Taris stumbled forward, only a vague blur to guide him. Halfway across the room he stumbled to his knees. He tried to push himself back up, half crawling to her. His hands found the sheet she was wrapped in. A sob tore from him, and he was surprised. He hadn’t cried in over a century, since he’d found Layne dead. “Arauka, I’m so sorry. I failed you.”
He pulled her head to his chest and held her there for a long while. He let himself go, letting the tears fall freely. A pair of small arms hugged him, and a pair of larger ones, but when he raised a hand to where they were he felt nothing. Layne and Arauka. “I’m so sorry, both of you.” He sat there for several minutes, until the tears stopped.
“Envy,” he called softly.
A rustle to the side, “Yes Taris?”
The assassin nodded, figuring the Kartaian would still be there. “I’m going to give her a burial,” he said, his tone implying he would not be dissuaded.
Envy said nothing for a moment, looking around at the walls. “Taris, we’re surrounded by stone, and you are in no condition to dig a grave, or even travel.”
Taris shook his head, “Watch, Envy. I know more about the Shadow than almost anyone alive.” He reached out with his Other senses, feeling for the cold void of shadow. The closest was behind the stone bed Arauka’s body lay on. He focused his effort, pulling the darkness to him. The shadow stretched and contorted, then became like water, sliding over Arauka’s body like cloth. Slowly it covered her legs, body, and last, her head and face. The shadow lifted into the air pulling the body up inside of it. She floated for a second, and the shadow dissolved, leaving nothing behind.
Taris struggled up, physically and emotionally exhausted. “Run a bath, Envy, and bring my powder when Hadhen gets back. I need to heal before my entire body scars over.” He walked back towards Envy, holding his arm for guidance only. The assassin was determined to walk on his own.
Envy led him to another chamber, calling for Paget to run the bath. He handed Taris off to Cainne as Hadhen returned, giving her the jar of powder as well, “Go with her, Taris, and bathe. She’ll handle your needs. When you’re done I have a bed prepared, you need to rest.”
Taris nodded, too tired to speak more. The woman led him to the bath, asking, “How much do I put in?”
“All of it,” Taris answered. He tugged the tie holding his pants up, and climbed in. The powder immediately tingled against his skin and light sparks played in the water. The assassin slid his head underneath the water, keeping his eyes open. If he had any hope of seeing again, he needed the water to reach his eyes.
Several minutes later he stood, Cainne and Paget helping him out and giving him a towel. After drying himself gently, they led him to his bed. Taris fell into it gratefully, asleep within moments.
- Last Seen: 5 yrs ago
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Hello Darkness, my old friend...
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I'll tell you where they're not..... Safe....
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Bio
Basically I'm like nobody you've ever met before.
Unless you've met Carantathraiel, whom I am essentially a carbon copy of, excepting of course that whilst she has girly parts, my parts are decidedly male
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Muzzahfuckah, wrong account again >< Sorry Kru!
Who directs it, Tarantino or James Cameron?
Taris managed to lift his head at the voice.
“Taris, wake up!”
He realized that he recognized the voice, “Envy…?” Coughs racked his body and blood splattered the floor. “What are you doing here? Aera…”
Envy cut him off, “She was taken, Taris, by my people. I need your help to get her back before it’s too late.”
Taris coughed again and spat more blood, “Need to get out of here first, Envy. And I’m in no condition to accomplish that right now.” Footsteps echoed in the hallway and they froze. “Get out of here, Envy,” the assassin said hoarsely, as the sound of the rusty lock echoed in the room. Unable to see, he didn’t know if the Kartaian did as he said.
Taris struggled to listen. The footsteps were different than the torturer’s heavy plod. He calmed his rattling breath. There were two sets of footsteps that he could distinguish, one light and refined, the other firm and practiced. The footsteps reached the room and echoed even louder. “So here is my brother’s killer. Rather sad sight, I must say.”
Taris forced a grin, “Princess Risa, I’d say it was nice to see you, but unfortunately I do not have use of my eyes currently. And you’ll forgive me if I cannot prostrate myself before you properly.” He rattled the chains on his arms. He fought through another coughing fit, carefully spitting to the side, “And I assume the one with you is Haxfur? I’m curious, how long has he been fucking you?”
A fist caught him in the stomach, and he retched. Risa laughed lightly, “Your charm is slipping… Taris, right? I suppose I can forgive it this once, given the circumstances.”
Taris was tired of blood in his mouth by now, “Why are you here, Risa?”
She laughed again, “Why, to thank you, of course! With my idiot brother dead, I’m next for the throne. You’ve saved me the trouble of getting him disavowed later. And the whore is gone too, so I won’t need to dirty my hands having her killed.”
Taris growled at her, “If you want to thank me, then you can release me.”
She seemed even more amused, “Oh I can’t have you running loose. The city wants your head on a pike, elf. And I see no reason to deny them.”
Now Taris laughed. It was a horrible sound. He grinned in the direction of her voice, “Is that so? You seem to forget that I AM an assassin. I get paid to kill people. That means there’s a client out there that wanted Kentaro dead…” He paused, letting his words sink in. “Who’s to say the client won’t have you killed next? Unless you can find out who the client is and have them killed first.” The sudden silence amused him, “It seems you understand, good girl. I propose a trade. You get rid of these damn lights, unbind me. I’ll tell you who the client is, even kill them for you. We go our separate ways, and never see each other again.”
