practically everything. Every known spell.” “So that makes me invincible to sorcerers and witches.” Arthur said. The sorcerer supreme laughed “Don’t be a fool. It will protect you against any binding spells, It can’t protect you from aggressive magic I don’t have the power to make that kind of ring, and I doubt anyone does.” “Of course.” Arthur murmured to himself. “Thank you sorcerer supreme, I will put it to good use.” Said Arthur and walked towards the exit when he heard the sorcerer supreme murmur to himself “No, you won’t” That intrigued him, what did he mean by that. He only needed it to serve the king better, what other use could it possibly have. He didn’t know but it wasn’t for him to ask, he headed towards the training grounds where he expected Madias to be. As expected he was there, training two young knights to become great warriors. “Madias” He called out to him “I’ve come to say goodbye” Madias turned, smiled and answered, “Come a bit closer then.” Arthur got closer and they embraced once again. “So where are you off to this time around?” Madias asked him. “Huh, didn’t think you were that drunk that day. To Isenvar” He responded. “Isenvar yes of course. When will you be back?” “Whenever I am done with the job I suppose. A week, a fortnight, a month” “A month? Who are you going for that makes you even suggest a month?” “Some lord who refuses to pay his part. He is said to be the best killer in the mountains, and you know how honest mountain people are when it comes to killers, they never over exaggerate anything.” “Think twice. They have this tradition; I don’t know what they call it. Whenever a member of one clan beats up or kills another clans member, the whole clan arises as they go down to their village, kill the man and cut his sword hand off. They usually hang it on the killers houses outer gate as a sign of pride and honor. Madness and stupidity if you ask me” “ Whoever he is, he won’t be taking my arm anytime soon, not with his throat opened at least.” “Let’s hope so. I hope next time I see you, you’ll still have both hands.” Madias said and chuckled, the young knights chuckled too. Madias turned to them “Oh, funny is it?” The boys looked scared and threw an answer “No, Ser” “Oh I thin it’s funny, well how about you go against him in sword and make fun of him, while you take him down, how does that sound?” He asked the boys and pointed to Arthur. The boys didn’t look scared anymore, they were terrified, and one of them instinctively shouted “No fucking way. Ser forgive me but are you mad? Only an idiot would challenge him. Arthur chuckled. “You speak to me in that manner you useless idiot? You think I won’t do the same as he will?” The boys now in one voice said “No disrespect Ser, but we would rather deal with 10 of you than one of him.” “Smart boys, you’ve taught them well” Arthur said. “Not another word Arthur” Madias cut him short.” “Fine, fine, I am leaving anyways, so long Madias” “And so long to you my boy” Madias responded. Arthur walked out of the castle and walked out in the streets, where dark had settled and only the moonlight kept lighting the street, but for Arthur that moonlight was more than enough. He walked through the closed market, then passed the puppet theater, up the street next to the statue of Aelys and made It to the stables. There was no one there to ask for, so he entered the stables and took out his horse, who he had called Madi, for his mentor and a father figure Madias. “We are off to another job Madi, come on boy, help me get this one done too.” The horse whinnied, as he was saying yes to his master. Arthur hopped on the horses back and disappeared into the forest, on a long journey to Isenvar. The queen Seralyne was out on the balcony late at night, couldn’t sleep. She used to go out there in times of anxiety to relieve stress. Just then she saw a eagle approaching, she looked around to check if anyone was around, then took the parchment on it’s leg and enchanted it to send it back the way it came. She unraveled the letter, read it. Then she looked down, a big smile appeared on her face as she was bursting with joy and said, thank you Arthur, thank you for helping me.

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