Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem
A/N: All right readers, I'm really sorry this chapter took so long. My life has been really hectic, and my muse just abandoned me on this story. This chapter was very difficult to write, though I'm not entirely sure why. Also, I apologize in advance—the next few chapters will probably take a while too.
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Ursula giggled, but more seductively than she had in front of Tye. Lloyd glanced at her, grinning crookedly. That amazed Ursula, how easily Lloyd could change from being a firm master to her to acting as a young man playing with his whore.
The two sat in an obscure corner of the bar, blending in nicely with all of the other drunkards. Their loud raucous laughter was making Ursula uncomfortable, as were some of the glances she was receiving. To disguise her nervousness, she draped an arm over Lloyd's shoulder. Lloyd turned to her, "Relax, my sweet. I only need another drink before we can go play."
Ursula heard the hint in his words and tried her best to loosen up. She had never been this close to a man before, and could not keep from realizing that he did have a nice body. This introduced her to all sorts of new emotions, of which some frightened Ursula. For a few moments, she almost wanted to 'go play with him'. Almost. That want went against all of the things she had been taught and brought up on.
She licked her lips, which Lloyd had smeared something on before entering this pub—most likely very gaudy lipstick. Ursula wished she had a mirror to look in, then changed her mind. Chances were that she wouldn't even recognize herself.
"Hey. What's with the bitch?" asked a stern voice. Ursula stiffened again. Lloyd sighed, "She's my new one. Don't mind her."
The man who had addressed them looked scornfully at Ursula. He was a middle-aged man with a viscous scar running across his forehead. Ursula disliked him already. His eyes were void of any emotion she would recognize as human—only a frightening lust inhabited them. Finishing his inspection of Ursula, he sat down in the seat across from them.
"Very well. I've got word of a new problem from the east. A local lord, Lord Elliot, has been harassing the citizens there, and my...cousin...has had to give up his farm because of the tax increases. It's gotten damn rough over there, and I don't know what he's gonna do."
Lloyd replied. "That's terrible." He took a small sip of his drink to maintain his facade. "Have I got a free rein here?" The man nodded. "It's all yours. Do what you wish."
Ursula kept her eyes on Lloyd, not sure if she was supposed to listen or not. She had decided on listening, and was surprised when Lord Elliot's name had come up. Lord Elliot was a lord who had maintained a tense relationship with her father, Lord Trey. Elliot had often expressed his desire to marry Ursula or one of her sisters, though it was well-known that he had many illegitimate lovers. Ursula was not particularly fond of him—nor were any of the other nobles. But from what she had gathered from Lloyd's contact, someone wanted him dead. That was an extreme.
"Have fun with the bitch," the man said casually and left. Lloyd did not get up. Ursula could not help from fidgeting. This place was making her very uncomfortable, as was being so close to Lloyd. She waited as patiently as she could. But Lloyd was taking his time! Finally Ursula whispered, "Lloyd, what are we waiting for?" She tried to add a lusty tone to her voice, but it came out slightly strangled, betraying her nervousness. Lloyd glared at her. "We will stay here as long as I like."
Chastised, Ursula shrank back slightly. His tone was not one she wanted to be the object of. Still, though court rules would have demanded it, Ursula did not apologize. She was an assassin now. As far as she knew, assassins did not apologize.
An eternity later, as it seemed to Ursula, Lloyd finished his drink that he had so carefully sipped. With that done, he grinned coyly at her and helped her up in a gallant manner. "It is time, my sweet."
Ursula plastered what she hoped appeared to be a sexy smile, though she figured it looked more joyous than anything—she was glad to finally leave!
The air outside was remarkably refreshing, in comparison to the smoky, alcohol smell of the bar. Ursula breathed a small sigh of relief.
"Okay, Ursula. Let's go back home—though it won't be yours for long. There is much I need to discuss with you, as well as do with you," Lloyd said. Ursula felt a shiver run down her spine. She didn't like the way he had told her that, especially after the morning's episode with the water.
