Beta: Appologies for the late update! We've been busy with tests and exams and all that... R & R please! On with the chapter!
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Chapter Three: Arrival
The sound of footsteps approaching made the assassin draw his katars back out of their sheaths-only to sheath them again.
"Razzex. Shina. Where is Mustafa?" the assassin enquired of a tree in front of him.
Immediately a tall man cloaked in black with a scar down his right eye and a petite female robed in red appeared in front of the assassin. Tal started-he had no idea at all anyone else was there.
Grinning, Razzex said, "Your skills haven't dulled one bit, Ryuuga. How did you know we had already arrived?"
"If it were dark I would still be able to detect you, Razzex, even while Cloaking you breathe so loudly. I did not hear or see Shina, but I felt the presence of two. Mustafa would not have been able to squeeze under that alcove so I assumed it was you two. And another thing, the girl may not have been taken if the two of you had arrived even half a minute earlier."
Grimacing, Razzex walked toward Tal.
"You're the one eh? Tal, right?"
Tal nodded silently.
The man tossed a sheathed blade and a set of armor at him from under his cloak.
"Take those and use them if you need to."
Putting the armor on, Tal asked, "Are all of you…assassins?"
Turning to look at him, Ryuuga replied, "No. I am an Assassin Cross-a leader. Razzex is an assassin, Shina is a Stalker. We are all under the Thieves' Guild," he added seeing the confused look on Tal's face, "and therefore we are teamed together on missions to complement each other's abilities."
Strapping the sword to his side Tal looked at Ryuuga.
"I don't care what we have to do, but I must save my sister. I will not accept any compromise."
Scoffing, Razzex growled, "We have never failed any mission yet, boy. And we don't expect to."
The scout listened to their conversation with interest. Attaching a scroll to the leg of his eagle he sent it to the hunting party.
There was a loud flapping of wings from above their heads.
Faster than Tal could see Ryuuga and Razzex hurled daggers into the trees above as Shina disappeared from sight.
Leaping up onto the tree nearest to him Ryuuga climbed deftly to the top of the tree.
Razzex drew his katars and motioned for Tal to draw his sword.
Tal stared around for any sign of danger fearfully, clutching his sword's hilt tightly.
Razzex rolled his eyes and whispered, "Amateur."
There was a loud noise from above and a yelp of pain.
Razzex relaxed and sheathed his katars and motioned for Tal to do the same.
A second later a man fell from the top of the trees. Ryuuga followed a second later, and Shina shimmered back into view behind Razzex.
"A spy," said Ryuuga quietly. "Part of the earlier hunting party. He sent a warning message to the party returning to the castle. It was too far away; I couldn't hit it with my venom dagger."
Turning, Ryuuga continued, "We must go now. We can reach the walls by nightfall if we do not stop. Striking at night will be a much better idea than assaulting in the morning where even the blindest of owls can see us."
You know you want to... Go ahead and press the button that says 'Go'.