There was a moment more of silence. Then Haxfur spoke, “I thought you worked for money, assassin.”
The elf smiled, “Ah, so it is you. Yes, I do get paid to kill. However, I’m rather attached to my life, and would consider it a fair trade.”
“Name the client then,” Haxfur said.
“Ah, ah, ah,” Taris said, with a shake of his head, “First a show of good faith. The lights.”
In a second the room was darkened, the only light coming from the torches flanking the door. “Name, elf.”
“I don’t have one, I only know where he fell in line for the throne before I began my work. He was thirteenth. Give me the name and he’s dead.”
There was a moment, and the manacles on his ankles and wrist were removed. The elf fell to the floor in an undignified heap. Risa spoke, but her voice had lost its air of innocence. Instead it was like ice, “His name is Por, Marquis of Erris. Kill him and be gone from the city.” She strode from the room, Haxfur on her heels.
Taris levered himself to his elbow with difficulty. Every inch of him felt seared, “Envy, help me up, and let’s get out of here.”
“Taris, wake up!”
He realized that he recognized the voice, “Envy…?” Coughs racked his body and blood splattered the floor. “What are you doing here? Aera…”
Envy cut him off, “She was taken, Taris, by my people. I need your help to get her back before it’s too late.”
Taris coughed again and spat more blood, “Need to get out of here first, Envy. And I’m in no condition to accomplish that right now.” Footsteps echoed in the hallway and they froze. “Get out of here, Envy,” the assassin said hoarsely, as the sound of the rusty lock echoed in the room. Unable to see, he didn’t know if the Kartaian did as he said.
Taris struggled to listen. The footsteps were different than the torturer’s heavy plod. He calmed his rattling breath. There were two sets of footsteps that he could distinguish, one light and refined, the other firm and practiced. The footsteps reached the room and echoed even louder. “So here is my brother’s killer. Rather sad sight, I must say.”
Taris forced a grin, “Princess Risa, I’d say it was nice to see you, but unfortunately I do not have use of my eyes currently. And you’ll forgive me if I cannot prostrate myself before you properly.” He rattled the chains on his arms. He fought through another coughing fit, carefully spitting to the side, “And I assume the one with you is Haxfur? I’m curious, how long has he been fucking you?”
A fist caught him in the stomach, and he retched. Risa laughed lightly, “Your charm is slipping… Taris, right? I suppose I can forgive it this once, given the circumstances.”
Taris was tired of blood in his mouth by now, “Why are you here, Risa?”
She laughed again, “Why, to thank you, of course! With my idiot brother dead, I’m next for the throne. You’ve saved me the trouble of getting him disavowed later. And the whore is gone too, so I won’t need to dirty my hands having her killed.”
Taris growled at her, “If you want to thank me, then you can release me.”
She seemed even more amused, “Oh I can’t have you running loose. The city wants your head on a pike, elf. And I see no reason to deny them.”
Now Taris laughed. It was a horrible sound. He grinned in the direction of her voice, “Is that so? You seem to forget that I AM an assassin. I get paid to kill people. That means there’s a client out there that wanted Kentaro dead…” He paused, letting his words sink in. “Who’s to say the client won’t have you killed next? Unless you can find out who the client is and have them killed first.” The sudden silence amused him, “It seems you understand, good girl. I propose a trade. You get rid of these damn lights, unbind me. I’ll tell you who the client is, even kill them for you. We go our separate ways, and never see each other again.”
There was a moment more of silence. Then Haxfur spoke, “I thought you worked for money, assassin.”
The elf smiled, “Ah, so it is you. Yes, I do get paid to kill. However, I’m rather attached to my life, and would consider it a fair trade.”
“Name the client then,” Haxfur said.
“Ah, ah, ah,” Taris said, with a shake of his head, “First a show of good faith. The lights.”
In a second the room was darkened, the only light coming from the torches flanking the door. “Name, elf.”
“I don’t have one, I only know where he fell in line for the throne before I began my work. He was thirteenth. Give me the name and he’s dead.”
There was a moment, and the manacles on his ankles and wrist were removed. The elf fell to the floor in an undignified heap. Risa spoke, but her voice had lost its air of innocence. Instead it was like ice, “His name is Por, Marquis of Erris. Kill him and be gone from the city.” She strode from the room, Haxfur on her heels.
Taris levered himself to his elbow with difficulty. Every inch of him felt seared, “Envy, help me up, and let’s get out of here.”
Hehehehe. 69 posts in IC.
[edit] oh shit, wrong account. *jedi wave* you saw nothing.....
[edit] oh shit, wrong account. *jedi wave* you saw nothing.....
His scream echoed through the sparse chamber over the hiss of burning flesh. The torturer brought the white hot iron away from Taris’ side. The assassin sagged in his chains in the middle of the room, exhausted. Four orbs of intense light floated around him, keeping any shadows far away from him, keeping him from escaping. His eyes burned, and he was beginning to doubt if he would ever see again, even if he did manage to escape.
His magic tingled on his skin, but after a couple hours of this, he couldn’t continue to heal himself, instead just numbing the pains. The torturer came back with a whip, Taris could hear him crack it, if not see it. He’d been whipped before, and could handle that pain. Then the bladed tip slashed his cheek. Another scream tore out of his throat, and the bladed whip tore into his back. The whip cracked against his back until he couldn’t scream anymore. Taris’ head hung down and the chains attached to the posts to the sides pulled at his arms and shoulders, but even that strain was drowned out by his wounds.
