Draknal: Hey there! My name is Draknal and this is my first fic ever! I hope you all enjoy it. On to the disclaimer and the story!
Raven: Draknal does not own Fire Emblem or any of the characters in it.
Fate of the Fang
By: Draknal
Chapter 1: "An Assassin's Troubles"
Bern
A young man about the age of 19 stood outside the doorway of a small house. He had calm grey eyes and spiked teal hair. A grey cloak covered up most of his other distinguishable features. He went inside where there weretwo men waiting for him. The first had spiky brown hair and piercing brown eyes and looked relatively young. The second looked similar, but was taller and more muscular with clumped brown hair instead of spiky.
"I take it you were successful?" asked the first man.
Walking in and taking a seat the assassin replied, "Yes Master Lloyd, the target has been eliminated."
The man he was addressing gave him a stern look. "I told you, don't call me 'master' anymore; you are no longer my student. You are a fang and an equal, understood?"
"Yes," he replied not even bothering to look up.
"Well, our father, err… Brendan Reed, will be happy to hear that." The more muscular man corrected his mistake of acknowledging the leader of the Black Fang as his father.
"You've only been with us a few months, but you have really turned out well. You're an excellent assassin; you haven't failed to kill a target yet. Brendan has really taken a liking to you. But don't think that means you're any better than us."
The young assassin ignored whatever the man called Linus was saying. Instead he was looking over the contents of the cabin. What caught his eye was the table with weapons laying on it. They included a Wo Dao, a Silver Blade, and a hand-axe. He, of course, would not go anywhere without his trusty Killing Edge daggers. A sudden knock at the door jarred him out of his thoughts. Startled, Linus grabbed his silver blade and went to the answer it. Opening it slightly, he saw that the men outside bore the emblem of the fang. Knowing there was no threat; he opened the door and allowed them to come inside. The assassin carefully watched as the three figures came into view. They were all wearing thick black cloaks with hoods over their heads. They had no visible weapons on them, but from the way they walked or stood, he could tell. The man on the left used magic tomes, as his hand was always close to his chest. The one on the right used swords. The last man obviously used a bow, as a hump that must have been a quiver was protruding from the left side of his back. The men didn't bother seating themselves.
"Brendan Reed has requested the presence of the White Wolf, Mad Dog, and Grey Death," spoke the man on the right. Lloyd turned to the man.
"Where does he want us to meet him?"
The robed man pulled out a small piece of paper and handed it to him.
"So, he wishes you to meet him at the water temple." Lloyd looked at his brother and the assassin. "Well, if those are his wishes, then let us be going. Linus? Erimus?" The assassin looked up. "I am ready to leave whenever."
Lloyd knew that was coming. He never objected to being on the move. Lloyd's brother Linus, however, hated moving around so much over such far distances just to eliminate a target or two. Throughout the conversation, Lloyd noticed that Erimus was no his usual self. Erimus used to be in good spirits and was more open than was he was on this particular day. However, his recent mission ended differently this time.
-Flashback-
Silently he ran through the dimly lit halls of the enormous mansion. The red tapestry hanging on the walls gave an ominous warning of what was to come. Quickly he reached his intended destination. He knew his target was right beyond the doors. He reached for his Killing Edge daggers. Using the element of surprise, he kicked in the door. They came off their hinges with a deafening bang.
He dashed inside where a man was seated in a chair facing the now opened doorway. The man, startled by the intrusion, reached for his silver axe. But before he could even lay a finger on the axe, he felt two daggers pressed against his throat.
The assassin stared at the man.
"Unless you want me end your life sooner, I would stop right there."
The man gulped, but did not look any more nervous than when the door had been kicked in. Then he began to grin.
"What are you supposed to be? Another thief who wants to get his hands on my money? Ha! I commend you for getting into my mansion and making it this far."
The assassin narrowed his eyes. He readied himself to kill the man and end his mission when he heard loud footsteps coming from the hall.
'Those are too loud to be mercenaries or spearmen…no! It can't be!' He had to think quickly otherwise he knew this would be is last mission.
A general followed by 5 knights arrived at the doorway. The general was the first to speak.
"You aren't going to kill him. You know full well that if you do you won't make it out of here alive".
Hearing this from the general only made the seated man smile more.
"Looks like your little assassination attempt failed. Put down the dagger and I might let you go in one piece."
Erimus knew he could not fail the fang, as this was his most important assignment yet. As soon as he sheathed his daggers the man took action. Jumping out of his chair, he yelled.
"Attack! Kill him! What do you buffoons think I am paying you for?"
With that said, the general and his men unleashed a volley of javelins. Being in such close proximities, they knew that there was no way the assassin could avoid them all. However, much to their dismay, the assassin was far more practical. Kicking over the desk where the man had previously been sitting, he jumped behind it to use it as a shield.
'I have to do something to get out of this,' he thought.
With a loud 'Thump'. Three javelins had planted themselves in the wall and three more had hit the desk.
"Did we get him?" The man asked.
"I don't see him," said the general, "so we must have."
As soon as he said that Erimus jumped out and unsheathed his deadly daggers. With no weapons in their hands, the knights didn't have any way to defend themselves. They were easy prey for the assassin. Erimus leaped towards the knight on the General's immediate left. He quickly disposed of him by slashing his vulnerable neck. The man dropped cold and lifeless to the floor. This had created the opening needed, and he dashed from the room.
