A Shadow Assassin: Chapter Forty-Five
"Welcome to Mille-Voix Armageddon and Shadow Booster. We are at your service."
As a senator bows down and greets me and my master. The endless rows of soldiers. As we are given a royal welcome inside the palace main hall. The place is so crowded...
The grand fanfare... Senators sucking up to everyone. The food, fashion and accents. This place wreaks of narcissism. Father would love it here. It reminds me of him. I should go home at some point. But I have so much shit to attend to.
Armageddon, however, can't stand it. He always bitches about it. He has lived the suck up life for a long time and now he rules Dragon-City. He is almost the man in charge, just under the Emperor himself. If you don't count his dragon children...
Walking through the palace. It's beautiful... Built for royalty. The home of the DeVilliers and their spoilt dragons.
Shadow Booster... Hearing that name as I walk past everyone who gives me respect. A booster is a knight of power. A master of the ancient arts. I am knight bound by oath to Armageddon. I am his right-hand man. And his go-to for his personal escapades and missions. I trained to become my Emperors personal guard. But through being a second too slow I failed the last test. I took what I could get. I want to be successful on my own accord, without my parent's noble influences.
I reach the waiting chamber when the DeValliers enslaved speaker announces. "My lords the negotiations are about to begin."
We follow the slave to the councils' chamber. A large and exorbitant room. Two levels of seats that can seat five hundred people and dragons. Dragon-City is larger in scale and fits a thousand humans and dragons. Mille-Voix has replaced Dragon-City as the central meeting place for all leaders. Histories have been made here... Dragon-City renamed officially made into a shadow state. Suravi becoming a shadow state. The murder of Daxius Pavus starting the red and green war. And now that war is going to end in this same room.
I see the room filling up full of senators. Empress Vatra sitting the same seat her husband was crushed in. She is stroking the arms of the chair. I bet she is picturing what happened at her husband's final moments. Would have been an interesting spectacle. All it took was one surprising swipe of a hammer.
She is sitting there all pissed off. She is waiting for the other leaders to show up. Mille-Voix has no teleportation gates like home. So, my Emperor will have to make normal means of travel. They refuse to build them... Even though we are allies it's obvious they don't trust us.
I sit on the three rows behind the throne where my Emperor is supposed to sit. It is still empty. Everyone is now waiting for him.
"Shadow is late... The best he could do is show up on time." Vatra being cynical. She is surrounded by her soldiers. Closely accompanied by three fire priests. She is heavily guarded, I don't blame her. Even though it's clearly showing how insecure she is... She is afraid being here.
While on Vatra's right I see the brown generals and Montahan. The spokesperson for the Queen bull. Who is too old to travel here. He is wearing his boar fur finery and noble clothes. It's not hard to see the armour hiding underneath.
The DeVilliers and their dragons sit between us and the reds. Queen Avery DeVillier. Wearing a large bright red, maroon and yellow dress that can take up three seats. Her three creepy handmaids must help her with every move she makes. She is using her large hand fan profusely as that outfit must be scorching on the inside. Many layers of bows with her face painted white with red lipstick. Wearing a pure gold necklace encrusted with jewels. While also wearing a large over the top white wig that can easily block the view from everyone sitting behind her. She is the real princess of the ball... While her husband King Gauthier DeVillier wears a dark purple and black coat with large shoulder pads. His dark grey pants are even large and pompous. He is covered with his necklaces and rings and you can see underneath his coat he is wearing a tight corset. Like his wife, he is wearing a large white wig and plastered with makeup.
Their dragons sitting next to their respected partners. They are the dragon "rulers" of this nation. Chanson and Evelyn... Unlike the rest of this empire they prefer to keep to themselves. But their job is to keep their dragon population in check. Which I know they don't really care...
The four of them look like they're having a great time. Drinking wine and talking as we wait. But everyone here knows it's an act. Always putting on a face. Deceit is their job... If they fail their heads are on a spike. Everyone knows that being a leader in Mille-Voix has a short time span. It's impressive that the DeVilliers have had power as long as they have. Must be paying the right people and keep playing the game like champions...
Armageddon hasn't said a word as he sits next to me. He just stares at our Emperors seat which is specially made from black draconium. I know he wishes to take the ultimate seat. But he has to deal with ruling Dragon-City.
