Beginning of Someth...Ch 8

"Did ya hear about the massacre at the Assassins Guild?"

"Yea the town crier had a field day with it, claiming demons and other such things the cause of it."

"Deeprunner Inn has lost its Inn Keeper, Grimwall is dead, killed by a blade apparently. His body was cremated by his closest friends. May his soul rest in peace. The Royal Family is having a statue made in his honour, Grimwall Deeprunner was a close friend to them. They however didn't know about the cremation, but agreed that it was most fitting"

"The guild's stronghold is slag heap. There's nothing left, bodies are stacked up, men and women, rumour has it, that even their contracts are there as well."

"Their contracts??"

"Aye, you see the guild gets outside commissions to kill people. A lot of good people who have died recently have been reported to be on the list on the contracts, the Assassins have lost heir sense of honour, prior they were requested to remove persons of evil intent, almost like Grenth's Judgement on our plain of existence. To be completely honest with you, with the revelation of this, I'm glad their dead."

Drake and I were making way to our vessel. Last night was not just about vengeance, it was also a sign that we will not tolerate such cowardly behaviour, you want to kill someone? Do it yourself. Listening to the locals talk about the massacre, and the discovery of the contracts was a shock, normally the contracts, once complete, were burnt to hide evidence, but no one will be missing them, I'm sure the Mantle would have received word of the fall of the assassins, leaving them in doubt as to where we have disappeared to. At least people spoke well of Grimwall. He was a beloved figure, Lion's Arch will not be the same without him. Images from last night still ran through my head, moving from room to room, we woke up each occupant, gave them a chance to defend themselves, I don't kill people in their sleep, we wanted a fair fight, we gave them the same chance, and they all ended up dying by our hand. Concept of contract, first assassins fails, next in line picks up the contract, sooner or later Drake and I would have been visited by the next assassin and so on and so forth. We made it easier for them by going to them, but they proved no match. Wearing robes our faces were hidden, no one asked questions, no one suspected anything, in a city like Lions Arch one meets all kinds of people, as far as people would think, we were just a two holy people, on our way to spread the word of The Five. Our vessel was a large commercial freighter, the quartermaster asked for our letters of recommendation, happy with us, he let us aboard. He asked no questions, no names, no smiles, no hand shakes, all business, he indicated to a crew member who led us to our room, we were informed that the 'cargo' was directly below us. Drake quickly made a hole in the ground, I jumped down into the storage area and took a look around. The walls were enchanted and were made of a metal that I was not familiar with, Drake didn't know what it was called, but its a rare and strong metal, once said metal hardens its almost indestructible. Doubled up with such powerful enchantments this gold was going no where. Short of having the ability to destroy or pierce though the metal, If a thief wanted in, they would have to go through our room. The captain of this ship had thought this through quite thoroughly.

"The Zaishen are aboard this ship"

He was right, no way the Zaishen would not accompany a convoy of this size, especially a token of good will for their emperor. Which means our ability to move about the ship was limited.  We also have no idea who the agents are, or how many there are. Drake and I both know that I'm the only person who can identify them, Zaishen agents have means to communicate, secret code words, symbols, euphemistic sentences, the protocol might have changed, but most agents never forget. I would be my job to roam the ship and find them, hopefully my disguise would do it. Id have to have approach the agents appearing as an agent as well. I turned and looked at my husband, he saw my expression and nodded, putting my robe and pulling up the hood, I left the room

"Hoist anchor! Full canvas! Heading South West!"

The captain had set sail, I moved to the edge and watched Lion's Arch slowly becoming smaller and smaller. The sea breeze blowing through my hair, the gulls sounding above me, people shuffling about the deck busying themselves with their duties. A lonely shipmate, was standing across the deck from me, I went up to him, spoke the code

"Hello agent, I was unaware that people still hold to the old ways, what brings you aboard this ship"

"I'm glad to know that the old ways are not forgotten, I have information on a certain fugitive that is currently aboard this ship that I believe the Order is very interested in."

