CHAPTER 21 – REVELATION

AIDEN

I watched her from the corner. Her position was relaxed as she crouched down to watch the house across the street. Her honey blond hair fell out of her ponytail and sprayed across her back. She had been watching the house for three days now. Each night she stopped by my room, leaned against my door frame, and gave a report on what the Hunter had done for that day. Each night her report was accurate. It was amazing really that she was being so cooperative. The pain of it was that I couldn’t figure out why. Of course, she was probably just as confused over why I had given her the job in the first place. Perhaps we were both testing each other. I wanted to know just how far her loyalties lay.

She was a piece of work. I knew that she hadn’t been lying when she told me what she had writing to the Hunter. Her eyes and voice gave away her lies to me and she had been telling the truth. I had said it was because she couldn’t betray me, but that alone didn’t make sense. I was under no illusions that she fully intended to stop me from completing my mission. Her eyes gave that away too.

Whenever she spoke or saw the Hunter, her green eyes softened, as did her tone. She didn’t even seem to realize it, but she gave it away every time that she loved him. I just didn’t know to what extent. She claimed almost violently that they weren’t lovers, but she seemed to care almost more than a sibling. Of course, she was working with someone who fully intended to kill him. That would have certainly made my sisters react more. Still, the question made me very curious. It was also the one piece of information she continued to hold back.

So, what made her so willing to comply with my order to spy on him and give me all the information she collected? More than once I had verified that her information was correct. She hadn’t hid anything from me, including the fact that the Hunter had started watching Captain Ricald’s house.

That was another interesting subject. Why was he watching the house of the man giving my orders? Did it have anything to do with me? The thought only made me slightly nervous, because he couldn’t have that information. Not unless, Kristalyn had given it too him. I watched her shift her weight to her other leg. But she hadn’t. I simply did not doubt that fact. So, what made this house so interesting to him? When I had first mentioned Ricald to Kristalyn she had reacted strangely, did that have something to do with it?

I pushed away from the wall and walked back to my room. I had asked Kristalyn to try and find out why today, maybe she would have news when she come to my room tonight. I entered the tavern and order my supper, along with some smoked chicken, to my room. I had started the habit right after Kristalyn’s first night on her mission. I wasn’t sure why, exactly, but I liked being there to talk to her when she came back rather than in the dining room. I wasn’t about to analyze any reasoning behind the action.

I hadn’t been in there long when a knock came at my door.

“Enter,” I called knowing it was the food. The girl was rather quick with it. Just the same, I automatically moved my hand to my waist dagger until the door opened enough to prove it was the wench from downstairs. I never had bothered to learn her name, of course, her looks pretty much spoke for themselves.

“Hey ya, Handsome. I brought your favorite,” she cooed as she entered.

I had order the same thing as usual, she didn’t have a choice what she brought. “Put it on the desk.” I replied, turning my back to her, so I could look through my drawers. I needed to sharpen my knife, and the rock I used wasn’t in its normal place.

“Aw, come on Handsome, why so cold tonight?” She asked in a pouty voice. I heard the tray land on the desk.

“Am I?” I questioned causally, finally finding my sharpening rock in the top drawer. I frowned, not remembering putting it there.

“You sure are,” she whispered. I could feel her coming up behind me. She put a hand on my back. If she didn’t move it soon, I was going to break it. “I could warm up you up though. It would be a pleasure.”

“I bet it would,” I replied, turning around ready to deck her. It was only when I turned that I spotted a completely livid Kristalyn standing in my open door. I let a slow grin cross my face and kept my eyes on the girl before me. “But that will have to come later. I have business to attend to now.”

“Aw,” she muttered regretfully moving her hand on my chest.

“Yes,” I replied catching her hand, better than cutting it off. “Next time. Now go on.” I gave her a little twirl around.

“Oh!” She exclaimed when she saw Kristalyn.

“Yeah, oh,” Kristalyn muttered. “I believe you were leaving.”

The girls swished her way out past Kristalyn and I heard her whisper, “Only for now.”

I covered a grin at the look on Kristalyn’s face. The female was lucky she didn’t get a knife in her gut. It really was quite amusing to be able to read her face.

She looked up at me then. “Interrupting something?”

“Not at all. Just some fun,” I replied causally as I pulled out a chair to sit at my meal.

“That is not fun. It’s pathetic.” I could tell she was trying to keep her voice level.

“Oh, is that what you call it?” I asked, looking at her. “We males have a different name.”