"The Shadow Emperor has arrived!" Everyone from my home stands and salutes as he walks in. The other world leaders stand but do not salute.
"Is being punctual not in the old Inclementia charter's?" Annoyed as Vatra sits down and looks at her paperwork.
"Wonderful to see you again my lady." My emperor walking gracefully. As his gravelly voice alone can send chills down your spine. His looks are on another fear level. Also having the mystery that no one has seen him without his armour. His red glowing eyes and long black and purple regalia. A helmet with horns and covers his face that makes it look like a black void.
I really want his dragon claw gloves though... You can slice people in half with those.
After my Emperor, I see a large man. Worse for wear... Dark bags under his eyes and has scars as I see his arms. Wearing chains and wearing green royal regalia. That must be Prince Arman Kaiser. Son of the murdered Grand Emperor of Demur.
They sit down as the DeVillers stand up. How do they manage to even breathe in those clothes and move in those heels?
Queen Avery DeVillier raises her arms. "Welcome all! Today markz another hiztoric occasion! Today we discuss termz and agreementz of Demurz zurrender."
She then sits down as my Emperor begins speaking.
"We are the ones who ended the war we have rights to sovereign the nation. Arman supports this notion."
Arman nods slowly as my Emperor strokes his arm. He shivers as skin turns blue in that spot.
Vatra in complete anger slams her hand onto her red throne. "YOU HAVE NO LEGAL RIGHT! You never officially joined the war! You stabbed your ally in the back! Even better that you stabbed them when they were at their end. After Macdan and I did all the fighting! No matter what comes out of your mouth. I will not take it as gospel!"
"Vatra pleaze calm down... " DeViller reach their hand out to her.
"No I will NOT stand for this! I demand sovereign rights to the Green Empire! The war is over! It is mine by legal right of war!" The anger of Vatra is causing the room to get exceedingly hot. Even my emperors cold presence is being overshadowed by it. I try to fan with my hand. But it doesn't work as I am covered by armour.
My emperor being calm. "Empress Vatra... We stepped in as an ally. Their country is in shambles. People begging us for their help, and we did... The Green Empire were causing us harm and betrayed us. The promises Emperor Arman made never happened... blocking draconium and weapon trades. I have every reason to take steps. Mine was just more... Efficient."
Vatra chuckles. "Don't flatter yourself shadow... You had an easy window and you took it. I can see right through your lies!" She then breathes in and sits back.
"Zis is quite the zituation..." DeVilliers says. "But we must reach an agreement. Ze war is over zat is very clear. Empress Vatra you have the dominion of Greens zouth exzept for Chuma. Shadow you have a territory of the North including Demir..."
Montahan stands up and people look at him. "Queen Hara demands Demir by right. Empress Vatra also demands rights for the capital. The way Shadow took it. Is the equivalent of cheating... He made no official proclamation of joining the war."
My Emperor remains calm. "Demir is being looked after my children at this very moment. I have the Demir royal family. They much prefer to be under our protection. Many of the civilians are safe. Unlike you Vatra... You would have set fire to everything. Burning many and possibly killing all of the royal family in revenge for your husband's murder. Haven't enough died for your one family death?" He brings out letters as the most important people in the room read the letters.
This is not looking good for Empress Vatra. The letters contain orders of burning people alive.
"I have never told my soldiers to burn people alive! This is a forgery! We have many towns and villages in the south who are flourishing from my rule already! Many of them are perfectly alive and are treated with respect! These letters are blatant lies!"
A high-class fabric merchant called Reynard Triage stands up in front of the court. "I have seen it, Empress Vatra. On my journey to sell my silks I have come across burnt houses with corpses still inside. And even worse I have seen stakes with obvious signs of burning. You might have spared some villages and towns but those who did not want you as their ruler. They burned them alive."
A few stood up giving them related stories of burnt battlefields. The Vulkanian people really do play with fire...
I look around as the tension in the room rises.
