An Assassin in Their Midst

[Flamelord]

Marcellus Livius found himself sitting in a pub in the Kingdom of Syvin, drinking while waiting for a possible client to arrive. He was a reasonably strong man with black hair and piercing blue eyes. He was currently wearing robes of blue, with red stripes along the edges. It was lightweight, yet sturdy for combat. which was important in a Kingdom like Syvin. Everyone around knew that the Kingdom had a thing for picking fights with its neighbors in the pursuit of land or resources or something else, so it never hurt to be prepared for a possible conflict.

As for why Marcellus was here, that was something that wasn't usually discussed in normal company. He was definitely not from around here, but he had already proven himself in several brawls with drunken patrons earning himself some space and respect. He was not a normal citizen, and finding information on him would be extremely difficult. His profession was one that got him into the good graces of high placed individuals, individuals who didn't want anything to happen to him unless they were the ones doing it.

As he took a sip from the above average malt, the door to the pub slammed open and a man walked in covered in a cloak. Marcellus didn't visibly react, although he knew it was the man he was waiting for. Only someone who didn't want to be identified would dress like that. The man sidled up next to him.

"Hello. So, standard drill. Who's the target," asked Marcellus.

The man, apparently extremely paranoid, slid over a piece of parchment with a name on it. Elrien Norsong . Marcellus arched his eyebrow in surprise. A very important person indeed. seems the man was being properly paranoid after all. Marcellus crumpled up the paper and put it under his mug. "Alright, here's how it works," he said to the man without looking at him. "I don't know why you want her dead, I don't care. You let me do this how I think it needs to be done. Since this is going to be more difficult than usual, I want triple the normal fee."

The hooded man nodded in silent response. The understanding in place, the man rose up and left, while Marcellus went back to drinking his malt. Time enough to plan an assassination later.

--------------------------------------

A week or so later, Marcellus found himself arriving in the capital of Northfall. Here the royal family was located, so here he would need to go if he was to kill the King's only heir and daughter. He had figured an infiltration route was the way to go. Easier to get past security and to secure an escape route if people recognized him as a trusted figure. No point in asking for a fee if he wasn't going to make it out alive after all.

Settling in the city, he began looking for some sort of employment in the castle. The best way he could figure to insert himself was as a servant of some sorts into the castle. So, he began planning. Damaging his clothes, tussling his hair, and generally making himself less presentable. He'd then get himself into one of the markets where they offered the services of thralls to people. Maybe he could catch the eye of someone working in the palace.

And so, the plan was put into motion. One plan at least. If this didn't work, then backup methods would have to be implemented.

[Eruraina]

"Don't worry Hama, we will find someone to take your place until your mother gets better. And when she is, we'll let you come back," the young woman said to the elder woman. The younger woman was Elrien Norsong, the heir to the kingdom of Northfall. She had the looks of her late mother, long wavey flame colored hair, with green eyes and pail skin. She also held her mother's tender heart, but her father's fire and stubbornness. The woman she spoke to was one of the servants that helped tend to her, though that number was few. Elrien preferred to do as much herself as she could, leaving only three to her staff. And now one of them had just received a letter learning that her mother had grown ill, the one that had done the most for Elrien, had helped raise the heir when the princess's mother died.

"But m'lady, I can't just leave you," the woman said, clutching the letter in her hands to her chest, tears brimming in her eyes as she had just recently read the letter.

