An Assassin's Anthem

Riley ran. The sun descended, bathing the sky in red and orange. Trees blurred. Shadows stretched, and her breath billowed out around her, a soft cloud vanishing into the air.

Althea turned and smiled. “You’re doing surprisingly well.”

“Shoes,” Riley said, focusing on the blurring road before her.

Althea bumped into her and slowed, dropping her speed and gesturing toward the distant city.

Riley’s run turned into a jog, and the two closed in on the distant city. What exactly did this baron do? Why are we offing him? The question eluded her, and she glanced over. Does she have a disguise?

Slowing further, Althea looked over. “We’ll be skipping the gate, but a disguise would likely be a good choice.”

“Why are we killing this guy exactly?” Riley asked. “I don’t just want to be a murderer.”

“We have a contract. Isn’t that enough?” Althea asked, raising a brow.

Riley shook her head. “Nope. I could get one for you. That doesn’t mean I’d do it.”

Althea chuckled. “Good to hear.” She slowed to a walk. “Go with a guard disguise for now. We’ll figure it out from there.”

Riley triggered Assume Disguise and felt changes ripple through her. The weight on her chest vanished, and her hair shortened. Blushing, she frowned. Aw. She reached up and felt her short hair. A mustache tickled her nose, and she reached for her knife to shave it off.

[Trust me. ~Beauty]

“Beauty, what’s the reason?

Something that I missed?

Help me know the pathway.

Help me see the risk.”

[There are reasons for our actions,

though we like to have our fun.

Trust me on this mission.

Be a father’s son. ~Beauty]

Althea raised a brow. “Not what I expected, but no one will connect you with that one.” She chuckled softly.

Reaching into her bag, Riley pulled out a piece of paper. Noble documents? I’m impersonating someone’s son? Shaking her head, she put the paper away.

Althea studied her. “Do you like that disguise?”

Riley shrugged and swallowed the growing lump in her throat. Just don’t think about it. She chanted it and jogged towards the city. The sun descended below the horizon, and a sharp prick hit her neck. Her vision blurred, and her limbs went numb.

Tumbling head over heels, she landed in a heap. A strange fire burned through her. Poison?

“That’s his son, you dolts,” some man said.

“Sorry, sir,” a soldier replied.

Riley groaned, blinking at the approaching smudges.

“Where’d the other go?” someone asked.

“Find them!” the man barked. “Get him inside.” The man walked forward and poured a liquid down Riley’s throat.

Riley was hoisted from the ground. She stumbled along the road. What the condemnation? She blinked repeatedly and tried to fight her growing drowsiness while stumbling down the road.

The effects of the poison slowly faded. Riley blinked and studied the man in uniform. Some captain?

“Are you feeling alright?” the man asked.

“No,” Riley slurred. I hate this identity even if it’s probably saving me.

“It’ll wear off. Give it a moment. Who was with you? Were you luring them back to the city?”

“Yes,” Riley replied and tried to tap into Spirit Blade, failing to do so. Text popped up.

[You have been inflicted by an unknown ability dampening poison. Duration: 00:12:11.]

Well, that’s the stupidest thing ever. Riley masked her expression and plodded toward the city. I hope Althea is getting a good scout because I’m leaving if this goes any worse.

“Shame about that other,” the man said. “We could have used another worker.”

“Must have had Danger Sense,” Riley murmured, shaking her head.

“Aye,” a guard said, kicking at the frozen ground.

Riley walked through the gates, and the rhythmic banging of hammers on metal filled the air. She peered into the gloom and saw a row of forges billowing out smoke. Are they forcing people to work for some reason? The war? Althea did this on purpose. She looked at the nearby guards. “How is progress coming?”

“We’re behind, and you know how the duke gets,” the captain sighed.

Riley looked out at the billowing forges and the clouds of smoke. A few stars flickered through the haze, and she heard distant shouting.

“Feel up to a bit of smithing?” the man asked. “We’re behind.”

“Sure,” Riley lied with a growing panic. She had no idea how smithing worked.

The man led her into one of them. A blazing hearth roared in the corner. People everywhere were pounding heated metal into the shape of swords. Glowing shackles were on each arm. Each were attached to a chain that anchored to a wall in the forge.

Walking up, a man grabbed shackles and slammed them on Riley’s arms, chaining her like the rest. A glowing enchantment on them surged.

[Skill dampening in effect.]

Riley paled. Althea, where are you?

“As if the baron’s brat would have left the keep,” the man scoffed. “Show this fool how to work.” He shoved Riley forward.

Riley staggered toward an anvil. A whip cracked, and a man screamed.

A large blacksmith walked over to Riley and handed her the tongs. “Pick up some steel and heat it.”

Riley grabbed a metal bar with a set of tongs. She placed the metal into the blazing forge, the heat nearly burning off her eyebrows. The smith launched into a lecture, and she turned her focus to the manacles.

Her spirit had stopped. It didn’t flow or move; it hung like a solid block of ice. Focusing on the source of that decay, she felt the enchantment piercing deep into her. With a mask on her face, she began forcing her spirit to move, slowly shifting it back and forth.

