CHAPTER 24 ~ DEADLY FALL OUT

AIDEN

FOUR MONTHS AND FOUR WEEKS

I didn’t stop walking. I didn’t even pause. I walked straight out the city gate and continued almost unconsciously to where Maglynar would have landed.

Emotions I had never thought to feel again raced through me. Thoughts I could barely grasp shot through my mind tumbling over each other and each demanding its own attention. Things had happened so fast. I hadn’t had time. I could still change things, yet I knew what I was doing was my final decision. I knew it, yet I couldn’t accept it. I wasn’t even sure what I should be accepting. Everything was too confusing, too jumbled. I hadn’t felt so out of control since Duard had twisted me into a useless lump of worthless human.

Duard. The one who had sent me on this mission. It was he who had split my family, who told me my brother was not smart enough nor I strong enough to defeat him. Had I proven him right? Was this what he had meant? I had tried so hard to rip out every aspect of my soul that might harbor the possibility of keeping me from my ultimate mission, yet once again I had choked. I had him, I knew I had him, and yet I had let him go. I had let petty, worthless thoughts distract me from my purpose. I had failed once again to do the final act. I hadn’t thrown the knife and Duard still lived.

No! No, not Duard, the Hunter. It was the Hunter’s life I had spared. It was different. Wasn’t it? Yes, I had spared a version of what I might have been. I had spared myself. But I had no right to do that! That wasn’t a choice I was allowed to make. He had stood in my way! Didn’t he? I had convinced myself that was true. Why? Why was I so despite to kill him? Because of that contract. The one Zoe had pleaded for me not to enter into. If the Hunter lived, I could not get out from Ricald’s thumb. I would now forever be in his service and that meant I could not go back and defeat Duard. I had betrayed my family again!

The thought rocked me and I fell to my knees, my hands smashing to the ground. No! It couldn’t be true! In sparing the Hunter’s life had I doomed my family? Had I truly betrayed them again? My life was worthless! Meaningless! I existed to correct my mistake! I existed to bring them back together and avenge our parents, our lifestyle, everything about us. But when it came down to it, all I had to do was kill one person. Just one! The Hunter was the greatest fighter I had yet to encounter. If I had killed him I would have proven I was ready to go back and take Duard down. But I had spared him! Spared him! In the end, I hadn’t even thrown the knife. Why? What would posses me to betray my family like that? How could I do it?

I had fought for the last two years, no longer than that, against just this thing! And now, I proved I was worthless. I didn’t deserve any of my family. Daurd had been right. I wasn’t strong enough. I couldn’t kill the Hunter and I couldn’t kill him. My family, the ones I had tried so hard to forget and fight for at the same time, didn’t need me. They had no use for someone who would cave and not complete his only life mission. I was worthless. I didn’t deserve my family or anything else. They were better off without me. Everyone was.

Emma, Fatima, Gidryon, Travon, Tancred, Kristalyn, Sam, Zoe, Aquila, Wren, Ilara, Arnan, Daelia, Taerith, and hundreds of others faces that I had killed or ruined their lives floated before me. Each asked the question that had once been Zoe’s favorite too me. “Why, Aiden, why?”

It was only now that I could give her, and them, my answer. “Because I am worthless. You deserved better. I could not… I’m sorry. I’m sorry, my siblings.”

My grip on the ground tightened and my sides heaved. I felt the knife in my clutches. I had failed them all. I collapsed on the ground and raised the knife slightly above me. They would all be better off. Better off if I was not around to betray them and drag them down…They would be better at least. Only that mattered now. It was all that had ever mattered.

Slowly, I brought the knife down and darkness descended.

***

I awoke slowly. My chest hurt like nothing I had ever felt before and I could hardly breathe. The right side of my body was completely warm and I could feel pressure against its length. Darkness was all around me and I couldn’t see anything. I shook my head trying to clear it from the fogginess that encompassed it and remember what had happened. The movement must have startled my blanket, because I felt something shift and the darkness above me started to move. I squinted, into the new light as it appeared. A wing had been my cover.

“Your awake,” a relieved voice spoke at my side.

I struggled to place it, as I heard the low mournful screech come form my right side. The griffin’s head came down and gently stroked my face.

“Maglynar?” I croaked.

The animal screeched softly, pleased.

“What happened?”

“We were hoping you could tell us,” the girl’s voice spoke again.

I turned my head from Maglynar to see Kristalyn kneeling next to me, her black panther crouched at her side and watching me.

“What?” I asked, still trying to figure out what was happening.

“Maglynar found you in the field I think. He brought you here and Kuroiden came for me. I met him outside the city. I had been following you, but I was pretty far behind. Do you know what happened?”

I raced my hand to my chest.

“You have a severe wound to your chest, but you’ll live.”

“How? I should have died.” I spoke, the pain and humiliation of my betrayal coming back to me, as well as my attempt to correct it. I laughed without humor and immediate regretted it. “I failed again.”

“What are you talking about? Aiden, did you do this to yourself? You weren’t attacked.” The second part wasn’t a question.

“No.” I answered listlessly.

“Why?” Her voice held all her shock.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does matter!” She protested. Kuroiden whined and moved under her arm to put his head in her lap. She ignored him. “You didn’t kill Tray. You had the perfect chance and you let him live. Is that what this is about?”

I turned my head back into Maglynar’s feathers and fur. “Leave it be.”

