An Assassin's Anthem

Roger listened to the storm and waited. Reaching down, he palmed the bag of crystals and smiled. Going in was risky, but he’d ensured he was back within thirty minutes. I probably won’t be able to do it again.

He stretched and walked to the hearth. Tossing on another log, he waited.

Nicole walked out of the glowing arch. She looked around the room and raised a brow.

Roger shook his head. He eyed her coin purse. “How’d it go?” he signed.

“Fast level three.” Nicole smiled and opened her purse; her fingers danced through them.

Roger moved to the wall, taking a position that let him see both sides. The blood on the floor began to freeze, and he sighed. Come on, Riley.

Nicole moved closer. “Is she quick?”

“Oh, she’s quick, but she’s probably overdoing it,” Roger said, listening to the wind outside. He looked at the girl. “How’s Althea?”

“It has been a few days now,” Nicole admitted, frowning. “The council wants you both to move to the grove.”

“And you don’t want us to?” Roger asked, raising a brow.

Nicole shook her head. “My brother is here. My mom is here, and there are good humans. It’d be better if we used this moment instead of letting those two drag it down.”

Roger chuckled softly. “They will tear the kingdom apart again. The irony in that is not lost on me.” He gestured at the kingdom they were invading. “Some things repeat and stay the same all at once.”

Nicole smiled sadly. “That’s true.” She turned. “Your daughter isn’t what I expected.”

“What did you expect?”

“Someone who’d align with the nobles, not someone who sees every servant and everyone around her.” Nicole smiled. “She likes her fun too.”

Roger nodded. He looked at the door. “The real question is if we splinter the place by assassinating rulers. I’m growing tempted.”

Nicole went quiet. She looked at him. “I don’t know. Is that better? Splintered, they’d fall easier, but who knows how many would die in the chaos.”

“That’s the problem.” Roger frowned. “I wonder if mayors and such would be enough.”

“They might be.” Nicole turned. “It’s not a bad option.”

“No, it’s not. I’m hoping we can get enough foothold. Then we can do it and get some to flee to us.” Roger leaned against the wall. “Care to tell me what Althea is up to?”

“You know,” Nicole said, chuckling. “She’s helping overthrow this place. Eteln will take it over.”

“And us?”

“She wanted Riley to join the elves and become one.” Nicole smiled. “It doesn’t matter either way. I see that now.”

Roger raised a brow. What does that mean?

Nicole grinned. “Because of who she is.”

Roger chuckled. “Fair enough. Riley has always sung her own song.” He turned back to the arch. “And she needs to get out of there.”

Riley stumbled out. Her bag of crystals fell, and Roger dashed forward. Catching her, he looked at her prone body. “Of course.” He laughed and grabbed the bag of crystals.

“Gods, did she clear level five?” Nicole asked.

Roger laughed. “In enemy territory.” He sighed and walked to a bench, setting her down. Opening the bag, he looked inside.

[1 Perfect B-tier crystals]

[4 B-tier crystals]

[6 perfect C-tier crystals]

[5 C-tier crystals]

Nicole leaned over and laughed. “She really doesn’t do things halfway.”

“No, she does not,” Roger said, triggering Hunter’s Cache and placing the bag inside. Turning, he looked at his daughter. “We do have to leave.”

“Take an hour,” Nicole said quietly. “I’ll watch, and then we’ll go.”

“I already snuck one,” Roger said, smiling at her. “Thank you, though.” He pulled Riley off the ground. “You’re really going to make my walk back difficult, you know that?”

Nicole laughed. “Have you ever seen her as an elf?” She bumped Roger’s arm. “Would you be okay with it?”

“I prefer it to this form,” Roger said, wrapping her in her cloak. “And that’s not an issue, so don’t stab me.”

Nicole’s laughter burst out. She clamped her hands over her mouth and walked to the door. Turning back, she smiled. “I wouldn’t do that.”

“Yeah, right,” Roger said, rolling his eyes. “It’s her choice. I told her that long ago.” He looked down and made sure none of her skin was exposed. Turning his focus, he followed Nicole out the door and leapt onto the drift.

Turning, he jogged down the snow-covered streets. Running faster, he vaulted into the air. The wind gusted around him, and he landed outside the picket.

Nicole landed next to him and smiled. “Thanks for this.”

“You’re welcome.” Roger resumed his run. He raced across the snow. The wind billowed around him. Looking into the distance, he studied the sun and adjusted his course, sprinting across the snowy ground.