“You really are a pig,” she spat.

I shrugged, tired of the game now. I didn’t mind getting her all worked up, that was quite fun actually, but I did need the information she had. If I wasn’t careful, she wouldn’t give it. “What did you learn?”

“The reason he’s been at Ricald’s,” she replied tonelessly. It meant she was rather ticked at me.
I smiled and held out the plate of smoked chicken to her. She raised an eyebrow, but came in the room to accept the plate. Quietly she turned and took a crossed legged seat on my bed. I turned around so I could still see her.

“Well?”

She took a bite and took her time swallowing it. “I’m pretty sure he’s after a servant girl.”

“What?” I questioned, confused.

“That is his job, remember? He frees slaves.”

“Right, but why her?” I asked.

“I can’t be positive, but I believe it has something to do with the girl that was living with him. The one that was captured the night you tried to kill him.” She replied.

“What are you talking about?” I asked confused.

She looked at me in surprise. “You mean you don’t know? You must have seen her dragged into the gate.”

“Explain it anyway,” I commanded, returning o my food as she talked.

She explained quickly about following the mystery girl from Cormac’s house to Ricald and her later capture. She was obviously not pleased she hadn’t been able to interfere. She ended with seeing the girl yanked into the castle.

I thought for a moment, replaying that night. “I did see them go in. I just didn’t realize it was the Hunter’s mystery girl. She must have been trying to free the girl herself.”

“That’s my guess. Only the guard caught her before she could. Tancred must want to go back and finish the job,” Kristalyn surmised.

“Why is the girl so important?” I asked next.

Kristalyn shook her head. “That I’m not sure. She’s young and looks like Lady Ricald’s person slave. But I wouldn’t think that would put Tray on her scent. The only thing I can figure is that she is related to the captured girl.”

“That’s interesting news. I might be able to use that,” I muttered almost to myself. If the Hunter was distracted with this girl, he might let his guard down some. It would be a good time to attack. “Does he follow her everywhere?”

“He followed her to the market earlier today. But he wouldn’t do that all the time, it’s too risky.” Kristalyn answered cautiously.

I looked up at her tone of voice. “What?” She didn’t reply, so I asked again, “Kristalyn? What is it?”

“Your planning on attacking soon, aren’t you?” Her voice was steady, but quiet.

“Not just yet. You knew this was coming though.” I replied, confused by her sudden consciousness.

She looked me in the eyes then and said firmly, “Yes, I did. Is that all?”

I nodded and she got up, taking her half eaten food with her.

“Kristalyn,” I called for her at the door. She paused, but didn’t turn. So, I got up and went to stand behind her. “Why have you been taking my orders? Why are you being so honest with me?”

“Because you needed me to be,” her answer came very quietly. “Don’t get use to it, Aiden. I’ll still stop you and so will Deus.”

She left quickly before I could answer. I might be able to read her, but she knew how to get a reaction out of me too.

I threw off thoughts from her answer, or the fact that I had to ask the questions, and turned to thoughts of taking the Hunter down. I was going to do it soon, very soon. All I needed was him to follow the girl into the market once more and I would have him. This would all be over soon enough. Then, I would deal with Kristalyn.

***

Kristalyn burst into my room without knocking a few days later.

“They got her!”

“What?” I asked, looking up at her from my spot on the bed.

“Tray! He freed the girl!” She exclaimed, happiness evident in her voice.

“When?” I asked, standing quickly. This wasn’t welcome news for me.

“Just now. He just got her back to his house. He’s waiting for Jaedon to arrive now.” Kriastalyn grinned and took a step towards me. “Aiden? This is great news. That little girl is free.”

I looked at her, thinking quickly. If he had freed the girl already, he might be planning on leaving the city. It was past time for him to go. Surly his king would require his sword on the battlefield. Would he leave with the girl immediately or would he stay for a few more days? I couldn’t afford to let him leave the city. My best bet for taking him down was right here.

“Will he leave the city then?” I asked carefully.

Kristalyn looked at me for a moment then finally shook her head. “The girl that was in the house with them was never released. I don’t know who she was, but Trancred won’t leave the city until she is free. He’s lost one to many in this city for that.”

“The one at the execution square?” I asked causally.

Kristalyn only nodded.

“But her can’t keep the girl so close to her former home either,” I continued.

Kristalyn thought for a second. “I don’t know what he will do with her. Ricald’s wife has no reason to suspect that the Hunter would take her slave girl, much less that he is here in the city. She will more likely assume the girl has run away and look for her in the streets of the market or the poor section.”

