The Fated Trio

The assassin

Thoughts flooded Isabella's mind as she sat on the bed. She has changed into her night gown. The party was already over by the time she got back to the castle which was a little bit wierd but she waved the thought aside anyway something else was bothering her mind. Before that night Isabella thought she was the only lady that could use weapons excluding her mother that is. Come to think of it that lady was very good at arrows. "Alissa von Tess", Isabella said out loudly. She has never heard of that name.

"Alissa von Tess, who's that?",Isabella raised her head to see Courtney standing at the door. It wasn't a surprise because Courtney has normalized walking into her room on various occasions without knocking.

Isn't it a wonder that miss etiquette and manners never kept to the part of knocking before entering her room? But Isabella liked it, at least she could have one thing to prove that Courtney isn't perfect.

"No one", Isabella responded. She wasn't actually lying because she knows nothing about Alissa apart from her name and where she's from.

"It doesn't sound like a nobody's name to me though", Courtney said but Isabella didn't say anything else.

"Lady Isabella when will you stop appearing and disappearing at will? You are giving this old lady more worries than is required", Courtney asked turning to face Isabella concern written all over her face.

"I went for a ride, mother.", Isabella replied feeling a bit sorry.

"Without telling me?, Or taking me along.", Courtney said lieing on the bed with her face up.

"Oh sorry, I never knew old women enjoy rides. Aren't you too old for that ,mother?", Isabella teased.

"Old ,yes!, but never too old for riding". Courtney replied, with a proud look.

"Oh!", Isabella said her mouth forming a big O. We will see about that. Maybe next time you will teach me how to ride", Isabella said smirking while Courtney laughed.

This is the version of Courtney that Isabella liked. Whenever she's not talking about do's and don't she is always different, friendly and considerate.

"You will be surprised at how good I am at riding", Courtney replied.

"And please mother,be a sweetheart and don't tell my father about my little ride.",

"I will think about it.", Courtney said standing.

"Oh pleeease", She said pretending to sulk.

"Okay fine,but you have to stop sneaking out like that. You didn't even enjoy the party. You will be queen one day and don't tell me you will sneak out on your own people", Courtney asked

"Sorry about that. But why did the party end so soon?",Isabella asked.

"Your father ordered for the party to end and left. But not before king Saviar left angrily. No one knew why or what transpired between them and no one had the courage to ask ,at least not yet",

Isabella listened wondering what could make king saviar so angry with her father they were supposed to be best friends. And then she regretted leaving the ball room at least she could have found out what happened. Courtney stood up walking to her wardrobe.

"What happened to your dress?", Isabella looked up to see Courtney holding her dress. It was torn and dirty.

"I fell down and it got stuck to something and got torn.", Isabella said

Courtney kept quiet for sometime before saying. "Sorry about that. Hope you are okay", Courtney asked with concern.

"Yes, I am fine", Isabella said smiling.

"Please be careful next time because next time your clothes gets this dirty or torn, you are doing the laundry yourself. I don't care if you are the princess", Courtney joked.

"Really", Isabella laughing. She has heard that countless number of times to know that Courtney was joking.

"We will see about that", Courtney said leaving the room.

"Goodnight Courtney", Isabella shouted after her still laughing.

"Goodnight Isabella", Courtney responded closing the door behind her.

*****. *****. *****.

The door leading to the balcony opened slowly. Isabella lay quietly on her bed her back to the door. She hasn't locked the door yet. She was reading a book. Looking at the mirror directly before her,she could see a cloak figure walking towards her. She remained in her position thankful for the blanket that concealed most of her body so that anyone on the other side Couldn't clearly see if she's awake or not.

Isabella waited to know what is about to happen. She couldn't tell if its a man or woman because whoever it was ,was clever enough to put on a mask. So Isabella refered to the figure as he since no girl would sneak into her room dressed like that. That's what she thought though.

As the cloaked figure approached the bed,he raised his right hand revealing a shiny object.

'A dagger', Isabella's eyes widened in surprise. Only a particular set of people used that, well,except in cases of war. And then it dawned on her who this person was and why he was here. 'An assassin', the word alone sent cold chill down her spine. Just then the assassin lowered his hands in a bid to stab her.

Isabella rolled off the bed falling to the ground with a big thud. She could hear the dagger making contact with the bed where she lay a while ago. She had the element of surprise now and she could use it wisely.

Looking under the bed, Isabella did something she never imagined herself doing. Rolling on the floor,she entered under the bed before the assassin could get to her. Moving herself forward with both hands,she appeared on the other side of the bed where the assassin was standing. Standing on her feet, Isabella ran towards her wardrobe in a bed to get to her sword but daggers came flying towards her so she hid behind the wardrobe.

That moment it dawned on her that a sword is useless in this case. She withdrew a dagger that got stuck to the wood and threw it at him but she missed. 'What's the need', she can't throw daggers because she wasn't trained to use that only assassins are. The assassin was already approaching. Picking another dagger from the ground,she threw it at the assassin deliberately missing. As the assassin's gaze followed the dagger,she slipped to the ground kicking his legs thereby,causing the assassin to trip over her falling to the ground.

Isabella cut through his left hands with a dagger that she was holding but he didn't even flinch. Where were the guards? Isabella wondered. Aren't they supposed to be in front of her Chambers?

'Is this guy normal?',Up till this moment this assassin hasn't made any sound and it was strange. Because she was panting heavily and breathing fast. It's either he is strong or isn't normal. Isabella chose the first. She can't be fighting with an abnormal being.

As the assassin made to stand,she held the bottom of the cloak pulling so hard that the assassin tripped again and Isabella turned to look at his face but he still had his mask on. Then her eyes fell on his body and she stopped moving, She couldn't believe what she saw but before she could process it,the assassin bolted away towards the door. Isabella ran after him but she was too late. He has disappeared into the bush and she couldn't chase after him. Him?, She was so wrong about that because he's not a he. The assassin is a girl...

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