An Assassin's Anthem

The sound of thunder rolled through the fort. Riley’s eyes fluttered open. She rubbed them and grimaced. Okay. No more psychic spells for a bit. She sat up and looked across the room.

“I’m going out for a survey. Stay here,” Lucas said, standing up.

Riley looked at her slumbering father and nodded. He must have stayed up. She turned, and Lucas handed her a plate. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” He smiled at her. “And thank you.” Turning, he left the room, and another soldier walked in. She shut the door and stood next to it, clasping her hands and staring at the wall like some formal guard.

Riley studied her. She’s new. She looked around the room and saw blood smeared on the floor. Looking at her father, the realization hit. And someone got in.

Riley looked at the bread, eggs, and sausage. They must be in a good mood if they are feeding us this. She picked up the fork and started eating. Thunder boomed through the fort. Ignoring it, she ate quickly and walked over to her guard. “What’s going on?” she whispered.

“We’re letting them waste mana, and there have been assassination attempts,” the soldier said grimly. “Your current orders are to stay here.”

Riley nodded. “What happened last night?”

“We dealt them a massive blow. Thank you for driving them out. By our count, we’ve reduced their number by at least five hundred.” The soldier smiled at her and stood a little taller.

“Are there wounded?” Riley asked. “I can help.”

“I’m unsure. If you want to make some potions, they’re appreciated. You’re on orders not to use psychic or void magic today,” the soldier whispered back. “You are also not to leave the room. I’m sorry, but the risk is high.” She gestured to the bloodstains on the floor.

Riley nodded and walked over to Lucas’ desk. Opening a drawer, she pulled out a row of vials and set them on the table. Pausing to swap her skills, she focused on the first vial.

Recalling the ingredients and methods to make a healing potion, she triggered Conjure Potion and created a healing potion that would last the week. Turning to the next, she worked down the line.

Finishing the dozen potions, she placed them on the desk and looked around the room. Now what? She sighed and listened to the sound of stones smashing into stone. Guess I just study.

Picking up a book, she flipped to her place and started reading. The sound of magic continued, drumming out the ongoing sounds of the war.

That’s really annoying. The walls trembled for a moment, and Riley frowned. I can manage a little. She stood.

“Nope,” Roger said, standing up from his cot.

Riley spun. “Dad, we need—”

“Nothing. You relax. A plan is in place.”

Riley huffed and crossed her arms. “Can I at least go scout?”

“Nope. You need to be ready, and that means you need a break.” Roger stretched. He nodded to the guard. “I’m going hunting.”

“Send in a knight,” the soldier said with a nod.

Riley scowled. “I’m just stuck here? I may as well be at the academy then.”

“If I thought the royals would accept that, I’d have you there now,” Roger replied, chuckling. He looked over at her. “Be safe, Riley. Take a break. I’m going to kill reinforcements.” He paused and walked over, handing her five perfect crystals. “Use these tonight.”

“Don’t die, Dad,” Riley said sternly, taking the crystals.

“Worried about your stash?” Roger chuckled.

Riley stuck her tongue out. “I’m worried about you.” She paused. “How are grandma and grandpa?”

Roger sighed. “They were upset that you missed the midterm events. Though they expect you at the end of term gala. Other than that, they’re overjoyed.”

“Do you still have the void knife? Do you need another?” Riley asked. “I could—”

“No. Though I should warn you, the knights saw it.”

“That’s right,” Travis said, walking into the room. He grinned and set a stack of shields on the floor. Then he walked to the desk and placed down ink along with crystals. “If you could, Lady Riley? Most struggle to make enchantments outside their specialty.”

Riley looked at the pile. “Void?”

“Yes, those are the most versatile.”

“How do you power them?” Riley asked. “I mean, for those without mana.”

“Burn stamina for it,” Travis said. “It’s not as good, but it’s a known way to get a spell nullification skill. We need to train soldiers.”

“I’m going out,” Roger said, walking past him.

“Take Ivan and Michael,” Travis called and kicked the door shut. He locked it. “Sorry for the precautions, but they are very clearly hunting you. We’ve had four make it to the room.”

“Four?”

“Yes. Your father ended them quickly.” Travis leaned against the wall. “How is your headache?”

“I don’t have one.”

“Good. Let’s keep it that way.” He smiled.

Riley picked up a shield and opened the bag to find enchanting materials and crystals. She looked up. “Why not get a master enchanter?”

“Riley, do you have any idea how rare a master enchanter is?” Travis walked over to her. “The average soldier is paid one dungeon run for a year of service. An enchanter? They are all related to nobility and are a nightmare to deal with because of it. No one wants to sacrifice that many crystals for them to level it.”