“Aiden, please,” she pleaded. “I want to understand.”

“It’s not your concern.”

“Does it have anything to do with these?” She asked quietly.

I turned my head again to see her holding up two pieces of parchment. My hand automatically went to my chest. “Where did you get them?” I growled, anger giving me strength to speak coherently.

“I’m sorry.” She placed them in my hand and I gripped them tightly. “I didn’t mean to pry. I had to take off your shirt to bandage you and they slipped out.”

“And open so you could read them?” I asked scornfully.

“No,” she admitted slowly, color rising in her cheeks. “I, um, saw the first one. But not the others. I only know it is signed by your sisters, Daelia and Aquila. I saw more of the first one.”

“How much more?” I struggled to ask.

“All of it,” she admitted.

I grunted and waited for the questions. She didn’t disappoint, even though I wished she had.

“Who is Duard?”

“Our guardian,” I answered, not knowing fully why.

“But he split you up and forbid you to contact each other?”

I nodded.

“Why?”

“I don’t know. None of us did,” the answer was hard to say.

“Why did you go then?”

“We just did,” that was even harder.

She seemed to understand something though, because she didn’t press any further.

“How many siblings do you have?”

“Eight,” I answered.

“Wow. That’s a big family. It must be nice. It is only Tray and me and our mother of course. Although, those at the camp could be considered siblings I guess.”

I didn’t answer. I was growing tired and I didn’t want to answer questions about those I had betrayed. I didn’t even know why I was still alive. Killing myself was the only thing I had left to give them and I betrayed them even in that.

“Rest, Aiden. I’ll watch over you,” Kristalyn’s voice was low and soft.

“Why?” I whispered already feeling myself slipping back into unconsciousness.

“Because you deserve my care,” she answered.

I could feel a cool cloth being rubbed over my forehead.

“No. Why am I alive?”

“A miracle, Aiden. That’s all I know.”

It was the last thing I heard before blissful oblivion took me back into her arms.

***

“Maglynar, if you are going to insist staying at his side, then at least hold still,” Kristalyn’s voice broke into my sleep.

The griffin gave a low mournful screech.

“Yes, I know you need to be close to him, but you shift again like that and I’m not going to be happy.”

I could feel the cool cloth on my forehead. It gently made its way all over my face, bringing with it a cool relief.

“He has a fever. I need to bring it down, but he’s shivering,” she spoke again.

This time it was the cat that purred something.

“I know, I know. But I can’t leave to get to town.”

Maglynar spoke again and Kristalyn laughed softly in response.

“Oh! You’re hungry. Yes, Kuroi will bring you some food. Your warmth is just what he needs, now quite moving!”

Her laughter brought me more comfort than any cloth could. If I was able, I would have paused in the thought, but my mind was already drifting back to peace.

***

“Kristalyn?” I called the name almost unconsciously.

I heard Maglynar give a small screech and felt him move slightly.

“Here, Aiden,” her voice was soft and I felt her hand on my face. “I’m right here. Do you need anything?”

“No,” I answered, not sure why I had called her name.

“Well, I’m here. I’ll check your bandages now. Just hold still, Aiden. You’re going to be fine.”

I didn’t want to be fine. At least, I didn’t think I did. Why was that important? I couldn’t be sure, but it was.

Her hands put slight pressure on my chest and I heaved when she hit close to a bad spot.

“I’m sorry. I’ll try to be gentle. Can you lift up at all?”

I tried, but I couldn’t move.

“Its okay, Aiden. It’s okay. I can do it.” She moved again and her hands went underneath of me. She moved more and I held my breath as she worked. “All done,” she said eventually.

“Kristalyn,” I called again.

“Shh. Sleep, Aiden. I’ll be here when you wake up. Just sleep.”

I did.

***

The next time I awoke, I felt more conscious. My mind seemed to be clearer too. I lay still as I waited for my memory to catch up to the rest of me. Slowly, the thoughts and feelings of the night I had tried to kill myself came together.

I had failed. I’d betrayed my family again. That was why I deserved to die. I had not right to live. Why was I allowing myself to cling to life? It was wrong. I shouldn’t let this happen.

I struggled to sit up. I needed my knife.

The large behemoth beside me called out a warning. I cringed.

“Be quite, Maglynar,” I ordered.

His head came down and he used his neck to help me maneuver in a sitting position. I was surprised at the level of pain I felt. It was bad, but it should have been worse. I frowned. Actually, it should have been much worse. This wasn’t right. My hand went automatically to my waist to retrieve my knife.

“You looking for this?” Kristalyn’s voice called out.

I looked up to see her standing in front of me with my knife in her hand. Her hair was out of its usually arrangement and draped around her shoulders. She looked like she hadn’t slept in days. She was beautiful. I frowned, why hadn’t I noticed that before?

I took a deep breath and found that it hurt. The pain helped me to concentrate.

“Give me that,” I commanded.

She shook her head, her hand on her hip. “I figured you might want this when you woke up, so I took it. I don’t want you to finish the job. I’ve put too much into you to let you do something so foolish.”

“You don’t understand,” I groaned.

“I don’t have too. You tried to kill yourself, Aiden.”

“It’s no more than I deserve,” I muttered.

“That’s what I don’t get. Why? What would possible convince you to come up with something so ridicules.”

“You wouldn’t understand,” I rephrased my earlier answer.

