(While it may seem that this is better off as a monolouge, I would like for others to join the fray. How you do so, I have no clue but please, do come in.)



The cold wind whipped about him and the rain pricked like tiny needles. The sky was dark as it always was at this time of the night and the pale light of the silver lady only made it worst. Yet, despite the obvious lateness of the hour, the roads were littered with people, all moving towards a general direction. The street torches were lit and the brilliant flames cast heavy shadows all around, lighting the way to the public square.

The issue of the Plague epidemic rampant in the docks has affected the in and outgoing trades from Míriel and the Royal House has seen fit to address these problems immediately and when it was most convenient. At this time of the night, most foreign business were either completed or postponed and the Royal House of Míriel did not want their matter to erupt into an international situation before they have decided on the best way to deal with it. Being an important link between Tarsis and the rest of Entar, the proud city of Míriel could not afford to be deemed a liability.

However, the epidemic was one of the many rising problems Míriel now played host to. Recently, a string of coordinated deaths had occurred throughout the city. Important men and women were found dead, with no connection to one another save the fact that they held some form of power in the city. Some were found with their throats slit, others bore sword wounds, straight through the heart. All the evidence pointed out that these deaths were quick and committed by a professional.

Whispers in the dark spoke of an assassin in the midst but no one could be sure. Ever since Markus Draco, undisputed leader of the Shadow Song, a guild of assassins had been brought into the light of the public, there had never been another assassin operative in Míriel, be it in a league or solitary. That is, until now.

Politicians and those with power tread each day with fear, knowing that for all their vaunted reassurances, if an assassin’s job was to take their life, they could do nothing in their power to prevent it. So they continue with their jobs, praying to whatever deity they hold dear that the assassin’s blade, if indeed there is one in town, would pass over them.

Dietrich Ramus was one of them. The Head of Military affairs, he stood in the town square, behind a pulpit, reciting a prayer to Talos in his head. He was not a big man, not impressive. Most would consider him mousy, with a thin moustache over his wispy lips and graying hair. Still, the people listened to him and yet he hated being out in the opened, surrounded by all these strange faces. One of them could be the bringer of his but duty bound him to this.

“Good people of Míriel! I come before you now to steel your resolve against this terrible twist of fate that has befallen our proud city. Never before has such a Plague touched our shores but I say this to you, our government is doing everything it can to ensure the safety of all its citizens and those from Tarsis, our neighbor. Please, abide by our rules, despite its apparent inconvenience. We do this for your own sake. These days are dark indeed and we need to trust in each other!”

There were several shouts of agreement and approval from the crowd. Some had lost loved ones to the Plague while others had seen what it did to those whom ventured into the quarantined area.

“What about the assassin! What are you going to do about him?” Someone shouted from the mob, his questions urging others to echo him, until it became a cacophony of anxiety which only threatened to shatter Dietrich’s resolve.

Regaining his composure, Dietrich raised his hand, as a sign that he was going to answer the question.

“As far as we know, no reports or sightings of an assassin have been made. Of course, it is common knowledge that if an assassin is within our midst, he can surely avoid being seen. But I say this to you, this assassin, has managed to make his presence known. As such, he is no better than a common murderer and once we find him, I assure you, we will deal with him accordingly!”

The crowd roared in approval, the volume of their voices reaching up to the heavens and even the merciless rain could not drown them out. As they huddled together in groups, praising their government for handling their situations, they cling on to a false sense of security, one that even Dietrich began to believe as he answered their concerns. For a moment, he relinquished his fear, his anxiety and turned to his guards reassuringly, wondering how he could ever feel so threatened when he was protected so well.

He left the pulpit, in tow with his guards as they led him away from the crowd, back towards his quarters in the Inner City. The drone of noises from the people ebbed down as he drew further from them, until only the soft footsteps of his guards and the rain drops splattering on zinc roofs were the only sounds heard.

His three guards followed silently behind him, watching his every move. Their orders were simple: Protect the head of Military Affairs with their lives.

A dark shape loomed over them for a second before disappearing into the shadows. The guards immediately surrounded Dietrich, much to his surprise and disdain.

“What is it?” He asked, his voice quivering with fear.

