I eyed the two-metre-five mount of flesh before me. A two-metre-long wooden pole in his hands. He drew a circle around himself. Diameter half of the pole length, with him in the middle.

"Come attack! I won't leave the ring!", Cycnus bellowed. His eagerness showing as he stabbed the air a few times. I wiped away the sweat from the prior bouts. I was exhausted and my pride hurt after failing to break my losing streak.

I should have expected such a difference in skill, but that didn't make it easier to accept my continued inability to land a hit.

Footwork was the key if I wanted to land a good hit. I circled the minotaur again and slowly neared him. His hoofs matched my feet. He mirrored every movement. No openings showed. My pole aimed for his left hairy leg.

Cycnus pole hit mine and the hit missed its target. I took a step back and his pole missed my chest by a few centimetres.

"You are an open book jackpot. Strike faster, harder and without giving hints to your enemy", Cycnus advised as he parried another strike. This time aimed from above.

I let go of the pole. It quickly began to rotate and the end I had struck with landed in my hand again. I tapped his chest where his heart was before he had time to prepare a proper response.

"One to thirteen", Cycnus said with a frown. "Now we can do the next without a circle!"

I let the pole fall down and raised my arms.

"No that is enough for today. We can resume sparring the next morning ", I answered while waving away further complaints from Cycnus. There were other things to do.

Cycnus quickly found a new target, or training partner, and began to beat him up. The other minotaur did put up a good resistance, though it just wasn't enough in the end. He fell down after getting a fist deep into the stomach.

I quickly washed up in a near fountain and changed the clothes for a fitting and clean toga. A few days ago the baron of Ostia had sent basic supplies. This included servants, clothes and provisions for several weeks. A sign of goodwill as he claimed.

We checked everything of course. No poison in the food and the servants seemed trustworthy.

It was our eleventh day in Roma. We cleared the sewage system of the debris after a few minor difficulties. The water didn't even take a whole day to drain away into the Tiber. There were still a few places underwater, cellars in particular.

One important thing though had changed. My first ally arrived.

Juladia of the Nightbringer clan had reached the city yesterday. In the dead of night and without announcing her presence. She had entered the temple, secured by a few of my guards, undetected. Not surprisingly, the guards had no way to detect magic and only the light of their torches. The absence of runes, the best way to protect against magic, helped her further.

Juladia had however forgotten one of us.

I sneaked slowly through the streets of Roma. Not making any noise and avoiding places reflecting the moonlight.

Mother had moved forward the last examination to finish our house's training, after a lot of nagging on my part. The target had been a baron in southern Italia. Marked as a traitor, but yet to be removed because of the lack of hard evidence.

The goal was to kill him without being suspected as the killer and in front of his family. Mother wouldn't accept any other outcome. How I achieved it, was my problem.

The mission turned out to be harder than I had expected after mother provided me with two pieces of information. Runes protected his mansion and the damn baron had somebody in his service with mana sight. The woman in question was always near him, always stopping me from using my magic. Too many guards. Too much protection.

Back to the basics. His staff put out a notice for a new maid. I had watched how the guards had disposed of the old one. I bought commoner clothes and applied for the job. A man opened the door for me and lead me into a room for an interview. The head butler had eyed me with disdain and mistrust. Dark-elves seemed not to be liked anywhere. We never have been. In the end, it was the baron himself who ensured my employment.

He entered the room. The man looked ugly and was fat as a wild boar and he reeked of alcohol. The baron got one look at me before smiling and hiring the elven woman. He leered at certain parts without restrain. I was to service him later in his office, that was his order. Then he left.

After the target stumbled back to wherever was more booze, I got instructions from an older maid on how to perform my tasks and how to behave. She also advised to be careful around the baron and, if possible, never be alone with him in a room. The old woman was nice as she showed me how to perform laundry or how to deck the table.

The baron didn't disappoint. I was ordered by the head butler to bring beverage to the baron. He waited for me in his office, it had been dark outside for a while. I had not seen another person after the head butler relayed the orders.

I did as told and entered the room, now in an unpractical maid clothing. Putting up my best imitation of a shy and young woman. I refrained from smiling. People never like to see me smile.