The torturer stepped away and came back a moment later, and the elf tried to muster the energy to brace for what might come, finding himself unable to. He couldn’t even scream now, his throat felt destroyed. At least he thought he couldn’t, until the man poured alcohol over his back. Every slash felt filled with molten iron. One last anguished scream tore from him before the pain overwhelmed his magic and he slipped mercifully into unconsciousness.
“Taris.”
He looked up, his eyes still working in this realm. Layne caressed his cheek, “I’m so sorry my love. I wish I could help more.”
Taris shook his head, “I’ll be fine, Kentaro is dead, Aera is safe. That’s all that matters.” At the look on Layne’s face he felt his stomach drop out. “She is safe, right?”
Layne looked despondent, “I’m sorry Taris, but I found another spirit that was searching for you. She’s scared, thinks she failed you.”
“Arauka…”
A tear leaked from her eye and she nodded. “I tried to bring her, but she says she can’t face you yet. She can’t stop crying. I asked her who it was, but all she said was ‘Kartaians’. She also mentioned someone named Envy, who was hurt too.”
Taris crumpled to the floor. “Arauka, no. I’ve failed again. Damn it all, why? First you, now Arauka and Aera…” Layne tried to put a hand on his shoulder but he stood and pushed her away. Black flames swirled around him and he roared in despair. Layne reached for him again. He slammed a fist into the ground and the world dissolved around him.
He returned to the waking world, returned to the pain. Only now, the physical pain couldn’t begin to compare to the pain in his soul.
His magic tingled on his skin, but after a couple hours of this, he couldn’t continue to heal himself, instead just numbing the pains. The torturer came back with a whip, Taris could hear him crack it, if not see it. He’d been whipped before, and could handle that pain. Then the bladed tip slashed his cheek. Another scream tore out of his throat, and the bladed whip tore into his back. The whip cracked against his back until he couldn’t scream anymore. Taris’ head hung down and the chains attached to the posts to the sides pulled at his arms and shoulders, but even that strain was drowned out by his wounds.
The torturer stepped away and came back a moment later, and the elf tried to muster the energy to brace for what might come, finding himself unable to. He couldn’t even scream now, his throat felt destroyed. At least he thought he couldn’t, until the man poured alcohol over his back. Every slash felt filled with molten iron. One last anguished scream tore from him before the pain overwhelmed his magic and he slipped mercifully into unconsciousness.
“Taris.”
He looked up, his eyes still working in this realm. Layne caressed his cheek, “I’m so sorry my love. I wish I could help more.”
Taris shook his head, “I’ll be fine, Kentaro is dead, Aera is safe. That’s all that matters.” At the look on Layne’s face he felt his stomach drop out. “She is safe, right?”
Layne looked despondent, “I’m sorry Taris, but I found another spirit that was searching for you. She’s scared, thinks she failed you.”
“Arauka…”
A tear leaked from her eye and she nodded. “I tried to bring her, but she says she can’t face you yet. She can’t stop crying. I asked her who it was, but all she said was ‘Kartaians’. She also mentioned someone named Envy, who was hurt too.”
Taris crumpled to the floor. “Arauka, no. I’ve failed again. Damn it all, why? First you, now Arauka and Aera…” Layne tried to put a hand on his shoulder but he stood and pushed her away. Black flames swirled around him and he roared in despair. Layne reached for him again. He slammed a fist into the ground and the world dissolved around him.
He returned to the waking world, returned to the pain. Only now, the physical pain couldn’t begin to compare to the pain in his soul.
Taris gathered his equipment, checking that each was in good condition. Beside him, Arauka waited eagerly, full of the excitement only youth seemed to find. Taris envied her that, knowing that if she stayed with him, he’d destroy that youth. He slipped the last blade into its sheath and nodded to the girl. “Do you remember what I taught you? How to move through the Shadow Realm towards a beacon?”
She nodded with determination, “Yes Master, I won’t mess it up.”
“One more time then: What’s the plan?”
Arauka’s face became serious. Her brow furrowed slightly, “We go through the shadows, find Aera in the castle. You kill the guards and go after Kentaro. I take Aera and shadow walk back to Envy, using the pendant you gave him as a beacon to guide me and pull me through the barriers. I wait with Aera until you return as well.”
Taris gave her a look, and she rolled her eyes a little. He cuffed her lightly on the back of her head. “OW! Okay, okay! And I stay with her in the tunnels and don’t leave her side at all until you are there. I keep her safe for you.”
The assassin smiled slightly, “Very good.” He sliced open the darkness in front of them and placed a hand on her shoulder. The void shut around them like a set of jaws. Arauka tried, with only partial success, to hide the wonder on her face. Taris slammed through barrier after barrier, his haste shattering the weak ones, and leaving a ripple in the others. Taris’ jaw set as they began to pass openings to the castle. He scanned her room first but it was deserted.
Arauka tugged on his arm, “Where to now, Master?”
Taris thought for only a moment, “His room.” They passed a dozen more openings out of the void before finding the right one. From inside the Shadow Realm Taris could see two guards flanking Aera, swords drawn. Across the room were two more guards, and Kentaro who was speaking with a man in long robes. A mage then, likely. Damn, the assassin thought,I hate mages. But the immediate threats were the two nearest Aera. As soon as he entered, their weapons would find her. Unless the assassin moved faster than they could.