“We’re not alone Sir. Please, stay calm – “

The next words that came out of the guards’ mouth were garbled nonsense. He clutched his throat, trembling fingers grasping a thin hilt of a stiletto embedded in his throat, where the armor was weak. Blood spurted from his mouth and he collapsed onto the wet road, his blood mixing with the rain. The remaining two guards fanned out immediately, even as a frantic Dietrich began to run off as fast as his soft legs could take him.

“Show yourself!” One of the guards cried out. His only answer came in the form of a swift slash of a silver knife across his throat by a shadowy man in a hooded cloak. Where the man appeared from he did not know, but with his blood draining, he had little time to think of anything else save for his wife.

“Maria - " he uttered before the light dimmed in his eyes and he was no more.

The man seemingly vanished again from sight and the last remaining guard kept himself in the open, his broadsword drawn and eager. He watched all alley ways and roof tops but the rain didn’t help matters. His vision was obscured, made even worst by the protective helm he had on. Cursing loudly, he removed the helm and threw it to the ground, freeing his vision.

“Come on out assassin! Fight like a man!” he shouted, his voice echoing in the dark. A dark figure came from his right. He was fast and would surely had taken him by surprise had he not happened to look in that direction. The guard swung his broadsword at the man but the assassin anticipated the move and leapt high and above him with effortless grace. The guard quickly attempted to counter attack his opponent but his opponent was faster. His knife was plunged with forceful strength through his exposed skull, shattering bone and slithering through layers of soft brain matter. The guard could only utter a gasp, his mind unable to process what had transpired quickly enough.

He died on his knees.

The assassin pulled his knife out and wiping it on the body of the fallen guard, returned it to its scabbard on his girdle. He walked towards the other guard and yanked out the stiletto. The rain washed away what blood was on it. He tucked it back into his right boot. Taking a moment to observe the carnage, the assassin took off, launching himself into the night, reaching for higher ground instinctively and gracefully.  He ran across the roof tops, leaping from one to the other, his powerful legs propelling him forward. The removal of the guards took only a few minutes, not more than five and he was glad to be on with his mission. Dietrich could not have gotten far and it would only be a matter of time before he was found.

And as he anticipated, the frightened Head of Military affairs was running like a mad man, screaming into the night. The assassin pushed on faster, drawing closer to Dietrich with each step and bound. On purpose he alerted the politician with heavy steps on the roofs. As any weak willed individual would do, Dietrich spun round to face a threat he was not prepared to face. At that moment, the assassin launched himself into the air, his arms raised above him and his knees came close to his chest. In that pivotal moment, he removed the other stiletto from his left boot and brought his arms together, one on top of the other with the blade positioned to his far left.

Dietrich let out a scream when the assassin collided with him, his elbows knocking him to the ground and the blade finding its way expertly into his heart. The assassin lay on top of Dietrich, his weight suffocating him in his dying moment.

“Why…?”

“For a crime you helped to cover up. For a life you helped destroy. Take assurance in the fact that I killed you for free. For myself,”

“Who..? Talos help me…Altair…? Altair Dusk?”

“Know that you dug your own grace as you look into my eyes. You helped push me along this path and I am merely returning the favor,”

“I’m…sor – “

He was dead. His lifeless eyes stared ahead and the blood in his mouth was being washed out by the rain. Altair removed his stiletto and tucked it back into his boot.

Bending down, he ran his hand over Dietrich’s face, shutting his eyes.

“We all bear the burden of sin. May the Gods treat yours as they would, mine.”

Slowly, he backed away into the alley where the shadows swallowed him once again.

This night was cold, and the moon shone brightly in the starless sky. But the night was young and the darkness has not fully settled. Many folk still wondered the streets, peacefully and minding their own business. Some shops were still opened, selling off their goods for the day before closing time.

Antonius burst through the front door of the Horse’s Mane, knocking several townsfolk down to the dusty road as he fled like a man possessed. Many were taken by surprise and some retaliated by hurling curses at his disappearing form.

He did not care what they said, nor did he care that they were there. His mind was preoccupied with the need to escape, as far as he can. He needed to make haste, that was all he knew.

He ran into the first available alley he found, zipping past the homeless bums who stared at him with the same glassy look they accord everything else. He broke out into the street again, catching a few patrol guards by surprise.

“Are you alright sir?” One of them asked, approaching him.

“Get away from me!” Antonius shouted, “Leave me alone!”