"Ahh miss elf... come here and partake in the joy of drinking", he ordered. His body swinging left and right.

I slowly moved to his desk. He ordered me to stand next to him and so I did. While filling his cup with the beverage, he stood up and positioned himself behind me. His hands roamed my front and back.

I was just numb to the feeling of disgust and wrongness. Mother's training was good in one thing. It would take a lot more to make me fall out of my role, to make me scream, to break me. I squirmed a bit and tried to copy however a young woman would react in such a situation. Using his distracted state to throw my powder into his cup. I should have done so earlier.

He began to take a few sips, not stopping what he was doing with the other hand. After five more minutes of enduring, the baron finally collapsed. Sleeping deep and firmly on the ground.

I sneaked out of the room and headed for the dining room, not making a noise as I navigated the mansion. Thanks to the nice maid I knew where which room was. The tableware was stored inside several wooden shelves with glass fronts. Silver, gold and steel. Extravagant. I pulled up several vials secured at my inner leg. Hidden by the dress.

The plan was simple. To coat all of the tableware, forks, knives and spoons, in poison and wait for the baron to die through it. Together with some of his family members if possible. Mother never specified to only kill the baron. And I don't think forgetting that detail was a mistake on her part.

The poison was a fast working one. From a green wyvern, a most poisonous and deadly sub-species.

I wanted to have one. Several. I want the bond. I want to share myself without being judged. To be accepted... Concentrate on the mission.

The baron's lungs will begin to take in less air until stopping entirely. He would suffocate, while everybody watches. A fitting death for the glutton. A shame that death would come quickly for him.

After finishing the deed I went to my next target. The bedroom of the head butler. The door wasn't locked and the man deep asleep. I hid empty vials and one-half full under his bed. The full ones were hidden under a loose plank in the corner of the room.

I went back to the baron's office. The man still slept deeply on the ground. Snoring loudly. I undressed him. Nude on the top and legwear down to the ankle.

I dishevelled my clothing and hair and put my underwear next to the desk. The maid dress was pulled down so that one breast was exposed. Then I sat on his chair and waited. Either he awakes from the sleep powder or somebody will find him.

I waited and neither did the baron wake up nor did somebody enter the room. The sun was beginning to rise outside. The light illuminating the room. I heard footsteps outside.

I laid myself on the baron and put his hand on my behind, coiling my arms around his neck. He stank. The doorknob turned and by the sounds of the footwear, a woman entered the room.

"You useless piece of shit!", the woman shouted, the baron began to wake up.

"And you, you greedy whore get down from my husband", she continued. The wife grabbed my shoulder and pulled me down from her husband. Thank you for that.

I curled up and hid my face with the help of my hands. Pretending to cry and shiver. A foot hit my back several times. I didn't feel the pain. Hands hiding my elated expression.

"What is it darling?", the baron asked. "Let me sleep ... for a bit longer."

The man muttered half asleep.

"You! Get outside and to your quarters. I will deal with the punishment later. Out now!", the woman screamed.

I left the room with my head hanging down. Hiding smile and teeth. I did as told and entered my room, it was locked behind me. There I waited. An hour later the head butler ordered me to attend the breakfast.

I was told to stand next to the wall. The baron and his wife sat on one side of the table. Their three children on the other.

"Ah miss elf. It is nice to see you again. Did you sleep well?", the baron asked enthusiastically. His wife next to him looked furiously at me. She grabbed her husbands' hand.

"Yes my lord … Thank you for asking", I stammered. A good performance.

"See, she is a good girl and valuable employee. Now let us eat", the baron asked and began to eat with a golden fork and knife.

His wife instead eyed me. Not touching her food. A shame.

Two children watched the actions of their parents. Not yet touching the food. A small girl though had started directly after her father began to eat. Her brother was about to do the same as the baron began to choke.

"Air...", he said weakly. Collapsing in his chair. Taking bigger breaths, yet he would not get more. Only less and less.

"No no no, servants help quickly", the wife began to panic.

A man grabbed the baron from behind. Trying to force the food the baron was choking on out with his movements. Though it was no food that took his air.

Then the girl began to choke as well. The mother ran to the child trying to help her the same way the servant had helped the baron.

A few minutes passed as people ran around trying to help somehow. Calling for a healer or mage.

