Chapter 89: Princess Assassin (Two)
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Chapter 89: Princess Assassin (Two)
Vir gazed out from the shadows. Many exits presented themselves, all peeking into a world frozen in time. For ten counts of time, Vir was untouchable. That may not have been much, but in the heat of battle, it was everything.
Nestled within the Shadow Realm, he saw Minas bodyguard, frozen with her face blank, having yet to realize Virs disappearance.
Should I strike from behind?
Appearing within her shadow would be trivial for Vir; she was both taller and broader shouldered than he was. He could easily slip up from behind her.
Except, he had no weapons. The woman had disarmed him. His most lethal strike was now an Empowered punch or kick, but that would do little against an armored opponent.
Shell probably slip away from me, anyway.
And then Vir would be a goner. He could feel it. There was no more Ash prana left. Not enough for another invocation of Dance of the Shadow Demon.
No, hed have to play this one smarter. Not every battle could be won. Riyan had always said that good warriors picked theirs.
Vir looked to the edge of Dances range. Hed planned for this eventuality, and so hed run toward the castle, hoping to escape inside its walls. But even he hadnt had the time to peek inside the castle with Prana Vision.
Badraks luck was with him tonight. There, at the very edge of Dances range, lay a shadow large enough for Vir to exit from. Prana Vision told him it was empty. A storeroom, as best he could tell.
He took it, popping up in the cramped, dusty room full of brooms, crates, and sacks.
Vir ripped off his mask, shoving it into his rucksack and retrieved the emerald-and-green robes San had provided.
While his masks makeup painted a bland visage, the makeup Vir wore on his face was different. Refined. Elegant. But not overdone.
As would befit a royal court servant. And the robes San had given him? A royal servant outfit.
Vir donned the luxurious robe of his clothing and armor. His small frame helped heredespite the added bulk of his bracers and greaves, he still looked the part.
He then set his blonde wig in place, and waited another minute for his opening. Alarm bells clanged. The castle was a flurry of activity, and the hallway adjoining the storeroom was no exception.
Vir grabbed a broom and opened the door, feigning surprise at the ruckus.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m
Get outta the way! Cant you see we have an emergency? A knight in full plate shouted, brushing past him with his company in tow.
My apologies, lord knights, Vir said, bowing deeply, adopting the Dahan Sawai accent. I shall make myself scarce at once!
The knights rushed on, leaving Vir alone.
Until Minas bodyguard appeared.
Of all the how did she possibly end up here!?
Vir bowed as she ran up to him.
You! Have you seen him?
I beg your pardon, lady knight?
The perpetrator! Have you seen him?
Im afraid not, milady, but just now, a company of knights headed off in that direction, Vir said, pointing down the hall. If you hurry, you may yet catch him!
Minas bodyguard nodded, then tore off down the hall.
Vir did his best to suppress a smirk. Deception truly is the mother of all weapons, isnt it?
Having memorized the layout of the castle palace, Vir quickly found his bearings. He was in the outermost southern hallway, on the first floor. Heading east would put him at the castle garden, where he could then make for the temple. The tall holy building sat on its own, some distance away from the castle.
Vir proceeded unimpeded. Riyan had once said that hed be able to walk into King Rayids palace, steal from him, and be invited back again the next day.
He wasnt quite there yet, but he was walking around King Rayids palace as if he belonged there. Not a single guard or knight accosted him.
It wasnt his fear of being caught that worried him the most. The plan was in shambles, with Mina nowhere in sight. Hed fulfilled his obligation to Riyan by causing a ruckus But it wasnt enough.
Vir climbed onto the windows ledge, laced up his boots, then swung the window open and silently entered.
The wrinkled priest was not asleep. He sat at a circular table, gazing out through a window on the other side of the room. The old, skinny man looked half dead.
Vir snuck up behind himthe man remained blissfully unaware. An Empowered twist of his head would break the mans neck. Hed die, right then and there.