She crossed her arms. “Explain it then.”

Talk about an impenetrable wall.

I shook my head gently, so as not to cause it to yell at me. “No.”

“Why?”

“Because you don’t need to know.”

She sighed. Throwing the knife to the side, she came over and crouched in front of me. “Okay, then let me tell you what I do understand. You spared the life of my brother. Something happened between the two of you, I don’t know what, and you took off. You excited the city and I couldn’t keep up with you. At some point you fell and tried to put this knife directly into your heart. But I also know something stopped you from doing it perfectly. It’s like a hand or something forced you to put it in at an angle. Maglynar found you somehow and brought you back here. Kuroiden found me and brought me to you both. The knife was still in your chest and it stopped the bleeding. It was a perfect angle to exactly miss your heart. You wouldn’t have done that yourself, which means something else stopped you. At this point, I’m perfectly willing to believe it was Deus. Oh, don’t like at me like that. This wasn’t an accident, Aiden. Something stopped you from killing yourself. Why do you think that is?”

“I don’t know,” I grounded out miserable. I should have died. Was Deus cruel will to keep me alive? Was that a worse punishment?

“Well, I do,” she declared.

I looked at her.

She smiled. “It’s like I’ve been telling you. Dues has a special solution for you.”

My stomach clenched at the familiar words. But they weren’t from her. They were someone from in my past, someone I had killed. Gidryon. How did she know that phrase, those words? It wasn’t possible. She had said something else. Something about not knowing and there being surprises. “Who told you that?” I asked, my voice low with surprise.

“What?” She asked confused.

“That Deus has a special solution for me. Who told you that?”

“No one. Why?”

She watched my face, but I only shook my head. It was too specific for anyone to just be able to randomly repeat it. The chance was so small, it didn’t even exist. And yet she had. She’d said those exact words. Was Deus really behind this? Could he really exist?

I didn’t want to know. I didn’t want there to be that chance. His betrayal, if he did exist, was worse than mine.

“Aiden? Aiden, does it matter?” Her voice said it wasn’t the first time she had asked.

“I don’t know.” I shook my head. “No, no it doesn’t.”

She looked at me skeptically.

“Well, can you tell me why it’s so important for you to die?”

I shuddered. “Not now, Kristalyn.”

She watched me for a moment, her green eyes taking in every detail. Finally, she nodded. “Okay. Do you think you can eat?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay. I’ll get you some food then.”

I leaned back against Maglynar’s ever present body and closed my eyes while I waited, unwilling to think or feel anything but pain anymore.

***

I rolled over feeling cold and immediately knew something was wrong besides the tight pain in my chest. Opening my eyes, I realized my over large blanket was gone. Groaning, I forced myself to sit up and pain shot through my chest, but if anything I deserved it. When I could see again I looked around to discover Kristalyn was also gone and Kuroiden was watching me with large gold green eyes. His yellow lighting scar on his right shoulder was almost glowing.

“Where is everybody?” I asked.

Kuroiden cocked his head to the side and answered with a purr I didn’t understand.

“Great,” I muttered and looked around.

The camp hadn’t changed much since I had last seen it. The trees surrounding it provided shelter from above, while the bushes on the ground gave some covering for people trying to see inside this particular clump of trees. Although I knew there wasn’t anything to distinguish it from any of the other various pockets of vegetation on the outside. Kuroiden’s bed was across from me and to my left, while I sat in Maglynar’s nest, with my cloak under me, at the back edge of the clearing. The action of looking around made my head hurt and I leaned back on my hands, but I quickly realized I would need more support. The thought wasn’t a comforting one.

Kuroiden rose and padded over to me. I kept my eye on him, but he simply went behind me and laid down supporting my back. The move shocked me. There was no love lost between the two of us. Why help me? Was it Kristalyn’s idea?

“Thank you,” I said softly, leaning against him.

Kuroiden purred and laid his head down. The two of us slept together. It was the screech of an annoyance that woke us both up. Maglynar stood in front of us, looking very tall and powerful from my current position, reminding me again of how big he had gotten. Kuroiden raised his head and looked at the griffin for a moment before replying. Maglynar shook his head, his feathers bristling and answered back. Kuroiden shook slightly behind me and then gently, giving me time to hold myself up, came out from behind me. Maglynar immediately took his place, settling quite comfortably. He screeched something else to Kuroiden, who laid down in front of me, and then nudged me with his head to lean back against him.

“What? Was he in your place?” I asked, as I leaned back.

The griffin gave me a small screech of yes.

“Being protective, aren’t you?”

He cocked his head to look at me, blinked, and then ignored me.

I took that as a yes too. The three of us lay still for a while. It was the first time in what had to be days that I didn’t feel like automatically falling back asleep.

Finally, Maglynar, put his face down next to mine, and screeched a soft, “Fine?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Tired and sore, but nothing I can’t handle.”

Maglynar snorted.

“I’m not being stubborn.”

He snorted again and Kuroiden raised his head to stare at me.

“Just how long have I been in and out of it?”

Maglynar looked at Kuroiden and then back at me. Finally, he grunted five times.

“Five days?” I repeated, surprised. “It didn’t seem that long.”

That earned a howl of protest.

“Well, okay, it didn’t seem that long to me,” I amended.

Kuroiden did a very good cat imitation of rolling his eyes and put his head back down.

“So, five days ago you crashed into the market?” I persisted.

