A gust of cold air greeted the form of Ensia Runewrought as she sprinted through the streets of a metropolis. She was due for a meeting with her employer to discuss tactics. Unfortunately, she was a bit behind schedule. Darting between two passer-by's she rounded a corner heading straight for a gleaming obsidian building. Without even pausing to catch her breath she flung the doors open before skidding to a halt in front of a mahogany desk, panting as she struggled to breathe. A rather pudgy man with short white hair glanced at her from a pair of spectacles placed neatly on his nose. Scrutinizing her for only a moment, he spoke in a cheery voice. "Good morning, Ensia!"

"Good morning, Magistrate Jo'Va." she replied in a hurried tone, still gulping in air. "Have you seen the Guildmaster?"

The magistrate picked up a pen from his desk before flicking it to a joining corridor. "Down there, third room on the left."

Ensia merely gave a nod of acknowledgement before sprinting off, the magistrate exclaiming something inaudible. Counting the rooms as she passed, she caught herself as she stopped at the third door before quietly entering.

The Guildmaster, or Guildmaster Areth as he was called, was standing by a lavishly decorated window staring out at the metropolis. He was a man of average height, with neat jet-black hair and piercing grey eyes that could discern truth from lie. Dressed in an oddly sinister dark suit, his gaze never left the scene laid out before him. "Close the door." was all he said.

Ensia obliged as she leaned against one of the marble walls, glancing about the room with opulent fabric hung about the masonry.

"Your last kill seemed to draw some suspicion, Ensia. Not getting sloppy, I hope?"

Ensia stiffened as she recalled the events two nights ago. She had been ordered to kill a merchant selling pottery, due to a threat he had made against the organization. Unfortunately, he had conveniently brought an escort and by now, the added gore would surely have been noticed. Clearing her throat, she began. "The old fool was...paranoid, to say the least, Guildmaster. I was unaware he would bring an escort."

"Hmmm. Yes, how...intriguing. Were you aware he was informed before hand of the movement?"

Ensia cast a brief glance to the carpeted floor, as if it was to blame for the conversation. "No, Guildmaster."

"And are you aware of who informed them?" The Guildmaster's tone was beginning to have a dangerous tone. His eyes remained fixated on the window.

Once more, Ensia glanced about the room before replying. "...No, Guildmaster."

"Well, perhaps you can ask them, yes?" Areth turned around before pointing outside the window. Ensia squinted to see what he was pointing at and a feeling of dread had begun to build up inside her. Outside, were four men who were getting increasingly close to the building in which they were in; the city guard. Ensia glanced to Areth, noticing the smirk on his face. "I was wondering when you might fail me, Ensia. Such a pity you have to go to waste."

As if his words had conjuration properties, two guards promptly burst through the door before glancing at Ensia, hands on the sheathes of wicked swords, no doubt. Areth, meanwhile, screamed like a madman pointing at Ensia. "That's her, men! That's the murderer!"

The guards drew their swords and Ensia decided to make a split-second decision. Before they could so much as declare her arrest, she sprinted for the window, right past Areth, diving straight through it. Glass flew everywhere and ricocheted on whatever it hit. Ensia did a barrel-roll as she tumbled through the grass and pavement alike of the city. At last coming to a stop, she shakily got to her feet, covered with multiple scratches and bruises. The two guards had stepped through the obliterated window, largely unscathed, having most likely brought their swords up in self-defense. The four she had seen earlier quickly joined with their compatriots as the six of them advanced on her in a semicircular ring. Once again, Ensia followed her first impulse; running.

With six guards in pursuit, Ensia weaved her way through the city making for the first place she could think of: the stables. Rushing by a laundrywoman, who promptly screamed upon seeing the state she was in, her feet slipped a bit as she attempted to do a wide turn. Cursing herself as the guards were quickly gaining on her, she decided to take a shortcut. Praying to the gods she would succeed, she put forth all her energy into fleeing as she leapt over a short fence before finding a man leading a horse to, presumably, the stables. Uttering a word of thanks, she put whatever energy she had in her legs into getting onto the horse. Her muscles screamed with protest, though she nonetheless caught her boot onto a part of the saddle before hoisting herself onto the horse. The man below screamed at her to get down that instant, but she instead whipped the reins and sped past like an eagle in flight. Glancing back behind her, she noticed the guards had found steeds of their own and quickly urged her horse to gain speed.

The game of cat and mouse was drawn out as Ensia made her way northwards of the city, heading for whatever place had safety. The guards had not given up in their endeavor and were still adamantly following her, determined to see her behind bars. The air had begun to grow crisper and her horse whinnied, clearly disliking the new change. Was that snow she saw? Impossible as it was, with the change of air, her eyes did not deceive her. Ahead was a full-blown snowstorm, the winds whipping about as snow catapulted through the air. Ensia and her pursuers had, by now, entered the area. The roaring of the winds was so deafening, Ensia could not hear her horse whinnying. Nor did she hear the click that sounded behind her as a guard loaded a crossbow. Taking great care with his aim, being barely able to see her lithe form, he fired at whatever he could. A searing pain immediately latched itself onto the shoulder blade of her right arm. She dropped like a twig into the cushion of snow, her horse careening on without her. The guards halted their horses, glancing at Ensia's form before grunting and turning their horses away, back to the city. The murderer had been dealt with.

Hullo! Hope you enjoyed the first chapter! Reviews would be greatly appreciated whilst the story is in progress. Thank you. :)