With a push from the woman next to her, she slowly stood and moved towards the stage. She stood on the opposite side of the stage to Icran, so he grabbed her arm and pulled her closed to him, not letting go of her forearm.
“Kaia was originally a bartender for the Henla guild, now she works for us. She has minimal training, and will need a mentor for the next few days before we bring her into the plan. Yrae, you will train her. Both of you will meet in the 5th ring, east side for your training, we will have a guide to take you there through the tunnels, from there, you will have to remember. Five volunteers will guard them. We need two scouts, one sniper, and two melees. Meet me after to be chosen for the roles, otherwise, it’s house jobs for the rest of you.” With a flick of his wrist, men both left the room and raced to the front to ask for a position, pushing Kaia off the stage as they did. Icran immediately waved a few out of the room, as their faces turned sou
“Where would you like to go now, Kaia?” The woman looked into her eyes, smiling wide. “We have permission to go anywhere you would like, except to Rhae’s room at this time. She is busy with Icran.” “So, I can see her soon?” Kaia’s face brightened. “When she returns from her scouting mission tonight, you may see her. As long as it’s before curfew.” The woman nodded, relaxing her posture. “What is your job anyway?” Kaia looked her up and down. Her armour was not that of a simple cleaning woman for the house or a mere bartender. “I am usually a warrior, one of Icran’s best, but for the next few days I am your guide. Though I have to watch you like a guard. Icran still doesn’t believe his hold on your loyalty. It still belongs to Rhae I presume. Though I doubt he won’t have his grasp on you for a long time, judging from the show you made today.” The woman grinned widely at her. “And you are not worried about my disloyalty?” Kaia’s body shook. How
A man stood and screamed out her name, turning to all the others in the hall. He began to chug from his glass as others repeated her name and began to chug. The woman stepped forwards, raising a glass and stretching out another towards Kaia. “A welcome ceremony,” she said quietly, grinning wide. Kaia took the glass and sipped the thick, sweet liquid. “It’s not anymore toxic than it was originally. Don’t drink too much.” She drank from her glass once more. “I’m a bartender I think I can hold my liquor,” Kaia spoke sarcastically, dropping her arm. “You serve the drinks, not chug every one you pour.” The woman turned and walked towards an empty seat at the tables. Kaia followed, inspecting the glass, finally deciding to drink it. She chugged the glass as she walked, feeling the alcohol wash over her bones. She became relaxed and forgot the worries of standing in her enemy guild’s house. She sat quietly, staring at the food that lay before her. He
“Now what have you been doing today? Sneaking around the King’s meetings perhaps? Or was another ‘royal’ visit to the slums?” Lya snuck through the door, carefully shutting it behind her and striding over to the bed, taking her place on the edge of the frame. “Don’t think I don’t know about you visiting the East Wing today. My guards found your jewellery on the floor. You took it off to stop the sound while you ran, I presume?” “I was in here reading the entire day! I promise you,” Aynyra sat up, pouting at her friend. “Hurry up and tell me your excuse so I can report the event. The King is raging over the fact there’s an eavesdropper, especially one that might be his daughter. The news has not left the castle yet but they need a story so the wrong rumours don’t spread,” Lya sighed and fell flat on the bed, stretching and staring up at the velvet cloth that draped over Aynyra’s crimson bedding. “I definitely did not eavesdrop, although I did notice my favouri
The gloomy and old air wafted into her lungs, filling her with despair. Aynyra pulled a torch off the wall and lit it with a few matches that lay beside the holder. Silently she crept down the stone pathways until she came to a chest hidden in a dark corner. Aynyra placed the torch on its holster and opened the chest. She took off her dress and placed it in the chest, along with another dress she has sitting there. Quickly, she changed into her street clothes and opened another compartment in the chest. Inside lay a leather belt, which she strapped around her hips. Beneath it was two curved daggers that were then tucked safely into the belt. Aynyra closed the lid of the chest and pulled the torch off the wall, continuing to glide down the halls swiftly. After walking for an hour and several turns, she came across a ladder leading up to a sewage lid. Aynyra dropped the torch into the water that trickled beside her, letting it glide down the tunnel. A trick she picked up from stalking
Rhaenyx walked beside Icran through the damp streets, rain setting into her large coat that sat on her shoulders. Rhae constantly shifted her wrists, attempting to pull them out from the rope that held them together behind her back. Icran casually had his arm hooked around hers, pulling her in close. Icran’s hoarse voice shook Rhae from her anger, “Act casual, we are coming up on the building you will wait on to ambush the Queen.” Rhaenyx recognised these streets. She had walked them on her way to the mercenary guild earlier to burn down their house. The smell of ash still lingered in the air, stuffing her nose with the particles floating through the air. Rhaenyx relaxed, examining everything around her. Icran’s grip loosened as well, allowing her the perfect opportunity to run. None of his guards was around, and there was no witness’. His sword was strapped to his side and difficult to reach before she slipped out of his grip. Rhaenyx fell into step beside Icran, ma
Rhae’s next mission was to find Kaia. Rhae turned only to find Icran standing behind her, swinging the hilt of his blade into her head. Everything turned dark. Rhae awoke in the chair again. Her head pounded, and she tasted blood in her mouth. Grazes covered her arms and legs, alongside a few gashes. As her sight came into focus, she found Kaia sitting in a chair across from her, tied down and gagged. A cut ran across her forehead, down to her eye. She was unconscious. Icran stepped into the light, alongside Dynamere. “Rhaenyx Maltalor, are you ever going to learn?” Icran sighed. “Dyna wake her up.” With a single nod to Kaia, Dyna stalked over, slamming the hilt of her dagger into Kaia’s jaw. Kaia awoke and jumped, breathing heavily. “What- is going- on,” she panted. “Kaia!” Rhae growled, turning to Dynamere. “You touch her and I will wipe you from the face of this Earth.” Dyna chuckled and sat on Kaia’s lap, spreading herself over Kaia. She t
Interrupting Rhae’s thoughts, the door clicked open, and Icran’s presence disappeared from her mind. A woman dressed in armour with bright red hair stepped through the door, grinning. Her green eyes lit up with pleasure as she bowed sarcastically. “My lady, doth thee wish to dress?” She chuckled dramatically and stood up, walking towards the closet. “Now what shall we wear for dinner today?” The woman’s spunk surprised Rhae, stopping her dead in her feet. An important thought hid from her, something she wanted to do but couldn’t remember. “We?” Rhae questioned. “Yes, ‘we’ will be attending the dinner tonight. What’s your favourite colour?” The woman stepped out of the closet, peering questionably. “Black.” The answer came easily to Rhae as though she had known this woman for a long time. “Hmm, not appropriate.” The woman scanned Rhae. “You still have bruising around your jaw so we will have to distract from that. You would look wonderful in navy blue
Kaia sat on her bed, rubbing her neck softly. She remembered that a member of the guild only one day ago held a knife to her neck. Kaia only managed to escape because the woman, whom she now knows as Lynn after a man called her name, had tackled the man to the floor, taking his knife and threatening him. He was suspended for two days and forced to leave the guild house until his suspension was over. Even if she escaped without a scratch, she would never forget that feeling. Later that day, Kaia fell into a deep sleep, waking up to find herself tied to a chair with Rhae unconscious sitting across from her. Kaia couldn’t hear the others talking to Rhae as an overpowering ringing echoed through her mind. Her throat was dry and rasp, making her unable to speak. Kaia then fell into a pool of black nothingness once again, only to wake in her bed, thirsty for a drop of water and with a pounding headache. Kaia paced her room, trying to recall the day’s events or even multiple days i