I felt him bristle behind me, but he didn’t comment.

“Come on, Maglynar, why did you do it?”

Maglynar turned his head away from me, but I could still hear his small screech of, “Ignoring.”

“I wasn’t ignoring you.”

His head moved around to look at me. He didn’t blink.

He turned away and I could feel his anger tensing his body. If I wasn’t hurt I would probably have heard and seen it too. I glanced at Kurioden. It helped too that he was still keeping up the pretense that he couldn’t speak the basic language. He had told me the last time I had come out to spend time with him that he was tired of the game. He wanted to be able to talk to me normally again. I could understand him almost as well when he didn’t use words, but I knew it was one more thing he was annoyed with.

“It wasn’t. Come on, I stopped ignoring you on purpose a long time ago,” I said, glad it was the truth, though I couldn’t remember exactly when that had happened.

He growled a low semi-agreement.

I sighed. “You are not going to hear this very often, so don’t get use to it. But, would it help to say I’m sorry?”

Maglynar stilled completely behind me. Finally, I heard a soft questioning, “Really it is you?”

I allowed myself a small laugh. “Yes, it’s really me.” I paused for a moment. “At least , I think it is.”

“Aiden?” Maglynar questioned, his concern evident.

“Nothing,” I finally said. I shook off the thoughts I couldn’t really pin down and focused on the griffin behind me instead. “You made a pretty impressive figure showing off in the market like that.”

He made a purring sound deep in his chest.

“You’re not so little anymore,” I thought out loud.

It was true. His bottom half was the size of a full muscular lion, but his eagle head, neck, and wings made him much bigger and closer to the size of a healthy horse. He could easily carry a human now and I had the feeling he still wasn’t completely full grown yet.

He screeched proudly, “Grown up, I am.” Then automatically ducked, as he realized his screech had been louder than it should have been, but Kuroiden seemed to be sound asleep still.

“Hhmm. Your tactics have grown too. That was impressive flying. I think it’s time to change your name, Maglynar.”

He swung his head around too look at me questioningly. I looked back at him as I thought back over our time together. Travon had I had found him as a little baby. Only because Travon had reminded me of Arnan and his dragon did I finally give in. That seemed like so long ago. He had been more of a pain since I had first met him then anyone should have to deal with, but he had his advantages too. He could be useful in a situation and Trvon would be pleased I had taken care of him. He could be an asset and a valuable one at that. “Remember we named you ‘little warrior?’ We can change your name to Magnar and your name will just mean ‘warrior.’ What do you think?”

Magnar loudly screeched his agreement and Kuroiden’s head sprang up. He looked at us curiously, but Magnar ignored him and bucked me gently with his head. He screeched a gently thank you, but Kurioden didn’t seem to react to it.

“You’re welcome,” I replied, settling in more comfortable against him, glad to have that finished.

So many changes were happening, both inside and outside of me and it really seemed like I was helpless to control any of them. But then, hadn’t that been my whole point? The very reason why I wanted to take my own life? I was helpless and weak. I had proven it over and over despite my best efforts to contradict the truth. The only thing I was good at was betraying my family and hurting the ones I was suppose to love. Did I even know what that was anymore? No, I was nothing but a worthless betrayer, who didn’t even deserve the release of death. I could feel the black horror of the truth push down around me.

“Aiden?” The griffin’s low screech brought me back from whatever path I had started down.

“What?” I asked.

“What is it?” He spoke plainly and made no effort to disguise his ability to speak.

Kuroiden sat up.

“I thought you weren’t going to speak like this,” I responded, surprised.

Magnar looked at Kuroiden, who watched him closely. “Tired of pretending, I am. Kuroi will tell not.”

Kuroiden looked rather unhappy at keeping the secret. I wasn’t so sure he would keep it, but it had been Magnar’s choice to break his silence.

“Avoid me not, Aiden.”

I sighed. Apparently, he wasn’t going to be easily distracted. He must really be worried to break his silence now, after keeping it for most of our conversation earlier. What had changed?

“What?”

Magnar snorted. “What is wrong?”

“Me.”

“How?”

“I shouldn’t be alive. Why did you save me?”

“Alive you are needed,” he answered, after some thought.

“No, you’re wrong. I’m not needed. I’m better off dead.”

“No. Saved you I did,” Magnar protested.

“So I noticed,” I muttered.

“Sick you were. Tried to hurt yourself. Strange it was. So, brought you here I did,” Magnar explained in his odd form of tongue.

“Strange? How?”

“Light around you. Light in place of wound. Stopped you it did.”

“A light? I don’t remember that. I remember bringing the knife down, I remember pain and darkness, but no light. Are you sure?”

Magnar’s head nodded up and down. “Light there.”

I thought for a moment confused, but I couldn’t think of an answer. “I wonder what it was.”

“Stopped you,” he pressed.

“It stopped me? Kristalyn said that it was like the knife missed my heart perfectly.” The thought was not a comfortable one for me. The only reasoning I could possible come up with was one I wanted to immediately reject. Deus had no need for me and no reason to help me. He didn’t even exist to help. And yet, I couldn’t explain the light. Not at all.

“Aiden, why?”

I didn’t have to ask what he meant. “I told you, Magnar. I’m not needed here. I’m worthless. I’ve betrayed my family again. It is better to just die. They will be better off without me.”

