Manhunt

Narrow Escape

The wind blew softly across the yard causing the leaves of the Shrine Willows to dance with its rhythm. Ryiah lay below them, the soft rustling reaching her ears and her eyes moved behind her eyelids. Slowly with a wince, Ryiah managed to open them and glanced around her but her vision was still blurry. Coughing, she carefully bent her legs and with some effort managed to raise herself to a sitting position. Her head was throbbing but she tried to ignore it for the time being. Wetting her dry lips, Ryiah took a moment before started to look around to figure out where she was now. A shiver ran through Ryiah as her gaze wandered across the yard, following the walls where scarlet ivy crawled upward toward the roof. Ryiah knew exactly where she was. Every assassin who worked for House of Valor knew this place.

 “Shit.”

 She had to get out of there somehow. But getting out of the ropes was proving to be a challenge. Glancing around, Ryiah saw a medium-sized rock near the tree´s roots and pursed her lips deep in thought. The rock´s side was sharp enough for her to try to cut the ropes. Awkwardly she started to rock herself side to side while moving backwards until her hands bumped onto the rock. Leaning slightly forward Ryiah started to saw the ropes between her wrists, hoping no one would enter the yard before she was done. 

Grimacing she mentally told herself to hurry while her upper body was aching because of the awkward position she had to work to get free.

“Did he really need to use the thickest rope possible?” Ryiah muttered to herself as she kept rubbing her arms against the stone, providing constant pressure to the rope. And finally, after some time, it snapped freeing her hands.

A relieved sigh escaped from her as she removed the remaining ropes and untied the bindings from her legs. Standing up with difficulties due to the stiffness in her muscles. Once standing, Ryiah rubbed her wrists while looking for an escape route. She noted to her dismay that the wall’s surface was too rough and problematic to climb. Parts of stone would crumble at the slightest of pressure. Sighing, she turned her attention toward the door. It looked old, heavy, and the lock was somewhat rusty. No doubt picking the lock would be useless to try. 

Ryiah pondered her options. Although he did own a punch from her and the thought of cracking that man´s nose was a pleasant one Ryiah didn´t feel confident to face him right now. She didn’t want to wait for her captor to come back but getting out without a  fight was going to be tricky. Ryiah shifted her gaze up onto the strong branches. She always could ambush him from above. The leaves offered a great cover. Unfortunately, she felt still somewhat dizzy from the punch Bernand had given her. Climbing into the tree was out of the question. Walking around the tree out of sight, Ryiah sat down into a position where she still could see part of the door hoping she was hidden enough while she took a moment to gather herself. 

While getting comfortable Ryiah had time to think about what had happened so far and how she would discover the person responsible for the execution order.

In Srine, Father Aelric was the head priest, teaching God Cian´s word to the citizens. Although Cian was the main God everyone prayed for,  she was surprised to see paintings on the windows of three other gods which almost everyone had abandoned or forgotten. The guild didn´t mention them ever while training her to be the protector of the Faith and elite assassin for the House of Valor.

But Ryiah had always been a curious girl, and she dug information about the religion and was surprised that among Cian, there were three gods alongside him: Lleu the Sun God, Niamh the Moon God, and Muiren the Sea God. 

Why people abandoned them was a mystery she wanted to solve but the guild was strictly against it. 

Ryiah almost got thrown into the streets because of it. She never mentioned it again to her teachers, but she became friends with one of the prophets that visited at the guild and had stayed for a few weeks.

Herald was his name.

Kind and gentle natured, always happy to answer any of Ryiah´s questions about the gods. He knew guild didn´t want her to learn anything beyond Cian the Ancient, but in Herald´s mind, it didn´t hurt to tell about the others too. 

It was his and hers a little secret.

Ryiah was astonished to learn in the countryside where the House clutch didn´t reach so firmly were shrines where priestesses sought refuge and taught people ancient wisdom including the Sun God, the Moon God and the Sea God. 

They were in perfect harmony with each other and Ryiah couldn´t fathom why House of Valor didn´t want people to be in harmony with everyone. Instead, they fought to make sure only one God was worshipped in their House. 

Herald didn´t have an answer to that question and he made Ryiah promise when she would discover the answer, she would share it with him.

Shaking her head Ryiah grunted. It had been over 20 years since she saw Herald. All she knew he could be dead. 

That was the other thing Ryiah had noticed over the last 10 years. Prophets seemed to disappear after five years in the service of House of Valor. It was odd. Prophets were meant to be the Faith´s greatest ally because they received messages from Cian and they interpreted Cian´s messenger's behaviour to figure out what God tried to show them.

Crows were seen as the embodiment of Cian, and they were holy animals. 

No one was allowed to hurt or kill them. The black birds sent messages of disasters, blessings and warnings. They were taken very seriously and that is why prophets were so crucial for the task.

It baffled her. Prophets like Herald were a direct link to Cian so it didn´t make sense why they disappeared without a trace. Ryiah knew the House of Valor had something to do with it, but the reason was a mystery.

She had stumbled upon another disappearance during her discovering everything about Father Aelric. 

A prophet of Srine had vanished after being at the service of the city´s House for only two years. Was it something they had foreseen from the crows and their behaviour?

