Hey,

And so the story goes. A short one again, but again I treat it as another puzzle of a whole. I just wouldn't make it longer. As always, read review.

Thanks.

Nessa sat on the bed sharpening her blades. She put much attention to it, almost caressed them with slow moves. They represented who she was, one and only legacy of hers. She sunk into memories of her childhood.

"C'mon Girl, strike, attack!!! – Rhys ordered. She was 13. She was skinny, with awkward body proportions, extremely clumsy. She stumbled over her own feet Hopeless, simply hopeless. She was standing against him with two wooden swords clutched in her hands, trying not to burst in tears. It was one of their sparring sessions, during which Rhys shaped her body as well as her character.

"For fuck's sake Girl, you look as if you wanted to cry me to death! Stance! Hold your guard! And stop looking at me like tiny little rabbit! Your gaze is your first weapon. You are supposed to scare your opponent. Not to make him go "Aaaaaw" and then kill you!" he mocked at her." Go! Attack! Make me apologize for calling you a freaky trash bag!"

She remembered very well the feeling that came to her then. She straightened her back, raised her weapons and with some-kind-of-a growl attacked him. He parried her attacks easily, mocking at her all the time. But what she had seen in her eyes then pleased him. He managed to wake up a spirit in her, her eyes glowed with anger and passion. She still was no warrior, still careless, not able to hold a guard even for a sec. But no matter how roughly he attacked her, after being struck down, she would always get up and ask for more. Covered in mud and her own blood, bruised and wasted, she would always challenge him to give her more. That was the beginning of new deadly Nessa. Nessa Moonshade, the bearer of Rhys' legacy.

Nessa looked at Rhys, as one looks at God. Her attitude towards him was purely religious. She loved to watch him practice. He was an excellent warrior, perfectly skilled in using all kinds of weapons. He loved to watch him shirtless, to admire how each muscle moves, to see his face focused on is aims, his blades ruthlessly ending the lives of his invisible opponents. Nessa often wondered, where did he come from. There was some kind of royalty in his posture, in his moves, the way he spoke. But Rhys never mentioned his origins. And he strictly forbid her to ask about it. All she knew was, that is very painful for him, like wound that never healed.

Nessa remembered Rhys as a tall man in his 40. He was well built, from a distance one could tell that his posture came from constant trainings. His black short hair matched his olive skin. These were contrasted with emerald eyes. In anger they changed color to very deep green. He had a beautiful smile. He didn't smile very often, but once he did, Nessa felt that she's dealing with some sort of a divine creature. He was always dressed in black. Only the handgrips of his swords, incrusted with emeralds distinguished themselves from the rest of his clothes.

This memory made Nessa's eyes sting. But she swept it away. Rhys wouldn't like her to cry for him. He didn't like to cry at all. She understood why. She knew that he wanted her to be strong, emotions made it all just too complicated. But yet he wasn't that perfect either. He let himself to show emotions towards her. She had many childhood memories, a good memories that made her smile. She recalled one; a toy he made for her, when she was little. It was a handmade whistle. She was six then. She remembered his wide back leaning over the table.

"Rhys, what are you doing?" she asked approaching him. Rhys turned his head to look at her and smirked "Well this is something very important and very secret. And what have I told you about secrets?"

"You said that they mustn't be revealed to anyone." Nessa replied

"And why is that?" Rhys asked with a smile

"Because someone's life may depend on it" – the girl spouted quickly

"Good girl" – Rhys stood up and approached Nessa. She was so little, fragile and so innocent. Rhys sighed as he came down to her level. So make her able to survive here, I will have to kill this little girl. And create a monster..

"By dear lady it's somewhat late, isn't it?" he asked looking into her smirking blue eyes

"Well, somehow yes…" she replied coquetting him

She will brake a dozens of hearts.. Rhys smirked looking at this little woman trying to mislead him.

"Ok you little brat" he said sweeping her from the floor- "It's time you went to bed" He spun a few times while carrying her to bed "Thank you for a wonderful dance, Milady" he said releasing her onto bed. "Now it's really time to sleep" he added adjusting her pillow

"Rhys…" – she waivered her voice and asked – "will you tell me a story?"

"And what kind of story would you like to hear?" he asked sitting on a bed's edge

"About a blue princess, the one you promised to tell me one day." Nessa requested

"Ok then. But you know how I hate blue princesses and ponies? I just have to introduce you to the dragons.." he smirked at her and she returned the smile. She knew how to play him. His heart melted when she smiled like this.

