The expansive forest was not safe for a wandering individual at any time of day. Even when basking in the golden light of the onlooking sun there were creatures that lurked in wait of easy prey that might foolishly stumble across their path. Every breaking twig or rustle of leaves could be the last sound you hear.
Creatures were not the only danger to be faced in the deceivingly peaceful environment. Any number of foes could cross your path with not a hint of mercy to be shown, valuing their lives above all else that stood in their way. These were certainly the worst kind, brimming with hatred and anger that only served to fuel deceitful actions and lies. A wolf would kill you for food. A man for sport. The true creatures of the forest tended to walk on two legs rather than four.
At least Vaughn believed so, having come across all manner of despicable beings in his lifetime and suffered unimaginable retributions at their hand. He would rather face a wolf any day.
Vaughn no longer held fear of what awaited him within the forest as he once had as a boy. The time of cowering in the shadows was long behind him, which was rather convenient considering his current situation.
Long gone were the warm rays of sunlight that blessed the day, merely a fond memory as the eternal darkness overhead remained unbroken by even a single blinking star. Not that any stars would be visible through the heavy clouds that had invaded the atmosphere, seeping into position as if gathered to witness some awed spectacle on the land below. To make matters worse, a perilous fog had begun to creep between the looming trees, embracing each one silently as it advanced like an unstoppable army.
Vaughn knew that it would not be long before the rain announced its presence, the wind beginning to pick up slightly even as the thought crossed his mind. Nature had no patience on this night as she unleashed the elements at her command. Many storms had graced these lands before, but none would stop Vaughn from going about his business.
The black cloak draped around his form provided little protection from the unforgiving weather, but it was of little bother and he merely peered out from beneath the hood to identify his destination. Thick mud splashed over his worn boots as he trudged steadily through the undergrowth, his senses sharp and focused on his surroundings even as he ignored the incessant wind whipping at his cloak and the relentless ache in his calves.
It was this unwavering perseverance that fuelled him onwards through the unsettled night air, until finally he found what he was looking for. A curved tree stump protruded from the ground, reaching towards the sky earnestly like a grasping limb. This was not his final destination however, and he continued past the stump until he finally reached the end of his venture.
Before him stood a towering tree that was once mighty and proudly reigned over the lesser plants below, that was until the storm had arrived. Lightning had struck one side of the great structure, bark peeling and exploding to leave a jagged wound on its north facing edge. The ground at the base of its thick trunk had also suffered damage, large cracks tearing through the deep earth to reveal the network of roots crisscrossing beneath the surface. Wind and rain had moved much of the loosened earth and now only fissures remained by the base of the tree that bared its gnarled roots for all to see.
Vaughn approached the injured tree, taking care where he stepped until he could advance no further. He stood as impassively as the tree before him, still and patient as he took no notice of the worsening conditions around him. He was not waiting for long.
'Impressive that you found this place,' a cool voice cut through the night, carried on the wind that thrashed around them.
'Your codes were well written, but decipherable under close scrutiny,' Vaughn replied evenly, not perturbed by the sudden presence behind him. He rotated slowly to face the stranger, remaining composed as he observed the distinctive scars tracing paths over her face. Only one clan were known for such facial scarification's. 'You did not summon me for idle chitchat.'
The woman's expression was unreadable, not a glimmer of emotion in her eyes as she scrutinised the cloaked figure.
'I require your services.'
'I had guessed as much.'
The code had been intriguing, a mystery that he had felt obliged to investigate. One would not go to such secretive lengths unless they had good reason.
'I want Wanheda to feel the pain that she has endowed upon us.'
The name was known to all, although to varying degrees of appreciation.
'You want her dead?'
'In an ideal world. Although I doubt that you would be willing to complete such a request for me.'
Vaughn said nothing. His business was in trade, and there was nothing more valuable than his life, a life that would quickly be ended if he had the alliance commanders in his sights.
'I thought not,' she concluded, 'Instead, I will put your famed abilities to the test within Polis. Unrest will be the first blow to shake this alliance and tear it to the ground."
'My payment?'
Vaughn was a man of few words. If the benefits did not match the risk of the job then he could not agree to the terms.
The Azgeda woman flashed a monstrous smile in return, baring a row of teeth like a predatory animal. Vaughn felt a flicker of unease deep in his chest at the display.
'I believe I have an offer that you won't be able to refuse.'
Vaughn departed from the woman's company after their brief interaction, or more accurately they both blended into the darkness and went their own separate ways. A deal had been struck and a bargain negotiated, now it was time to enact the plan.
The storm showed no signs of easing as the agile man swept between the trees and returned to where he had safely left his horse and supplies before venturing to answer the mysterious summons. At least now he could see why the secrecy was necessary.
He rode for two days and two nights before he reached an abandoned tunnel entrance that would lead him directly into the heart of the Polis. It was the safest route to navigate his way into the city without being stopped and questioned by the guards stationed at the perimeter. He would rather not test his ability to lie when so much rested upon his success.
His rations were almost entirely gone, although a few scraps remained to revive his energy after the relentless travelling. Thankfully the storm had dwindled into nothing more than a light splatter of rain and the occasional rumble of thunder from overhead, nothing compared to its previous intensity.
Vaughn turned the horse loose, a light slap on the rump spurring the beast to return into the forest. He had no need of it where he was going. The sky overhead was pitch black, although the moon graced his path with a gentle light as he approached the tunnel and stared into the eternal darkness held within. It was almost entirely hidden by the unrestrained growth of the forest encompassing its circumference, only visible to those who knew where to look.