The griffin said nothing for a while, but the talk had drained me and I started to fall asleep. Right before I could though, I heard Magnar’s answer.

“Magnar still needs Aiden. Always.”

***

CHAPTER 23 ~ MAGLYNAR HELPS OUT

AIDEN

It wasn’t a perfect idea and it would be trickier than the rest, but it could work. I refused to analyze my reasons for trying my final attempt in the market. And it would be my final time. I was not going to fail a third time, it wasn’t an option. No matter what it took, this time the Hunter would die. The only flaw in the plan was the one from the beginning. That was Kristalyn. The only way I could think of getting her not sabotage me was by tricking her into helping. That was in no way going to be easy, but for my plan to work I needed her to be involved, unwilling or not.

A chill crossed my neck and I paused. Something was wrong. I glanced around us, but the market was carrying on business as usual. We had just reached the end of it, so there was less activity and more people carting empty baskets one way and full arms another. No one paused around me and yet I could feel someone’s eyes following me.

“Aiden?” Kristalyn approached just off my right shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

There was no reason for anyone to watch me unless it was Ricald or the Hunter. The first didn’t know where I was and the second was at his house. Was I imagining it then? Just has it had come the feeling left. I frowned. Something was off, but I didn’t know what.

“Aiden?” Kristalyn asked again, her voice alert and her hand moving towards her knife at her waist.

“No, it’s gone,” I responded. “I thought someone was watching us.” I said to head off her next question.

“It wasn’t Tray,” she said quickly glancing around.

“No,” I confirmed, “It wasn’t.”

“But who then?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” I replied and started walking again.

The trick would be to get her to help without knowing it. She’d have to be convinced she was helping her brother and not really me. The term brother caught in my mind for a moment. It didn’t matter. It couldn’t matter. The prey mattered. She had to believe she was helping the prey. The only thing was, this was no ordinary prey, not by far.

I refocused my mind to pull it around and think instead of the market place location I had chosen. The road leading from the north and dead ending in the market would be the one the prey would use to enter the market. He’d established this pattern more than once, so it was a likely spot. The people all around would provide a challenge, but more so for him. Besides, if Kristalyn would do her part they wouldn’t matter at all. All I had to do was convincer her to shove a few boxes without her knowing it was helping me. I glanced behind me to see her still looking suspiciously, yet causally around. Easier said than done.

***

KRISTALYN

When Aiden entered his room, he left the door open, which was pretty much an invitation. One I immediate accepted.

“All right, so are you going to tell me the truth? Or will you attempt to drug me again?” I asked, crossing my arms and leaning back against the now horribly scarred desk. It was becoming a favorite perch.

“Which would work better?” He asked, picking up his sharpening stone off the mutilated dresser.

“The second doesn’t work and you haven’t tried the first.”

“You’d go right to your brother and that wouldn’t do me any good,” he replied, methodically moving the knife over the stone.

I straightened. “Do you honestly still think I’d do that?”

He paused his actions, and then deliberately moved the blade slowly across it. “You’d sabotage it.”

“That’s different. I’m still going to do that. But I wouldn’t go to my brother,” I responded automatically.

He laughed softly. “And what makes it so important that you not go to your brother? Is it because he doesn’t want you in the city?” He paused and looked up to catch my eyes. “Or is it something much different?”

I would have given him a quick retort, I really would have, but his eyes stalled any comment I wanted to make. They were such a dark grey blue, and they held amusement and something else I desperately wished I could pin down. He was insinuating yet again and I could feel my stomach clench, but this was different than the tense anger I normally felt. I wasn’t sure I liked that. “Why do you feel it is so necessary to insinuate things?” I finally asked crossly.

“Oh?” His voice held false innocence. “Is that what I’m doing?”

I huffed annoyed. “Yes.”

He put his knife and rock down and standing up approached me slowly. He stopped about two feet from me, but when he lowered his voice, he might as well have been closer. “Are you sure? Or am I calling you on what is really there?”

“You’re delusional,” I said firmly, but I was desperately searching for the anger that I normally had.

A half smile crossed his face. “You’re lying. I can read you too well, Kristalyn.”

“You don’t know me as well as you think, Aiden,” I stated.

His finger came up and made a soft trail down my cheek. “Oh, I do.”

He turned abruptly and walked over to the other side of the room. I could feel the shock in my body and ordered it to breath. What was that?

“I’m going to kill him in the market. All the people will slow him down and he won’t notice me in the crowd. It will be simple matter to follow behind him and take him out. I wanted to use this method before, but he had the old man has backup. Now, he has no look out.”

What had he said? Why was he telling me? Was it true? What was he up too?

“Tray will know he’s being followed,” I finally commented.

“Maybe, but by the time he is sure, it will be far too late,” he spoke confidently.

“Why tell me?” I asked next. For some reason his answer was important.

“Because I trust you.” The answer was slow and deliberate.

“You can’t. Not for this,” I responded. Disbelief and confusion colored my voice, but I could hear a hint of desperation in it as well. It was almost as if I was desperate not to hear something I needed to know. But that didn’t make sense. Not much did anymore.

A smile crossed Aiden’s face. “Think of it as a final test.”

“A final test for what?” I asked, struggling to keep my thoughts in a semblance of order. It was frustrating that Aiden was able to confuse them so often, when no one had ever been able to do that to me.

“You’ll know when the test is over,” he replied calmly.