The wind blew. Snow churned around them, and they became little more than shadows running through the snow.

~~~

Riley’s eyes fluttered open. A chill lingered in the air and through her. She looked up and saw her father surrounded by an endless field of white. Whoops. Didn’t realize I went that deep. Blushing, she debated closing her eyes again.

“Don’t even think about it,” Roger said, slowing and setting her on the snow.

Riley blushed and started jogging alongside them. “Sorry.”

“I can’t say I’m surprised. What did you fight?” Roger asked.

Riley smiled. “I didn’t. I just played.” Conjuring up her lute, she strummed the strings and ran. “It was so nice.”

“You cleared level five by playing a lute?” Nicole asked, her eyes going wide. “You’re a bard. That’s why.”

Riley winked and played, letting her fingers dance across the strings.

“Better stop,” Roger said. “We’re getting close to the fort.”

Riley sighed and nodded. She willed the lute away. Someday, I’ll be able to just play it. She focused on the snow, racing up and down drifts, hills, and dales.

Watching her father slow, she did the same, slowing and spotting the outline of a fort. Roger walked up and placed his ear against the wall.

I’ll never hear this without Ranger. Riley sighed and moved closer, leaning her ear against the wall and listening.

“…The condemnation, I am! You run through the blizzard.”

“No, you do it. We need to contact the baron.”

“Forget it. I’m leaving as soon as it clears. I’m not staying here and letting their assassins murder me.”

Roger turned. “Surrender, and we won’t!” he bellowed through the wall.

Riley covered her mouth and listened to the soldiers start shouting. Roger chuckled and jogged away. She followed, jogging across the snowy field and up to the fort.

A guard looked up and nodded. “You’re slow.”

“We were busy,” Roger replied. “And why does it matter?”

“News from the palace.” The soldier opened the gate, letting them inside.

Riley followed her father through the snow-covered yard and into the nearby barracks. She wiped the snow off her white outfit and looked at the group of soldiers.

“Lady Riley!” a man bellowed. He raised a mug. “A drink!” He dumped it half down his throat and half on the floor.

“Cut that fool off!” a captain barked.

Riley chuckled. How’d he even get that much ale? She walked through the crowds and entered the command room.

Travis looked up. “You’re back. Good. Shut the door.”

Nicole shut the door and stood next to it.

Riley stepped back and did the same, leaning against the door. Wonder how many crystals I got? She looked at the knights.

“The palace sent us notice. Shorove has issued orders and is bringing more troops.” Travis gestured at the map. “We’re trying to determine where to reinforce.”

Roger stepped forward. “Do we know where they’d pull from?”

“Rumor has it that the elven lands have been weaker. I assume there? They do have a Void Mage down there due to the bloodlands. But they may reduce across the board.”

“So, the real question is if they’ll attack here, where we are strongest, or throw it all elsewhere.” Roger pointed to the narrow stretch of river.

“Exactly. They won’t be moving too much in this mess, but that’s the question.” Travis frowned.

Roger nodded. “It’ll take them a few weeks if the blizzard stops now. If not, only the gods know. No one is going to move far in this.”

“But what if they cut across here?” A knight asked, gesturing at the other line.

“Have you been outside?” Roger asked, shaking his head. “The problem is supplies. Sure, there are people with caches, but those hold a half dozen carcasses at most. While water is around, the rest of the food would need to be moved, and it is heavy. They’d sink.”

Travis nodded. “That’s true. They could pull elites, but no massive troop count.” He looked up. “But we have the same problem.”

Roger nodded. “Can we track them?”

“The primary force, easily. The concern is if they sneak a Void Mage up. We need to stop them quickly.”

Riley looked over and leaned on Nicole, smiling at her and tapping out a message. “Pillow.”

Nicole leaned her head on Riley. “No. You’re my pillow.”

Looking at the table, Riley frowned. I don’t want to spar with a Void Mage; we’d get into a stalemate. She paused. What’s the counter to a Void Mage. Then she looked at her father and the other knights. That’s what we need, an assassin—that or to recruit them. I’d rather recruit them.

“…Lady Riley?”

Riley jerked up. “Sorry, what now?”

“Get some rest, you two. We’re heading toward the river. We’ll force their hand.” Travis grinned and stood.

Riley nodded and stood. So, we head to the river.