An Assassin's Anthem

Like the blazing hearth, Timothy’s anger flickered and surged. It had been eight hours, eight miserable hours since his sister had ruined everything. Looking back at the letter, he growled, letting the sound ripple through the room.

“You don’t think Riley did it, do you?” Dwight asked, looking up from the cluttered desk. “I know that Randalf fought with her.”

“No. She was with us and then left,” Timothy said, shaking his head. “It was my sister. She’s sending me a message. A baron for a baron.”

Kamal walked into the room and shut the door. “I spoke with Randalf. He’s demanding oversight on his temporary replacement.” He walked over to the desk and took a seat. “It wasn’t Riley was it? I know she didn’t do it, but did she hire someone?”

“I’m uncertain,” Timothy huffed and looked at a clock. His sister had been in the dungeon for eight hours. That meant one thing and one thing only: they were getting at least level two, if not more. He growled again.

“Timothy?” Dwight asked.

“She’s not supposed to help them!” Timothy snarled, dropping the paper and groaning. “A level two clear was plenty.”

“If she failed, the princess would get a seeker,” Dwight replied.

“I know that,” Timothy shouted and went quiet. He took several breaths and let his rage dim.

“She could have made a mistake or something.” He shook his head and turned to the two sitting across from him. “What do I do? I can’t have her do this again. They’ll keep up or even catch us.”

“We need to send our own message,” Kamal huffed. “Maybe Riley knows someone who can make problems disappear?”

“I know someone like that,” a female voice said.

Timothy jerked up and squinted at the masked person who was standing there. “How did—”

“Please,” the girl said with a growing smile. Her blue eyes glinted, and she walked forward. “So, tell me. Do you have it in you to win? Really win?”

“Of course I do. I had it in my hand,” Timothy replied.

“And you let it slip away.” The girl looked down, studying the chessboard near the hearth. “You let the princess put you into check. It cost you.” She placed a king on the board and looked at Timothy. “So, what move do you make? Or do you let her do it again?”

Timothy scowled. “What is it you want, Assassin?”

“I’m here to make an arrangement. You help me, and I help you.” The assassin gestured to the bowl. “It’s time to play.”

“Who are you?” Dwight asked, staring at the girl.

“No. No. You won’t be getting my name today. For now, consider me your knight.” The girl sat on the couch and crossed her legs. “Now, how do we fix your colossal mistake?”

“Tell Riley to stop at level two,” Timothy stated.

The girl’s face shifted to disdain. “Really? That’s your plan? Pitiful. The princess will have your head.” She smiled at Dwight. “Well, your father’s head first.”

Dwight paled. “What? She wouldn’t.”

The girl laughed. “Welcome to the game, gentlemen. She stole your queen, and you still haven’t seen the pieces?” She shook her head and knocked over the king. “I suppose that will be the result.”

The girl stood and sighed. She walked toward the door. “Pity.”

“Wait,” Timothy called. “What is your price?”

The girl turned and smiled. “What I want is to see the best ruler on the throne. Well, that and a duchy, of course. Though queen would be better.” She winked at the prince.

The prince frowned. “I could have you beheaded.”

“And I can leave,” the girl laughed. “Think! Use your brain. Do you really think that your sister isn’t planning? She already killed two barons.”

Kamal jerked up. “I knew it.”

“I would have thought that was obvious,” the girl said with a grin. “It caused chaos and removed the desperate Hassan from play. He’s too occupied with his new barony to do much more. All in all, it was a strong opening move, which you foolishly ignored. Then she took your queen. And in the meantime? You’ve done what exactly?” The girl scoffed. “Now, do we have an accord?”

Timothy frowned. “What you speak of is a violation of all laws.”

“My prince, you’ve already lost then.” She turned back to the door.

“Stop,” Timothy said. He sighed.

The girl turned and walked to his desk. She leaned forward and met the prince’s gaze. “Together, we could be the strongest queen and king to exist.”

“No,” Timothy said. He frowned. “Aid me, and I’ll get you your duchy.”

“We’ll discuss it again later.” The girl winked. “And your wishes, my king?”

Timothy nodded to himself. “Send her a message. And I need to ensure she can’t do this again.”

The girl went quiet and then smiled. “There is a pathway for that, but it will depend on you. After all, you’ll need to push yourself over the next two weeks if you want any hope of it. If you stay at the level as your sister, your plan will not work.”

“Done,” Timothy said with blazing eyes. “I’ll have Riley next week. And the following one, we’ll clear level three again.”

“Do so, my king. I will see you in a week.” The girl winked at him. “Oh, and do keep this quiet. Our business is our business. Riley doesn’t need to know about it.”

Timothy frowned. “I will tell my most trusted.”

