When the King Calls...

[Demetri Malius]

"Demetri Malius, you have been summoned to the court. You are to be escorted by us to the castle at once." The guard leader spoke, standing at my doorstep and knocking as loudly as he could on my door. What the hell did they think they could pin me down for? The last five times they brought me to court they couldn't even charge me for trespassing. What makes them think they would have a chance this time?

"Yes, of course, I'll get the door you miserable wrenches. The court thinks they have something this time?" I chuckled as I opened the door, a handful of guards before me. What a great sight to wake up to.

"If I were you, I'd wish it was just the court. King Tremolos himself has summoned you. You better be ready for anything, miscreant." The guard gave a smile as he motioned the others to keep a close eye on me, keeping me between them as if they were heading cattle. Damned guardsmen, what did they mean? The very King has beckoned me to the court. I must have pissed off the wrong people, but surely I would have known of such a thing. This past few weeks have been nothing but misdemeanors, and my work has slowed down a bit lately. Nobody seemed to be interested in the lives of others at this time.

My shoes stomped along the stone road as the clatter of the guards weapons and armor rattled my ears. A few of the townsfolk, as well as a few acquaintances of mine, saw my escort, but did not think much of it. Again, this wasn't the first time I was dragged off by guards.

As we approached the castle, a wave of dread came over me, and I had this uneasy feeling that this was no ordinary summoning. Something was stirring within those stone walls, and I wanted nothing to do with it. The guards lowed the gate and shoved my inside before reeling it back up behind me.

"I believe you know the way from here, since you're already familiar with the place. Don't get any ideas either, thief. We know what you do, even if we can't prove it." The guards rushed off, most likely trying to catch the last few minutes of happy hour at the inn. However, they were right in the fact that I did know the way there. I followed the all too familiar path into the main room, making my way to the courthouse.

As I walked into the council, I was met with quite the scene. Most of the faces of the council were smirking, amused even, at the sight of me, while others scowled in annoyance. Something was definitely up.

"You suggest we send this oaf for such a heavy task? We might as well be shooting an arrow in our foot!"

"Now now, don't be so critical. He is quite the witty and resourceful sneak. My he has even managed to take a few amulets for Himnus! He will learn what happens when you flaunt your skills with such ignorance, and be a servant to the king."

I listened in to the conversations, but I couldn't quite grasp what was going on. Then the king arrived, slowly making an entrance before sitting on the high throne. "Hush now my council. The decision has already been made to what must be done. The royal man then turned to me. "I have a request for you, well, rather a demand. It is of the utmost importance, and it seems to be that you are the most qualified to do do such a task, and you must do so efficiently. It will be very difficult, but I'm afraid you cannot refuse, as it is my direct order. If you decide to run away from this task or seek shelter with my enemies, then you will be charged with treason and a high bounty will be placed on your head."

At this point I was worried. This man was dead serious on whatever he wanted to do, and apparently I had no choice but to do it. I was already hating this plan before I even heard it.

[b]"Now, you know of the conflict between this kingdom, and the land up North, the kingdom of Serance. There has been quite the quarrel between who their daughter will marry, and who will get to share their land. Now, this is where I need your help. You see, this kingdom relies on that marriage, as our mining resources have become scarce, and the Serance Kingdom happens to have an abundance of it. We must secure this marriage, but a duke from a nearby kingdom has gained the Serance King's favor. You must kill the duke."

That's it. The king has gone mad.

[Demetri Malius]

"Why must I be the one? Surely there is one more capable than I? The Shadow Walkers-"

"The Shadow Walkers are allied with the duke. If we were to contact them for this mission, we would find our own bodies lacking of life. We have already considered all options and possibilities, so go. Time is of the essence, and you are wasting it by pestering me with mundane questions.

I was speechless. I could barely hold back my grimace and hatred at what they were forcing me to do. Does he not realize that even if I succeed, the assassins will be after me? How am I to infiltrate an entire stronghold by myself, undetected for that matter? This was madness. A fool's errand, and I was the fool chosen to do it. Damn this wretched kingdom and all of its people.

As I cursed the King in my mind, the steward then came up to me, with a coin purse in hand. "1500 Gold for whatever supplies you need." I stopped for a moment. One thousand five hundred gold? I should have expected a large sum of money, but this was larger than I had expected. Maybe I actually will be able to get the supplies I need for this job. If anything, I might be able to flee the country, but that bounty might ruin my plans, and I would hate to have to join some kind of thieve's guild out of desperation. I made my way out of the court room, sneers and grunts coming from behind as I turned the corner. Hell, even the council didn't believe I can do it. To be honest, I agreed with them, but I might as well try, though it wasn't like I had a choice.

I made my way out of the castle, a few guards snickering over my annoyed face, though it was obvious they had no idea of my mission. I finally ended up in the local shop, where the owner kept a close eye on me, due to my reputation. However, a quick jingle of the coin purse I was given was enough to show him that I was here on official business. I requested items fit for ones of the more degenerate of types. He gave the usual glance around the shop before nodding and bring me to a chest whilst warning me of the consequences of finding anything missing. I repeated my intentions, saying that I have the coin for anything he offers, and have no trouble paying for it. He narrowed his eyes a bit and reluctantly opened the wooden container.

There were quick the assortment of supplies. Some weapons, poisons, and even a bit of odd looking armor..

"So, what is all this you have here?" I questioned the shady merchant.