Another man named Lubov Leonid. Stands up in the middle of the court. "But will giving Demir to the Black Empire be any better? Do you honestly think that they will treat the Demir people better? Remember the City of Loan? Yes, remember that place? Look at it now under Armageddon's rule. A once beautiful place of history and arts is nothing more than a disgusting shell of what it once was. Crime rules the streets as everyday people suffer in fear. Giving Demir to them will only accelerate their brainwashing dominion! At least under Empress Vatra the people will have a chance!"
Empress Vatra and Montahan smile and clap.
I look around me as I see everyone in my empire is concerned. I look down at the man and I know he will be dead by the end of tonight. Will it be an accident? Who knows?
As Lubov sits on his chair I look to the Brown Empire council. I wonder why Montahan has never vouched for having the Green Empire themselves. Is it because they do not have enough people? Would not surprise me they are one of the smallest nations in the world.
I see a man whispering in Montahan's ear. Armageddon leans to my ear.
"You see that man next to Montahan? That's Constant. I'm surprised he has shown his face. An old rival... I want you to kill him." I nod in agreement.
"It shall be done master," I whisper back. Constant must be a thorn in my master's side.
Constant stops whispering in Montahans's ear. As Montahan takes the stage. "This is an exceedingly difficult situation! We have been fighting this war for five years. And the war can easily go on if everything is not settled. We need to make a formal decision. I call for a neutral council vote."
The country leaders look uncomfortable at this idea. The neutral council vote can take a few days to weeks. The nations who have no part of the war can help delegate terms and conditions for the wars end. It is risky for everyone involved. Those who have claimed neutrality can easily be pulled into a future conflict.
Even if they decide it can backfire if an Emperor is not happy with terms created. The war can continue anyway. But it must be that or the fighting continues immediately. Only this time it will be Red and brown and against the black Empire. And the more I think of it the Light-Blue Empire will join this war... They have the best navy in the world. We killed Laelia the niece of King Marlowe... This will be their chance for their revenge.
After a while Vatra calms down and calls for the neutral vote. The Shadow Emperor has a think. And to my surprise, he agrees.
The court adjourned and I follow my Emperor to our personal embassy. Located near the palace.
"Why did you agree to the neutral vote my Emperor? This takes you out of the decision making of the treaty." Armageddon asks him.
"I am well aware Armageddon. This could be a step back. I was expecting them to be exhausted and weaker. They have been fighting for years... Empress Vatra will not easily give up Demir. They have many armies station in green's south. They have stationed on the bottom of Demir mountain."
"Why can't we just go after them?" A lord asks him. "We are strong! We can easily go to war against them."
"We are strong... Against them... We have taken out the Green Empire. But we are not strong enough to go against Brown and Light-Blue who will easily join in. We must play carefully. We will still have a large cut of the land. Our influence is spreading even its slow. Prince Arman is under my mind control. Even if Vatra takes over Demir it will be difficult. The people will never follow her. Like the people of Chuma."
A dragon general interrupt. "The people of Chuma won't follow us either... Oleander has gotten nowhere with them."
My Emperor looks at his clawed gloves. "Give it time... I might pass the job onto someone more capable. She has been trying to get my personal attention. She is frustrating me."
"So, all we can do is wait and see what everyone else says... Fantastic" I complain. We are stuck in a hard place. But now we are back in motion. As our Emperor says we must be patient. Slow progress is still progress. Only a fool to rush in and face everyone at once.
My emperor raises his hands. "Do not worry my citizens. Vatra, Montahan, Marlowe and Hara will die one day. I will make sure of it. But it cannot be now. I would rather get to the source of their powers first! Relax for now and go get some rest."
A large shadow stretches behind him and he walks through it like a portal. He is the only person or dragon who can use such power like that. But he cannot use it all the time and can travel so far.
Everyone then parts ways as I follow my master through the grand palace. I have been becoming familiar with the area. As a guard it is my job to check for weaknesses. The Mordecai are not to be trifled with. Assassins love this capital... And there are many targets. Like Constant is my target.
Armageddon and I are finally alone. We walk into my master's bedroom. Too bright for his tastes. Blood red oak walls with golden edges. Oak tables with oak chairs with golden cushions. Very Loan (Dragon-City) like... Back when the gold Emperors ruled. It was no accident that someone from the DeVilliers court placed my master in here. It is a message that someone will never forget what happened to Dragon-City... Armageddon did contemplate in forcing to change rooms. But that makes him look weak... So, he decided to stay put. Even though he is tempted in destroying everything in sight.