By the time the General and his men had re-armed themselves they managed to reach the point where the assassin was waiting. His intended target had also armed himself with his silver axe and blade. The area was much narrower then where they had previously fought, so only one person at a time could come through, giving Erimus the advantage he needed.
Two knights took to the offensive but didn't get very far. They dropped dead before they even had a chance to attack. Now only the general, two knights and the target remained. He put away one of his daggers and pulled out a light brand from his cloak. Holding it up high, he unleashed a blinding light that disoriented his attackers and momentarily blinded them. All the general could do was retreat backwards while he told his remaining men to advance and kill the intruder.
He took his employer back to the small room he was in before and waited there. His men never came back to him though. Fearing the worst, he pulled out his steel axe and an iron lance and waited for the assassin. Erimus was barely visible as he sprinted in at top speed. He was a blur and the general couldn't place where he was. He lunged forward with his spear, only to hit the brick floor. When he looked up the assassin was right in front of him, almost taunting him. Quickly (as quickly as a general can move) swung his steel axe at his target.
Again he missed. This was the assassin's chance. He slashed at the general hitting him square in the chest. Unfortunately the attack didn't cause a great deal of damage because of the general's thick armor.
'I can't believe I forgot!' thought the general.
He had been to preoccupied dodging the assassin's attack to remember.
"You can't touch me with those pathetic butter knives! I am impervious to your attacks!" he boasted, laughing maniacally.
The assassin only smirked. He stood straight up and put his daggers out to his sides. He looked almost as though he was concentrating. Now the general began to get really nervous. He swung his axe hoping to kill the blasted assassin. No such luck for him. Again he missed. Then he realized the assassin was no where to be found.
"But where?..."
He heard a voice form behind him.
"Here…" it said coldly.
The General stiffened at the feeling of a dagger sliding through his armor and into his lung. "How…?" he muttered, the body fell and poured forth a massive puddle of scarlet liquid. Now Erimus turned his attention to the only other figure in the room.
"Lord Marvius Frand, you have been sentenced to the Fang's judgment and will be executed mercilessly for the harm you have done to your people. You have raised taxes to the point where even the wealthy are having trouble paying, stolen property from peasants on a whim because you enjoyed watching them suffer. You murdered your own wife because she did not bear a male heir. You are a cowardly man who hides behind his money and power. For these and countless other sins you must die."
Lord Marvius, now utterly petrified, dropped his weapons.
"Please!" He dropped to his knees and begged. "I'll do anything!"
Erimus put his dagger point first at the man's throat.
"Know your sins. Repent, and die…" he said without a shred of emotion in his voice.
At that point in time he heard light footsteps behind him. He turned to see who it was while still keeping a dagger at the man's throat. It was a young girl, no more than the age of 7 or 8. Her big blue eyes looked at the sight that lay before her. She saw her daddy's soldiers lying everywhere while her father was at knife point.
"Daddy," she asked quietly, "what's going on?"
"What are you doing out of your room!" the man yelled.
Erimus looked at her regretfully.
"Your father must pay for the crimes he has committed. He is a very bad person."
Tears began to swell up in her eyes.
"No! My daddy is a good man, and he loves me and would never hurt anyone."
Erimus knew he could not kill this man in front of her, but he also knew he had to complete his mission. He was too caught up in his thoughts that he failed to notice Lord Frand sneaking his hand over to his axe.
"Die assassin!"
Lord Marvius threw his axe. Erimus was not fazed by this and simply moved out of the way. However, what happened next make him recoil. The axe did miss him, but it found another target… the girl standing behind him. It sunk deep into her mid-rift, killing her instantly. Her body fell limp to the floor. Furiously, he grabbed the man's throat and pinned him against the wall, a foot off of the ground with only his one hand, while his other was readied with a dagger.
"You fool… she was your daughter, your own flesh and blood, and you… you killed her."
The man sneered. "Being an assassin… ergh, I wouldn't… think cough something like that would invoke any emotion. She was a pathetic little worm who only ever got in my way. I only kept her alive so that my men believed that I was still a 'caring' leader and would follow my orders."
Erimus felt a flood rage at hearing these words. His usual calm grey eyes now blazed with an unimaginable fury, and he gripped his dagger tightly while still holding the man up to the wall.
"You fiend, rot eternally in the abyss!"
He swung his dagger at the beast with all of his might. It plunged through the man's throat. He released his grip on the monster only to find out that the body did not fall. The dagger had struck with such force that it not only pierced Lord Frand's throat, but the stone wall as well. A pool of blood spewed forth from the wound. Unfortunately he had died instantly. Still enraged, Erimus used his one free dagger to attack the man's vulnerable body. By the time he was finished venting out his anger on Lord Marvius the body was barely recognizable.
He then walked over to the girl's body and pulled out the axe. He then threw it at Lord Marvius hitting him square in the chest.. Erimus took his daggers out of the man, wiped them off and proceeded to sheath them both. He silently crept out of the mansion.
–End Flashback-
"Erimus?"
He looked up to see Linus.
"What?"
Linus sighed.
"I said, we're done gathering our equipment, we're leaving."
The assassin soon regained his emotionless expression, and stood up.
"Fine, let's go."
End Chapter.
Draknal: Phew The first chapter is done! Let me know what you thought of it.
Karla: Don't be too harsh or you'll make him cry… and none of us need that happening again…
Draknal: You're mean.
Karla: I know. Smiles
R&R!