"Gretchen, you have done so much for me. It's the least I can do. Go and be with your family, care for you mother like you have so long cared for me," Elrien replied, insisting. It took some more coaxing, but finally Gretchen agreed to leave, and in fact left that very evening. The same day, in fact, that Marcellus entered the capital city, leaving the perfect spot open for him.

~~~

Two days later it was heard that a temporary replacement for Gretchen had been found. Elrien was in the small library of the great hall when she heard this. There was a seat set in one of the windows of the library, and there she would often do her studies and read. As princess and heir there was a lot she was expected to know, and what better place to learn it than at a window that had a view that looked over the city and beyond to the surrounding country side. A book lay idly in her lap as she leaned on her hand, elbow resting against the windowsill, gazing out the window, lost in thought. She wore a green dress with gold embroidery along the hems and about the waist, low cut and snug on her bodice, but flowing and loose down to her feet, which were bare. It's sleeves were long and draping, and a golden circlet, which was usually on her head, lay on the seat beside her. And as always, there was at least one guard in sight and earshot of her for her protection, though she always said the worst thing that could happen in a library was paper cuts, so why bore the guards to death? But her father insisted.

That was how she was when the two people approached her. One leading the other. The first bowed, urging the other to do the same, before standing.
"M'lady Elrien," the one who led said. A short woman in servant's cloths, one of Elrien's personal servants. She looked worn, since with Gretchen gone her other two had double the chores. She paused after addressing Elrien, waiting. She knew the princess's habits to know that when she was reading or gazing off like this that if you didn't wait for her to look at you, she wouldn't hear a single word you said.

Elrien's green eyes finally went up to the two, her eyes landing on the man slightly behind the woman. "M'lady, this is Gretchen's replacement. Very good references, he had. And from what has been seen, good work ethic, too," the woman said, with another bow. Elrien put her book aside and picked up her golden circlet and placed it back on her head, curiosity shining in her eyes.

"You're not from around here, are you?" Elrien asked. "What is your name?"

[Flamelord]

Marcellus had been fortunate. His plan had succeeded. apparently, one of the Princesses personal retinue had to take some leave. something about her mother and sickness. This left the perfect opening for him to step in. He had managed to catch the eye of one of the palace workers, and had been chosen. They had taken him, cleaned him up, and given him some clothes worthy of the position. Then, they had gone to have him meet his new charge.

Walking there, Marcellus looked around avidly, since he had to keep up the persona of a person who had never been this close to royalty. He was also learning the layout of the palace, so he could plot escape routes over time. The palace itself was mainly constructed of wood, with some brick added in for extra strength. The palace was also decorated fairly well, displaying the wealth of the ruling King. Pictures, torches, banners, and other such things adorned the walls.

Finally, they entered the library, where the Princess was. As they walked up to her, he scanned her with an appraising eye, trying to look circumspect while doing so. Red hair, green eyes, pale skin. She seemed more bookish than athletic, which would be useful when it came time, since if he decided to go the physical route, she wouldn't be able to resist as well as she could. He heard the lady talk to her, then the princess talked to him. Time to see if he could sell the deception.

"M'lady, Indeed, I am not. My name is Gustavus Adolphus," he replied, using a fake alias which would be more used in one of the other Kingdoms. "It is a pleasure for me to have the opportunity to serve one of royalty. "

[Eruraina]

Elrien tilted her head slightly upon hearing his name. It certainly was foreign, and she tried to guess where from her studies, and came up with a few options in her mind, but did not say anything. Instead she just smiled, a small smile that reached her eyes, which widened when he stated what a pleasure it was to have such an opportunity.
"Well, Gustavus Adolphus, just keep in mind this is only temporary while the maid you are here to replace attends to an ill parent. Now, I don't know what they have already told you, but you have been chosen to be one of my three personal staff. Anna here is one, and the other is Jarrett. Jarrett is in charge of caring for my horse, hound, falcon, and various equipment. He also instructs me on riding. Anna is the who makes sure I have clean and mended cloths to wear, as well as picks up after me when I forget to," at this Elrien almost gave an apologetic look to Anna, who just shrugged and bowed her head with an amused smile of how Elrien chose to phrase it.
"Gretchen, the one you are temporarily replacing, kept Jarret and Anna in check, getting on them to get things done. She also kept my schedule for me, making sure I was in the right place at the right time, and also had a tendency of advising me. Though I believe before she left she wrote a more accurate check list for her replacement, which should be brought to you sometime today if not already."

"Oh! I have that here with me. I almost forgotten!" Anna said at the mention of the list, pulling it out from a pocket in her apron and holding it out for Marcellus. All three pages. "Here you are. There's not really as much there as you might think. Gretchen had a habit of being rather wordy from time to time."

[Flamelord]

Marcellus nodded and took the papers from Anna, before giving them a quick scan. She was right, some of these were quite wordy, but he could interpret them well enough. advising and overseeing were apparently his main duties, things he could do well from his stint in the Syvian Army, not that he planned on telling anyone here he had been part of that institution, for any length of time.