Vir knew he should kill the man and be gone. He knew it was the height of foolishness to do anything otherwise.
And yet
Hello, Harak, Vir said from behind, his cold steel needle pressed against the priests neck. If you scream, you die. If you call for help, you die. If you make any sudden movement, you die. Understand? Nod slowly if you do. He had no idea how his voice was so calm. Cold.
The priest nodded.
You dont know me, but I know you. I want some answers, and you will provide them.
W-will you let me live if I do? Harak whispered.
Vir paused for a split second. It depends. Now answer. Why do you hunt Ashborn?
A-Ashborn! They are a blight! A menace! Harak hissed. Demons by another name.
You fear them, Vir whispered. Why?
I am a pious man. The scriptures speak of demons ravaging our lands. This, you well know. But did you know? The ancient scriptures, the ones from just after the fall of the Gods. They tell us more. They speak of demon armies led by Ashborn. They tell the story of the end of realms. Of demons so strong, no human could possibly stand against them. Demons led by a being capable of bringing about the apocalypse.
The priest slowly turned his neck. Do you see now, child? Do you understand why I do what I do?
Vir had no idea about any of this. Why would the scriptures say that about him? Yes, he had some powers he couldnt understand. Janak himself had said he was different. But realm ending powers!? It was so farfetched. It had to be a lie. Besides, Janak was a god, and he hadnt wanted Vir dead.Even if the scriptures came from the gods, words spoken from Janaks own mouth carried far more weight.
No, this priest was spinning lies to deceive him.
Tell me, head priest. Is your cause worth the lives of innocents?
What do you mean?
Brij village. You ordered a knight corps there. They murdered the village priest and his wife. They butchered an innocent lumberjack. How do you plead to these crimes?
Brij? Brij The Ashborn! You! Youre the Ashborn! Come to seek revenge!
Three lives ended that day, Vir replied, his voice barely a whisper. Three noble, innocent people who never deserved death. All because of you.
Harak froze in his chair as the needle pressed harder against his skin.
Have you heard of karma, Harak? Well, consider this karmic justice.
Just then, hard knocking rapped upon the door to Harak's residence.
Your Eminence? We've just been informed of an attempted assassination on Princess Mina. Checking in to ensure all is well. May we enter?
Tell them you're fine. Tell them not to enter, Vir whispered.
All is well, Harak replied. No worse than an Acira in the Voidlands.
There was silence for a moment before the guard replied. In the Voidlands, your Eminence? Understood.
Once again, there was silence, but Vir didn't fail to notice the sound of a key being inserted into the keyhole. Or the slow turning of the door lever.
Nice try, Harak.
What do you!?
It was all he managed before the needle plunged mercilessly into his neck.
Royal Priest Harak would torment Hiranya no longer.
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Chapter 89: Princess Assassin (Two)
Vir gazed out from the shadows. Many exits presented themselves, all peeking into a world frozen in time. For ten counts of time, Vir was untouchable. That may not have been much, but in the heat of battle, it was everything.
Nestled within the Shadow Realm, he saw Minas bodyguard, frozen with her face blank, having yet to realize Virs disappearance.
Should I strike from behind?
Appearing within her shadow would be trivial for Vir; she was both taller and broader shouldered than he was. He could easily slip up from behind her.
Except, he had no weapons. The woman had disarmed him. His most lethal strike was now an Empowered punch or kick, but that would do little against an armored opponent.
Shell probably slip away from me, anyway.
And then Vir would be a goner. He could feel it. There was no more Ash prana left. Not enough for another invocation of Dance of the Shadow Demon.
No, hed have to play this one smarter. Not every battle could be won. Riyan had always said that good warriors picked theirs.
Vir looked to the edge of Dances range. Hed planned for this eventuality, and so hed run toward the castle, hoping to escape inside its walls. But even he hadnt had the time to peek inside the castle with Prana Vision.
Badraks luck was with him tonight. There, at the very edge of Dances range, lay a shadow large enough for Vir to exit from. Prana Vision told him it was empty. A storeroom, as best he could tell.