The two guards were leering at the elf between them, when suddenly two curved lengths of steel materialized from the bit of shadow behind them, slicing through their throats. Blood sprayed as Taris quickly followed the daggers into the room. The other two soldiers brandished their weapons and charged the Shadow Elf, only to fall a moment later with throwing knives from the little thief girl in their legs. Taris stepped forward and plunged the tips of his blades between their ribs, into their hearts.
He stood and advanced on the mage, “Aera, go with Arauka and get out of here, now.”
She looked down at the small waif beside her, and back at Taris, “No, Taris, they’re ready for you.”
“Just go Aera, I’ll be fine,” he said as Kentaro moved between him and the mage. Arauka tugged fervently on Aera’s arm, but to no avail.
Kentaro sneered, “I knew it was you, Dark Elf bastard. Now you die.” He struck.
Taris parried with ease and returned with his own attacks. He didn’t even smirk, “That last person that called me that, ended up hanging in the lobby of a brothel. I told you to use your time wisely, idiot.” Their blades met in a flash of steel. Kentaro was good, keeping Taris away from the wizard. He needed to kill the mage before he finished the spell.
Taris flipped one blade forward and caught the guard of kentaro’s sword, flinging it wide. In came his other dagger, slicing once in the Prince’s belly, then back across his chest, and back across his throat. He heard Aera try to warn him when a massive white light flared to life before him, sending searing pain through his eyes. Blinded, he knew almost every shadow was gone in the light. He stumbled back until Aera caught him by the shoulders. “Damn it Aera I said get out of here!” he shouted. He grabbed her and the girl, opening the only shadow he knew was there. His own.
Taris shoved them both through, slamming it shut behind them. Trying to go through his own shadow was suicide, the magic would tear him apart. Another light flared on the other side of the room, and Taris screamed in agony, barely maintaining consciousness. A mailed fist caught him in the temple and he collapsed to the floor.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Arauka stumbled into the tunnels, pulling Aera behind her. It was much harder without Taris to help her shadow walk. Envy was there next to them immediately, “Where’s Taris, dove?”
The girl shook her head, “Back there, he’s in trouble.”
Aera shook her head, “We need to go back and help him.”
“No!” shouted both Envy and Arauka. The Kartaian looked at the girl in surprise. She stared at Aera, “My Master gave me orders to stay with you here in the tunnels. Do you know how much he cares about you? I won’t let you go back, he made me promise to keep you safe.”
She nodded with determination, “Yes Master, I won’t mess it up.”
“One more time then: What’s the plan?”
Arauka’s face became serious. Her brow furrowed slightly, “We go through the shadows, find Aera in the castle. You kill the guards and go after Kentaro. I take Aera and shadow walk back to Envy, using the pendant you gave him as a beacon to guide me and pull me through the barriers. I wait with Aera until you return as well.”
Taris gave her a look, and she rolled her eyes a little. He cuffed her lightly on the back of her head. “OW! Okay, okay! And I stay with her in the tunnels and don’t leave her side at all until you are there. I keep her safe for you.”
The assassin smiled slightly, “Very good.” He sliced open the darkness in front of them and placed a hand on her shoulder. The void shut around them like a set of jaws. Arauka tried, with only partial success, to hide the wonder on her face. Taris slammed through barrier after barrier, his haste shattering the weak ones, and leaving a ripple in the others. Taris’ jaw set as they began to pass openings to the castle. He scanned her room first but it was deserted.
Arauka tugged on his arm, “Where to now, Master?”
Taris thought for only a moment, “His room.” They passed a dozen more openings out of the void before finding the right one. From inside the Shadow Realm Taris could see two guards flanking Aera, swords drawn. Across the room were two more guards, and Kentaro who was speaking with a man in long robes. A mage then, likely. Damn, the assassin thought,I hate mages. But the immediate threats were the two nearest Aera. As soon as he entered, their weapons would find her. Unless the assassin moved faster than they could.
The two guards were leering at the elf between them, when suddenly two curved lengths of steel materialized from the bit of shadow behind them, slicing through their throats. Blood sprayed as Taris quickly followed the daggers into the room. The other two soldiers brandished their weapons and charged the Shadow Elf, only to fall a moment later with throwing knives from the little thief girl in their legs. Taris stepped forward and plunged the tips of his blades between their ribs, into their hearts.
He stood and advanced on the mage, “Aera, go with Arauka and get out of here, now.”
She looked down at the small waif beside her, and back at Taris, “No, Taris, they’re ready for you.”
“Just go Aera, I’ll be fine,” he said as Kentaro moved between him and the mage. Arauka tugged fervently on Aera’s arm, but to no avail.
Kentaro sneered, “I knew it was you, Dark Elf bastard. Now you die.” He struck.
Taris parried with ease and returned with his own attacks. He didn’t even smirk, “That last person that called me that, ended up hanging in the lobby of a brothel. I told you to use your time wisely, idiot.” Their blades met in a flash of steel. Kentaro was good, keeping Taris away from the wizard. He needed to kill the mage before he finished the spell.