However, the news that he was merely a temporary replacement was a bit concerning. That meant that he would have to speed up his plan if he was to pull this off before the one he replaced returned and he was stuck outside again. Maybe he'd have to consider some.....persuasive methods to keep his position. Collateral damage such as this was bound to happen from time to time in the course of a job, and he wouldn't cry over it.

He folding the paper up and put it in his pocket before giving Elrien a bow. "I will do my best to fulfill the duties of this position."

[Eruraina]

Elrien gave Marcellus another smile. "Thank you, Gustavus, for taking this on. I greatly appreciate it. And I'm sure Gretchen does to, since now she won't have to worry about me so much while with her family. Now, if you'll excuse me, I should return to my reading," she said, sitting back down on the window seat, picking up the book again, but Anna shuffled her feet, making Elrien look up at her with a questioning look.

"Um, I know this is Gretchen's job... uh, mister Gustavus's job now. But do you not have training in the courtyard in ten minutes?" Anna said sheepishly. She was a rather small girl, younger than Elrien by a couple of years with nappy brown hair and brown eyes. But her words made Elrien bite her lip.

"Oh no, I had almost forgotten. I must have zoned out for longer than I thought. I'm barely going to have enough time to change," Elrien said, placing the book back down. She hoped to her feet, and went to run off, but stopped and turned back around. "Gustavus Adolphus, I welcome you to Northfall, and congratulate you on your new job. I shall leave you now to make yourself at home and start as you best see fit to start the duties left to you by Gretchen. With that, I must leave you to get changed, for the time of a member of the royal family is never their own and something always calls them to get done." With that she left the library in haste, the guards that had been standing about at a distance so as not to crowd her, but close enough to always see her, following after.

Anna went over to the window seat and picked up the book, placing a string in the open page, closing it, and tucking it under her arm before glancing up at Marcellus. "I may have the dirtiest job, and Jarret the smelliest, but I fear you may have the hardest. She may cooperate for now because you are new, but you will find in time that she has her father's stubbornness," Anna said to the man, before departing from the library as well.

Ten minutes later she was rushing out to the great stables by the Great Hall that was their castle. The stables themselves were almost as big as the Great Hall, and almost as grand. The horses of Northfall were cared for just as well as if they were royalty. Because Northfall took pride in their horses. Elrien had traded her dress for riding trousers and knee-high boots, as well as a purple tunic covered in a leather vest, her hair thrown in a quick, sloppy braid. She had braided it herself, something Gretchen would usually do for her, but Gretchen wasn't there. And Elrien felt strange asking Gustavas to do such a trivial thing, when he had three pages of duties to attend to. She entered the stable, and walked down the line of stalls to one that held a large black gelding. Elrien pulled from her pocket a piece of carrot that she snuck out of the kitchen on her way out and gave it to the horse with a smile.

(I hope you don't mind if I do skip around some parts... just kind of skipping the mundane parts that might get a little redundant and boring. But I'm sure things will get more interesting as we go. Just have to get formalities out of the way.)

[Flamelord]

Marcellus smiled and nodded in response to the Princesses congratulations. "Thank you." He then turned to Anna, who was telling him about how it was easy for now, but it would get harder. "Don't worry. I've had my share of stubborn people, and I think I can handle it."

Watching her depart as well, he stood there for a moment longer before heading off to the room he had been given. It was a decent size, with a bed, a desk, and a dresser in it for his stuff. He set everything in order and then pulled the papers out detailing his duties. He would get to work straight away, while making mental notes of guards, room layouts, and other things that would be important for his planning. Security wasn't exactly lax, but it was wanting in a few areas, areas that he could exploit when the time came. But he would still have to build up that sense of trust in him, to secure his entry, and escape. And this Gretchen, she would have to be eliminated. He needed to find out when she would return, and then make sure she never did.

Fortunately for him, eliminating the added verbosity in the directions cut down the three pages somewhat, so it wasn't as long as it looked. After making sure that things were happening as they were supposed to, Marcellus made his way to the stables. It looked like the Princess was out riding, but he could watch her in the distance. She did cut a striking figure. Probably one of the reason his client wanted her removed from the picture. He could go riding after her, but she probably was followed by guards or instructors on her rides, so it most likely wouldn't work out for him, especially since the people of Northfall were so good with horses. No, he would just wait here for her to return, then get on with his plans. The next few days would be about groundwork, planning it out and learning possible obstacles. He hadn't failed before, and he didn't hope to now.

[Eruraina]

"Oy, Elrien, sneaking treats to Stormfoot again?" came the voice of a tall, broad shouldered man who sported a bald head and an eye patch. His good eye held a great twinkle in it, his voice joking. "You know he's going to get fat and lazy if you keep doing that."

