Three days was the ultimatum the warlord Dargad had given the
Calpathions to assassinate his rival, a stoat named Atornin.
The taker of this mission was none other then Eroket Nightblade: Pupil of Kalis Deiran and prized stealth operative of the Calpathions.
Two days had passed. Eroket had left the Calpathion camp to Antornin's fort. Eroket moved like a shadow, the two sentries on duty were silenced immediately by the young ermine's dagger, their duties no longer required.
Eroket crept silently into the fort, intent upon his mission. Corpses of those who had tried to stop him lay in the corridors, Eroket had not seen the point in hiding them, there weren't many under Antornin's command, most of his beasts were asleep and there was barely a sound.
The only thing that made this mission difficult was Antornin's backer: A powerful wildcat corsair-turned warlord known as captain Dukat Nidas and Kalis had feared that the wildcat would seek retribution for the death of his servant. It had taken a good amount of time to convince the older weasel to allow him to take the mission on his own. Ero's impressive resume in these situations had convinced Kalis to let his prodigy perform the assassination.
Antornin sat in his private chamber, wearing fine silks plundered from towns to the east, drinking wine from decorative goblets.
"Galarn," The stoat warlord called to his aide, a shifty looking weasel. "Go to the cellar and fetch me another bottle of wine."
The weasel nodded and walked out of the room, Antornin's voice following him. "Make sure it's the elderberry stock, that's a particularly fine vintage."
Galarn-whatever his reply would have been-was rendered unconscious by a white paw chopping down on the back of his neck as he exited to the room. Antornin, lounging in his couch, his back to the weasel.
Eroket caught the unconscious weasel, cradling him gently as not to alert Antornin as he lowered the unconscious beast to the floor.
"Galarn? Did you hear me?" Antornin's voice snapped as the stoat rose to his feet. "Dammit, I didn't dismiss you! Galarn? Can you hear me?" "No." Eroket stepped into the room, drawing his sword. "He can't." Antornin's mouth opened, then it closed. And he smiled. "Eroket Nightblade.in a curious way, I'm honored." Eroket kept his face emotionless and he shook his head. "Don't be." Antornin raised the near empty wine bottle and poured its contents into his goblet.
"May I offer you a drink?"
Eroket shook his head
"Pity," The stoat sighed. "Its an excellent vintage.have you been sent
to deliver a message? Kidnap me perhaps?" He took a sip.
Eroket shook his head again. "That.Is not the case."
"Ah." Antornin's grin widened. "I see.I don't suppose you'd tell me
who hired you? I know its not usually done. But, well lets face it,
Eroket. I'm not going to tell anybeast am I?"
Eroket nodded once. "Dargad the weasel."
For a moment Antornin seemed pleased, almost smug. "Ha! Yes, Dargad
would have the audacity to send a single Calpathion to the estate of
one of Dukat Nidas's lieutenants!" He raised his glass. "Well
then.here's to Dargad!"
He drank. Ero's blade rose and fell. The wine goblet fell to the floor
and shattered, the remainder of the red wine mixing with the stoat's
blood.
***
A report was made at the Calpathion base and Ero was sent to collect
their payment from Dargad, after a day's travel Ero came upon the
weasel's estate and walked inside. There weren't any guards on
duty.odd.
"Dargad! Are you awake? I have come to collect our payment." There was
no response.
A frown creased Eroket's handsome features as he opened the door to
the weasel's room.
What greeted him was a gruesome sight. Dargad sat on his throne still,
but his throat had been slashed with such vehemence that the killer
had nearly severed his head from his body.
Eroket did not reel in shock, did not vomit. He had seen death on
grander scales in the wolf Malis's dungeons when he was younger. He
had seen worse on battle. He had caused death himself numerable times.
The ermine was furious at the fact his employer was dead, however. The
job was wasted. Eroket couldn't take his payment from the treasuries.
They were locked, probably guarded and it would be an insult to the
dead. He felt ill now. All that preparation wasted.
His concern was not for Dargad though; the weasel had probably
deserved what the killer did.but judging was not Ero's style. He was
paid to kill the corrupt by the corrupt. It was that simple.
The ermine may have left there immediately but for a single
bloodstained dagger upon the floor, Eroket walked to it, knelt down
and took it in his paw.
The hilt had the image of a bone white lilly. Eroket knew that
symbol.he knew the beast who used it.
"Dargad's not up for conversation right now.stand up and turn 'round
very slowly, Ero."
Ero complied, dropping the dagger to the floor as he turned to face
its owner, her scimitar tip pricking his throat.
He recognized the blade's owner. She was a beautiful erminemaid who
would look more at home as a barmaid then a mercenary. He outfit was
cut to fit around her voluptuous figure, long headfur parted, down to
her shoulders, bands cut to hand over her blue eyes, making her look
even more sensuous. Boneflower knew how she looked, knew what males
thought about her and she loved it. She loved to look voluptuous, be
the center of their affection.
