In the first breath of a new dawn, as the heavy black night turns into a pale gray against the scattering of clouds, soundless footfalls stalk quietly down a dark corridor. The figure moves as quietly as the whisper of the early morning breeze, dancing wistfully through the red and gold autumn leaves. Outside the crisp morning air was complimented by a fine mist hovering lazily upon the ground, it's transparent wisps swirling in tempo with the wind. Fine green grass was slowly dying, fading away into yellows and browns, giving way for the beautifully destructive force of winter. Though for now, it was only the autumn winds and the changing of the lands florescent colors, signaling the coming of autumn showers. Though every season was a season for rainstorms, the symphonic pitter-patters of raindrops hold a sense of dread, as do overcast skies.
Fortunate enough, the day looked to be as clear and bright as any, yet within the halls of the manor the essence of night still lingered, the veil of shadow not yet lifted by the early morning light, and the sconces lining the hallways burning out hours before. Sianna had waited for this moment, watching vigilantly throughout the night, waiting for the house to slumber. She had sat perched upon a branch, glad in her armor of night, hues of black and gray, with a copper undertone to blend easily with the veiled trees. She sat cross-legged upon the branch, her breathing even and her body still. Yet she did not find boredom as she watched the house, there was something exciting about the waiting. Perhaps it was the conversation she was holding in her head at the time.
”I'd say about now he's bedding some young harlot, he seems the king of man that would take to a common whore, and keep her about his manor.” Ebb said, his voice but a whisper in her head.
“You judge too openly for his crimes Ebb, he was once a man of honor.” She thought back.
”Ah, but corruption does bring a lack of conviction, wouldn't you say?” Ebb replied.
“Perhaps you are right, but he seems worrisome. I'd wager he's fretting over his plight right now, pacing back and forth in his room, trying to ascertain whether he should keep watch for assassins. He has doubled his guard you know.” She said, watching as the servant's lights went out.
”A wager it is then, I see the servants have been sent off to bed.” Ebb pointed out, the servants quarters attached to the side of the house had indeed grown dim.
Now Sianna found herself deep within the manor, on the upper floor. The guards hadn't even noticed her presence, despite the fact that many of them were dozing, waiting earnestly for shift change. Still, she quietly snuck in through the servant quarters, through a small window only someone her size could squeeze through. She had made her way up the servants stairs, a narrow passage way the skirted the main corridors of the house and led to the second floor, a mere door down from the master bedroom. Sianna crouched before the door, pressing her ear to it and listening.
”You win.” Ebb replied solemnly, he hated losing bets.
Inside the room, quiet footfalls upon lavish carpet could be heard, traveling from one end of the room to the other, back and forth. She looked through the keyhole of the door just as a figure glad in a bright red robe, adorned with embroideries of golden leaves, and the edges worked in bright golden thread, crossed her small viewing point, and waited. The man seemed highly paranoid, and he was right to be so. There he was worrying on his life, when an assassin sat patiently outside his door. The guard at the end of the hallway, sitting in a chair upon the top of the stairs nodded his head upright, if only for a moment, before slowly setting it back upon his chest.
”Must be hard to find good help these days,” Ebb's voice whispered with a chuckle.
Sianna didn't reply, the man inside the room had stopped his pacing and stood looking out the window, facing the sunrise. The lantern in his room gave off a pitiful amount of light, which was quite unfortunate for the man inside as the morning rays hadn't yet reached into his room. The pools of shadow gathered in the corners, heavy and dense, were all that Sianna needed, that and the need to see where it was she was going. She sank quietly into the murky shadows of the dark hallway, entering into a world of darkness.
A breath later she crouched inside the far corner of the room, coming out of the wall in a crouch. She drew her daggers, Shade and Shadow, as she stalked around the massive bed, complete with it's carved posts and sheer silk canopy. Sianna could feel the adrenaline surging through her, she felt Ebb watching her contently, the sport much to easy for his amusement. The man froze for a second, his paranoia getting the better of him. A moment before he turned around, Sianna stood, so that when he turned he did so to face her.
”Evian Chryier, sentanced to death for an assumption, hah, mortals.” Ebb said mockingly.
