To Hell and Back
Chapter 1
The pub seemed to have more patrons than normal. There were the usual people there, but on this night there were two in particular that were there, Kantanshi and Shadow-Blade. Shadow-Blade was annoyed that their contact was late, so he decided to order another round of rum while they waited.
"What could be taking him?" asked Shadow-Blade rather angrily.
"I don't know, but if he doesn't show up soon I'm going to rip off his arm and beat him with it," replied Kantanshi.
"A little overkill don't you think?"
"No. Plus it would teach him not to be late"
"Assuming he lives. I know how you can be when angered."
Shortly after, their contact entered the pub. He looked around until he saw where they were sitting and made his way over to them.
"The Angelic Demons, as graceful as angels, but as vicious as demons. Kantanshi, bedroom thief, the guild's best ranged assassin. Shadow-Blade, the guild's best close range assassin. Between the two of you, 100 kills with no living witnesses."
"You're lucky you showed up just now. Kantanshi is ready to kill you for being late, replied Shadow-Blade.
"Hurry up and tell us what we need to know so we can get rid of this asshole," said Kantanshi.
"This one is a high ranking politician and can be found within the city. He's scheduled to make a speech tomorrow in the city square."
"Any specifics on how you want him killed?" asked Shadow-Blade.
"From a distance would probably be best."
"Anything else?" asked Kantanshi.
"Just the usual, no witnesses. So what should I put on the report?"
"Assassinated, what else?" asked Shadow-Blade.
"Very well. Good luck Angelic Demons."
After the contact left, they stayed seated at their table working out a plan as to how they would be able to kill the politician.
"Well seeing as ranged is the best way to get rid of him, I guess we should probably scout the area so you can find the best sniping spot," Shadow-Blade.
"And just are you going to be doing?"
"Watching from the crowd."
"And why are you going to be in the crowd?"
"Best place to watch him die, and so I can let you know when to take him out."
"Ok, that makes sense."
"So should we head out there then?"
"Why not?"
And with that they left the pub and headed to the city square. Kantanshi climbed up onto nearby rooftops so he could get a better view and find a good spot. Shadow-Blade went to stand where the politician would be when he gives his speech, so Kantanshi would have a clean shot at him.
As Kantanshi climbed back down, an old man began to approach the city square. He got there as Shadow-Blade and Kantanshi were putting the last little details into their plan. When they noticed him, Shadow-Blade drew his dagger and Kantanshi prepared to send a few spikes at him.
"Wait! I mean you no harm, especially since you two could easily kill me," cried the old man.
"Gives us one reason why we shouldn't kill you anyway?" replied Shadow-Blade.
"If you kill me, then I won't be able to warn you"
Kantanshi and Shadow-Blade looked at each other with puzzled looks. The old man seemed like he was going to collapse if it wasn't for the cane he was leaning on. The wrinkles on his face were evidence of his old age and he smelled strongly of cheap alcohol. The strangest thing about the old man was his eyes, which were two different colors.
"Warn us of what?" asked Kantanshi
"If you try to assassinate the politician tomorrow you will be killed."
"What makes you think were assassins?" asked Shadow-Blade
"Everyone knows of the Angelic Demons, the two most feared assassins in the world. Which is why you will die if you go after him tomorrow. It would be wise for you to leave town tonight."
Kantanshi and Shadow-Blade looked at each other again. When they turned back to him, he was gone. They looked around, but could not find any sign of him.
"So who do you think he was?" asked Shadow-Blade after they gave up searching for him.
"The town drunk would be my guess. Did you smell the alcohol coming off of him? You could get a contact buzz or start a small fire." replied Kantanshi.
"That's putting things mildly. I thought I was going to be sick for moment. Anyway, think you have it all figured out?"
"Yeah, let's go." And they left, knowing they would be back and someone was not going to see another day when they were done with them.
The next day, a crowd was gathering in the city square to listen to the politician's speech. There were those who supported him, those who opposed and probably even hated everything about him, and then there were those who were indifferent. This was not the first speech he had given here, but the speech he was about to give today was going to be his last. Kantanshi had arrived first to get to his sniping spot before anyone else arrived. Shadow-Blade, who was wearing a cloak to hide his face, just in case someone should recognize him, was in the crowd. Even though he seemed to stand out, no one was paying him much attention; no one except Kantanshi.
As the politician began his speech, Shadow-Blade began to make his way to the edge of the crowd, so that when Kantanshi fired his bow he could turn and run while everyone was focused on what happened to the politician. Kantanshi took an arrow from his quiver, which was poison-laced, and strung it, so he was ready to fire the moment Shadow-Blade reach the edge. When Shadow-Blade reached the edge of the crowd, he turned away from the politician, and at that moment, Kantanshi released his arrow. Both Kantanshi and Shadow-Blade took off running before the arrow even hit. The audience was stunned when they say the arrow sticking out of the politician's shoulder. Everyone began looking around to see who shot the arrow, but Kantanshi was already a few blocks away and out of sight. Shadow-Blade had taken refuge in an alley a short distance away from where Kantanshi was hiding. The politician, not realizing that the arrow was poison-laced, attempted to continue his speech; it did not take long for the poison to begin to take effect. The politician collapsed and was dead within minutes.
Kantanshi and Shadow-Blade used the chaos caused as their chance to escape. They reached their meeting place within seconds of each other and head towards the city gates. Shadow-Blade looked over his shoulder and saw some of the guards coming after them.
"There are guards coming after us," he said with another glance back. "There seems to be only 4 of them."
"You sure there's only 4? I see 6," said Kantanshi when he looked.
"Yes I'm sure. There are only 4."
"No there are 6."
"I'm telling you there are 4."
"No, 6."
"4."
"6."
"4."
"6."
"4."
"Fine, I bet my half of the pay that there are 6."
"Deal."
Kantanshi turned and sent 6 spikes flying towards the guards chasing them.
"Huh, what do you know, there was 5 of them," said Kantanshi when his spikes hit.
"Guess we were both wrong on that one. Draw?"
"Draw."
As they walked out of the city, arrows went flying past them. Both of them dove to the side as more arrows went flying by. Kantanshi sent throwing knives in the direction that the arrows came from and knew he had connected when he heard bodies hitting the ground. Shadow-Blade ran over to check for any that might still be alive, mostly to finish them off if they weren't hit. After inspecting the bodies, Shadow-Blade and Kantanshi walked out of the city.
"Well, with the exception of those idiots trying to kill us, that went well don't you think?" asked Shadow-Blade.
"Yeah, but who were they?"
"No clue. I say we try to keep one alive if this happens again."
"Why?"
"To get information out of them why else?"
"That makes sense."
That decided they went home until the time for their next assassination.