He took it, popping up in the cramped, dusty room full of brooms, crates, and sacks.
Vir ripped off his mask, shoving it into his rucksack and retrieved the emerald-and-green robes San had provided.
While his masks makeup painted a bland visage, the makeup Vir wore on his face was different. Refined. Elegant. But not overdone.
As would befit a royal court servant. And the robes San had given him? A royal servant outfit.
Vir donned the luxurious robe of his clothing and armor. His small frame helped heredespite the added bulk of his bracers and greaves, he still looked the part.
He then set his blonde wig in place, and waited another minute for his opening. Alarm bells clanged. The castle was a flurry of activity, and the hallway adjoining the storeroom was no exception.
Vir grabbed a broom and opened the door, feigning surprise at the ruckus.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m
Get outta the way! Cant you see we have an emergency? A knight in full plate shouted, brushing past him with his company in tow.
My apologies, lord knights, Vir said, bowing deeply, adopting the Dahan Sawai accent. I shall make myself scarce at once!
The knights rushed on, leaving Vir alone.
Until Minas bodyguard appeared.
Of all the how did she possibly end up here!?
Vir bowed as she ran up to him.
You! Have you seen him?
I beg your pardon, lady knight?
The perpetrator! Have you seen him?
Im afraid not, milady, but just now, a company of knights headed off in that direction, Vir said, pointing down the hall. If you hurry, you may yet catch him!
Minas bodyguard nodded, then tore off down the hall.
Vir did his best to suppress a smirk. Deception truly is the mother of all weapons, isnt it?
Having memorized the layout of the castle palace, Vir quickly found his bearings. He was in the outermost southern hallway, on the first floor. Heading east would put him at the castle garden, where he could then make for the temple. The tall holy building sat on its own, some distance away from the castle.
Vir proceeded unimpeded. Riyan had once said that hed be able to walk into King Rayids palace, steal from him, and be invited back again the next day.
He wasnt quite there yet, but he was walking around King Rayids palace as if he belonged there. Not a single guard or knight accosted him.
It wasnt his fear of being caught that worried him the most. The plan was in shambles, with Mina nowhere in sight. Hed fulfilled his obligation to Riyan by causing a ruckus But it wasnt enough.
Vir climbed onto the windows ledge, laced up his boots, then swung the window open and silently entered.
The wrinkled priest was not asleep. He sat at a circular table, gazing out through a window on the other side of the room. The old, skinny man looked half dead.
Vir snuck up behind himthe man remained blissfully unaware. An Empowered twist of his head would break the mans neck. Hed die, right then and there.
Vir knew he should kill the man and be gone. He knew it was the height of foolishness to do anything otherwise.
And yet
Hello, Harak, Vir said from behind, his cold steel needle pressed against the priests neck. If you scream, you die. If you call for help, you die. If you make any sudden movement, you die. Understand? Nod slowly if you do. He had no idea how his voice was so calm. Cold.
The priest nodded.
You dont know me, but I know you. I want some answers, and you will provide them.
W-will you let me live if I do? Harak whispered.
Vir paused for a split second. It depends. Now answer. Why do you hunt Ashborn?
A-Ashborn! They are a blight! A menace! Harak hissed. Demons by another name.
You fear them, Vir whispered. Why?
I am a pious man. The scriptures speak of demons ravaging our lands. This, you well know. But did you know? The ancient scriptures, the ones from just after the fall of the Gods. They tell us more. They speak of demon armies led by Ashborn. They tell the story of the end of realms. Of demons so strong, no human could possibly stand against them. Demons led by a being capable of bringing about the apocalypse.
The priest slowly turned his neck. Do you see now, child? Do you understand why I do what I do?
Vir had no idea about any of this. Why would the scriptures say that about him? Yes, he had some powers he couldnt understand. Janak himself had said he was different. But realm ending powers!? It was so farfetched. It had to be a lie. Besides, Janak was a god, and he hadnt wanted Vir dead.Even if the scriptures came from the gods, words spoken from Janaks own mouth carried far more weight.