“You won’t. You’ll understand why soon enough. Maybe this will wake you up a bit.” The girl grinned wickedly at the prince. “And do be careful, my king. The princess will be most upset.” Turning, she walked across the room and out the door.

Quiet permeated the room, spreading through the group.

“Did that just happen?” Dwight asked, rubbing his eyes.

“Yes,” Kamal said. “Do we tell Riley?”

Timothy frowned. “I’m unsure. We’ll keep quiet until we figure out what she meant.”

Dwight stood and stretched. “Do you think your sister did it?”

“I know she did,” Timothy said with a shake of head. He huffed and looked at his papers. “I just hope that Riley doesn’t clear further than level two.”

~~~

King Titus paced in the throne room, his feet sinking into the ornate rug. The enchanted lights and paintings went ignored.

“What are we going to do about them?” Queen Lisa asked, walking into the room with her red dress billowing around her feet. She turned and shut the door.

“I’m uncertain,” Titus said. “Timothy is very upset, and I worry.”

“As do I,” Lisa said, walking up to a mirror and examining her appearance. She dabbed a coat of red paint on her lips and spun. “She is an assassin?”

Titus nodded. “Her father likely has the class based on what I’ve heard.”

Lisa turned. “So, they’re assets, but we need to ensure they don’t start a civil war.” She paused and spun back to the mirror. “Do you have a plan?”

“I’ll speak with Lucas. We need to press the attack, and moving her to the front would buy us time.” Titus walked to the queen.

Lisa turned and nodded. “Yes. I agree. Offer the family a duchy in Shorove. The condition will be obvious. They must win the war.”

“I’m not giving those incompetent sods a duchy,” Titus said, sighing.

“Of course not. Debts will come due, or we’ll find her a nice husband,” the queen replied.

A knock rolled through the room. Lisa turned and nodded at the nearby blue-eyed servant.

The girl curtsied and opened the door.

Lucas walked into the room, and the door shut.

Titus smiled. “Good, you are here. Go ahead.” He walked to his chair and sat.

Lucas bowed. “Your majesties. I’ll keep this brief. Shorove is massing troops near the border. Spies have reported the same of Eteln. It’s snowballing. We were able to kill five spies and one well-known assassin this week. I worry greatly about our strength. Shorove is massing more than we expected.”

Titus nodded. “And Baron Mishra’s death?”

“I found the requestor,” Lucas said and didn’t finish the statement. He looked at the guards and servants.

“Who?” Lisa asked. “They know better than to speak it.”

“The princess,” Lucas replied.

Lisa grimaced. “Does anyone else know?”

“No.” Lucas looked around the room. “Do you wish me to do more? I should warn you that two other nobles were caught trying to petition the guild to assassinate a student. The guild sent us a warning.”

Lisa sighed. “Foolhardy students. Who?”

“Hassan and Winston. They made a request against Riley.”

“Have Seeker Holt give them a final warning. Next time, they die,” Lisa replied.

Titus nodded and studied the boy. “You’ve always been loyal and a champion. How would you unify the prince and princess? We’ve lost three barons within two weeks.”

“Send them to a secure portion of the front. Perhaps they’ll realize the price if they remember we are at war.” Lucas frowned. “The squabbling must stop. While the latest assassination seems to be a target of the war, we can’t keep losing nobles.”

Lisa sighed loudly. “How did they manage a capable assassin?”

“It’s her,” Titus stated. He frowned. “Should we kill her or trust her?”

“It wasn’t her. Holt interviewed her, and she didn’t request it in any way, but I see your point.” Lucas paused for a moment. “Send her to the front. She wishes a duchy for her grandparents. Capitalize on that.”

Titus nodded. “We’re in accord, and I have a favor to ask.”

Lucas bowed and waited.

“You will be temporarily betrothed. End it as you see fit, but inform us first. That will give us the time needed to advance her station to that of a knight.”

Lisa nodded. “And you can keep an eye on her until we get an oath.”

Lucas bowed. “By your command.”

The king stood and stretched. “Thank you, Lucas. What of the rumors of the technology being developed in Eteln.”

“Their rifles are still primitive and cost a great deal of mana. We are trying to steal a prototype, but they haven’t made many.”

“And the massing soldiers?” Titus asked.

“They were always going to invade. It will happen within the year, your majesty. I’d advise that we attack first. That advice remains the same.”

“When?” Titus asked.

“We need to amass now. They are massing.”

Titus went quiet. “I’ll send out orders. Thank you, Lucas.”

Lucas bowed and walked out the door. Titus sighed. He turned and found the servant missing. Strange. Reaching over, he rang a bell and waited for the servant to return. I need to inform the dukes.