I took a deep breath and used it to calm myself. He was purposefully putting me out of sorts, which meant he was trying to throw me off, but off of what? The last time he told me his supposed plan it was to mislead me. But would he try the same trick again? The answer was almost immediate. No, he would figure I’d predict that. So, was this plan the truth then? But why tell me that, even if I had asked him too? Could it be this test of his or was that another false trail?

By this time Aiden was ignoring me and back to sharpening his blade with steady sure hands that never faltered. I allowed myself to study him for a moment. His dark black hair was such that it went in almost every direction and still managed to look like he’d done it on purpose. It made me want to see if I could get it back in place. Dark tan skin proved striking with his black hair and shale blue eyes, that saw everything, but let no one in. I couldn’t actually see his eyes at the moment, but I knew exactly what they looked like. I had often been caught in their intense stare. An amused smile played on his lips. He was amused at me. What game was he playing now?

“Have you figured it out yet?” He asked quietly.

“When are you going to do this?” I asked, rather than answer any questions.

“The next time he enters the market. I want this to be as quick and effortless as possible.”

“Effortless? Since when?” I asked, a little surprised. “You always enjoy the challenge.”

His eyes darkened to deep gray. “Not this time.”

I chose to ignore the reaction for the moment, though it did seem to mean this time was different from the rest. I just didn’t know why yet. “Your going to do it at that one section in the market, aren’t you.” It wasn’t really a question.

“The one by the stacked crates? Yes,” he said, as if it didn’t concern him if I knew the exact location.

Something else was definitely going on. Why use that point of reference? It was to clue me in on something. I shook my head. I was thinking about this too hard.

“Aiden, look at me,” I requested.

He glanced up at me, obviously surprised by the request.

“Are you telling me the truth?” Not sure I could totally believe his answer anyway, since he could really only give one.

“That, Kristalyn, is something you’ll have to believe on your own.”

That was an interesting way to put it. He wanted me to believe him. If this was his true plan and he wanted me to know it, then he either wanted me to be a part of it or he wanted me to stop him.

That thought stopped me cold. He had been acting strange, especially with his reactions to Tray being my brother, but his conviction didn’t waver. The second was only wishful thinking, but what part did he want me to play?

“… figure it out,” Aiden was saying.

“What?” I asked, looking up at him.

He grinned knowingly, about what I wasn’t sure. “I said, standing and staring into space isn’t going to help you figure it out.”

“Is that what I was doing?”

“Yes. Go get some sleep, Kristalyn. Sort out your thoughts in the morning,” Aiden’s voice was calm and … caring?

The thought shocked me enough that I simply nodded.

“Goodnight, Aiden.”

“Goodnight.”

What had gotten into him? Was he really changing or was I still wishing for something I hoped for, but wasn’t there? I had no way of knowing, but I intended to find out.

***

Two days later, I knew it had been wishful thinking. He hadn’t changed at all. He was the exact same insufferable assassin I had first met. For the most part he ignored me completely and when he did talk his answers were short and clipped. I frowned, it was almost as if he was deliberately trying to distance himself and make me mad at him. He hadn’t been this bad since before we entered the city. The only reasoning I could legitimately come up with was that because of my relation to my brother he was purposefully distancing himself from me to do his job, which led me to believe he did tell me the truth about the plan simply to easy the conscious he seemed to have about family. He knew I would try to sabotage it, but this way he had a better chance of predicting what I might do.

That was why, whatever I did had to be unpredictable or at least a variation of what he expected. I figured it had something to do with the fruit crates I was currently standing in front of. They looked to be pretty stable, but if I pulled out the bottom left one the whole stack would crash. Depending on where I stood, I could direct the stack anywhere I wanted. The biggest distraction would be if I pushed it into the middle of the main street, but depending on when Tray showed up, too many innocent people would be in the middle of the street. If I pushed it into the side street, it would be a distraction, but not wholly effective. Aiden more than likely expected me to push them into the main street. If I time d it right, it would work too. I would have to wait until just after Tray passed and before Aiden had made his move. Though what Aiden thought that would accomplish I wasn’t sure. I shook my head. There were far too many ‘what ifs’.

I walked down the side street to get a closer look at what was behind the crates. The answer made me smile. Now I knew exactly how to distract Aiden’s plan. If things fell out just right, it just might bring the high and mighty warrior down a notch or two as well and that was fine with me.

***

AIDEN

It was finally time. He was on the way. Yesterday, some girl, looked like a palace servant, had slipped something under his door. She obviously didn’t want to be seen, since she had waited until he took a rare trip from the house. Now, he was taking a second one. This time into the trap that awaited his dead. It might have something to do with the note she had left, but his reasoning for leaving didn’t matter.

I stood in the shadows of one of the booths with a clear view of the side street the prey would use to arrive to his death. It was the busiest time for the market, no doubt on purpose. The street was filled with the shouting of venders, bargaining adults, and laughter and whining of kids. A group of four boys chased a dog down with sticks, but two stopped to look at the tantalizing food in the stall next to me. Other kids, dressed like little princes or queens, zigzagged around overdressed adults, most of who had packages flying everywhere. The even wealthier had servants trailing behind them with packages, baskets, and other non-necessities. It was pathetic how much stuff these people deemed worthy of possession. Their homes were probably already overflowing with junk they didn’t need, yet they continued to buy as if their lives depended on it. If one or two were taken down today, it wouldn’t matter that much. All that mattered was that the prey did go down. I was going to make sure that happened. Fate demanded it and for once I would willingly follow.

