An Assassin's Anthem

Water dripped from icicles in the morning sun. Students milled around the dining room, and Riley plopped into her seat like a melting blob of snow. Too much running. A cramp rolled up and down her leg. Gods, that was far. She reached down and massaged it, her eyelids drooping after spending most of the night running, hunting, and leaving a note for Althea.

A shadow appeared at the table. Riley blinked and looked up.

“Up all night consoling your friends?” Princess Lily smiled. “I could help. Why not come sit with me?” Her smile turned predatory, twisting up and revealing teeth.

“Leave, Lily,” Timothy barked. He straightened his black shirt and took a seat next to Riley.

Lily smirked and walked away.

Riley forced herself to sit up. I hate night jobs. Thoughts of her bed danced through her mind. She picked up the cup of tea and sipped, trying to shake away the increasing exhaustion.

Timothy placed a black ribbon on her arm.

Riley looked over. “Aren’t these banned?” she asked, picking it up and tying it around her ponytail.

“Just claim that it’s a coincidence. They can’t ban everything black.” Timothy frowned. “I know she did it, and I’m sending her a message.”

Of ownership? Riley frowned at the thought. She leaned against her chair and sipped the tea. Eh, whatever. Maybe I can sneak a nap during class.

Timothy turned toward her. “Any luck getting it handled?”

“I contacted the guild. We’ll see if they come through.” Riley yawned and looked at a nearby table. Emma was sitting there, staring at her plate. It’ll be alright, Emma. Just give it time. I dropped a note for Althea. She should get it soon.

Timothy reached over and touched Riley’s hand. “It’ll be fine.” He leaned closer. “Can we hire thieves and use them against her?”

Riley shook her head. “You know that we can’t do that. The seekers would catch us. It’s way too risky.”

Timothy huffed and looked through the room. “If that band of bandits grows, we will have a real problem. We already have a pair of A-tiers who have killed a mayor and taken over a town.”

“The guild will take care of them.” Riley grabbed a fork and dug into the presented eggs and toast.

A quiet fell across the room. Riley looked up wearily. What is it now? Hassan stormed forward. His face was red, and both his fists balled. He glowered at the prince, ignoring everyone else.

Works for me. Riley ate and watched.

“What is the meaning of this?” Hassan demanded. “I am heir and the rightful baron.”

Timothy stood and turned toward him. “You can’t be baron and be at the academy. You are too young to be a baron,” he stated firmly. “Consider my letter a courtesy. There will be a temporary baron to run it and train you. The duke will appoint them.” Meeting Hassan’s gaze, his expression turned hard. “I suggest you don’t do anything that will cost you the position.”

Hassan’s rage faltered. He swallowed. “I get it back at eighteen.”

“The king will decide that,” Timothy said sternly. “If you wish to push it, I can inform him of your complete breach of etiquette.”

“Apologies, my prince,” Hassan said, backing up slightly. He looked at the group. “I’ll leave you to your meal.” Spinning, he walked away, heading off to another table.

Riley took another bite. Well, that was smart of them. I don’t even know how to run a barony. She bit into her eggs and toast. Shouldn’t they be teaching that? Will they next term?

Timothy sat and gestured a servant over.

“Does the academy teach that?” Riley asked.

“Second term. Then there will be one-on-one training with your grandparents,” Timothy said. He turned to the servant. “Eggs, bacon, and toast.”

Riley took another bite and looked at the tablecloth. Is it improper to sleep at the prince’s table? She shoved a chuckle down. Grandma would kill me. She took another dainty bite. It’s a good thing she isn’t here.

Dwight turned toward her. “Are you alright? I know it looks bleak, but this isn’t like you.”

“Just a long night. The guild contact was out or something because I waited and waited. Then I had to leave a message and hope,” Riley replied, yawning mid-bite. “Sorry.”

Dwight chuckled. “I’m sure you can find them today.”

Riley nodded. She ate and ignored the conversations that spread around her.

After finishing her meal, Riley looked at the group. Weekend duels? Her eyes drooped. She leaned back in her chair and fell half asleep, letting the rumbling noise lull her to sleep.

Her head wobbled, and the rolling sound of the bell forced her awake. Standing, she walked down the hall and entered a large room with all the other students.

Timothy gestured, and Riley sat beside him, letting her head hit the desk. He turned his focus toward Emma, studying her for similar exhaustion before turning back.

“Riley?” Timothy whispered.

“Sorry, long night,” she whispered.

The magus walked in and strode to the front of the class. She cleared her throat. “Let us resume our discussion of the two adjoining nations and elven lands.” She paused. “Yes?”

“What of the other kingdoms to the south?” a student asked.

“Those won’t be covered. For now, we’ll focus on these four, starting with the immediate threat, Shorove. This splinter nation was formed two centuries ago when an unruly duke waged war against the true king. The nation splintered, and the rebels created the nation of Shorove.” The magus studied the group, locking onto the girl lying on her desk. “Riley, what territory was lost to Shorove over the last five years?”

Riley blinked and jerked up from her desk, answering more on instinct than anything else. “The border territory to the southwest.”

“Yes,” the magus sketched on the board, circling the jutting peninsula into the mountains. “This not only gave them access to a valuable mine, it also gave them access to the wilds.” She spun. “Why does that matter, Hassan?”

