An Assassin's Anthem

Students sat behind desks while the instructor lectured. Riley scribbled down notes while the late afternoon sun descended, sending streams of light through the windows and lighting up the classroom.

“And that will cover it for the day,” the instructor said. He smiled, and a bell rang.

Riley took her things and headed for the door. She walked out of class and into the dining room, where groups were forming and students were squabbling.

Dwight bumped into her. “Follow.” He walked toward the exit.

“What about dinner?” Riley asked, walking beside him.

“We’ll eat in the palace.” Dwight pushed the door open.

Riley followed him out onto the palace grounds. Long shadows stretched around them, and she walked toward the looming palace that was bathed in the evening sun.

Walking up to the large oak and metal doors, she smiled at the servant and guards who were standing there stiffly. The boy reached over and opened the door for them.

That has to be the worst job. Riley smiled sympathetically at the boy and walked inside, looking down the clean, polished halls. Portraits and statues lined it. Glowing enchanted lamps lit the walls, and Dwight ignored them all, striding off down some fancy rug.

Riley scurried after him, looking into every room she could. Passing a massive ballroom with a glimmering chandelier, she poked her head in just to get a better look. Do they dance? Do they hire bards? She felt Dwight pull on her arm.

“Come on,” Dwight chuckled, leading her down another hall and into an office.

Riley walked into the room, pausing to look at the shelves of books and blazing hearth. She turned and saw the prince sitting down at a large desk that was covered in papers. Turning, she started reading the titles. Which one of these will teach me more about my classes?

Dwight shook his head and tugged her forward, gesturing to a chair.

Riley sighed. “This isn’t an invite to read his books?”

“No,” Dwight chuckled.

Riley plopped into the cushioned, red chair.

Timothy looked up from the papers. “My father issued a challenge for both of us.” He gestured to the map on the wall. “Regardless of allegiances, this is my portion of the nation. I am responsible for it. My sister has this portion.”

Riley looked at the two divisions. Timothy had the west, and the princess had the east.

“Here is the list of my current disasters.” Timothy gestured to the mountain of paper on his desk.

Riley stared at it, her smile falling away. No way am I reading that.

“And here are the summary papers,” Dwight finished, grabbing three from the top.

Riley picked them up and read. Many were about the states of the villages, some about concerns and upcoming problems. She saw another goblin horde and heard rumors of some A-tiers that were taking over a village. She flipped through the rest and read about food supplies, thief problems, a plague outbreak, and a kobold nest. Then she looked up.

“It’s a lot. I have to dispatch the correct aid within a tolerable budget.” He smiled. “I want you to help with the thieves' guild and assassins' guild,” Timothy finished.

Riley looked at the papers and nodded. She gently placed them back. “So, the king challenged you both? That’s what will decide who becomes the next ruler?”

“Yes. Our level will matter, but so will our performance within the kingdom.” Timothy rang a bell. “We typically eat and work in here. Since you’ve requested a duchy, you get to help me keep them afloat.”

Riley looked back to the papers. “So, take care of the problems and keep the kingdom running smoothly?”

Timothy nodded. “Yes. I would like to dispatch someone from the assassins' guild to handle the S-tier rumor. Those do happen from time to time. Assassins are the ideal answer, and you seem to have competent connections.”

Riley slumped in her chair and started going through the papers. The mystery and intrigue quickly fell away. It seemed that thieves were everywhere, accosting every merchant in the kingdom. And if that wasn’t bad enough, the details were sparse to nonexistent. One report stated that the caravan was attacked and lost thirty nobles worth of goods. Riley reread it and rolled her eyes. It doesn’t even state where the goods were lost.

She flipped to the next page and read about a needy village because bandits stole everything. Her frown deepened. The guild won’t take these; they’re vague and hold no details. She looked at the nearby map and considered her speed. There’s no way that I can make the run. She looked back at the mountain of papers and sighed loudly.

Dwight snorted. “I see you’ve found the problem.”

“The guild won’t take these,” Riley said. “Maybe it is thieves, but I think it’s blatant theft from the palace.”

Timothy frowned and looked up from his papers. “So, what would you do?”

“Hire someone to go look.” Riley placed the papers back. “I can get the assassins' guild on the S-tier rumor. That’s it.”

Timothy sighed and drummed his fingers. “Know anyone who’d investigate the thieves?”

“Sure, for the right price, but it’d be just as expensive as if the rumors were true.”