“Yes,” I muttered, determined. “This is willingly. I’ll do whatever I have too.”

Kristalyn’s face floated before my eyes and I growled in anger. I didn’t need her reminder. My fate and his were set. I pulled out my knife and let my finger trail the familiar blade. To close to the edge and it would slice my finger. The thought of the pain and blood had a comfortable feeling to it and almost made me move my finger to the cutting edge. But this blade would spill only the prey’s blood today. This wasn’t my favorite blade, so I had spent extra time sharpening it. No, my favorite knife was still in the prey’s house and once his body lie dead in the street I would retrieve it. It would be my silent reminder of my victory over him.

I straightened as I saw him appear at the end of the street. He cast a look around the crowded market before he stepped into the fray and headed right. I smiled, perfect. He was heading toward the Executioner’s Square. I slipped from my spot and crossed to the other side of the street, keeping him just in site as he wove expertly through the crowd, ignoring the vendors that followed in his wake, all hoping some of the false merchant’s money would flow their way. I flipped my cloak over one shoulder, so that my throwing hand could move freely. I only needed one clear shot. I smiled as I watched him study everything around him, with an intent look. He was either paranoid or he was looking for someone. The servant girl, perhaps, though it hardly mattered, he’d never make it to any meeting.

He passed the edge of the fruit stand and I moved in closer. This was it. If my accomplice was going to do her part, it would be as soon as he passed. But he passed the stand without a problem and proceeded to pass the crates. Had she gotten the message I had laid out for her? She was smart, almost too smart, she might try some thing else. What was she waiting for? She’d do it, if not I would still complete my mission. Nothing could stop me. Not this time. I tensed, ready to throw my knife the second he veered my way.

Suddenly a loud angry braying startled those in the street as a very frantic and highly upset donkey leapt from behind the crates. The prey barely managed to move out of the way as the donkey plunged into the crowd, scattering anyone close to his deranged path. Just then the crates crashed down into the now vacant spot and a flock of chicken, pigs, and ___________ entered a now vast confusion. This was far more than a simple distraction!

What was she thinking?

The thought lasted for less than a second as I raced to the other end of the large muddle of frantic creatures and even more frantic people. The prey was standing at the side looking back into the mix with a suspicious, but amused look. The animals had cleared quite a path and for the smallest moment the street between the two of us was clear. It was a perfect shot.

I raised my knife and let it fly. He could not escape from this! Victory!

As I threw though, two things happened simultaneously. The first was that the prey’s blue eyes met mine. In a single instant I could read his thoughts. At our last meeting I had promised it wasn’t over and I would kill him. Now, I would complete the job and we both knew it. There was not doubt.

Except that the second thing that happened was far more drastic in the form of a very ticked off griffin scream. The scream came just as the knife left my fingers and altered its course just slightly enough to make a difference. The strength of the wind from the griffin’s powerful wings did more than that though and the prey had no problem dogging out of the way. The knife landed just to the right of his new position. His roll took him towards the griffin though and away from the suddenly silent fray behind us. Both of us turned to face the new threat and I let out a very loud curse as I saw him.

Maglynar had landed on the Executioner’s Square and was still screaming his displeasure. Behind us, everyone had stopped cold at the unexpected presence of the large violent creature. Now sense seemed to kick in as women screamed, dropping packages and grabbing the nearest child. Men shouted for bows, spears, swords, anything. Many began to forcefully move the women and children behind them and into alleyways and the larger shops. The children’s reactions seemed to be split in two as some yelled and tried to figure out where to run and others stared up in awe at the impressive creature, one they would probably never see again. The animals had no such problem with reactions as they all went crazy, heading as far away from the griffin as possible and not caring who they knocked down in their attempt to escape. One woman ended up throwing a chicken into a wall in order to get it to stop attacking a small child. I barley paid attention to any of it. Only one thing mattered here. My prey, he mattered, he and the griffin that was really beginning to annoy me.

Maglynar ignored all the commotion he was causing as his beak honed in on the butcher shop across the street from him. He hadn’t acknowledged me yet, whether on purpose or not I didn’t know, but apparently food was the top priority. He howled again and beat his wings, taking off and heading for the butchers in a not so straight pattern. His erratic pattern did nothing to help the chaos he created and the griffin seemed to enjoy the panic, but then he hated most humans, all but three that I knew off. Terrifying them would only seem like a type of justice to him for his parents’ deaths.

I wasn’t going to be able to stop him, at least not without some effort and he seemed to think I needed to be ignored right now anyway. Deciding to respond with the same, I ignored his interruption and turned back to my own prey, but he was heading toward Maglynar at a dead run. Confused, I looked back towards the speeding griffin. Directly in his path was a young woman in a dark blue cloak. She was hunched over, obviously trying to protect a small boy. The woman looked vaguely familiar.

The Hunter reached them only seconds before Maglynar did, pushing them to the ground and shielding them with his own body. Maglynar’s sharp talons passed only inches from his back in his heedless rush. The Hunter’s clothes flapped violently in the wind and he tried to crouch lower.

“Maglynar!” I shouted above the clamoring of voices behind me. It was one thing for the griffin to interfere, but if he killed my prey, I wouldn’t be the one with the victory, just one more death on my hands. I needed the skill that came from the kill. That was what was important! Maglynar couldn’t interfere! Not with this. It was too important!