Hassan jerked up from his desk. “More territory, more foes, and more potential dungeons.”

“Indeed. They have expanded into the wilds at an impressive rate. There is a rumor that a lake in the mountains has multiple places of power. It is through them that they’ve been regaining their strength.” She turned back to the sketch. “Some are currently advocating that we push southward before they can get more power. What do you think?”

Riley dropped her head on the desk once more. The group began arguing about the best way to conquer their southern neighbor, and she half-dozed.

“Riley?” the magus called.

Riley jerked up. “Apologies, Magus.”

“What is the ideal way to take it with minimal losses?”

Riley blinked. “I’m unsure, Magus.”

“Why not just get the assassins to go in?” someone asked. “We could eliminate the nobility in one fell swoop.”

“If the guild were that powerful, it wouldn’t bode well for us,” the magus replied. “But your premise is correct. The correct strike forces can weaken them enough for us to break inside. The other option is to win the siege outright, that is why we will focus on ranged and siege attacks in other classes.” She turned and gestured to the mountain range. “Why is this range valuable?”

“Metals,” Dwight frowned. “Are the rumors about Eteln true? They have better technology?”

“Based on all intelligence, yes. Their skill with metallurgy has increased. They seem to have made some recent innovations that we do not fully understand, but we are working on those.”

“How?” another student asked.

Several students perked up. Riley opened her eyes. I want to know that.

The magus smiled. “This is a matter for the seekers. They are working to acquire the technological advancements from them.”

“But won’t the enemy seekers find them?” a student asked.

“That is the challenge,” the magus stated firmly. “It’s a constant battle between deception and insight. Our seekers are trained to cut through their disguises and deception. They can reveal and detect the truth. That is why they monitor military outposts and noble affairs. Our best spies and assassins are members of the seekers. They train to acquire such information.”

Riley sighed. I wanted to see a gun. Several students turned and stared at her. She lay there. What now?

“Which one is Riley?” a girl asked.

The magus chuckled. “I don’t know anything about the organization. Be careful with allegations; we are at war, and you must keep such information to yourself.” She turned back to the board.

“But it’d help to know. When do we cover interactions with them?” the girl asked. “If we wanted to remove a problem, how do we speak with them?”

“You just talk to the sleepy girl in the back,” Hassan said with a chuckle.

Rotten Hassan. The real question is when I should collect on that debt. The holiday is probably the best. She looked at her laughing classmates and sighed.

The girl chuckled. “I’m not paying her a dungeon run to talk to them. How do I do it?”

The magus turned and scratched symbols on the board. “These are the agreed-upon signs to find their headquarters. You can contact them by visiting such locations. I’d advise bringing a few strong guards with you. As to acquiring those within the seekers.” The magus spun and gestured. “Princess?”

“You petition the palace,” Lily said. “We will provide the seekers or knights required.”

“That is correct. Yes, Lin?” the magus asked.

“Those are very expensive. Is there another way?” Lin asked.

Hassan scowled at several. “You laugh, but I figured it out. It was easy when she showed up at level one hundred.” He gestured at Riley. “You ask her.”

Great. That’s just what I need. Rumors. Riley lay there. Shame I can’t get rid of him.

“She just got lucky,” Randalf said with a sigh. “I told you that.”

“Sure, but she has connections,” Hassan quipped back. He smirked further. “I’m willing to wager that she is one. She has training in survival and killing.” He turned toward Riley with a smirk.

Riley ignored it in favor of shutting her eyes. Any reaction will only hurt you. She embraced the exhaustion churning through her.

Timothy looked down and chuckled. Everyone turned to him.

“I don’t think she cares what you think,” Timothy said.

Lily smirked. “She’s not an assassin. Contact the palace.”

“Yes. Now, back to the subject matter,” the magus stated firmly. “What complications do we face when we invade?”

“When?” Hassan asked in surprise. “Are we finally doing it?”

A quiet hush fell over the room.

“We are at war. Many of you forget. Now, what would we need to do?” The magus started discussing supply lines, troop movements, civil unrest, and the need to establish a presence throughout the kingdom.

Riley drifted further and further into her sleep until the lunch bell woke her.

Jolting up, she blinked, yawned, and followed the prince to the dining room, stretching before she sat.

A servant bustled forward and handed the prince a letter. Riley watched another servant hand one to the smiling princess. The princess flipped it open, and her smile died, swept away by whatever was on the letter.

Please let it be someone else. Riley leaned back in her chair.

“Well, now,” Timothy said with a smile, looking up from the letter. He grinned at his sister, who glared furiously in reply. “It seems the squad of bandits was taken care of.”

Dwight spun and studied Riley. “Did you?”

“Contact people? Yes. I told you that.” Riley stifled a growing yawn.

“No, did you do it?” Dwight whispered.

Riley blinked at him. “Are you mad? You think I ran fifty kilometers, fought bandits, and ran back?” She shook her head.

Dwight looked at her skeptically. Riley rolled her eyes and looked around the room. Several had turned to stare. Whispers spread through the room, and the princess stormed up.

“If you are an assassin, tell me now,” Lily barked.

“I’m not,” Riley lied.

Lily scowled. “I will find out the truth!” She stormed out of the room.

Riley sighed and turned back to the group. What am I going to do about that rumor? She mused on it while she waited for lunch.

Spoiler