I nodded. “Perhaps.” Or perhaps not, I wanted more information than I had. “I will go with you tomorrow to watch his house.”

“Why?” Kristalyn questioned. “I didn’t give you any false information.”

I smiled as I looked at her. “I know. I simply want to see things for myself tomorrow.”
I crossed the few steps to her. “Do you think I don’t trust you?”

“I don’t know. Do you?” She questioned evenly, not looking away from my gaze.
“As much as I normally trust the enemy,” I answered.

She smiled. “Oh, you trust me more than that and we both know it.”

“Do I?” I questioned. “And why would I do that?”

“Because, Aiden, despite your comments and deliberate attempts to make me angry, you don’t mind my company. You enjoy it.”

I laughed. “Do I now?”

“Yes. You think you are so smart. But I stopped being just a tool to you long ago. And soon, that’s going to matter a whole lot,” her voice held a promise or a threat, I wasn’t positive which.

“What gave you that mistaken impression?” I asked.

“Deus did,” she said simply. She turned and headed to the door. “I’ll be ready when you want to go in the morning.” With that, she left me to my own thoughts.

Deus again. No matter how I fought against him, he always cropped up, especially if Kristalyn was involved. Her faith in the non-existent god was almost amazing. What would make her think that she had stopped being just a tool to me? More importantly, was she right?

***

The morning rays from the sun and only barley lit the sky when the first movement stirred inside the Hunter’s house. Kristalyn watched from our normal spot in the alleyway, but I slipped to the side so that I could see into their backyard. Tancred himself came out and a moment later two horses were fitted and ready to go. I smiled. Only two and one was a pack animal. I was willing to bet the animal was for Jaedon and not the Hunter. If so, Kristalyn was right and the Hunter was staying behind for the mystery girl. He would never make it to her side whoever she was.

I kept up my silent watch until Tancred, Jaedon, and a small girl with her hand tucked firmly into the Hunter’s excited the house. He lifted her up to sit on the horse’s back and spoke to her softly. Afterwards, he spoke to Jaedon, from his posture he was giving instructions. The older man clapped him on the shoulder and then turned, leading the horses out onto the street. Tancred went to the corner of the house and watched silently without moving. A few seconds later, a dove’s coo broke the stillness that seemed to hold him. His face became on odd mixture of emotions, before he finally turned and went back into the house. He was distracted, very distracted. I couldn’t wait. I would never have a better opportunity to get at him. I glanced to the alleyway. Kristalyn’s eyes were still on the door he had entered through. Even from this distance, her face could not lie to me. She loved him and she would die to protect him, even from me.

I had to keep her out of the way tonight. I couldn’t let her interfere, and just as before, I couldn’t let her get hurt either. I glanced back to the house. Killing the Hunter would hurt her more than anything physically done to her.

I shook off the unwanted thought. It didn’t matter. I had a job to do and my freedom to secure. If I could pull this off, perhaps I would finally be ready to take down Duard. The thought brought a ripple of pleasure, a rare feeling for me. I would enjoy that. I would enjoy it immensely.

But for now I had to concentrate. I had to get rid of Kristalyn.

***

I opened her door quietly. I had put some butter on it earlier and it was greasy and slit quietly. The dragon was asleep on the window slip and Kristalyn on her bed in the corner. I had slipped some sleeping herbs into their food at dinner time and now the effects were at their highest, judging by the dragon’s snorting and snoring. It was a wonder there wasn’t a panic about the building falling. Kristalyn’s own medicine was working, because she didn’t stir.

I moved silently to her side and pulled out the length or rope I had brought with me. She was going to be very heated when she woke and discovered my trick, but at least I knew she would be out of my way. She had fallen asleep shortly after she had eaten, so she was draped awkwardly across the bed. I moved her to a more comfortable position before tying both her hands and feet and then tying them together. I stood back and surveyed my work. I had to move quickly now. I removed her knife from her waist and then looked for her other hidden weapons moving them out of her reach as well. Finally, I pulled an extra blanket out and laid it over her, then turned to the dragon.

His dose had been twice what hers was. I had to actually move him. Being careful not to jostle him too badly and wake him, I placed him into the bag Kristalyn had used when she first brought him into the city. I walked him out to the hallway and locked Kristalyn’s door behind me as I did. Then I placed the dragon into my own room and locked that door as well. The little monster would have everything in my room destroyed before I got back, but it was a small price to pay to get the job done. I didn’t have anything of value to me anyway, except for my weapons and my sister’s letters, all of which I carried on me.

