Cearbhail: A short chapter, a lot shorter than I would have liked. But it does its job. I will start posting quicker now. This story should start picking itself up soon enough. Once I understand the character interations and of course...once the real story begins..

[Malik Ishtar]

Dear journal,

I have met the Coven Mother. She is an old woman by the name of Bo-Peep. It's an odd name, but hey…all English names seem odd to me. I am from Syria, after all. I'm used to names that just flow off the mouth like… Ali-Kabab'na'shala. Something along those lines. But everyone I've met today has some of the weirdest names ever: Bo-Peep, John Jacob Jingleheimer-Schmidt, Little Red, Robin Hood, Tommy Tucker. Just weird.

Anyway, I have met with the leader of the Coven, also known as the Coven Mother. There was a father too, but he didn't seem to hold much if any power. I gave my message to her and she was more than glad to accept my proposal of me keeping her witches safe. Before our agreement could be finalized, she wants a demonstration of my power, so I have to go and free her captured coven members. I have brought my two new initiates with me. They are going to shadow me and observe how I do my thing. I'll make this look so good that they'll be begging to become Assassins in no time.

Malik Ishtar…

…

I looked back at Little Red and the Hood. Hood looked like he was at home, crouching on top of the roof like a pro. Little Red was trying all she could to keep herself from crying or looking down. She looked around at the sky, humming that same haunting tune that kept making me think of my past. I had to fight that memory for now. I had a job to do.

We sat on top of the church, looking down at the docks created outside of the town. I could see a giant ship on the horizon. With the power of my Sight, I was able to see Wolfe screaming as his lackeys as they carried giant crates of goods onto the ship. I bet he was planning on leaving tonight and transporting the women to France by ship. It must be easier than trying to take them by carriage.

"So, Nottingham has its own harbor?" I looked back at Hood.

He nodded, stalking up to me with the practiced ease of an Assassin. "It's smaller than the one in York, but yes. That is the River Trent. Wolfe will probably take the river north until he makes it out to sea. After that, it's just sailing to France." He sighed as he looked down at the ground. "So, what are we going to do? What's the plan?"

I looked back at Little Red, who looked as lost as could be. "I cannot cause too big of a scene, but I can't be too slow. So, here's the plan…"

…

"You better know what you're doing." Little Red hissed to me as one of Locksley's men started to pull her away. She was tied up in a rope and was being taken to the harbor to be given to Wolfe. I gave her a knife and taught her some basic combat moves. I was confident that she could handle any man with a sword… if that man was blind, six years old, and had no hands. Ok, I wasn't sure if she could even handle that. The guy might get lucky and kick her off the ship. Maybe if that guy had no legs and no arms…or head for that matter. He might bite her if he had a head. Screw it; I don't think she could fight a sack of puppies. I guess it was a chance I was going to have to take. Locksley's man was with her and I was sure he could take a six year old armless boy. I'm almost positive about it.

I nodded to Little Red. "This plan is simple. We sneak you aboard with one of Lockley's men under the disguise of you being a witch sex slave; you meet up with the other female prisoners, tell them about the soon to come evacuation, and then wait. The knife I gave to you is your means of defending yourself once you break everyone out of their cages. Do you have everything you need to do your magic?"

Little Red blew a strand of her red hair away from her eyes before glaring at me. "All I need are my fingers, Assassin. And those are currently bound behind my back…"

I nodded to her and then smiled. "Good, then when you get aboard the ship, I will not be troubled to know that you can take care of yourself. Anyway, while you are getting your witch friends ready to be rescued, Locksley will engage the rest of his men in a diversion, something that will pull guards away from the port. I believe he said something about setting a mine on fire. When the guards are gone, Locksley and I will sneak aboard the ship, lay waste to the rest of the workers, and then assist you in getting your witches back home where they belong. Any questions?"

Locksley looked over at me. "Just one…where's the stealth in all this? We're sinking a ship and burning an iron mine. Do you know just how the King will react when he finds out?"