“What do you want?” Evan said, careful to keep his voice low, he didn't want to risk provking the assassin. Perhaps he could talk his way out of it, yes, he always managed to talk his way out of it. In response Sianna raised her left hand, pointing her blade directly at him. He flinched in response, falling back against the windowsill. “P-please, I have a fam-” His voice was cut off as Sianna flashed forward, crossing her blades before her in an X before slitting Evian's throat from both sides. His gurgles cries fell on death ears as he collapsed to the carpet, his blood staining the finely woven carpet, the crimson a bright contrast to the soft creamy tones. He looked at her with wide eyes as he died, wide, accusatory eyes. Sianna barely cared.
“Assumption? Please. Those thugs admitted to him hiring them.” Sianna remarked, her anger reflecting in her thoughts.
”They could have lied,” Ebb said, playfully, for a demon.
“It's harder to lie with a blade to your throat.” She replied, “Especially since he watched his friend die.”
”But you killed the rest of them anyways,” He whispered in mock horror.
“So?” Sianna watched as the first rays of light encroached upon the manor grounds, the gray slowly giving way to a growing crescent of bright yellow. She unlocked the window, pushing it open and stepping out onto the gently sloped, beveled rooftop. She stalked quietly down the red clay shingles of the first floor, stealthily dropping to the ground using a terrace growing bright pink flowers on thick, interweaving vines. Moments later she was exiting the manor grounds, unseen and unheard, as if anyone would suspect her of being an assassin anyways.
As the sun rose into the sky, casting it's full golden glory upon the island of Arkarell, Sianna was making her way from the stables to her quarters. She walked upon the cobbled paths of the courtyard, still green and in full bloom thanks to a little elf's magic. Though she did not mind, as the area surrounding the castle itself was quite pretty to look at, if only marred by the massive behemoth of stone and lumber looming high into the sky from the garden's center. It's gray stone, wooden windowsills, and a roof adorned in bright red shingles gave the castle a simplistic beauty, which somehow fit the gardens and parks surrounding it. The pathway curved towards the front of the castle, bringing her to a large fountain set in front of the looming wooden doors the lead to the main hall. The fountain was not composed of angels or animals, as many were, it was a simple carved piece, each of the three tiers resembling that of an opening flower. She could feel the tingle of magic in the air, perhaps the little elf had been by early.
The guards stationed at the great double doors, clad head to toe in fine steel armor, their tabards outlined in the colors of the golden sun, filled with crimson red, and crested with an icon resembling such. As the sun reigns over us, so does the king, and the king's crest reflects that, or so the people would preach. The guardsmen pulled a door slightly ajar for her, a subtle hint at what he thought of her probably, for most people the door would be swung wide, but not for little Sianna. She nodded politely as she walked past, pretending not to here the audible “tsk” the guard let out. Her name did not even have the power to have him hung for such disrespect, but her older brother was an imbecile.
She strode gracefully down the marbled walkway, lined by rows of columns leading up to a throne composed almost entirely of gold, and adorned with varying sizes of gems. It was extravagant, but the king did have expensive taste. For all the good it did him now, bedridden for such a time that Sianna had actually forgotten. Though that was just a rumor, technically it hadn't been officially announced. The last person trying to stir up trouble about it had been put down like a lame horse by one of the noble families, in such a way as the crime could never come back to them. Even so, justifying treason is hardly a punishable crime.
She changed her course, altering towards the left exit. She had rooms in the low left wing of the castle, which suited her just fine. She did not have a high window, looking out upon the sprawling city, but she did have a section of garden to look at, and she was content with that. A servant passes as Sianna reaches the door to her room, “Might you bring me some breakfast? Perhaps it would serve to put some color in my cheeks,” Sianna said sweetly. The servant smiled with a soft giggle, Sianna often shared jokes with the servants, and they never laughed in a rude demeanor. At least not her servants, and those that are often found in the left wing.
”No doubt news of the murder is going to spread fast, I give it until afternoon.” Ebb said, obviously that was a wager.
Sianna opened her door, her long white gown flowing in behind her, “Tsk, I give it until breakfast. There's nothing these snakes love more than a good murder, and to gossip about it,” She thought back. It would be a few hours yet before the kitchen set out the breakfast feast in the dining hall, Sianna knew the servant would procure a few smaller items, perhaps fruit or the like, and set it on her vanity. She wasn't sure if she wanted to sleep through breakfast or not, did she really want to dine with the others of her kind. Not really, but it would be good for appearances.
