Aria turned around, someone, or something was watching her, closely. She
didn't know how she knew it but something was following her, and she knew
from somewhere deep in side her, that they were not following her out of
curiosity. She continued to walk, but cautiously looking for a slight
irregularity. The crowds were thinning as Aria reached the end of the
bustling city, and turned abruptly into a small cottage.
As soon as she entered the tidy little cottage, she hung up the black coat
she had been donned so as to hide her appearances. The eyes watching her
widened as they saw huge blue eyes, emphasized with high cheekbones, a
stubborn chin, and a deep dimple in her left cheek. Crowning this inhumanly
beautiful face were long golden, waste length ringlets. Looking around the
room, a shiver ran up her long graceful spine the feeling that something
was watching had become much more personal almost as if, they were but a
few feet behind her.
Suddenly, she whirled around to see an unknown face. Her reaction was immediately to get this alien person out of her house. But, before she could think she was bound hand and foot and on the floor, fighting her bonds incessantly but to no avail. The unknown stranger studied the women he had captured more intently then he had during his daylong contemplation of her habits. She moved with the grace of a potential warrior, but also one who knew it was prey. He knew her instincts had told him he, or something, was watching her, but the untrained eye can not see the magic of the assassin. That was why he had been sent to obtain this women, she had the magic of a possible assassin, and should this talent be picked up by the nobles the careful balance between political power and that of brute strength.
Looking at her his face went hard, should this woman chose silk and jewels over training who knew what would become of the assassins, she was dangerous. A woman assassin who had the magic of seduction and the sagacious power of the assassins was a dangerous tool.
"Could you stop staring and tell me what on earth you are doing in my house, and I suppose the fact that you have me on the floor gagged could be added to the list of offense in addition." Demanded Aria, with a look of extreme annoyance.
Looking up the pair of eyes, along with the rest of the face, caught the intelligent glint in her eye, the stubborn chin, and summarized she must have a will of iron and a tong as sharp as a knife.
"I suppose you would like me to add my identity, how many years I have been living, the middle name of my father and mother, not to mention my favorite meal to the list of question's that need answering." Said the assassin a look of mischief in his eye.
"Your identity would be a start, I daresay you now a good deal about me, you must feel you know me very familiarly to be the only one capable of free movement in this house, my house." Yelled a frustrated Aria. How dare he be so rude, he made a joke of her outrage?
"As to my identity I am Dameon of the Steel, Assassin of the North." A gasp and then silence followed this proclamation.
Aria's mind raced she supposed she knew they would find her someday, but to send the steel their best? All knew the Assassin of the North, he could track a feather on the wind, and could travel, leaving no more trace than the wind. His steely glance could force the truth out of any criminal that found himself in the company of the assassins.
"To answer why you are bound on the floor was to prevent hostility when I tell you of my errand. You have been 'requested' by the Guild of Assassins to become my apprentice. This entails three years of training under my hand, and a year of solitary survival at the end of the ordeal of my instruction." Recited Dameon.
"Do I have a choice as to my answer?" "Quite honestly, no. If you do not except my terms your talent will be discovered by the Political Guild, who will be less then kind." Said Dameon; his famous steely glint apparent I his gray eyes.
"If that is the case I, Aria, accept, less than happily."
Good? Bad? Dreadful as I conclude? This is my first fantasy so criticism would be appreciated! ~Blue Eyes~
Suddenly, she whirled around to see an unknown face. Her reaction was immediately to get this alien person out of her house. But, before she could think she was bound hand and foot and on the floor, fighting her bonds incessantly but to no avail. The unknown stranger studied the women he had captured more intently then he had during his daylong contemplation of her habits. She moved with the grace of a potential warrior, but also one who knew it was prey. He knew her instincts had told him he, or something, was watching her, but the untrained eye can not see the magic of the assassin. That was why he had been sent to obtain this women, she had the magic of a possible assassin, and should this talent be picked up by the nobles the careful balance between political power and that of brute strength.
Looking at her his face went hard, should this woman chose silk and jewels over training who knew what would become of the assassins, she was dangerous. A woman assassin who had the magic of seduction and the sagacious power of the assassins was a dangerous tool.
"Could you stop staring and tell me what on earth you are doing in my house, and I suppose the fact that you have me on the floor gagged could be added to the list of offense in addition." Demanded Aria, with a look of extreme annoyance.
Looking up the pair of eyes, along with the rest of the face, caught the intelligent glint in her eye, the stubborn chin, and summarized she must have a will of iron and a tong as sharp as a knife.
"I suppose you would like me to add my identity, how many years I have been living, the middle name of my father and mother, not to mention my favorite meal to the list of question's that need answering." Said the assassin a look of mischief in his eye.
"Your identity would be a start, I daresay you now a good deal about me, you must feel you know me very familiarly to be the only one capable of free movement in this house, my house." Yelled a frustrated Aria. How dare he be so rude, he made a joke of her outrage?
"As to my identity I am Dameon of the Steel, Assassin of the North." A gasp and then silence followed this proclamation.
Aria's mind raced she supposed she knew they would find her someday, but to send the steel their best? All knew the Assassin of the North, he could track a feather on the wind, and could travel, leaving no more trace than the wind. His steely glance could force the truth out of any criminal that found himself in the company of the assassins.
"To answer why you are bound on the floor was to prevent hostility when I tell you of my errand. You have been 'requested' by the Guild of Assassins to become my apprentice. This entails three years of training under my hand, and a year of solitary survival at the end of the ordeal of my instruction." Recited Dameon.
"Do I have a choice as to my answer?" "Quite honestly, no. If you do not except my terms your talent will be discovered by the Political Guild, who will be less then kind." Said Dameon; his famous steely glint apparent I his gray eyes.
"If that is the case I, Aria, accept, less than happily."
Good? Bad? Dreadful as I conclude? This is my first fantasy so criticism would be appreciated! ~Blue Eyes~