I smiled. "Stealth is nice when you're trying not to send a message or create chaos. But… it is my job to create chaos. And this will bring it quickly. That iron is used to make swords and armor, as you have told me. Both are things that the knights need to continue their holy war with my brothers. If I get rid of their source of iron…as well as the sex slave operations…I will cripple all their funding and weapons. Today is a great day." I looked over at Locksley and smiled. "Is your man ready?"

Locksley nodded. "Little John will begin his operation shortly. Once he controls the mine, he will set it ablaze once we give our signal."

"Little John? Is he an apprentice witch like Little Red, or Little Mary?" I asked. It seemed to be a common title for the witch apprentices.

Locksley shook his head. "God, no; he's Catholic. He's my apprentice, therefore…Little."

I nodded back to him. "Ok then. We shall wait atop this roof until the diversion is underway."

"Are you sure you don't want me at the diversion to make sure it goes off fine?" Locksley asked. "Not that I doubt my man, but I feel that someone experienced should be there."

"While you are a great fighter; I need to start training you to be better. Giving you an operation would be the best option but if you stay near me, there is much more you can learn about my line of work." I replied. I thought about having him run his little mine burning plan but I might need back-up in case something goes wrong once I'm inside the ship. I can't watch several witches. But two men can do so much more than just one man when it comes to on-ship fighting.

"You'll see, Assassin. Little John is a great leader. This is a simple operation. He won't mess it up." Locksley said. My back started trembling in foreboding. Why?

…

[Little Red]

The ropes were loose enough that I could breathe, but tight enough that it rubbed against my wrists every time I shifted my weight. Billy, the man pulling me along, was not in any rush, but he was still moving too fast for someone tied up from the chest down to my wrists. Good thing my part of the plan was easy. I just had to be captured.

"You there, hold!" Someone screamed from behind us. Billy and I turned around. A single man clad in a full black tunic with a white ballroom mask strode up to us, drawing a thin sword that looked like it would break any second. He raised it up to us, bringing his other hand up. "Where are you going with that fair maiden? Why is she tied up like a slave?"

Billy arched an eyebrow at him. "She is a prisoner being transported to Wolfe."

"Ah…Wolfe, the scoundrel that sells beautiful maidens to the French to be used as toys for men. I will not stand for it. Prepare to die." The masked man said.

"Wait!" I yelled. "Don't hurt him! He's only trying to help me free my friends!"

The man tilted his head to me and lowered his sword for a second. "Your eyes betray your fear. You fear that if I fail in killing this man that will you be punished. Fear not…I will not fail in killing your captor." He bowed to me, saying, "You are in the presence of Zorro, milady. I shall be your savior this afternoon."

Zorro? What type of name was that?

The man didn't wait. He charged forward, rushing right up to Billy. Billy dropped my rope and started to unsheathe his sword. "I'm sorry, Little Red, but…I won't risk my life for this!" He turned around and rushed off. "I'll go warn Robin about this!"

Zorro stopped near me and sheathed his tiny sword. "You better run! If I ever see you transporting fair maidens ever again…I shall have your rear end!" He turned to face me, bowing to me again. "You are safe…milady."

"You screwed up our plan!" I whispered to him. I had no idea who might have been nearby. "He was supposed to take me onto Wolfe's ship and give me to Wolfe as a prisoner. We were supposed to release my friends from their cages and we were supposed to escape. Now…you're going to take me onto that ship and see to it that I escape with all my friends. Understood?"

He looked at me for a few seconds before nodding. "I understand, milady. I will be more than happy to assist." He reached down for my rope and started to walk towards the ship. "My apologies for interrupting your plan and rushing off your friend. By the looks of it, though, I did you a favor. He couldn't hold his own in a real fight. I have held my own for years now. You are much better off with me around."

I feel safer already. I thought sourly as I kept up with him. This man almost ruined our plan. And I bet he was only just beginning to screw it up. I trusted Billy to keep me safe. I did not know the first thing about this Zorro or if he could even fight with that thin piece of sword. He dressed like a pansy, he talked like a pansy, and his sword was nothing more than a metal toothpick. Yeah…this was already messed up. For all I knew, he was going to rape me. Figures. At least Billy will get Robin. He will save me.

