An Assassin's Anthem

Riley raced down the snow-covered road. Slowing, she skidded and looked over her shoulder. The group plodded along and billowed steam. So slow.

Sighing, she turned and looked down the road to the looming fort, searching and studying it. Do the human soldiers still control it? She searched and tried to catch sight of any werewolves.

A soldier turned and yelled something. Riley frowned and searched the surrounding area. What is he yelling about? She turned and looked at her group.

“Gods, that’s too far to run,” Dwight huffed.

“Maybe you’ll get a Runner class,” Riley said with a grin.

Timothy’s breath billowed around him. “What’s that guy yelling?”

“No idea.” Riley raced toward the stone fort that towered upward. Massive walls and towers surrounded the equivalent of a small village.

Racing down the snowy road, she listened, and the sound of fighting hit her ears. A soldier popped open the gate, and Riley looked inside and saw pandemonium. The wall was broken, and soldiers were brawling.

“To arms!” a soldier yelled, and an aura rushed through her.

Riley blitzed forward, tossing the stack of letters onto a table inside the place. Good enough. Burning inspiration, she triggered her auras, sending out a wave of magic that rippled across the group.

Focusing her magic, she healed the wounded and conjured her blades. May as well try for it. The enemies turned and snarled. An arrow flew, and Riley dove out of the gate, rolling across the snow. Okay, bad idea.

Vaulting off the ground, she saw werewolves surging toward her. Riley turned and ran, spewing snow behind her while she dashed toward her group. Come on. Burn them, she thought and saw fire streaking forward.

An arrow whizzed past her head. Spinning, she watched the fireball explode, bathing the group of charging foes in flame. Several were tossed into the air.

“Out,” Kamal called.

“Retreat!” Riley barked and turned back toward the enemy. A smoldering werewolf lumbered forward, and she launched her blades, cutting it down. Conjuring them again, she started slinging at the group of wolves flooding through the gate.

Luiz gestured, and a massive ball of flame streaked forward. Riley turned and sprinted, trying to get distance away from the glowing ball of death that streaked forward and exploded.

The shockwave threw her forward. Heat washed around her, and she rolled across the snow before vaulting up.

“Out,” Luiz called.

“Run!” Riley barked. “Dwight, save it for anything that follows!”

Timothy nodded and stepped forward. A crackling storm of fire burst into existence, bathing the field behind Riley in heat and flame.

Screams rippled out of the madness. Riley spun and saw a raging inferno. And that’s what happens if you don’t counter the fire. She ran forward and grabbed Timothy’s hand on the way by. “Run!” she hissed. “I can’t stop them.”

The entire group turned and ran, leaving the wall of flame behind.

Should I—No, don’t be stupid. This is not a dungeon for you. They have keen smelling, sight, and are fast. Reaching over, she grabbed the prince’s bag and tossed it over her shoulder. “Come on, Timothy.”

“Trying,” he panted, racing down the snowy road toward the entrance.

Turning, Riley conjured her blades and threw them, slicing through the smoldering wolf behind her. It crumpled, and another leapt.

Riley dove and conjured blades. Dwight spun and cut it down. Grabbing Kamal’s bag, he frowned. “Go! Burn stamina! Pour it into your legs!”

Riley smiled. “When did you get tougher?”

“When soldier upgraded,” Dwight said with a grin. He turned and ran.

Riley did the same, racing up the road while periodically spinning to check for progress.

“Where’s the chest?” Luiz panted out.

Riley grabbed his bag and hefted it over her shoulder. “They’re still fighting, which is good for us. Go!” she barked. Gods, I’m a lot faster than them. She looked at the four. But hopefully that was enough to keep the fort alive for a while.

“At least I’ll get runner,” Kamal said with an exhausted grin.