Taris flipped one blade forward and caught the guard of kentaro’s sword, flinging it wide. In came his other dagger, slicing once in the Prince’s belly, then back across his chest, and back across his throat. He heard Aera try to warn him when a massive white light flared to life before him, sending searing pain through his eyes. Blinded, he knew almost every shadow was gone in the light. He stumbled back until Aera caught him by the shoulders. “Damn it Aera I said get out of here!” he shouted. He grabbed her and the girl, opening the only shadow he knew was there. His own.
Taris shoved them both through, slamming it shut behind them. Trying to go through his own shadow was suicide, the magic would tear him apart. Another light flared on the other side of the room, and Taris screamed in agony, barely maintaining consciousness. A mailed fist caught him in the temple and he collapsed to the floor.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Arauka stumbled into the tunnels, pulling Aera behind her. It was much harder without Taris to help her shadow walk. Envy was there next to them immediately, “Where’s Taris, dove?”
The girl shook her head, “Back there, he’s in trouble.”
Aera shook her head, “We need to go back and help him.”
“No!” shouted both Envy and Arauka. The Kartaian looked at the girl in surprise. She stared at Aera, “My Master gave me orders to stay with you here in the tunnels. Do you know how much he cares about you? I won’t let you go back, he made me promise to keep you safe.”
Taris adjusted the girl’s stance and the way she held a dagger. Envy had taught her well, but Envy was also a thief, not an assassin. There were things she still didn’t know about. “Much better, Arauka, remember where your opponent’s vital spots are. There is no such thing as a fair fight, only survival.” He smiled at the youngster’s enthusiasm, she was a quick learn and listened well. Already he was finding ways she could be useful to him. He watched her run through the stances he’d taught her a few times with approval, until he felt the pendant heat against his chest.
Already? What could he need so soon? Taris thought. “Keep running through your stances, Arauka, I need to talk to Envy,” he told her and went into the other room. He pulled out the pendant and placed it in a bowl. Immediately the bowl filled with shadows and Envy’s face came into view. Taris frowned, “Already, Envy. What’s happened?” He paused, “She doesn’t want me around, does she?”
Envy shrugged, “I’m not sure, she didn’t say.” He glowered through the shadow, “She deserves better than you, you know.”
Taris nodded, “I kn…”
“But the thing that upsets me most is that you can give her the happiness she deserves. And that is why I’m helping you, and why I need your help. Kentaro is going to kill her.”
Taris stared for a minute, “What?” His voice was ice, and his curved daggers flashed into his hands. Even in the pool of shadow Envy stepped back a moment. “She better still be there, Envy.”
The Kartaian shook his head, “No Taris, listen, she went back to protect the orphans. I wanted her to disappear, but she made a good point. Kentaro knows about the tunnels, and he’d come here first. Taris, he knows you are behind the murders, and he knows how you feel about her. You need to kill him, and get her out quickly. He won’t let her out of his sight, or at least have guards on her at all times.”
The assassin glared, “He’s a dead man. I told him he’d have 7 weeks if he didn’t piss me off. He’ll be dead by the end of the night, Envy. You have my word. Then we can talk about you letting her go back to that castle.”
Envy nodded, “Deal, assassin. But the moment you are seen in the castle, she’s dead. Can you move that quickly?”
“Don’t worry about it, Envy. They won’t know I’m there till they’re dead. Be ready and keep the pendant on you.”
Taris scooped the pendant from the bowl and the darkness dissolved. Behind him Arauka stood silently, he hadn’t even heard her approach. “You were listening?” he asked softly.
“Yes Master,” the girl replied, a hint of unease in her voice.
A smirk pulled at his face, “Good girl.” He kneeled in front of her, “Aera is in trouble and we need to get her out of the castle. But I’ll need your help to do it.” He smiled fully when she nodded eagerly, “Anything, Master!”
“Good, time to train you to walk in the shadows, my girl.”
Already? What could he need so soon? Taris thought. “Keep running through your stances, Arauka, I need to talk to Envy,” he told her and went into the other room. He pulled out the pendant and placed it in a bowl. Immediately the bowl filled with shadows and Envy’s face came into view. Taris frowned, “Already, Envy. What’s happened?” He paused, “She doesn’t want me around, does she?”
Envy shrugged, “I’m not sure, she didn’t say.” He glowered through the shadow, “She deserves better than you, you know.”
Taris nodded, “I kn…”
“But the thing that upsets me most is that you can give her the happiness she deserves. And that is why I’m helping you, and why I need your help. Kentaro is going to kill her.”
Taris stared for a minute, “What?” His voice was ice, and his curved daggers flashed into his hands. Even in the pool of shadow Envy stepped back a moment. “She better still be there, Envy.”
The Kartaian shook his head, “No Taris, listen, she went back to protect the orphans. I wanted her to disappear, but she made a good point. Kentaro knows about the tunnels, and he’d come here first. Taris, he knows you are behind the murders, and he knows how you feel about her. You need to kill him, and get her out quickly. He won’t let her out of his sight, or at least have guards on her at all times.”
The assassin glared, “He’s a dead man. I told him he’d have 7 weeks if he didn’t piss me off. He’ll be dead by the end of the night, Envy. You have my word. Then we can talk about you letting her go back to that castle.”
Envy nodded, “Deal, assassin. But the moment you are seen in the castle, she’s dead. Can you move that quickly?”
“Don’t worry about it, Envy. They won’t know I’m there till they’re dead. Be ready and keep the pendant on you.”
