THE DEAD DUKE
The guard in the banquet hall upon seeing the dead Marquis roared in outrage "ASSASSIN! More guards on hearing this rushed to the banquet hall in a bid to neutralize the threat.
The assassin on the other hand nonchalantly removed his dagger from the marquis' neck before he turned his head around to see the new batch of guards that had burst through the doors that were originally blocked.
The guards stopped; weapons drawn as they waited for their commander's signal. The burly red haired commander raised his hand up gesturing for his men to stop while he stepped forward to meet the hooded assassin.
"Hand yourself over and I promise that your death will be made more painless than what you deserve".
The assassin on hearing this laughed: "You soldiers disgust me; it seems like you have forgotten who it is that stands before you". "leave now and I promise that your fate shall not be the same as your fallen colleagues. The commander's eyebrows arched in anger "Kill him!
The guards ran forward, blades gleaming in the sunlight that came in from the beautiful murals that adorned the walls of the castle. The assassin shook his head as though out of pity before he sighed "Why does it always have to end this way".
Moments before the guards could reach their dark cloaked target, a slashing sound like that of a massive curtain being ripped echoed throughout the hall.
The assassin sheathed his dagger at the same time when all the guard's bodies divided transversely into two clean halves; their innards staining the dark red curtain while their blood along with that of the earlier guards flooded the hall.
The commander's face was pale, his legs refusing to move as he stood there staring at the assassin that was approaching him with careful steps.
"Why am I alive?
The commander knowing what would happen to him when the duke of Windsdale found out about his failure to protect the Marquis.
The assassin reached into the pocket of his cloak before he brought out a small parchment that was sealed with a black wax seal that had the engraving of some sort of black wildcat on it.
The commander dropped his head in obvious dejection upon seeing the seal.
The assassin couldn't care less about the commander's reaction. He placed the parchment on the commander's now outstretched hand before delivering the message that had been part of the mission assigned to him.
"The 'Order of the Night' has killed the Marquis on charges of slavery and the sponsorship of underground gladiator fights in his county.
This parchment is to be delivered to the Duke of Windsdale, I will also advise you to find a new job or better still work under a duke that doesn't go against the 'Phoenix's treaty" if not you might not be spared by my order next time you cross paths with a Fang''.
The commander raised his head up and gasped in shock when he didn't notice any signs of the assassin who had now disappeared. "Did I just cross paths with a Fang and lived to tell the tale?
The commander wondered while he summoned the courage to face the guards that were trooping towards the banquet hall. The sounds of the footsteps kept on getting closer leaving the commander with no choice but to go ahead with an idea that had just formed in his head.
Raising his sword, he stabbed himself in his side gritting his teeth in pain.
The sword missed all important organs and instead opened a wound that could heal in a matter of weeks.
"Commander Brock what happened, where is the assassin? Xavier asked the commander while he ordered the guards to whisk him away to the nearest healer.
Brock handed the parchment to Xavier before he allowed the guards to carry him away.
Xavier after taking one last look at the parchment and the dead Marquis sighed "Lucky bastard, now I have to face the duke myself". Brock inwardly thanked his brain for coming up with that initiative, at least he could afford a few weeks of rest before the Duke's wrath descended on him.
'How can one man slaughter thirty armed man? The duke asked Xavier as he kept on muttering curses. Xavier with a bow replied: "It was a Fang of the Order of the Night, I believe it might have been the panther himself". The duke's face lost its color before he spoke again with short breaths "The Panther? I knew I should have hired mages as guards".
Xavier after remembering what Brock had earlier told him retrieved a parchment from his pocket before he placed it on the Duke's table.
A few gasps were heard from the Duke and his guards when their eyes rested on the black seal. Slowly, with trembling hands the duke opened the parchment seconds before he read it out to the hearing of everyone present.
{Dear Duke Femhyr
You have been found wanting for crimes against the united alliance of the phoenix. Crimes which include the sponsorship of slavery and training of mercenaries.
The Order of the Night in their benevolence has given you two options: Head to the Sacred Grove and kill yourself
Doing this will allow your family to be spared from the shame and disgrace you have brought to your household. Failure to do this will leave us no choice but to kill you ourselves in accordance with the treaty after which the details of your crimes shall be made known to the public. Yours Faithfully The Order of the Night}
The duke's face lost all its color as his mind struggled to comprehend the severity of the situation that he had found himself in.
"What shall I do Xavier" cried the duke.
"I will advise you go with the first option or better still you disappear from Magnitia and never come back my Lord" Xavier replied though he knew that there was no form of escape for the duke.
"Very well, goodbye Xavier, your service has been duly appreciated. Tell my sons that I was devoured by a wild beast in a hunting party and please fake my death well".
"I shall do as you ask my Lord though it still saddens me that we must part on such short notice" Xavier lamented as he tried to keep up the sad façade he had put up.
The duke nodded and after hugging Xavier for what would be the last time, he disappeared into his manor as he frantically gathered all the gold he had made from his shady businesses.
After much preparation he silently bade his manor goodbye before leaving under the cover of nightfall. His black horse travelled fast through the night regardless of the heavy gold that was strapped to its back sticking to the lonely paths that gave the duke the solace he desperately needed.
A rustle from the bushes however caught his attention. The dukes' horse on sniffing something whinnied in fright, rearing up on its legs and throwing the duke off onto the ground.
The horse after this broke into a gallop leaving the duke on the forest floor. "Come back you son of a whore" the duke hollered though he wondered what could have spooked his horse, a horse that didn't show fear in the face of many battles.
A deep voice however interrupted his thoughts
"Don't blame the poor beast, after all I came here for you not the horse".
The duke's eyes widened in shock when he saw a dark cloaked figure whose eyes shone blue in the night.
"Panther?
Asked the duke while he slowly drew his sword. The figure smiled widely revealing sharp fangs before he spoke "Why don't you run or have I lost my touch?
"I know what you can do and I know what you are" trembled the duke as he brought out a small pouch from his jacket.
The figure shook his head in pity before he asked another question "What do you think I am? The duke on hearing this hurled the pouch at the assassin.
The pouch burst open as it released red fumes. "Wolfsbane? Do you seriously think I'm a werewolf? The figure asked laughing madly.
The duke didn't answer for he had already started running deeper into the woods.
" Why do they always run? The cloaked figure sighed. Unsheathing his blades for the final mission.
" AHH!
The duke collapsed with a thud, shaking like a leaf as the pain from his severed legs settled in.
The duke tried to crawl, leaving a pool of blood as he desperately cried for mercy.
The cloaked figure sheathing his bloodied dagger laughed again before disappearing into the shadows.
Wolf howls echoed throughout the forest moments later before an ear splitting scream penetrated the darkness.