The walk was nicer than I would have guessed. Zorro, one of the strangest men I'll ever meet, chatted with me the whole way down to the docks. When he found out about my spiritual path, he laughed about it, not speaking another word, even after I asked what was so funny. He told me about how he became the masked vigilante that he became and it started to remind me of Robin. By the time we reached the docks, I think I knew enough about the man that I could at least trust him to not kill me.

The docks were as active as always. People saw me and averted their eyes. Seeing women like this was common. If I was tied up and being transported by rope, I was obviously a slave or a prisoner. Either way, it was no one's concern what happened to me. That was just how our little happy home was. No one cared for my kind. They all knew what I was because I was tied up.

The ship that Wolfe used was a regular trading ship. A trading ship that was outfitted with cannons. Wolfe stood up on his deck, screaming orders to his men as they prepared to leave. "We launch in three hours! I want everything stocked and ready to ship!" Wolfe screamed to everyone on board.

I looked down at the loading ramp where one of his guards waited. He looked at me and then at Zorro. "Right, then. You have a witch for sale, I assume. Who are you?"

"My name is Diego, I am a wandering mercenary. I caught this little maiden speaking to daemons and summoning unnatural lights. I hear that a man named 'Wolfe' is offering payment to those who bring these…horrid beasts to him." Zorro said as he pushed me forward into the man's arms.

The man grabbed me by the chin and started inspecting me. "Ah yes…look at her. She's quite the looker. I think the Captain knows this one. Oy, Captain!" He screamed up at Wolfe. "I think you know this one!"

Wolfe peered over the edge of his ship and gazed down at us. "Can't you see that I'm…" He paused as he looked at me. "Oh…heh…" He smiled as he started walking down the ramp. "Well, well, well. Little Red; I knew you'd find your way to me." He turned to face Zorro. "And you're the one that captured her, am I right?"

He nodded. "Indeed I am, sir. She was doing unnatural things."

Wolfe nodded. "Aye, she's a witch. How much do you want for her?"

"I only ask for a ride to your next destination. I hear it's France." Zorro replied.

Wolfe gave him a suspicious gaze before nodding. "Aye, it is. However, I do not transport strangers. Unless you're willing to come aboard in bonds."

Zorro nodded. "I'd rather go in bonds than not go at all, sir."

Wolfe motioned for the guard to tie up Zorro's hands. Zorro complied as he was tied up like I was. As soon as we were being transported onboard, I shot him a look and said, "I hope you know what you're doing."

"Indeed, I do not. This shall be quite the adventure. But…rest assured, fair maiden…I will get us out of this."

Oh joy…I feel so much safer now.

…

[Little John]

"Little Red should be aboard the ship by now." Charles, my finest warrior, said to me.

I looked back at him and nodded. "Aye, I bet she is."

"Quiet, you two." A knight said as he brandished his weapon and brought it to my throat. "You will stay quiet until the Sheriff tells us what to do with you."

I shook my head. This was supposed to be a simple thing. We sneak in, ransack the guards, light the mine on fire using the hay we stole from the castle earlier this week, and then get out. But no, our newest initiate: George, had to eat beans last night. He gave our position away when he released a gas so potent that every knight in the mine could smell us. We were rounded up while we were rolling around the ground, choking on our own breath.

I tried to pull against my ropes. They were still tight. I sure hope Locksley could see us. We should have lit the mine on fire by now. And if something happened to Little Red, like some idiot running off our inside man who works on the ship and getting himself captured as well…our little plan was as good as ruined. No outside help was coming to help with the fire, no guards were leaving the ship, and now Locksley had to come free his own army from another army. Oh great…I don't think this will end up as we planned.

Cearbhail: If you think this little bumble will be enough to fill my quota for random mishaps... hahaha... no. not even close. Once I think up how I really want to screw this up...I will post the new chapter. I'm open for suggestions.