Taris scooped the pendant from the bowl and the darkness dissolved. Behind him Arauka stood silently, he hadn’t even heard her approach. “You were listening?” he asked softly.
“Yes Master,” the girl replied, a hint of unease in her voice.
A smirk pulled at his face, “Good girl.” He kneeled in front of her, “Aera is in trouble and we need to get her out of the castle. But I’ll need your help to do it.” He smiled fully when she nodded eagerly, “Anything, Master!”
“Good, time to train you to walk in the shadows, my girl.”
Taris nodded from the floor, “Thank you, Envy. I appreciate it…” He stood shakily, “But, if she never wants to see me again, I understand. Perhaps it’s best, in fact, the last woman that I let love me died.” He reached into a pocket and placed a pendant on a nearby table. “Use this to call me if you have need of me, Envy, for anything. I owe you at least that much.” Darkness began to swirl around him and he looked Envy in the eye. “If she doesn’t want me…” his voice hitched, “If she wants me gone, take care of her for me, Envy.”
Envy watched the shadows begin to cover his whole body, until a flash of movement caught his eye. Arauka dashed toward the assassin and grabbed a hold of his pants, and the shadow enveloped her too. “Arauka, no!” he yelled, but the shadows fell and they were gone. “Dammit dove.” He waited a moment, keeping his eye on the shadows, before turning and following after Aera, "You'd better take care of her, Taris."
Taris and the girl emerged in his flat, the assassin gasping heavily. Pulling someone else through the shadows twice in a short time was tiring, especially with the barriers throughout the city. He looked at the girl at his side, “What do you think you were doing? You could have killed us both.”
She backed away, not meeting his gaze, and he realized he had growled at her. Taris sighed and sat in a chair. He switched to elvish, “I’m sorry, Arauka was it?” She nodded, but still wouldn’t meet his eyes. “Why did you follow me here?” At that she did look up, opening her mouth and closing it, before taking a breath. “You were sad,” she said finally, “I… I didn’t want you to be alone.”
Taris smiled at her and gestured her over. She looked curiously at his scars, and at the shimmer of his new burns and arrow wound healing. He ran a hand through her hair, messing it up, “Thank you, but you know I’m assassin don’t you? It’s dangerous to be around me, and I’m sure Envy is worried about you.”
“I know, but so what? You’re so COOL. The way you stayed out in the sun so you could beat those humans in archery. I want to be like you.”
Taris frowned, “No you don’t, you don’t know what it’s like being an assassin. Being me. There isn’t much room for true happiness in my world.”
Arauka sat on the arm of the chair, “But, you and Aera…”
“Will probably never work. I love her, it’s true, but there are people who would use that against me. It’s why if I were smarter, I’d push her away.”
Her eyes gazed at him, and she surprised him with her next words, “But you can’t.”
He nodded, “You are right, I can’t. But back to you, I don’t think you want to be like me. I think you just don’t want to be scared anymore. Am I right?” Taris watched her look away and nod. “I thought so.” He was silent a moment before he snapped his fingers. “I have an idea, how would you like to be my helper? In exchange I’ll teach you a few things to help you, make you stronger and faster. Envy trained you to be quick, to fend someone off enough to escape if you need to right?”
Another nod. “I will teach you how to make your pursuer unable to chase you. It will not be easy, but if you are willing, I will take over your training until my job is completed.”
She looked at him, “And after? Will you take me with you?”
Now Taris had to pause, “If you still want to leave, then we shall see. But what about the other orphans? What about your friends in the tunnels, and Envy?” He watched her face fall while she considered his words, and approved, she wouldn’t just abandon her friends on a whim. “There is plenty of time to make your decision, Arauka, no need to choose now,” he paused and looked around. Between his own anger and Aera’s attack this morning, the flat was a mess. “First things first, my new apprentice, help me clean up.”
She hopped off the chair with a smile, “Yes, Master Taris!”
Envy watched the shadows begin to cover his whole body, until a flash of movement caught his eye. Arauka dashed toward the assassin and grabbed a hold of his pants, and the shadow enveloped her too. “Arauka, no!” he yelled, but the shadows fell and they were gone. “Dammit dove.” He waited a moment, keeping his eye on the shadows, before turning and following after Aera, "You'd better take care of her, Taris."
Taris and the girl emerged in his flat, the assassin gasping heavily. Pulling someone else through the shadows twice in a short time was tiring, especially with the barriers throughout the city. He looked at the girl at his side, “What do you think you were doing? You could have killed us both.”
She backed away, not meeting his gaze, and he realized he had growled at her. Taris sighed and sat in a chair. He switched to elvish, “I’m sorry, Arauka was it?” She nodded, but still wouldn’t meet his eyes. “Why did you follow me here?” At that she did look up, opening her mouth and closing it, before taking a breath. “You were sad,” she said finally, “I… I didn’t want you to be alone.”
Taris smiled at her and gestured her over. She looked curiously at his scars, and at the shimmer of his new burns and arrow wound healing. He ran a hand through her hair, messing it up, “Thank you, but you know I’m assassin don’t you? It’s dangerous to be around me, and I’m sure Envy is worried about you.”
“I know, but so what? You’re so COOL. The way you stayed out in the sun so you could beat those humans in archery. I want to be like you.”
Taris frowned, “No you don’t, you don’t know what it’s like being an assassin. Being me. There isn’t much room for true happiness in my world.”