“That’s the spirit. Come on. Two hours.” Riley urged them forward. The sound of battle fell away, and she prayed that it would be enough time to matter.

~~~

Looking over her shoulder, Riley pulled out her spellbook. “Dwight?” she asked. One hour. They bought us one hour before the wolves caught up.

“How many?” Dwight called, jogging up the road.

“At least five dozen. I’ll go first.” Riley looked out into the trees and fed mana into the book. Her eyes lit, and a cloud swirled overhead.

Glancing back, she saw the horde racing straight up the road. A quiet hung in the air. The hair on her arms stood, and lightning cracked the sky, streaking down and flickering through the masses.

Wolves crumpled, rolling to a halt. Stashing her book, Riley frowned. “You’re up next. I’ll tell you when.”

Four dozen wolves leapt over the mess and raced forward.

“At arms!” Riley barked, dropping the bag from her shoulder and conjuring blades.

The group dropped bags and turned, drawing swords. Riley flung her blades, slicing open a loping wolf before she was pulled back behind Dwight.

“Heal us,” Dwight said.

Riley looked in surprise as the four gathered around her. I guess that makes sense. Conjuring up blades, she waited.

The first wolf leapt. Dwight smashed it into the ground with a stone and hacked, sending a spray of blood across the group.

Another wolf leapt, and stones flew. Riley quickly lost track as the wolves surged forward. Claws ripped. Swords hacked around her, and she grabbed her spellbook. Pouring mana into Healing Touch, she hit Dwight, who had a massive gash on his chest.

Timothy staggered, and Riley hit him next. He slammed his sword into a wolf, ripping out entrails. Spinning like a dancer, Riley fed the last of her bardic inspiration into her aura, sending a burst of stats and healing through them.

Blood spattered across her face. A shield snapped, and she healed, spinning round and round while dodging the claws that flashed toward her.

A massive wolf slammed into Dwight, sending him rolling. Riley spun. Panic gripped her throat, and a wall of stone appeared under the wolf, throwing it into the air. Huddling against it, Riley triggered Ambush and hit Dwight with another heal before triggering it again.

Luiz screamed and crumpled, blood spurting from his chest. Riley conjured a blade, slammed it into the wolf’s eye, and hit him with the spell. Grabbing her potion, she dumped it into his throat and felt teeth sink into her side.

A burst of heat flashed through the air. Wolves burned, and Timothy hacked in wild abandon.

Dropping to her knees, Riley grimaced and flooded her book, letting her flesh knit together.

“Dwight!” Timothy shouted and slammed into the ground.

Condemn it, Riley thought as claws ripped into her side again. She summoned blades and stabbed in reckless abandon, pouring mana into Restoring Presence while she dodged claws and teeth.

Another clipped her side, and stones slammed into the wolves, smashing them into the ground. Not waiting, Riley pounced, stabbing wildly. Blood sprayed around her. A growing desire to kill grew within her. She embraced it, ripping and tearing into the wolves like a savage beast.

As the last died, she licked the blood off her lips and looked back at her pack. Pack? Condemnation! Riley looked at the feral boys around her and flipped the pages in her book. Triggering Void Blast, she hit each of them, sending a burst of smoke out into the air. Feeling her empty mana, she grimaced.

Dwight coughed, blood dripping from his chin. “Nice healing.”

Riley coughed and wiped the blood off her face. “We might still be infected, and I’m out of mana.” She reached down and grabbed her bag. Then she turned to the chest that appeared. Opening her bag, she grabbed crystals, palming a dozen with her name and slipping them into her torn armor.

Timothy knelt and did the same, shoveling in the crystals. “Did we get to level four?”

“Not sure.” Riley stood. “Either way, we need to hurry. We’re probably still infected.” She tossed her bag over her shoulder, grabbed Kamal’s bag, and jogged toward the exit. “Come on. You all need that runner class or skill,” she said with a growing smile.

Timothy groaned and jogged after her. “That’s what the horses are for. Do you even use them?”