"Boneflower." Eroket replied slowly. "You did this?"
She grinned and shrugged. " You recognize me! I'm flattered. Wasn't
the toughest job I've 'ad. I got inta 'is 'arem, convined 'im te
dismiss the guards so we could be alone fer the night.warlords are so
easy to manipulate.
Boneflower made a mistake, while she talked, Ero freed one dagger from
its sheath, its tip against he neck instantly, leaving the two at an
equally dangerous position.
"Ero!" the female ermine snarled, pressing the scimitar tip deeper,
drawing a trickle of blood, Ero pressed his dagger against her neck,
drawing a trickle of blood from her in kind.
"I'm familiar with that fast draw of yours, Ero.but it'll be your
/last/ draw if you try anything sudden again..I'll be paid handsomely
for this."
Ero's amber eyes narrowed. "Boney, I'm supposed to be paid handsomely
by Dargad! I did the job and he owed me money due to our contract!"
Boney shrugged. "You should pick your jobs more carefully then."
"This was a high priced job! You think it was easy to kill a
lieutenant of the Wavelord?"
"What?!" Boney cried suddenly. "You killed Antornin?!"
Ero nodded. "Yes, I was hired to do so by the late-"
"Antornin 'ired me te kill Dargad!"
Ero took a brutal satisfaction. "Well, I'm not the only one who won't
be collecting his (or her) pay tonight, my dearest Boneflower."
"Dammit, Eroket!" She cried angrily. "Do you know what I 'ad to /do/
to get close to that bastard?!"
"Maybe you should choose your jobs more carefully.we should just go
home now."
She nodded. "We should."
"We should lower our blades."
She nodded. "We should."
The next two words were spoken simultaneously by the two mercenaries.
"You first."
Boney put up her scimitar, Ero his dagger. Boney closes the distance
between them in one move. "We're so alike, Erry.neither of us wants to
make the first move." She giggled, her tail curling around her dagger,
flipping it into the air, she caught it in one paw and returned it to
its holster. "You should really let me closer te you, my dear Ero.I'm
sure Kalis wouldn't mind if ya took a leave o' absence for a night, we
could meet up in an inn.you, me, some champagne, candles."
Ero sighed. "I told you before, Boney.I'm needed by te Calpathions for
now."
"Aw." Boney bit her lip in a pout. "Well if you ever change yer mind,
let me know." She winked and turned away. "Till next time then,
Eroket!"
Eroket grinned and repeated their traditional farewell. "There will be
a next time, Boney?"
She was swaggering out the door, she flicked her tail at him. "You can count on it."
The taker of this mission was none other then Eroket Nightblade: Pupil of Kalis Deiran and prized stealth operative of the Calpathions.
Two days had passed. Eroket had left the Calpathion camp to Antornin's fort. Eroket moved like a shadow, the two sentries on duty were silenced immediately by the young ermine's dagger, their duties no longer required.
Eroket crept silently into the fort, intent upon his mission. Corpses of those who had tried to stop him lay in the corridors, Eroket had not seen the point in hiding them, there weren't many under Antornin's command, most of his beasts were asleep and there was barely a sound.
The only thing that made this mission difficult was Antornin's backer: A powerful wildcat corsair-turned warlord known as captain Dukat Nidas and Kalis had feared that the wildcat would seek retribution for the death of his servant. It had taken a good amount of time to convince the older weasel to allow him to take the mission on his own. Ero's impressive resume in these situations had convinced Kalis to let his prodigy perform the assassination.
Antornin sat in his private chamber, wearing fine silks plundered from towns to the east, drinking wine from decorative goblets.
"Galarn," The stoat warlord called to his aide, a shifty looking weasel. "Go to the cellar and fetch me another bottle of wine."
The weasel nodded and walked out of the room, Antornin's voice following him. "Make sure it's the elderberry stock, that's a particularly fine vintage."
Galarn-whatever his reply would have been-was rendered unconscious by a white paw chopping down on the back of his neck as he exited to the room. Antornin, lounging in his couch, his back to the weasel.
Eroket caught the unconscious weasel, cradling him gently as not to alert Antornin as he lowered the unconscious beast to the floor.
"Galarn? Did you hear me?" Antornin's voice snapped as the stoat rose to his feet. "Dammit, I didn't dismiss you! Galarn? Can you hear me?" "No." Eroket stepped into the room, drawing his sword. "He can't." Antornin's mouth opened, then it closed. And he smiled. "Eroket Nightblade.in a curious way, I'm honored." Eroket kept his face emotionless and he shook his head. "Don't be." Antornin raised the near empty wine bottle and poured its contents into his goblet.
"May I offer you a drink?"
Eroket shook his head
"Pity," The stoat sighed. "Its an excellent vintage.have you been sent
to deliver a message? Kidnap me perhaps?" He took a sip.
Eroket shook his head again. "That.Is not the case."
"Ah." Antornin's grin widened. "I see.I don't suppose you'd tell me
who hired you? I know its not usually done. But, well lets face it,
Eroket. I'm not going to tell anybeast am I?"