He pushed the guard’s hand off roughly and bounded away, disappearing once again into another alley.

“It can’t be,” he kept muttering to himself as he ran, “Dead…supposed to be dead,”

He came to a halt suddenly. His way was blocked by two opposing buildings and the only way out was through a narrow space between the two which he could not fit through. Angrily, he punched the wall repeatedly, bruising his knuckles in the process. He was forced to enter the open once again and this, he knew was dangerous. Looking around, Antonius settled his eyes upon the feeble form of an old man, clad in a long hooded coat, keeping himself warm in front of the makeshift fire. 

“Old man, give me your jacket,” Antonius said, taking off his own. It was expensive, a rich red wool jacket with gold satin threads running along the seams. It would keep the old man warmer than the fire ever could.

The old man’s eyes widened in surprise and he removed his coat and handed it to Antonius with shaking hands. Antonius snatched it quickly, passing his own jacket to the man, whom put it on rather eagerly.

“This is a nice fit young man…very nice indeed…”

But his voice was drowned out as Antonius pulled the hood over his face and left the alley, walking down the familiar street with a knot in stomach and his heart beating furiously. He had to make it back home, back to the Estate, where he knew he could not be found. Yet, the walk was a good fifteen minutes and he was beside himself with fear and anticipation.

His hands were tucked in his pockets, his head bowed, the hood concealing his visage well enough. He did not mind the smell that came with the coat, his mind was on other things.

The night grew darker and less people were on the streets. The closer he got to his estate, the lesser people he saw. Blending in with the crowd was impossible now. Antonius quickened his pace, making his way past dark houses to his own, looming above all the others. For a slight moment, he felt a tinge of pride. He had made himself successful after all that has happened. He took his life in his hands and made something of it. Now, he owned the biggest apparel company in Míriel and soon, Tarsis. He was wealthy and he led a good life.

A small smile crept over his face as his eyes gazed upon his sprawling property. He was rich and he was powerful. He could hire a thousand guards to keep him safe. He was richer and more powerful than even the king.

That thought made him laugh out loud. He shrugged off the filthy coat with a look of disgust and slowed his pace, his Estate already in sight.

“Well well my good man. It seems I still am your superior after all these years –“

A hand shot out from the darkness and wrapped itself around his leather vest, pulling him with incredible force into the shadows between two smaller houses. He was pressed up hard against the brick wall and he felt the cold kiss of a blade pressed against his throat. He let out a frightened yelp but was quickly silenced when the blade was pressed deeper into his flesh as warning.

His attacker leaned forward and the pale light that shone overhead cast shadows about his face but Antonius knew who it was. He had known as he was thrust into the shadows.

“Altair…look, I’m sorry-“

“Silence dog or I shall cut your cheating tongue from your mouth,”

“What…what do you want? I have money…you can have…some-“

“Your blood money does not interest me Antonius. You know why I am here,”

“What..? No, after all these years? It can’t be because of that harlot!”

Altair viciously slammed Antonius into the wall, knocking the wind out of him. Antonius doubled over in pain but Altair righted him immediately, pressed him up against the wall again, his blade drawing a trickle of blood.

“Watch your words. I will not tell you again,”

“Alright, alright! I’m sorry. Look, what do you want?”

Altair leaned in closer to Antonius, the rage in his eyes sent cold shivers down Antonius’ eyes.

“Where did Draco send her?

“I don’t know,”

Altair punched him squarely in his kidneys viciously.

Antonius yelled out in pain, collapsing in a heap on the floor, coughing.

“I told you, I don’t know! Nobody knows! You’re better off asking Draco yourself!”

“You lie,” Altair’s voice was calm and his manner, calculating. He knew for a fact that the buildings in this immediate area were owned by Antonius and so far, no one has bought any yet. Antonius could make all the noise he wanted but he’ll never be found. Still, Altair preferred the silence to the barking of an impudent dog.

