Fate's Game

I joined her once more that night, though, rather than let her utilise the fouton, I (in my stubborness) demanded that she sleep in a bed, especially since she had been sleeping on the floor for weeks. And, (again, in my stubborness), I also was determined to stay in that bed with her. I expected nothing; she was exhausted, but I wanted little else than to fall to sleep in her arms – but, of course, plans rarely go the way you desire.

As I was unbuckling the tough leather corset I had been instructed to wear constantly (something I despised), I heard the faint sound of shouting. From experience, I knew to stay where I was. There were no safer rooms in all of the guild than Master Assassin chambers, and considering it was night – Jun would know exactly where I should be.

Only, she never came for me. Instead, I was greeted by another familiar face a few minutes later, after the shouting grew and I began to hear steel. The door burst open as Daiyu forced herself into the room, our eyes met and she spoke, plainly, rather than the game she would usually play with conversation.

"We're compromised."

Immediately, I jumped to follow her as we weaved in and out, through the panicing crowd to the stairwell. I took a moment (though there was none to spare), and glanced back at the chaos, instantly recognising the distinctive draconic helmets and bright colours of the Emporer's Elite; the Taiyang Long. The chance that they followed Jun would have been extremely small, and as Daiyu had stated, there was only one explanation in my mind. There was a traitor amongst the Assassins, one which would cost many lives tonight.

I hope that he was pleased with his work, at least – as it would be the last time he felt such emotion.

With that thought, I was dragged from the conflict by my companion, who had pulled me up the stairs to the roof. There, we met Zhu, Cheng and two young Assassins, who had only passed their test of faith within the last week. Their names were Hai, a young, lithe boy known as a master sailer and cook of ocean creatures (I vaguely remembered being told that his family were fisherman), and Lin, also young, but small and assasuming (I definitely remembered Jun mentioning that she was by all intents and purposes; average). Hai appeared as terrified as I did, and Lin, unfortunately, had been injured, and suffered a rather serious sword wound on the right upper arm.

I watched as Zhu took his leap of faith from a protruding wooden bar at the edge of the building, Hai followed, then Lin (with coaching from Cheng), and Cheng after her. Finally, it was my turn.

"Daiyu," I spoke as she shut the door behind us, placing a large block of stone against it once it was closed. "I can't—I've never even climbed before…" While I stuttered, she moved me forward, her arms tense and shaking against my shoulders.

"You can. Aim for the bale of hay." I had no time to protest this, as I half-willingly half-forced careered over the edge of the building. Halfway into my fall, I felt something jab me in the side, though I only noticed Zhu jumping down from the side of the building until I had exited the bale. Daiyu then landed.

But there was little time for explanation, and within seconds we were running, at first all-together, then seperately as some went the run along the building tops to scout and guide us below, but very quickly it became clear that there was no destination – we were just distancing ourselves from the battlefield. Guiding me into a small alleyway, we all met up for a moments rest and a swift discussion on our next move. Immediately, it was certain that there was no other safe house, not in this city – and I knew at once where we could go.