Beautiful room none the less.
"So, you want me to kill Constant Master?" I ask
"Yes... Tonight. The sooner he is dead the better it is." He demands.
"May I ask why you want him killed?" Just to see if he has any weaknesses. I can exploit.
"Constant was a senator for the Gold Empire. I know him personally. Like a loose end from my past... Just kill him! He shouldn't be too much trouble. More of a talker than a fighter."
"Yes master," I reply and I walk out. I am hoping for more time than tonight. I am only nineteen... I haven't done many of these quiet missions. I have spent six years training to be a soldier. Not as an assassin... But since I am a right-hand man, I must be discreet. Meanwhile, the left dragon hand Vysox remains at Dragon-City in Armageddon's ruling stead.
I will need to find out where Constant lives. I pull the amulet out of my gauntlet. My long white hair now loose and free. My pale skin now visible. My dark purple eyes are now visible. My noble dark purple velvet robes cloaking me. Looking at my amulet it's in the shape of an eye with extended sharp edges. The sigil of my home and Empire. I place the amulet back onto my necklace.
I look at my reflection in the mirror. I look like a normal person. Not a thin figure coated in magical dark armour. Not a bringer of fear... I feel like I am a stranger in my normal form. But it's easier for people to talk to me as I look like any other noble person.
If I wear my shadow armour it has a habit of scaring people. They do not know who I am here. I can blend in with the crowds without it. Many people from my Empire live here. So, it is not like I will completely stand out.
I am born into one of the most prestigious families in Inclementia. My family have been guarding our country's west since its founding.
I walk around the palace asking fellow citizens of Mille-Voix. Many of them talking about Constant and his interesting return. Much gossip. Since the gold empire's downfall, he became an entrepreneur of wineries and various fruits. There are many who love him and many who despise him for trying to get rid of slavery.
He kept his head low for all these years... The man knew he lost... Why the sudden re-emergence of the political scene? He was with Montahan. So, I can guess they are friends.
He lives in a mansion not far from here. I will murder him in his sleep. He will not know what is coming tonight.
The sun begins to set. I walk into my guest room next to my master's bedroom. Nothing as fancy as his but looking at it it's the place where the personal slave sleeps. I take out a special suitcase which can only be unlocked by my amulet. This is where my daggers sit... No weapons were allowed in the meeting so I hid them. Made from pure black draconium, the blade being as dark as ebony. With the handle carved from dragon bone. My father's dragon... Who was killed by renegade separatists.
I place the amulet back into my gauntlet and I transform into my magical armour. Sleek and dark. I place the daggers into my holster on my back. I also placed surprise dagger gauntlets on my wrist and shoes. I grab out another special gadget from my suitcase a small grey bracelet. Dragon bone made from the Grey draconium species. Exceedingly rare and has a special button it turns me invisible.
I open my room window and jump out. Running on top of the roofs using all my martial art skills. I see Constants mansion in view. Like many other clean white mansions. I use my draconium powers to jump over the large wall. I hope no one saw as me using draconium is still visible. The invisibility only refracts the light. If I get hit, I still get hit.
I see the candles and lights lit throughout the mansion as I look through the windows. It is dark now and I can see the moon above. I walk past the windows and see the dining hall where I see Constant and a woman eating.
"Oh Fazer! Why muzt you refrain from me having partiez? To become a zenator I muzt have partiez! What kind of zenator doez not have partiez?!" As the woman folds her arms at the table.
"It's too risky Eidith! I was at the court hearing today. We have three different world leaders here. Now is not the time, too many enemies at close proximity. Especially in my mansion."
"But fazer! It would be nice to have a party! I waz good for not having partiez while you were gone!" As she sounds more frustrated by the second. Constant is the opposite of my father... My father has never ending parties. Where my mother prefers to do the travelling duties. She should be home from Dominus Sahara by now...
"Eidith you do know that when you have a party someone has to die right? Otherwise everyone will start claiming how boring your party is..."
"Yez... Who doezn't know zat? I'll zend assassins to murder ze cook. Zat'll do..."