“No, I am not lying. Of all people, you should know how Draco keeps his secrets to himself. After he exiled both you and Talia, he went mad and started to systematically kill those that were close to him, beginning with The Vipers. We retaliated of course but a man of Draco’s capabilities, soon he had the whole palace guard on us. Most were imprisoned and tried, later executed. Others fled to Narim, even further some of them went. A few of us stayed, under shadow until the storm blew over. I chose to make something of myself Altair,”

“So I see. Considering how easily you were tracked and taken in by me, I must say, I couldn’t have been more disappointed,”

“Disappointed? Of me?” Antonius laughed, “And what about you? It’s been so many years and still, you harbor this ill will in your heart. While we have moved on, either in death or life, you linger still in the prime of your decadence, searching for a purpose which you never had,”

Altair slammed him against the wall again.

“Purpose? You dare speak to me of purpose? Need I remind you that serving as Captain of this nation’s army, I have had plenty of purposes in my life,”

“And now you are like a wraith, clinging to that bitter illusion solace might bring,”

“And you cling to a life that hangs on a thread precariously wound around the sharpen edge of my blade. Tell me Antonius, why should I not cut it?”

The fear returned to Antonius’ eyes when he saw the resolution in Altair’s. His banter play might not have backfired, but he was trading words with a man who does have a purpose, even if that perhaps, at this point, is to beat an answer from him.

“Look, Altair, we were friends-“

“Friends do not turn their back on one another,”

“It was not my idea. Erik said that it was-“

“Erik will get what is coming to him. But now, I want an answer. Where is Draco?”

“Tarsis. You can find him in Tarsis. Where exactly, I do not know. But if you search for answers, it is there that you must go,”

“And this is truth?”

“Yes, it is. I have never lied to you before,”

Altair growled under his breath, “Please.”

“No, I have not. I did not take part in what they had planned. But I could not choose your side. It would have meant death to me too. But looking at the way things turned out, perhaps death would have been a better choice,”

“And perhaps I am here to make that choice for you,”

Silence settled between them. Antonius tried to reach the steeled face of Altair but it was impossible.

He felt Altair press the blade against him again and he started to shake in fear.

“Of all the people,” Altair said. Antonius closed his eyes and waited for the moment to come. He saw his life flashing before his eyes, his wife, and his children. Even his days in the Shadow Song guild, the good memories and bad flooded his mind. Tears streamed down his face and he waited for that inevitable moment.

Only that that moment never came.

Still shivering in fright, Antonius stole a peek with one eye. Then both eyes opened wide. He looked around himself in haste.

Altair was gone.

He had spared him his life.

It had been some time since had left the three corpses for the guards to find, having the night already transcended into an even deeper gloom that Demetri had thought possible. With darkness, came the beasties to play. Mercenaries hired from Narim to kill poor ole' Demetri just because he couldn't keep his hands to himself. What a miserable life! Since leaving your mother to be thrown into the dungeons, to barely scratching a living as a mercenary in Narim. And then this. Be pushed from a well-made establishment to a plaque infested city with an enemy around every corner.

Life was not in Demetri's favor. However, he would thrive on the adversity thrown his way.

Demetri was looking for a way out of the city, most preferably to Tarsis. His enemies were probably thinking that he was planning on going deeper into Andune and hopefully hoping to loose their trail from there. The Merc Nine were not a stupid bunch of mercenaries. They would post men in each city closest to Miriel in hoping to catch him. They were expecting him to move west. Demetri would move east, to Tarsis. From there, he would go back to Narim, and perhaps venture into the Southlands. He had several connections in the Southlands that he could use to acquire trips to any place that he could think of.

Unfortunately, there was a problem. He couldn't acquire a vessel to get to Tarsis, with the plague set lose in Miriel. He would have to look for another way. There were the private docks, where wealthy nobles and such would keep their own vessels. However, they would probably be more guarded than the commercial docks. So, the best way to get out of the city was to find another port, somewhere around Miriel.

Demetri did not hear the jump silently to the floor below. However, his horse appeared to once again try to save his life. Demetri had been leading Ele on the ground with his reins and found himself going nowhere. Ele had stopped, and when Demetri looked back to see what the problem was, he saw that a murdering bandit was coming up on him. Another damn mercenary! Unsheathing one of his twins from his back, Demetri pointed it towards the stranger,"Damn you all to Hell! One peaceful night in Miriel is all I ask for and yet, you and your friends attack me every which way I go! Your leader in this city is slain! Go now, before you join him!"