“They’re expensive,” Riley said with a grin.

Minutes ticked by. The group started to lag, and Riley frowned.

“Guys, we can’t fight anything else. I will take the prince’s bag and leave you,” Riley said sternly. “Run like the werewolf king is behind you because it probably is.”

Timothy grimaced. “Take my bag and go. Just in case.”

“You sure?” Riley asked.

“Yes,” Kamal said, nodding. “We want the crystals.” He raced forward, forcing himself to run through the fallen snow.

Grabbing Timothy’s bag, Riley turned and ran, gaining speed and half-skating down the road.

Snow churned behind her as she raced for the exit. The group faded, and she charged up a hill.

Hitting the top, she turned. The boys were ascending, and they weren't alone. A small army of werewolves were tearing down the road. Condemnation. A grimace spread on her face. “Hurry!” she bellowed at the group.

The boys suddenly found new motivation, running with fear on their faces.

Riley turned and ran down the hill, skidding and skating before she saw the exit. Finally. She looked back for the group and waited. Should I just go? Popping open the bags, she did a quick count and adjusted her crystal stash so that the priest wouldn’t be suspicious. With five of them hidden, she shook her head and walked through the exit. Better safe than sorry.

[Reward: Courier Class (F): +1 speed per level. Grants one skill slot while active.]

[Warning: Max class count exceeded.]

With a thought, Riley sent it swirling into Ranger. Travel options will help. She smiled.

[Ranger has advanced: 190 → 215!]

[Level 3 Cleared: Pick class experience, the new skill “Healing Touch (D),” or an E-tier skill to upgrade.]

Riley paused and looked at her skills. I could probably merge Healing Touch with Restoring Presence. Nodding to herself, she picked it, and the church flashed into view.

Stepping forward, Riley walked over to the priest. “We may be infected. We were all bitten by werewolves,” she said.

“The rest?” the priest asked. He studied her and sent out a wave of magic.

“Running. They’ll be here soon, one way or another.” Riley slumped into the chair and set down the bags. A burst of magic washed through her. “Thanks.”

“Some of that was deep,” the priest said, shaking his head. “Were they in a similar state?”

“Yes.” Riley nodded and looked at the priest. “Do you mind if I split them here?”

“Go ahead,” he said with a nod.

Riley removed the crystals, carefully forming piles on the desk while watching the grades. Palming another of hers, she slipped it into her armored skirt and scraped the bags. Holding them out, she looked at the priest. “Did I miss any?”

The priest dug into each bag, carefully looking and moving five crystals into a pile. “Level three?”

Riley nodded. And some from four. She left those hidden in her gear.

Timothy burst through the portal, followed rapidly by the other three.

“Gods, that was close,” Dwight said, rubbing at his arm.

“I can’t believe you lost an arm,” Kamal said, shaking his head.

Dwight shivered. “It hurt. A lot.” He turned to Riley. “I’m never going that far from the exit again.” He walked over and looked at the piles.

Riley nodded. “Yeah. That was probably a mistake. Gods, those things are fast.”

“And resilient, and super trackers,” Kamal added, slumping into a chair.

The priest nodded and sent a wave of magic at each of them. “The palace is taxing things. They’ll take these five.” He gestured to the five from the chest.

Riley nodded and gathered her crystals, placing them in her purse. Hopefully those make it to the front.

Timothy gathered his pile and looked at the priest. “Did you audit?”

“Not yet.” The priest turned and looked at Dwight. “Do you have any crystals?”

“On me, no.” Dwight reached down and took the bag.

The priest looked at Riley.

“Nope. You checked the bags, and I just have these.” Riley lied and gestured to her purse.

The priest nodded and turned.

“No. I don’t have anything else,” Luiz said, shaking his head.

Reaching out, the priest took the five crystals and placed them into a purse. “That will cover it.”

Riley turned. “Have a good week, gentlemen. I need to find Lucas and go.”

Walking out, she jogged over to the academy. Hopefully, it’s still standing.

Spoiler