He glanced around again, before pulling out a few items. "These armored garments here were salvaged off a member of the Shadow Walkers. Nice and sturdy, best suited for up close and personal combat. Not better than steel armor, but can definitely protect you from a few hits." I nodded, that sounded good just in case things went wrong, and a clever disguise among the the land, as long as he didn't actually run into anyone with the group. "Now, I have a variety of poisons stocked here, some offer the quick and painful death, while others are the slow, silent killer. For weapons, another Shadow Walker item, one of the famed Dark blades, made of the blackest steel, most overt at night. I also have a sword-breaker, for those adept at parrying their enemy's blows." I was quite intrigued. For the operation I was going to pull off, this was exactly what I needed. How convenient that this merchant managed to find a dead assassin. It was suspicious though. I would even say that it might be-

A sudden flick of the merchant's wrist send a blade my way, and although I barely had enough time to jump back, the cold touch of metal caressed my cheek. I instinctively touched the wound, my fingers coming back with crimson liquid.

"Did you not think the Shadows would be suspicious of the King of Theraz? That he would not send his own assassin after the our kingdom, to wreak havoc and destroy us?" The assassin retrieved his weapons from the chest. "We have scouts and members spread across the country,and we were waiting for someone to come seeking for items for the killing. I can say that I feel some pity for you, after all, you were most likely forced into this, but it looks like someone has to die. I promise though, your death will be swift and painless... so long as you don't resist.

Great. Five minutes in and people are already trying to kill me. Can't say i didn't see it coming.

[Demetri Malius]

I could feel the blood as it slowly seeped out of the wound, forming a single bead at the edge before sliding down my cheek. It always seemed that I found myself in the most inhospitable of situations. I cursed the gods that had put such horrid luck upon me before focusing on the task at hand. I had dealt with a few assassins before, as a thief does have his enemies, but never had he gone against one of these Shadow Walkers. They were supposed to be the cream of the crop, the best in silent killing, with no evidence left behind. It was said that anyone who seemed to vanish from within a city was taken and killed by the shadowy group of assassins. Now, I was facing one myself.

I watched as the assassin gave a grin, grasping the poison that he had just shown me and popping open the cork. That grin was always the same for these type of people. The smile between a thief and an assassin could almost be mistaken for each other, but when one looked closely, there were ever so different. With a thief, a smile is made out of cunning and skill, the ability to take and steal without a single soul knowing. A small glint of the eyes gave off the confidence of being able to be hidden in the shadows, the world untouched and blind to their actions. However, assassins wanted so much more. They live to be feared. The glint of confidence becomes the eyes of one who needs control. They seek not to leave the world untouched but to leave it in fear, as nobody would be able to escape their blade. As for me, I observed. To see what others are blind to, to hear what others are deaf to, and to understand what others have failed to learn. This assassin shall not be my end.

At the same moment, I drew my own dagger, as well as a buckler from the nearest wall. Alas,neither were as well forged as the killer's blade and sword-breaker, but my own dagger had done well to help me in the most dire of my own situations. I smirked as I remembered the time I fought off three guard's who managed to hear my shuffling as I was snatching a necklace out the window of a noble's home

"What are you smirking at, rogue? This is the end for you!"

With a flurry of movements, blades struck and sparks flew as I began to defend myself from the barrage of attacks from the disguised shopkeeper. The blades seem to act on their own, leading their owners through their attacks, and calling upon their off-hands to create the opening for more. I watched the blade that seeked to end my life, its murky-black color and rough texture, the curved edge along one side with a serrated edge on the other. Clearly a weapon for a killer of the shadows.

The swordbreaker was elegant as well, more than a few times I had become worried that it would live up to its name against my dagger when it lodged itself in its rigged openings. Once I defeated this vagrant, I might have to take those weapons for myself.

Our clash seemed to go on for eternity, neither one allowing the other to gain a foothold or advantage on the other. that is, until I decided to make a change in my movement. I knew that the assassin would believe that I had shown my hand, but I was far from done. With my next deflection of his blade, I did not retreat it back to to protect me, and instead ontinued my assault ith the buckler and shoved it right in his face. With his stagger I quickly rotated and spun my body for a follow up kick, his poisoned blade knocked out f his grasp. What good did that do for the ignorant fool now?

As I grinned at my wit, the assassin had a surprise of his own, the moment I had finished my assault, a sharp pain eruption on the side of my arm, by the shoulder. I quickly turn to find that the bastard actually stabbed me with his swordbreaker The wound was not too deep, but I had no time to act on it, I needed to-

My thoughts were cut by the air screeching and a flail was swung at my head. With a quick movement, I brought my buckler to my head and stumbled as the force of the spiked ball shattered my bones and broke my focus. Before I could regain it, another blow came from the side. I could hear the wood splinter as my balance betrayed me, the world spinning as I fell.

Sudden unfathomable pain.

The damned swordbreaker.

What worse could have broken my fall? The rigged blade had managed to sink further into my arm, completely going through it and into my torso. I groaned in pain before I looked for my assailant, only to suddenly find cold, iron chains wrapped around my neck.

"I admit you have nice stance and posture, but your skill was not enough."

My eyes began to bulge and I struggled to breathe. My hand reached for the metal but they couldn't pry the chains away.

The chains...

My vision faltered, the air reeked of my own blood. Was this my fate? Do die during a quest I did not even ask for?

I hear commotion. There is shouting.

The chains loosen, but it is not enough...

Chains. Blood. Darkness.

Take me.