No, this priest was spinning lies to deceive him.
Tell me, head priest. Is your cause worth the lives of innocents?
What do you mean?
Brij village. You ordered a knight corps there. They murdered the village priest and his wife. They butchered an innocent lumberjack. How do you plead to these crimes?
Brij? Brij The Ashborn! You! Youre the Ashborn! Come to seek revenge!
Three lives ended that day, Vir replied, his voice barely a whisper. Three noble, innocent people who never deserved death. All because of you.
Harak froze in his chair as the needle pressed harder against his skin.
Have you heard of karma, Harak? Well, consider this karmic justice.
Just then, hard knocking rapped upon the door to Harak's residence.
Your Eminence? We've just been informed of an attempted assassination on Princess Mina. Checking in to ensure all is well. May we enter?
Tell them you're fine. Tell them not to enter, Vir whispered.
All is well, Harak replied. No worse than an Acira in the Voidlands.
There was silence for a moment before the guard replied. In the Voidlands, your Eminence? Understood.
Once again, there was silence, but Vir didn't fail to notice the sound of a key being inserted into the keyhole. Or the slow turning of the door lever.
Nice try, Harak.
What do you!?
It was all he managed before the needle plunged mercilessly into his neck.
Royal Priest Harak would torment Hiranya no longer.
Chapter 89: Princess Assassin TwoVir gazed out from the shadows. Many exits presented themselves, all peeking into a world frozen in time. For ten counts of time, Vir was untouchable. That may not have been much, but in the heat of battle, it was everything.Nestled within the Shadow Realm, he saw Minas bodyguard, frozen with her face blank, having yet to realize Virs disappearance.Should I strike from behind?Appearing within her shadow would be trivial for Vir; she was both taller and broader shouldered than he was. He could easily slip up from behind her.Except, he had no weapons. The woman had disarmed him. His most lethal strike was now an Empowered punch or kick, but that would do little against an armored opponent.Shell probably slip away from me, anyway.And then Vir would be a goner. He could feel it. There was no more Ash prana left. Not enough for another invocation of Dance of the Shadow Demon.No, hed have to play this one smarter. Not every battle could be won. Riyan had always said that good warriors picked theirs.Vir looked to the edge of Dances range. Hed planned for this eventuality, and so hed run toward the castle, hoping to escape inside its walls. But even he hadnt had the time to peek inside the castle with Prana Vision.Badraks luck was with him tonight. There, at the very edge of Dances range, lay a shadow large enough for Vir to exit from. Prana Vision told him it was empty. A storeroom, as best he could tell.He took it, popping up in the cramped, dusty room full of brooms, crates, and sacks.Vir ripped off his mask, shoving it into his rucksack and retrieved the emerald-and-green robes San had provided.While his masks makeup painted a bland visage, the makeup Vir wore on his face was different. Refined. Elegant. But not overdone.As would befit a royal court servant. And the robes San had given him? A royal servant outfit.Vir donned the luxurious robe of his clothing and armor. His small frame helped heredespite the added bulk of his bracers and greaves, he still looked the part.He then set his blonde wig in place, and waited another minute for his opening. Alarm bells clanged. The castle was a flurry of activity, and the hallway adjoining the storeroom was no exception.Vir grabbed a broom and opened the door, feigning surprise at the ruckus.Updated from novelbin.comGet outta the way! Cant you see we have an emergency? A knight in full plate shouted, brushing past him with his company in tow.My apologies, lord knights, Vir said, bowing deeply, adopting the Dahan Sawai accent. I shall make myself scarce at once!The knights rushed on, leaving Vir alone.Until Minas bodyguard appeared.Of all the how did she possibly end up here!?Vir bowed as she ran up to him.You! Have you seen him?I beg your pardon, lady knight?The perpetrator! Have you seen him?Im afraid not, milady, but just now, a company of knights headed off in that direction, Vir said, pointing down the hall. If you hurry, you may yet