The walk to the Hunter’s house seemed to take forever. For some reason, I couldn’t replace the image in my head of Kristalyn being tied up. She had looked so helpless, yet peaceful in her sleep. I wasn’t fooled, she would be more than a handful when I returned, but the image would not leave me in peace. I didn’t need this pathetic distraction. I needed to be focused. I had to kill the Hunter. His death would mean so much more to me… and to Kristalyn.

Angrily, I shook her name out of my thoughts. Nothing mattered now, nothing mattered but the prey. Yes, the prey. That was what I wanted to concentrate on. His death, his blood on my blade. It would taste blood and I would taste victory. It was so close. Duard’s death was now.
The prey’s house loomed before me, so close. My fingers itched to take the blade and finish it. Patience, I reminded myself. I needed to be sure he was asleep and defenseless. I would take him in a few hours. I could afford no mistakes. Not tonight. I would win tonight.

Finally, the house was quite. The lights were off. It was the wee hours of the morning. It was time.

***

Getting in had been easy, almost too easy, but then I was use to this part. My fingers traced the hilt of my blade in anticipation as I shadowed down the hallway and into the first room. Carefully, I cleared the rooms, ignoring the ones with too little protection. The next room was for holding artifacts, judging by all the strange objects and dark shadows on the walls. A single window on the left wall provided most of the light. Two chairs were in the middle of the room closest to me and a table was down by the end, but it was the form sitting up and watching me that caught and held my full attention.

“Assassin,” Tancred stated, as if he had been waiting for me, though I could tell from his posture and slower movements that he had just woken up.

“Your death,” I responded calmly, even as I drew my sword and raced towards him.
His sleepiness did not hinder him too much as he grabbed his dagger from his waist with just enough time to block my blow.

My sword swept off the dagger and I took a step back to keep my balance. He used the time to crouch and put his dagger in a better position. He was going to fight. I stilled the grin from entering my face. Adrenaline raced through my veins at the thought of a good fight to the death. I had wanted this to be easy, but this test of my skills would be so much better and his death all the sweeter.

I came in again, this time sweeping low and forcing him to jump to the right away from my blade. It also took him away from his own sword, which had seen lying next to his blanket. He hadn’t had time to grab it and I intended to keep it that way. He came at me with the dagger, but he had to keep it close to him and this allowed me to counter him and push him back with little effort.

I came in high this time, but he dropped low and came up hard. It was only my quick movement and the downward sweep of my sword that saved me from getting a knife in my gut. If this was the enemy’s skill it was no wonder he was wanted dead. But, still I was better. We clashed again and this time I managed to back him up into the chair. He had to force himself to regain his balance and his distraction and awkwardness allowed me to hit the dagger from his hand, cutting his wrist as I did so. Quickly, he retreated to behind the chair.

“Just die,” I told him, still tasting his blood from the cut. It wasn’t enough though, I needed him to die.

“Not tonight,” he responded calmly. Nothing much shook this man, but I would. I would break him before I killed him.

“You’re without weapon. You can’t save yourself,” I responded.

“I have more than enough weapons to defeat you,” the calm never left his voice.

I ignored the comment and shoved hard against the chair he was behind with my foot. He dove to the side as the chair toppled and rolled out of the way. I turned to regard him and came at him again. He grabbed something from the table near him and deflected the blow with another dagger. I glared at him. It was my own.

“So, you recognize it?” He questioned.

“I’ll take it from your dead body before this is over,” I responded lethally.

“You will try,” he corrected.

I laughed and struck to the right. He had to cross his body to reflect it and barely managed. The blood on his wrist was making his grip slippery. I didn’t wait, but came back the other way, his block was even slower this time and he moved to the left to get out of the way. He was a few feet from me now and he used the distance to flip the knife in his hands. I frowned and moved to the left even as he threw my own weapon at me. It landed solidly in the wall behind me. When I turned back, it was to find that he had retrieved his sword from the floor.
This time I did grin. Now, the real fight could begin.

“You find this amusing?” He questioned.

“You have confidence, but not the skill. You can’t protect the ones you love, how will you protect yourself against me?” I asked, relishing the feeling of being able to taunt my victim before his death.