Baron and daughter died. Mother and siblings cried.

A few hours later the rooms of all servants were searched. Someone must have spread rumours about poisoning. All servants had to stay inside the baron's office under the watchful eye of the baroness and her guards. Waiting for the search to find results.

The poison was found. The head butler denied his crimes. He was killed with the order of the baroness. A sword through his heart. Remains divided into four and buried.

I resigned a few days after things had calmed down. The baroness let me go after checking, via a mage and medicus, if I had the baron's child inside me. Of course, I hadn't. She did hold back my pay though.

A few men had followed me after I left the mansion. The baroness' henchmen lost me in the next alley. I smiled engulfed in darkness as they passed me. That was too easy.

Mother later praised me on my results. She held a small ritual with a few of the other clansman. Mother gifted me two new steel daggers. They even had runes. I recognized sharpness runes and one to reinforce the durability. The rest was unknown to me. Inquiring failed to get me answers.

I had also gained a tattoo on my back. A long silver serpent with wings, spanning from my neck to my behind. It represented our clan and also meant that from now on I was a free member. Mother couldn't order me around any more. And all of mother's previous orders were now null. This included an agreement with a certain prince.

I eyed the temple with the minotaurs in front. No runes were shining on the facade. The guards only had a few meters of torchlight.

I got close to the wall and neared the entrance. I dived into the shadows before I entered the torchlight. Passing the entrance at the edge where the light didn't reach. A shadow construct took form again behind the guards' backs. The shadow took a few seconds to recede and reveal my body.

The next minutes were spent sneaking and listening for footsteps. I checked rooms, but only found sleeping minotaurs and a few other demi-humans and some normal humans. There was a room filled with basic provisions. Two sleeping minotaurs were inside. 'Guarding' the wares.

I searched further and entered another hall. This one was a bit smaller than the main one but was still impressive on its own. Fifteen metres wide, twenty long and eight tall. And a door at its end.

This should be the room. His room.

I slowly approached the door. Checking for runes or hiding guards, there were none. A torch hung next to the room. The handle was pulled down by me, the door didn't move. Locked.

I willed my magic to appear inside the room's shadows.

I willed my magic to appear inside the room's shadows...

I willed my magic to appear inside the room's shadows!

My magic, why doesn't it work?

My instincts screamed and I rolled back just in time.

A massive shadow took form. A black wyvern materialized and its yellow eyes focused on me.

This one was new.

Deimos, Cycnus' second in command was receiving the beating of a lifetime. Well, it would be more accurate to say that he was being humiliated.

Juladia held two wooden daggers in her hand, her opponent round shield and sword. And with his weapon choice, he should have had the advantage. Longer reach and better defence. Yet the score was three to zero for the elf.

Juladia was faster than him and far far far more flexible. She dived down low, slashing at limbs. She threw one dagger at his eye and bridged the distance between them, while Deimos was blinded by his own shield.

Dagger pressed against his hip and the main arteries. The fourth round went to the dark-elf. Again.

"Hey, Deimos is that all you can do?", I teased and saw the anger building in him. "Should I get you a child for a sparring partner?"

"Again!", he demanded and hit the sword against the shield. Waiting and making noise. The surrounding minotaurs joined in. Like drums of war. Deimos got more and more agitated with each passing second. He began to run on the spot.

Juladia gave me the 'why did you do that' look. My answer was a shoulder shrug.

Now let's see how you deal with that.

Juladia beckoned him forward. Deimos bellowed and charged.

The minotaur fought without pattern or tactic. And strangely it worked wonders against the dark-elf. She acted delayed, unsure how to react to the attacks. Juladia was always retreating and dodging.

They entered an area under a canopy. When both entered the shadows the elf disappeared. A shadowy form materialized behind Deimos. Beginning to reveal Juladia.

Deimos turned around and tackled the half-shadow, half-Juladia with shield and body. The dark-elf flew a few metres and rolled a few times until coming to a stop. I didn't hear an exclamation of pain. Not even a grunt or something similar. No reaction at all in fact.

She stood up slowly. Her grey skin looked pale and she couldn't hide the fast heaving of her chest.