catch him!Minas bodyguard nodded, then tore off down the hall.Vir did his best to suppress a smirk. Deception truly is the mother of all weapons, isnt it?Having memorized the layout of the castle palace, Vir quickly found his bearings. He was in the outermost southern hallway, on the first floor. Heading east would put him at the castle garden, where he could then make for the temple. The tall holy building sat on its own, some distance away from the castle.Vir proceeded unimpeded. Riyan had once said that hed be able to walk into King Rayids palace, steal from him, and be invited back again the next day.He wasnt quite there yet, but he was walking around King Rayids palace as if he belonged there. Not a single guard or knight accosted him.It wasnt his fear of being caught that worried him the most. The plan was in shambles, with Mina nowhere in sight. Hed fulfilled his obligation to Riyan by causing a ruckus But it wasnt enough.Vir climbed onto the windows ledge, laced up his boots, then swung the window open and silently entered.The wrinkled priest was not asleep. He sat at a circular table, gazing out through a window on the other side of the room. The old, skinny man looked half dead.Vir snuck up behind himthe man remained blissfully unaware. An Empowered twist of his head would break the mans neck. Hed die, right then and there.Vir knew he should kill the man and be gone. He knew it was the height of foolishness to do anything otherwise.And yetHello, Harak, Vir said from behind, his cold steel needle pressed against the priests neck. If you scream, you die. If you call for help, you die. If you make any sudden movement, you die. Understand? Nod slowly if you do. He had no idea how his voice was so calm. Cold.The priest nodded.You dont know me, but I know you. I want some answers, and you will provide them.W-will you let me live if I do? Harak whispered.Vir paused for a split second. It depends. Now answer. Why do you hunt Ashborn?A-Ashborn! They are a blight! A menace! Harak hissed. Demons by another name.You fear them, Vir whispered. Why?I am a pious man. The scriptures speak of demons ravaging our lands. This, you well know. But did you know? The ancient scriptures, the ones from just after the fall of the Gods. They tell us more. They speak of demon armies led by Ashborn. They tell the story of the end of realms. Of demons so strong, no human could possibly stand against them. Demons led by a being capable of bringing about the apocalypse.The priest slowly turned his neck. Do you see now, child? Do you understand why I do what I do?Vir had no idea about any of this. Why would the scriptures say that about him? Yes, he had some powers he couldnt understand. Janak himself had said he was different. But realm ending powers!? It was so farfetched. It had to be a lie. Besides, Janak was a god, and he hadnt wanted Vir dead.Even if the scriptures came from the gods, words spoken from Janaks own mouth carried far more weight.No, this priest was spinning lies to deceive him.Tell me, head priest. Is your cause worth the lives of innocents?What do you mean?Brij village. You ordered a knight corps there. They murdered the village priest and his wife. They butchered an innocent lumberjack. How do you plead to these crimes?Brij? Brij The Ashborn! You! Youre the Ashborn! Come to seek revenge!Three lives ended that day, Vir replied, his voice barely a whisper. Three noble, innocent people who never deserved death. All because of you.Harak froze in his chair as the needle pressed harder against his skin.Have you heard of karma, Harak? Well, consider this karmic justice.Just then, hard knocking rapped upon the door to Harak's residence.Your Eminence? We've just been informed of an attempted assassination on Princess Mina. Checking in to ensure all is well. May we enter?Tell them you're fine. Tell them not to enter, Vir whispered.All is well, Harak replied. No worse than an Acira in the Voidlands.There was silence for a moment before the guard replied. In the Voidlands, your Eminence? Understood.Once again, there was silence, but Vir didn't fail to notice the sound of a key being inserted into the keyhole. Or the slow turning of the door lever.Nice try, Harak.What do you!?It was all he managed before the needle plunged mercilessly into his neck.Royal Priest Harak would torment Hiranya no longer.
