More Spamano for my fans.
Enjoy!~
Chapter 1: An Italian Rogue
It was the middle of an active night. The laughter matched the amount of how much booze was consumed and my ladies wandered around seeking company for the night. It was then that he found me. Satu had brought him over. Patting Gefahr's arm as she slid out her wrist knives I motion for the man to take a seat across from me.
Crossing my feet on the table I sneer at the hooded newcomer. "Pray tell me, who has business with the Rogue?" Rachel walks through the din and sets a glass of the inn's best wine at my elbow. The rest of my Faithful Ladies wanders over and sits around me.
"Someone you only need know if you accept my businessproposition. You, whore, bring me what he's having." He motions to Gefahr. My right hand snarls at him and gets up stiffly. Rachel rushes over and wraps her arms around Gefahr's waist to stop her from stepping forward and stabbing the pig in the face. Rachel mutters something to her and they both wander off.
"What deal do you bring to me?" I reply to the hooded man who gives me a sly smile.
"I want you to assassinate the crown prince." The area around me drops into silence. "And since it's you I know you can get the job done."
"… King killing is it? Then I take it that you're Prince Richard Carriedo. I warn you now, the price is steep." Prince Richard Carriedo, second in line to the throne, pulls down his hood revealing his black, wavy, chin length hair and cold green eyes accompanied by a greasy looking tan.
"I know the price. But will you do it Lovino Vargas?" Gefahr returns with Rachel who offers the glass to Richard. "I'm not interested in red heads, make the pretty little slut there give it to me." Gefahr bristles and snatches the glass from Rachel's hand and nearly slams it into the table. Richard grabs her wrist and pulls her down. "Tell me, how much do you charge?"
"I'm afraid Gefahr is not for sale. She's part of my ladies and doesn't offer her services to anyone except of her choosing." I reply for her and she nods curtly to say it was true. Besides she wouldn't sleep with anyone except who she dated, which in this case was Rachel. That or who she was planning to kill secretly. "Before we strike a deal I need to know if you can get me into the castle."
"That matter is simple. My brother is looking for advisers as practice for when he takes the throne. I can pass you off as one easily."Richard says before taking a long drink from his glass. "Job starts tomorrow and you get paid when it's finished." He takes another drink, sets the glass down and gets up. "I can also get a few of your gang in as well. I'd be more than happy to drag this one into my chambers."
As he speaks he flicks a strand of hair off of Gefahr's shoulder. I blink twice and she looks away. It would be to our advantage if she didn't drive him off. "Castle gates, just after sunrise. Don't be late." And with that he leaves, closing the door behind himself and creating the only sound in the once lively inn.
~The Next Morning~
I step down the stairs silently and glance around. Good, no one was waiting to make a move on me. I sheath my blades and step out into the dark streets outside. Making my way across the town square I notice the area's guard, Anders, taking a last look around before heading back to the inn. He was your third in chain of command and presided over the town square.
His sky blue eyes catch my amber ones and we nod to each other. As I pass him I flip a gold piece into the air, a reward for being caught working on the job. The next member I came across was leaning on a box, fast asleep. He wasn't so lucky seeing as how his 'work' was rewarded by me lodging a throwing knife into his forehead.
I pass the smithy, Aard the blacksmith hard at work already. He was Alice's big brother and made all of my weaponry. We share a nod as I pass. Alice, my favorite baker, lived next door and I bought a roll from her for breakfast. Giving her a wink I saunter off to the road leading to the castle.
I head to the gates and lean against one of the pillars holding the steel bars in place. A moment later the sun breaks from the hills in the east and a guard arrives at the gate, silently letting me in. "Wait here." He says gruffly, pointing to a spot. A moment later Richard himself strolled out to greet me, holding out his hands as if I were an old friend.
"Vargas! How are you? Shall we?" If you get the fucking creepy as hell smile off your face. I reply quietly in my head. But for his reply I nod and we start walking to the castle grounds. "So, just as a warning, should I call you by your first name or do you have a different one you use while you work?"
"Romano. It's common enough, or, at least more common than Lovino." I take a discreet step away from the fucking creep as I speak.
Too bad he decided to wrap his arm around my shoulders as we walked into the castle's main hall. "Alright Romano. My brother should be in the dining hall about now so how about we go meet him, hm?" I carefully dislodge his arm and nod replying that it was a sound idea while cussing him out in my head. "Does that happen often?"
"Does what happen often?" I ask, looking up. He motions at a few maids then a few ladies-in-waiting which were all staring at me and starting to whisper and giggle at the same time. "Unfortunately."
"Lucky man. So you probably see quite a bit of action huh?"
"Nope. Still saving myself for that special someone." I continue to walk as Richard stops in stunned silence. I turn back around. "What? Can't a man stay virtuous?" Richard chuckles nervously and continues walking.