A look with mana sight confirmed my suspicion. Being interrupted in mid casting had its effect on a mage. The mana inside her was in turmoil and disorder. It was hurting her.

It should at least because she didn't have a pained expression on her face.

She outstretched her hand and beckoned Deimos forward again. Smiling wide with her sharp teeth. I liked that expression. She always seemed to wear a mask, but it fell down in moments like this.

She had the same expression when I caught her and Quintus fighting in front of my room. He had been careful not to injure her and she … she had managed to injure him a few times. Even if it were no deep wounds. The fight had ended with my interruption and I went back into my room.

"We will talk tomorrow", I had said.

"Hah, a fighter!", the minotaur answered and charged again. His shout brought me out of my musings. Deimos though came to a quick halt just after a few metres.

Juladia collapsed, face into the earth. Body exhausted by the failed spell.

"Victory!", Deimos exclaimed and the drumming of the other minotaurs was replaced by cheers.

I went over to check on her while the minotaurs celebrated the victory of a forty-two-year-old over a woman half as old. My hand went to the neck. Her pulse was normal. I checked the heart and it was beating fine as well.

I ordered the servants to prepare a room for Juladia and to bring her there. A maid would wait outside and tell her to meet me after she awakes. A bit of water and dried meat was also placed next to her resting place.

I was in the process of writing letters to my family and to some possible vassals and council members. I offered a position and land in the province of Roma as payment for their services. I would need their expertise when the first colonists arrived to rebuild Roma.

Juladia entered the room without knocking, pulled a chair in front of my desk and sat down. Eyeing me with a mix of interest and anger. I nearly felt sorry for agitating Deimos. Just nearly.

"Come in, take a seat please", I said as I organized the letters putting them aside for now.

"You wanted to talk", she said, crossing her arms and putting one leg over the other. "Talk."

"I remember that you became my spymaster and as the spym…"

"But things have changed", she interrupted. I waited befuddled for the explanation behind that statement.

She turned around on the chair and pulled down her clothing. Exposing a silver-skinned and winged serpent on her back.

I stared for a moment before my hands started to massage my temples. I fixed my gaze on the feather and ink glass.

"Please explain again. This time in words. Also please pull your clothing back up", I managed to say and tried to get the picture of a smooth grey-skinned back out of my mind. What would it feel like if I touched … No no, concentrate on the important circumstances. My spymaster just implied that she won't serve me.

"I am a full member of my clan. I am free of all previous orders and oaths.", she explained and I heard the shuffling of clothes.

"Does that mean … oh by the gods please Juladia", I looked up shortly to continue the conversation, just to see her bare back again. Her head turned. A smile on Juladia's face.

I heard a laugh. It sounded strangely bright and honest. I didn't even notice as my own joined.

The elf finally decided to reclothe herself and I failed to stop myself from peeping during the process. She turned around with a knowing smile.

"So what do you want to do now?", I asked as my emotions settled again. Her smile turned back into the familiar blank expression, eyes calculating.

"What can you offer me for my skills and services?", she asked.

My mouth opened before I hastily stopped myself from speaking. I thought about what I could offer her. What she would want.

Riches? No too simple. I doubt that would move her.

Land? She does not look like somebody who plans to run a barony.

Influence maybe?

The answer stopped in my throat. She had smiled while fighting Quintus.

"I offer the same as last time. The position of spymaster and royal assassin. You will be spymaster over all the lands I have and those that I will have", I said.

She didn't react much. Looking like she expected that much.

"And perhaps I reward your service with a wyvern egg?", I offered. "Perhaps a black wy..."

"Oh yes. Green ones, from the great forest. Several", she brightened up a spark in her eyes, a wide beautiful smile formed. It all vanished after just a moment, but I would be sure not to forget that picture.

"That would be adequate", she said calmly.

I didn't bother to hide my wide smirk.

"Than do we have a deal spymaster Juladia Nightbringer?", I asked with an outstretched hand. She shook it after a short moment of hesitation. Shaking firmly.

An oath of loyalty to me and the duchy followed. As she had done so many years ago. Just this time it was by her own will. She had her mask back on, but the spark in her eyes was still there.

I looked forward to our cooperation. Now hopefully the others are also so easily convinced to join my ranks.