“Condemn it. How do I fix that?” Timothy asked.

“Demand more information from the mayors and guards? Some of these look fake to me.” Riley looked back at them. “This one has so few details that the mayor should be sent to the front.”

Timothy ran his fingers through his hair. “Is there an underground market? Could we ask the thieves' guild?”

“You could request information from the thieves’ guild, but it won’t work unless the pay warrants it.” Riley shrugged. I wouldn’t have answered. No urchin would have… unless a thief wasn’t doing it. “Never mind, I figured it out. What’s your budget?”

Dwight perked up. “What’s the answer?”

Riley turned. “I don’t ask the thieves to track potential thieves. I ask them for information about corrupt merchants or nobles. That will work.”

Timothy chuckled. “Of course. They’ll protect others, but one of us? No. Good solution.”

Riley stood. “I’m going to go—“

“No, no. Your brain is staying here. I need your connections for the assassins' guild. They are difficult, but this will be easy. I’ll have it drafted up and delivered.” Timothy gestured to the stack of papers. “Figure out what my sister is up to.”

Riley looked at the mountain of papers and suppressed a groan. “I need to study and get supper.”

“Supper will be here shortly. You’re dismissed after that. It wouldn’t be proper, and my mother would throw a fit.” Timothy picked up a quill and started writing.

Riley groaned. “I need to use the ladies' room.”

“Just down the hall. Take a left,” Dwight said, looking at his paper disdainfully.

Riley smiled and walked out the door. She looked down both halls and used Assume Disguise.

“Oh to be a servant.

A fly upon the wall.

People are oblivious

to ears that hear it all.”

Her body and attire shifted. Reaching up, she felt a bush of curly hair. Looking down, she smiled at the black-and-white dress. It has been too long. Striding forward, she moved silently down the hall and turned down the next, promptly spotting a bored guard slumped by the door.

She walked up. The guard didn’t acknowledge her. She darted by, walking down the hallway and stopping next to a door. Voices carried through it. Standing like a statue, she placed her ear against it and listened.

“I hate this,” Lily huffed. “They are clearly lying to me. To me! Their future queen! I should have them hung.”

“I agree,” Olivia replied. “These look fake. We’ll need the guild.”

“We should send the knights,” Lily said angrily. “Let them take care of these incompetent mayors and corrupt merchants. They’re siphoning goods somewhere, Olivia. I just know it.”

“Yes,” Tiffany’s high-pitched voice carried through the walls. “They are clearly stealing. We should send the guards.”

“I’ll contact my father,” Olivia said. “He’ll help.”

The three continued discussing. Riley stood like a statue while guards tramped by. One nodded to her. She smiled brightly at him and didn’t say a word. That seemed to be the name of the game in the palace. The servants were to be invisible, and that worked for her. What can I liberate? She grinned.

[New Quest: Steal a book from them and read it.]

[Sponsors: Mischief, Knowledge.]

[Rewards: Unknown.]

Riley grinned, walked forward, and cracked the door open. The princess looked up and gestured to an empty cup. Walking inside, Riley picked up the bottle of wine and then slowly filled each glass. Her eyes lingered on the maps, papers, and the books. Spotting one on storm magic, she reached out with her foot and knocked it to the floor.

Corking the bottle, she curtsied, spun, and grabbed the book.

Then she turned and left the room, placing the bottle back in the rack before closing the door behind her. Standing outside the room, she moved to a statue that blocked her. Then she flipped the book open and started reading.

Minutes ticked by. A bell rang, and Riley darted away, shooting back down the polished halls and skidding into the ladies’ room. Shutting the door, she swapped her disguise back, stashed the book, and strode back toward the prince’s office. I’ll return it when I’m done with it. It’s not theft. I’m just borrowing it. She grinned, and text popped up.

[Quest Complete!]

[Reward: A book!]

[Quest Part 2: Throw the book at—]

[Don’t throw my books! ~Knowledge]

[You are no fun! ~Mischief]

Riley chuckled and walked up to the office door. Voices carried as she got close.

“How long do girls take?” Dwight asked.

“Who knows? Maybe she got lost,” Timothy said with a sigh.

Riley walked inside and took a seat. “Sorry. Got lost for a moment,” she lied, carefully moving the book so that it remained hidden.

“Figure out the answer to the princess?” Timothy asked.

Riley shook her head. “Give me a few days. I’ll figure it out.” She smiled and planned to use her spying time to read the book instead.

Spoiler