Tapping her index finger against the tree´s root Ryiah frowned. Something was going on in the House. Something the priests didn´t want the public to know about. Was it the reason Griffin got killed? He found out some dark secret and it cost him his life. And now because Ryiah was poking inside the lion´s lair, trying to find out who gave the order. And whoever they are, were concerned she would find out something else too and so, she had become a threat as well.

The door being opened disturbed her thoughts and shifting her gaze Ryiah saw the heavy door ajar and a man´s hand holding the knob. They were speaking to someone as a muffled voice travelled to her ears. 

It was Bernand. 

Changing her position Ryiah got herself ready to fight her way out when suddenly she saw Bernand releasing the handle and walking back into the corridor. Whatever someone had said to him made Bernand forget to lock the door again. 

Luck was still on her side.

After waiting for a short while, Ryiah carefully walked around the tree trunk and jogged towards the door and peeked through the crack. 

The staircase looked empty and she didn´t hear any noises coming further down the corridor. Cautiously Ryiah pushed the door slightly more open so she could fit through it and tiptoed down the stairs halting at the bottom.

Ryiah peeked around the corner seeing only a dimly lightened long aisle. 

Vaguely she remembered when she had been down here six years ago while escorting a prisoner toward the yard which path they had taken.

“I would give my left arm for a weapon right now.”

Ryiah murmured as she headed toward the second staircase that led up to the next level and hopefully outside. 

Her footsteps echoed in the corridor, making her worried someone would hear her and come see who it was. She dashed the last few meters when Ryiah saw the stairs and took two steps at a time reaching the top.

Another door.

Two doors, actually. One seemed to be at the top of the stairs at the end of a short aisle and the other on the side.

“There’s a lot of doors in here,” Ryiah muttered to herself as she grabbed the handle of the side door and opened it. It was dark as she fumbled at the side of the doorframe Ryiah found a switch and turned on the lights. The room looked like a wardrobe. There were the clothes of the ministers and priests. That gave her an idea. Smirking Ryiah went through the rack until she found a pair of black slacks, a white shirt and a coat that would fit her. 

Stripping her own clothes Ryiah dressed as a female minister putting on a necktie as a final touch. Wiping her face to her old shirt Ryiah hoped the dried blood wouldn´t expose her.

Quickly raking her hair she stepped out and reached for the second door's handle and carefully opened it.

A grand hall came to her view with glamorous crystal chandeliers and masterful paintings on the wall. Glancing around Ryiah noticed the people who walked back and forward the wide corridor were mostly ministers and visitors. They were too busy noticing a female minister strolling around and Ryiah took advantage of that. Stepping on the hall while closing the door she seemed a little confused at first but then she heard a conversation going on with the two ministers who hastily walked past her.

“Can you believe it? Highly skilled assassin is in this city.” the left one whispered earning the minister on the right jerk his head toward his fellow minister.

“It is unheard of. Why would there be an assassin in our lovely city?”

“I heard they are after Valentianus.”

“Valentianus?” Ryiah whispered the name disbelief visible on her face as she decided to follow them discreetly hoping to learn something.

Every assassin in the entire Kyrre knew Valentianus. He was a ruthless and powerful man who´s not afraid to gain from other people's suffering or kill innocents to get what he wanted. Every reasonable creature feared him. But Ryiah frowned at the mention of another assassin. They weren´t talking about her, since she wasn´t after Valentianus. Even she wasn´t that crazy. So who was it?

Walking behind the ministers Ryiah tried to look casual when suddenly someone stopped her grabbing her by the upper arm. Adrenaline spiked through her veins and turning around to see who it was she came face to face with a priest.

The priest looked at her for a moment before addressing her.

“Have you seen Bernand? Father Silverius wants to see him and ask if he has managed to get rid of the woman.”

Exhaling slowly not realizing she had been holding her breath, Ryiah forced a smile on her face.

“No, sorry, but I have not”

“That muttonhead. i can´t believe he still has the job. He is terrible at it.”

Ryiah couldn´t help but chuckle at that remark.

“Ah sorry, I don´t want to keep you from your duty. Carry on sister.” 

The priest let go of her arm seeing Ryaih bowed her head lightly and with a bow of his own the priest turned around walking back where he had come while Ryiah sighed relieved.

Turning her head Ryiah watched the two ministers disappearing around the corner. She had hoped to hear more about this new assassin and their relation with Valentianus but it was unlikely those two knew anything more. For a moment Ryiah thought about her next move as she slowly started walking ahead. She could snoop around and try to find out who was the one giving the orders around here. But her slight headache made it hard to concentrate so she didn´t have an option but to leave and find a place where she could recover from her ordeal. The last thing she wanted was to get caught again. 

Ryiah sped up her steps when from the corner of her eye she saw a familiar-looking figure approaching the main hall from the side corridor. 

“Not again,” Ryiah whined quietly desperately looking for an escape route when she saw an emergency exit a little further ahead. Without a second thought, she headed toward it hoping the person hadn´t seen her yet. Halting in front of the door Ryiah glanced over her shoulder while yanking the door open just in time as Bernand appeared on the main hall seemingly deep in thought.

“Next time henchman.” Ryiah snarled to herself stepping into the emergency stairs and the door slammed shut loudly behind her.

Bernand jumped slightly at the sound of a door closing and lifting his gaze he looked around the hall but didn´t see anything out of ordinary. Shrugging he headed toward the door leading down the lower corridor which gave him access into the courtyard. He needed to finish his task before letting Father Silverius know the assassin had been dealt with.