"No, I just assumed… Here we are!" He shoves open a large door to reveal a large room with only a few people inside. Closest to the kitchen door I spot my target, sitting with an albino and a blonde. He had chocolate, slightly curly hair and laughing green eyes that went with a ready smile. The albino was currently prodding him in the head with a spoon and the blonde was laughing at something.
"Good morning brother!" Richard calls almost too cheerfully. The three direct their attention to Richard which leads to them looking at me. The blonde one, the oldest of the group by the looks of it, had wavy hair and blue eyes that seemed to mentally undress anyone he looked at. Apparently I was to his taste because he broke into a lusty smile. The albino looks at me with a bored expression, his red eyes glancing at me for a second before reverting back to Richard.
But Antonio Fernandez Carriedo didn't even look at his brother. Instead he stared at me, the sleep fading from his eyes. I find myself glancing away quickly. "Morning Richard. Who might this be? I've not seen him at court." Antonio says as I study the wood grain of the table.
"Who cares? I'd like to fuck him even if he's just a commoner. I mean check out that ass." The blonde one says before Richard can supply an answer. As I reach for my wrist knives I remember to count to ten. A moment later he yelped and Antonio shot him a dark look. "What?"
"This is the aide I suggested a few days ago brother. He's just arrived and I was eager to have you meet him." So Richard had planned for this?
"He's hired. Take a seat." Antonio says, patting the bench next to him.
"Just like that?" Richard asks, clearly confused.
"Of course. You know how much I trust you brother. Pray tell, what's your name?" I sit down a bit away from him.
"Romano Vargas."
Antonio smiles widely. "My name is Antonio but you already knew that. My two companions are Francis and Gilbert. You might want to watch out for Francis seeing as he'll try to get into anyone's pants." Gilbert snickers from across the table and Francis lets out a hurt gasp.
"Antonio, you wound me!" I find myself chuckling slightly at Francis trying to defend himself.
~A Few Hours Later~
"Since you're my new aide I think it would be a good idea if you stay in the adjoining quarters to my room." He opens a door nearby as we finish the tour of the castle. As I step inside he opens a second door which leads to an almost identical room. "I can send someone to collect your things from the inn you're staying at or-"
"I can get them myself. It's not a problem. I just wanted to make sure I was here on time this morning." Antonio smiles at me and I glance away again.
"Then take a horse and cart and return here. But you should go after lunch seeing as it's just about that time." As if by magic the castle bell tolls out the lunch hour. "Alright! Let's go!"
He leads the way back to the dining hall where you spot Richard who made a small, discreet line over his throat with one finger. I shake my head a little saying that I didn't work that fast. If I had to get rid of the crown prince I needed to make it look like an accident. Antonio cheerfully leads me over to a table and sits me down, face to face with a boy who looked just like me.
He had the same facial features, body structure, even the same hair curl. He was my double and yet not my double. I wasn't the only one to notice either. The others we were sitting with starred at me and this double image of mine. A maid sets a plate in front of me and I glance upward to see Renée, one of my faithful ladies, smiling down on me, her long black hair braided and tossed over a shoulder.
As she stepped away I notice a section of the back of her dress dipped down so anyone could see half of the dragon tattoo on her back. A moment later I'm startled out of my dazing off into space as Francis lets out a yelp.
"Calm down your highness! I was only saying-" Antonio slams the fork he used to stab Francis in the leg with into the table, interrupting him.
"You will watch what you say." Antonio hisses to him darkly, a glare settling on his face. He notices me starring and sits back up, his idiotic grin returning.
"P-pardon me." I glance up again and notice a knight with wavy blonde hair that had a curl falling down in front of his eyes. "Can I sit here?" He asks hesitantly. I motion to the open seat next to me and he sits down.
I chance another glance at Antonio to find him looking over at the guy who just sat down next to me. A moment later Gefahr walks past, putting a plate in front of your companion. She gives you a small nod and starts walking away, several of the guys at the table starring as she walked past. I turn back around to see Antonio still starring at me. God, this man had to be some kind of creeper.
"I think I'll go collect my personal affects. Ciao." I get out of my seat and start walking to the door. Gefahr stands close by and she flicks her eyes to the side. Stupid bastard was still looking at me.
A short walk to the stables brings me close to the smithy where I find Anders arguing with who appeared to be the guard captain. "I was told by Prince Richard that he wanted to employ my services as a smith."
"Why? You would make an impressive guard." The captain responded. He was taller than me and had tan skin and a sparse beard to go with his short black hair. Half of his face was obscured by a mask but I could still see his cold green eyes as he looked over at me. I halt as I gain his full attention and a dirty smirk crosses his lips. He opens his mouth to say something when someone's hand falls on my shoulder.
"There you are Master Vargas."
A/N
And so here ends the first chapter. If anyone can tell me where I got most of my elements for this story then they have earned the right of being awesome.
This is just a test drive seeing as how I have Dragon Hearted to work on.
Ciao!~