"Oh and who might that be?"

"Drake"

The agent stiffened visibly.

"H..how..did you come by this information?"

"I am travelling with him."

I removed my hood for him to see my face.

"Kairi....by the Five."

"He currently in the cabin located above the convoy, he is alone, his weapons are on his person. How many more agents are aboard the ship?"

"The entire crew."

"Good. Gather everyone, we take the room, once he is apprehended this is what you must do"

I sat in the room, I'd let Kairi to what she needed to do. Pacing in the room, I wondered what would happen once contact had been made, how they would play it out. Suddenly the door crashed down.

"Don't move Drake! We have enough magic at our disposal that you will cease to exist, do not struggle, do not fight back, we will not harm you unless you give us reason to."

I did as I was told, fighting on a ship, and from the looks of it, every single person on board was of the Zaishen, I'd have to kill them all, and I cant pilot a ship on my own. I knelt down, and put my hands behind my back, I was put into shackles, they searched me for my weapons, upon finding them, they were put into a chest, the captain locked it up and put the key in his pocket.

"Drake you are charged with the murder of Zaishen agents in Lions Arch, as well as the murder of one Lion Guard. Disrupting the peace, killing several of the White Mantle in their own stronghold. Breaking and entering, and several counts of murder. Judgement will be handed out by the Emperor himself, we will be taking you to Raisu Palace. Lock him up in the brig, and make sure he has nothing on him that he can use."

I was lead to the brig, shackles were tight, they took my robe and armour off, left in my skivvies, I was thrown into a cell.

"A day of good fortune, captured the highest priority criminal on the Zaishen wanted list, and he came to us, his so-called wife, turned him in, Kairi infiltrated his home, gained his trust and worked as a double agent for us. While she has also killed, her punishment will be nothing but lashes from the high commander. Him however, surely he will be publicly executed, Elonian Scum, I knew they were a savage country."

Kairi, so it was as I had expected. Days had gone by, I was fed enough food to stop myself from collapsing, I was given a bucket for the my daily routine, no books, no paper, no quill, nothing, not even a lamp to light my cell. They didn't trust me with anything that had potential to become a weapon. The cell was made of the same material as the storage compartment. I couldn't break it even if I wanted to. Single guard shift, changing every four hours, I never saw Kairi, suppose she didn't want to be seen with me at this juncture, but hopefully once we reach the Kaineng Docks, I could create a quick and simple escape.

On the fifth day we reached Kaineng Docks, I hadn't seen Cantha in years, it was good to be back on home soil. Drake was brought out from the brig, still in his underwear, he was walked through the streets of Kaineng City, wanted posters of  him were everywhere, people were booing, hissing, insulting and even throwing produce at him, unperturbed he took it. Never saying a word of protest, no whimpering, a stone till the end, we marched him straight to the Emperor's court, pushed him to his knees, Kisu rose to his feet.

"Drake, you know what you are charged with, your 'wife' is our witness, while she has committed murder, hers was a necessary one, yours however, is one that will not be forgiven, and by my divine justice, I condemn you to immediate and instantaneous death. Executioner!"

"My Emperor!"

"What is it Kairi?"

"He has made me endure hardships put me into situations which had compromised my honour, I wish to regain some of it by ending him, please grant me this!"

The Emperor looked at her, I could see the fury in his eyes, clearly he believed that I had done some great injustice.

"My nephew and niece were part of that contingent in Lion's Arch."

My eyes dropped, Kairi dropped her head. He had lost family, that was a blow that no one should bear. I could almost feel his pain, my heart wept for his loss.

"I would execute him myself, I will not have more blood shed, you have taken enough from me Drake, you will not take my integrity. Kairi I permit you to take his life. And make it quick."

She pulled out her bow, knocked an arrow to it, pulled, looked me dead in the eye, and fired, I felt the arrow hit me, but before I could register the pain, my world went black.