Arauka sat on the arm of the chair, “But, you and Aera…”
“Will probably never work. I love her, it’s true, but there are people who would use that against me. It’s why if I were smarter, I’d push her away.”
Her eyes gazed at him, and she surprised him with her next words, “But you can’t.”
He nodded, “You are right, I can’t. But back to you, I don’t think you want to be like me. I think you just don’t want to be scared anymore. Am I right?” Taris watched her look away and nod. “I thought so.” He was silent a moment before he snapped his fingers. “I have an idea, how would you like to be my helper? In exchange I’ll teach you a few things to help you, make you stronger and faster. Envy trained you to be quick, to fend someone off enough to escape if you need to right?”
Another nod. “I will teach you how to make your pursuer unable to chase you. It will not be easy, but if you are willing, I will take over your training until my job is completed.”
She looked at him, “And after? Will you take me with you?”
Now Taris had to pause, “If you still want to leave, then we shall see. But what about the other orphans? What about your friends in the tunnels, and Envy?” He watched her face fall while she considered his words, and approved, she wouldn’t just abandon her friends on a whim. “There is plenty of time to make your decision, Arauka, no need to choose now,” he paused and looked around. Between his own anger and Aera’s attack this morning, the flat was a mess. “First things first, my new apprentice, help me clean up.”
She hopped off the chair with a smile, “Yes, Master Taris!”
Taris’ eyes hardened slightly, staring at her. Aera was pissed at him, he knew from the lingering shocking pain on his lips and temples. The mere fact that she’d forgotten her gloves was alarming enough. But it was her questions that stung the most. “Aera, calm down and we’ll talk,” he began, but she came at him again. He fell backwards, into a shadow. At least he’d been able to find a way past the barriers before she came in and attacked him, though it took a little effort now.
The assassin reappeared behind her, gently but firmly grabbing her wrists to keep her hands at bay and pulling her with him back into the Shadow Realm. A few seconds later they came out in Envy’s training chamber and Aera pulled away, glaring at him with a fire he’d not yet seen from her.
Envy started towards them immediately but stopped at both Taris’ raised hand and the look on Aera’s face. Having seen her in action before, the Kartaian knew better than to interfere, and started to wonder if he’d need to dispose of a corpse, judging from her eyes. “Kids, bed, now!” he shouted at the orphans, and they scattered out of the room quickly. All but the little elf girl that had brought water to Taris at the archery tournament, she stayed behind, watching from around the corner behind Envy.
Taris pulled off his tunic, aware that he was losing his defense against her power, but needing the increase of movement. He settled into a loose stance, eyes calm, arms in front of him and ready. “I’m ready now, if you insist on fighting me.” Aera said nothing, launching into an attack. Taris dodged her strikes, backing away as she advanced. Her hand knifed at his throat, too quick for him to completely dodge and he brought his arm up to deflect it away. He ignored the small burn the glancing blow left behind, merely taking note that she was even angrier than before.
She wasted no effort on speaking, focusing on her attacks, though Taris noticed a small tear sliding down her face. He made no attempt to strike back, staying on defense. He took a few more small strikes to his arms, and one to his side, ignoring the burns that appeared with each contact. Backing the whole time he soon found himself against the wall, and she pressed her advantage. Just before she struck, the Shadow Elf slipped into a shadow, emerging on the other side of the room.
Aera’s eyes flashed and she grabbed a pair of daggers from a nearby table. She charged low towards him, blades at her sides and ready. Taris held his arms out as he watched her begin her newest attack, darkness swirling around his hands. She was almost upon him when the shadows dissolved and his own daggers came forward to parry hers. She was quick, but he had just a bit more reach on her, his daggers flashing into the paths of her strikes.
She hissed after a while and jabbed one dagger at his heart, the other at his groin. Taris’ own daggers met hers and locked guards. A quick twist and flick, and her blades went flying out of her grip. He vanished his own daggers once more as she stepped back to recover and attacked anew. But her strikes were slower, he knew she was tiring. “Are you ready to talk to me yet?” he asked her between punches. She didn’t answer, but gave a surprisingly quick jab that took him in the shoulder. A shock flew from the point of impact down his arm, numbing the tips of his fingers. That was something, at least, she was calming down.
Aera scowled at him and began to talk between attacks, “You killed the doctor. Why?”
Taris dodged easily now, “He tried to hurt you.”
Another strike, “Kasca?”
Taris gave a feral smile, “Between what he tried to do to you, and the hell he put me through in the tournament? No, I took pleasure in that one.”
Her eyes became steel and her attacks became more furious, “….My husband?”
Now Taris did hesitate, as she backed him against the wall again. He jumped up and launched off the wall, landing midway across the room and rolling to his feet. She hadn’t moved from where she was. He took a few breaths, “Him, I was hired to kill, along with a few more targets.”
He could see her eyes flash even from this distance and watched as she grabbed a bow, nocking an arrow. She drew back, “So I was just a trophy, or did you hope to use me against him?”
Taris stilled weighing his words, knowing she deserved the truth. He sighed, “Before I met you, yes, I wanted to use you to get close to him. But then I fell in love with you, and I just wanted to get you away from him. Aera, you’re not a trophy to me. He deserves to die because of how he treats you, not just because I was hired to. You mean more to me than anyone has in a long time, I think maybe more than anybody ever. Last night was special to me.”