His face darkened. I had hit the nerve I was looking for. My surveillance was now paying off. He charged and our sword clashed with a loud ring. I parried his swing and brought my own sword down. The familiar dance had begun. We clashed around the room, blades flying. Movements so fast no one would have been able to follow them, but to me it all made perfect sense. I purposefully over worked his wrist, forcing the blood to flow more freely and loosen his grip. It was slowly beginning to wear on him. I, however, was glorying in the fight, of the exhilaration of real combat. Combat with a worthy opponent. It would almost be a shame to kill such a man, but the victory would be worth it. I knew now that I could take him, but first I would savor my victory. I would enjoy his pain.

“Save yourself. Can you? You couldn’t save the girl taken to the castle, could you?” I taunted. His face tightened, even as his strokes become more furious.

“Where did you send the old man and child, hm? To their deaths?” I blocked again, our fight never slowing. “It’s dangerous out there.”

“You know nothing,” he finally responded, his voice low and coming in deep breaths.
I complete the dance move and forced his hand again. “I know the castle girl is dead. Gone because of you.”

His sword faltered in its block and I pushed harder. He barely managed to keep his grip on it, having to step back to even do that. I laughed. “Pathetic.”

I struck again harder, pushing my moments to their fastest, forcing him to keep up. But he was distracted. My last comment of the girl’s death had shocked and unfocused him. “She is only the second one to die because of you in this city. Isn’t she?”

He stepped back and lost his balance, the movement caused him to lose his already loose grip and I struck the sword from his hand. It clattered into the stillness, broken only by his heavy breathing.

“You couldn’t protect her and you can’t yourself. Die, Hunter.” I raised my blade and brought it down on the broken Hunter.

Freedom.

The pot that flew by my head and crashed into the wall behind him startled me enough that I jumped back and turned around quickly to find a shadowed figure in the doorway. The strength of the throw caused the wall to splinter and shards of it to fly behind me.

I didn’t need to see the face to know who it was. I could feel it the second her eyes met mine. The contact was only for a brief second and she broke it. But I knew it was Kristalyn. She shook her head at me and disappeared from view. When I turned, the Hunter had recovered his sword and was looking at me through hard veiled eyes.

“What do you know of the girl at the castle?” He questioned in a voice that was used to being answer.

I lifted my sword and gave a small shrug. Kristalyn’s appearance was still distracting me. “She is of little consequence to me. I am concerned only with your death.”

“That’s not going to happen,” he stated.

“But it already has. I’ve killed your spirit and we both know it,” I responded, refocusing.

“You know nothing of my spirit, Assassin. Nor will you. Tell me of the girl.”

Taunting him was almost as fun as taunting Kristalyn. The thought gave me pause. The two were close. I had one more trick before I finished him. I would seal m y victory now. “Are you so concerned for her that you forget about Kristalyn? Shame you will die without knowing about either.”

The Hunter’s face registered complete shock. “What do you know of my sister? Where is she?” His voice rose as it become more forceful, but I hardly noticed, my own shock holding me still.
Sister? The famed Hunter and Kristalyn were brother and sibling? I had suspected it once, but to hear it. I was about to kill Kristalyn’s brother… her older brother. I had the advantage, I could still do it. I could kill… He was her brother? My mind could not escape the fact, could not see around it. Kristalyn’s face rose unbidden before me, turning all my taunts back on me. Her eyes bore into mine as the tears welled at what I would do to her brother. I shook the image forcibly from my mind and looked again at the Hunter. It was obvious. How had I not allowed myself to see it? They were siblings.

The reactions this brought flooded my mind and my senses. My own siblings’ faces, so long forgotten, but never ever gone, floated before me. Each calling out my name. Calling out after my own death.

I couldn’t kill him. Not like this. I flipped my blade over and sheathed it in a single smooth move. Turning, I walked to the door.

“Stop!” Tancred called and I paused. “Why are you quitting?”

“Oh, I’m not. I will kill you make no mistake. It is only delayed for a time. Enjoy the moments you have left,” I responded, forcing all the coldness I felt into my voice.

“What do you know of my sister and the castle girl?” Tancred asked. There was a note in his voice I recognized. It is one that Tearith and I often used when discussing our younger siblings. The tone brought my sibling’s faces before me once more.

“They both live. I don’t know of the castle girl, but the other is well,” I spoke quietly and decisively as I walked through the door and down the hall. Tancred did not follow. It would have done him no good and we both knew it. We had other things on our minds and for the moment it united us in a way I did not enjoy and could not escape.

***