Eroket nodded once. "Dargad the weasel."
For a moment Antornin seemed pleased, almost smug. "Ha! Yes, Dargad
would have the audacity to send a single Calpathion to the estate of
one of Dukat Nidas's lieutenants!" He raised his glass. "Well
then.here's to Dargad!"
He drank. Ero's blade rose and fell. The wine goblet fell to the floor
and shattered, the remainder of the red wine mixing with the stoat's
blood.
***
A report was made at the Calpathion base and Ero was sent to collect
their payment from Dargad, after a day's travel Ero came upon the
weasel's estate and walked inside. There weren't any guards on
duty.odd.
"Dargad! Are you awake? I have come to collect our payment." There was
no response.
A frown creased Eroket's handsome features as he opened the door to
the weasel's room.
What greeted him was a gruesome sight. Dargad sat on his throne still,
but his throat had been slashed with such vehemence that the killer
had nearly severed his head from his body.
Eroket did not reel in shock, did not vomit. He had seen death on
grander scales in the wolf Malis's dungeons when he was younger. He
had seen worse on battle. He had caused death himself numerable times.
The ermine was furious at the fact his employer was dead, however. The
job was wasted. Eroket couldn't take his payment from the treasuries.
They were locked, probably guarded and it would be an insult to the
dead. He felt ill now. All that preparation wasted.
His concern was not for Dargad though; the weasel had probably
deserved what the killer did.but judging was not Ero's style. He was
paid to kill the corrupt by the corrupt. It was that simple.
The ermine may have left there immediately but for a single
bloodstained dagger upon the floor, Eroket walked to it, knelt down
and took it in his paw.
The hilt had the image of a bone white lilly. Eroket knew that
symbol.he knew the beast who used it.
"Dargad's not up for conversation right now.stand up and turn 'round
very slowly, Ero."
Ero complied, dropping the dagger to the floor as he turned to face
its owner, her scimitar tip pricking his throat.
He recognized the blade's owner. She was a beautiful erminemaid who
would look more at home as a barmaid then a mercenary. He outfit was
cut to fit around her voluptuous figure, long headfur parted, down to
her shoulders, bands cut to hand over her blue eyes, making her look
even more sensuous. Boneflower knew how she looked, knew what males
thought about her and she loved it. She loved to look voluptuous, be
the center of their affection.
"Boneflower." Eroket replied slowly. "You did this?"
She grinned and shrugged. " You recognize me! I'm flattered. Wasn't
the toughest job I've 'ad. I got inta 'is 'arem, convined 'im te
dismiss the guards so we could be alone fer the night.warlords are so
easy to manipulate.
Boneflower made a mistake, while she talked, Ero freed one dagger from
its sheath, its tip against he neck instantly, leaving the two at an
equally dangerous position.
"Ero!" the female ermine snarled, pressing the scimitar tip deeper,
drawing a trickle of blood, Ero pressed his dagger against her neck,
drawing a trickle of blood from her in kind.
"I'm familiar with that fast draw of yours, Ero.but it'll be your
/last/ draw if you try anything sudden again..I'll be paid handsomely
for this."
Ero's amber eyes narrowed. "Boney, I'm supposed to be paid handsomely
by Dargad! I did the job and he owed me money due to our contract!"
Boney shrugged. "You should pick your jobs more carefully then."
"This was a high priced job! You think it was easy to kill a
lieutenant of the Wavelord?"
"What?!" Boney cried suddenly. "You killed Antornin?!"
Ero nodded. "Yes, I was hired to do so by the late-"
"Antornin 'ired me te kill Dargad!"
Ero took a brutal satisfaction. "Well, I'm not the only one who won't
be collecting his (or her) pay tonight, my dearest Boneflower."
"Dammit, Eroket!" She cried angrily. "Do you know what I 'ad to /do/
to get close to that bastard?!"
"Maybe you should choose your jobs more carefully.we should just go
home now."
She nodded. "We should."
"We should lower our blades."
She nodded. "We should."
The next two words were spoken simultaneously by the two mercenaries.
"You first."
Boney put up her scimitar, Ero his dagger. Boney closes the distance
between them in one move. "We're so alike, Erry.neither of us wants to
make the first move." She giggled, her tail curling around her dagger,
flipping it into the air, she caught it in one paw and returned it to
its holster. "You should really let me closer te you, my dear Ero.I'm
sure Kalis wouldn't mind if ya took a leave o' absence for a night, we
could meet up in an inn.you, me, some champagne, candles."
Ero sighed. "I told you before, Boney.I'm needed by te Calpathions for
now."
"Aw." Boney bit her lip in a pout. "Well if you ever change yer mind,
let me know." She winked and turned away. "Till next time then,
Eroket!"
Eroket grinned and repeated their traditional farewell. "There will be
a next time, Boney?"
She was swaggering out the door, she flicked her tail at him. "You can count on it."