Prologue

It was high noon, and Old Quarter's streets were bustling with activity. People chatting loudly and hurrying about, each oblivious to the others worries. One man was oblivious to everything, the people, the worries, even the sun. Leonard Skye, a 42 year-old freelance blade, was still in bed, snoring loud enough to wake the dead. He began mumbling something in his sleep and rolled over, falling onto the hard wooden floor. He slowly sat up, rubbing his eyes.

"Ugh... time to get up already?" he yawned, looking around his bedroom. There was a small table in the corner, it held almost a dozen empty liquor bottles. On the chair next to it was his armor and sword, both were old and a bit rusty in places, but it was all he had, and could afford. He shakily stood up, still off balance from being half asleep, or maybe it was too much liquor last night.

After having lunch and putting on his armor, he began walking to Connoly Manor. He had taken a job there as extra security for an auction they were holding. Although the only people that knew it was an auction were the guards and guests, everyone else heard that it was just a normal party. Jacob Connoly, the person holding the auction, thought that would be the best option to keep thieves away.

Leonard stared at the mansion before him, wondering why anyone would need a house that big. He was quickly brought to his senses as someone shouted at him.

"Hey! What're you doing there?"

Leonard looked ahead at the guard rushing toward him and waved. "Hello, I'm Leonard Skye, Lord Connoly hired me as a guard for this... special occasion."

"Hmm... Skye..." the guard thought for a moment. "Oh right, right, I remember you now. You were the guy that fell down the staircase on your way out!" he laughed.

"I was just excited about actually getting the job, so I wasn't really watching my step." Leonard chuckled, a bit embarrassed.

"I'm William Rhodes, you can call me Will. I'm one of the night watchmen for Lord Connoly."

"Nice to meet you Will, would you mind taking me to the Guard Captain's office? I think falling down those stairs did something to my head." Leonard laughed.

"Of course, follow me Leonard." Will said, turning back toward the mansion.

"Call me Leo."

Two hours crept by, Leonard sat upon the steps in front the manor, staring sleepily at the gate. Watching the sun setting in the distance was relaxing. He jumped as someone spoke behind him.

"Sleeping on the job?"

Leonard looked back, Will was standing behind him, grinning.

"You'll never get a full time guarding job if you can't stay awake."

"I just need some money, never thought about getting a permanent job. It would be boring staying in one place for too long." Leonard sighed, standing up.

"True, but at least you wouldn't be worrying about how to pay for your next meal all the time. You could probably get a job here, Lord Connoly doesn't hire people unless he likes them."

"Hmm... I'll have to think about it."

"I hope you do, I don't get along very well with the other guards."

"I don't see why... eh?" Leonard caught a glimpse of something moving in the bushes by the gate, he put his hand on the hilt of his sword and slowly began approaching the bushes, signaling for Will to follow.

Leonard stood a few feet from the bushes, "If someone's in there, come out slowly. You can't kill both of us." He shouted.

The leaves rustled, Leonard and Will both unsheathed their swords, preparing for a fight. A young woman with long red hair emerged from the bushes, she was wearing a very dark green robe and looking a bit irritated.

"I don't recall saying I wanted to kill anyone. Besides, I'm not really prepared to do such a thing." She said coldly, crossing her arms.

"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" Will asked, pointing his sword at her.

"That's a bit rude isn't it? You didn't even introduce yourself first." She said, glaring at him.

"Why you..."

"Calm down..." Leonard said, lowering his sword. "I'm Leonard, and this is William. Would you mind telling us why you were hiding in that shrub?"

"Hmph... I'm Mia, I heard they were holding an auction here tonight and that something was going to be sold called Lorin's Might. I've heard legends about it, and wanted to actually see what it looked like. Legends usually make everything sound more grand than they truly are. I hoped to see if that was the case with this one. If not, it is supposed to be beautiful, golden and adorned with gems." She said, followed by a dreamy sigh.

Leonard and Will stared at her blankly, she sure did sound like a thief, but didn't appear to be equipped for breaking into a house.

"Then you two taffers had to go and ruin my chances of ever laying eyes on it!" She yelled at them, making a fist.

Leonard sighed, looking over at Will. "Well that was a waste of time."

Will nodded, lowering his sword. "Get out of here, we don't have time to deal with someone like you."

"How rude! I won't forget this!" Mia shouted, storming out the gate.

Leonard and Will shook their heads, and walked back to the front door. Two guards exited the mansion, informing them of the sudden change in guard positions. The best guards were to be at the front and back entrances. Will and Leonard were sent to guard the second floor hallway and staircase, to ensure no guests found their way upstairs.

Will stood at the top of the staircase, looking down. Leonard was pacing the long hallway, getting a bit tired.

"From one boring post to the other, eh Leo?" Will chuckled, glancing over at him.

"Indeed."

"Want to trade for a while? My knees are getting stiff."

"I'd love to." Leonard grinned, taking over Will's position atop the staircase.

After a few minutes Leonard heard something odd, "Will... what is that?"

"Hmm?" Will walked over to him and listened.

It didn't sound like much was happening down there, then a high pitched scream pierced the silence.

"What the hell!" Will said, quickly running down the staircase, Leonard close behind him.

The screams were coming from the dining hall, where the auction was taking place. The clang of metal was barely heard over the screaming. When they opened the dining hall door a sight of chaos was before them. Dismembered corpses littered the floor, which was stained red with blood. Three large cloaked figures wielding massive swords were attacking anyone still alive, cleaving people in half with little effort. Leonard watched in horror as Will rushed forward, blinded by fury as one of the figures approached Lord Connoly, who was pressed up against the wall.

Will struck the unknown person in the back, but his sword didn't cut through whatever armor the person had under their cloak. The cloaked person turned, swinging his sword at Will, who jumped back just in time. However, he didn't notice the second person coming up behind him. A flash of light reflected off the blade, into Leonard's eyes as the sword tore through Will.

Leonard stared, frozen in fear as the first cloaked figure turned and thrust it's sword into Lord Connoly. Why was he just standing there doing nothing? He watched Will and Lord Connoly be murdered in front of his eyes and yet he couldn't do a thing. He took a step forward and felt a sharp pain through his body, looking down he saw a bloody sword sticking out of his chest. A fourth cloaked figure had gotten behind him while he was frozen in fear.

Leonard fell forward as the sword was pulled from his back, landing on his side. He looked up at the person who stabbed him, their face was covered in shadow. Leonard attempted to draw his sword, but he wasn't fast enough. The figure had already raised and brought down their sword before Leonard's was halfway out of his sheath. He felt the blade strike the side of his neck, and everything went black.