Chapter Eight
The Plan, Devised
My fragile sleep had been broken by the sound of children screaming. Begrudgingly, I opened my eyes and I was staring at the ceiling. The screaming would not stop. It kept reverberating throughout the hall.
I yawned. Was this supposed to intimidate me?
Huh…That is an odd reaction. I am being held captive by people who would literally burn me alive for not following their beliefs, and yet…
And yet…
And yet…What?
Do you know what is strange about being isolated? It gives you too much time to contemplate things. In my heart, I feel as though I should be afraid for my life. Yet, in my rational mind, I consider the fear to be irrational. It also helps that my boredom is outweighing my fear.
Should I feel wrong for thinking this way?
"No," I muttered to myself in Serkonan. It feels good to be speaking my native tongue, even if it is only to myself. "I should not feel disheartened by thinking that way. By societal standards, I am not a proper lady. Nor do I desire to be like the women of the nobility. My hands are quick. My feet are swift. My mind is sharp. Or so I have been told…"
I rubbed my eyes. Then, I sat up, so that I could lean against the wall. I began to tap my fingers against my leg.
"Why have you taken such an interest in me, Outsider?" I asked quietly, not expecting to receive an answer. "Every time you have mentioned my Master, your voice takes on a tone of disdain for him. An observation I should have made sooner. You lost interest in Master Daud, yet you have gained interest in me…What has my Master done to displease you? Will I make those same choices? Will I ultimately disappoint you?"
I sighed. "So many questions…Far too many of them…No answers…Only mysteries. Huh…I sound like Master Daud, saying that…So, should I? Should I take that first step into what you called eternal darkness, Outsider?"
The children began to scream again. Some older women this time, too, from the sound of it.
"Oh, shut up already, you choffers!" I said angrily. "You are just giving them the reaction they want from you!"
I shook my head, and ran my hand through the little bit of hair I have on my head. "I have spent my whole childhood training for this…this grim business. The Business of Death, of Blood, of Coin…Do I want to be a killer? Or, should I abandon my training? Adopt a new skill, a new profession, perhaps? Hmm…No…That would not make sense. Killing is all I am good for…And I have not even killed yet…"
I shrugged. "Maybe it is time that I take that first step into eternal darkness…"
I rubbed my eyes again. I am so tired, yet I should not sleep. Mentor Galia did say that we would have to be ready at any and all times of the day or night…I can get my sleep later. "So, why did you betray me, Master? If Lurk did not betray me, and my brothers did not…Then it has to be you. And you are often more cruel than you are kind. What is the motivation behind my imprisonment? A test of will? A test of loyalty? Are you perhaps here, in disguise, watching me? You are the Knife of Dunwall for a reason…Maybe one day I will even have a legacy like yours…"
Is that something I truly desire? To be the next Knife of Dunwall?
By the Outsider…he did say that the fate of the Whalers will rest on my shoulders…
What does that even mean?
Is someone going to try and destroy us one day?
"I know the type of person I want to be, now, Outsider," I said, closing my eyes and smiling. "Kieron once told me what it feels like to kill a man with a blade. To feel the flesh parting, to feel the resistance of the sinew…I will admit to you that I am nervous. I do not have a blade. Yet, the zealots do, and I do have my training…If I could snap the neck of a zealot, and take his blade…"
I paused, lost in thought. "Snap his neck, take his blade…That sounds so much easier than it is going to be…But I am ready to take my first step into the eternal darkness. I am tired of being a Novice. I want to become a Master. I want to train others, to grow the Whalers into a fearsome force…Perhaps even more fearsome than the Army or the Navy!"
I laughed. "That will take years…Though I am content with earning my black coat. To serve alongside my eldest brothers would be an honor…And I would like to know what Master Daud has planned for me…Yes. Yes, I will take that first step into the darkness…Snap a neck, take a blade…Outsider's eyes, I need to think this through more…"
How hard can it possibly be to kill one Overseer zealot?
Realistically? Very.
Unrealistically? Not hard at all…