Whatever plans Demetri had of surprising the man and than striking did not work. Demetri was taken aback by the cold calculation he could see that was working behind the man's eyes. Demetri had made a fatal error in his part; this was not one of the mercenaries hunting him. Those kind of mercenaries were those kind that wouldn't stop an attack, no matter if seen or heard, but would press dumbly on, against their opponent. This man was smarter than they were.

The man withdrew his broadsword and stepped into the light for Demetri to see him more clearly. In turn, as an act of courtesy, Demetri sheathed his sword and bowed his head to the stranger in sign of respect. He didn't need any more enemies than he already had in the city, and this man could possibly help with his situation. And of course, Demetri noticed the man was a duelist by the way he handled his blade.

The man was like a liquid shadow, slipping through cracks and corners without being seen. If Ele had not stopped and warned him, than Demetri would be either unconcious or most likely dead. What had motivated the man to strike him. Of course, his horse. The man was in need of fast transportation and by the sound of pursuing guards, Demetri suddenly knew why.

“Before you make the mistake of stepping into a fight with me, I encourage you to think twice and give me your horse. I require passageway out of this place and time is of the essence,” Demetri wouldn't strike now. He would have to reevaluate the situation from a distance, but of course time was of the essence, and both the stranger and Demetri were fugitives for different reasons. He would have to work with this man, at least until they reached the grips of outside of the city.

"I have a better idea. We need to move quickly..."Demetri did not notice the blade pointed towards him as he thought quickly,"It seems we both need to get out of the city. So, before we finish this tirade in pointless bloodshed with guards breathing down on our necks, let us retire to a more conversational area to finish this meeting of the minds, or swords." He said with a bit of some disdain. Ignoring the blade for the moment, Demetri slid onto Ele and turned around to face the stranger,"Hop on. Ele is more friend than wild mare." Ele would be slowed down a bit with the weight of two men, but Demetri knew the horse's limits, and she would be able to get them safely out of the city, hopefully in the nick of time.

The best route would be to get to Northgate and out of the city. However, that would mean to go towards the guards. Demetri grinned at the thought as he slowly turned the horse north, and decided to hit the alleys and narrow roads around the South Corridor. That would make it markedly harder for the guards to get him, and perhaps harder to get to their location. Plus, there was sure to be more than normal guards in the area because of the rogue who now sat behind Demetri on the saddly, in a rather uncomfortable position.

“I need to get to Tarsis,” The man said, as he held firmly onto the back of Ele, as Demetri made her gallop down a narrow alley, having to keep his head low in case of low beams. Not a pretty sight, to have yourself knocked off at such speeds as Ele was quickly gaining. It was getting harder to control her as they went further up in speed, the area around them a blur as Demetri took one alley after another, losing himself in the complexities of the city as they slowly delved further north. Guards would be all over Northgate, but with a rush and sudden speed, they wouldn't be able to stop them.

The man needed to get to Tarsis. What a splendid idea for Demetri to get a hold of,"As a matter of fact, so do I." He said, barely below a shout so as to be heard above the loud clop of hooves on the stone floors."Demetri Ferrinex. And you are?" Not waiting for an answer, the horse dived back on to a more public street, barely missing a drunk as a guard yelled out for them to stop. Demetri nontheless kept going when they passed the walls, and didn't stop until the thirty foot high walls of Miriel were but a speck in the distance.

Only than did he slow down to a trot, breathing a sigh of relief at their easiness of getting out of the city.

He slid down from Ele so as to give the horse a rest and for Demetri to stretch his legs, he nonetheless held onto the reigns of the horse. Leading the horse slowly into the woods, he pondered his decisions for the moment. He had made bad decisions from the start, choosing Miriel as a place to land, when there was a plague in the area. Not deciding to go to Tarsis instead, where his enemies would be slower to look. And now, he was beginning to wonder if this was a bad decision in itself.

Demetri's father's last name was Ferrinex. His mother had adopted it for him so she wouldn't have to tell everyone that she hadn't been married to Demetri's father when he had been born. She didn't want Demetri to live with the fact that he was a bastard child. Of course, Demetri figured it out when he got older, but by than he didn't really care. It had been years since his mother had seen his father.

Demetri had decided to trust the man for no apparent reason. They weren't friends, merely men pushed into circumstances together and taking the oppurtunities that came their way. However, the man was someone who seemed to know something of honor. Demetri would not betray the man. Betrayal was beneath him and there was no need for it.

