Assassin's Fall

The last mission

The Assassin’s Guild consisted of three main branches: the executioners, who were responsible for eliminating targets swiftly and undetected, the strikers, who boasted on their physical prowess and engaged their targets head on, then there were spell weavers who used magic to track and kill their targets. Tamaia lacked any outstanding skill to belong to any of the three, but she possessed intellect and knowledge. Because of this, she had ascended to the pinnacle of a minor branch called the watchers, who were responsible for spying and the guild’s communication system.

The role of prime watcher was everything an ordinary woman could ask for. Tamaia had direct access to all of the guild’s resources and she reported directly to Guild Master Zay. Her usefulness had earned her a great amount of respect among the assassins and even though her combat and assassination skills were slightly below average, she was one of the guild’s indispensable tools. No, not indispensable. She had learnt the terrible truth about the guild over the years. The guild cut off anyone who outlived their usefulness or someone who became too wild to leash. Her last mission had confirmed that much.

Despite admiring the likes of Liandra, Tamaia was grateful she did not get to spill blood often. Being an assassin required a strong mind and an unwavering soul. The decade she had spent serving the guild had steeled her nerve, but her heart had refused to turn into stone. As long as her brother lived, that could never happen. And as events were unfolding, she knew the guild was going to use him to gain leverage on her when the time came. She had to make a choice tonight. She was either going to betray her remaining family, or sign a death warranty the instant she defied the guild.

She shook herself back to reality as instructor Arxes assigned the fateful mission to the soon-to-be Guild Master. The room contained twelve of the guild’s top officials including Arxes, Guild Master Zay, prime striker Liandra, and Dale. This mission was going to determine the future of the guild. Whether Dale succeeded or not, one thing was certain. After tonight’s events, the guild was never going to be the same again.

“There are three individuals who have recently occupied our kingdom. They are located in the outskirts of Greengrove town. The watchers have informed us that these three are of foreign descent and they do not possess any documents to verify their identities. It is assumed they are hostile. Your task is to eliminate them. Should you return alive, the Guild Master will retire and we will commence the banquet of your ascendance.”

“Do we have any special information on the targets?” Dale asked. His cold indifference made Tamaia shudder. Could one retain their humanity, even after killing for so long? She had to weigh her options according to this aspect, because if she erred, her life would end the instant she made her choice.

“One male and two females, age unknown. They look human enough.”

“That’s all?” Dale inquired, his face portraying nothing to show his surprise that the watchers would provide information so vague. Tamaia was about to speak, but one look from the instructor stayed her words.

“Do you have any objections on completing this task?” Arxes asked.

“I have none,” Dale replied.

“Very well. They are first ranked targets, so you’re required to return with their heads as per custom. We are assigning Liandra to assist you with this mission. Tamaia will assign a watcher to guide you to their hideout.”

“If I may,” Tamaia started. The instructor nodded. “The southern terrain is not very accommodating to those new to it. I have a watcher or two who are well acquainted with the landscape, but both of them are outside the guild. I know a detour, and with your permission, I would like to guide them to the Greengrove hideout myself.”

Arxes looked at Zay hesitantly. Tamaia rarely went outside the guild unless it was necessary. Everyone knew her distaste for bloodshed.

“Do you understand that your personal safety will be your own responsibility?” Zay asked. “And that you are equally answerable should the mission fail?”

“I understand,” Tamaia said, bowing her head.

“Very well. Your return is expected tomorrow by noontide. You can take your leave.”

The journey to Greengrove was not as adventurous as Tamaia had imagined. At least, following last night’s storm, the countryside atmosphere was fresh and soothing. The horses trod down a mountain track as the sun dipped into the horizon, casting an amber hue over the homesteads of Greengrove. Dale and Liandra were not at all chatty, and indeed their aura told her that she was not a welcome addition to the company. Dale was in his early thirties, and Liandra a bit younger. Being in her late twenties, Tamaia thought she would have many things in common with her companions, but it seemed they saw her as a spoiled and incapable assassin who needed protection at all times.

“It’s just beyond this town,” Tamaia broke the silence. “Two miles due north. We should be there long before the fullness of night.”

No one spoke.

“Are you always like this?” Tamaia asked.

“Like what?” Liandra replied.

“Silent and…boring.”

“I’m sorry,” Liandra said, feigning remorse. “Dale will sing you a nursery rhyme on our way back, if you live that long.”