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"I can assume that you listened intently to all that Vace had to say today," Lloyd said, carving a small chunk of wood that he held in his hand. Ursula nodded. "Yes master."
"Good. I can also assume that you know this Lord Elliot?"
"Yes master. My family was on decent terms with the man."
Lloyd whittled away at the wood with his knife. Ursula waited for Lloyd to continue on. She had a feeling that he was going to involve her in the mission.
"Apparently Lord Elliot has overstepped his bounds somewhere. That's just as well. Vace should have been assigned to take care of the problem...but seeing as he gave it to me, this is Brendan's doing."
That was strange to Ursula, how Lloyd referred to his father by his first name—but then, he was more of his leader than father, so maybe it was fitting. Ursula waited for Lloyd once more. Half of his concentration was very much on the wood in his hands. She, however, was anxious to go outside to the well to get some water to wash the make-up off. It was bothering her—Ursula's imagination supplied her with terrible images of her looking like the whore she had been acting only an hour before.
"Ursula. As your first mission, I want you to handle this. Kill Lord Elliot, and you will be officially accepted into the Black Fang. Fail, and I will bestow the Fang's punishment on both Elliot and yourself," Lloyd looked up from his carving to stare directly at Ursula. She did not flinch outwardly, but inwardly she wished his eyes were not such a piercing gold.
"How do I kill him?" Ursula asked. Lloyd shrugged. "Frankly, I don't care. Everyone in the Black Fang is entitled to their own methods—as long as you don't get caught, do whatever you want."
Ursula swallowed. She didn't know how to kill anyone, short of stabbing them with an ornamental dagger...Her stomach twisted from the thought of reliving that memory for the thousandth time, and Ursula quickly blocked it out. Then it hit her fully—she was going to have to do that again. She was going to have to watch someone writhe in pain as they died, hear their breathing shudder and falter as they died, and watch the glow of life dim from their eyes. Ursula felt her entire body tense up. What had she gotten herself into?
"Master, how do you suggest I kill him?" Ursula asked, trying to keep herself under control. All she wanted to do was bolt. Lord Elliot was a man she personally hated, as she had her father, but that hadn't eased the pain of killing him.
"I suggest that you use something quick. I enjoy using an ambush and then attacking with my blades...but as I said, it is up to you. Perhaps you know some magic suited to this?" Lloyd fingered his carving.
Ursula nodded faintly. Anima magic, magic that she had learned since she was a small child. Something like that...used to kill? Of course, that was the purpose of Anima magic—it was another kind of weapon. But she had never considered using it for that purpose.
"Very well...I believe I know a spell that will work..." Ursula fought to keep her voice steady. "When am I to carry out this mission?"
"In six days—the end of your time with me. After which, it will be up to you to prove that you belong with the Black Fang, and up to you to find yourself a place to live. Members of the Black Fang must live off their own resources," Lloyd set the newly finished carving—a realistic fang—on the desk. "But first, we must do something with that hair of yours. I want to train you in basic self-defense, but with all of that hair..."
Ursula fingered her sapphire hair that went down to the small of her back. Her hair had been that long for as far back as she could remember.
Lloyd went into his room and returned with a long knife. Ursula stared up at him with wide eyes, "You're..."
He deftly cut her hair off just above the chin. Ursula gasped from the sudden cold that attacked her exposed neck. Now Ursula could not even begin to imagine what she would look like. At court, all of the women had long hair—short hair was considered far too manly to have. A bitter smile touched her lips when she visualized the fit her father would have thrown. And how all of the court ladies would have scorned her. But now she did not have to worry about something that petty. She did have to worry about killing someone in six days' time.
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A/N: Yes, I know that nothing entirely important occurred in this chapter, but I have to set the stage for the next one—her assassination of Lord Elliot. Also, due to the fact that my life is very busy, I'll probably not be updating Sky Sapphire for a long, long while,because I don't have enough time to do both. I apologize. In the meantime, however, please review.