"Soo, once upon a time, there was a kingdom of Unther. It was ruled by king Eliath. King had one daughter, Ulianna also called a Blue Princess. She was a true beauty.." – Rhys waivered his voice and closed his eyes for a moment

"So what's with the princess?" Nessa inquired

"Well the princess.. she was unique… kind, but also firm, compassionate, but fair. She had long dark hair ,which contrasted with her pale, perfect skin and blue eyes. She was always dressed in blue…" – Rhys' face relaxed as if he was recalling pleasant pictures. Then he opened his eyes and continued – "Ulianna was a free spirit. She loved freedom, independence. She adored horses and was an outstanding rider. She would explore the kingdom on her own, using different disguises. She was also a great warrior, skilled and dangerous. During one of her expedition she came across a man. Actually they almost killed each other.." Rhys' eyes smiled and che chuckled

"How come?" Nessa's eyes widened with surprise – "that's an interesting story"

"Both the princess and a man met at the bridge, They just couldn't come to an agreement, who should cross it first.. And they decided to solve it with a help of a sword.."

"He attacked the princess? Wasn't he afraid?" Nessa queried

" No he wasn't." Rhys smirked – "First of all it was her who attacked first. Secondly, he didn't know he was dealing with the princess. So after a rough introduction, as they laid wasted on the ground, they started to talk. It appeared they had a lot in common. They spent the rest of a day on horse riding, talking and generally having good time. The day stretched to week, and week to month. They met every day, enjoying each other's company. But then her father found out their secret. He was angry that his daughter was spending time with a minor aristocrat…"

"So he was an aristocrat too? I don't understand why it mattered. They both came from the same world. Why it was an issue?" Nessa asked

"There are many things in this world that you don't know and you will never understand. Yes, he was an aristocrat, a son of a noble. But still he was not good enough for a princess. End of story" Rhys ended with a sigh. A glimpse of pain ran across his face.

" No, but what happened to them. What happened to the princess?" Nessa rose from her pillows

"This story doesn't have an happy end. Now go to sleep. NOW" Rhys gently pushed her back on the pillow and adjusted her coverlet.

"But please.." Nessa looked at him with the tears in her eyes – "I want to know how it ended"

"The princess died" Rhys' voice trembled. He tilted his head down and remained in this position for a several seconds.. "She took her life away. You see, I'm no good at princess stories. Next time I will tel you about Elenar the Red Dragon. Now I'm not joking. SLEEP"

For a moment Nessa got an impression that Rhys' eyes glazed. He turned his back on her and returned to his interrupted activity by the table.

The next day, when she woke up a whistle was resting on a pillow by her head. Since then they started to go to the woods together to lure the birds just to watch them. They didn't do that very often, for Rhys was busy most of hte time. Besides, he didn't want the world to know about his little secret. In his proffesion it was extremely dangerous. But yet this little girl prevented him form descending to total animosity. He needed her somehow. And so did she. Nessa was the most happy whe she looked into Rhys' smirking eyes, as she managed to repeat the whistling sounds he had shown her. The same as when during their routine spar she managed to reach him with her blade for the first time. His eyes were overwhelmed with pride. Sometimes Nessa found it hard to embrace, that this warm and loving man was a ruthless killer at the same time. He never kept it secret from her. He wanted her to see him whole, as he really was. This way he earned her unlimited respect. That was her Rhys. Her father. The only man she had ever loved.

Back in the room, Nessa finished the sharpening with one quick move. She examined her face in the blade. So elusive. Such innocent and clean. And so misleading. These blue eyes have witnessed more evil that one could imagine. Her body was an excellent killing machine almost unbreakable. As for her heart… Well she really wished, that it was frozen, made of stone. But it sometimes disobeyed her and let her conscience come to the surface. She was ambivalent about those moments; on the one hand she knew that messing with other people problems and feelings won't do her any good. It most likely wouldn't pay off. On the other hand however… she just couldn't help herself. Before she had managed to pacify her conscience, she would just stand up and do silly things. Just like standing up for that waitress in the Tavern. What did she care? And then she smirked "The Hell I care. – she thought – "I'm Rhys' daughter after all… Always against solid rules..."

With a light smile on her face she started to dress up, as she was going to get a new assignment today. She slid into her deep green tunic, trousers and boots. She placed daggers in her boots. Then she reached for a belt with her blades. Once she put it on, she drew her weapons and made a few arcs and turns just for fun. It felt good. The last thing she grabbed was a green cloak with a hood. She pinned her hair into a pony tail. She took a look in the mirror and smirked ' A truly innocent girl you are, Nessa. She gazed upon her lair for the last time, pulled the hood over her head and entered Amarath's night. A glimpse of white – haired man went through her mind. And eyes, amber eyes bearing some sort of threat. Nessa, my girl you are becoming paranoid. Maybe it's time you retire she frowned shaking the picture out of her mind.