The people had rushed far enough away that the griffin could hear me, though he didn’t seem to inclined to pay too much attention. He swooped up just before he hit the butcher and candy shops and swung around to hover above the three crouched people on the ground. He screeched loudly at me then shot towards me. There were no words in his furious shriek and I didn’t move. He wanted a reaction. He raced above my head and towards the still retreating crowd. He really was ticked at me. For a second, I allowed myself to wonder why. It took a moment for my promise of him being able to help to come back to me. Apparently, he thought it was past time for that. He was right, but I figured telling him that wouldn’t help right now. He rose above the crowd again, making a very impressive display with his gold wings spread full out, his feathered chest puffed up, and his golden neck arched. He was no longer a small child griffin, that much as obvious. I had missed that fact in our travels. He looked at me, screeched again and flew away. His message was rather clear.

I would have quite a handful when I dealt with him later, but I had more important things now. He was gone and he had only delayed my killing. I still had prey to deal with. My blade could still taste the blood it, no I, longed for. I could still pull this into a victory. I could still defeat Duard.

The Hunter was helping the girl up and lifted the small boy to his feet. He was talking to both calmly, but I noticed his attention was really on me. Good, that was where it should be. I was his adversary and the one he needed to worry about. I had a promise to keep and I would do it. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted Kristalyn watching the whole scene.

My accomplice from earlier? No, it was Kristalyn. She was not a nameless person, but a name, a person that meant more to me. Wait…what? What was happening?

I watched her for a moment. Her cloak was draped over her shoulders and her blond hair spilled down her back after it left the tie at the nape of her neck. Her body was tense, but she made no move towards the thing that held her attention. Her fingers moved gently over the knife at her hip, but she made no move to draw it. I followed her line of vision and saw it was riveted on the Hunter and his new charges. Her head moved slightly and she turned slowly to allow her eyes to track me. She looked me over once, before her eyes finally found mine. I physically felt their impact in my gut.

Suddenly, I the realization that past and present were about to collide hit me. The green depths of her eyes questioned me and I knew why. She wanted to know if I would still do it. Would I kill her brother? Could I? Would I be able to face her afterwards? But I had too! It wasn’t her brother, it was the Hunter. That was all! I couldn’t allow myself to see the prey as human, as her family… No! I had to focus! I turned from her questions and my own to look back at the Hunter. I couldn’t think about her or her questions. I had to do a job. There was a mission that I’d sworn to complete. My family was counting on me. Family? Yes, my family from the past. But this wasn’t the past. It was… what was happening? I was loosing my focus. What had she done to me?

The Hunter was still watching me. He shifted the boy and woman behind him, but didn’t move otherwise. He couldn’t react fast enough to stop me and he knew it. He was totally vulnerable. I could kill him now with no effort at all and I could see by his expression he knew the same. Slowly, only barely acknowledging what I was doing, I pulled out my spare knife and fingered it. This knife, this action was my duty. It would redeem me. I knew it was so, I had been sure. I was alive for this moment. I could finally prove that I was strong enough to take down any one, including my family’s so called guardian. He who was supposed to protect us and stand between us and danger would finally feel the wrath of his neglect.

The two behind the Hunter shifted and I heard the boy’s sobs as the woman held him close. The Hunter moved slightly, so that they were more fully behind him, but his eyes never left mine. His actions surprised me. He knew I was here to kill him and that with only a single throw I could. Yet he stayed in place, between me and those behind him. He was protecting them. They were strangers. My own guardian didn’t protect his charges, yet this man was going to give up his life in only a matter of seconds to protect two complete strangers. For strangers he did this.

If possible, he would give even more for his sister and the castle girl. I had no doubt about that. He cared for them with everything that was inside of him. It was only then that I realized he was always standing and preparing himself to protect his sister and those he cared about. Preparing himself, like…

Without explanation, my gaze was drawn to Kristalyn. Her eyes tracked between the two of us so closely. Following the unfolding situation, but for once not interfering. I could still do it then. I could throw the knife right now and be done with the entire thing. I could prove I was the more skillful. The Hunter and I were vastly different. I could stop the desperate thoughts. All I had to do was throw the knife and win this struggle.

But Kristalyn’s eyes held mine possessive and her very presence interfered with everything. She caused doubts and more. So much had revolved around her lately, even in my own mind. She had become what Zoe could not. I could see the confusion and strain in her eyes, but there was something else as well, something I could not read and wasn’t sure I wanted too. Yet, I did know without a doubt that even confused, she wanted to protect me, but she would not betray her brother either. Had she realized the truth? About him? About me? Was that why she stayed by my side? Because she knew?

I looked back at the Hunter and our gazes met. In his eyes, I saw what I had denied. What I hadn’t wanted to accept. He was what I could not be, but had fate been different, what I might have become. My grip on the knife that had become my own legacy loosened. I watched as the understanding dawn in his eyes. Understanding I could barely accept myself, yet somehow I too knew it was true. The Hunter was me, or would be me, had fate not chosen for me the path of hatred, betrayal, and revenge. If he lived, would I too escape my fate and become more?

I had no answers. No way to try to answer. And yet, somehow I knew the truth could be attained. I gave him a short nod and then I did what at the start of this I would never have believed possible. I walked away.

It was over.

***