Post by Amy on May 30, 2011 1:02:07 GMT -8
Sira shot up like a light, clambering through the moist, musky smelling puddle towards the open window. Leaning on the blood red window seat, she glanced towards the fading hills across the lake, cursing under her breath as she realised what had happened. She circled her chamber once or twice, her eyes closed to block out the sharp tang of swords beneath her.
As if something had stepped in front of her, Sira came to a swift halt next to the glass she had carelessly dropped only hours before. What happened? she thought, her head spiralling into oblivion as the recollections swam into her mind. Her hands still bore the scent of the warm goo that was still seeping from the overturned cup. Raising them to her face, she inhaled, taking in every atom of the sleeping draught that had been so subtly slipped into her drink.
She knew instantly that she must leave. She had to report to the Guild, before the culprit returned to collect his spoils. Darting around the small attic that housed her room, she checked that nothing of note had been removed from her possession, while gathering the few personal and essential belongings she owned. Satisfied that none of her documents had been touched and that her collection of intricate and exotic weapons were still intact, she took a moment to gather her thoughts. Only moments ago she lay unconscious, while another human had dared to enter her dwelling.
As Sira made for the trap door that hid the ladder to the vast network of catacomb's that lay below the city, she was stopped by a heavy knock at the door. Holding her breath, she silently pushed the matted rug over the exit and reached to her ankle support for her concealed dagger. Sliding it up her sleeve, she answered the door cautiously. The figure that stood beyond it was not who she had expected to see.
"Your Highness," she greeted, lowering herself into a stiff curtsey, "I thought I was not to see you until our meeting tomorrow evening." she said, her eyes slowly shifting towards his, curious as to why King Arcturus was so eager to see her today of all days.
"Stand up Sira, I don't have time for this." he commanded, his graceful demeanour fading. Sira and Arcturus had been childhood friends. As children in the Court of Albion, they wasted their days pretending to fight dragons and to save people from fearsome monsters, but they were from different worlds entirely. Sira was the daughter of the castle's chef, a respected and friendly man, but never wealthy enough to gain the notoriety he deserved. Sira's father was killed trying to carry out a duty he was less well known for, and Arcturus' family were kind enough to let her live in the castle. The two grew apart however, as Sira leant towards the dangerous life she had always dreamt of, and Arcturus took on the more serious ceremonial position of Ruler of the Land.
"Fine," Sira said as she rose curtly. "What do you want?" she asked, her eyes shifting to and from the door which was flanked by castle guards. "I have things to do." The King looked her up and down, before glancing towards the mess that lay to her right.
"What happened here?" he asked, the concern in his voice hidden only by the shuffling of one of the guards. Sira shrugged heartily, although she did not offer an explanation. He shook his head, knowing this was something he could not be involved in. "Listen Si, I have heard word that there is going to be an attempt on your life, and from the looks of this room, they've already made a start. You need to leave Albion." he said, his words firm.
Sira stared into his warm eyes, not showing an ounce of emotion. This had been her plan all along, but letting him know that would break the bitterness that had grown between them, and she was not prepared to lose that battle. "Why?" she asked defiantly, stifling the playful grin that was playing on her lips.
"You know why, Sira. They killed your father and now they want you. They want to destroy your family, everything you worked for --" he said, cut off by Sira's cold stare.
"I've heard enough, I'll go." Sira interjected, picking up the rucksack she had packed prior to the King's arrival, and slid the dagger into it's sheath. "Guess this is goodbye then." she said, her voice catching in her throat. Arcturus nodded, moving to one side to let her past.
"Si," he called as she stood at the top of the stairs. "Be careful, you're important in this."
Damn right I'm important. I'm the only hope you've got. The assassin thought as she darted towards the tower entrance.
As if something had stepped in front of her, Sira came to a swift halt next to the glass she had carelessly dropped only hours before. What happened? she thought, her head spiralling into oblivion as the recollections swam into her mind. Her hands still bore the scent of the warm goo that was still seeping from the overturned cup. Raising them to her face, she inhaled, taking in every atom of the sleeping draught that had been so subtly slipped into her drink.
She knew instantly that she must leave. She had to report to the Guild, before the culprit returned to collect his spoils. Darting around the small attic that housed her room, she checked that nothing of note had been removed from her possession, while gathering the few personal and essential belongings she owned. Satisfied that none of her documents had been touched and that her collection of intricate and exotic weapons were still intact, she took a moment to gather her thoughts. Only moments ago she lay unconscious, while another human had dared to enter her dwelling.
As Sira made for the trap door that hid the ladder to the vast network of catacomb's that lay below the city, she was stopped by a heavy knock at the door. Holding her breath, she silently pushed the matted rug over the exit and reached to her ankle support for her concealed dagger. Sliding it up her sleeve, she answered the door cautiously. The figure that stood beyond it was not who she had expected to see.
"Your Highness," she greeted, lowering herself into a stiff curtsey, "I thought I was not to see you until our meeting tomorrow evening." she said, her eyes slowly shifting towards his, curious as to why King Arcturus was so eager to see her today of all days.
"Stand up Sira, I don't have time for this." he commanded, his graceful demeanour fading. Sira and Arcturus had been childhood friends. As children in the Court of Albion, they wasted their days pretending to fight dragons and to save people from fearsome monsters, but they were from different worlds entirely. Sira was the daughter of the castle's chef, a respected and friendly man, but never wealthy enough to gain the notoriety he deserved. Sira's father was killed trying to carry out a duty he was less well known for, and Arcturus' family were kind enough to let her live in the castle. The two grew apart however, as Sira leant towards the dangerous life she had always dreamt of, and Arcturus took on the more serious ceremonial position of Ruler of the Land.
"Fine," Sira said as she rose curtly. "What do you want?" she asked, her eyes shifting to and from the door which was flanked by castle guards. "I have things to do." The King looked her up and down, before glancing towards the mess that lay to her right.
"What happened here?" he asked, the concern in his voice hidden only by the shuffling of one of the guards. Sira shrugged heartily, although she did not offer an explanation. He shook his head, knowing this was something he could not be involved in. "Listen Si, I have heard word that there is going to be an attempt on your life, and from the looks of this room, they've already made a start. You need to leave Albion." he said, his words firm.
Sira stared into his warm eyes, not showing an ounce of emotion. This had been her plan all along, but letting him know that would break the bitterness that had grown between them, and she was not prepared to lose that battle. "Why?" she asked defiantly, stifling the playful grin that was playing on her lips.
"You know why, Sira. They killed your father and now they want you. They want to destroy your family, everything you worked for --" he said, cut off by Sira's cold stare.
"I've heard enough, I'll go." Sira interjected, picking up the rucksack she had packed prior to the King's arrival, and slid the dagger into it's sheath. "Guess this is goodbye then." she said, her voice catching in her throat. Arcturus nodded, moving to one side to let her past.
"Si," he called as she stood at the top of the stairs. "Be careful, you're important in this."
Damn right I'm important. I'm the only hope you've got. The assassin thought as she darted towards the tower entrance.