It seemed quiet enough and nothing stirred within its depths, although Vaughn was sure there would be some creature or other roaming within. He would not let his guard down. With no time left to waste, the mysterious man entered the tunnel fearlessly and was soon swallowed by the darkness, the dagger at his hip the only protection he possessed against whatever lurked within, beast or otherwise.
After a rather uneventful journey through the tunnel, Vaughn emerged into the heart of Polis, taking care to ensure there were no guards patrolling the street before he stepped into the open.
He followed the path to his right, knowing the streets well after his previous dealings within the capitol. There was an agent planted within the city, Cerillia, who would be able to provide temporary supplies and an update on the city status before his work truly began.
His path was winding and purposeful without clear direction, taking the time to ensure that none were following him before he located the small building near the edge of the city, an ideal location with few neighbours nearby to witness his arrival.
He had met only a few others on his journey through the streets, noting how none even cast him a sideways glance as they went about their business. Some were warriors, others messengers who had no concept of daytime working hours as they roamed the sleeping city intently.
Satisfied that he was not being observed, Vaughn silently entered the home of his contact, footsteps silent as the door swung open with a jarring creak that announced his presence to the occupant.
'Cirilia?' he called softly, advancing slowly through the oblong room as his eyes adjusted to the near darkness within. Suspicion crept into his bones at the lack of warning systems in place that any agent would set up in case of discovery. With doubt blossoming in his chest, Vaughn left the door open behind him in case a quick get away was required.
He could hear the blood pounding through his veins in contrast to the distinct silence within the building, paranoia prickling beneath his skin as he carefully moved through to the bedroom where he hoped to find the young woman sleeping and unaware of his presence.
A floor board creaked beneath his left boot, startling Vaughn into a state of high alert as his gaze swept through the abandoned sleeping quarters to observe no sign of life or occupancy. Something was wrong. It was time to leave.
Even as the idea flitted into conscious thought, there was a subtle shift of air at his back, almost unnoticeable as someone moved silent as a shadow behind him. The door heaved shut with a trembling groan as Vaughn hurriedly spun to face the intruder.
'No Cirilia here, just me I'm afraid.'
Dark green eyes gazed out from the darkness to spear him in place with a fierce glare that was accentuated by the black smudges of war paint that adorned her cheeks. Dark brown hair was drawn back into a collection of braids that fell across the shoulder of perfectly fitted armour.
The sharpened blade of a dagger glinted dangerously as the woman took a step closer, passing a tiny window that cast the slightest glimmer of torchlight into the building, illuminating the enemy that had been lying in wait for his arrival.
It was not the sight that Vaughn had been hoping to great him and his eyes darted nervously to the now impassable exit.
'I've been expecting you.'
Vaughn was silently assessing the situation and did not respond immediately, weighing his options before he could make a rash decision that would only get him killed. He had a good idea of who this warrior was and, if his assumption was correct, then nothing good would come of this encounter.
'You know who I am?'
The woman had adopted a deceivingly relaxed posture although he did not doubt that she would strike faster than a serpent if he made a wrong move.
'Yes, and someone is very keen to talk to you in person.'
Vaughn shifted imperceptibly as he balanced himself in preparation, the hidden blade attached at his wrist a comforting weight as he mentally played out the next few moments. He knew of only one person who would be able to derive such knowledge of his existence, let alone be intent on learning his secrets at a time like this and the thought quietly filled him with dread.
'It would appear that they have underestimated my abilities if they sent you alone to capture me,' Vaughn noted, earnestly attempting to buy himself a few extra seconds in which to find some last minute inspiration. Unfortunately, there was very little filling his head other than thoughts of what these people would do to him if he were captured on this fateful night.
'It would appear that you have underestimated me if you think that I am not capable.'
Both fell silent as they assessed each other, waiting for that defining action that would unknowingly expose some weakness in their enemies defence. The warriors reputation preceded her and she remained confident in the knowledge that this victory would almost certainly be hers. Vaughn was well aware of his verdict and prepared himself for the brief encounter that even he could not talk himself out of.
'Is this the part where you offer me the chance to come peacefully?'
Octavia's expression did not change but she gripped the dagger with intent as she advanced purposefully through the narrow confines of the building, confidence seeping from her very being. Vaughn tensed in readiness for what was to come, resisting the urge to take a step back as the ferocious warrior stared intently at her target.
'No. This is the part where I kick your ass.'
Octavia emerged from the hut a few minutes later, nodding pointedly at the two guards waiting resolutely outside, stepping aside to allow them access.
She dragged a hand slowly across her mouth as they rushed inside, scowling down at the trace of smeared blood that came away. The deceptive man had been no match for her highly trained skills, and it had been far from a challenging encounter. The bastard was all but beaten into submission when he had surprised her in close confines with a hidden blade, following the wide swipe with a hefty blow to the face.
The busted lip was nothing compared to the chaos this traitor would have reaped on the population of Polis had he not been intercepted. Months of careful planning and manoeuvring had finally paid off.
She scanned her surroundings once more as the guards hauled the unconscious man out of the building and threw him up onto the waiting cart, covering his limp body with a thick cover once he was restrained. As planned, this area of the city was quiet, absent of spying eyes and ears, the perfect location for a surprise attack.
Octavia leapt onto the horse and spurred it in the direction of the tower. It would not do to go parading enemy spy's through the city before they had been questioned. Besides, the powers of Polis would want to speak to the prisoner and time was running short.
Thank you for reading this chapter, I hope you enjoyed it! :D
A little bit shorter than the first so I have uploaded it earlier for you.
Let me know what you thought and look out for the next chapter which will be coming soon!