The assassin glanced into the mirror one last time, ensuring his mask covered his face. He donned black leathers and his favorite quiver, loading several poisoned arrows into it. At last he picked up and shouldered his bow, heading to the balcony he had picked out the night before.
If they kept to a schedule, his marks would come down this alley in a few moments, alone and unarmed. The highlander would catch an arrow to the forehead and the woman would be tussled up and on her way back to his client in a few moments. That didn't make him particularly happy, but that was the job.
He heard the footsteps echoing down the cobbled alley long before he could see them. It took only a moment to notch the arrow and drawl the bowstring back to his chin. As soon as the man stepped into range, he would drop him. All he needed was a moment, a split second to change the young girl's entire world. The footsteps grew louder, and then there they were. He took a deep breath, steadying his aim... One..
...two....
… thr-â€Hello there.†The voice was female, echoing rather near him, and at first he thought he had been caught. But no, it came from beneath him, on the street. A woman in blue plate, approaching the couple slowly. A memory flashed through the assassins mind... He knew her... Yes. Yes he did. His target was getting closer, and would soon be out of sight, but if he struck now, he'd have to deal with her.
She was Ser Crofte's friend. The midlander, Sadowyn. He hesitated a moment. Why did he hesitate.The string of the bow started to loosen. No. Just do it. Two shots, two bodies, nothing else changes.But something already had. Every time he tried to re-tighten his grip on the bow, Ser Crofte's face would enter his head, and his grip would slip that much more.
Ser Crofte.... The Sultansworn who didn't even know he existed. How many times had she foiled one of his jobs without knowing it. How many times had she investigated one of his kills without finding trace of him. It was almost a game between them, only she didn't know she was playing. A game he had long ago begun to lose. He had fallen for her. An odd thing, the assassin falling for a guard that would no doubt hang him without a thought.
He was a skilled assassin. He had a reputation, he had demand and prestige among his peers. Yet he grew weak in the knees at the thought of the very person who was meant to stop him. Here it was again, another well paying job that would surely spread his name among the Syndicate bosses once more, prove his metal as an arrow for hire, and all he had to do was end Ser Crofte's friend. The woman would never see the poisoned arrow coming and she surely couldn't hit him with a sword from this distance.
He just couldn't do it. No matter how much his mind screamed at him, the picture of Ser Crofte mourning Ser Sadowyn kept filling his head. Without even realizing it, Anelia Sadowyn had just saved two lives.
Ayell of rage filled the alley, but when those bellow looked around, he was long gone, the only sign he had been there was an arrow jammed into the stone mortar of a balcony, broken off at the halfway point. An arrow that matched many others currently in Sultansworn evidence rooms.
As he fled, his mind raced. It was to late now, not only had he missed his chance, but his yell would have alerted his target. They were sure not to walk that alley alone again. This was bad. He had been paid, and paid well. Failing a job wasn't an option unless you died. The client would make sure of that, and with one this wealthy... He needed help. But who... who can I turn to when a crime boss wants my head? The answer came immediately of course. No.. I can't go to her.. but..perhaps...
He smirked and stopped, motioning to a Miqo'te street urchin... 'Go to the Quicksand and ask for Ser Sadowyn. Tell her, I know of a plot to kidnap and kill several Ul'dah citizens. If she wants to know more, meet me above the Coffin and Cotter. Complete this job and you'll earn enough Gil to eat for a week.'
The urchin jumped to her feet and ran off towards the Quicksand as the assassin faded into the night. Perhaps this can work for me after all...
If they kept to a schedule, his marks would come down this alley in a few moments, alone and unarmed. The highlander would catch an arrow to the forehead and the woman would be tussled up and on her way back to his client in a few moments. That didn't make him particularly happy, but that was the job.
He heard the footsteps echoing down the cobbled alley long before he could see them. It took only a moment to notch the arrow and drawl the bowstring back to his chin. As soon as the man stepped into range, he would drop him. All he needed was a moment, a split second to change the young girl's entire world. The footsteps grew louder, and then there they were. He took a deep breath, steadying his aim... One..
...two....
… thr-â€Hello there.†The voice was female, echoing rather near him, and at first he thought he had been caught. But no, it came from beneath him, on the street. A woman in blue plate, approaching the couple slowly. A memory flashed through the assassins mind... He knew her... Yes. Yes he did. His target was getting closer, and would soon be out of sight, but if he struck now, he'd have to deal with her.
She was Ser Crofte's friend. The midlander, Sadowyn. He hesitated a moment. Why did he hesitate.The string of the bow started to loosen. No. Just do it. Two shots, two bodies, nothing else changes.But something already had. Every time he tried to re-tighten his grip on the bow, Ser Crofte's face would enter his head, and his grip would slip that much more.
Ser Crofte.... The Sultansworn who didn't even know he existed. How many times had she foiled one of his jobs without knowing it. How many times had she investigated one of his kills without finding trace of him. It was almost a game between them, only she didn't know she was playing. A game he had long ago begun to lose. He had fallen for her. An odd thing, the assassin falling for a guard that would no doubt hang him without a thought.
He was a skilled assassin. He had a reputation, he had demand and prestige among his peers. Yet he grew weak in the knees at the thought of the very person who was meant to stop him. Here it was again, another well paying job that would surely spread his name among the Syndicate bosses once more, prove his metal as an arrow for hire, and all he had to do was end Ser Crofte's friend. The woman would never see the poisoned arrow coming and she surely couldn't hit him with a sword from this distance.
He just couldn't do it. No matter how much his mind screamed at him, the picture of Ser Crofte mourning Ser Sadowyn kept filling his head. Without even realizing it, Anelia Sadowyn had just saved two lives.
Ayell of rage filled the alley, but when those bellow looked around, he was long gone, the only sign he had been there was an arrow jammed into the stone mortar of a balcony, broken off at the halfway point. An arrow that matched many others currently in Sultansworn evidence rooms.
As he fled, his mind raced. It was to late now, not only had he missed his chance, but his yell would have alerted his target. They were sure not to walk that alley alone again. This was bad. He had been paid, and paid well. Failing a job wasn't an option unless you died. The client would make sure of that, and with one this wealthy... He needed help. But who... who can I turn to when a crime boss wants my head? The answer came immediately of course. No.. I can't go to her.. but..perhaps...
He smirked and stopped, motioning to a Miqo'te street urchin... 'Go to the Quicksand and ask for Ser Sadowyn. Tell her, I know of a plot to kidnap and kill several Ul'dah citizens. If she wants to know more, meet me above the Coffin and Cotter. Complete this job and you'll earn enough Gil to eat for a week.'
The urchin jumped to her feet and ran off towards the Quicksand as the assassin faded into the night. Perhaps this can work for me after all...