“Wake me at breakfast? I'm not sure if I want to go yet,” Sianna asked Ebb, not waiting for an answer as her head met the soft velvety pillow. In another moment she was asleep.
Fortunate enough, the day looked to be as clear and bright as any, yet within the halls of the manor the essence of night still lingered, the veil of shadow not yet lifted by the early morning light, and the sconces lining the hallways burning out hours before. Sianna had waited for this moment, watching vigilantly throughout the night, waiting for the house to slumber. She had sat perched upon a branch, glad in her armor of night, hues of black and gray, with a copper undertone to blend easily with the veiled trees. She sat cross-legged upon the branch, her breathing even and her body still. Yet she did not find boredom as she watched the house, there was something exciting about the waiting. Perhaps it was the conversation she was holding in her head at the time.
”I'd say about now he's bedding some young harlot, he seems the king of man that would take to a common whore, and keep her about his manor.” Ebb said, his voice but a whisper in her head.
“You judge too openly for his crimes Ebb, he was once a man of honor.” She thought back.
”Ah, but corruption does bring a lack of conviction, wouldn't you say?” Ebb replied.
“Perhaps you are right, but he seems worrisome. I'd wager he's fretting over his plight right now, pacing back and forth in his room, trying to ascertain whether he should keep watch for assassins. He has doubled his guard you know.” She said, watching as the servant's lights went out.
”A wager it is then, I see the servants have been sent off to bed.” Ebb pointed out, the servants quarters attached to the side of the house had indeed grown dim.
Now Sianna found herself deep within the manor, on the upper floor. The guards hadn't even noticed her presence, despite the fact that many of them were dozing, waiting earnestly for shift change. Still, she quietly snuck in through the servant quarters, through a small window only someone her size could squeeze through. She had made her way up the servants stairs, a narrow passage way the skirted the main corridors of the house and led to the second floor, a mere door down from the master bedroom. Sianna crouched before the door, pressing her ear to it and listening.
”You win.” Ebb replied solemnly, he hated losing bets.
Inside the room, quiet footfalls upon lavish carpet could be heard, traveling from one end of the room to the other, back and forth. She looked through the keyhole of the door just as a figure glad in a bright red robe, adorned with embroideries of golden leaves, and the edges worked in bright golden thread, crossed her small viewing point, and waited. The man seemed highly paranoid, and he was right to be so. There he was worrying on his life, when an assassin sat patiently outside his door. The guard at the end of the hallway, sitting in a chair upon the top of the stairs nodded his head upright, if only for a moment, before slowly setting it back upon his chest.
”Must be hard to find good help these days,” Ebb's voice whispered with a chuckle.
Sianna didn't reply, the man inside the room had stopped his pacing and stood looking out the window, facing the sunrise. The lantern in his room gave off a pitiful amount of light, which was quite unfortunate for the man inside as the morning rays hadn't yet reached into his room. The pools of shadow gathered in the corners, heavy and dense, were all that Sianna needed, that and the need to see where it was she was going. She sank quietly into the murky shadows of the dark hallway, entering into a world of darkness.
A breath later she crouched inside the far corner of the room, coming out of the wall in a crouch. She drew her daggers, Shade and Shadow, as she stalked around the massive bed, complete with it's carved posts and sheer silk canopy. Sianna could feel the adrenaline surging through her, she felt Ebb watching her contently, the sport much to easy for his amusement. The man froze for a second, his paranoia getting the better of him. A moment before he turned around, Sianna stood, so that when he turned he did so to face her.
”Evian Chryier, sentanced to death for an assumption, hah, mortals.” Ebb said mockingly.
“What do you want?” Evan said, careful to keep his voice low, he didn't want to risk provking the assassin. Perhaps he could talk his way out of it, yes, he always managed to talk his way out of it. In response Sianna raised her left hand, pointing her blade directly at him. He flinched in response, falling back against the windowsill. “P-please, I have a fam-” His voice was cut off as Sianna flashed forward, crossing her blades before her in an X before slitting Evian's throat from both sides. His gurgles cries fell on death ears as he collapsed to the carpet, his blood staining the finely woven carpet, the crimson a bright contrast to the soft creamy tones. He looked at her with wide eyes as he died, wide, accusatory eyes. Sianna barely cared.
