The Union

He pulled the sheepskin cloak he was wearing. The dark cloth pressed firmly on his skin. His face was hidden, rightly so as his looks would shout his ident.i.ty as a Wismarine. He stepped, silently in the darkness. It wasn"t really dark. The night was day because of the festival of songs.

He caressed the dagger on his hip. The handle was made of Shirewood, the grip was rough and the balance was right. The blade was coated with Firelizard"s venom. Once kissed, a person would only have ten blinks left.

He wasn"t going to use the dagger though. Paintings depict a.s.sa.s.sins as dagger-wielding, cloak-wearing, shadow men. The part about cloaks was only true for his situation. He needed to hide his Wismarine descent. The smooth steps were only true when attacking at night when people"s eyes were shut in slumber. But the dagger? Only amateurs and wannabes use daggers as their main weapon. A man can be killed in many ways. A scratch or even a small break in the skin would be enough.

He went inside the tavern. This fine establishment was just a few steps away from the Cathedral- specifically the paved road he thought the King and the Queen would take on their way to the Cathedral. From there he could strike with poisoned arrowheads from his crossbows. He had already paid for the room overlooking the Cathedral.

The tavern was filled with people tonight. Most were men, drinking and singing bad songs. Once he did the deed, he would have to fight his way through these men. Many of them were wise enough to run of course. But many men are foolish.

"A lot of people outside eh?" The bartender asked, old man with white hair combed towards the front to hide the baldness.

He didn"t answer. Although his accent wasn"t heavy, he couldn"t risk being discovered. There were Wismarines living in Heraldshome. He had seen a few and they have migrated here, forgetting their old home which is Wismar. Being of a Wismarine descent wouldn"t automatically make one their enemy. But he couldn"t risk it.

"Still not a talker huh?" The bartender smiled, crooked teeth showing "Well your choice" The old bartender"s expression grew grim"Don"t do it. Once you aimed that crossbow towards them, you will be executed no matter what. Your head would say goodbye to your neck like how you would say goodbye to your life"

He stopped. The boots under his feet grabbed the wooden floor. His hand started reaching for his dagger.

"Poisoned, yes. I know you have poisoned dagger under your cloak. But I a.s.sure you lad, you wouldn"t be able to present your small dagger"

The men chattering and singing just now stopped. All grim expressions. He saw hate in their eyes- directed towards him. They rose in stiff manners.

Soldiers, he thought, and not just ordinary ones. He had seen those faces. No, not these specific faces but the kind. Castonians. Rooster legion from the looks of it. He gave a small chuckle directed to himself. He was done.

"You knew" He said, accent becoming thick with each words "Since when?"

"Since you entered the city" The bartender said "We are not fools. The royal guards are paranoid. You are lucky these lads are not royal guards. But make no mistake, one wrong movement and you will kiss their blades"

"Rooster? All of you?" he asked

"They are. Not me though. I am a mere scribbler, mouth to feed but hands without blood. I write history, gossips and truths. I would have loved to see the festival and record it in my notes but that tale pales compared to this. a.s.sa.s.sination..." The scribbler smiled "Nothing is more an interesting tale than a.s.sa.s.sins and spies and men in the dark and conspiracies"

"What will happen to me" He asked, half accepting his imminent death.

"I don"t know" The scribbler said, shaking his old head "Only they would know, the people you nearly tried to a.s.sa.s.sinate"

**********

At long last it was over. The festival would go last until the break of dawn, when roosters crow and people yawns their eyes open. The entire night would be shrouded in songs and melodies of both new and old. But the guests of honor, he and Lucia, were permitted to go home early.

In the end a young lad won as the year"s Earsoother. Timothy cast his vote on another bard though, a middle aged who sang "The Fire in the Castle"s Wick". Although his favorite didn"t win, Timothy was happy that it was over.

"The musicians that played last" Lucia suddenly said while walking with him towards the carriage "They are from Westlime"

"And did you?"

"Yes" Lucia said "It only took a bribe. A hundred gold coins each. They agreed except one who wanted double that. So I doubled all their bribes"

"So you have already turned them into your spies?"

"Weak and untrustworthy spies. Gold cannot buy loyalty. It could buy services but not loyalty, never loyalty. The best spies are those charmed by love or those blinded with hate"

"True. Speaking of spies, the a.s.sa.s.sin has already been caught. Although I want to indulge in you the soonest, we still have to speak with him"

Lucia leaned closer to him and grinned "Let"s hurry then. I know your prurience knows no bounds"

Instead of directly taking them to the palace of Heraldshome, the carriage went to the n.o.ble"s house where the rest of the hostages were being kept. Only the guards were still awake, patrolling and doing their duties, when the carriage arrived. Making their way into the halls of the house, they soon entered a room guarded by ten men of the Rooster. They saluted and opened the door.

When they entered, Skall was already talking with the a.s.sa.s.sin. The two Wismarines were separated by guards bearing steel-tipped spears.

"You know him Skall?" Timothy asked

"He is Amir"s father" Skall answered without even giving them a glance.

"I was the one who ended your son"s life" Abraham said as he entered the room "Tough warrior, strong. He almost had me but I prevailed. Still the closest I"ve been to touching with death"

For a moment there was grief in the a.s.sa.s.sin"s eyes, followed by burning anger and then a certain calmness "My son was the best hunter I know. He had bled dozens of fine men to death already. His first taste of blood was when he was ten. Amir was a strong lad, smart too. But you... you are something else. I could see him being defeated by you" The a.s.sa.s.sin then eyed Timothy and Lucia by his side "Prince Skall has already told me everything and even showed me the letter. I confirm it"s her handwriting. My family has served her for eight generations. Countless of my ancestors had died in service for the royal family of Wismar. And yet she tricked and tossed me aside like soiled clothing. Now I sit here with my hands chained and surrounded by your people. Spear tips were pointed at me and barred teeth were presented. How do you execute criminals Your Majesty? Beheading? Arrows? Burning?"

"A sword to the heart" Timothy said

"Quick one, almost painless. Good. When?"

"You are not going to be executed" It was Lucia who talked "You did not lift the crossbow against me and my husband. Technically you didn"t commit a crime"

"But I was tasked to do it. I rented a room overlooking where you would pa.s.s. I prepared crossbows, loaded them with bolts. I tipped the bolts with poison. I was on my way to my room to make the deed"

"Like what I said, you didn"t commit a crime. We will set you free and you will a.s.sa.s.sinate Sarah Wismar instead" Lucia glanced at Timothy "We have decided that this will be the best course of action"

"Not so smart Your Majesties" Asit the a.s.sa.s.sin smiled "I will come back and finish the deed of killing you if you set me free"

"Will you?" Timothy looked mockingly at Asit "Then so be it. To be honest you are not a good a.s.sa.s.sin. Even without Sarah betraying you to us, our guards would still have been able to stop you. You think you"re smart but you are not. You think yourself as an expert but you leave so many trails. If you do try something sour against us a second time, then we will execute you for real. But I don"t think you will try to a.s.sa.s.sinate us again"

"I"m not good eh?" Asit shook his head "Then why send me?"

Timothy smiled. He looked at Lucia and he knew that they were of one mind. He stepped forward and bent towards the old a.s.sa.s.sin.

"To send a message"