Riley paused and nodded. “How do you fix that?”

Travis shrugged. “No idea. The dungeons can’t provide infinite runs. You can try to expand to find more. Otherwise, you’re stuck leveling by practice. That works, but it takes decades without dungeons.”

Riley frowned.

“It’s a universal problem.” Travis leaned back and looked at the trembling ceiling. “No one has solved it short of traversing the wilds, but that’s extremely dangerous.”

Future problem. Riley nodded and picked up a shield. Carefully tracing the runes without the ink, she ensured it was the right set of runes.

Dipping the engraving tool into the ink, she traced the pattern on the back of the shield, letting the ink seep in and stain the metal. Moving slowly and meticulously, she finished the final rune and inspected it, feeding the tiniest bit of mana into it. Grabbing a crystal, she willed it to merge with the runes. The runes flared to life, glowing a soft purple before fading to normal.

Travis reached up and swapped the shield. Riley started on the next.

~~~

Taking the completed shield, Travis walked out the door. He paused and looked up and down the hall. “Lewis!” he barked at the nearby guard.

Lewis turned and ran forward. “We have people inside, right?”

“Yes. Where’s Lucas?” Travis felt the insight skill roll across him; it failed to break through his level.

Lucas looked down the hall. “You’re clear.”

“Swap with me a moment.” Travis waited and triggered his skill on Lucas. Picking up nothing, he nodded and waited. Will he say the phrase?

Lucas strode down the hall and up to the door.

Travis smiled and nodded, his hand inching to his sword.

Lucas’ hand went for the doorknob, and Travis ripped his sword free and swung. His blade glowed, and the enemy assassin jerked back.

A glowing blade appeared from nowhere, slashing into Lucas and spraying blood across the halls. The body tumbled, hitting the ground with a thud.

“Fool assassin.” Travis looked down at the body; it shifted to some man in his forties. “You are desperate. Too desperate.”

“I apologize, sir,” Lewis said, flushing.

“I need to test this enchantment. That means I need Lucas. Go find him.” Travis stood there, guarding the door. He looked down at the body. Did they recruit every assassin? He looked back at the door. Then again, I would do the same. Spell Thieves are terrifying, and she’s no exception.

He paused and considered that. Is her deception high enough to lie to me? It’s obvious that she has that class and is likely an assassin.

Travis pulled out his key, unlocked the door, and walked inside. Shutting it, he walked over to Riley and took a seat. “Just know that you can trust me, Lady Riley.”

Riley looked up and sniffed. “Why do you smell like blood?”

“Assassin.” Travis looked down at the blood on his armor and sighed. “Every damn time.”

Riley chuckled and turned back to her work.

“I know about your classes. Is there anything else I should know?” Travis asked. He watched the girl, who sat a little too calmly.

“No,” Riley replied.

Travis studied her. She is her father’s daughter. That’s obvious. He looked at the shield. “I’ll earn your trust, yet,” Travis said, standing and walking to the door. Maybe I can ask Roger. Standing there, he waited and heard the sound of a key.

Lucas opened the door and stopped. His insight skill slammed through the room.

Travis grimaced. Gods, he’s good at that. “Passphrase?” he asked, reaching for his sword.

“Wisdom’s eyes. Passphrase?” Lucas asked, shutting the door.

“Fallen knight.” Travis nodded. “We had another.”

“I saw.” Lucas raised a brow. “What did you need?”

“I need to test a shield.”

Lucas walked to his desk. “Hurry, please. It’s getting a little absurd out there.”

“Of course.” Travis turned and walked out the door, closing it behind him.

Striding down the halls, he left the barracks and entered the yard. Scurrying across the smoldering ground, he ran up the steps and over to the mages standing in a nearby building. “Shield test on next lightning,” he called.

A woman turned and nodded. “Of course, Travis.”

Travis waited. Boulders came flying, and mages summoned stone. The sky above darkened. The mages dove back into the tower, and Travis raised the shield above his head.

Lightning cracked down from the sky. Tapping the enchantment with his mana, he let it hit. Purple raced back up the lightning, which vanished while thunder boomed through the air.

“Thanks,” Travis called, jumping off the wall and jogging to the armory. Walking past the guards, he handed the shield to the captain inside the room. “Get that into rotation. They need to get a void skill.”

“Are there more coming?” the armorer asked, his voice booming through the stone room filled with shelves of weapons.

“Yes.” Travis turned and headed back to the barracks.