Daud

by John the Strider

A man has everything stripped from him and is sentenced to death, until he catches the interest of the one known as the outsider. He would go on to form a clan of the most powerful assassins in the empire, culminating in the assassination of an empress. His name is Daud and this is his story.

It's an idea that just stuck in my head. Daud seemed to be much more interesting figure than any of the conspirators. There are hints of conflict with others like him, whispers of something more. pretty much forced me to put pen to paper.

First time really trying to write something. Please go easy. Suggestions would be nice.

Cold. So cold.

Daud collapsed against the stone wall of the ruined tenement of the flooded district and felt the cool of the damp, unforgiving stone press against him. The blood that seeped through the makeshift bandage against his side felt impossibly hot. Daud gritted his teeth as another flash of pain spasm through his side. He felt through his pockets with his one working hand and pulled a small crimson vial from a concealed pocket. Unstoppering the vial with his teeth, Daud swallowed the dark elixir in one gulp and gave a gasp as almost immediately his heartbeat steady itself and the pain fade. In the dead silence of the flooded district, the only sound the sound of his ragged breathing and the footsteps of the royal protector.

As sound of Corvo's measure footsteps ascended the stairs of the building, the master assassin could not help but give a small, grim laugh. What had been thinking? He was an assassin, not a warrior or swordsman, especially not one of Corvo's calibre. Attempting a frontal attack had been idiotic to the extreme. Especially after corvo had ripped through the rest of his lan like a storm. Had the decades of being the most skilled assassin in the isles made him too proud? Was it the arrogance that he had the outsiders favour?

Why did you even let him live? The question floated unbidden to the fore of his thoughts. You had him in your power and simply imprisoned him - A mistake that even the most amateur member of our clan would not make. What were you thinking?

Daud tiled his head back against the stone wall and closed his eyes. He knew the reason he didn't kill corvo. The lord protector reminded him too much of another man who had lost everything. Another man who was granted the gifts of the outsider. Another man who knew honour, a long long time ago.