"Thats not funny Eidith..." Constant says angrily.
"Okay... Zen murder my old partner... I'll invite him to kill him..."
I see Constant head nod in disapproval. But then I don't really blame him... I don't think anyone understands the Mille-Voix way of life. They have extravagant parties with the best food around and gossip. With the usual intervention of an assassin. At least at home, we have the class not to murder nobles in public settings unless they are sentenced to death by the emperor.
After a few hours, I waited invisible outside the mansion. Watching Constants every move. It's a two-story mansion but it is awfully long in width. And luckily every room has a window.
On the second floor, I see the largest room. Constant finally enters his room as he dresses into his sleepwear and lays in his bed.
I waited a few more hours until I see that he is in a deep sleep. I grab my sharp dagger and easily slice through the metal hinges. No normal dagger can do this. A deep power runs through it being a pure black blade. These daggers can cut rock like cutting cheese.
I push the window and slide in. I am still invisible and slowly close the window behind me. I need to make this quick. I slow my breath as I tiptoed as fast as I could to him. With my dagger at the ready. Nice and easy...
Surprisingly I see Constants eyes open and jumps out of his bed! He unsheathes his daggers. I didn't realise he had any! He must have hidden them in the bed.
SHIT! I thought to myself.
Constant stands in a defensive position with his daggers raised. "I knew as soon as I showed my face in court someone would have wanted my head! But that's all part of the game isn't it?"
I walk around him slowly trying to stab him in the back. The room is dark, and I have many advantages. But he keeps adding to my surprises that he has sharp reflexes. He does a circular flying kick hitting me into a set of drawers causing a loud crash! My bracelet breaks ruining my invisibility. Swearing at myself for breaking a rare gear. It can be fixed but finding the draconium is hard to get.
Constant begins fighting with me. Our daggers swiping at each other hoping it would take someone out! I hear people running to Constants room. I'm going to have to take them all out.
The doors burst open as his guards and daughter run into the scene. The draconium torch lights brightening up the room.
"FAZER WHAT IZ HAPPENING!?" His daughter shouts. The guards push her away as they all come into the room. I have fucked everything up royally! Armageddon is going to be pissed! Some assassin I am.
A guard comes running at me and in a reflex I stab him! He falls to the ground dead; it was a messy kill as his blood splattered on me!
The daughter screams in horror and faints with a guard catching her. Saying "My hero..." To him. Brave one that one...
Constant starts fighting me. He knows martial arts! I fight against him with my martial arts training. I decided to cut this fight short and use my draconium skills. I used a mag push and slammed him again the wall!
The other guards come at me with full force and I easily mag push them all away. So easy when you can cheat like this. But I cannot get distracted I have a job to do I have to kill Constant. Or I will have to suffer punishment from Armageddon. And I have no idea what that will be yet.
Constant in a daze gets back up into a defensive position with his daggers raised. "You were sitting next to Nero at court how has he been faring these days?" He says cockily. I couldn't help but smile. No one dare uses his Armageddon's original name unless you want your tongue ripped out. Very brave indeed.
I did not answer him as I lunge forward as we begin to fight again. I underestimated Constant... He knows how to fight against assassins. He has had priest training in the past. I can tell by his fighting style. I magged at him again and he easily dodges. It's like he is beginning to read my every move. He grabs my arm and tries to break it! Good for my magic armour this cannot be done by human or dragon strength!
"You're young and inexperienced!" And with a quick kick from him, I slip as he steals my dagger and slices my thigh! Piercing through my magic armour like butter. I try my hardest not to scream in pain. I collapse onto the floor. I can feel the blood seeping down my leg. Making a mess on his white carpet.
Trying to regain my form I limp standing up. I couldn't put pressure on my leg. I raise my dagger. But it was futile as Constant then opens his bedroom window and drags me by the arm to it.
"Don't worry you'll survive. But Tell Lord Nero I say hello! I look forward to playing games with him." And like that he pushes me out of the window, and I tumble down the two stories onto the ground.
I cough as I as my eyes went blurry. A guard looks at me as I laid there. He then begins dragging me.
I can overhear Constant talking to his daughter as I was being dragged away. "You see Eidith... That is the real game."