“Altair. Altair Dusk,” The man, now Altair said. Presuming by the name, Demetri wondered if it was his real name. Dusk was not a common last name, so it was chosen, and he had never heard Altair whispered before. Demetri acknowledged the man's name by nodding and pushing it from his mind. Now that the stranger had a name, maybe the conversations would be more fluid, if there was to be more of them.

“This is far enough. They won’t be looking for us here, not now at least. Gives us ample time to get across the sea,” Altair said, “I believe there is an independent port near here, at the forest’s edge. We might be fortunate enough to procure a boat from there,”Demetri nodded and continued to lead the horse,"The guards will not be looking for us, but the people who chase me will." He didn't want to delve into who exactly chased him, not trusting the man that completely.

Demetri walked silently behind the mysterious leading Altair as Demetri spoke comforting words to Ele in whispers. He had not learned much about the man, so he was taking comfort in the whispering conversation he was having with Ele. Dear Ele, with the deepest blue eyes, only snorted at quiet remarks made by Demetri, as if she truly understood what her half elf pet could be thinking,"Now I wonder what makes this man tic."Whispered Demetri quietly enough to Ele for Altair not to hear, and once again Ele only snorted.

The men that hunted Demetri were many in number. Although Demetri had never done jobs with the Merc Nine, their prestige in Narim had earned them a name around that part of Entar as extremely reliable and with resources from the foreign Nijon to the City of the Gods, Elenion.

They came to a dip in the road and the trail led downhill. In the distance, Demetri saw smoke billowing out of a chimney. Apparently, they were near the place where they were to acquire a house.

“Lead your horse down there, quietly,”Demetri nodded to the place where Altair was pointing and quietly made his way towards the safe location, stopping in some tall weeds that came to Demetri's shins. “I shall go around and ensure that there is a boat we can obtain,” Altair was gone almost as fast as he had spoken, and Demetri took time to take some strips of cloth from his pack and wrap them around Ele's hooves so as to quiet their approach to the boat.

As he waited for Altair to return, he looked around for something to keep his attention, and so he divided his time by peering through a very dirty window to the inside of the house to get a look of where the occupants were and to access on what they were dealing with. An old man, who had appeared to have once been in the military, and a wife. The worst thing that worried him though was the hound dog that sat curled up around the old man's feet at the fireplace. The woman was quietly embroidering in a chair next to the man, as the man read an old book.

Not two minutes back to where he had left his horse, Altair was back,"There is a boat. We can sneak past the house and get it but your animal. We might need some clever subterfuge for her. Any ideas would be welcomed.”

Demetri nodded and looked at his horse for a moment,"A decoy would work. Something to draw the people inside the house away from our location."

Demetri had not been off of a ship for two hours and already he was going to get in another one, which was smaller and more dangerous because of the fact that not only was Demetri and Altair going to get in a boat, but also his horse. Having Ele on board would make it harder to row and hopefully the trip between here and Tarsis would be short and the sea would be calm enough to navigate by the stars. Altair possessed some kind of map so that would help in some cases.

The awkward silence stretched.

“Alright, I have an idea,” Altair finally said, “See that small clearing there,"Demetri looked over to where the clearing was," by the pathway next to the house? Wait there for my signal. You will be well hidden there, so do not worry. When I give you the sign, make your way along the pathway quickly until you come to the back of the house. To your immediate left, you will see a makeshift port and a boat harbored. Get it ready and I will join you soon after,”

With a nod, Demetri had set off and got to the small clearing turning around to face Altair, who was peering through a window. Apparently, he was going to do something that would give the people inside a fright for their lives.

Waiting for the signal, he heard a shrill scream that nearly burst open his sensitive ears as Demetri winced at the sound. Ele snorted loudly at the fact, and Demetri prepared himself to move.

The house was in an uproar.

Raising his other hand, Altair gave the signal to Demetri. Demetri nodded and clicked his tongue to Ele to get her moving, going quickly down the pathway until he had come back to the house. Looking to his left, he saw the makeshift port and the boat harbored. Looking along the port he saw a two paddles and took them to the boat with him,"Come on, girl." He said in a whisper to Ele as she got into the back of the boat uneasily. Than he got into the boat and waited for Altair to arrive.