Peony's Blade

Chapter 5

It was a dark, chilly night. Pitch blackness surrounded Serielle, and the warm glow of her lantern only illuminated a few steps ahead of her. Still, she knew the place like the back of her hand. She could easily find the Sunsa Bridge.

Rejin better have a good reason for this, she thought bitterly. A chill entered through gaps in her clothes, and she allowed herself to shiver. Why did it have to be the first lunar phase, anyway? Even if the moon had been full, the wintery sky would have kept the night in complete darkness. Now, with not even the moon shining light, Serielle felt like she was walking through ink.

She paused when she spotted a pinprick of light floating in the darkness up ahead. Her posture tensed, her face hardened, and Serielle stopped permitting the shudders to pass through her every time the wind clutched at her hood. She kept the relief carefully tucked away deep inside, deep enough that no one would ever know she’d even been scared.

Letting out a breath that misted the air, Serielle marched to the bridge. There was nothing but the whistle of the frosty wind, and the usual comforting sounds of night were killed by winter. Serielle always hated the season.

Her footsteps echoed against the red wood of the bridge as she approached the general. Every sound seemed to be amplified at this time of night, and not even the howling wind could cover the sound of a dropping pin. Serielle had already abandoned her stealth. Better to meet the general head on with confidence than be caught trying to sneak up on him.

“You’re late,” Rejin’s voice shook the air like thunder.

Serielle squashed the annoyed response before it ever left her mouth. Poise, she reminded herself. Keep a clear head. Don’t let your anger control you.

“I had to wait until the servants went to bed,” she explained. “No sense in spreading rumors. I want to keep my assassin as discreet as possible.”

“A wise decision.” Rejin turned to face her. His usual clatter of armor didn’t follow, Serielle observed. Tonight, he wore plain clothes, though they were still flexible and durable for a fight. To combat the wintery chill, he also had on a thick cloak over his shoulders, similar to the one Serielle herself had donned on.

Rejin approached her, and their lanterns’ range merged into one. Harsh shadows were thrown against the contours of his face. He scrutinized her, his brows arched, his lips pursed, and a large hand rubbing his chin.

“I would say that you look too rich to venture out, but I suppose that wouldn’t matter in this darkness.”

Serielle held her tongue. She had tried to find the most inconspicuous cloak possible, but even one with a dull design was made of furs of the finest quality. Any less than that would have the errand maid flogged.

“We’re wasting time, Rejin.” Serielle flicked the hood of her cloak over her head. “Lead the way, then. Take me to the Shadows.”

“I’m going to try one more time to change your mind.” Rejin placed his lantern on the banister. Serielle didn’t have time to respond before he had his hands on her shoulders. “Seri…elle. Listen to me. The Shadows operate under the strictest of orders. Call them what you will. A regiment, a corps, a cult. But understand this. Once you have become their client, they will never let you go. Even after you have released your hired assassin, they will keep an eye on you. Your every move, your every friend, even your enemies will be known to them.”

Serielle’s temper flared. “Your attempt is futile. I’m not changing my mind about this, General. So stop wasting my time and do as you’re ordered.”

“No, Serielle. You have no idea what you’re about to get yourself into. So listen to my warnings before you do something so rash. Forget that I’m your general, forget that we had a past. Just for this one moment, listen to me as someone telling you of the price you have to pay. If, after all that I said, you still want to go, I won’t stop you.”

A plethora of arguments flitted about in Serielle’s mind and reached her tongue. She managed to hold herself back but didn’t trust herself to open her mouth. Instead, she gave a curt nod to let him continue. Nothing he said would change her mind anyway.

Rejin let out a breath before he spoke. “The Shadows…do you know why they are called Shadows?” He didn’t let her respond. “There’s the obvious, of course. They only work under the cover of darkness. They prefer methods that are as inconspicuous as possible. They’re highly secretive, so much so that no one, not even the assassins that make them, know the true identities of one other. You can bet your life that the name they give you are aliases, perhaps even one of many that they use. For all you know, two assassins you hire could be the very same person. Most of all, every single Shadow is a person that does not exist. This is why it’s impossible to track them down and destroy them. Every Shadow caught in the past has had no records of their births, families, livelihood, anything. It’s as if they’re ghosts.

“But the reason they’re called the Shadows, the reason so many people prefer to hire a Viper, is because once you become known to them, they become your shadow. You will never feel as if you’re alone. You will always be watched and followed, your movements studied, your habits memorized. For the rest of your life, you will always cast a shadow of the people you hired a Shadow to kill—and don’t think they won’t kill. Shadows are assassins, and every person they kill while doing your job, even if that job is to protect someone, falls on your shoulders. They will never let you forget what you have done, and if you break their contract, they will know. This isn’t temporary, Serielle. A contract with a Shadow is a contract for your life.

“Do you see now? Do you see why I can’t let you do this? You’ll be throwing your life away, Serielle.” He paused to let everything he said sink in. “Are you willing to sacrifice your privacy, your sense of security for one Viper?”

“I see.” Serielle looked up at Rejin from under her cowl, her eyes ablaze from the glow of the lantern despite being hidden within a shadow.

“Yes, you see now.” Rejin’s relief was obvious. He smiled sympathetically and reached for his lantern. “So, let’s return to the palace, Serielle. It’s not worth it. I can protect Deru if it makes you feel any better, but there’s no need to take it this far.”

Serielle let out a sigh. She shifted her cloak. Well, it was Deru’s old one, which would explain why it kept going askew.

“I’m not going back to the palace until I have Blade,” she said. “I don’t think you understand, Rejin. What the Shadows do is none of my concern. All I care about is keeping Deru and myself afloat in the disaster that is Paeonia’s court. You think I had any privacy all my life? You think I had any security? I’ve been under surveillance since the moment I was born. I already have countless shadows following my every move, waiting for the moment I stumble, watching for the moment they can take me down. What’s another shadow cast in a pool of darkness? At least this one won’t be actively trying to figure out how to kill me. I haven’t changed my mind, Rejin. I want you to take me to Blade or I’ll go by myself.”

Rejin was left speechless. Serielle was satisfied to see him struggling so hard to swallow what she had said. Good. He deserved to have his lying tongue tied from time to time. Although, he wasn’t lying this time. Of that, she was certain. Serielle wondered how Rejin knew so much about the Shadows but quickly dismissed the thought. She had no interest in the general, and the only reason she was even with him was so he could take her to the one that really mattered.

“Well?” Serielle held up her lantern. The flames within flickered and danced, and the pink painted flowers looked sickly against the yellow light. “Go on, General. Where are the horses that will take us to the city?”

Rejin finally caved. His smile had reduced to a grim line. “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you, Princess.”

Serielle ignored his use of her title rather than her name. Their moment of informality was over.

“We won’t be headed to the city, exactly,” Rejin said, starting his way back down the bridge. “There’s a path a bit to the east that will lead us to a place where the Shadows do their business. As it is, they’re only open once a month. That coupled with their expenses make them difficult to hire. It’s probably why there aren’t too many of them, and they usually take a few jobs at once. If you want Blade for yourself, you’re going to have to hope that no one else is there to hire him. But…” Rejin gazed into the darkness as if he could see something there. “Considering his reputation, I highly doubt it.”