Chapter 7: Plots Thicken
The mysterious man continued to assemble and make adjustments to his mounted crossbow. His face was hidden by a light gray hood and cloak that was meant to hide his dual swords, but while he was hunched over Baro could see his exposed weaponry. He was defiantly human, but it was impossible to tell much else from his disguise. 'An Assassin.' Baro thought to himself and stiffened instantly. All of the stress that had disappeared during his walk with Crystal returned to the back of his neck and he knew that if he did not stop him, whoever that girl was would die.
Baro continued to carefully approach the man and unsheathed his hunting knife. His head was spinning from the spell he had just casted, and thought to himself what an idiot he had been. What did he expect to accomplish? He was still very young, not even sixteen yet and he was about to attack a strange man, very likely a professional assassin.
As soon as he was close enough he stopped thinking about it and placed his arm around and over his neck, using the other hand to pull him back roughly. The man growled deeply in annoyance and kicked away from Baro who was powerless to stop him. Baro fought back and tumbled with the assassin, rolling on the ground.
With vicious kicks and struggling against each other's strength they rolled and fought for dominance. Baro had very little energy and could barely hold back the man who must have been a couple years older then himself. Soon the assassin took the advantage and was on top of Baro, hood fallen from his head showing his long black hair and unshaven face. "Now your mind you little brat!" He said gruffly and held Baro by the throat with one hand and prepared to pull back the other. Baro felt light headed and sick and could only resist uselessly, his face turned purple from the lack of air.
Suddenly Crystal was on him crying out various shouts and shrieks, she ran up and jumped on his back beating him with her bare fists. She had left her scimitar with Shadow in the room and instead chose to unleash her anger with savage strikes. "Get off of him you creep!" she yelled and grabbed around his neck to choke him. The man grunted under strain but still held Baro by the throat and used his other hand to pull Crystal's hair with all his strength downward.
"OWWWWW!" Crystal shrieked out and tumbled over his shoulder and on top of Baro's face. The assassin got up and replaced his gray hood, running off into the shadows. The two teens just laid there and felt their bruises from the encounter.
"Ugghh. Crystal. Are you alright?" Baro wheezed and coughed, grabbing his own hurt throat. He gently helped her sit up and they sat on the ground to collect themselves.
"I'm fine, but you don't look so good." She said and put her hand on a bruise already starting to form on his leg. "It's always an adventure with you isn't it?"
"He he. Lets go inform the guards and then get back to our room. I could eat after that, couldn't you?" Baro asked and got a nod in reply. "Ok, if you're sure your ok lets go."
They started to walk down toward the hedges when Crystal had an idea. "Wait, we should take a look at what that man left on the railing. Maybe there's something the guards can use to catch him."
Baro and Crystal took a look at the strange crossbow. It looked like the mount had been hand made to the assassin's specifications, as well as other attachments Baro had no idea what were for. There was a gold plate inlayed into the butt of the weapon that had a weird symbol on it. It was some ancient rune that looked like a twisting tree, so many branches and curves stemming from its base.
"Huh, interesting." Said Baro and he picked up the crossbow to examine it closer. The delicate equipment fell apart at his touch, obviously not full installed yet.
"Nice going, you certainly have the touch don't cha?" Crystal said jokingly.
"Shut up." Baro said embarrassed and led the way out of the gardens and around to the gates of the Citadel.
The sun was now completely behind the horizon and darkness had swept over the entire city. As they approached the gates the guards stopped them and shined a lantern in their faces.
"Who goes there?" Shouted one of the royal guards. They were dressed in the usual soldier garb, steel helmet and shiny halberds standing upright. Nonetheless they looked intimidating in the night.
"Baromosa of Marpin, I bear news for your Master." Baro shouted back with authority.
"Oh? What business is this that must be after night fall?" sneered another.
"Oh nothing that would concern a guard, just that I witnessed an assassination attempt on the governors daughter. But your right nothing that concerns him and this time of night." Said Baro coolly and started to turn around. The guards' mouths gaped and they immediately sputtered apologies. Baro smirked and followed the now gracious guards into the Citadel's keep.