“Assumption? Please. Those thugs admitted to him hiring them.” Sianna remarked, her anger reflecting in her thoughts.
”They could have lied,” Ebb said, playfully, for a demon.
“It's harder to lie with a blade to your throat.” She replied, “Especially since he watched his friend die.”
”But you killed the rest of them anyways,” He whispered in mock horror.
“So?” Sianna watched as the first rays of light encroached upon the manor grounds, the gray slowly giving way to a growing crescent of bright yellow. She unlocked the window, pushing it open and stepping out onto the gently sloped, beveled rooftop. She stalked quietly down the red clay shingles of the first floor, stealthily dropping to the ground using a terrace growing bright pink flowers on thick, interweaving vines. Moments later she was exiting the manor grounds, unseen and unheard, as if anyone would suspect her of being an assassin anyways.
As the sun rose into the sky, casting it's full golden glory upon the island of Arkarell, Sianna was making her way from the stables to her quarters. She walked upon the cobbled paths of the courtyard, still green and in full bloom thanks to a little elf's magic. Though she did not mind, as the area surrounding the castle itself was quite pretty to look at, if only marred by the massive behemoth of stone and lumber looming high into the sky from the garden's center. It's gray stone, wooden windowsills, and a roof adorned in bright red shingles gave the castle a simplistic beauty, which somehow fit the gardens and parks surrounding it. The pathway curved towards the front of the castle, bringing her to a large fountain set in front of the looming wooden doors the lead to the main hall. The fountain was not composed of angels or animals, as many were, it was a simple carved piece, each of the three tiers resembling that of an opening flower. She could feel the tingle of magic in the air, perhaps the little elf had been by early.
The guards stationed at the great double doors, clad head to toe in fine steel armor, their tabards outlined in the colors of the golden sun, filled with crimson red, and crested with an icon resembling such. As the sun reigns over us, so does the king, and the king's crest reflects that, or so the people would preach. The guardsmen pulled a door slightly ajar for her, a subtle hint at what he thought of her probably, for most people the door would be swung wide, but not for little Sianna. She nodded politely as she walked past, pretending not to here the audible “tsk” the guard let out. Her name did not even have the power to have him hung for such disrespect, but her older brother was an imbecile.
She strode gracefully down the marbled walkway, lined by rows of columns leading up to a throne composed almost entirely of gold, and adorned with varying sizes of gems. It was extravagant, but the king did have expensive taste. For all the good it did him now, bedridden for such a time that Sianna had actually forgotten. Though that was just a rumor, technically it hadn't been officially announced. The last person trying to stir up trouble about it had been put down like a lame horse by one of the noble families, in such a way as the crime could never come back to them. Even so, justifying treason is hardly a punishable crime.
She changed her course, altering towards the left exit. She had rooms in the low left wing of the castle, which suited her just fine. She did not have a high window, looking out upon the sprawling city, but she did have a section of garden to look at, and she was content with that. A servant passes as Sianna reaches the door to her room, “Might you bring me some breakfast? Perhaps it would serve to put some color in my cheeks,” Sianna said sweetly. The servant smiled with a soft giggle, Sianna often shared jokes with the servants, and they never laughed in a rude demeanor. At least not her servants, and those that are often found in the left wing.
”No doubt news of the murder is going to spread fast, I give it until afternoon.” Ebb said, obviously that was a wager.
Sianna opened her door, her long white gown flowing in behind her, “Tsk, I give it until breakfast. There's nothing these snakes love more than a good murder, and to gossip about it,” She thought back. It would be a few hours yet before the kitchen set out the breakfast feast in the dining hall, Sianna knew the servant would procure a few smaller items, perhaps fruit or the like, and set it on her vanity. She wasn't sure if she wanted to sleep through breakfast or not, did she really want to dine with the others of her kind. Not really, but it would be good for appearances.
“Wake me at breakfast? I'm not sure if I want to go yet,” Sianna asked Ebb, not waiting for an answer as her head met the soft velvety pillow. In another moment she was asleep.
