Book 2 Chapter 36

Tirr raised a small fist triumphantly towards the distant tower. He didn’t see nor hear a response as he posed under the moon’s light but still nodded back towards maria before running ahead.

The next part of the plan took advantage of having pierced the outer perimeter to quickly move towards the central warehouses where the princeling would be kept. The Life Blessing flowed through both of their bodies, adding its strength to theirs as they ran. They moved at a sprint, needing to save as much time as possible since they would have to slow down again soon enough.

They had managed to get through without being detected but it was only a matter of time before the assassin’s guild realized something was wrong. Like an anthill that’d been kicked over, they’d swarm the base and the chances of bringing out the child safely would lower drastically. Torvus and Nerida had even stayed behind to buy more time. Attacking other watchtowers and patrols along the perimeter to keep things disrupted for as long as possible.

As they reached the central warehouses they slowed down moving back to the slow pace of their original approach as started their search. Torvus had told them that's where the boy would be held, and that security would likely pick back up once they had gotten there.

Tirr and Maria crept forward, breaking into a quick dash before hiding once again in the shadows cast by the tall overhangs of the buildings around them. With only the moon to light the way it only to a few steps to disappear into the pitch black.

As they got closer and closer to their goal Tirr knew they were only a few hundred feet away from where the princeling should be.

Suddenly Tirr’s eyes widened as he spotted a surge of light coming from a nearby alley. … He reached out grabbing Maria’s arm and pulling her into the shadows next to him as he shushed her. They melted into the darkness leaving no trace of their presence just moments ago.

Out of the alley appeared shining white mask, lit by a lamp the mask’s own carried. The figure came out of the alley and started slowly working its way towards where Tirr and Maria had just been. The Assassin’s body swayed as it walked, and Tirr could hear the jaunty little tune it hummed to itself as it bobbed it head in time to the melody.

Tirr watched the figure carefully… Outwardly he didn’t seem any different than the other assassins Tirr had seen and fought. But as Tirr watched the figure hum his way towards their hiding spot, he felt a chill run down his spine.

He pulled Maira and himself further into the darkness just as the figure reached the point closest to them. He held his breath, as he thought to himself… This one was dangerous. Maria probably wouldn’t be able to handle him, which meant he had at least reached the same level as an adherent... Thinking about the Shard these Assassins used, even Tirr at his current power wouldn’t be able to finish him off quickly and would have to turn the fight into a battle of endurance.

Can’t afford this right now, Tirr thought to himself as he wished once again he had all of his Blessings. They watched the figure pass less than 10 ft away from them as they waited. As it crossed the point they had been at and continued walking, Tirr had to resist the urge to sigh in relief.

As if on cue to the silent thought, the figure stopped. It stayed still for a moment, still only a few yards away from where the two hid in one of the Warehouses shadows.

They sat absolutely still, not daring to even blink as the white mask slowly turned towards them. Two silver eyes peered from behind as they stared into the darkness and hand went towards the dagger at its belt.

Tirr felt Maria’s body tense as if preparing for battle. He gripped her arm harder hoping she would get the message as he stared right back at the white mask. They stayed like that, as the seconds turned into what felt like hours. Pressure built in Tirr’s chest as his body struggled for air. He fought down the instinct, keeping his eyes on the fighter in front of them.

A series of clangs broke the quiet as a distant alarm sounded. Tirr cursed in his mind as he thought something must have gone wrong for Neria and Torvus, and felt himself tense when the figure suddenly disappeared. Only the faint dust of its footsteps showed that it had left, heading in the direction of the disturbance. They waited a moment longer until Maria could not hold on any further. Letting out a gasp before sucking in air greedily.

“What was that?” She asked between gulps.

“I think it's one of the guys Torvus talked about, the ones that are supposed to stay with the council….” He watched the direction the figure had left in for a moment more before pulling Maria along once again.

“Come on, if the alarms are going that means they're gonna either be moving him or killing him off immediately. Either way, we have to find him now…”

They broke into a sprint. Shoes digging into the stone cobbled path as dust spewed behind them as they moved. All pretense of stealth forgotten as they ran as fast as they could the last bit of distance. Tirr heard shouts as they ran by, but soon a single warehouse with its large doors closed and a few assassins guarding it came into view.

Tirr didn’t slow down as he ran towards them. In a moment they were up, daggers at the ready as they rushed back at him. Still charging, Tirr held up his arms as he dove forward towards the door. Launching himself like a boulder through the enemies in front of them. The assassins shifted as they tried to stop him, their forms flickering. Blades cut deep into his skin but his momentum couldn’t be stopped as he crashed into the doors

There was a crack as the beam holding the doors closed shattered upon impact and the doors themselves flew off their hinges.

Tirr rose just in time to a young boy tied to a chair up ahead. As he stood an assassin appeared next to the boy in an instant. Before Tirr could speak the assassin smiled viciously as a blade came sweeping across the boy’s neck…