The runes surged and then dimmed in response. Nodding to the blacksmith, Riley pulled out the metal, set it on an anvil, and picked up a hammer. Slamming the hammer onto the metal, the sound rang through her ears and the bar flattened slightly. Repeating it, Riley drummed on the metal and embraced the roaring song around her, pulling it into her spirit.

“There’s a fire in us all,

driving us for more.

And that is why I work to grow,

dross upon the floor.

They say that in my spirit,

I have an echo of the void.

And so it is I pull it’s might

and see these binds destroyed.”

With a surge of fury, she pictured the rune for void magic in her mind. It roared through her like the song, and her spirit churned. The shackles shattered, the metal falling to the floor.

The smith spun, and Riley triggered Spirit Blades. With the ephemeral blades in hand, she launched them straight through the man’s face. He screamed, blood pouring out of his nose, eyes, and ears.

Conjuring two more, she spun and found herself face to face with a guard. He raised the whip and his shield. Riley threw both blades again. They whistled through his shield and his chest.

He screamed and slammed the whip down. Riley dove, rolling across the stone floor before launching two more blades at his head.

The guard coughed blood; his eyes burst, and he slumped to the ground. Conjuring a single large blade, Riley darted out the door and stopped, holding the nearly invisible blade across the doorway.

The guards inside shouted and raced out. The first ran right through the blade and screamed. Blood poured down his face, and he dropped to the ground. Slashing inward, Riley hacked into the next and felt a strange connection. For just a moment, she felt his fear before her blade slammed into him like her old skill used to.

He crumpled, and the other turned to run.

Ignoring him, Riley turned and saw a patrol charging for her. She snarled and conjured replacements, flinging her blades once more.

A guard threw up his shield. The blade went right through it, passing through the man’s chest and entering the one behind him before it snuffed out.

“Kill him!” the captain shouted, and his head spun through the air in an explosive spray of red.

Like a farmer cutting wheat, Althea danced through the remaining guards, decapitating all of them in a racing blur.

As heads hit the ground, an eerie quiet fell on the area. Riley walked over and started looting.

“Sorry,” Althea whispered. “My danger sense wasn't sufficient since they weren't planning real harm. Then, I had to get rid of that assassin before we had a problem.”

“I understand.” Riley grabbed coin purses and keys. “Was this the job?”

“Yes. I had a report of missing people,” Althea said angrily. She looked into the forges.

“Please!” a woman called. “Please let us out. My daughter? Did you see her?”

Riley grimaced, and another realization slammed into her. Is that why they had me take this disguise?

[Yes. ~Beauty]

Riley grimaced. “Thank you!” She tossed the keys to the people inside the forges, spun, and looked up at the keep. I don’t think so.

Althea glowered. “Yes, let’s take care of that problem.”

“You care?”

“About the poor people being abused? Of course.” Althea strode toward the keep.

Riley followed up and made a quick assessment of her mana and stamina. “I’m low on mana, Althea.”

“Apologies for that,” Althea said, shaking her head. “I did not expect some fool assassin to join them.”

Riley followed her past several quiet shops and cottages. She studied them and rubbed her nose. Hitting the scratchy hairs, she jerked her hand away. Can I swap back? Her form shifted, and her gear reappeared.

“Thank you,” Riley prayed upward, letting out a breath of relief.

“I approve,” Althea said, patting her on the back.

Riley looked at her long blonde hair. Wait. Her ears bumped against her cowl, and she raised her long lithe fingers while looking down. I’m an elf? She stretched and looked over at her cloak. “What color are my eyes?”

“Blue,” Althea said with a smile. “That form suits you.” She winked and turned the corner.

Riley rolled her eyes. “You’re biased.” She walked up the street toward the castle.

“Of course,” Althea said.

Riley paused and looked at the nearby shops. The distant building towered there. The guards stood there idly, and the sound of shouting filled the air.

Althea pulled Riley down an alley. A screaming mob of people went charging up the hill.

Riley poked her head out and watched. The group had armed themselves with the swords they’d made. They stormed up to the gates, and the guards surrendered.

“Well, that’ll take care of itself,” Althea said, peering out and watching the mob.

“How long were they forced to labor?” Riley asked.

“The report is three days old,” Althea said, frowning. “But I don’t know how many failed to reach me.”

Riley heard the sound of crashing glass. Screams rippled through the air, and text appeared.

[You have assisted in killing a level 392 human. You gain 39 experience.]

[You have assisted in killing a level 431 human. You gain 43 experience.]

[You have assisted in killing a level 482 human. You gain 48 experience.]

[You have assisted in killing a level 480 human. You gain 48 experience.]

[You have assisted in killing a level 412 human. You gain 41 experience.]

[You have assisted in killing a level 401 human. You gain 40 experience.]

Riley’s mouth dropped open. The mob charged off toward the mines. Turning, she began jogging toward the capital.

Althea smiled. “Well, the prince can’t be unhappy with that.”

“This is going to create such a mess. You know that, right?” Riley asked.

“Yes. I’m counting on it,” Althea replied, picking up the pace.

“Why?” Riley asked.

Althea smiled and looked over. “Because I need this kingdom to win its war without doing horrible things like that.”

“Is Shorove worse then?”

“Much worse.” Althea sighed and bolted ahead.

Riley chased after her.

Althea grinned and ran a little faster. Riley pushed herself, and the two raced off into the night.

Spoiler