Chapter One:

Love Rejoined

A steady stream of light fell on Zerase's face as the sun rose over the horizon. She turned on her side as to not be disturbed. Ever so slowly Ace snuck up behind her. He reached with his hand toward her chest, but before he could make contact, she awoke suddenly and slapped him onto the ground.

"Owww," he groaned, "I was going to wake you up."

"No you weren't, you were trying to grope me you pervert!" she said as she climbed out of the bed and shoved him out the door. He hit the pavement with a hard crash, turning around in time to see her slamming the door.
"And if I EVER catch you again, it's will cost you that sly hand of yours!" she yelled through the window. Ace got up and brushed off his black dust covered cloak and clothes, checking his arm to see a bleeding scrape. Letting out a sigh he wrapped his arm in a bandage and covered it with the sleeve of his shirt. It was worth the pain just getting that close. The wind picked up outside, making the drapes on the window lay shadows across the wall and floor. Ace lay down on his back, running his hand through his medium length dark brown hair while listening to the Zerase through the door. He licked his lips with the thought of the half-naked woman on the other side. The door opened swiftly, barely missing his face. Zerase stood there, half clad in plate armor bottoms and a tucked purple shirt.

"Isn't it hard to move around with all that heavy stuff?" he asked.

"Unlike you, knights need not dodge every attack, we are made to take a hit and then strike back with enough force to destroy our attacker. What you do is pure cowardice," she retorted. Ace stood up and leaned in close in an almost creepy manner, Zerase leaned back as not to meet him, losing her balance. She let out a little gasp, but made contact with the door.

"That might be true, but can you remember the last time I was beaten in a fight?" he commented. She looked up, trying to think of a recent instance with nothing productive coming to mind.

"I didn't think so." He added quickly.

Turning around on his heel he started to walk toward the stairs leading down to the first floor of the inn. Without looking in her general direction he motions for her to follow with his finger, licking his lips in the process. Zerase shook her head and followed him down.

After a short breakfast of something they could barely identify, they walked outside the inn. The stone gave a clanking noise due to Zerase's heavy boots while the only thing that could be heard from Ace was his groan from contact with the sun. His pale skin was proof enough that assassins spend way too much time in the dark. Ace gave a little stretch and started to walk off in a random direction.

"Where are you going?" Zerase asked him.

"I don't know," he said. She closed her eyes and let out a slow sigh.

"What kind of answer is," but he was already gone before she could finish her question. I hate it when he does that.

"His type of people are usually rude like that, don't take it personal," came a voice from behind her. Turning around slowly she spots a man behind her. About normal height with bright emerald green hair the man smiles and holds up his fingers in a peace sign.

"Glenn!" she exclaimed as she rushed toward him and gave him a long hug followed by a kiss on the cheek. Glenn blushed and tried to regain his composure by conversing

"Who was that guy?" he asked, indicating towards the now absent party member.

"Oh, just a friend," she smiled while biting her lip. "He's my current travel companion and perverted stalker. He goes by Ace."

Glenn stared into her eyes, a little hurt. "Only a friend?" he asked. Smiling and kissing him seductively she whispers into his ear.

"You are my only true love Glenn."

"Yeah, I know; I just wanted to hear you say it again" he replied with a fake sense of pride. Leaning her head on his shoulder, they walked on down the street. The local merchants had their usual wares. Shouts from desperate vendors in an attempt to gain the crowds attention startled them a few times, causing her to squeeze Glenn's hand tighter. She was close enough to him to be considered one person, smiling to herself and looking up into his eyes. They walked past, not even hearing them, enveloped in each other's love.

"It's been a while; I haven't seen you since you went off to train in the woods. Where have you been?" she asked him.

"Off near Thoan, practicing my frost spells on the local willows." She let out a little laugh.

"What is so funny?" he asked with a slight frown.

"I thought you'd find something a tiny bit stronger than moving trees to train with." Glenn stopped walking and stared at the ground, his hair covering his face. She stopped and turned to look at him.

"I didn't mean it like that." She added with a little sadness in her voice.

"It's alright. I know I'm weak," he said. He raises his head a little. "I train to protect you, because I love you." Smiling, she hugged him and placed her head on his shoulder.

"I love you too," she said as she kissed him on his cheek and hugged him tightly.

Letting go, they continued to walk down the street, hand in hand.

Ace walked down the street, looking in the merchant's carts to see if there was anything decent for sale. All I really want is a dagger that doesn't weight a ton. After a few let downs he ignored them altogether. Taking a quick turn at the nearest street, he started counting his steps. Secret doors are a pain, I swear I always forget how far to go. After thirteen steps, he turned on his right heel and pressed on the wall directly in front of him. The wall moved up into itself, revealing a hidden passage unknown to normal people. Lucky me. He let out a sigh and started to walk downward into the dark pit. Running his head along the side, he takes hold of a torch. After lifting it from its holder, the door behind him shut suddenly and light filled the hallway from the torch.

"This place always creeps me out," he said aloud to the empty hallway.

Taking a few steps at a time, he started thinking to himself while trying to keep his alertness.

That girl. Why was I so interested in her? I don't have the time to be caught up in women. The life of an assassin is full of death and pain. Something that she shouldn't get dragged into, he thought to himself. Besides, that mage friend of hers was all up on her. Still… she was good looking.

Not paying attention to where he was going, Ace stepped on something and trips, falling a down few sets of steps.

"Damnit, what the hell was that?" he exclaimed aloud. Reaching back, his hand touched something sharp. Feeling around for a dull part, he pulled the object to his view. It was a Damascus, sharp and light, yet deadly. Very few people have these, much less leave them lying around. Flipping the blade over to see if there was anything to distinguish its owner by, he tucked it into his back pocket without a care, stood back up, and continued walking down the tunnel.

"I swear; I think I'm jinxed."