Two guards and the sleepy governor welcomed them to the Citadel's hall. He yawned and stretched his arms as he woke to hear the disturbing news.
"My aides tell me you have witnessed an attempted attack on my dear Rahasia?" he said wearily. He wore a look of grief and confusion.
"Governor Tecaray," Baro said with a slight bow. "Today at sunset an assassination attempt was made from your own royal gardens. The thug carried this." Baro outstretched his arm presented him the crossbow.
Tecaray picked up the weapon and examined it briefly. Baro was unimpressed when he simply shoved it into one of his guards' arms and barked, "What does this mean? Who the hell are these people?"
The guard took an equally useless look at the crossbow and said, "I haven't a clue sir." After a few moments he suggested, "Perhaps we could investigate local weapons vendors? Surely they keep tabs o such records."
"That's a good idea, Have all weapons vendors arrested and interrogated!" Exclaimed Tecaray.
Baro did not hesitate to dispute the hasty order. "Perhaps a more discrete action would be best Sir. Shady deals such as for this bow are done in alleys that your men could not fine, and with people that you cannot trace." The Governor turned red and was about to bark another command but Baro quickly interrupted him again.
"If I might suggest something, have your men inconspicuously keep an eye out for the marking on the crossbow, it most likely is a gang or guild of some sort." Baro said calmly and watched his face cool down slowly. Crystal looked worried for a minute but stood there awkwardly waiting for this whole situation to be over. 'Stupid boys and their stupid wars.' She thought to herself.
Soon after Tecaray finally conceded. "Very well, all men shall keep on guard for any bearers of this mark. Scribe! Get a scribe in here! I want him to copy this to a scroll and have it placed in my desk. Guard! Show Mr… Ugh, did I get a name?"
"Baromosa sir, Baromosa and Crystal." Said Baro politely.
"Baromosa and Crystal, thank you. You may leave now; Rahasia will be safe from now on. Thompson, show them out. I will retire. Such a long day…" And finally he turned around and left them.
On their way out, Baro and Crystal laughed about the rude official and talked all the way back to their room. Shadow waited patiently for them to come in before tackling Crystal in mid jump, licking and sniffing to show her how much she missed her. "Oof!" wheezed Crystal from the impact of dog bringing her to the floor.
"Oh look, he missed you!" laughed Baro and walked into the kitchen and got some things to start a fire for them to cook on. Crystal got up and lit candles around the room that burned the sweet scents of the cinnamon melted into them. She then sat comfortably in one of the armchairs and watched Baro stoke the fire.
Baro relaxed when he finally felt her mind brush against his. 'Today, in the garden. Before we were interrupted by the attack, what were you thinking about?'
He looked at her surprised. "You do not know?" She continued to give him a friendly stare that made him anxious. "I was thinking of that flower you showed me, its really pretty. As was the sunset today, did you notice how much more red it was?"
She nodded and patted Shadow who came up beside her. Baro sat back in the chair beside Crystal and watched it, but found it hard to stop glancing across to Crystal. She caught him once or twice, but she smiled and the two kept in friendly conversation from across their mental link. Secretly Baro tried to hold himself back from getting too relaxed, but Crystal's openness to talk with him was irresistible. As the exotic aromas filled the room Baro withheld less and less of himself from her until they could share everything. They both blushed on and off when they talked about the sensitive parts of their past and stayed up into the hours of the morning.
On the roof of the Inn, a man waited. He was never a particularly violent man, never seeked more then his share of conflict; but at the same time he never backed down from a challenge. This couple and wolf companion was a challenge.
He sighed and scratched his face. The stakeout was always about waiting. He hated waiting. Ever since he started this job it had always been about waiting for the right moment, the right time to take his target. The uncomfortable rock under his back didn't help in this waiting, but he'd get around it. Situations like this required patience, and his time was almost up.