A tear fell from her cheek, then another, soon a stream came forth, but she held the bowstring back still. She no longer knew what to think. She wanted to think he was telling the truth. But he was an assassin, and he admitted he was hired to kill her husband. She knew the anger was ebbing away and should lower the bow, but it left frustration in its place and she wanted him to know she was upset with him. Aera aimed at his shoulder, knowing he could dodge easily. “You idiot,” she muttered, loosing the arrow.
Taris watched the emotions behind her eyes, waiting. He saw her shift her aim and fire, and knew she wanted him to dodge. But something inside him told him he deserved it, and kept him from moving. The arrow plunged into his left shoulder, sending him spinning to the floor. He’d only been hit by an arrow once before, and the pain was one of the worst he’d ever felt back then. Now… now it was still amongst the worst pains he’d felt. With effort he levered himself with his good arm back into a sitting position, breathing heavily and looking up at Aera.
The assassin reappeared behind her, gently but firmly grabbing her wrists to keep her hands at bay and pulling her with him back into the Shadow Realm. A few seconds later they came out in Envy’s training chamber and Aera pulled away, glaring at him with a fire he’d not yet seen from her.
Envy started towards them immediately but stopped at both Taris’ raised hand and the look on Aera’s face. Having seen her in action before, the Kartaian knew better than to interfere, and started to wonder if he’d need to dispose of a corpse, judging from her eyes. “Kids, bed, now!” he shouted at the orphans, and they scattered out of the room quickly. All but the little elf girl that had brought water to Taris at the archery tournament, she stayed behind, watching from around the corner behind Envy.
Taris pulled off his tunic, aware that he was losing his defense against her power, but needing the increase of movement. He settled into a loose stance, eyes calm, arms in front of him and ready. “I’m ready now, if you insist on fighting me.” Aera said nothing, launching into an attack. Taris dodged her strikes, backing away as she advanced. Her hand knifed at his throat, too quick for him to completely dodge and he brought his arm up to deflect it away. He ignored the small burn the glancing blow left behind, merely taking note that she was even angrier than before.
She wasted no effort on speaking, focusing on her attacks, though Taris noticed a small tear sliding down her face. He made no attempt to strike back, staying on defense. He took a few more small strikes to his arms, and one to his side, ignoring the burns that appeared with each contact. Backing the whole time he soon found himself against the wall, and she pressed her advantage. Just before she struck, the Shadow Elf slipped into a shadow, emerging on the other side of the room.
Aera’s eyes flashed and she grabbed a pair of daggers from a nearby table. She charged low towards him, blades at her sides and ready. Taris held his arms out as he watched her begin her newest attack, darkness swirling around his hands. She was almost upon him when the shadows dissolved and his own daggers came forward to parry hers. She was quick, but he had just a bit more reach on her, his daggers flashing into the paths of her strikes.
She hissed after a while and jabbed one dagger at his heart, the other at his groin. Taris’ own daggers met hers and locked guards. A quick twist and flick, and her blades went flying out of her grip. He vanished his own daggers once more as she stepped back to recover and attacked anew. But her strikes were slower, he knew she was tiring. “Are you ready to talk to me yet?” he asked her between punches. She didn’t answer, but gave a surprisingly quick jab that took him in the shoulder. A shock flew from the point of impact down his arm, numbing the tips of his fingers. That was something, at least, she was calming down.
Aera scowled at him and began to talk between attacks, “You killed the doctor. Why?”
Taris dodged easily now, “He tried to hurt you.”
Another strike, “Kasca?”
Taris gave a feral smile, “Between what he tried to do to you, and the hell he put me through in the tournament? No, I took pleasure in that one.”
Her eyes became steel and her attacks became more furious, “….My husband?”
Now Taris did hesitate, as she backed him against the wall again. He jumped up and launched off the wall, landing midway across the room and rolling to his feet. She hadn’t moved from where she was. He took a few breaths, “Him, I was hired to kill, along with a few more targets.”
He could see her eyes flash even from this distance and watched as she grabbed a bow, nocking an arrow. She drew back, “So I was just a trophy, or did you hope to use me against him?”
Taris stilled weighing his words, knowing she deserved the truth. He sighed, “Before I met you, yes, I wanted to use you to get close to him. But then I fell in love with you, and I just wanted to get you away from him. Aera, you’re not a trophy to me. He deserves to die because of how he treats you, not just because I was hired to. You mean more to me than anyone has in a long time, I think maybe more than anybody ever. Last night was special to me.”
A tear fell from her cheek, then another, soon a stream came forth, but she held the bowstring back still. She no longer knew what to think. She wanted to think he was telling the truth. But he was an assassin, and he admitted he was hired to kill her husband. She knew the anger was ebbing away and should lower the bow, but it left frustration in its place and she wanted him to know she was upset with him. Aera aimed at his shoulder, knowing he could dodge easily. “You idiot,” she muttered, loosing the arrow.
Taris watched the emotions behind her eyes, waiting. He saw her shift her aim and fire, and knew she wanted him to dodge. But something inside him told him he deserved it, and kept him from moving. The arrow plunged into his left shoulder, sending him spinning to the floor. He’d only been hit by an arrow once before, and the pain was one of the worst he’d ever felt back then. Now… now it was still amongst the worst pains he’d felt. With effort he levered himself with his good arm back into a sitting position, breathing heavily and looking up at Aera.
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