"So you always say, but yet he is still the fittest horse in the stables," Elrien joked in return, grabbing hold of a rope and entering the stall of the great horse who tossed his head until she went to catch him where he lowered his head so she could put the rope around his neck. She then put a halter on him and led him out of the stall to prepare him for the day's ride. It took several minutes to get him cleaned and tacked up in his gear, all done with the ease of much practice. When she was done, she led him out of the stables towards a nearby arena where there were several obstacles and dummies set up. Elrien mounted up, beginning to warm up Stormfoot with a quick canter around the edges. While she warmed up, Jarret, the man with the eyepatch, came out to stand near the middle. When Elrien passed him, he held out a sword, hilt first, towards Elrien. She sighed, but grabbed it as she passed, collecting the reins into one hand.

The lesson was not on riding itself, being a nation of horses most of it's inhabitants were taught to ride as early as when they started learning to walk. It was hard to find someone who was not a good rider, whether they wanted to be or not. And being the heir of Northfall, Elrien had been taught to ride before she could walk, though she continued to take lessons, it became less and less about riding and more so getting her out and exercising. But that changed as Syvin took over Northfall's neighbor and was now at their doorstep. The threat of war hung over them, and since then Elrien had began lessons in battle. If she had an older brother, this wouldn't be so, but since she was to take her father's place should he die, she needed to know how to work in a battle field just as much as if she were a boy. So her riding lessons turned into lessons on mounted combat.

Jarret bellowed out instructions to Elrien as she rode, telling her what dummies to take down and how best to approach from horseback. He also had her attack by dismounting at a full run, and the mounting back up as Stormfoot galloped past her. She took several hard falls, and once slipped and almost got trampled, but that didn't phase it, it just made her keep at it. She'd catch her breath, get right back up, and continue on at Jarret's urging. "Come on! You're in a battlefield. These Syvin warriors are killing your people! Kill them before they kill you!" Jarret also had her give commands for Stormfoot to kick out at the dummies, or rear at them. At one point when Elrien was attempting to do this, the horse got worked up and started bucking, kicking the girl several feed in the air before she landed hard on her side. For a long moment she didn't move, trying to catch her breath. Finally she managed to stand up stiffly, her jaw set as she tried to ignore the pain.

She whistled for Stormfoot to come to her, but Jarret caught the horse before it went to it's master.
"That's enough for today. You've made improvement on your dismounting and mounting attacks," Jarret said, going over and picking up the sword she had dropped.
"No, I need to keep training... if something should..."
"Your father would not be pleased with me if you kill yourself in training," Jarret growled at her. "Now go. I'm sure it's about time for you to need to go do something else. I will see you again tomorrow. I'll put Stormfoot away." With that the big man walked out of the arena, towards the barn leading the horse. Elrien gave a sigh of defeat and stiffly walked out of the arena. That's when she noticed Gustavas standing there watching, making her groan. So the new help saw her get beat by her own horse. Not exactly the best first impression for a princess to give.

[Flamelord]

((You're making me do this. ))

Marcellus managed to catch the end of the training, so he did see the tumble. But from what else he had seen, she was indeed skilled. She had a good trainer. As she walked toward him, he saw the Princess let out a groan. apparently she had just noticed the fact that he was watching her, and that he had saw her take a tumble. He knew that appearances were everything to these royals, and that they wouldn't want to be seen as weak. So, embarrassment. Wouldn't want the hired help to see you as flawed after all. That would not do, especially if the man who saw it had just started work and would not be permanently employed. Not that he didn't plan to rectify that last bit.

On the other hand, this gave him the chance to earn some points with her in the friend category, as well as give her advice that could actually be useful. He walked up and clapped her on the shoulder as he began walking beside her. "Don't worry about it. As my father once said, 'Son, we fall so we can learn to get up again.' No shame in that. Smart man, my father. Proud too, but pride doesn't help when a Syvin soldier drives a sword into your gut." He frowned, pretending to think about his father. Really, he wasn't completely sure what had happened to his father since they didn't stay in touch much anymore, but he knew that the man was far from dead.

[Eruraina]

For some reason, when Marcellus said that, Elrien couldn't help but let out a small laugh, her expression changing from one of embarrassment and pain, to one of slight amusement.
"Something tells me you will do just fine at this job. That sounds like something Gretchen would say," Elrien giggled, then her smile faded when she noticed how Marcellus frowned after his statement. And more so mentioned his father and a Syvin sword in the gut. She couldn't help but put two and two together.

"Your father died that way? From a Syvin soldier? I am sorry," Elrien said, dipping her head in a sort of respect to the deceased. Marcellus was a very good actor, because Elrien didn't suspect in the least that he was lying. She had no reason to.

The princess felt that the air was getting to sad there, and with another stretch, feeling the muscles on her side where she landed start to ache and stiffen, sighed. "So, I'm sure Gretchen left a schedule for you along with those list of duties," she said, trying to change the subject before it got too depressing. "Might I ask what she had planned for me next?"