“Why did you insist on coming, prime watcher?” Dale asked quietly.

Tamaia could not answer that question. But what if she did, would it change anything? Were these bloodlust assassins capable of reason?

“I have some interests,” Tamaia answered after a while. Liandra gave her a furtive glance.

“Interesting,” the giantess commented, then she spurred her steed forward. “Don’t be late. I am going to get a drink.”

Liandra cleared the mountainside thicket in short order and entered the town’s main street. Tamaia took that small window to talk with Dale.

“There is something that you need to know,” she started. “It’s about the targets.”

“Speak,” Dale urged.

“You can’t kill them,” Tamaia said.

“How so?”

“My words were bound by a spell weaver at the Guild Master’s request before we came. I will alert the guild if I speak out of term. I can help you if you wish, and in return you will do me one favor.”

“Are you worried about my well-being, prime watcher? Concern makes an assassin weak.”

Curse this man’s ego, Tamaia thought. He’ll get himself killed.

“Tell me, would you kill someone if you knew they were innocent without a doubt?”

“Only if the guild commanded it,” Dale answered.

“Even if it’s a child?” Tamaia pressed.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“While the thought of slaughtering children does not please me, I trust the information that your watchers provide to the guild. A target will never be placed on someone if their existence is not compromised. Your information is verified thrice for accuracy, and it makes our tasks easier. You are never wrong, after all, or is it exaggerated?”

Tamaia’s stomach churned at the compliment. She suspected Dale had praised the watchers to bait her, so she remained silent. Instead, she looked back. A black bird followed them slowly at a distance, looking like a tiny blotch against the crimson skies. The watch raven’s presence confirmed her suspicion. More assassins were following behind…

Tamaia reserved her words for the time being. The busy street of Greengrove opened up before them. They slowly trod down the paved road against a traffic wave of both cart and human. Not far ahead, they noticed a crowd gathering in front of a tavern. Three men lay sprawled in the cobblestone, all of them unconscious. Liandra resaddled before the crowd and planted a large bottle of wine on her lips. She took three long draughts and threw what was left on the ground. The bottle exploded and shards of glass flew everywhere, assaulting the bystanders, which seemed to be the exact effect Liandra had hoped for.

“Tastes like watered-down mead!” the striker spat. “I can’t believe I wasted my punches for this.”

“She doesn’t know how to keep a low profile, does she?” Tamaia said, wincing as she saw one of the unconscious men being dragged away, his jaw hanging at an unnatural angle.

“She wants her prey to know she is coming so they can prepare or try to flee,” Dale said, and Tamaia noticed the faintest of smiles on his face under the illumination of tavern lights. “Not the best strategy, but she says it makes the hunt more exciting.”

“I find that very disturbing,” Tamaia admitted.

“She does not normally assault the townsfolk,” Dale informed. “She becomes more violent when she gets…anxious.”

Dale halted his steed and looked back the way they had come. He then looked at Tamaia, his expression unreadable. “Prime watcher, I advise you to give me the location of my targets and turn back now if you value your life. There will be a lot of bloodshed tonight.”

Was that a threat or a warning? It was hard to tell through the irritating monotone of Dale’s voice. However, she could not turn back now, even if she wanted to. She had to see her real mission through, and it relied on the condition of Dale failing his.

“I…” Tamaia started.

“Hurry up, you two!” Liandra shouted. “The night’s still young and I need to come back for a proper drink!”

They left the small town and rode eastward. Liandra did not bother explaining her recent behavior and no one challenged her about it. The outskirts had few houses lavishly built among hillocks, and following a paved narrow path, the trio ascended towards a solitary homestead in which bright lanterns shone from within.

“This is it,” Tamaia announced, tugging at the reins of her mare.

Dale dismounted and stripped off his merchant clothes from his assassin garb. He instantly blended with the night.

“I’ll be back,” Dale said.

“How many days do you need?” Liandra mocked, but Dale was already gone. Liandra turned to Tamaia.

“Did you know who the targets where?”

“I am the prime watcher,” Tamaia answered proudly. “Not a lot of information evades me.”

“Out with it then,” Liandra grumbled. “I hate it when people withhold the good stuff.”

Tamaia sighed. She looked back into the darkness. Her senses were not sharp enough to perceive distant movement, but she could feel the presence of her spy raven close by.

“Trust me, this is one thing that you don’t want to know.”